A WILL OF STEEL - PART 1
by Stephen R. Sobotka / ©2011

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DISCLAIMER : Transformers are the creation of Tankara/Toei Animation & Hasbro Inc.; all characters - with the exception of the original ones I created for this story - are the property of said licenses, and are used here without knowledge or permission of same. This story is an original prose based on situations and themes from the original "The Transformers" animated series. This story is the rightful property of the author; all original characters and the plot depicted within are protected by copyright law.

This story was produced to entertain fans of the original show, and is in no way, shape or form intended to be published for monetary gain. Please do not sue.

AUTHOR'S NOTE : I wrote this story under the pen name "TechDech", for one of the major Transformers fansites some time back. This is my take on an often-used theme in Transformer fan-fiction... but you'll have to read on to see what it is, and hopefully you'll stick around for part 2! Enjoy!

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"A Will of Steel - Part 1"

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Garrett Gymnasium, Union High School,
Rapid City, Oregon, USA, 1987...

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"C'mon, Cassidy! Reach for it!"

Collecting herself, Cassidy Griffin swung her toned body around the lower part of the uneven bars, using the momentum to flip her upwards so she could grab the upper one. Chalk-covered fingers gripped the padded length of the bar, curling tight as the equilibrium of her flight sent her arcing high over the gymnastic equipment.

From his place on the floor near the padded mats underneath the bars, Coach Robert Brickhauser nodded as he watched his star pupil go through her routine. "Good, good! Keep focused, girl... you're on pace to make the Nationals, at this rate! Just watch your-."

His words were cut off as she half turned in the middle of another revolution, barely holding onto the bar with one hand as she let the force of her momentum take her completely into the air in a tumbling somersault. Sailing end over end, Cassidy landed with a stagger on both feet as she flashed a grin at her trainer.

"You were saying, Coach?" the young red-haired woman asked cheekily.

With a groan, Robert said, "Can it, Coppertop... that landing was below par, and you know it!" The fourty-something, gray-haired gymnastics trainer shook his head at her. "And what was with that dismount?"

Stepping off the padded mat, Cassidy chuckled. "Something I've been working on for the next meet. I call it the 'Loopy Triple'. Catchy, eh?"

With a snort, Robert said, "Showboating won't win competitions. You can do stuff like that in the minor decathlons, but Nationals is the big enchilada, kiddo!" Bending over to snatch a towel from where her gym bag sat, he added, "Sticking to the basics is what wins medals! You've got to be on your best game, if you're going to make your mark by beating out the younger girls in six weeks!"

Wiping off the sweat from her arms and face, Cassidy sighed. "I get it, Coach, I get it! It's not like I haven't heard that speech every day for the last four years," she replied, crossing over to a low bench to do her cool-down exercises.

"Well, you'd better take that 'speech' to heart," Robert said with a slight edge to his tone. "You nearly started gymnastics too old. Why I let you talk me into being your trainer back then, I'll never understand," he growled softly, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched her stretch out her long legs.

"Because I wouldn't take no for an answer, that's why," Cassidy grunted, feeling the tension in her legs as she idly reached back to flip her sweaty, copper-red ponytail off of her shoulder. "And because you saw I had the talent for it, as well."

Unable to smother the chuckle that bubbled out from his lips, Robert nodded. "That you do, Coppertop, that you do... but all the talent in the world isn't good enough, unless you keep your focus, okay?"

Stretching the other leg, Cassidy said, "Yes, Poppa, I understand."

Shaking his head again, her trainer smiled as he started walking towards the Coach's Office. "You'd better not say that in front of your real father, Cassidy. He'll get jealous!"

With a laugh and a twinkle in her blue eyes, Cassidy straightened up and started stretching her arms over her head. "Daddy's not that sort, Coach. Besides, he's proud of what we've been able to accomplish together. With you as my trainer, he's got the rights to brag about six State titles, and a slew of trophies to hoard back home."

"Hit the showers," Robert said, waving her comment off with a laugh. "We keep going the way we are, pretty soon he's going to have one more award to gloat over, when you make the Nationals..."

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oOoOo

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~ A Major US Highway, Some 30 miles East of Rapid City... ~

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Coming down the highway, a train of vehicles made their way; following the long asphalt-topped ribbon across the land.

It was a sight that wouldn't be all that uncommon on Earth. Save for one singular fact, in that none of the vehicles - several world-class racers, a few high-end sport models and a couple of run-of-the-mill domestic types - were currently being driven by a human driver.

In fact, none of the cars had any drivers at all!

"Keep your optics peeled! We've been gettin' word of Decepticon activity in the vicinity," the lead car - a black-and-white, Asian-styled sports car - said with a decidedly down-home Americanized accent.

A similar model car, complete with a pair of Police flashers affixed to its roof, trailed behind the first one. "According to Prime, there's been at least three confirmed sightings of Seekers by local human law enforcement."

"It's not the sightings that worry me," a third voice stated - this one coming from a blue-on-white Formula-One style sprint car. "It's what those rust buckets are doing in this area that does."

"All right, can th' chatter you guys!" This drawled command came from a red econo-line van in the center of the pack. "We'll find out what those Decepti-bums are up to... when we find them! Prowl, Bluestreak, put yer pedals to the floor and get out ahead of us! There's a town at th' end of this highway, an' we need t'know if those Decepticons have th' place staked out!"

"Gotcha, Ironhide!" the lead car replied. "C'mon, Prowl! Let's burn rubber!"

"I'm right with you, Bluestreak!" the second car said with good humor. In a flash, the two rocketed away in a cloud of exhaust, peeling out for the town in the far distance.

Towards the rear of the column of strange cars, an open-top Jeep with olive-drab green paint swerved out onto the highway's shoulder. "Well, while you guys follow the straight path, I'll take the more scenic route, if you don't mind," it said, rumbling over the shale and onto the open desert ground beyond the roadside. "I'll catch up to you guys in Rapid City!"

"Be careful, Hound," the F-One car stated gravely. "If the Decepticons are out here, we don't know how many there are!"

"Not to worry, Mirage," Hound shot back as he accelerated away. "If I see them before they see me, I'll radio for backup!" With that, Hound vanished into a cloud of dust as he raced for the outlying flats.

"Well, he's off on another sight-seeing trip," A rugged, growly voice from a compact land-rover huffed.

"Hound's in his element, in the elements, Brawn," Ironhide chuffed. "Besides, he ain't no robo-ninny when it comes to those Decepti-creeps. Now, let's get down to Rapid City. Autobots, roll for it!"

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oOoOo

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~ A Blackrock Refinery, Just Outside Rapid City... ~

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*Clik!* *zzzzur...*

From the shadows of an alleyway, between two derelict buildings on the other side of the roadway, a camera shutter ticked off another shot of the sprawling refueling facility across from the open alley. The camera rested on the hood of a tan, military style Jeep, pivoting this way and that as image after image was stored into its component data banks.

Parked a short way down the street side, a black and red street-model car sat in the sun, seemingly resting at idle, even though its powerful block-engine was audibly rumbling under the sleek hood.

"How much longer are we gonna take, Swindle?" a peevish voice asked from the interior of the sporty car. "Don't we have enough data to take back to Megatron?"

"Hold your muffler, Dead End," an answering voice snapped back from the Jeep. "Megatron said to be extra thorough, so we're not leaving until Reflector has analyzed every inch of the defenses of that fuel pit!"

"Well, Reflector had better make it quick," Dead End replied testily. "I'm likely to be baked inside and out, the longer we stay here!"

Just then, the camera on Swindle's hood stopped, as a triple beep issued from it's control panel. "Data collection, complete," a tri-layered voice stated flatly. "We can now return to base."

"Not a moment too soon, if you ask me," Dead End huffed. "Though you didn't, in the first place."

Swindle's voice growled, "Do you have to be such a pit-monger! Get it in gear, and let's get back to headquarters," he snapped; revving up his engine.

Dead End followed his lead, when he suddenly said, "Swindle! Look... two contacts, down the highway, moving at high speeds!"

"Two Earth cars?" Swindle asked, pulling out of the alleyway slowly.

Dead End paused as his scanners probed the approaching vehicles. "No fleshlings at the controls," he groused. "Looks like we've got Autobot company!"

At that, Swindle snarled. "Blast it!" Popping up, the jeep transformed to robot-mode, whipping out to catch the camera that was Reflector out of the air. "Here!" Tossing Reflector into Dead End's driver's side window, he said, "Take the data and peel out! That's got to get to Megatron, no matter what!"

Dead End gunned his throttle and shifted, so the tumbling camera landed on the empty seat inside his compartment. "You can't stand up against two Autobots, Swindle!"

"I don't need to defeat them, just stall 'em," Swindle stated urgently. "Now, beat it!"

"Okay, I'm gone, I'm gone!" Dead End snapped, his engine roaring as he accelerated away, turning down onto the highway that lead towards Rapid City.

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oOoOo

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"Bluestreak! See what I see?" Prowl asked, as he and his partner barreled down the two-lane flattop.

"Yeah, a little Decepti-Con artist!" Bluestreak quipped. "What's that lil' creep Swindle doin' there?"

"From the looks of things," Prowl said, "he's setting up a roadblock! I'm picking up another contact beyond him. Moving fast!"

"So, what do we do?" Bluestreak asked.

"We'll do what Ironhide would want us to do," Prowl said, his interior dash panel lighting up as his comm-link switched on. "Prowl to Ironhide! We've made contact with Swindle and one other possible Decepticon, just outside Rapid City! Send the fastest 'bots you've got to pursue the other contact. We're stopping to deal with Swindle! Over?"

"I'm dispatchin' Mirage and Sideswipe t'pursue," came the reply. "Don't take any chances with Swindle! Take 'im down before he can escape or call in his Combaticon buddies!"

"Roger that!" Prowl replied. "Bluestreak, let's transform!" With that, the speeding car hit the brakes, followed by his partner, before it went through an incredible metamorphosis of folding metal and expanding mechanics, turning into a tall, imposing robot.

Beside him, Bluestreak did the same; forming a striking pair of metal-clad heroes, armed with amazing weaponry. "Ready to kick some Decepti-can, Prowl!"

"Ease off your accelerator. Let's try not to bruise him too much, okay?" Prowl advised as they started marching towards the waiting Decepticon. "We may need to question him on his mission here!"

Ahead of them, Swindle wasn't wasting time waiting for them to approach. "Question this, you stinking Auto-Boob!" he shouted, firing his scatter-blaster in a wide pattern around the two Autobots. Dodging, both Bluestreak and Prowl responded with their laser blasters, sending a rain of red bolts screaming across the asphalt towards the lone Decepticon.

"Sounds like the little twerp doesn't wanna pony up," Bluestreak quipped.

Prowl snapped on his comm-link. "Mirage! Sideswipe! Be careful coming up here! Swindle's not being cooperative at the moment!"

"We'll we don't wanna tango with him!" came the reply from Sideswipe.

"Just keep him out of our way," Mirage stated.

"Okay... well, you heard them, Bluestreak," Prowl said to his partner. "Let's make Swindle do a little side-step shuffle!" With that, he propped himself up and aimed one of his shoulder-mounted missile launchers at the Combaticon. "Give him some smoke-charges!"

"Gotcha, buddy!" Bluestreak copied him, and together they unleashed two silver missiles; both of which streaked towards Swindle and burst apart into great volumes of white smoke, just a few meters in front of him.

Reeling, Swindle waved his metal hands wildly to clear the smoke away, only to stumble in front of a pair of speeding objects - the F-One form of Mirage and a red racing car that was Sideswipe - that roared through the screen of smoke, clipping him off at the knees to send him crashing to the ground as they rocketed onwards.

"Well, that wasn't exactly what they asked for," Bluestreak grinned, looking at Prowl as the advanced on the fallen Decepticon.

Shaking his head, Prowl glanced at the groaning, shaken form of Swindle and leveled his laser blaster at him. "For what it's worth, let's just be glad they didn't crush him." Clicking his comm-link, he said, "Ironhide, better get up here quick. We've got Swindle, but we'll need help to get him wrapped up for return to Headquarters..."

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oOoOo

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~ Outside Union High School, Rapid City, Near Same Time-frame... ~

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Leaning over to lace up her running shoes, Cassidy shot a look behind her as Coach Brickhauser pulled the gym doors shut and locked them. "So, we're on for next Monday, or do I have to come in tomorrow?" she asked.

"Well, considering how hard you've been working," Robert mused, putting the gym keys into the pocket of his coach's jacket, "ahh... I think you've earned a break this weekend."

"Cool!" Cassidy grinned, straightening up.

"But, you'd better be on the ball, come Monday, Coppertop!" he said firmly, facing her with a no-nonsense expression. "I'm going to up your training for the next week or so... and, hopefully we'll be ready for the try-outs then!"

Flipping Robert a jaunty salute, Cassidy settled her duffel bag across her shoulders, before she reached down to pull two tiny headphone buds from the clip on her arm band radio. "Not a problem, Coach. I'll be ready!"

With a nod and a smile, Robert said, "You'd better be! Go have a good run! I'll see you monday!" With that, he turned away and started walking towards the school parking lot.

"Thanks, see you then!" Cassidy called after him, fitting one of the earphone buds into each ear before switching the radio on. As a driving rock tune poured in from the tiny speakers, Cassidy grinned as she started jogging in place. "Okay, girl, let's see if we can get across Lettuce Park in record time!" With that, she stepped off the curb and started trotting towards the nearby park, across the street...

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oOoOo

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~ On the Highway, Outside Rapid City, Same Timeframe... ~

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Engines howling, the Autobot pursuit team zipped past several surprised humans, tearing around a sharp corner as they drove for the city-proper.

"Blast it back to Cybertron! That Decepticon has a good head start on us!" Mirage groused, his optics trained on the road as his sensor sweeps tried to pick up traces of the fleeing transformer. "We may have lost him before we can find him!"

Sideswipe shouldered in beside Mirage, his crimson form slipping past like he was greased silicone. "Aw, you give up too easily, Mirage! Look up ahead! Fresh tire tracks," he said brightly. "C'mon! That piece of Decepti-trash hasn't beaten us yet!" The two Autobots gunned it, whipping around several slower-moving Earth cars - and startling their drivers in the process! - as they followed the trail left by their fast-moving quarry.

Just then, Sideswipe got a glimpse of a dark-colored shape putting it hard to the asphalt ahead! "Mirage, dead ahead! I think we've caught up with our running 'Con!"

"Good! Let's not lose him now!" Mirage replied, while he clicked on his comm-link. "Mirage to Autobots! We've caught up with our quarry... and, I think I've got a positive I-D! It's Dead End!"

"We're wrapping up Swindle to send back to headquarters," Ironhide replied, his voice colored with satisfaction. "Keep that rusty rivet head in your sights, but call us if ya need backup!"

"Will do," Mirage replied. "Hit the floor, Sideswipe," he told his companion. "Let's get him before he makes a clean getaway!"

"Music to my ears!" Sideswipe crowed, as he and Mirage slammed into a higher gear.

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oOoOo

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Dead End cursed under his breath - if he had the capacity to breathe, that is - as he whipped around a corner at reckless speed. "Blast those Autobots! I'll be scrapped before I can get the data to Megatron!"

From inside his passenger compartment, the small form of Reflector muttered, "Lose those Autobot drones, so we can make the delivery, at once!"

"Don't you think I'm trying to do that?" Hugging the curb, and spooking several pedestrians as he rocketed fleetingly close to them, Dead End shot out of the intersection and raced towards the foot of a low hill; the top of which crested over into what appeared to be the entrance to a municipal park.

Behind him, just entering the same intersection he left, Mirage and Sideswipe barreled through in hot pursuit. "Give it up, Decepticon!" Mirage called out in warning. "You've no where else to go!"

"So says YOU, Autobot-scumball!" Dead End sniped, hitting the hill at top speed. His momentum sent him soaring over the crest, and over several passers-by. His optic systems caught sight of a decorative archway, which lead into a wide, open space filled with green grass and trees beyond.

"Perfect!" he muttered as he shot through the entrance arch, barely clipping a long wooden sign nearby that read "LETTUCE PARK". Ignoring the screams of the humans scrambling to get clear of him, he hit full-speed on his accelerator and continued on deeper into the interior of the park.

"Blast it!" Mirage said sharply. "He's getting away!"

"Not if I can help it!" Sideswipe said, making to follow the Stunticon as they crested the rise.

"Sideswipe, no! There's a lot of innocent humans in there," Mirage stated, slowing down. "If we pursue him, we'll be endangering them!"

"If we don't, he could do a lot worse!" Sideswipe shot back.

Mirage shifted to robot mode, stepping in front of his comrade. "We can find another way to stop him! We must not cause any harm to the humans!"

With his engine snarling, Sideswipe said, "Fine! Circle around to the other side of this park, if you want! I'm on his tail!" With that, the red sports car backed up, rocketed around Mirage's tall, blue-and-white body and flew through the park entrance; his tires chewing up sod in a violent spray as he sought to follow his quarry.

"Sideswipe!" Mirage paused as he stood there - his metal body towering over the humans that had remained after the speeding cars had passed - muttering something under his breath before he activated his comm-link. "Mirage to Ironhide... come in! We've followed Dead End into Rapid City, but he's entered a human nature park! Sideswipes following, but there's several humans still in the park!"

"Follow 'im carefully, Mirage," Ironhide replied. "Try not to endanger th' humans, but don't let Dead End get away!"

"Roger, Ironhide!" Mirage said, before he started to jog towards the park interior; his metallic feet making the ground shake as he side-stepped around the still-gawking humans. "Sidswipe! Come in! Did you copy Ironhide?"

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oOoOo

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From far ahead, the two speeding cars - one Autobot, the other Decepticon - careened through the grass-and-gravel paths that snaked their way through the park.

"Sideswipe," came the call across the red Autobot's comm-link, "Come in! Did you Copy-?"

"Yeah, yeah, I heard him!" Sideswipe sniped, not replying directly to the signal. "I'll be careful... but I'll be dipped in tar and tin-feathers before I let this bozo get away," he groused, pointing his hood at the speeding Stunticon as he hounded him at every turn.

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oOoOo

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~ The Other Side of Lettuce Park, Same Time-frame... ~

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Coming off the shaded path, Cassidy glanced down at her watch and grinned as she jogged in place. "Fifteen minutes and thirty-one seconds," she breathed. "Making good time! I should be home before Dad's got lunch on the counter!" Kicking off from the dirt path, she stepped onto the stretch of gravel before her, turned left and started off on a more leisurely pace.

As she pumped her strong legs and arms, she let her mind go over what Brickhauser had told her earlier. He's got a point, really. she told herself. If I let my focus slip for a second... I can kiss the Nationals good-bye! Shaking her head, she grinned like a shark. "Heck, I ain't out of the running that easily!"

She came to a small strip of asphalt near the trail; a parking area for patrons to leave their cars while they enjoy the park. Hopping over the low, chain-link barrier, Cassidy trotted over to a small, copper-colored car and quickly jammed her key into the trunk's lock. Popping it open, she tossed her gym bag and radio inside, slamming it shut before she circled back to the driver's side and clambered in.

"Hope Dad's got an appetite today," she told herself, starting the engine before she moved to fasten her seat belt. "I wonder if there's plenty of pasta left from last night?" Still musing, she put the car in gear and started backing it out of the space; absently reaching over to flip on the radio, which filled the inside of the car with a hard-edged, driving rock song:

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"Nothin's standin'... nothin' standin' in our WAY!"

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Cassidy grinned, turning the wheel around as she shifted into first-gear, and started edging the car towards the small exit at the end of the asphalt strip. "Who says rock and roll's not for kids?" she chuckled, turning away from the park with a short chirp of rubber on concrete.

As she pulled out onto the right-side lane of the street, she noticed some people ahead of her on the crosswalk. With her ears full of her music, she didn't hear what they were saying... but, from the expressions of fear and the way they were scrambling to get off the path, something was up!

"What's going on?" she called out through her open window, as she tried to fathom what was happening. Reaching up, she switched off the radio, and started to turn in her seat... Just as the sound of a high-performance engine roared like a tidal wave behind her.

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oOoOo

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Barreling along, Sideswipe hit a bump that made him swerve and nearly hit a tree. "Ouch! Slag it!" he growled, swerving as he burst through the ragged opening in the decorative hedge that bordered the park and hid the street beyond it. "Dead End must've shot through here," he observed with a grunt. "Next time I chase this Decepti-loser, I'm gonna-!"

His words were cut off by the POW of metal impacting against metal, as well as squealing tires and the sound of an engine hitting the utmost limits of its performance as it raced away.

"What the-!" Fixing his sight on the street ahead, he just caught a glimpse of Dead End as he roared around the corner of the intersection... also, just in time to see the smashed-in side of an Earth-model car - now laying on its side some several feet away - and the body of a human female come flying down from a height, to tumble brokenly on the grass next to the roadway and roll to a mockingly gentle stop on her back.

"Oh no!" Sideswipe gasped, hitting the brakes with every ounce of power he could muster. Nearly fishtailing, he skidded to a stop several yards away from the crumpled form of the human, taking a second to revert to robot mode before he lumbered carefully towards her. "Great Cybertron! That blasted-!" he snapped, gazing down on the pale face, which was half covered by long strands of copper-red hair. Snapping on his comm-link, he barked, "Mirage! Ironhide! Dead End just hit a human vehicle, and there's been a casualty! Send for medical help, quickly!"

"Sideswipe, this is Mirage! I'm contacting the local medical response team!"

"Ironhide here," came the second response. "We're scrambling! Is there anyone else injured?"

"N-no, not that I can see," Sideswipe replied, looking as the woman's body trembled with pain.

"Stay put, Sideswipe," Mirage's voice cautioned. "I'll double-back to the street and try to keep track of Dead End!"

"Okay, just... just HURRY, guys!" he said urgently. Looking back down, he glanced all around at the scattered humans - now just recovering from the sudden intrusion of the transformers - and, holding out his hands in a pleading gesture, he asked, "Does anyone know how to help her?"

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oOoOo

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~ Metro Medical Center ICU, Rapid City, Later... ~

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A nurse nearly fell over, as the tall form of David Griffin came rushing around the corner of the hallway. He said a hurried 'I'm sorry!' over his shoulder before he made his way to the desk of the nurses station, and nearly fell before grabbing onto the edge as he gasped, "Where is Cassidy Griffin? I'm her father!"

The lead nurse gave him a quick look-over, before she consulted the screen of the computer in front of her. "Griffin, Cassidy... Room Three-One-Three, down that hallway," she said, pointing to the one just behind the dark-haired man in rustic flannel and denim clothing. "Please, no running, sir," she added.

"Right... sorry," David replied, turning and walking down the indicated hallway; his lean, weather-beaten form weaving in and out of the clutch of orderlies, nurses and other personnel moving around him. His dark brown eyes scanned the numbers on the plaquards on the doors, eventually bringing him to the one labeled #313.

Standing there, talking softly to another nurse, was a small-made man with a white doctor's coat over his somber-gray clothing. He glanced at David briefly before he nodded and sent the nurse on her way, then, with a frank look he addressed David, asking, "Are you Mr. Griffin?"

David nodded quickly. "David Griffin. I was called-!" He stopped and looked at the doorway behind the doctor. "My daughter?"

"She's resting... as comfortably as we can make her," the middle-aged fellow replied, pushing the round-framed glasses back onto his nose before he ran his hand through the sandy-blond hair on his head. "My name is Dr. Dicola. I was assigned to your daughter after she was stabilized by the Trauma Team in the Emergency Room."

"I heard she'd had an accident," David stated, staring at the slate-gray eyes of the shorter man. "How bad is she?"

"She was fortunate... the impact threw her from her car, but it was the fact her car took the brunt of the force that has kept us from calling you to the morgue, rather than to here." Dr. Dicola motioned towards the doorway, and reached out to open it. "I should warn you... this will not be pretty."

David swallowed thickly, barely registering those words as the doctor opened the door to let him go first.

The first thing that he saw upon entering the small, white room beyond was the lone bed, surrounded by all manner of medical apparatus; most needed for sustaining life. In the middle of the bed - wrapped in bandages, with tubes running out from her body to the machines - lay Cassidy; looking pale against the stark white of the linen sheets.

David drew a shuddering breath, moving close to the bedside to gaze down at his daughter. She did not open her eyes, nor respond when he softly called her name; "Cassidy!"

Dr. Dicola came to a stop at the foot of the bed, murmuring briefly with a nurse that had followed them in, before he said to David, "She's comatose at the moment, but her neurovitals are strong... we think she's suffered a concussion, but that right now is the least of her worries."

David pulled his gaze away from his daughter - all the while taking in the endotracheal tube and other monitoring tubes and leads all over her body - and looked blankly at Dr. Dicola. "What? What's wrong with her?"

"Mr. Griffin, your daughter has suffered extreme trauma to her entire body." Pausing, Dr. DiCola pulled his glasses down and pinched the bridge of his nose briefly as he gathered himself once more. "Because of the way she was hit - while turning to see who was about to hit her, we presume - she has severe torsion damage to her spine, at her thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. The impact broke several ribs on her right side, driving bone fragments into her liver."

David blanched. "My... God!" he whispered.

"That is the worst of the damage, save for a major concussion she's suffering, as well as the break to her femur, though we were able to set that within the hour she arrived her at the hospital." Dr. Dicola sighed.

"Sh-shouldn't you... be operating on her, now?" David asked, his eyes flicking back to Cassidy with growing concern. "If she's as bad as you say-?"

"Mr. Griffin, please. I'd rather discuss this outside," Dr. Dicola said, looking as two more nurses entered the room. "They have to check her oxygen saturation, and run some needed tests at this time." Reaching out, the doctor guided David away from the bed and steered him towards the doorway.

David cast one last look back at his daughter; his eyes wide with worry as he watched for a moment as the nurses began their tests. Unable to resist, he let himself be taken into the hallway outside.

Once outside, Dr. Dicola led David a short ways down the hallway, to where a small waiting area lay. Here, he directed the distraught father to sit down on a plush chair. "Mr. Griffin, at this time, there is a good reason why we do not dare to try to repair what damage your daughter has. At least, the damage we can fix that we know will heal with time."

David nodded. "You mean her spine, right?" Scrubbing his face, he drew in a shuddering breath. "Oh, geezus! She's going to be a cripple, isn't she?"

"I won't sugar-coat it but, in all likelihood, yes. Your daughter will most likely be a paraplegic," Dr. Dicola said measuredly.

Before David could reply to that, the sound of someone clearing their throat from the hallway behind them made both men turn their heads. A young man in working-men's pants, shirt and boots was standing there; his dark eyes looking expectantly from one man to the other.. "Um, I'm looking for a... Doctor Dicola?"

"That would be me, young man," Dr. Dicola replied.

Nodding, the stranger stepped into the waiting area and said, "My name's Spike. Spike Witwhicky, sir. I was told you are overseeing a young woman who got hit today, in her car?"

Frowning, Dr. Dicola nodded slowly. "That would be right, young man... but, why are you-?"

David rose and cut Dr. Dicola off, asking sharply, "Are you the one that hit my daughter?"

Blinking, Spike shook his head briefly before replying, "Oh, no sir! I didn't do it, but my, ah... friend, he did see the one responsible for the accident." He looked to the doctor, adding, "I was asked to speak to you, to know how the young woman was... doing?"

David pressed on, keeping the doctor from speaking as he asked, "Your friend saw the accident! Who did this to Cassidy? Tell me, please!"

Spike balked a bit, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. "Well, sir... that's, um, sort of hard to tell."

David blinked, then stared hard at Spike. "Are you trying to protect your friend, because he's the real reason my daughter is lying in that bed back there!" His voice growing louder, David started to take a step towards Spike with his hands curling into fists.

"Mr. Griffin, please!" Dr. Dicola said sharply. "This is a hospital, remember that!"

"Mister... Griffin? Sir, I'm not trying to protect anyone!" Spike said. "It's just that... well, the story behind this, well it might be too hard for you to belive."

David shook his head in a curt motion. "I don't care! I want to know who hit my daughter! If your friend knows, then tell me who," he ordered, barely registering the restraining hand Dr. Dicola put on his left arm.

With a sigh, Spike seemed to deflate for a moment. Then, he said, "Okay... but, trust me, this isn't going to be easy to swallow..."

Minutes later, David nearly fell over backwards in shock; save for the fact he managed to land in the chair he'd recently been sitting in, as he stated mutely at Spike.

To the side, Dr. Dicola was looking at the young man like he'd grown a third head. "Y-you... can't be serious? This is some sort of sick joke!"

With a resigned sigh, Spike said firmly, "No, sir. This is far from any sort of joke. What I told you and Mr. Griffin is completely true." He shot the father an apologetic look. "I'm sorry that this happened, Mr. Griffin, but your daughter just became a casualty of a war that's been going on for-."

"I don't believe it," David said softly, cutting Spike off. "And, I think this is highly inappropriate! Auto-whatzizt? A fight for earth's energy?" He turned around and scowled. "Young man, you are some piece of work!"

"Doctor, listen to me," Spike protested mildly, "this isn't something you can make up!"

"Sounds like a Saturday morning cartoon to me," David mumbled numbly.

Doctor Dicola sighed heavily before he looked towards Spike and said archly. "If I were you, I'd knock off all this talk about some... some giant robots!" He fixed David with a concerned look. "His daughter's state of being is fragile enough as it stands! Shocking him with this cock-and-bull tale isn't going to help!"

"But, Doctor-?" Spike started to say, only to get cut off by David.

"What do you mean, 'fragile'?" the distraught father said, rising to his feet - the story Spike said quickly forgotten. "Is she worse off than you said she-?"

"Mr. Griffin, please! I will explain!" Dr. Dicolo pushed off the wall and came over to face David; his features pinched and weary. "What I started to tell you before... is just the tip of the iceberg. The good part is that while I may not be able to do much for her spinal injury, I can repair most of the rest of her injuries. With delicate care - and a lot of luck - we can possibly restore her to a good portion of her former health..."

David nodded slowly. "There's a 'but' in there somewhere, Doctor. So, what is the bad news?"

"The bad news is, with all the trauma she's suffered, we can't just go in and just start trying to fix the worst of it right away," Dr. Dicola said with a touch of dismay. "Even if we were cautious, the most likely scenario would be she'd expire within hours after we had her on the table."

David nearly crumpled to the floor as he absorbed those words. "No..."

"Good lord!" Spike breathed.

Dr. Dicola looked at David with sympathy. "I'm in contact with several other specialists that have dealt with extensive trauma with other accident patients, Mr. Griffin. A couple are being transported here within the next couple of hours." He placed a hand on David's shoulder. "If there is a way, we will save your daughters' life."

.

.

oOoOo

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.

~ Outside Metro Medical Center, Rapid City, Just Moments After... ~

.

David Griffin emerged from the side entrance to the Emergency Room, out into the afternoon sunlight, which did nothing to warm the chill in his heart.

The older man was moving like he had no free will; just mechanically placing one foot in front of the other, while from a discrete distance, Spike followed along in a respectful silence. Eventually, they came to a stop at the curb side area, where David leaned wearily on a nearby light fixture.

Spike stepped around and faced David with a sad expression. "Sir, I hope you won't... well, I know there's got to be a way to help Cassidy," he said with conviction.

David shook his head slowly. "That doctor seemed pretty certain of himself." Raising one hand to cover his eyes, David shuddered as he tried to keep from sobbing. "I... I can't lose her," he said softly. "I don't want to lose her, blast it!"

Spike frowned, unsure what he could say to ease the troubled heart of this man... when, his thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of several vehicles coming into the hospital parking lot around the corner. "Hey, that must be my friends! Perhaps they'll have an answer that could help!" He reached out and took David's arm. "Come with me, okay?"

Unable to put up much of a resistance, David let Spike lead him away from the Emergency Room entrance. When they turned the corner, he spied several vehicles idling in the open parking lot beyond the drive-up lanes of the main entrance.

"Are those, the... 'friends' you talked about, back there?" David asked, his voice thick with emotion.

"Yeah, some of them at least," Spike replied. He perked up as he saw a large, red semi-truck pull in behind the other Autobots. "That's their leader! Optimus!" Spike called out, breaking into a run towards the parked cars.

David followed slowly behind, his mind thinking This has to be some sort of joke!. Picking up his feet as he jogged towards Spike, he got the biggest shock of his life when the big rig suddenly rose up off the pavement; shifting and folding in places until it reformed into a large, humanoid looking robot, standing there as Spike approached it. David nearly stumbled, but he recovered and kept on moving towards them. As he got closer, some of the other vehicles had also transformed into similar humanoid-forms. Creating a loose circle around Spike and the bigger robot, even the smallest looked to be nearly thirteen feet tall.

"Holly St. Francis!" he breathed. Stopping next to Spike, he looked up in awe, just as the burly looking one that had been a van spoke.

"Prime," Ironhide said somberly.

"Report, Ironhide," Optimus Prime said. "You made contact with the Decepticons?"

"Two of th' stinkers were outside Rapid City," Ironhide explained. "We caught Swindle, but Dead End got ahead of us, so Mirage and Sideswipe chased 'im into the city-proper."

"Did you stop him from getting away?" Optimus asked.

Sideswipe and Mirage shook their heads slowly. "He lost us after cutting across a human's recreational park," Mirage stated. "That's where Dead End rammed the vehicle the human female was driving."

Optimus jerked backwards - seeming to appear shocked to David - before asking, "What is the status of the human?"

At that, David spoke up, "That 'human' is my daughter, robot!"

All eyes panned down to regard David, and for a moment his anger was quelled. "Who's this?" Brawn asked pointedly.

Spike stepped up, and offered, "Prime, guys... this is David Griffin, the father of the young woman who got injured." He motioned for David's sake, indicating the Autobots in turn. "This is Ironhide, Brawn, Mirage, Sideswipe and their leader, Optimus Prime."

Optmius nodded once and said, "Mr. Griffin, I must apologize for the actions of my warriors."

That took David aback further. "A-apologize?" He shot Spike a look. "According to him, one of these... Decepti-whozits, was the one that ran my daughter over!"

At that, Sideswipe nodded bleakly. "Yes, Dead End hit your daughter, but I was... I was the one pursuing him. It was because of me that he decided to accelerate through the park," he admitted softly.

David blinked several times. He sounds guilty, because of what someone else did to my baby! David thought to himself.

His further thoughts were interrupted by Optimus speaking again. "I assure you, Mr. Griffin, I do not condone my warriors to needlessly endanger human lives, while we engage our foes in combat," the tall Autobot leader said, before fixing the shorter Autobot with a firm look. "Sideswipe will be strongly punished for his actions, I promise."

David said, "Will punishing him make my daughter better?"

Optimus shook his head, "No, it won't, but while we fight our battles with our sworn enemies, some order must be maintained to keep the populace of Earth safe." He looked at David with his blue optics glimmering. "You must understand... above all else, life - in any form - is something we all must strive to protect."

"Ah, I understand," David said at length. He then faced Sideswipe, and said, "I don't envy you for your coming punishment, but... when it's over, do something for me?" His face went like iron when Sideswipe nodded. "Get the slime ball that did what he did to my daughter!"

"Not to worry, Sir," Sideswipe said softly, lifting one metal fist to clench tightly. "We will get him!"

"Not to change back to old, sore subjects but, what's the situation with the little lady?" Brawn asked.

Both David and Spike told the Autobots what the doctor had told them. With each word, the expressions on the metal faces of the five grew dark with sorrow.

"Aw, Leakin' Lubricants! Can't the human doctors fix th' gal up?" Ironhide asked.

"No," David said. "According to them, if they tried to fix the damage, she'd be dead before the procedure was half finished!"

Brawn crossed his arms and scowled. "Humans are so delicate. Not as easy to fix, like we are."

"That's because they don't have metal bodies and a spark that can be separated," Mirage said.

Optimus stared at Mirage for several seconds, then he clicked his fingers with a metallic crack. "Mirage, that may be the answer!"

"Huh?" Mirage asked. "What 'answer'?"

"What do you mean, Optimus?" Spike asked, puzzled.

"There may be a means that might help Mr. Griffin's daughter!" Optmius explained.

At that, David all but jumped at Optimus, asking, "What? What are you saying? You can save my daughter's life? How?"

At that, Spike had a flash of insight. "Optimus, what are you thinking! You aren't-?"

"I'll explain in a moment," Optimus stated, before tapping the side of his helmet to activate his comm-link. "Optimus Prime to base... come in, Wheeljack, at once!"

There was a faint reply: "Wheeljack here, Prime. What's up?"

"Wheeljack, I need you and Ratchet to prepare for a special procedure," Optimus said quickly, glancing down at David pointedly. "Provided we have permission to act?"

David blinked, then shaking himself he asked, "Act? What? What are you proposing to do?"

.

.

oOoOo

.
.

Back in the ICU, Cassidy Griffin lay unresponsive in her bed.

Bending over her, the lead nurse Marcy checked the respirator hose and the ECG leads, before she straightened up and reached for a pen in the pocket of her blouse. The dark-skinned woman absently ran a hand through her curly hair, before making some notations on the machine's log-page.

Across from Marcy, her assistant nurse, Barbara was checking Cassidy's IV lines. The younger nurse glanced at the comatose young girl and sighed in sympathy. "Poor girl . . . They said she was a promising athlete, before she got hit."

Marcy nodded, and said, "Poor girl, just unlucky to get in some hothead's way like that."

The soft hiss of the respirator making rhythmic background noise to the soft-spoken voices of the nurses tending to her.

"Do you think the doctors can save her?" Barbara asked.

"Honey," Marcy said pointedly, "She's got every chance as God would allow for her. Dr. Dicola's one of the best in his field."

"But, do you think she'll survive?" Barbara asked with emphasis.

Giving Barbara a frank look, Marcy sighed as she looked down at Cassidy. "In my honest opinion? What she needs right now is a honest-to-God miracle..."

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,

TO BE CONTINUED...