Alright, before you read the fic I have to say this.

I'm rewriting Life's Challenges, because I want to, sorry the sequel of Life's Challenges was deleted but I plan to put everything into this rewritten fic, no sequels at all, but I will keep the original up for those who liked the original Life's Challenges, I had considered rewriting for a while now, some of the titles will stay the same but not all of them.

Don't worry, there will be Ratchet/OC so don't worry about that. Karen physical appearance will stay the same but her outfit will be slightly altered, Jupiter's armour colour will stay the same.

Anyway, enough of my damn rambling, let's get this show on the road.

Enjoy the rewrite.

Chapter 1

Darkness Rising.

I was bored, really, really bored, I shouldn't be surprised by this, I mean, this is Jasper, Nevada. I sighed and looked out the window, my aunt and cousin Jack Darby weren't home at the moment

Since I'm sitting here, might as well give an introduction.

Name's Karen Darby and I'm seventeen years old. I ran my fingers through my chocolate brown hair, my green eyes staring out the window. I stood to my feet and went to my room to get my black converse shoes.

I wore a white jumper with green cameo trousers. I sat on my bed and placed my shoes on my feet, grabbing my purple sleeveless puffer jacket off the bed. I grabbed my keys off the bedside cabinet and walked out my room and made a beeline to the door. I opened the door and then closed it, locking the door behind me.

Thanks to my bike it didn't take me long to reach KO burger. I parked my bike, putting the break on. I got off my bike and then walked into the building as I spotted my cousin doing his shift, spotting me he gave a small wave in which I gave a nod as a greeting.

"Welcome to KO Drive-in, where every patty's a knockout. May I take your order?" Jack said in a bored tone.

"Uh, two super combos, and extra fries."

"Okay, dos numero twos. Anything else?" Jack asked them

"Yeah, some advice." The person answered. "How do I get an awesome job like yours?"

I narrowed my eyes when I heard laughter on the other end, but I didn't say anything, I didn't want to bring attention upon myself so I kept my mouth shut.

"So that's two 'We're not as Funny as we Think we Are' combos with a side of 'Bite Me'." Jack shot back.

I smirked, Jack can handle himself and doesn't need my help all the time.

The laughing stopped."What'd you say?" The guy asked angrily.

"$5.59, sir, at the window." Jack spat at him.

Jack turned his back, the car drove up and snatched the food. I heard them laugh and I twitched an eyebrow.

"Hey!" Jack yelled. "I have to pay for that." He said miserably.

I groaned. "Jack, what did I say?"

"To never leave the food unsupervised." He muttered.

"Exactly, because something that just happened now can happen."

He muttered again while I shrugged but didn't utter a word at all.

After finishing his shift we both stepped out the building. I raised an eyebrow when Jack's phone goes off with that ringtone, I didn't want to say anything, I got nothing to say.

"Hey mom." Jack greeted my aunt on the phone. "I just got off. No, I'm not going to the dance. Experience suggests I should never cut a rug. Unless I'm installing carpet. Be careful; seriously? This is Jasper."

He paused in his walk and I looked to see what had gotten his attention, to my awe it was a blue motorcycle with hint of pink on it. I smiled at admired the motorcycle without touching it.

"I love you." Jack slipped out. "Uh, yeah. I love you too mom. Gotta run."

"Hello beautiful." Jack breathed as he walked over.

"Where have you been all my life?" Jack asked as he ran his hand over the seat.

He sat on the motorcycle. "It may take a few KO paychecks, but I am going to own a ride like you someday."

I raised an eyebrow but didn't point out he was being crazy for talking to a two wheeled vehicle.

"Are you talking to your motorcycle?" Sierra asked as her friend giggled.

"Uh, my motorcycle? No! I mean, yes, it's mine. But I'm not talking to... well to you, I am. How's things, Sierra?" Jack stuttered. "Take you for a spin sometime?"

"You know my name?" Sierra asked in surprise.

"We're in homeroom together." Jack responded to her. "I'm Jack. Jack Darby."

I said nothing but shielded my eyes when headlights shone at us. I looked to see what was causing the blindness, where did they come from?

The cars came towards us as Sierra and her friend squealed in fright and ran off before the cars could even hit them. I jumped when the motorcycle suddenly went into a wheelie.

"Whoa." Jack yelped.

I barely got on as the motorcycle left the scene. I held on for dear life.

"Don't let go!" A feminine voice demanded.

"Who said that!?" Jack asked fearfully.

...When did motorcycle suddenly talk?

We pulled into an alleyway as Jack and I got off her. Jack was a bit shaken while I was pale.

"What are you?" Jack asked in fear.

"I don't exist. Tell anyone about me and I will hunt you both down." The motorcycle growled.

Jack ran off and around a corner, I was about to follow but instead I picked up a brick and threw it. I cringed when it smashed the windscreen, leaving a hole and cracks around the hole, causing the vehicle to swerve. I ran off to catch up with my cousin.

"Hey wait!" I called.

I caught up with my cousin as the car which I threw a brick at followed is.

"I don't even know her!" Jack yelled.

"Who?" I asked dumbly

"The motorcycle of course." He answered, god I was stupid.

I watched the motorcycle hit the bonnet and then drove next to us in a pace that was keeping up with us.

"Hop on!" She demanded.

Jack and I got onto the motorcycle and we were off.

"Hey, what happened to that car's windscreen?" Jack asked.

"My bad, I threw a brick." I said and then laughed nervously.

"...YOU THREW A BRICK!" Jack yelled despite the chaos. I cringed.

"A friend of yours?" The motorcycle asked with the mirror facing me.

"Nope, family." I answered.

"Karen what were you thinking!" Jack demanded.

"Did you honestly think I was just gonna stand there and do nothing!" I shot back.

"That took a lot of guts kid." The motorcycle said as the mirror was facing me again.

"Oh, thank you, by the way, name's Karen." I said just as we're about to go on the highway.

"Arcee."

That was the conversation I had with her as the robots chasing us brought out their weapons and started to fire at us while we were now on the highway.

"Why are those guys shooting at us?" Jack asked in a panic.

"There's no us kid." Arcee told him flatly. "And they're no guys."

"Really stupid question to ask Jack." I said flatly.

He would of retorted but I spotted a yellow and black vehicle enter the chase and bumped into the two purple cars, causing them to spin.

"A friend of yours?" I asked the same question Arcee asked me.

"Family." She answered

I smiled and nodded, satisfied with the answer. I watched the yellow car get bumped into the railing. I cringed. I spotted the road and then a barrier that blocked the railing. I held on as Arcee jumped the barrier and then drove down the embankment, landing after that, hope to god nobody was below us.

"Whoa."

I perked up and turned my head to see a young boy who's remote control for his toy car was on the floor, I assumed he dropped it out of shock.

"You have no idea." Jack breathed as we both got off Arcee.

The boy came to us as I spotted the two purple cars on the road, they came down the embankment. Arcee transformed and that was our signal to get out of the way.

"This ends here cons!" Arcee hissed as she charged at them.

She jumped in the air and kicked one down, she then kicked the one with the cracked windscreen in the face.

"What are they?" The boy asked.

"Talking cars that turns into robots, or the other way round." Jack answered.

"I think it's the other way round." I muttered.

As a child I used to play with toy robots, but this is intense. I said nothing but gasped as Arcee went flying backwards after getting shot and slid across the concrete and looked to be unconscious.

The yellow car from before jumped from the road and transformed, punching the con in the face, it took a step back and I cringed to hear a crunch, lifting it's foot it saw the crushed car.

"I'm sorry!" Came the whine.

"No problem, really." The boy assured him.

A con shot the yellow bot and sent him flying. My eyes widened at that.

"Leave him alone!" The boy shouted at them.

The Cons aimed their guns at us as he gulped.

"Please." He then whispered.

Jack knelt next to him. "Bad call."

"Nice cracks." I said giving a thumbs up, the con who I threw the brick at visor's glinted in the sun.

We all ran towards the pipe that came into view, we climbed in and kept on running, a hand was about to reach us but didn't get to us in time, instead the hand quickly disappeared and we exchanged glances to hear punching, before we knew it, the yellow bot peeked into the hole.

"Hello, I don't think it's safe to be here." He told us.

"Thank you." The boy said.

"No problem!"

He left as I crossed my arms but I didn't say a word at all.

"What did we see?" The boy asked quietly.

"Not sure, and I'm not sure I wanna to find out." Jack answered. I rolled my eyes.

We left by going through the pipe.

We reached civilization, but there was one thing on my mind, one question. I turned to face the boy.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Rafael but call me Raf." He introduced.

"Name's Karen Darby and this." I jabbed my thumb to a scowling Jack. "Is Jack Darby, my cousin."

After the introduction Raf walked in his own direction to head off home. Jack and I exchanged glances.

"Well, shall we get our bikes?" I said.

He nodded and we both walked off to head to KO burger where our bikes are waiting for us.

"Sooo, what was that all about?" I asked. Looking to the sky.

"I have no idea and like I said, I'm not sure I wanna find out." Jack answered as I rolled my eyes once more.

"Whatever you say Jack." I muttered.

"...And the cons would've been scrap if I wasn't distracted by a human." Arcee finished as she crossed her arms.

"Human?" Optimus questioned in surprise.

Bumblebee beeped and then held up three fingers to show how many humans there were.

"Two boys and a girl." Optimus murmured.

"I guess the third one caught us in action, I don't know, was busy at the time." Arcee said in a defensive tone.

"If the Decepticons are targeting us, anyone perceived as our ally will be at grave risk." He told the two.

Stepping out the school building. I looked around and then smirked as I spotted Miko Nakadai sitting on the wall drawing, I don't know what but whatever.

"What you doing?" I asked.

She squealed in fright and almost fell backwards. I grabbed her upper arm and then snickered as she got her balance and got over her shock, spotting me she glared at me.

"Karen!" She growled as I sneered.

We glared at each other, I didn't miss Jack walk past me and towards Raf. I continued to glare at her until I spotted a familiar yellow and black car appear.

"Until next time Miko." I said as I jogged off to catch up

"Oh, not again." Jack groaned as I caught up.

"Hi again, can you and the younger boy get in."

"He wants us to get in?" Jack asked.

"No, just me and Karen." Raf explained.

"How do you know?" Jack asked in shock.

"He told us to." I answered as I crossed my arms.

"What?"

"Your ride is over there." Raf said as I gestured with my thumb over to Arcee who was innocently parked.

"I don't think-" Jack began.

"How's it going." Raf said as he got into the passenger seat.

"Raf!" Jack said in alarm.

I said nothing and got on the driver side. I waved to Jack as the door closed down and we were off.

I looked out the window and hummed softly.

"What's your names? Mine is Bumblebee."

Fitting, how fitting.

"Rafael but you can call me Raf." Raf introduced.

"Karen."

I looked to see Jack was following me. I smiled but said nothing at all, I looked ahead of me and my eyes widened to see we were heading to a cliff! I blinked to see it opened and we found ourselves on a metal road.

We got out from the car. I spotted a green bot and a white and red one. I looked around with a small smile on my lips.

"I thought there was three?" The white and red one asked in surprise.

Wha? I yelped when someone glomped me and I fell to the floor since I wasn't expecting this at all.

"Haven't you heard? Humans multiply." Arcee told him as she walked off.

"I'm Raf." Raf introduced himself.

"And I'm Miko."

My eyes widened before I growled and began to squirm.

"Miko get off!" I grunted.

She did that, thank god, and ran to a green robot. I sat on my knees and placed my hands on said knees.

"Who are you?" I heard her ask.

"Bulkhead." Came the startled reply, it suits him, like Bumblebee.

Miko gasped. "Are you a car? I bet your a truck! A monster truck! Do you like heavy metal? How much do you weigh? Ever use a wrecking ball as a punching bag?" She asked.

I got to my feet and dusted myself off. I sighed and walked to where Raf was.

"So if you guys are robots, who made you?" Raf asked innocently.

"Ugh, puh-leez." The white and red one scoffed.

"Watch it!" I hissed.

He gave me a glare while I simply responded with a blank look. I walked over to my cousin and Raf when another one arrived, a red and blue one, I could tell he was a leader.

"We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron, also known as Autobots." He explained.

"Why are you here?" Jack asked.

"To protect your planet from the Decepticons."

"The jokers who tried to bump us off last night." Arcee clarified.

"Oh yeah, which she threw a brick at!" Jack glared at me as I looked away whistling innocently.

"And it was a good throw." Arcee told everyone as she looked at me. "She threw so hard there was a hole in the windscreen with cracks around said hole."

I coughed. "Moving on."

"Ok, Why are they here?" Jack asked as the red and blue one got onto his knee.

"He, has a point." I joined in.

"A fair question Jack, Karen, in part, they are here because our planet is uninhabitable. Ravaged by centuries of civil war."

He knows my name huh? I wouldn't be surprised if Arcee told him about my name, but I never mentioned Jack's name, well, at least I don't think I did.

"Why were you fighting a war?" Raf asked.

"Foremost, over control of our world's supply of energon. The fuel and life blood of all Autobots and Decepticons alike. The combat was fierce, and endured for centuries. In the beginning, I fought along one whom I consider a brother. But in war, ideals can be corrupted. And thus that Megatron lost his way." The red and blue one explained.

"Is there going to be a quiz?" Miko yawned as she played with her hair.

I said nothing and face palmed and then pinched the ridge of my nose, some days I wouldn't hit her but had this sudden urge to, and guess what, the urge is rising, oh forget it! I smacked her at the back of the head.

"What was that for!" She hissed.

"For being rude." I answered calmly.

I shook my head and turned back my attention to the red and blue one, I gave an apologetic smile.

"So what does Megatron, or any of this, have to do with us?" Jack asked.

"Megatron has not been or heard from in some time. But if his return is eminent, as I fear, it could be catastrophic." The leader told us grimly.

I frowned as Jack and I exchanged glances with each other. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Miko was still sulking but I didn't say anything at all, I just kept my focus ahead of me.

But I do know something, things are no longer going to be normal from now on, it's exciting to say the least, and besides, normality is overrated anyway.

And that's the first chapter of the rewrite done, it's slightly different than the last one, but not by much.

I wanted to rewrite this for a while now, like I said, I will keep up the original Life's Challenges for those who liked it and the sequel will be coming down.

Thanks for reading this rewrite, please leave a review, thank you.