The Autobots were good at keeping promises.

I made a request before they took me to CIA headquarters: bring me back to my base first.

And so they did. The yellow scout, Bumblebee, who could transform into a camaro drove me back.

And I did not expect what I would've seen.

When I got off the car, I stood in a piece of bare wasteland that was once called Cannon Air Force Base, where I once called my home.

"My god," I murmured, clasping my hand over my mouth, unable to accept this actually happened. My home was destroyed.

I felt like I was drained in the inside. I couldn't believe it. This was my home.

I glanced around. Not a single facility was in sight. Nothing but collapsed buildings. Rocks. Remains of what the military aircrafts used to be.

I heard Bumblebee transformed behind me. "So," he said. "This is Cannon Air Force Base. No offense, but it does seem like what SOCCENT became after Blackout destroyed it."

My head buzzed as tears started to gather in my eyes, fighting to fall. But I forced them back.

"Give me an hour," I said hoarsely. "I'll meet you at the hanger."

"Um, where's the hangar?"

I could feel a lump in my throat. I gulped hard and said, "Sorry. I'll meet you here."

"Alrighty then."

I started to move forward, and my legs were unusually stiff, as if walking dead.

These are the family housings, I thought, as I walked pass a road of collapsed buildings, remarkable with their nice-looking, cozily designed features. And there goes the dorms, and the snacks bar is there… no, it used to be there…

Every step seemed to have grown heavier and heavier, when every facility that was destroyed came into my sight. Sooner or later I realized I was standing in front of a place I was in before I left. One of the dining facilities, where I played a little jape on Edward, where I last met my friends…

I fell to my knees as I couldn't restrain my emotions anymore. "I'm sorry…" I sobbed uncontrollably, quavering, and somehow, feeling a little guilty. "I'm so sorry… if only I have fulfilled my job… if only I haven't been hit… I'm so sorry, I should've died to prevent this…"

And it hit me. The F-16 that entered our airspace… that's why I attacked it but it wouldn't fall. It was a Decepticon…

I wiped the tears off my face, though still trembling. I managed onto my feet shakily, and flashbacks of the good old times kept popping up in my mind. Halloween parties when everyone dressed up and trick people around. Birthday parties and get drunk. Playing pranks on others and joking around. Even the harsh physical training seemed such a distant but sweet experience. And Edward… he hardly joined us for a day. And that's where his life ended.

I continued walking on. And the more I see, the more emotions crushed me.

As soon as I have overcome the feelings I started to try and do something constructive, which would help with my plan. But no, everything was destroyed. Nothing would come in handy unless you need to bust someone's head at the moment.

By the bar was something I really could use, standing undestroyed. I was so relieved that I gasped. That was a drinking fountain. I could feel my dry throat hunger for water.

I ran towards it as if seeing a ray of light in complete darkness. Thankfully it could still function normally. Then I drank from it mouthful by mouthful, and two liters of water went down my throat easily.

I reached for the plastic bags in my survival vest and filled two of them up with water. They could serve me well anytime.

I started to make my way back to where I left Bee. I took a glance at my watch. Time really does fly, as I realized I was already three minutes late.

I returned to our meeting point, where I saw Bee sitting on a pile of bricks and things with his back to me. I could hear him speaking, though in an odd way, as if playing some random tapes and voice recordings.

"Young fellow, you are the person I care about most in my life." "If there is anything you need, I won't be far away." "There's some things you just can't change." "…so that his sacrifice wouldn't be in vain! Hallelujah!" "Everything we worked for will be wiped out in one day!"

I got confused. "What do you mean, Bee?" I asked. He turned and saw me.

"I wasn't talking to you," he said.

"So… you're saying you're talking to someone invisible," I said, as I tried to read his expression, which was impossible to do. "You're missing someone, aren't you?"

"You're a nosy human, Jo!" he exclaimed and transformed into his alternate car form. I shrugged. I believe I got the point. He was missing someone. Whoever that person was… I guess I'd never know unless he tells me. "I suppose I am," I said. "I just never assumed you'd ever feel that way, hardcore warrior."

I tried to open the door of the car but it was locked. "What the- " I murmured. "Hey, Bee, it's not funny. Let me in!"

He wouldn't do as I said. Instead he started up his engine and drove away.

"Hey- hey- come back!" I yelled and ran after him. "That's not funny! Come back or I'll crack your windows!"

Of course that was impossible. I attempted to do that to Optimus but it didn't work.

He sped up instead. Soon our distance got widened.

"No no, that's not a joke!" I yelled. "Okay! I apologize for whatever I've said! I'm sorry!"

The yellow chevrolet stopped finally. I caught up with him and scolded, "You're so defensive, Bee. That makes you hard to get along with."

"You little- " he began. Suddenly he stopped. The door flung open automatically and he said, "Get in, get in. Someone's here."

I entered the car and said, "I warn you, if you dare to trick me…"

"Shut up and just listen."

The car started up and drove away, and entered a place shortly later, which took me a while to recognize: one of our hangers. Deserted and about to fall apart, judging by its half-damaged structure, with piles of fallen apart facilities covering the entrance. I felt a bit both sick and uneasy at the thought.

I did hear something. Another engine roaring, and judging by the sound it should be a large vehicle, coming close to our place.

And then I saw something else. A black dot in the sky, flying towards our place and enlarging by the second, until a F-16 landed, and transformed into a gigantic robot.

And I realized… he was the one who hit me down.

He went to the right of our hiding point. I couldn't see them but I could clearly hear them.

"It's my honor to see you, Lord Galvatron…"

"Stop with all the nonsense, Fearswoop… where is my seed?"

So one's called Fearswoop and the other was Galvatron. Realizing although there's a wall between us, I was staying beside two ruthless killer robots, which made me panic. And they were even talking about the seed. That didn't sound good.

"I'm sorry, my lord… the information wasn't stored in this base…"

"And I can't even rely you on a single piece of information?"

And I heard some kind of sound like metal bumping and tearing, and someone yelping in pain.

"But my- my lord, Optimus Prime returned just last night… I saw him myself…"

"So Prime returned! I didn't expect that to happen this soon…"

What followed was a moment of intense and fearful silence, except from sounds of gigantic footsteps hitting the ground slowly and steadily, and a voice groaning lowly in agony.

"Prime couldn't have reached his creators so soon and return to Earth… and what can drives him back can only be the information of my seed…

"He must've gathered the Autobots for this. Do you know of their location?"

"I've- I've seen them, gathering a few miles from here, and they have mentioned about the seed- "

"Excellent! You'll continue to spy on them and report their actions to me. They'll be looking for the seed, and we can use them to help us. And I do not accept mistakes again, mark my word, Fearswoop…"

"Yes, lord Galvatron…"

And then came the noises the transformers make whenever they transform, and a F-16 took off and flew away from us.

So that's Fearswoop who just left. Just as I was about to exhale in gladness the sound came again, reminding me Galvatron was still around, though I couldn't be sure if he could hear me. An engine started up and roared as a silver semi-truck passed in front of us.

I paralyzed in shock for a moment, until slowly Bee drove out of our hiding point and out under the afternoon sun.

I got off the car and Bee transformed. "We have to warn the others," I said. "We have to change the plan. We can't let them succeed in their plan."

"The others already know," Bee said. He clicked a button on the side of his head and what sounded like an unstable radio connection was on.

I got it. He had been playing a live radio show to the Autobots for the whole time.

Bumblebee contacted onto them and asked what we should do. Their reply was strange. The plan hasn't changed at all. The only thing was we would be picking Brains, the tiny robot up at another spot.

"But why?" I said in exasperation. "We still have time! We can change the plan and…"

I paused for a better word. "We can't let them get whatever they want. We'll be dead if they have the information of the seed."

"They must have a reason to make that decision. They will find a way to sort that part out," Bee replied.

"Yeah, and I'm always the third wheel," I sighed.

Bee transformed into his alternate car form and I got in. "Don't be like this, Jo. If you're the third wheel, what am I? the fourth wheel? I don't know of their plan either."

"You have four wheels already," I pointed out.

Suddenly the driver's wheel shot towards me and I was just quick enough to block it before the wheel broke my nose. "Okay, okay, I forgot that one, that's the fifth one…" I jested. The wheel gave more pressure. "Okay, I surrender! Can you just stop?" I groaned. The wheel went back to its original place.

"I know you're strong, but you don't need to hit me that hard," I caviled as I massaged my arm that blocked the wheel. And I regretted saying that at once. That was exactly what Tyrell told me the day before. Reminding myself of that hurt so much.

"Don't blame me. You started that yourself," Bee protested. He started up his engine and drove away.

"So when can you arrive at CIA headquarters?" I asked. "Wait. It's at Virginia. That's at least a thousand miles."

"Don't worry. If we go at top speed it'll be a five-hour trip. If we go fast without breaking traffic rules it's seven."

"And it's 11am now," I said as I took a glance at my watch. "We'll pick up Brains now. And I want to do a bit of shopping before we get in."