Another short chapter, but I needed to get this thing out of the way so I could focus more on my research paper. XDD

Okay, so there was only one person who did my last challenge. Thanks a lot, guys. XP So, because they were the only one to do it, first place goes to Guest—whoever you are.

I do not own Transformers or anything in relation. I only own Hunter, the Hybrid race, and any other character that you may not recognize.

Stu Phillips; Mission Begins

4

The Mission

Four Days Later;

The helicopter had hardly touched down when Silas was throwing the door open and jumping out onto the ground, a snarl on his face that would have made even the devil quiver. Growling he stormed towards the tree-strip where a masked figure clad in a black cat suit sat at the base of a tree. "What was that?!" he demanded once he'd covered half the distance.

"What was what, Silas?" the figure questioned unconcerned as she reclined back against the trunk of the tree, arms folded behind her head, one leg propped up on a knee.

"You demand to come on this mission with my team and once we're here, you refuse to come with us to retrieve the DNGS as well as failing to mention that the plane being used to transport it is a military class fighter jet, heavily armed, and being piloted by a man who has enough skill to drive us off with heavy ordinance?!" the white-haired, scarred man fumed. "And while we're on the subject, I didn't see anything of this "other weapon" around. What is it? What do you have me and my men up against here, woman?!"

Not looking up of moving from her position, the female sighed. "Calm yourself, man," she replied. "I didn't tell you everything about the transport of the DNGS because I knew it would be better if you were unprepared. If you were truly unprepared for what you were up against then it would look as though they truly drove you off. Besides, you weren't meant to capture the DNGS the first time around. You want to wait for the second time, that way you'll be able to take both the DNGS and the second weapon." She raised her head ever so slightly and raised an eyebrow behind her facemask. "Can your simple, homo sapien brain understand that, Bishop?" Her voice was patronizing.

Silas prickled and growled softly. "You are a strange, confusing woman."

Behind her mask, the woman smirked. "And that, my dear Leland, is why you do not want to test me."

Olympus High;

Hunter stared down at her paper and scribbled down the answers to the questions on the assignment furiously, trying her hardest not to take notice of how all of the other students in the classroom were staring intensely at her, watching her every move. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from growling. This was only her second day of school and all of this insanity was getting really old! Okay, she got it. She was the Fuser and the Fuser was the savior and it was really big and exciting to meet somebody with that kind of power and fame, but aside from all that, she was still just a regular teenager. She could be klutzy, forgetful, and—Primus forbid—wrong. She could be quirky and awkward and shy. She was just like every other teenager her age; it was just that she happened to be Primus' chosen one, blessed with sixteen lives, granted unbelievable power, and expected to save an entire race and planet. So why did they seriously have to stare at her like she was the most amazing thing this side of the universe? The only one who could truly get away with that was her father that was because he really did see her as the most amazing thing in the universe and it was on a whole completely different level then how these people were eyeballing her. She was just amazed and relieved that no one had asked for her autograph yet again.

Suddenly the door opened, drawing everyone's attention away from her. Hunter heaved a silent sigh of relief. Looking back towards the door like everyone else, she was surprised to see Greasy standing there. He hardly ever left his history room—what was he doing standing in the doorway of the math classroom. She cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head.

The elderly Hybrid met her eyes for a quick moment before turning to the teacher. "Ms. Stark," he addressed the woman, "I was wondering if it would be possible to pull Huntress away from you. She is needed at home."

Hunter's eyes widened and she stood up, ignoring as all eyes turned to her again. "'Cons?" she questioned.

Greasy shook his head. "I'm not sure, but come along, girl."

Hunter shot a quick glance to Ms. Stark who nodded her permission. The teen nodded back in turn, almost unable to keep the mile-wide grin that was spreading on her face. Yes, she was outta here! Quickly gathering up her books, pencils, and other assorted applies, the Fuser stuffed them into her backpack, flung it over her shoulder, and all but bolted out of the room, barely suppressing a whoop as she left.

"So what's the plan, Stan?" Hunter questioned and announced her arrival as she entered the Autobot base via ground-bridge.

"Transportation duty," Bulkhead answered.

"For?" the girl asked.

/One certain government agent,\\ Bumblebee answered.

Hunter froze and looked up at the yellow and black mech with a flat stare. "Say what?"

'Bee shrugged. /He's transporting this thing called a "DNGS" and apparently the 'Cons ambushed for him to try and take it. He called for backup so we're helping him transport it."

Hunter blinked a few times, processing it all. Honestly, just hearing the mention of Fowler had put a kind of numbing blanket over her. She and Fowler—though not enemies—were not exactly friendly acquaintances. They constantly got on each other's nerves. Every time he came to the base it was almost a guarantee that the two of them would get into argument about something or other. Neither of them liked to be around the other. It was true that a while ago they had called a truce, but it was a testy one. Hearing heavy footsteps, Hunter turned to see her spark-father coming into the main room and she advanced towards him, arms crossed over her chest. She looked up at him, cocking an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

Already knowing what she was talking about, Optimus sighed heavily. "Hunter…" he began.

"If I'd've known it was Fowler I would've just stayed at school. At least the people there can take a hit." She got a look. "Not that I would ever hit anyone," she quickly amended. "At least not without just cause, which, if he ain't careful, just might be what Fowler is," she added under her breath.

"I heard that," Optimus stated.

His daughter rolled her sapphire blue eyes.

"Uh, question," Miko suddenly jutted in, coming to the end of the catwalk that was closest to the duo.

"Yes, Miko?" Optimus addressed the girl.

"What happens when Fowler sees her in that?" She pointed at Hunter's school uniform.

Hunter's eyes widened as the realization hit her. Miko was right! She already gotten laughed at by her friends and her team for wearing this thing, but that would all be nothing compared to the grief Fowler could—and most assuredly would—give her for it. Fowler to see her in this getup would be a living nightmare! Whipping back around, the sixteen-year-old met her father's optics. "Do I have time to change?"

Suddenly the ground-bridge powered up again.

"Um, that would be a 'no'," Jack answered her question.

"Ugh!" Hunter threw her head back in a groan. "Can I drive by myself?

Optimus looked at her for a full minute and blinked. "No," was his simple answer.

Hunter gave him a look. "Why?!" she demanded. Then her eyes narrowed. "You don't like my driving do you?"

"Sweet-spark, it has nothing to do with that."

"Oh, really? Then why won't you let me drive by myself."

"Because I want you to ride with me in order to help me keep my sanity with Fowler around."

"Okay, that's a reasonable explanation, I'll give ya that. But the fact remains, you don't like the way I handle the road."

"I never said that."

"But it's true isn't it?"

"No." The Prime transformed to his alternate mode, attached his trailer, and opened his passenger side door.

"You are such a bad liar," the Hybrid informed him as she hoisted herself up inside his cab and down into the seat, depositing her backpack in the back.

"Am I now?" Optimus replied as he started to drive through the bridge, the rest of the team following. "Well, the fact remains, you believed me when I said that I would never laugh no matter what you looked like in that uniform."

"Haha," Hunter replied acerbically. After a moment or two, the meaning of what her father had just said finally processed in her head. She sat up and glared at his radio. "Wait, what?!"

Fowler sat on the side of his crashed fighter jet, still fuming over the fact that he'd gotten blown out of the sky by the Decepticons… again! He'd just about had it with all these alien robots. All this blowing stuff up and flattening things and coming after him—especially coming after him! Just then the familiar sound of the 'bots ground-bridge reached Fowlers ears and he looked up to see them all driving through. Growling he stood and mover towards them. "'Bout time you 'bots showed up!" he barked. "I was scared the 'Cons were gonna come back while I was waitin' for you and snatch the DNGS and me!"

"They'd throw you back in fifteen minutes, Fowler," Arcee replied.

Fowler growled at her. "Yeah, well I got news for you, lady…."

"Enough," Optimus cut in.

"Let's get this thing loaded up and the show on the road!" Bulk exclaimed.

"Hunter," Optimus said.

"Got it, Dad," the girl replied. She opened the door, got out, and walked towards the large metal box type thing that was sitting beside the downed aircraft.

"What in the name of Uncle Sam's beard?" Fowler voiced, staring at her with wide eyes. "Hogwarts has landed!"

Hunter froze mid-stride and gave him a flat look. "Shove it," she responded, then she kept walking towards the DNGS. Picking it up with ease, she turned and began to make her way back towards her father's trailer where Bumblebee was waiting to load it.

"Careful, girl," Fowler warned as he followed her. "You jar that thing the wrong way and it melts down, we melt with it along with the rest of the state and its four neighbors."

"And yet the military picked you to be the one to transport this thing? Heh, kinda shows what their opinions about you are, huh?" Hunter jibbed.

"Their opinions of me are probably the same as those of the people who put you in that outfit concerning you," the man shot back.

The teen glared over her shoulder. "Watch it, pudge." She turned back to 'Bee and handed the DNGS to him.

With the DNGS now loaded and Arcee riding with it in the trailer for extra protection, the team was ready to move out. Fowler and Hunter both got into Prime's cab, Fowler taking the driver's seat despite Hunter's protests. Once he was there, an expression that was a little bit too excited for Hunter's liking came over the agent's face and he looked around, almost as if he was trying to decide what to do first. Driving an alien robot! No, not just that—driving an alien robot that was a big rig! How rad was that?! Rubbing his hands together elatedly, he reached out, getting ready to take control.

"Ah!" Optimus voice suddenly came into the cab, stopping him mid-reach. "No need, Agent Fowler. I will handle the driving."

Fowler deflated and slumped back in the seat, crossing his arms. "It's gonna be long trip," he sighed.

Crossing her own arms, Hunter turned so that her back was to the government agent and looked out the window. "Yeah, tell me about it," she mumbled.

Challenge time! Pretty simple this time around. Because I'm curious, would any of you want to be the Fuser? Why or why not?