"Now just hold still child. It will be over in a few minutes if you cooperate with us this time."

"NO! NO! STOP! Leave me alone. I don't want to do this!"

"Bring me the shocker."

"No! I'll do it. I'll do it."

"You had your chance. Next time you will do as I say."

"Here it is sir."

"Thank you. How much longer are you going to disobey me?"

Burning. Pain. Screaming. Stop. Please, someone help me.

-

Pain. That's all there is. I can hear someone screaming. I hear a voice. It's calling someone. It's calling me. Am I the one who's screaming? I open my eyes and find myself surrounded by trees. I can feel myself shaking and tears are making a trail down my face.

I close my eyes and feel the tears finally slowing down. My senses flare up when I hear someone approaching. I know by how deep the steps are that's its Optimus. I can also tell he's by himself, which in some sense is a relief.

I can sense that he's very worried, which bothers me a little. I tense from the feeling he is radiating once he comes within my sights. I can see the worried look in his optics, which only confirms that he is indeed worried about something. I actually felt something at that. That he would come out here looking for me if I was in trouble. I was still determined that I didn't want to be myself with them though. I nodded to him before I warped away. The last thing I saw was his disappointed look.

(One week later)

I jolt myself out of the trance I had put myself in a few hours beforehand. I knew something was wrong. I can feel an enormous power coming from within the base. I could also sense the 'Cons in the area. If I also remember correctly, Alexis said they were bringing their friend Billy to the base now that he knew about the Cybertronians now. I open my eyes and see myself in the base. My warping had gotten to the point where I did it subconsciously. I looked around the darkened hallways with a strong sense of caution, that foreboding feeling digging its way deeper into my mind.

I send out a special pulse to find where everyone was. When I sense it, I look to where the power is coming from. From what I can tell Optimus and Megatron are in the same place. It wasn't really much of a surprise to see them fighting over it. I know I need to get there and very quickly before things escalate. I can feel them stronger now. I can also tell that Megatron was very desperate for this power.

I turn the last corner and find Optimus and Hot Shot backed into a corner facing Megatron. Megatron is holding the source of that great power. The Star Saber. I need to get that out of his hands. Optimus and Hot Shot have yet to see me and I can use that to my advantage. Using my gifts, I put all my focus and energy into the sword – the source of all the current fighting. I don't know who was more surprised at what happened; Optimus or Megatron.

I watched as the sword suddenly disappeared from Megatron's hands and reappeared in Hot Shot's grip. I enjoyed seeing the look of surprise flitter across Megatron's face when he realized he was no longer holding it. Optimus was the only one who showed no emotion. By the way he acted; he must have been expecting me to show up sooner or later. Hot Shot looks down at the sword before grinning at Megatron. He twirls the sword around a bit before positioning it in front of Megatron.

"Looks like your plan backfired Megatron." They all looked to where I was. Megatron bares his teeth and growls at me for stating his obvious unexpected failure. All of us could see how pissed he looked. Oh no, Megatron was certainly not a happy camper. He must've thought I would be gone for good since he hadn't seen me as of late.

"Decepticons! Retreat!" His voice suddenly boomed, knowing he had been defeated.

We all watched as they warped away. Smokescreen and Red Alert both came running in and looked very surprised to see Hot Shot with the Star Saber but more shock came when Rad, Alexis, Carlos and Billy came in and saw me.

Everyone turned to me, "When did you get here Ashley?"

They started to approach me but before they could get to close I warped away because I still did not feel any closer to them.

(With Alexis)

I was pretty sure everyone could each others' disappointment when Ashley up and left. I looked up at the Autobots and saw sadness and, not surprisingly, confusion from Smokescreen.

I knew then that Optimus had yet to inform him about the existence of our friend, "Who was that?"

"I'm sorry Smokescreen but that information is classified. The only one who can tell you is herself. She has lost the trust in everyone she meets. You want to understand her you're gonna have to let her trust you first."

I was surprised that Optimus wasn't telling but then that made sense. It was Ashley's story to tell, not his and he respected her.

"We've done everything we can to get her to trust us but we've decided to wait and see what happens. Look how it turned out today. We had no idea that she would be here to help us. I'm pretty sure she'll be back. We just need to give her more time."

"She must've done something to make Megatron leave without trying to harm her. Have they met before?" Smokescreen was looking at us strangely and I realized that he must've felt hurt that everyone else knew but him and no one would tell him. He watched each of us before turning to Prime.

"I'm sorry we haven't told you anything but I made a promise not to tell anyone. If you want to know everything you'll have to earn her trust." Optimus frowned at having to keep information from his soldier, but a promise is a promise.

I knew this little dilemma would make things a little difficult in the upcoming weeks.

(Three days later – With Ashley)

The days have just flown by. Hot Shot was doing a lot of training and learning to wield the immense power the Star Saber held. He was quickly getting better at his skills with the Star Saber.

I also realize that this is the same way I need to improve my skills. All the Minicons that have awakened have gone to the Autobots so far. Smokescreen has yet to have gotten a partner, but I feel he will soon. On the horizon, something will soon change the shape of the war.

I could feel it. Someone was coming and they'd be here very soon. I should have felt this sooner but something felt different this time. There were many mixed emotions coming from this Transformer. I was looking at the stars. Something was about to happen, something big. I looked over to where the base was hidden, wondering if perhaps they felt it too. I also notice that something was happening in there as well but I had yet to have figured it out. I can wait though. I know how to be patient.

Just then, the Minicon alarm sounded.

I felt as they warped away and followed after the source of the alarm. They weren't paying much attention though so I had no worries about being seen. We warped to a canyon. It was the middle of the night here. I was getting a feeling again. Someone was hiding in this canyon. I pushed the feeling away when I saw Starscream head for a green light.

I watched as Smokescreen and Hot Shot took after them. It wasn't long before I watched as Starscream fell down to the earth. But he quickly gained his bearings and flew back up to face Hot Shot with his own sword.

"I'll show you a real master swordsman, kid." He sneered confidently.

I grew bored with their fight before turning back to that strange feeling I had. I could still sense the feeling. Whoever else was here, he had a very strong emotions around him and I couldn't tell just yet who he was for yet. He didn't seem like a Decepticon but he didn't feel like an Autobot either, which intrigued me. I landed on a giant rock face just as Hot Shot and Smokescreen came up to Optimus with Smokescreen's new partner, Liftor.

Liftor beeped and waved a greeting at them. It was then that I finally locked onto the stranger's location. I looked to my left and spotted a bulky figure far off a ways, standing on a plateau looking down on the Autobots. Scavenger. I immediately knew what he was doing but how long he had been there just watching and not helping was beyond me. I warped away right as Optimus looked in the same direction I had been looking in but what he would find would be an empty place.

The mysterious Cybertronian had left. He was here.