Megatron kept driving throughout the rest of the night, where he chose to stop he no longer cared. He drove nearly blind in emotion and physical damage, his vehicle mode rocking and tossing about violently on the unleavened grasslands and rocky landscape of the back country savannah. His body continued to be battered and ruined, but again, he no longer cared.

It couldn't be true. He couldn't have done it. Yet, here it was, lying in his cab. Not now, anytime but now.

The child was motionless, he could no longer tell she was breathing, and she was cold as near ice. He had tried going over rough terrain in hopes it would jostle her awake, but she remained unresponsive.

Over the groaning of tossing armored siding, squealing tires, and the growling of the engine, no human could have be able to hear the hidden but relevant moan from the cab speakers.

Never had the Decepticon felt so much emotion weigh him down. Not in the losses of the Pit battles of Kaon, nor the loss of brethren in the war, or any emotional bond broken. This…was different to him, and seemed to be the most painful wound he had ever received. But why, he just couldn't understand.

He braked to a stop near a stream, which had shrunk partially half in size due to the dry season. He groaned low as he transformed into his mech form, the tiny, lifeless child in hand.

He nudged her cheek, but her head just rolled to the other side limp and silent. He took her by the shoulders with two claws carefully, and shook her lightly enough to be able to wake her. But once again, there was no response. Slowly, the mech let go of her and let her lie in his palm, and simply stared at her in silence.

Megatron never in his long, eon-filled life thought he would be bringing himself to this. He should be disgusted and ashamed with himself, but could feel none of the sort. The great, powerful, and fierce overlord of the Decepticon…mourned.

As the silence rolled on, other than the gently flowing stream beside him, Megatron sat down slowly with his human in hand as he rested it atop his knee. He propped his fingers in a reclined position, so her small body was sitting up as if she was only sleeping. At least in this stature she didn't seem so gone.

They sat like that for some time.

His voice was distant as he looked off. "…Even with no reason to destroy…I continue to destroy what I mean to preserve." Megatron murmured. "…Finding the Allspark…Destroying Prime…and restoring my home-world, were the only things I wanted more than anything…" he sighed heavy in a growl. "But…even then, I failed to gain any of those. And now look at me, girl…what I have been reduced to."

Megatron chuckled with no humor in tone. "I had everything, before the war began…'Lord High Protector' was my designation. I was, 'content', but…I wanted more, you could say the least." He stared down at his other claw in near shame, snarling low and muted. "Greed lead me to what I am…that I can never change. It has made me who I am, girl, as you have made yourself as who you are. Maybe I thought, if I had everything under my rule, Cybertron would have been brought to its glory of the Golden Age once again…no oppression and unruly caste system I was trapped in the hole of…war was my answer, and others followed me. I was blinded by the glory of death, and knowing I was another life close to a new future for my home and my life…" he growled inwardly, dropping his gaze. "…But now, as I see the dust and ruin clear…when I now see what I saw that day I saw my home-world above this planet…" His gaze flicked back up to the child. "…I now realize, that after all the trouble I have gone through…that there wasn't much left to save and rebuild a future for."

The tyrant stopped himself a moment in thought. Why was he letting this out now, in such a cowardly weak manner to a lifeless human child? Sympathy? Maybe even grief? Self-relief on his part? He growled inwardly, not even sure for himself. He just felt like he had to. Who else did he have to talk to who would at least feel they would…well, understand?

"Perhaps, it's because I have hit the bottom of my reign, girl…and I have nothing left to rule but my own life now. I am no longer High Commander Megatron of the Decepticons. I am just…Megatron, now. Nothing more." He sighed. "Every day on this planet, ever since the final battle, I would just lie and wait for my life to end, to leave this, beaten up and useless shell of mine. I feel it dying around me, rusting away every hour…and I only want it to end. To have peace from the pain I have brought my home and myself…"

The mech paused, and shifted the child's position in his careful palm. "But…Perhaps there was another reason I chose to spare you that night, girl…not to just understand why you no longer fear death. Maybe…" He stopped again, and nudged her hair a little with a light claw, brushing it out of her face. He rumbled slightly in his chest. "…Maybe, you came to me for a reason. Not by order of a superior, or chain of command…and I spared for more than just question and service…" He shrugged only slightly, his shoulder armor creaking. "Perhaps…you are here for another chance at repairing the ruins of my wasted life."

The young girl didn't move, only a few strands of her hair flowed soft in the breeze.

"I meant to inform you of it…but I was ashamed of it myself. To, know it has found a link by two opposite species…one disgusted by the other, but not. I didn't mean for it to happen…but some things a superior as I cannot control are always apparent." He frowned, and nodded once. "And maybe, just maybe…I can take back the one thing I regret."

Slowly, Megatron placed his free hand into the break of his chest, but did not open it. For this, he didn't need to. If it was as what he felt it was, it would do its purpose on its own.

The seams of his chest armor slowly began to glow a dim blue light, running along his chassis in zapping strings and beams. As they grew in brightness, they flowed toward the center of his chest around his claw. He sighed heavy in his vents, ready for what he was about to do. He knew it would be the least he could do, and maybe the only thing he could now.

Carefully pulling back his hand, the blue lights flowed out connected to the claws in soft tendrils and wisps. He groaned softly, not in pain, but present and lifted relief. As he pulled his hand fully away, the blue light tendrils swirls around his fingers and whirled into a soft pulsing orb of blue and silver glow. It was small, but its strength was great. Even for just a fragment, the power of one Cybertronian's spark was still an amazing feat of mechanical life-force.

Megatron let out a sigh again, and looked to the child resting reclined in his other claw. He stared at her a moment, pondering but sincere as he spoke. "…It was the last thing I would ever expect of myself, but here it lies." He glanced to the spark fragment flowing in his palm, then back to her. "You, Annabelle Hutchins, human of Earth…have, and always had…shared a fragment of my spark. You, girl…will be my spark mate. Never to properly bond…but in life force, will we both be one." He bowed his head, and began to murmur the Oath.

"In pain, peace, and continue of time, you shall share a part of my spark. And in preservation of Primus and the Allspark itself, no break of force or death shall sever our bond. You, Annabelle of Earth, who share the spark of I, Megatron of Cybertron, carry a heavy yet precious burden. For if you are to cry, hurt, weep, or scream, I shall feel the same. Yet if I carry the same, you shall not feel mine. For if I am to be hurt or left to join the Allspark, you shall not take the same. But if you shall pass to join the afterlife, I will bear the same. Upon my dying breath, or last beat of my spark, I shall defend you with my life. I carry your head in darkness, and lift your sorrows. May the Allspark drain my veins and my spark from my body if I break my oath. Upon Primus himself and until time ends…you will be mine and I yours, Annabelle of Earth…."

He flickered his optics in a blink, his head wound sparking once again, making his damaged optic twitch. He frowned into space as he lifted his head again. Was this the right choice? Had he made a mistake? It couldn't be one; his spark separating a fragment was proof of it, as well as how it healed the girl of her wounds awhile past.

He looked up into the stars a moment. Was this Primus's answer for him? Was he choosing the right path? He feared it, but, what else had he to lose? He didn't lie in his oath, it came instinctively, smooth and honest. It must be true, no matter how it may seem, Primus had lead her to him. It was a fresh start, clean slate. Something he needed more then he thought.

He nodded to himself. It was the least she deserved for putting up with him.

Bringing the human up against him chest up, Megatron slowly brought the small fragment of his spark to the girl's chest. He was cautious, not sure if the joining of spark and organic body would harm her more then she already was. But he had to try, for his mistake, and for her sake.

He halted his claw inches above the girl's chest, and watched as the fragment flowed off his palm and formed an orb again with soft white wisps. It hovered over her chest for some time, until with a movement as gentle as the present breeze, the pulsing blue orb lowered down, and vaporized softly into her body and into her heart.

The Decepticon stared, waiting for something, for anything. It seemed to be for hours, just watching intensely. But nothing seemed to have changed. He blinked, huffing in confusion. Did it work? Or was it all for nothing? Perhaps he was right before, and his species was not meant for spark splits between humans. He had given his half of spark for nothing.

He locked up suddenly. He looked quickly back to the human lying against him. Did he feel what he thought he did?

There it was again. Small, but it was there.

Megatron managed a relieved smirk and rumble of his chest. She was breathing. She was okay. It had worked after all. He brought her back. She was alright.

He rubbed a claw gently over her head, shifting her closer to him. "I'm here, girl…" he murmured. "…I'm here…"

-X-

"Are you sure?" Kandler frowned. "You're ABSOLUTELY sure?"

The Aussie nodded, gaze down and voice soft in remorse. "Yes, sir, I'm sure. She's gone, sir. I saw her die right in front of me, sir. He finished his job."

"And her body is where?"

"I…could not retrieve the body, sir. The Decepticon took it with him. He refused to give her up, even when she's dead."

Kandler leaned back into his seat with a heavy sigh, rubbing his eyes and bridge of his nose. "…Have you reported to the high command?" the trooper shook his head. "Then I'll do it myself, then. It's best the secretary knew what happened under our watch." He sighed. "And let's just hope we keep our jobs. You need medical check in?"

"I'll be fine, sir. Just a few scratches." He looked off to the side, eyes down.

"It could've been worse, and you know that." Kandler frowned, and Carlsbad merely nodded. "Don't drown in this, kid. You did the best you could."

"But even that wasn't enough, was it? None of our 'best' would have changed what happened back there."

The general shrugged. "You're probably right. But things can surprise you, even when you think you've seen it all." He stood up slowly from behind his desk. "Get some rest. I'll take you a week off watch. After the shit you dealt with, you need the break."

Carlsbad shook his head, looking back to his general. "No, sir. Two days is fine with me, at minimum. I don't need that long to mope over what I couldn't have changed."

Kandler made a small smirk at his lips. "Always bounce back, lieutenant. That's another thing I admire in you." He frowned again. "But…what if something DID change? What if something else happened last night? If you had a chance to complete your mission, and bring her home…would you take it?"

The Aussie was quiet, staying in thought. After a while, he shrugged. "If there was the freak incident it was in our favor…then yes, I would have, sir." He paused. "Even…if I had to die in her place, sir, I would do anything to have brought her home."

The general eyed him, then nodded in understanding. "…You're dismissed, son." He saluted back as Carlsbad did the same, and watched the lieutenant leave in silence. He sighed heavy, and dialed a private number. "…Mr. Secretary, I'm afraid I have some bad news, sir."

-X-

Never in some time had she ever had such peaceful dreams. She knew she probably wouldn't remember the details, but she would remember how great those dreams were.

Perhaps she was dead? She sure felt dead a short while ago. It was almost too peaceful for her comfort. There was no white light, no hand reaching out, or long tunnel, just warm darkness. What a disappointment that was.

She just lay in the dark, picturing herself in a field on a warm summer night. That's how it felt there in the abyss. She might as well feel comfortable if she would stay here.

Her hand swayed in the tall green grasses, soft to the touch in the gentle breeze. The sunlight warm on her cheeks, her eyes shut contently. For once, she felt…happy. Maybe even, peaceful.

"…Annabelle…"

She opened her eyes. That voice, where had she heard that voice? It seemed so familiar, yet so strange.

"…Annabelle…"

Who was that voice? Did she know that voice…yes, she did. But why was it so different?

"…I'm here, Annabelle…"

She whipped around, and stopped, and relaxed.

He stood there, just across a stream of grass.

Why was he here? Did she know him? But…he seemed so familiar.

That voice.

He had dark hair, rusty red eyes, and wore a fit silver trimmed black suit. He wore a sleek hood, covering a raw wound over his right eye.

She just stared.

Why was she seeing this? Why him?

HE brought her here. HE was the one who killed her and brought her here to an endless dream. She should be angry, furious, and hurt

But…she only felt…hurt, and at the same time, oddly relieved.

He held out a hand, which was covered in scars.

"…Annabelle…"

Her body lurched violently back, and her body fell. It happened slowly, ever so slowly, like gravity was failing. She felt weightless. She hit ground, but did not feel it. Her dream was collapsing into one small orb hovering before her. It was white, tinted in silver and blue. She floated along with it, as it remaining just above her as they both stayed weightless in the darkness.

The orb suddenly slammed into her, absorbing into her chest. She cried out in shock, but it didn't hurt her, just knocked the wind out of her. She could breathe? The wind was knocked out of her, so she could breathe again? Suddenly, she could feel again. She no longer felt numb, and she could feel warmth and life flowing back through her like a warm wave of water.

She blinked, as blinding white light enveloped her from nowhere in the dark abyss she was floating in.

As she felt herself being lifted, she blinked slowly, sensing every wave of precious powerful energy and light flow over her skin.

Her eyes opened, and a small, barely visible ring of blue light circled her pupils.

Before much else, it halted, and she was practically thrown back into her body.

-X-

Annabelle gasped in a shout, jolting up, and with just having come back to the living, her body didn't want to function properly. Her revived legs caused her to stumble back, and braced herself against a boulder and tree behind her.

She was gasping heavy, taking wonderful air back into her lungs. The shock of being thrown back into life was like being slammed in the chest by a head on train. She couldn't think straight for a few minutes, her mind trying to connect back to its body.

After a few minutes of recovery, Annabelle slid down and sat atop the boulder she braced on. She stared down at her hands, her vision slightly dizzy.

How did she get back? She was dead, she knew it…but how was she brought back? How could she be brought back from the dead?

She rubbed her head, feeling her hair again after what seemed to be after such a long time.

"Hm, you're awake."

Annabelle looked up, and saw a familiar shape she thought she wouldn't see again.

"…Megatron..?"

The Decepticon turned to her, frowning. "About time you woke, girl. You know I don't tolerate much waiting as you force me to bear."

She blinked, and looked about in confusion. "But, I…what happened? I…I was, dead, wasn't I?"

Megatron growled slightly, pushing another large boulder into place with his pede roughly. "Humans, you over-exaggerate the smallest things." He glanced back to her. "No, just hit you too hard, was all…but you're awake now, so, guess that's a good thing for you. Be grateful, girl. Maybe you COULD be dead, if I didn't slow my strike."

"You...but you were gonna kill him. Carlsbad, you were gonna kill him. I…" she groaned, shifting how she's sitting on the boulder. "I couldn't let you hurt him…"

He growled harshly, turning to face her. "And WHY should I not have harmed the maggot that attacked me FIRST, and attempted to kidnap you from me?"

"Hey, first of all," Annabelle clumsily got to her feet atop her perch. "YOU kidnapped me. HE was trying to rescue me. Yes, he was out of line attacking you like that. I tried to stop him, if you failed to notice that. But once again, you lose control and go all King Con on us humans, and nearly kill me whilst I tried to protect my own."

"He had no right to," The mech sneered with a growl. "And neither did you to defend him. I simply wanted to eradicate the problem by removing his head, which I FAILED to do thanks to what you put yourself into by going into my line of strike." He strode over to her, towering above. "Be thankful I chose to get you out of his line of strike and of the others arriving, before we BOTH were scrapped."

Annabelle glared up at him. "…I didn't need your help. Maybe he would have left you be, if I had left with him willingly. Ever think of that?"

Megatron snarled low, recalling Carlsbad's offer that night to not attacking him again if he gave up the girl. But even then, and even now, the Decepticon refused it.

He uttered a suppressed growl. "…Move, girl."

"Why?" she challenged, standing firm.

"I need to MOVE that rock you're standing atop of, stupid girl. Now MOVE before I aid you in moving myself." He growled low again, as Annabelle slid off her perch of a boulder, which Megatron lifted up almost effortlessly.

The teen watched him drop the boulder atop the other, making the ground shake a moment. She stared as he shifted them in an even wall, and realized it was where the canopy cloth used to be. He seemed to be making a more sturdy dwelling to sit beneath, is what it seemed, but she wasn't certain.

"Hey, Megs?" he huffed in response, still working. "Er, why the change in architecture around here?"

"My sensors report a heavy rain season is coming. Our previous means of shade would not last even halfway through. It was time for, let's say, an 'upgrade'." Megatron growled as he shoved a flat but large river rock atop the stacked ring of boulders, settling as a makeshift roof just enough for him to walk through without having to bend down like before.

Annabelle walked over curiously, observing the new means of shelter. It was big, she had to give it that, large enough for the Decepticon to walk and lie down comfortably in, with plenty of room on the sides in case to bring stuff in away from the rain. It was based with heavy gray, black, tan, and few red boulders to form three walls for the sides and back. It seemed well built, and not the slightest bit appearing to fall down.

"I have to admit, Megs…it's pretty awesome." She turned up and looked at him.

The mech huffed. "Of course it is, girl. I built it, didn't I?" He rolled his optics slightly, and blinked as the two sparklings came dashing about, running in and out from under the stone shelter, and bouncing around near Annabelle as a wild greeting.

"Well they seem to like it, don't they?" Annabelle smirked.

Megatron said nothing, and went back toward the river to rinse his systems of filth.

Annabelle followed him after a moment, not really comfortable being alone out in the middle of nowhere now. She ran up alongside him, and he kept walking, but now slowed down enough for her strides.

"I wasn't out that long, was I?" she asked nervously.

Megatron frowned. She was only out for the night, but he gave up something precious to bring her through the night. Yet, he felt she wasn't prepared to learn that truth just yet.

He shook his head. "Just the night, girl, not very long for humans."

"Oh." She murmured, looking ahead again.

After a few minutes of walking, Megatron growled again, and stopped and dropped a hand down for Annabelle. "Come."

She shrugged, and climbed into his palm, and allowed him to lift her up and set her atop his shoulder as he resumed their walk.

Annabelle brought up her knees as he took them to the river fed out from the falls, not really wanting to bother to ask why. The falls pounded distance away, and the water was near crystal clean along this bend of the river. She shifted her position slightly as he stepped into the shallow of the river bank, a few boulders stinking out here and there. The water only up past his ankle, Megatron got down to one knee as water flowed under his armor and cleansing his sore systems again.

He scooped Annabelle from his shoulder, and set her atop one of the rocks. He gestured to the water. "Drink, girl." Megatron simply said, as he slid down onto his belly in the water, and moaned contently, optic dim with relief.

Annabelle watched him a moment, then looked down at the ledge she was atop. She thought about it, and then smirked.

Megatron flinched from his rest when a random splash of water collided into the side of his face. He snarled sharply, pushing himself up on his elbows to look about in alert. Were they under attack again? He glanced back to where he set Annabelle to warn her, but he snarled again when she wasn't there. He growled low, now angered that a soldier may have snuck by and took her, using the splash as a distraction.

Another splash hit him in the chin, and Megatron whipped his gaze back with a snarl, and stopped a strike with a claw when he saw a laughing Annabelle in the water before him.

"Dude, I got you good!" she laughed, pushing her damp hair back. "Wow, didn't think I would get you that bad."

Megatron sneered. "That wasn't funny, girl. Not even slightly amusing." He growled as she just laughed again, and he bared some of his fangs. "Now THIS, is amusing." He skimmed his claw through the water swiftly, making a wave that dunked Annabelle below a moment before she resurfaced.

"Better try harder then that!" Annabelle shouted out, before diving under again.

Megatron grinned. "Oh, so we play THIS game." He chuckled as he crouched back on his feet, out and ready to grab her if she appeared. He flinched as a small splash hit his leg, and swung around with a snapping claw.

Another light wave hit his heel, and he whirled around and smacked a claw down, his gaze wild but excited. He had to admit, she was quite reckoning in water.

Annabelle took the moment to dive and swim just in-between Megatron's legs, and tugged teasingly at a wire in his ankle.

Megatron snapped the claw back to his ankle, but misread his balance, and roared out once as he tipped over and collapsed back into the water with a massive crash of waves. He shook his head of access water, grumbling Cybertronian of sorts, and blinked as Annabelle popped up beside his head.

He sneered. "You deceiving little bug."

Annabelle smirked, climbing up the side of his chest and sitting atop it. "Sorry, just wanted a little fun." She wiped her face. "Almost forgot how long it had been since I swam without nearly dying." she chuckled lightly.

"Perhaps I should keep you away from the water now." Megatron grumbled, and smirked fangs. "You can be a forced reckoned with in such places."

Annabelle giggled a bit, and Megatron merely rumbled his chest in reply. He hummed quietly as he leaned his head back into the water, allowing himself to lie in the water on his back to sooth his aching armor and circuitry.

The teen just lay down on her side atop his chest, staying still as it rose and fell beneath her with every spark beat and vent. Still wet, the heat from his spark kept her warm enough. But she felt another odd sensation now. She felt…contentment. Not her own…but of someone else's. She felt strangely at peace being near Megatron's spark, and she didn't know why.

She felt sleepy again, and yawned as she curled up in the warmth of Megatron's chassis. She closed her eyes, and moaned quietly as she felt a gentle metal claw drape over her, giving more warmth…and comfort.

After such a long time, Annabelle felt safe.