The Flaming Dawn

by Zaru

Summary: A year has passed by quickly. The government has funded a special team just for the Autobots to help keep track of the Decepticons still roaming on Earth. When Starscream returns in full force, how will everybody deal with another event just like Mission City?

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. I do own Zaru Kiys. I own Club Kunoichi. Leiana Lopez belongs to Ninjalala. Rose Connelly belongs to BlackwingRose. Jade Rivers belongs to Icarian Angel Wings. Kia Hawkins belongs to weapon13white fang. Piper Somoon belongs to BlackHealer222. Erin Timmons belongs to Strawberrytop007. Bethany King belongs to Mrs. Optimus Prime. I own characters with small/very minor roles as well. Songs sang/mentioned belong to their writers/singers/creators.

A/n: Chapter 8 is here. I am such a moron!! Bad computer! Bad! Losing my files on my comp is one thing! But to lose my fic ones on my USB!! I'm gonna be pissed! X| You don't know how much I wanted to use violence against my computer and the USB! So, I had to recapture all my chapters and reread them all to make sure I was still on the right track. Seriously, I'm not getting any better with this... So sorry. Now please enjoy a very short filling chapter 8 as I continue to gather my files together.

Once again, sorry! XD

Chapter 8


Next Night

Jade sat still on the huge berth as Ratchet did a full exam of Skyfire who recently woke up from his stasis. Skyfire was breathless. It was like he was still dreaming as his spark mate was the first one he woke up to. And she was beautiful even though her hair was disheveled and eyes all red and puffy from crying here and there while he was out of it.

They both sat there waiting for the medic to say that the scientist was safe to go. The blonde-brunette just looked up at her mate, a grin on her face.

"You were out of it for a few days, Skyfire. I was so worried about you." She leaned her head against one of his large legs hanging over the edge of the berth. "I was to the point where I thought I might lose you if Ratchet wasn't able to fix you up."

A large white hand reached down, cupping around the small human female. She shivered against the coolness of the metal, but relaxed knowing it was him who was near. "I understand that you were scared for me, Jade. But no worries. I was able to be repaired by Ratchet. It's a success, right?"

Chocolate eyes rolled. "Of course it's a success. I mean, if it wasn't, you wouldn't be here right now, now would you, Sky?" Her gaze moved up toward his towering face as he leaned over and smirked down at her.

"That's right. I wouldn't."

She closed her eyes, happiness flooding through her body, knowing that her spark mate was going to be all right. Thanks to Ratchet, that is. Opening her eyes back up, she couldn't help but smile over at Ratchet whose huge, neon hand was right near where he was examining Skyfire.

"Thanks, Ratchet, for helping Skyfire."

Ratchet looked down at the female with a tender smile upon his metal face. "Well you are quite welcome, Jade." Although the medic was acknowledged for his major work in repairing the other Cybertronians, he was rarely thanked afterward for it. "I'm glad Skyfire is all repaired as well." He looked to the huge, white mech before him. "Although, Skyfire, you must take it easy for awhile. You don't want to come back into the med bay so soon."

Skyfire just chuckled as he tenderly ran a white finger up and down Jade's spine slowly. "No. We wouldn't want that, now would we, Jade?"

She shook her head. "Not on your life." Laughing to herself, she suddenly realized her phone was vibrating the back pocket of the jeans she was wearing. Her eyes widened. "Who would be calling me now? Everybody's here." Reaching behind her, she reached into the tight pocket, pulling out the flip phone. Jade's eyes widened. Shit! "Oh no!" Flipping the phone open, she sweatdropped. "Hi, Erin."

"Jade, where are you? I thought you were going to meet me here at the airport a half hour ago."

-----

Erin huffed a little as she folded her arms across her chest listening through her wireless ear piece to her friend.

"I'm sorry, Erin! There was just so much stuff going on! I completely forgot! I'm sorry!" Jade apologized profusely.

The strawberry-blonde shook her head. "Your boyfriend Sky is still in the hospital?"

Jade shook her head. "No. He's just getting examined and then he'll be let out."

"Okay. So when are you coming to get me? I'll wait if you need me to? Or I can just take a cab to your place."

"No, Erin. Don't do that. It's fine! I'll be over at the airport as soon as I can. Okay?"

"Okay. But try not to be long..."

"Why?"

Erin looked around the airport seeing really strange people. "Because there's a lot of weird things going on right now in the airport!" She sweatdropped a little as she listened some more to Jade, Erin nodded. "Okay. See ya shortly then."

Reaching up, she pressed the button to turn off the connection of her call with Jade. The poor 18-year-old was stuck in the middle of the huge airport with a bunch of weird people surrounding her. A gang of guys lounging in the chairs nearby had punk-rocker appearances along with several piercings and tattoos. To her left, there was an odd-looking couple. The woman was dressed all in black from head to foot with white make-up all over her face. The guy was wearing a white polo shirt with a blue knitted vest, glasses and some gray slacks with sandals. She was used to seeing all different kinds of people in New York, but California took the cake.

Oh, Jade, get here soon.

Club Kunoichi

Zaru sat in her office chair staring off into space. A lot of things were going through her mind. Things that might not have the chance to be settled. She sweated a little from the outdoor heat that had seeped in through the open window. She was already going through enough stuff, but her air conditioner in the office had to break. It was becoming the worst week of her life. Groaning, she banged her head on the desk and exhaled.

"This is bullshit." She murmured to nobody. "It's all going to hell."

"I would tend to agree with that."

The green-haired woman looked up to see Blurr's holoform sitting in the chair in front of her. Her eyes widened as she screamed. "You bastard!" Grabbing a pen from the holder, she hurled it toward him. Blurr moved his head to the side, avoiding impact. "Knock before you enter! Damn!"

Eyebrow ridges raised. "Are you okay, Zaru?"

Huffing, she glared at him. "Do I look okay, Blurr? Cause I really don't feel it."

"Huffy, huffy." He smirked. "Is this about what happened with your father?" Crossing his legs, he stated, "Cause if it is, a little advice from me: Get over it.."

The club owner sat back in her own chair, eyebrows knitted together. The woman cared about the mech. Blurr was even so kind as to guard over at the club while Mirage had some important things to take care of at the club. But when it came to something this private in her life, he had no idea what attitude she could muster up. "Who do you think you are telling me what to do? This has nothing at all to do with you or the others! It's my personal business!" Standing up, she slammed her hands on the desk. "And how the hell did you find out about my father?"

Blurr shrugged. "Word gets around fast at headquarters."

"Mirage told you, didn't he?" The 23-year-old gritted her teeth together. "That lousy, good-for-nothing motherfu-"

"Mirage didn't tell me. Optimus did."

Her eyes widened at the mentioning of the Autobot leader. Optimus? Why would Optimus tell? "Why would Optimus tell you anything? He knows that it wasn't his business at all."

"Optimus is very worried about you." Blurr stood and frowned. "We all are."

Zaru felt her weight give out from under her, slumping into the swivel chair. Her blue eyes closed, water glistening under her lashes. "I don't know what to do, Blurr." She shook her head. "Everything seems to be going so totally wrong!"

"I can understand that. Things do go wrong in life, Zaru." He moved around the desk, setting a hand upon her shoulder. "Sometimes we can change the wrong, but other times we can't."

Zaru looked up at the blond-haired man before her. "What am I going to do, Blurr? My father's back here and I don't know if he's telling me the truth or not." She grabbed a kleenex blowing her nose. "He's lied to me so many times before that I never know when he's joking or serious or even telling the truth."

"Maybe this time is different." He cupped his hand to her cheek. "He could be telling the truth for once."

"How can I even know?"

Blurr smirked before poking a finger into her chest. "Ask your spark."

Smiling small through her, the woman wrapped her arms around Blurr's waist, burying her face into his shoulder. "Thank you, Blurr. I will trust my spark."

Autobot Headquarters

Rose walked through the base looking around everywhere, but she just couldn't find him. The gothic woman had searched far and wide for her guardian. Sadly, Blurr was nowhere to be found. Some errands had come up that she needed him to escort her around to get them done. Frowning, she shook her mane of red hair continuing the search until she bumped into a fellow human being.

"Oof!" Kia fell back onto her behind. "Why the hell don't you watch where you're going?!" She growled as she stood, wiping her pants off.

"Oh. I'm so sorry, love!" Rose smiled small. "I was looking for Blurr. Have you seen him?"

The raven-haired army woman raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding me? They all look the same to me."

Rose rolled her eyes. No manners whatsoever this one has. "He's tall, blue, weapons, face guard?" With Kia giving her a raised eyebrow, she knew there was no answer. "Ugh. Never mind. I'll find himself. Sorry again, mate." Brushing past the woman, her search went on.

The 22-year-old shook her head. I don't know why these people are so fascinated with them.

Club Kunoichi

Blurr was sitting around keeping Zaru company until she was done working. She was bustling away like a busy little bee. Although before she wasn't into working like that. With her mind cramped with so much, it was hard to concentrate on her job. Fortunately for her, the paperwork wasn't her job. It was Rose's. But she felt her best friend worked too hard already and gave her a break. Besides, it was something to keep her occupied and hopefully stress-free until the current situation with her father broke stride.

"Are you almost complete, Zaru?" The mech asked out of nowhere.

She looked up, ocean eyes confused. "What?"

"Are you almost finished with your work? If so, I wish to take you for a drive."

"Awe, well, that's sweet, Blurr, but I have no idea when I'll be done. This is Rose's job originally." She smiled as she went back to work.

Blurr was bewildered. "If that is Rose's job, then why are you the one doing it? If it is her assignment, she should be the one to complete it. Not you." He cared much for his charge, Rose Connelly, but when it came to completing assignments and missions you are assigned, it must get done by you! That was his take on things.

"I gave her a break this time around. Her birthday's coming up and I wanted to give her less stress as possible."

"How crucial can your work be compared to ours?" He wondered. Blurr was never curious about the club except for when he helped partake in the expansion of the club itself. "It cannot be hard."

Zaru sighed and folded her arms across her chest. "Rose's job is actually very stressful. It's so stressful that I'm too the point of where I want to hire another helping hand. Maybe an assistant or something. This way she can concentrate on the paperwork and an assistant to help with making checks and inventory." She smirked. "And someone to get lunch wouldn't be so bad either."

The mech chuckled. "But that's not what I asked, Zaru." Her head tilted to the side. "I asked how hard is the work?"

"Rose has to write checks, go to the bank, balance the books, inventory, shift schedules, employment and so much more that I don't even want to say."

"I guess she might have it hard. For being a human at least." He agreed.

"Yes, it is." Sighing she asked, "Can I get back to work now?"

"You may." He bowed his head. I'll just recharge while she's finishing up. "I'm going into recharge. Wake me when you are through and I will escort you out."

Nodding, she went back to work as the handsome holoform disappeared.

Autobot Headquarters

Jade called a direct link to Hound as she ran out of the med bay. She was going to be very late in picking up Erin, but she knew her friend wouldn't mind it. At least, she hoped not. Running around the corner, the blonde-brunette collided with a metal wall, banging her head.

"Oooooooowie!" Jade held her forehead as she looked up to see her guardian grinning at her.

"Are you all right there, Jade?" He snickered. His optics bugged when the human femme threw him a death glare.

"I'm fine, Hound." Rubbing her head, she asked, "You ready to go or no?"

"Yep. Let's get out of here." Reaching down, he picked her up and headed toward the base opening. "How long has your friend been waiting there anyways?"

Jade shrugged. "Probably awhile now. I forgot about her because of Skyfire." She frowned and rested her elbows on Hound's finger. "How bad of a friend is that?"

Hound shook his head. "Hey! You're not a bad friend. You were very worried about your spark mate. These kinds of things happen, Jade. Don't worry about it. I'm sure your friend understood. Am I correct to assume that?"

The singer nodded. "Yeah. She understood that Skyfire was injured when I first told her."

"So it's not bad you forgot about her."

"Yeah." Smiling, Jade patted her guardian's finger. "I know that now."

The green mech stepped outdoors into the heat. "So, what's your friend's name anyways?"

"Her name's Erin and she's going to college with me and Leiana."

"Awesome. Can't wait to meet her." That said, he transformed letting Jade inside.

"I can't wait for all of you to meet her. She's really something."

"Hang on!"

The tires squealed as Hound's engine roared. Dust flew into the air as they whirled away from the base leaving dust fog behind.

TBC...

A/n: Hmm... very short chapter, but I hope you guys liked it. I cut the chapter down again! Sucks I know, but it works for me at least! XD

Sweet Mech Dreams,

Zaru