Heeeeey dudes and dudettes~

I got nothing else to do so I pretty much decided to update. I don't know why I end up working on this much faster on weekdays rather than during weekends but I'd rather not think about it unless I make another life-changing revelation (guh)

Thank you so much to all those who reviewed and faved and followed, and I really am sorry that I don't reply to your reviews, but there's just so much to do now, and I really haven't the time. -cries-

So! Chapter 8 of Metempsychosis is here~ (I think I got the chapter number wrong again last chapter in my A/N...GDI!)

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, I only own Carol Witwicky.

Chapter 8

Previously...

I think Mikaela screamed, or maybe it was someone else, I can never know since I was staring, horrified at the legless Autobot who flew back from the blast.

"Ratchet...?" I breathed, and Sam looked at where I was looking. His mouth moving but no sound coming out as he stared horrifiedly at Ratchet's fallen form.

I heard Ratchet groan in pain, the wires and metal sparking where his legs should be. His torso was heavily dented, his left hand on a nearby car where the fingers were twitching ever so slightly. Optimus leaned back some more, giving us space and a better view of Ratchet's state.

"Oh my god..." I heard Mikaela gasp. "Ratchet! Your legs!"

No...no, no, no! What have I done?!

...

What happened? Ratchet...his legs...they were blown out...

Part of me was happy that it wasn't Bumblebee but I felt guilty just after the thought emerged. Instead of Bumblebee, it was Ratchet. I guess I have been making changes, I thought to myself wryly, guiltily. It's just not the way I expected the changes to be.

While I was halfway close to panicking inside my head, Sam had helped me up, leading my shaky self to Lennox (who was once again barking orders) and the other soldiers. Mikaela followed close, just keeping pace to Sam's right.

"Hey! Hey!" Sam called to Lennox but Lennox kept barking rapid fire orders to others.

Sam momentarily stopped trying to get the soldier's attention after a few moments when Epps went to Lennox and Lennox practically shouted in Epps' face. "What the hell was that?!"

"What are you talking about?" Epps replied, looking as frazzled as me but at the same time as calm as Lennox. Okay, maybe not as frazzled as me since I'm practically out of my wits and my hair was a mess (my headphones were still alive, or maybe just intact, I'd probably find out if they work soon, or maybe even never [and wasn't that a pleasant thought]), but maybe as frazzled as Mikaela who looked shaken but still standing strong, with only a few scrapes and looking a bit dirtied, but it still looked good on her (I was jealous of her ability to stay beautiful even with dirt, like a goddess in a storm or something...my God, Carol, snap out of it!).

"What do you mean, what am I talking about? They shot at us!" Lennox nearly, nearly semi-snarled the last part at Epps' face. Sam and Mikaela kept looking at Lennox and Epps, back and forth, back and forth, like it was a ping-pong match of words. Me? Oh, I was gaining my sanity (what's left of it anyways) back slowly, being able to not clutch at my brother like some deranged pedophile (okaaaaay, maybe my comparisons need some work, but cut me some slack! I nearly died!).

Epps' voice was the epitome of reasoning with a hint of fear and grim determination of some sort. "F-22's would never fly below buildings! That's alien! That ain't friendly!"

I had regained enough of my wits here at this time to escape my brother's embrace and rush over to Ratchet who was groaning and creaking, having turned over to lay on his front. Jazz was nearby, crouching next to him and helping him next to a car. I darted over upturned wheels and metal and all sorts of different items. I think I saw a hand under some boulder but I tried not to think about it.

"Ratchet!" I gasped breathily, crouching near his head, right next to Jazz's foot ('Pede.', corrected Nicky in my head but even her normally upbeat voice was subdued). Ratchet's head turned to me, his left eye sparking and flickering. "Ratchet." I said again.

"Carol...W-Witwicky." he said, static laced between words.

I couldn't help but look over his state of being and laugh slightly, the laugh itself not even fully covering the sob that threatened to break lose. "I-It's Carol. Carol. Just...just Carol."

Sam's arms circled my shoulders, I didn't even notice him next to me, or that I had covered my lower face with my shaking hands. I felt empty and yet I felt so much. Fear, for Ratchet, for Sam, for the Autobots and soldiers. Anger, at myself, for letting this happen when I could have changed it. Determination, to try and make up for the guilt gnawing at me inside.

Sam left me and turned to Bumblebee who had crouched next to us, and vaguely, I realized that Jazz had gone ahead with the soldiers. Mikaela helped me stand instead, murmuring comforting words in my ear.

I didn't want this. Definitely not.

Nearly my whole life, I've been preparing for this moment. Learning all these things I thought I could use for this event. I even joked to myself that I could be take Sam's place instead, becoming like all those Mary Sues and OCs I've seen in the fanfictions I craved as an adolescent. I participated in sports, to prepare my body. I took archery, gun training and lots more to prepare myself. I studied, became a genius, a prodigy, but now?

What happened?

What happened to everything I prepared for?

Why can't I get rid of this fear now? Why can I barely stand on my own?

I had prepared myself, taking years to do it. My second childhood was ruined, trying to learn everything I can before this event. The time I spent on this...it wasn't just time. It was my life. My second parents, Ron and Judy, had taken care of me when I had caught a fever from studying all night. Sam had berated me more that once to take a rest from my sports training when it was past afternoon. Behind the jokes in the dining room, I could see their pain, their worry when I pushed myself too hard again and had returned from breaking a bone or two from the hospital. I just...I guess I just never really...

...cared. For their concern.

Realizations suck, I told myself sadly, and Nicky agreed wholeheartedly.

I have something to fight for now. Why can't I do it?

Sam denied the Cube, and my eyes locked onto it. I can still feel its pulses, now even stronger in Sam's hands. Bumblebee was saying something, along with Optimus.

Does it know? I wondered. Does the AllSpark know Sam will destroy it?

Will Sam even do it now? Or did I change things again?

I might just be thinking all these things to take my mind off things, but even I knew I had to make a choice. Through all the fear and self-deprecation I was feeling, I knew I had to make a choice.

Stay with Sam? Or hide and run?

I nearly didn't notice the explosions that signified the arrival of Brawl...or, whatever the tank's name is. I didn't notice when Jazz and Bumblebee sped off to stop him or when Ironhide finally arrive, immediately transforming and shooting at him, scoring a hit on Brawl's face. Or when Mikaela sprinted off to hotwire the tow truck. I only noticed Sam and his near-protective hold on the Cube as we stayed close to Ratchet.

Sam looked honestly scared and seemed to want to just up and run someplace else. But he didn't. He kept his hold on the Cube tight, as we sat near some rubble next to Ratchet, even while his eyes darted from Ratchet and everywhere else, especially where the soldiers and the Decepticons were.

Sam kept strong, even when all this was dumped onto him. I had trained myself, and here I am, a mess. I scowled to myself. I have never felt so useless before.

Ratchet didn't speak, simply looking around with his transformed arm ready. Mikaela drove by just then, parking the truck just next to Ratchet. "Sam!" she called, jumping out of the driver's seat. "Help me with this." And Sam did, handing the Cube over to me once more. I scooted closer to Ratchet, nearly touching him, and he glanced at me before looking around, all alert and ready. "Be careful with that." he said, voice ending in static.

I looked up at him, a bit surprised that he spoke. "..I will." I said eventually.

I looked at the Cube in my hands, an idea suddenly forming in my head. "Ratchet?" I looked back up at him and he glanced down at me again. "Is it possible for you to get healed using the AllSpark?"

His brow sort of furrowed and he looked a bit surprised at the question. "What makes you say that?" he asked, and it almost sounded like it hurts just speaking, because the end cut off abruptly into static. I just noticed that his throat was sparking every now and then.

"You guys said that the AllSpark gave life to you." I told him, the last part nearly a mumble. "It might be possible to...heal you? With it's energy or something?"

Ratchet seemed to consider my words. "It is...possible." he said slowly. "But even then, I would not know how to access the energy."

I felt like wilting. "Not even just a touch?" I tried again.

"I...suppose it is worth a try." he said slowly, holding out a dented hand. I placed it on his hand eagerly, trying to see if anything would happen. Ratchet and I sort of stared at his hand but when nothing happened, I suggested, "Maybe your chest?"

Ratchet only stared at me. "It would not work, most likely."

"Come on! It's still worth a try!" I coaxed him and he stared at me for a moment before making an action similar to a sigh. Slowly, he raised his hand and placed the Cube on his chest. I watched it closely, waiting for anything at all to happen. When there was nothing, I just felt stupid. "Well, it was still worth a try." I mumbled and shrugged to myself.

Ratchet didn't move his hand though. "Ratchet?" I asked. He didn't move. He had an odd look on his face though. I felt confused. Did he lock up or something?

Suddenly, he began convulsing. I yelped and ended up stumbling away, trying to get out of Ratchet's limb's range. I heard Sam's and Mikaela's exclamation when Ratchet suddenly had electricity dancing all over him. On his armor, his head, his body, everywhere! Though it was mostly concentrated on his legs (or what's left of it).

What was amazing about it was the dents and scratches disappearing quickly, gashes closing up and dried energon disappearing. It was Mikaela who noticed the pieces of armor scattered some meters away come flying back to Ratchet. She pushed Sam and I away, ducking behind the tow truck to avoid getting impaled by some flying metal. I was the closest one to Ratchet, and had to hunch over as some pointed metal passed right over me.

It was gone in a few moments though, and all that's left is a groaning Ratchet with the AllSpark right in front of us.

"Well," started Sam. "I guess we don't need the tow truck anymore, huh?" Mikaela smacked him on his arm. Our momentary dumbfoundment (if that was a word) lasted only a while before everything else came crashing down.

"It's Megatron!" came Jazz's yell. It was quickly followed by Optimus's yell of "Fall back!".

My head snapped to my side the same time Ratchet's did in Jazz's general direction, and he quickly stood up (and I ended up marveling momentarily at how shiny his armor became), and sure enough, I can feel the vibrations of the concrete as Megatron came thundering into the city. Sam had this 'oh, shit' expression on his face while Mikaela stayed close to Sam, looking slightly fearful. Lennox came running then, leaving the others to start evacuating stubborn citizens who still stayed at the sidewalks and such.

"Okay." he panted, leaving his gun on the tow truck and rummaging through his stuff. "All right, I can't leave my guys back there, so here, take this flare."

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why is he giving it to me?!

"What, no! Hey! Wait a minute—" I interjected but was cut off almost immediately.

"Okay, there's a tall white building with statues on top. Go to the roof, set the flare—"

I shook my head quickly. "I can't do this!"

Lennox plowed on, ignoring my protests. "Look, you gotta signal the chopper and set the flare."

I felt like crying. "I can't do this!" I cried. "I can't!" Okay, this is so not canon! What is happening?! I'm only supposed to help Sam, not do what Sam is supposed to do!

"Carol—" Lennox started but Sam butted in, spazzing out already in big brother mode. "Hey! You can't do that! She's only twelve!"

Lennox turned on him. "Then you do it!" he said, taking the flare out of my hands and pushing it on his. "Look, you gotta get the Cube to military hands while we hold them off, or a lot of people are going to die!" Sam looked terrified but didn't disagree. From the look on his face, he was probably thinking 'better me than her'. Awww, I love you too Sam. Hope we don't die, then.

Then Lennox turned on Mikaela. "You gotta go." he told her, taking her arm but Mikaela was quick to disagree.

"No, I'm not leaving!" she said forcefully, "I'm not leaving Sam." Oh god, so much changes, so much changes. When Lennox turned to me, I shook my head immediately and stuck to Sam's side. "I'm not leaving Sam either." I guess my decision is stay with Sam then.

Lennox just sort of sighed/nodded/okay-ed before leaving. Suddenly, Ratchet and Ironhide were there, with Ironhide crouching close to us. "Sam, Mikaela, Carol, we will protect you." At least that part is canon and it wasn't Bumblebee. I think Optimus was already battling Megatron some blocks away.

Sam seemed to be already out of breath. "Okay. Okay, okay." Then he turned and took the Cube, turning and beginning to run with me and Mikaela at his heels.

"Wait, Sam!" Mikaela said and Sam stopped for a moment, turning to her. I only stayed behind them, knowing what's going to happen next. "No matter what happens," she started, looking at Sam's eyes, "I'm really glad that I got into that car with you."

Sam was speechless. At least, until Ironhide annoyingly interjected into their moment. "Sam! Get to the building! Move!"

Sam turned and started to run, with Mikaela and I at his heels. I felt a shiver go down my spine when I heard Megatron's bellow of, "Decepticons, attack!"

Well, here goes nothing, then.

I'm sorry for another short chapter! -bangs head on floor- I just thought it was good to end it here! -cries-

So ummm...review? -cringe-