Alright, I'm back!

I actually made a really long chapter but my beta (thanks Sunstreaker's Squishy *wave*) suggested to split it up. The next chapter shall be coming this weekend :D

I actually could have left it at that... but I didn't!

So have fun reading!

Decepticon Sightings

Optimus's POV

"...and like every time, the government has to pay for it! Prime, how long is it supposed to go on like this? I thought these Decepticons vanished?!"

I suppressed a sigh, noticing that I could use some recharge time right now. I hadn't refueled in a few days either. Where was the time? It seemed as if the days were running away from me. Me, who had been treated like Primus himself back on Cybertron at time, wasn't even able to catch up with the time running past. Surprising to others, I'm not always the immortal one.

Director Galloway stood in front of me, leaning dangerously over the railing of the platform. His glasses looked like they were about to fall and Epps, standing next to him, looked like he was waiting for them to do so. We all needed some type of change, something new to happen. There had been more than enough routine in the past few month. Like myself, we are all getting restless.

"The Decepticons did not vanish!", Ironhide exclaimed, powering up his cannons with rage. Chromia laid a hand on one of them and my weapon specialist eased, looking her deep in the optics. I was grateful to Primus that the two had finally found each other, although seeing them made my spark ache. But who was I to question my fate?

"Ironhide is right. Although the past month have led to the conclusion that Megatron's forces are scattered across the stars without possibility of returning to their leader, it appears that there are more still existent on this world than we thought. However, I believe a regrouping of those trapped upon this world is inevitable. Your kind would be wise not to question our intentions. That might lead to mistrust from both sides."

Lennox looked up at me, almost simultaneously with Epps and Luke Roberts, who had, of course, gotten his job back. The young soldier looked a little horrified, on the contrary to Epps who sent glare after glare towards Galloway. Galloway himself looked merely impressed. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back to get a better look at me.

"Was that a threat?" He didn't flinch as I came closer, the ground shivering with each of my steps. I leaned down, so that we were nearly optic-to-eye, rested my hands on both sides of him on the railing and looked deeply into his dull blue eyes.

"Only if ya take it as one!",Jazz barked in the back of my processor. I wasn't in the least tempted to repeat his words. Over the years on Earth, I had learned that it was wrong to offend the humans who considered themselves as "bigwigs". It would only cause more harm than good.

"I believe that, what he means is: we must trust each other. We are working together, not against each other, after all.", Lennox tried, causing Galloway to roll with his eyes. He knew very well that this was going to be a long day.

Her POV

"I had a way then, losing it all on my own...", I hummed, shivering at the next burst of cold air escaping the broken air conditioner. My fingers played with my braided hair while I watched the people randomly walking through the diner.

"...I had a heart then, but the queen has been overthrown..." The book, corrugated from the time when it had fallen into the bathtub, laid on my lap. Somehow, I couldn't let go of it.

"... And I'm not sleeping now, the dark is too hard to beat ..." I took a sip from the coffee I had ordered about half an hour ago. It was already getting colder. Like everything else around me.

"... And I'm not keeping now, the strength I need to push me..." I stuffed my bag with the book and took some money out of my jeans pocket, laying it on the table.

"... You show the lights that stop me turn to stone… You shine it when I'm alone…" For a second, I stopped at the window leading to the door outside of the diner. Half of the parking lot was filled and one of the cars woke my attention.

"... And so I'll tell myself that I'll be strong and dreaming when they're gone..." My feet carry me outside towards the light blue Peterbilt truck. His model, but not his paintjob. His flashlights went on as the trucker came towards it, having finished his break.

"...'Cause they're calling, calling, calling me home, calling, calling, calling me home..." The trucker nodded towards me as he entered the truck and started its engines. They didn't sound like his either.

"...You showed the lights that stopped me from turning into stone, you shined them when I was alone..." I couldn't do anything else, but stand there, watching him as he left the parking lot. My heart ached, cried out his name and squirmed under my ribs, in my body, this cruel prison keeping it from returning to the one it belonged to. The truck rolled towards the street, stopped and waited for an opportunity to pull out into the flow of traffic.

My heart stopped beating, I stopped breathing and my heart burst with adrenaline, commanding my legs to move run, faster and faster. My bag fell to the ground as I ran towards the truck, shouting and waving with my arms. Without even wasting a single look at it, I left my past and my memories behind: my secrets, my lies, and my darkest hours.

The truck stopped and the driver stepped out, looking at me confused. "Ma'am, can I help ya?" He looked like a typical trucker: beard, round belly, probably in his mid fifties. I had experiences with hitchhiking, but the pepper spray was in my bag and my stubborn heart wouldn't let me run back to get my bag.

"Where is your destination, sir?" I panted heavily, but tried to look strong. "Detroit, ma'am. Why?" He replied.

"Would you mind giving me a lift?" He shook his head and disappeared in the driver's cabin. "Jump in."

Even the inside looked like his. I leaned back in the seat, watching the trucker as he drove onto the highway.

"Name's Walter. Walter Willis.", he said, not taking his eyes from the street. "Ya know that young ladies like you shouldn' be hitchhikin', eh? There are pretty creepy guys out there, ya know?"

"Why, I hope you are not one of them, are you?",I replied, deciding for a strong, British accent. He did not need to know who I was.

"Naah. I ain't doin' those things. Have a wife an two children. Goin ta be grandpa soon, ya know? Meh little Alicia's married with this wimp of a man, Leonard Maron, but, eh, what can ya do? At least he'll be a good father, I hope. An you? Goin ta stab meh while I'm sleepin an takin ovuh the cargo?" Walter gave me a bright smile, showing what were probably dentures. I liked him. He seemed to be a good soul.

"I am Eve Heatherwick, from Ipswich. I've visited a friend in Columbia, which didn't really end that well, but I'm not going to stab you.", I said with a slight grin. My heart was pounding, though I didn't know why. Maybe it was just this feeling of safety the truck gave me.

"Well, well, Eve. Where d'ya want the ole Walter ta let ya out?" I leaned back, letting myself relax in the seat cushions. Unfortunately, they didn't smell like him...

"I'll decide that spontaneously."

Optimus POV

CLANG! Within the fraction of a second I transformed, weapons were ready to shoot, battle mask shielding my face, my body in a fighting position. Millenia of war had prepared me to be alarmed at any sign of any threat. Though I did not stay like this for long. After another second of looking for the enemy, I allowed myself to relax, putting my weapons back into my subspace, just like my battle mask.

"Optimus, we have a situation." Ironhide said next to me. Ah, he had been the one hitting me.

"Decepticons are attacking a village in the east. We won't be able to get there in time, but I'll put the woman who contacted us on your comm. link.", Lennox said while he strapped on his gear. No second later, a new link got opened. I could hear the frantic screams of humans mixed with shots in the background. Immediately, I jumped into the role of the Autobot leader.

"Ma'am, this is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots! How many Decepticons are in sight?", I asked, sounding as calm and reassuring as possible, while I made my way over to the jet. Static appeared on the other end, the result of an EMP generator used in the distance.

"Orion?!" I froze. Epps walked into the back of my foot and complained loudly about how hard my armor was. I couldn't reveal myself for knowing her.

"Are you safe?" I had to at least know the answer for that. Static filled the link before she replied.

"Not really. I hid, but they're bombarding the whole area! I can't exactly tell how many there are. Two, three, maybe more..." She was breathing heavily. She was probably injured! I had to get to her as fast as I could!

"Keep in the shadows and get away from them as far as you can! Did you understand me?" Static. The link broke off and I stiffened. Ironhide would have cursed and probably fired around at a few of the military vehicles, but I was a Prime. I had to keep my emotions in check.

Like the others, I transformed and drove into the jet, waiting for the soldiers to lay one of the big nets over my alt. form. While Ironhide complained about the netting procedure, the others remained compliant.

How quickly this morning had turned out to be another day of tragedy with another battle with already so many losses. They had not told me yet, but I could see in the soldiers' eyes that there were already victims of their kind. Again, the time was running, mocking and teasing me for not being able to catch up with it.

"We'll be landing in about half an hour, Prime. It won't take that long.", Epps said, preparing his gear and ammunition.

Still too long..., a voice in my processor repeated over and over again, finally, the soldiers were standing up after the "ready" signal went off.

"Prime, we'll have to jump. It's the fastest way down!", Lennox said. The young soldier, Luke stared at him with shock and lifted his chin as he watched the rear of the jet opening and one of the soldiers gave him a parachute. Bravely, he strapped it on and stepped closer to the edge, looked down and swallowed.

"Ready?", Epps called out from behind and we freed us from the nets, driving closer to the edges. "Go!"

Lennox and a few others jumped with Ironhide and Chromia. The other soldiers made their way towards the edge. I drove closer to the one called Luke, who did not notice me. Something about him reminded me of Sam. So young and afraid and yet brave enough to do everything to help us and we did so little to help him.

::Bumblebee, I believe the young man needs some assistance.:: I called to our youngest member of our team.

My scout transformed, walked to the edge and unobtrusively pulled the young man with him out of the plane. I followed them, and already cut the robes of my parachutes as I saw the Seeker coming at me. My battle mask shot forward as I onlined my cannons and aimed within my fall at the seeker beneath me, but he noticed it and dodged before the bullet could hit him.

We weren't there fast enough. The people of the village had already either evacuated themselves or the Decepticons have taken hostages. If there were still humans hiding here, it would be better for them to stay where they were and pray not to be hidden at the wrong place.

I did not know the seeker, who came at me from above as I landed on the ground. That had become the fate of many Cybertronians. I had never known their name when I killed them. Even though it was still hard, it was easier when you don't know whose life you are taking and concentrate and how many lives he or she has taken. He looks so young. I can tell what he must be going on in his processor: Doesn't shoot from above, lands beside me. He maybe wants to end me with honor. Run, fool, run while you still have the chance to! I lift myself up and aim my cannons at him. "Stand down and be spared!"

But he doesn't stand down. He fires and then it surprises him when my blade slices its way through his spark. I feel regret go through me as many times before when his optics go dim and he stares at me in shock. Indeed, he must have been young, far too young to be dragged into this war. They probably told him he had a chance and he believed it. My battle mask shot back as I pulled my sword out of his chest, watching him tumble backwards and fall to his knees. "You should not have picked the wrong side," I said, my voice dripping with grief. He fell over and I could see the Decepticon insignia burned onto his left wing.

::Optimus! We got one! 'Hide says there's still one to go!:: Willam Lennox called on my comm. link.

I took a step backwards, still looking at the dead seeker.::I'm on my way.:: I replied back.

Knowing there was no reason for staying any longer, I transformed and made my way down the street past the burning houses. Slowly, I tried to take in everything, scanning the whole area, looking for her. Maybe she already left the village with the other inhabitants or she was still here…Somewhere.

Shots came from my right. My tires screeched as I turned around, heading towards where the shooting came from. Two different ones. An Autobot and a Decepticon facing off.

::Got him!:: Sideswipe shouted over the link.

I transformed shortly before I could see them fighting. Sideswipe got thrown back and the Decepticon darted towards me. He looked similar to Blackout, though he appeared to be less experienced in battle and apparently hadn't met me yet.

He came at me with his bare fists, accompanied by a battle cry. I took him by the shoulder and turned him around, punching against his chest armor. He freed himself and walked back, not even glancing at the dent dangerously close to his spark chamber.

"You must be the Prime.", he hissed in Cybertronian, his Kaon dialect clearly heard.

Then he got out his blades and darted forward again, only to get overthrown by Sideswipe. I got out my blades to help my fellow soldier, as a whistle from below suddenly caught my attention. I glanced down, spotting something behind a piece of a wall. Golden, blond hair. My eyes widened as she lifted her head and looked up at me. Her scars went all across her face, reminding me of not having been able to protect her. Her eyes widened and she stared at me in shock and she suddenly screamed. "ORION!"

I whirled around, just fast enough to dodge the blade coming right for my head. The Decepticon roared in fury at his failed attempt. I looked to the side, only to see Sideswipe lying unconsciously in the ruins of some shop. I returned the favor and my blade crossed his as I tried to cut off his head.

I subspaced my smaller blades and transformed my left arm into my energon blade, which glowed bright orange. And I rammed it mercilessly between his armor plating. The pressure against my blade vanished as the Decepticon tumbled backwards while his left hand was pressed onto the rapidly leaking wound. He looked towards me, then to his hand and back to me again before he let out a loud roar and his blade transformed into a cannon. His aim was poor and I had no problem at dodging the shots. It was obvious that this mech was built for fighting, but even he saw that he was to loose such a battle.

I decided it would be better to end this like it was supposed to be and dashed forward, striding out to get a harder impact. A mech with his strong build should die in close combat, not under unfair circumstances. The Decepticon saw it coming, but he could not do much against it than to dodge to the side, which cost him his right arm. He howled in pain and shot aimlessly around him, finally getting a hit on my chest plating. Once more, I reached out and my arm shot forward, the blade burning its way through the Decepticons armor, extinguishing his spark. His frame went limb and his optics dim as I pulled the blade out, letting the lifeless body fall to the ground.

"Prime!" Ironhide came running towards me, his cannons charged and aiming for the dead Decepticon lying beneath me. I took a step back, taking in the scene. The buildings were either burning or completely destroyed. There was no hope that the inhabitants had survived this if they had hid inside theses buildings. Sideswipe was still unconscious and I slowly started walking towards him.

"Ratchet!" Ironhide called out for the medic after he noticed Sideswipe's unconscious form. Said medic raced around the corner and transformed, jogging over to the wounded soldier. I knelt down beside him, looking at the cracks and scratches all over his armor. As Ratchet arrived, I rose, taking a few steps back to let the medic do his work. I knew Sideswipe was in good hands. Ratchet was the best of the best and he knew what he was doing.

"Deina!"A voice in my mind exclaimed and I turned around, scanning the area. It turned out impossible to find her by simply searching for the heat radiating off her body. Flames licked over the buildings and slowly ate their way through the walls. I thought she might have ran away from the battle, but as my gaze drifted to where I had found her before, I was proven wrong. There she was, still hidden in these ruins. With a helpless expression in her eyes, she looked up at me, but quickly lowered her gaze as hers met mine. A slightly red tint adorned her cheeks when she turned her head to the side. Cautiously, I stepped closer, kneeling down beside her.

"Deina.", I whispered, she only looked at me confused and frowned. Just as she wanted to open her mouth to say something and pushed herself off ground, a painful moan escaped her. Surprised, she looked down at her foot, only to find it trapped under a big piece of the house wall. I frowned, stretching out a hand and carefully wrapped it around the piece of wall. Another groan escaped her before she bit her lip. She looked away and closed her eyes tightly.

Carefully, I lifted the wreckage up, tossing it to the side, not leaving her out of my sight while I did so. Her hands were clenched to fists and she grimaced at the pain, gritting her teeth. With guilt building up in my spark, I inspected her limb. Her right leg was covered with blood and stretched out in a strained angle. Her clothes were torn and covered with dust and a few scratches.

"It's alright, I'm here.", I whispered, stretching out my other hand, gently lift her up. When I heard the soldiers approaching, weapons ready for battle. They shouted orders as they came closer, probably seeing the offlined Decepticon. With a curse inadvertently leaving my lip components, I turned around, watching Ratchet while he helped Sideswipe to stand. He gave me a quick glance, his optics widened when he spotted her. Lennox came forward, obviously having noticed the femme too.

"Ma'am, I will have my first medical officer attend to your injuries.", I said firmly, more as an explanation for Lennox than her. She looked up at me and gave me a small, weak smile, already having noticed the soldier coming towards her. But soon before Lennox could kneel down beside her, Ratchet had already switched into his roll as a medic, giving her a complete scan, while shoving Lennox and me aside.

::Bruises, cuts, tibia fracture, but nothing I can't fix. Don't worry, Prime, she will be fine.:: Ratchet's report took away my worries.

With that said, I rose, watching him transform and his rarely used holoform get out to place her into the back of his alt mode. She gave me one last painful look and Ratchet closed the doors. Lennox watched them both silently until my CMO slowly drove away.

"She got hurt during battle?", Lennox asked, though it sounded more like a statement. Without even considering to answer him, I made my way over to Sideswipe, leaving Lennox behind without a word of explanation.

"Well, he's dead.", my soldier commented at the sight of the lifeless Decepticon, which slowly covered the ground with Energon. Ironhide steadied him, while he slowly made his way over to the humans. Some of them looked a bit disappointed, others relieved seeing as they hadn't had to do that much on this mission. Fortunately, our team would not have to mourn for one of their own today.

"Are there any civilians left, or has the town been completely evacuated?"

"Apparently not. That woman wasn't evacuated, but I haven't seen anyone else around," Epps stated, resting his gun on his shoulder while looking up straight at me. They all awaited orders, whether to search further or return to base. Sometimes I wondered how it would be like to not be responsible for everything happening.

Ellie Goulding - lights

I hope you liked it and like promised, the next chapter will come this weekend ;)

Do me a favor and R&R THINK OF THE CHILDREN! XD