Chapter 25 up and ready for reading! Yay! I updated quickly this time but sadly it's a shorter chapter. Just a little warning, the end of this chapter is a bit dark and a little sad. So be prepared!

Happy reading/writing y'all!

Clare POV

Caitlin and I ran through the small abandoned town. Bumblebee decided to run ahead to see if there were any Decepticons around. The problem was, I couldn't see or hear him anywhere. He's a giant yellow robot. How could I not have seen him anywhere? I had to keep encouraging myself that he was just well hidden and not killed. The sounds of bombs and bullets were far from us but they were still loud and powerful enough to shake me to the core. There was a battle just passed the town and I was heading right towards it all. I wouldn't been surprised if we ran right into a Decepticon.

My friend was right behind me. She was doing her best to follow my lead even though she was the better runner. I glanced back at her and saw that she was sweating. Hard. So was I. We were, after all, in a desert. A place that's dry and hot. But it's much worse when you're running your ass off while wearing sweaters and jeans.

Without actually thinking about it, I dove into the nearest building. When I glanced back, I saw Caitlin run passed. Moments later, she came right back.

"Trying to give me the slip, huh?" she panted. I couldn't tell if she was joking or not. I didn't really mind it. Instead of answering her, I took off my jacket and stuffed the dust filled glove and cell phone into my jean pockets. Caitlin gave me an odd look.

"Way too hot," I said. "Won't be able to last long with it on." Caitlin nodded and took the sweatshirt Simmons gave to her off.

"Better to get a few sunburns then die from the heat, right?" She said with a smirk.

"Now you're talking."

After a few moments of us trying to cool down as much as we could, I peeked out. I froze when I saw a red bulldozer slowly creeping up. Rampage.

"Oh boy," I whispered. "The cavalry is here."

Rampage stopped moving and I held my breath. He must have seen us. Shit. This was bad. I didn't know where Bumblebee was and a Decepticon was right there. Suddenly, his scoop opened up and two people shot out of it. Two women. I stared at them. They looked familiar.

"Mom? Anna?" I whispered.

"Ohhh, snap," I heard Caitlin mutter beside me. I watched in horror as Rampage transformed and loomed menacingly over my family. Anna held onto our mother, who shrieked at Rampage's presence. I saw a grin on the Decepticon's face which pissed me off.

"No!" I yelled and ran out towards them. "You leave them alone!"

"Clare! Stop!" I heard Caitlin's futile calls. I knew that she followed me but at the moment, I didn't care. I was pissed. I wasn't going to let that big red bastard hurt my family more than he already did.

"Clare!" Anna yelled when she saw me. My mom's gaze jerked towards my direction. I saw tears brimmed from her terrified eyes.

"Oh God. My baby. You're alive!" she whimpered and attempted to reach for me.

Rampage watched me in amusement as I stepped in front of Anna and mom. Caitlin grabbed my arm and yelled at me frantically. I wasn't paying attention to what she was saying. I merely glared up at Rampage. The bulldozer snickered and used his arms to move closer to us, swinging his snake-like lower body at us. Mom, Caitlin, and Anna all dropped to the ground and shrieked. I staggered back a bit but I kept my angry eyes on him. He then swung his fists over my head. I ducked this time and heard him chuckle. He was having fun watching the four of us squirm. I noticed that he began to reach for Anna.

"Whoa! Whoa!" I yelled and held my hands up in surrender. "You want me, right?"

"Clare Roberts," Rampage uttered throatily.

"Yup. That's me."

"C-clare? What are you doing?" mom squeaked.

"Quiet, mom," I snapped without looking at her, then calmly said to Rampage, "They're not the ones you want." I began to side-step away from the three women. The Decepticon's piercing red eyes followed me, which was good.

"Don't leave," Anna sobbed. I saw her reach out towards me from the corner of my eye. Rampage snarled and jerked his gaze at her.

"Run, Clare! They're going to kill us all either way!" my mother cried out. I ignored them both.

"Rampage!" I yelled and pulled the stuffed glove out from my pocket. "I have the Matrix right here. Want it?" Rampage looked back at me and I continued to slowly move away. Rampage let out a low growl and lunged at me. I stumbled down and fell onto my back as the red mech towered over me. I ignored the cries of the others and kept my hands up, waving the glove back and forth. "I'm right here, Rampage. And I have the Matrix of Leadership."

Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw something yellow. I had to keep myself from grinning like an idiot. I slowly got up and continued to scoot as far away from my family and friend as I possibly could. I watched Bee move into position as I kept talking to the clueless Decepticon.

"Don't pay attention to them. I'm the one you guys are looking for." Bee gave me a thumbs up. Finally, with all my might, I screamed, "BUMBLEBEE!"

Immediately, Bee lunged out at Rampage and slammed him face down. I force of the impact knocked me back down. I scrambled away from the two mechs and growled, "Kill him, Bee. Kill him."

Just as Bumblebee hopped off of the Decepticon, Rampage scrambled back until his back hit the buildings. Bee charged at him, fists ready for pounding. But, before he managed to hit Rampage, the red mech used the structure behind him to lift himself up and dive his bottom drill-like half into Bee. My guardian easily dodged as he continued to attack him. Bee's arm transformed into his cannon and he blasted one of the building's roof off, making Rampage tumbled down. But the Bulldozer didn't stay down long. He immediately got up and tried to jump onto the Autobot, but failed when Bee evaded him.

The yellow mech may be smaller but he was much faster. He dodged every one of Rampage's flying fists and clipped an upper cut right into his chin. The red 'con fell on to his back. Right when he rolled over, Bumblebee pounced right onto him. The Decepticon tried to reach back and knock Bee off. My guardian's cannon transformed back into an arm, then he merely grabbed one of Rampage's flailing limbs and twisted it until there was a metallic crunching sound. The red mech cried out in pain.

The rage I was feeling in my heart slowly drifted away as Bumblebee beat down Rampage. But, I could see the fury in his blue eyes. He was not going to be merciful to Rampage, that's for sure.

The Autobot stomped down on the Decepticon's back, making him go limp. I knew that Rampage was still alive though. His red eyes were still on. Bee stepped off of the Decepticon, but was immediately attacked by Ravage who jumped onto him from behind.

"No! Bumblebee!" I cried out as the robotic cat climbed around his body and tore his armor off. I heard the Autobot let out a little growl, something I've never heard him do before. I watched as he grabbed Ravage's tail and swiftly stripped his body off his spine.

Rampage was slowly hoisting himself up behind the yellow 'bot, who whirled around and smacked him with Ravage's spine/tail remains. My guardian again began to pummel the Decepticon down to the ground. After one brutal knee to the face, Rampage's head flew back, completely tearing the cords and wiring that held it to his body. The red mech collapsed to the ground and didn't get back up.

I stared at Bee, almost not realizing the Caitlin, Anna, and my mom were all huddled next to me. I slowly stood up and went over to my Autobot guardian. Bumblebee's battle mask went up as he turned and looked at me.

"Are you...alright?" I asked with a slight quiver in my voice.

"Yeah!" Bee said triumphantly and scooped me up. He brought me to his chest and held me as I pressed against him. I wanted to cry but I knew that this wasn't the time for it.

"Clare Roberts! You get down from there! We need to get the hell out of here!" my mother yelled. Suddenly, rubble began to shower down around us as parts of the building exploded. Shit. Bee's fight brought a lot of attention here. My sister and mother both screeched when Caitlin shoved them down for cover. Bee quickly put me back down and shot back at the nearest Decepticon, which was one of the constructicons. 'The hell?' I thought. 'They must separated.'

"Bumblebee, you take them and go. No arguments. Understand?" I ordered. Before Bee could try to argue back, mom grabbed me by my shoulders and shook me hard.

"No! We're going together. We are ALL going together. You understand!" she blubbered.

"Mom, I can't leave. I have to do this."

"NO! You're my daughter! My baby!"

"Mama," I murmured calmly. "I have to do this. Bumblebee will keep you safe. I promise."

"Mom," Anna said gently. "Mom, let her go." Our mom finally let go of my after Anna tried to pry her off of me. Caitlin and Anna both helped mom into Bumblebee, who already transformed into his Camaro self. My older sister gave me a quick but tight hug before climbing in as well. Then my yellow car drove off at full speed.

"Bye, Bee," I whispered. "Please take care of them."

"He will," Caitlin murmured.

"I know," I said then immediately ran off in the opposite direction Bee went with Caitlin at my heels. We were getting really close.

Ironhide POV

"Jazz!" I roared over the racket from the battle. "Were in the fragging world is Clare!"

"She's coming!" I heard our lieutenant yell back. "I know she is!"

I ducked from flying bullets and crouched behind pieces of rubble. I aimed both of my cannons at the Decepticons that were a bit farther off, beyond the humans' weapon range. Half of myself was still out in the open, though, but I didn't really care at that moment. All I wanted was Clare to get her tiny aft to get here. Though, I also really wanted to blast all of these 'cons into the pit as well. But didn't the rest of us?

I saw Lennox dive behind the same rubble pieces I was crouching behind. Thankfully, for him, it gave him a better cover than it did for me. He looked a bit exhausted and agitated.

"This isn't going too well," I heard him mutter. "That girl needs to get here, like, now."

I grumbled in agreement to myself as I blasted at one of the Decepticon protoforms and blew his legs off. Sideswipe immediately skated out towards the fallen 'con, blades extended, and ran him through.

"We should have a scout go out and meet her just in case she's in trouble," Lennox said to me. "I know Jazz mentioned that Bumblebee was with her but it doesn't hurt to be careful."

"I will meet her," I mumbled.

"You sure you wanna go by yourself? I mean, I could sent Epps and a few of my men with you."

"I will not go alone," I growled as I transformed and drove off. I managed to dodge every attack Decepticons bothered to throw at me. I needed back-up and I knew who to ask. My comlink came online. The transmission Starscream attempted to scramble was clearly temporary. Thank Primus, I was able to contact our three femmes.

They all answered at once, which was common for them to do. They're minds think alike most of the time, as if they're linked to each other. I told them to come with me to meet up with Clare. They agreed to come without argument. Well, Arcee and Flareup did. Chromia wanted to continue blasting more Decepticons away. Understandable.

Just moments after I turned my comlink off, the three motorcycles rolled up and surrounded me. They transformed to their 'bot forms and followed me as I drove off at a faster speed. We headed towards the small abandoned town, avoiding, rubble, bullets, and the Decepticons themselves. My comlink suddenly picked up another transmission and turned on. It was Skids.

"Yo, 'Hide? Still online?"he yelled.

"What is it now, youngling?" I growled as I bulldozed right into a smaller Decepticon protoform and tore right through him.

"There are a few Constructicons coming your way. Fast."

"Constructicons? Shouldn't they be destroying the pyramid as Devastator?"

"Well, they were. Devastator sucked up most of the top part of it. They kinda stopped when our human agent here broke them apart. Well he didn't break them. He got his friends who have big ships and big guns to."

"They all survived?"

"Nope! One offlined, but the others drove off. Thank Primus that it was the biggest one the's dead!"

"What are you and Mudflap doing now?"

"Uhhm...nuthin'?"

"Well then, both of you get your afts over here and do something!"

"Sure thing, rusty bo-" I heard an explosion on Skids' side and the transmission went fuzzy. But it didn't disappear.

"Skids? Do you copy?"

"Gah! Megatron!" I heard him yell. Frag it!

"Skids, retreat from that area. You and Mudflap take the humans and leave! Do not engage combat with Megatron. Do you understand!"

"I'm gonna blast ya all the way up to Cybertron, ya freak!" he yelled, as if he didn't hear me. There were more explosions and gun fire. Slag! His link was most likely damaged from the blast. I could hear him but he couldn't hear me. And he was against Megatron!

I skidded to a halt, forgetting that the femmes were still around be. Chromia slammed right into me from behind. I didn't give a damn.

"Skids. Skids! SKIDS!" I yelled both into the link and out loud.

"Ironhide! What the frag!" I faintly heard Chromia yell. The blasts and Skids' yelling drowned her voice out. There was some more static then a wail.

"No, Mudflap! NO!" Skids yelled.

"No," I whispered. "No, Primus. No more. Not now. Please."

"Ironhide?" Arcee's voice asked softly. I felt someone place a servo against my door. But I could still hear Skids' angry cries.

"My twin! Ya killed my twin!" he screamed with pain in his vocals.

"Skids, STOP!" I yelled helplessly.

He made a choking sound then, in a strained voice, he said, "Ya'll gonna lose this war, Megs. Clare'll bring Prime back and he's gonna kick your aft. Ya got that? Kick. Your. Af-"There was another blast, static, then complete silence.

"Mudflap. Skids." I whispered. My entire frame was trembling. We lost two in a matter of minutes.

"Ironhide," Flareup said gently. "Talk to us."

"Th twins were...offlined by Megatron," I snarled.

"No...," Flareup whispered. Arcee lowered her head mournfully, and Chromia growling angrily to herself.

"Now is not the time to mourn!" I snapped, making them all jump. "This is war, and we need to stay focused." I transformed and turned my weapon systems on. "Understand?"

"Yes!" the femmes said together. They suddenly tensed. I looked at what they were staring out. I let out a vicious growl as I saw a hideous green dump truck driving up towards us. Long Haul.

"Time to kick some major aft," I snarled and aimed both of my cannons at the Constructicon.