A/N: I almost forgot this today! Lucky I remembered it was Wednesday just before I fell asleep XD

So, after this, there's about three chapters left of this story, I think. Wow. It might be done by New Year's!

Anyway, sorry about the cliffhanger in the last chapter - and the cliff hanger in this one... Hopefully you'll bear with me. I'm kind of proud of the way these chapters turned out - some of this dialogue has been spinning in my head for weeks, months even. So I hope you like!

When Mattie looked up, it seemed like the world was on fire. Someone was pulling on her arm.

"Mattie? Come on, kiddo, you need to move."

"Lennox?" She tried to focus through the smoke, but it was difficult.

"Yeah, right here, come on sweetheart, you need to move."

Mattie turned, realized she was alone against the wall as she let Lennox pull her to her feet. "Viviane and Izzy?"

"Safe and good outside, only you left now. Come on." He pulled her arm over her shoulder and supported her weight, leading her against the door.

It was on the only wall of the building that was still standing.

Outside was less chaos than she had expected. Skywarp had apparently only taken down the command center, the other buildings were still whole.

Lennox led her to where Viviane and Izabella were waiting, then raised his hand to his ear.

"Roger that. Yeah, we're fine. ETA? Good."

He turned back to Mattie and the others. "Listen." He looked at each of them in turn. "None of you are soldiers, but we're mid-battle now and we can't spare anyone to mind you. Find a place to hide."

"I don't want to hide," Izabella said stubbornly. "I want to help."

"Then help by staying out of the way," Lennox said firmly.

She's going to argue, I know she is. But she's just a kid, this is no place for her. Mattie turned to Izabella. "Izzy, the workshop," she said. "You might be needed there."

"That's a good idea," Viviane said. "I'll take her there, then come back. I'm waiting for Cade."

Lennox looked at her for a moment, then inclined his head. "Descendant of Merlin. Mattie?"

She looked up at the commander. "Where are the Dinobots?"

"They're not out yet. We couldn't spare anyone to mind them."

"Well, let me mind them."

He frowned at her. "That will put you in the middle of battle."

"Yes. But it will bring in the Dinobots. And we will need them." She reached out, placed a hand on his arm. "Please let me. You know I can do this."

He looked at her for a moment, then sighed. "See Hadley first, have him get you some protective gear." She nodded, and he shook his head. "I'm going to regret this." He lifted his hand to his ear again. "Bringing the Dinobots out shortly. Status?"

Mattie realized that she missed hearing the other side of the talk, like she had in the command center. I'd better ask Hadley to get me a comm too.

"Roger that. Fire at will, Crosshairs, as soon as they emerge. Heimling, take your squad, cover Scattorshot." Lennox looked up, waved them off. "Go, all of you. Shit's hitting the fan in a moment."

Mattie turned and ran.

The comm was crackling in her ear as she pushed open the hangar door. It was hard getting used to – she kept finding her attention had shifted from what she was doing to what she was hearing, especially when Bee was speaking.

Knock it off. This is dangerous, you can't afford distractions.

The Dinobots were agitated, constantly moving and rumbling. She pulled the door almost closed behind her – almost, so that Grimlock could get it open again once she was seated on Charger's back.

If she could even get on him. Her once horse-sized Dinobot was now elephant-sized.

"Hey, guys," she said softly. Hellion stopped, and roared at her. She ignored him, looking instead at Grimlock. "You guys know what's going on, right?"

The biggest Dinobot nodded – which looked strange, in his dinosaur alt mode.

"The Autobots are going to need your help," she continued. "It's a saving-the-world kind of deal. Think you guys can do that again?"

Grimlock snorted. He may not speak in this form, but he sure isn't hard to understand.

Charger lowered his head and nuzzled at her. "Hey, monkey. Want to ride into battle together?" His back was impossibly high above her. "If I can get on you, that is. I guess I'll have to see if I can find a ladde –eep!"

Raptor squawked at her, his claws digging into her shoulder without penetrating the flesh – or even the body armor, she realized. Not that that made it any more comfortable to dangle ten feet off the ground from the claws of a Dinobot who she was fairly certain didn't really care if she would be injured or not. The winds from the powerful wing strokes were buffeting her, and they were climbing higher – until Raptor deposited her on the top of Charger's back.

Well, what do you know. He's helpful. "Thanks, Raptor!"

She scooted forward until she was seated in the slight hollow just in front of Charger's front legs, nestling her feet into familiar crevices that yawned wider now than they had last time she sat up there. "Should have planned for this, monkey, then I would have made a harness of sorts to hold on to," she said lightly, recognizing the need to postpone the actual joining of the battle for as long as she could. "Well, nothing for it now. I'll just have to hold on. Hellion, will you take the spearhead? That means you go in front, I think," she added, not quite helpfully. The younger Dinobot just stared at her and growled. But he did walk to the door, pushing it open, forcing his way through. Raptor followed him, disappearing into the sky, and then Charger snuck past Grimlock so that the largest Dinobot was the last one out.

Mattie had thought the situation had looked bad before, but now it looked worse.

Skywarp was still making his strafing runs, his black and purple paint job lit garishly from below by the light of the burning command building. Someone was firing at him from the south side of the docks - that has to be Scattorshot – but the Decepticon was far too agile to be hit, rolling and twisting whenever a shot came his way. The docks themselves were burning, a derelict freighter of sorts laying in pieces in front of it, sharp metal edges and dull, black-burned shrapnel catching the firelight. And in front of the ship stood a tall, imposing figure, flanked by several smaller ones.

Mattie paid attention to the crackle in her ear again.

"- keep Megatron at bay," Lennox said. "Prime?"

"I can," Optimus's deep rumble replied. "For a while, at least."

"I'm ten minutes out," Cade said.

"Good. Any sign of her?"

"She hasn't emerged from the ship yet," Drift replied. "Though I have to admit she could hide among these other humans and we wouldn't know."

"The humans are to be considered hostile," Lennox said.

"She will make an entrance, anyway," Optimus said. "She will not just sneak in. We will know her when she comes."

Mattie looked up, noticing Raptor spiralling higher and higher in the sky. She lifted a hand to her ear. "Ware, everyone, Raptor's airborne."

"Mattie?" Bumblebee sounded shocked. "What are you doing?"

"Hey, Bee. I'm with the Dinobot brigade."

"My orders," Lennox said. "Mattie, stay where you are until you're told otherwise, okay? We need the Dinobots in case they break through."

"Yes, sir."

"Actually, we could do with one of them down here," Hound said. "'Coz, you know, Wildrider and Brawl. We can take them, but the soldiers can't, and I'd rather not leave that much collateral."

"Okay. Pull the soldiers back. Mattie, send in Hellion."

"Roger that." Despite the situation, Mattie grinned to herself. Who'd have thought I'd ever got to use that phrase without it being a joke? She turned, seeing Hellion almost prancing behind her. "Go have some fun with them, big boy," she grinned. "But don't trample our soldiers, 'kay?"

The Dinobot roared, and ran down to the beach, leaping over the ranks of soldiers.

"Hellion incoming," she confirmed over the radio.

For a little while, the battle seemed to be going their way. Hellion had barrelled straight into Wildrider's side, and left the other Autobots free to take on Brawl and the Infernocons. Prime was going hand to hand with Megatron, giant swords clashing, with Bumblebee and Crosshairs shooting down targets where they presented themselves. Raptor was leading Skywarp on a merry chase through the sky, in ever-tightening spirals, barrel rolls and twists – the Dinobot was smaller and more agile, making up for the Decepticon's greater speed. Skywarp had abandoned his strafing runs, and Scattorshot was free to take potshots at him whenever the opportunity presented itself, which it did often enough. Even the rain stopped.

Mattie found herself becoming cautiously optimistic.

But then, things started to go wrong.

Raptor crashed to the ground, taking with him most of what was left of the command building. Skywarp followed, landing easily, guns powering up.

"You little menace," he snarled. "I've just about had enough of you. I'm going to turn you into a practice dummy. For Megatron's fusion cannon!"

Mattie twisted, looking from Skywarp to the battle below. This has to qualify as breaking through, right? He's behind them all!

"Grimlock! Take down Skywarp, and then see if you can get Raptor to the workshop!"

The giant Dinobot roared, then ran and threw himself at the black and purple mech from behind. He hit him between the wings, claws scraping down the Decepticon's appendages, and Skywarp let out a howl of rage. And shot the place where Raptor had landed dead-on.

Mattie flinched and turned aside, as she heard a new level of fury coming from the Dinobot leader, and Charger started trembling under her. "Easy, boy," she murmured, putting a hand on his neck. "We have a job to do yet."

The trembling didn't stop, though.

From the beach, she heard a matching roar as Hellion became aware of what had happened. She looked down to see him rip Wildrider's arm clear off, throwing it into the sea. But then Megatron picked Hellion up and threw him straight across the beach, until he smacked into what was left of the docks and didn't get back up.

Charger roared.

But… Prime was fighting Megatron. Mattie's eyes searched frantically for the large, blue and red form, only to find him being dragged backwards by his own Autobots, leaking blue liquid from a deep laceration in his thigh.

The comms were full of trouble.

"- got me pinned!" Scattorshot said.

"Can't get to you yet," Hot Rod grunted. "Need to get Prime out of ze way."

"These guys just – won't stay – down!" That was Quinn, and Mattie's heart skipped a beat. Of course her friends were in the thick of it, of course they were – but there was a difference between knowing they were soldiers and realizing that they were fighting for their lives.

"What did she do to these blasted people? I'm shooting them, but they won't die!" Johnson was cursing.

"Infernocons," Drift grunted. "They're human Infernocons. Cut them into pieces."

"With what?" Quinn snarled. "My god-damned gun?"

"Drift, you need to take the humans out," Lennox commanded, "we're not having any luck."

"Have to get Optimus clear first," the samurai replied.

We're needed, Mattie realized. "Lennox, Charger and me can help with Optimus."

"No!" Bumblebee growled. "Stay out of it, Mattie!"

"Get down there, Mattie," Lennox said. "When they get there, Drift, assist Hadley's squad with those damned … Infernids."

"Ooh, good term," Viviane chimed in. "Actually, blowing them up probably works, too. If you can manage to without blowing up – well – the rest of us."

Mattie grinned mirthlessly. Trust Viviane to not be affected by the fact that things were going to pieces. That woman was seriously hard to knock off balance. She leaned forward on Charger's neck.

"Go, monkey. Go to Optimus."

Charger sped up, weaving past the pile of writhing metal that was Skywarp and Grimlock – hard to tell who was winning that one – speeding across the sand until they got to Optimus's side. Mattie had a brief glimpse of Bumblebee staring at her as they darted past, rifle to his shoulder and covered in soot and grime. Sorry, Bee. I have to help, too.

"Here, Mattie," Hot Rod said, passing her a chain. "Fasten zat across his shoulders somehow."

Mattie stared at the heavy metal in his hand. Each link was the size of both her hands and as thick as her wrist. "Um. Much as I try to be of assistance, you know I can't lift that, right?" She wedged her feet tighter into Charger's side and flexed her arms. "Puny human."

Hot Rod grinned and fastened the chain for her. "Ah, zat is true. Here, I've got it."

"Thanks. How's Optimus?"

"I'm fine," Prime replied. "I've cut off Energon supply to the damaged lines, but he got one of my main motor relays, so I can't walk."

"Get Grimlock to carry you to ze workshop," Hot Rod suggested. "Izzy can fix zat, no problem."

"'Lock was wrist-deep in Skywarp when I left," Mattie said, shaking her head. "We can't call him away from that fight. Okay, Charger, move."

"That's more like it!" Quinn crowed in her ear. "Now they're not getting back up!"

"The Infernids are down," Drift said.

That was fast. Mattie looked at Hot Rod, who grinned at her. "Two big swords, seventeen soft, small humans. No contest, really."

They pulled Optimus to relative safety behind one of the barracks. "Get the chain off Optimus," Mattie told Hot Rod. "I'm going to go see if I can get Raptor or Hellion out of there."

"Good luck," he called, turning and running back into the battle.

"Optimus, you good here?"

"Yes, Mattie, thank you." The Autobot leader grinned. "I have my rifle. Go save someone else."

Mattie smiled, then leaned forward on Charger's neck again as he spun around and headed back to the command center to get the little pteranodon.

She couldn't even get close. Grimlock was still tearing pieces out of Skywarp, and the jet had landed straight across the path she had to take – and with that feral look in the Dinobot leader's eye, she didn't dare get in front of him.

"Let's get Hellion out of the water," she said grimly. "Hopefully we can get to him."

"Wildrider's down," Hound said. "Good shot, Crosshairs."

"Of course. Now move, you're blocking my sight to Megatron."

"Can't, I'm afraid," was the cheerful reply. "I'm buried in Infernocons. Let me get rid of them, huh?"

Mattie lifted her hand to her ear. "Lennox, I'm going to try and get Hellion, okay?"

"Roger that, Mattie, you're a go," the commander replied. "Bumblebee, Crosshairs, watch her back."

"Absolutely."

"Cade, your ETA?"

"I'm almost there – twenty seconds."

Charger raced towards the beach, weaving between the soldiers. Mattie saw Ryan, repeatedly aiming and firing, Quinn crouching next to him with one hand on his shoulder, murmuring in his ear. She spotted Hadley, calmly going from soldier to soldier, and Lennox, talking rapidly with Viviane, gesticulating and frowning while she was nodding. They passed Drift, ankle-deep in body parts that Mattie refused to look too closely at, laying into tall, horrid-looking dark 'cons with his swords. Hound was doing the same next to him, shooting anything that moved.

"Hound, I'm going to pass behind the 'cons now, don't shoot me!"

"You got it, Mattie." He grinned at her, raised a finger to his face in a mock salute.

She could see Hellion now, laying still where Megatron had thrown him. She couldn't tell if he was alive or not.

When she got to the beach, time stopped.

Silence fell around her. Even the comm chatter died off – not gradually, but instantly, cutting off mid-word. To her left, Megatron came running, and then dropped to his knees on the sand, bowing his head.

Well, this can't be good.

A figure came walking across the beach in front of her. The figure was slight, enveloped in a red shawl, piercing lilac eyes taking in the scene in front of her.

Quintessa. It has to be. And I'm caught between her and Megatron, right smack in everyone's line of fire.

"Charger, go," Mattie whispered. "Turn and run, monkey."

The Dinobot didn't listen to her. He stood frozen. Briefly, she contemplated letting herself drop to the ground – but Charger was tall enough that she could seriously mess up her legs if she didn't land right. She didn't dare risk it.

The figure came close enough that Mattie could see the frayed edges of her shawl and the faint tattoo-like markings across her forehead. She could see the delicate, cruel curve to her lips as she opened her mouth to speak.

"You have thwarted me," Quintessa said in a low, smooth voice. "This –" she raised a hand, and Mattie noticed that she was carrying a metal staff of some kind, "- is a construct."

Mattie could hear the words twofold, both through the comm channel and directly. She's hijacked the comm system.

"Tell me, human…" Quintessa looked up at Mattie. "… where is the descendant of Merlin?"

Mattie clenched her jaw shut.

Quintessa tsk'ed, her delicate eyebrows frowning. "You will tell me, you know. I will make you. Or my… pet – "a hand waved lazily, indicating Megatron "- will make you. Regardless, she will be found. Make it easier for yourself." She started walking again, closing the distance between herself and Charger, moving gracefully and sinuously. "To borrow a phrase from your own microbial culture… Resistance is futile." She looked up at Charger. "Down."

The Dinobot collapsed, throwing Mattie to the ground. She landed awkwardly, one leg crunching under her, the pain in the ankle enough to blacken her vision for a moment and making her cry out.

"Oh dear. You organics are so fragile." Quintessa sounded almost bored. "Tell me." Each word was accentuated by another stab of pain. "Where… is… the descendant… of Merlin?"

How the hell is she doing that? She's not even touching me!

"No," Mattie managed to grind out. "Never – tell you."

"Shame," Quintessa sighed. She walked closer, let one finger trace delicately across Mattie's cheekbone. "Goodbye, organic."

Mattie's head exploded with pain, and the world went black.