Chapter 3

"Haley, I think something screwed up is happening," Katie replied.

"Tell me about it," Haley said.

"No, listen, somehow we are in the Transformers realm and..." Katie started to say until Banner grabbed her cell. "Hey!" Katie yelled as Savoy walked up.

My men will be camping out outside while I will be staying inside with you," Savoy remarked. "Do you have a problem with that, Miss?"

"It's Katie Carter," she snapped as he glanced around the old farmhouse.

"You live here alone?" he asked.

"Yes, it belonged to my parents. But... they were killed in a plane crash along with the rest of my family," Katie said as she watched him stroll around the house.

He spotted her one picture, and he pictured it up.

"Who is this?" Savoy demanded.

Silence...

"You said you lived here alone, so who is he?" Savoy demanded.

"That's none of your damn business, Savoy!" she shouted.

"I'm making it my business, now talk," he ordered as he grabbed her wrist. "It's not a wise choice to piss me off, Miss Carter," Savoy remarked.

"It's not a good idea to piss me off either, Savoy; you wouldn't like me then," she snapped.

"I don't like you now," Savoy snarled.

See, we understand each other then," she hissed.

"I am staying here, got it, so, answer my questions; who is he?" Savoy demanded.

"Go to hell," Katie snarled as she pulled away and went into her bedroom, slamming the door and locking it.

This action only irritated Savoy more.

"Son of bitch," he growled.

"I am not done with you!" he yelled.

Katie huddled in the corner of her bedroom; angry tears ran down her face while her fingers trailed over the picture. Her mind was frantic now. She tried to make sense of some of the things that had taken place in the past.

One of which was her military boyfriend, who suddenly disappeared two years ago who just happened to have a replica of the Optimus Prime truck used in the movies. He sounded just like him, and then he suddenly disappeared, and she hadn't heard from him in over two years.

"I am going nuts," she whispered as she gazed at the picture. "Where are you, Oscar?" she cried. "Everything made more sense when you were here with me," Katie whispered.

She unexpectedly heard things being moved in the frig and pantry, and she growled inwardly, her tears forgotten only to be replaced with fury. She flung her bedroom door open, finding Savoy making himself at home taking her soda and food from the frig.

"Let's get one thing straight; you are not a guest if you are hungry, order something, jackass," she snapped as he sat on a kitchen chair, smirking.

"Oh, that's where you're wrong. I am a guest, and my men are as well; you will make sure they are serviced, is that clear?" Savoy snarled as she hauled off and punched him in the face.

"I don't care for your choice of words, Savoy," she growled.

"Too bad," he snapped as she suddenly started to walk away until Savoy's whole demeanor changed, shocking her.

"Help me... Please..." Savoy replied as he passed out cold, falling off the chair making her shriek slightly.

"What the hell," she mumbled as she frowned as his eyes opened. "What's wrong with you?" she demanded.

"Stay there," he said as he glanced out the window.

He glanced around and then back toward Katie.

"Is there a separate bathroom where they won't bother us?" he asked in a polite tone, making Katie think something was up with him.

"Yeah, there's a smaller house in the back, plenty of space for them; why, what is going on?" she asked.

Savoy put his hand up and turned on his walkie-talkie.

"Yeah, look, she's got a small house in the back you all can take breaks using, and it's got food and a bathroom, alright," he said.

Katie glanced back at him, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Wanna tell me what's going on?" Katie demanded.

Silence...

"I need to get separated from him," he said.

"Him?" Katie asked.

"Savoy," he said.

"Wait, but you are Savoy?" she questioned.

"Lockdown is working for someone called Quintessa, and she, in turn, got Attinger, Joyce, and Savoy to help. But in the beginning, Savoy had a soul, but she something to him,"

"Wait, are you saying there is a way to separate the side of Savoy with a soul from his sadistic side?" she asked.

"Yes, it would pull the part with soul out and make..." he started to say until she answered for him.

"Cause two bodies," she finished for him.

"Yes, I need your help, please," he replied as she bit her lip.

"What do I call you?" she asked as he smiled.

"James," he answered.

"Alright, I'll do what I can, but can you give me a heads up when that creep is going to return?" Katie asked.

He nodded.

"Alright, you got a deal," Katie replied.

Author Note – So, to tell both apart, the sadistic one will be called Savoy, but the one who has a soul will be called James.

Also, the realms shift in this story, and Optimus Prime is not there yet.

In another real...

Cade Yeager was fixing Optimus, but the mech was heavily damaged, and he also seemed emotionally charged.

"What else is wrong?" Cade asked as Optimus looked away, shuttering his optics.

"Everything is wrong; I just wanted a home for my people and me, but it would seem we are not wanted anywhere we go," Optimus said as his memories came crashing on him like a tidal wave.

"Optimus?" Cade asked.

The gentle alien being glanced at Cade then as he sighed.

"I met someone using my holoform before all this happened; we were together for two years, but then I couldn't get back to her. It has been about two years at least that we've been apart, and it hurts more than I can ever even begin to comprehend." Optimus said.

Silence hit him then.

"She understood me. She made me feel things that I was told I would never experience because I wasn't wanted or loved," Optimus said as he frowned then.

"Who would say those things to you?" Cade asked.

"My sire and the Council," was his reply then.

"What's a sire, and who what is the Council?" Cade asked.

Optimus scanned the Internet for the right term.

"In Earth's terminology, someone called a father," Optimus answered. "And, as for the Council, they were the ones who governed Cybertron, and they did things that were horrible," Optimus explained as Cade suddenly didn't think he wanted to know what Optimus went through.

Silence hit them both at that moment. Cade glanced up, startled to find Optimus' optics shuttered and coolant running down his faceplates. Whoever this human woman was. She had been his rock, and now he was lost and scared in need of her.

Cade saw Tessa looking at Shane and how she slid her hand into his and squeezed his hand.

"Dad," Tessa whispered.

"I know," Cade answered as she walked up to her father with a determined expression on her face.

"We have to help him," Tessa said in a firm tone of voice.

"I know," Cade answered as he walked up to Optimus.

"Optimus looked at Cade, Tessa, and Shane.

"We'll get you to her. I give you my word," Cade vowed as Optimus looked away.

"Why, Cade Yeager?" Optimus asked.

"Because we're friends," Cade said.

"What's her name?" Tessa asked.

"Katie... Katie Carter," Optimus replied as his spark tried to reach for her and when he didn't find her... he was scared so scared.

Xxxxxxxxx

Katie got up and was making coffee when she saw James sleeping on the sofa. She wondered who it was if it was James or Savoy. Katie sighed and tapped his shoulder, which made him jump. Katie could tell his expression was much softer, so she knew it was James.

"Morning," she said, handing him some coffee.

"Thanks," James said.

She smiled then.

"James, you said Quintessa did something to Savoy, right? Why?" she asked.

Silence greeted her.

"He's sadistic, and he knows how to get what he wants from people. I can read his thoughts, but the side with a soul is lost to him now. But it's not lost to me. I want to be separated from that sadistic... He doesn't care who he hurts to get what he wants, including hurting a woman. So, just promise me you won't piss him off; I just don't want you hurt," James replied.

"That makes two of us," she said.

"Just be careful; I better make an appearance," James replied as he headed out, and she reached for her cell phone to update Haley.

"I'm starting to think my intentions were spot on," a male voice said as Katie jumped, almost dropping her phone. "I wouldn't advise that you would damage that device,"

"Who the hell are you?" she demanded as he frowned.

"I'm Primus. I made sure you and Optimus met, and the future for him could go two ways because of a simple misunderstanding. It will be up to you to save his life, you and James, of course," Primus said as she tilted her head to the side.

"What understanding?" she asked.

"I cannot tell you everything; unfortunately, I would have kept Optimus with you; he has been so lost, and you made him feel loved. However, I must contend with Unicron and Quintessa, and they pulled something on me where I couldn't intervene on his behalf. It happens, unfortunately, something I could not foresee," Primus said.

"Will he find me again?" she asked.

Primus shook his head.

"I can not tell you anything else," he said as he slowly disappeared as Katie frowned just as she heard the front door bang shut.

"Guess, Mr. personality is back," Katie mumbled as Savoy walked into the kitchen. "What?" she demanded.

"You will order about 50 pizzas for dinner for myself and my men," he ordered.

"Is that right, and are you paying for it, Mr. Personality?" Katie questioned as something in Savoy snapped.

He grabbed her arm. He hit her across the face shocking her for a moment. She had never been hit by a man before.

"I warned you do not piss me off, got it!" Savoy snarled.

"Alright, fine, whatever," she said in an urgent tone as he moved away from her and headed back outside.

Katie started to cry then she had never been hit before, and she was terrified of Savoy.

Terrified...

Xxxxxxxxx

Katie sat in the family room on the sofa; she watched Savoy heading back in, but she wasn't sure which one was going to be out. She prayed the monster had been put back in his cage, but she wasn't sure.

She realized it was James when he saw her face.

"Katie, what did he do to you?" James asked.

"He hit me, but I'll be alright," she said.

James gave her a look like he didn't believe her, and he didn't want to let it go.

"I was afraid of this," James said.

She wiped her eyes then.

"We've got to come up with a way to split you two up and fast," she said.

"Agreed," James said as he gently wiped her face.

Xxxxxxxx

Meanwhile, where Optimus was, the lonely Autobot commander was going out of his processors. He missed his Katie. Primus, would she still want him? Had she moved on? His spark raced with loneliness.

Could he live without her?

The simple answer was he couldn't; he just couldn't. If Katie moved on or didn't want him any longer, he would turn himself in. He would sooner perish than live alone without her any longer.

Cade and Tessa heard him crying, and the blonde's heart went out to Optimus. She couldn't think of a life without Shane.

So, she understood Optimus' pain and misery. She walked up toward Optimus, compassion written all over her face.

"I swear we will find her for you," Tessa replied as she ran her hand over his cheek.

"What if she moved on?" Optimus asked sadly.

"You have to fight for her, Optimus," Cade interjected as the Autobot Commander glanced down at Cade.

Silence...

"You didn't survive all this for nothing, Prime, you're a fighter, and most importantly, you're still a hero," Cade remarked as Optimus looked away.

"Do you truly believe that?" he asked.

"Yeah, I do," Cade remarked.

Optimus was scared. He had been away for so long, and it terrified him that she would move on and forget all about him.

Xxxxxx

Katie and James talked about many things when she touched base on something with him she hadn't before. She talked about her secret life.

She was a warrior for God. She protected those preyed upon by evil and stalked by those who would dare harm those who were innocent. It was her mission. It also ran in the family. It was passed down from daughter to daughter. She took it very seriously.

However, very few knew about it, which was why James urged her to keep it to herself because of Savoy.

"I don't see why he would care about me being a warrior for God," she replied.

"You are an expert in all weapons and a lot of forms of karate. You don't think he would find that useful?" James asked.

"He's after Cybertronians, isn't he?" Katie finally asked.

Silence...

"Yeah, he blames them for Jennifer's death," James explained.

It was then that Katie got an idea. She urged James to follow her into the bedroom/office. Katie went to the filing cabinet and opened one of the drawers. She pulled a file out that was massive while James watched her.

She went through the photos, and he watched her. James walked closer, and his eyes caught sight of a picture. He reached for it out of instinct, and she glanced over at him then.

"What?" Katie asked.

"I know this guy. He's friends with Attinger," James said as he took the picture in his hand.

"That's Non. He's the leader of the Knights of Darkness. Trust me, when I say he makes Savoy look like a boy scout," Katie said.

Silence...

"James?" Katie asked.

"Yeah," he answered.

"Who told you Jennifer was killed because of the war with the Cybertronians?" she asked as he thought about it.

"Non and Attinger," he stated as she realized what was going on.

Everything that was ever written about James Savoy's character was sadistic, but that he went insane because of his sister's death.

"Shit," James growled.

"What?" Katie asked.

"He's coming back," James said as he stumbled out of her room into the kitchen while she quickly put the file back into her filing cabinet.

Katie walked out of her room. Savoy glared at her and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

Katie sighed. They had to figure this out and soon.