In which Alison trains, argues, and fights a battle.


After the Second, base turned into a live wire, the news of the 'Con's return having everyone on edge ready for action. Every day after dinner for the rest of break I stood with Optimus, Will and Prowl as the away teams reported in. Aside from Sideswipe's team finding a crushed car on their second day, there was no sign of the 'Cons. I was glad, cause that meant no one was hurt yet, but also terrified, because who's to say they aren't causing trouble and are avoiding being caught. After the forth day, the teams started to spread out more, trying to cover a larger area to see if there was any sign.

The mood around base was a mixed bag. Some of the recruits seemed eager, ready for some kind of action. Most either didn't know what to think, or were willing to ignore everyone else's worry when nothing happened the first few days, a false sense of security coming over them. But several people, especially the 'Bots, former S7s and those who had seen a lot of combat, were wary about what was to come.

That just was more motivation for me to work hard with my training, which Asami was very happy to work with me on. She decided to up my training from just hand to hand and, besides working with my AllSpark powers, she started me shooting with pistols and rifles. Mikaela, Miles and Epps joined us, and we actually impressed out trainers with how well we handled the firearms. Miles admitted to Cade's lessons before he left, while I mentioned I had learned from one of my uncles a few years before (both here and pre-Jump), and Mikaela said her dad had taught her a bit before his arrest. Of the three of us, Mikaela was the best shot, but with time and practice, I knew I'd get better.

Jazz had also come into my training, actually showing me how to use the grenades Ironhide had gifted me for my birthday. We used dummies as I practiced my aim and arming them, but once satisfied with that, he let me throw one to see the damage it could do. It completely obliterated the small pile of scrap we'd been using as a target, and left a fairly deep crater. Definitely not a weapon for enclosed spaces, but I started to keep one in my bag, as a just in case.

The rest of break fell into a pattern; train, have breakfast, work, eat lunch, train again, more work, relax with Mikaela, Bee and Miles or the kids and the hatchlings or some of the other 'Bots, eat dinner, receive the away teams' reports, more relaxing, then bed. Definitely not what a typical teen would be doing, but I've not been typical for a while.

When we returned to Tranquility for school, it seemed the tension we felt increased instead of eased. Arcee and Bee were more vigilant about patrolling, with one staying at the school to watch us while the other watched around town, then both guarding us as we hung out, and then another set of patrols after we were all home safe. Mikaela used a connection from her dad to get us access to an old enclosed empty lot, where we used modified BB guns to practice our shooting, as well as giving me a space to practice my powers without anyone watching.

Of all of us though, I think Miles showed it the most. While he had been growing more serious over the past several months, as a consequence of company and just growing up, now he barely even joked anymore. He pushed himself the hardest in training, even practicing at home, and he asked to join me on my morning workout.

"You're pushing really hard, Miles," I mentioned one morning, after we had finished our run. Miles had kept up with me fairly well, but he had to sit out my last circuit of the neighborhood to sit on my porch to catch his breath. Mom had gotten us some water in a pitcher and he was sipping it as I sat next to him, grabbing my glass and filling it.

"I have to," he said.

"Why?" I had to ask. "You seriously don't need to."

"Yes, I do." He sighed and slumped a bit. "You and Mikaela, you have places in COTA. You're the reason it exists to begin with, and Mikaela is Ratchet's apprentice. Me, I hang around communications cause I can understand it, but there's hundreds of people who understand it way better. The only reason I'm involved is because I'm your best friend, and that's not enough. I have to be able to do something." He punctuated this by hitting his fist against the porch, then sitting up. "I've already decided, I'm enlisting on my birthday. If not for the fact Mom would freak out, I'd probably drop out and go to basic this summer. As is, I'll graduate, ship out, and when I'm done, Moreshower will tap my file for COTA. Maybe even join ROTC next year, for practice."

Wow, I had never heard such determination from him before. I contemplated what could make for this change as we sipped our water, and the only thing that came to mind was Barricade. It seemed their friendship was helping both of them grow.

I placed a hand on Miles's shoulder. "I'll stand with you, Miles. Maybe I'll join ROTC with you, if I'm not too bogged down. Ella's mentioned the possibility of signing me up for some online Poly-Sci classes this summer."

"Don't envy you there," he said, smiling. "And thanks, Alison."

"You're welcome, Miles. What are best friends for?" I bumped my shoulder to his, and he returned it.

All in all, there was a great feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was Martin Luther King weekend when it finally did.

"Keep your arms up!" Asami corrected me as we ran through hand-to-hand drills on Monday. She and Epps had tested each of us in a short spar, and had given us new, longer drills to practice. I corrected my position, lifting my arms a bit higher. "Better. Try it again."

Before I could run through again, an alarm sounded through the base. Everyone stopped and listened, and then we all recognized it. It was an attack alarm. A second later, the intercom crackled to life with Prowl's voice.

"All combat units, prepare for deployment. Medical units, report to your stations in medbay or the infirmary. Senior Autobot and COTA officers to Command."

Before he even started to repeat the instructions, people were springing to action. Mikaela took off for medbay while Epps peeled off to get geared up, Miles chasing behind him. I sprinted towards HQ, only just noticing how Asami was following behind me. All around us, people were rushing to their stations, or simply getting out of the way.

Even in HQ, things were a little frantic, with our communications/tech team checking their monitors and relaying information. Will and Simmons were on the catwalk by the main monitor, Prowl and Optimus standing nearby. Elita and Jazz dashed in the same time Asami and I did, and she lifted us to the catwalk.

"What's happening?" I asked as soon as my feet touched metal grate.

"We just found the Decepticons," Prowl said. "Energon and EM detectors picked up several signals coming from this region." He gestured to the screen, which showed an area in what seemed to be eastern Arizona.

"That's where the base housing the Mission City Decepticons' remains is," Simmons said. "Think they're gonna revive their buddies?"

"It would be impossible to revive them," Optimus said. "Only the AllSpark has the ability to do so, and we have Alison."

"But it's common for mecha to constantly save important data to external drives on their frame," Elita said. "Starscream is probably after those."

"And if he kills some humans while getting them, it's a plus for him," Will added.

"How do we know the Decepticons won't be in and out before we even get there?" I asked.

"We put detectors up at ten mile intervals for up to three hundred miles from the base," Simmons said. "So far, they've tripped only a few, so they seem to be trying to blend in with the regular traffic for the moment."

"Which means we'll get there before they can do much damage," Elita said.

"Where are our frontliners?" Asami asked.

"Ironhide and Sunstreaker are near the Appalacians, and won't be able to make itunless we sent a plane, which there's no time for. Chromia is heading there as quick as they can, but she likely won't arrive at the base until after the battle's over," Prowl said. "Coppertone and Sideswipe are much closer, and we should arrive at the same time as them, if we leave as soon as everyone is geared up."

"Then the plan is simple," I said. "Get in, kick 'Con tailpipe, and make sure they don't get to any of the dead 'Cons."

The base having previously been one of S7's former facilities, Simmons gave us a brief rundown of the layout and we figured out a couple plans of attack to use. When we were done, I turned to leave and said, "I'll get suited up and meet you at the plane."

"Whoa!" Will lunged and grabbed my shoulder, turning me back around. "You're staying here on base."

"No, I'm going out there to help fight," I said, brushing his hand off my shoulder.

"You're COTA's leader, as well as a minor by your country's standards," Prowl pointed out. "It would be better if you remained here where it's safe for you."

"What kind of a leader would I be if I wasn't out there with my men? How can I ask them to risk their lives if I'm not willing to do the same?"

"You already risked your life by bonding with the AllSpark-" Will began.

"And because I am, She will not let me be hurt. She needs me alive, and so do the 'Cons. And what if someone is hurt, bad, like Coppertone was in Mission City? I need to be there." I held Will's gaze, trying to convey my determination against his stubbornness as he opened his mouth and-

"I think Alison should come."

Asami's voice cut through the tension sharply, and both Will and I looked at her. She stepped up, placing her hands on my shoulders while looking at Will.

"With all due respect, sir, we can't shelter her forever. Inevitably, the 'Cons are going to find her at some point. Our options are allow her to face them now and see her abilities and training put into action, with us and the 'Bots there to support and assess her, or keep her sheltered and untested with the hope she and her Guardian will not be outmatched if caught away from base. I for one would feel far more secure about Alison's safety in the future by exposing her to that tempered danger now."

She squeezed my shoulders lightly. "Besides, she is our director and the Bearer of the AllSpark. She's a leader. Let her lead. We all know she can handle this."

I felt a small well of emotion in my chest at her words and I admit I might have blinked back a couple tears. It seemed like her confidence in me also extended to the others as none of them argued with her statement.

Even Will, looking frustrated as he mulled it over, finally gave a defeated sigh. "Alright, fine. But!" He pointed a finger at Asami. "You are to stay on her ass, Stark. She does not leave your sight from take off until we are debriefing back in this room."

"Absolutely, sir," Asami said with a quick salute, and the two of us left to gear up.

"Thanks," I said.

She looked at me. "For what?"

"For backing me up there."

She shrugged. "I only said what I thought."

"It still means a lot." I smiled. "So thanks."

She gave a small smile back. "You're welcome. Get your gear and meet me at the armory." She then broke into a full sprint towards the barracks.

Ratchet and Wheeljack had been working on my armor since the tests, and already Spark II was an improvement on its predecessor. There was plating across my chest and upper back now, was well as both sides of my legs and arms, and it came with a pair of armored gloves. The suit material itself was different, but Wheeljack assured me it would be able to handle most projectiles and explosions (I was too afraid to ask exactly how he knew, but I had a pretty good idea). My boots and the helmet shoved my way were still standard issue, but they didn't clash terribly with the new suit, being tan-ish gray in color as well.

By the time I reached the armory, Asami was already waiting for me. She was in the standard uniform, hair swung up into a bun. She gave me a pair of pistols to holster on my thighs and I insisted on carrying a rifle as well. She checked the one I grabbed, making sure it would work for me before handing it over. She then pulled my own hair up in a bun, not as tight as her own, but it wouldn't get in the way.

We headed out to the planes, meeting with the rest of the combat teams and the Autobots. Optimus, Elita, Arcee, Prowl, Ratchet, Jazz, Bee and Skids and Mudflap would be accompanying us, while Jolt and Wheeljack stayed back to help coordinate the battle and get prepared for injuries respectively. Optimus, Jazz, and Bee were on the lead plane with Alpha team, while Prowl and the Chevy Twins were on the second plane and Elita, Arcee and Ratchet were on were on the third. Mikaela and Miles wanted to come, but Will resolutely put his foot down for them, so I just gave them both tight hugs before walking onto the plane.

Climbing into the lead plane, Epps and Burke were talking with one of the others of the rangers when they noticed me coming on.

"What are you doing here?" Burke asked.

"I can't just stay behind," I said. "I will not let it be said I let others risk their lives when I'm not willing to myself."

"I would think that would be obvious just from how we got here," Epps said.

"What's the phrase the 'Bots use?" the other ranger - Dundee, according to his nametag - said. "'Bearings of pure steel'? That's how they generally describe your actions in Mission City."

"Then I hope I can show those here too." I looked around and saw everyone just about ready. "I'm going to say a few words to everyone." I went to where Jazz had maglocked himself to the hold next to Optimus. Bee was on his other side. "Jazz, can you link me to the other planes' intercoms?"

"Gotcha, Little Lady," he said, and a second later said, "You're good, just hit your mic when you're ready."

"Thanks." I looked to Optimus. "Mind if I climb up?"

"Feel free." He popped his holo on to help me up, and I turned to the troops around us, a few of which turned as they or their neighbors spotted me.

"Here goes." I turned my mic on, and spoke as clearly as I could. "Alright everyone, this is Director Witwicky. This is our first fight as COTA, as a team. Some of you were Sector Seven. Some of you were in Mission City. Most of you were not. So I want to give some advice. Number one: don't be a hero. I know it's a bit rich, coming from me." I paused a moment to allow a chuckle to pass through the crowd. "But trying a stunt and going off book won't save the day here, it will get you killed. Listen to the Autobots, they've been fighting this War since the Pharaohs ruled the Nile, and they will keep you alive. We've been training for this day, and now it that it's here, I don't want it wasted. The Decepticons came here to destroy what's ours; let's show them humanity is not to be stepped on!"

The soldiers let out a cheer just as the pilot announced they were finishing the take off preparations and everyone moved to get strapped in.

"Well said, Alison," Optimus told me, helping me down.

"Thanks," I said. "I think it worked out alright, and now everyone knows I didn't stay behind like a damsel."

"No one thinks that of you," Bumblebee said from his spot next to Optimus.

"Well, I'm gonna make sure it doesn't even cross their minds after today." I patted both of the mechs' hoods, then headed over to sit by Asami.

It was an hour flight from base to the warehouse, during which everyone was fully filled in on the plans that had been made. The core of each plan was that everyone was divided into three teams, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. Alpha was the attack team, and would go out first with the 'Bots to fight. Bravo was the defense team, and their job would be protecting the warehouse if any 'Cons got past Alpha Team. Charlie was the medics and mechanics, and of course their job was to take care of injured during and after the battle. Asami and I were to be part of Bravo Team.

It was smooth flying until just before we were to land, when the pilot called for everyone to hold on and the plane suddenly made a sharp turn. "What's happening?" I called into the comm.

::Just had someone fire at us. We had to circle around,:: the pilot said.

::Look like Decepticons,:: the radar tech said. ::I got five- wait, six bogies on the ground.::

::Someone doesn't want us crashing the party,:: I could hear someone say.

::If they keep firing at us, we'll have to land at the air strip fifteen miles outside the base,:: the pilot said.

::That's too far,:: Prowl said.

::Someone get the ramp open!:: Jazz started rolling towards it. ::Arcee, with me!::

::Jazz, what are you doing?:: Prowl asked as the Soleste waited for the ramp to finish opening, though his tone of voice suggested he already knew.

If Jazz was in root mode, he probably would have smirked. ::I'm gonna clear us a landing space.:: With that, he accelerated out of the plane, and I caught a glimpse of Arcee dropping from Charlie plane before the ramp closed again. I could only imagine the carnage they were about to lay down.

::Ten bucks, Prowl's gettin' some make-up 'face later,:: Skids said.

::I'm not takin' that sucker bet,:: Mudflap said.

::Autobots, cut the chatter,:: Optimus said and they did.

::They cleared the runway,:: the copilot said after a few minutes.

::Heading down for a landing,:: the pilot said.

Everyone held on at the plane went down, a slightly rougher landing than was usual, but the moment the plane slowed enough it was safe to stand, we were up and the 'Bots were rolling over to the ramp. We already got word of Sideswipe rolling in and engaging the 'Cons, and the sounds of battle only seemed to encourage everyone.

::Remember everyone, our goal is to keep the Decepticons out of the warehouses,:: Will called over the din. ::Taking down the 'Cons is a secondary objective. That said, let's get as many of the bastards as we can!::

A yell erupted from the men, and when the ramp came down, Alpha Team was not far behind the rolling out Autobots. The 'Bots laid down cover fire as the soldiers took up defensive positions. I spotted Epps and Burke head off the way Prowl was covering, while Bumblebee ducked out to the right of the ramp, a clang telling me he was taking on a 'Con right by the plane. Ratchet and the rest of the medics and mechanics were staying on their plane for the moment, but I presumed triage was already being set up inside. Asami and I waited until the 'Bots and Alpha Team set up some good cover before running out to join up with Bravo Team.

To the right side of the tarmac was a series of warehouses, while on the opposite side I could see aircraft hangars. "Warehouse E is our target!" Asami called out and our group rushed towards the building. The Autobots and Alpha Team stayed between us and the Decepticons, keeping us from being targeted. Once we reached the warehouse, we ran along the side until we found a door, locked but not guarded. Asami punched in a code into the door control and ushered us in when it opened.

Inside, the noise of the battle was muffled, and we could take a second to look around us. The warehouse was fairly standard for one, I would say. High ceilings, lots of crates on shelves or on the floor, with wide aisles to navigate a forklift or a truck through. The thing that was not standard were the four large shapes lying on flatbeds in the center of the warehouse, tarps over them so a quick glance would not reveal what was hidden underneath. With the exception of one, which had the tarp meant to cover its head thrown back.

"Whoa," one of the soldiers - Murphy, I think - said, staring at the dead 'Con. "He's a mean looking fucker, ain't he?"

"The ones outside are even meaner," another said. His tag said Slani, and I could vaguely remember his file from when I signed off on it. S7, like Asami, and had been at Hoover when the attack started. He looked to me and asked, "So, Director, how should we defend the place?"

I was surprised for a moment, before it clicked that I technically was in charge. But I also didn't know the layout of the warehouse, nor did I know who would work best together or what weaknesses we needed to cover. But I did have someone who did know these things, and had experience in applying them in the field.

"I will admit, as a civilian, taking command in this situation is beyond the scope of my abilities at this time. Asami Stark knows the base, she knows you, and she's commanded before. I pass command of the squad to her." I dipped my head towards Asami.

She nodded sharply in reply and looked to the troops, her voice strong and serious. "The Autobots and Alpha Team are covering the front exits, but there are still three others the 'Cons could exploit. Slani, take Stone, Waterford, Simpson and Cooper to the southeast door. Jacobs, you take Brady, Otega, Crawford, Dawson, Harris and Murphy to the southwest door, go down that aisle and take the third left. The rest of you stay on me and Alison by the western door." She continued directing the men on exactly where she wanted them, as well as tips on how to use the terrain to our advantage.

While listening in, I examined the dead uncovered 'Con. He wasn't one of the Mission City ones, but I couldn't quite place who he was. Partly might have been due to the side of his helm was horribly crushed.

~You know who this is?~ I asked.

~Wreckage.~ She answered.

That name rang a bell vaguely. I knew that he appeared in the comics and died, but I hadn't paid him much attention beyond that, since he hadn't had a major effect on the story. Seemed he didn't have one here either, since this was the first I had heard of him. ~What happened to him?~

~I do not know. Some of my energy revived him, but I had no contact with him beyond that. I could not even draw on his memories, to learn of the new situation.~

~I see.~

"Alison." Asami's voice made me slightly start and I looked at her.

"Sorry, I was talking with the AllSpark."

"Ah." She jerked her head towards one of the aisles. "You're with me, on the western door."

Furthest from the fighting, but still a chance of a 'Con coming in. I liked that, it wasn't codling, like if she had said we'd wait by the cadavers.

"Do you know anything about the 'Con on the flatbed?" I asked Asami as we headed to take position with the other five men who'd be with us.

Asami's scowl surprised me. "Him? Yeah. That's Wreckage, NBE 5," she said. "Only one we had a name for before the 'Bots arrived."

"Oh? What happened with him?"

"There was an attack by two 'Cons on a base in Afghanistan, shortly after what we now know was their initial landing in '06," Asami explained. "They managed to take Wreckage down while the other, Blackout, escaped. My team was sent to collect the body and bring it back to Hoover for study. Turns out, he wasn't as dead as we thought. Some excess energy from one of the AllSpark tests woke him up again and he said he'd make us a deal; in exchange for amnesty, he'd tell us all about cybertronian tech."

"I take it that the deal fell through."

Asami nodded. "Two days later, there was a brief power failure in part of the base and he made a run for it. My team caught up to him in one of the vehicle garages, probably after a new alt mode." Her expression became more grim. "We were trying to contain him using some experimental EMP device. It worked too well. His violent reaction to it brought the structure down on top of himself… and us."

I felt my stomach drop. "Oh no. How many…?"

"Four total unless you count Wreckage as a casualty. Two others got knocked out and were pretty badly hurt but they survived. I was closest to the entrance when it happened, so I was spared the worst of it."

"That must have been so hard. I'm sorry."

"We all knew the risks taking him on in close quarters, but letting him escape was not an option." Asami sighed deeply. "Still wish there was something I could have done to save the others."

"We've all been there," one of the soldiers - Hewett - said. "Always questioning what we could have done differently, how we could have saved everyone."

"Even if it's just impossible," another - Love - added.

Before any more could be said on the topic, we could hear a jet flying very close by, and Asami was calling for us to take cover. We barely dove behind the stacks of crates before an explosion blew out the wall. Shrapnel easily the size of myself flew down the aisle, and if not for our quick reactions, someone would have been killed easily. The smoke was barely clearing when the mech responsible stepped into the building.

::What's happening?:: Slani called over the comms.

Asami leaned out slightly into the aisle. "Shit, it's Starscream," she hissed, trying to avoid the 'Con's attention. "Slani, Jacobs, make your way back to the cadavers, but don't engage until you can get a clear shot at his vulnerable spots. Remember, joints, face, optics."

"And us, ma'am?" Love asked, his own voice low as I could see him peek from behind a box across the aisle.

"We engage and keep him occupied." That said, she raised her rifle and aimed at Starscream, taking just a second to line her shot up before firing. Love and Hewett across the way did the same, and I could hear Starscream hiss something in either pain or anger (or likely both).

I got in a couple shots, then Asami and I had to duck back as he swiped at us. He turned to one of the others and transformed his right arm into a weapon. We all scattered, one soldier running down the aisle he'd ducked in, and he was who Starscream aimed for, firing a shot. We didn't hear a scream, and that chilled me more than if there had been.

Everything was happening fast. Hewett and the man with him dropped to the ground and rolled behind cover when the gun turned to them. Asami and I fired to pull his attention away from them, and kept it up as we fell back another two aisles before having to duck for cover when he fired back. A couple crates above us were shredded and sent splinters and sawdust down on us, while pings of bullets hitting metal.

::Someone tell me we don't have anything explosive in here,:: I could hear someone say, a slight whine to their voice.

::No, though that would be one way to take care of him,:: someone - Slani? - answered them.

"I'd rather not repeat what happened with Wreckage," Asami snapped. She fired a few more shots before ducking back behind cover.

Starscream strafed his fire across the aisle, and I saw Love get hit. His arm, thankfully, but he had to drop down and put pressure on it. Almost like a shark smelling blood, or maybe a hawk spotting prey, Starscream started advancing on him.

That gun will be the end of us, I thought, then an idea struck. So let's put an end to it.

"Cover me," I told, sprinting into the main aisle with my rifle in my left hand. In my right, I charged an EMP and right as I passed Starscream - almost directly under him - I flung my arm up to release it.

It hit my target, his right arm, and he stopped firing as he stumbled back, shrieking from pain, or maybe numbness. I didn't know exactly what the EMP did to a bot's systems. I reached the opposite aisle, crates on one side and shelving on the other, and half-skidded to a stop, ducking behind a crate for cover

"Alison! What the hell are you doing!?" Asami demanded.

"EMP. Should have taken out his arm," I said, grasping my rifle with both hands now and moving back to the edge of the aisle. I knelt and aimed at Starscream. "That should even the odds now."

None of us had time to say more, cause Starscream suddenly charged forward, ignoring the others to come at me. His right arm was hanging useless at his side, but his left was outstretched, servo wide to grab at me. I scrambled back into the relative safety of the crates, but he came very close. I fired at him, but I mainly hit his chassis, which didn't slow him down much as he started shaking the shelving and shoving the crates aside.

"Alison, sixty feet behind you is an aisle, get to it!" Asami yelled, "Bravo Team, all converge on the western aisle! Engage on sight!"

I ran and spotted the aisle she mentioned, one that seemed to run parallel to the main aisle, but only wide enough for two people to walk side by side. I turned left and ran, the crash of crates and shelves behind me telling that Starscream hadn't quite given up on me.

"Well, he's not after the hard drives now," I quipped, but didn't listen for any responses. Instead, I focused on priming an energon blast. I turned, running backwards for a few feet while trying to aim the blast at his face. Unfortunately, when I released it, I missed, just scuffing a shoulder. I sent an EMP pulse, but he ducked back the way he came. Te pulse hit some lights behind him, causing them to spark.

"Director, here!" I heard someone call and turned to see a couple soldiers at an intersection of my aisle and another. I joined them and we ran back to the main aisle, where we could see the rest of Bravo Team converging. Starscream was also back in the main aisle, and currently being fired on from all sides. He wasn't seeming to let that slow him down much, and upon spotting me, he charged again.

"Fall back!" I ordered and the men ran for cover while I took off back to the intersecting aisle. I could hear the shriek of metal as Starscream tore at the shelves lining the aisle, desperately reaching for me.

"Dammit! Keep out of his reach, we're coming!" Asami yelled.

An idea suddenly came to me. I put on an extra burst of speed to get further down the aisle, past the original intersection. I transferred my rifle to my left hand, and turned, bracing myself as I flipped it to full auto. My right hand, I curled my fingers together, fingertips to thumb, and concentrated on generating a globe.

Whereas during my testing and training, I made the globe stop when it filled the space made by my fingers, this time I let it grow past them, pushing out between my fingers until it nearly encased my hand in a shifting, globus sphere. Dimly I noted it looked like something from a Ghibli film, but I pushed the thought away as I raised my arm.

Starscream was getting closer and closer, half crawling in his effort to get to me. It was terrifying, but I pushed my fear aside, and aimed. Two more feet, and I fired the globe. The force as it shot off knocked me on my ass, but I didn't waste time scrambling to my feet. I switched my rifle back to my dominant hand, right as the globe hit Starscream's face, right above his left optic. I aimed just below there, and pulled the trigger. The initial recoil knocked the shots up, and Starscream shrieked as the bullets dug into his optic glass and the weakened metal. The mag only lasted about thirty seconds, but it was enough. He scrambled back away from me, into the main aisle, only for an orange blur to kick him in the side and knock him off his pedes.

I smiled at Coppertone's take down, collapsing back on my elbows. I was breathing heavily, and I could feel my body start to sag. That last blast took a lot more out of me than I thought it would, and I needed a minute. Or five.

I was conscious enough to move closer to one of the shelves, so I wasn't quite so in the open, but then I had to lay back and close my eyes. I listened to the sound of the battle, mainly clangs of metal on metal punctuated by bursts of gunfire. Then, the sound of transformation and a jet engine, followed by a wash of heat, shrieking metal, and the whole building shaking. I couldn't run, but I managed to roll over onto my side, covering my head with my arms. Thankfully nothing fell aside from some dust shaken from the shelves above me.

The next thing I knew, someone was shaking my shoulder and calling my name. I opened my eyes to see Asami, backlit by a lot more light than was inside before. Starscream must had busted the roof flying out.

"Oh thank God," she said as I looked up. "You scared me there, Alison. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, pushing myself up on my elbow. I hissed as my right hand brushed the ground, and I turned it over. The palm and undersides of my glove were almost melted to my hand, the exposed skin a mix of red burn and white blisters. "Fuck. That hurts."

"Shit. We better get that checked out." She grabbed my arm and hoisted me to my feet with very little effort. "Can you walk?"

I couldn't answer her, wobbling slightly as I tried to regain my balance, which was not helped at all by the fact that, now that I had acknowledged it, my hand was sending shooting pain up my arm. I curled it against my chest, and even that small movement hurt like a bitch. I could feel the blood drain from my face as nausea churned in my gut. A second later, and I puked up what I had eaten for lunch and breakfast. Luckily, I managed to turn away from Asami, so she didn't get hit by any splatter. My boots weren't going to be the same again though.

"I'm going to take that as a no." Asami bent down to pick up my rifle, slinging it over her shoulder along with her own. She then swung me up into her arms and started carrying me out.

"Is the battle over?" I asked, wrapping my left arm around her neck.

"You must have passed out, Optimus gave the all clear just before I reached you. By the way, next time you pull a stunt like that, you should give me more information than 'cover me'."

I was confused a moment, then remembered my initial EMP attack on Starscream. "Oh. Sorry."

"It was a decent plan, but you need to communicate better. I can't help you or watch your back if you don't tell me what you're doing."

"Right, I'll try to remember that." I lolled my head against her shoulder. "Is anyone hurt?"

"Mostly grazes and burns. Love got a round through his upper arm, Talbot's leg got pinned by a shelf, and Slani was knocked out by a falling light. Now hush, don't waste your energy."

I nodded, and turned my attention to looking around the warehouse as we walked. Most of the shelving was now completely mangled, crates smashed to pieces with their contents scattered and some even crushed. Nothing was burning at least, I half mused, as Asami carefully sidestepped a small crate that was mostly intact, though I saw what looked like Frenzy's arm sticking out of it. At least Starscream hadn't noticed and taken off with it. Who knows what data Frenzy may have had stored after hacking Air Force One.

Outside, there was plenty more evidence of the battle that had happened. Pieces of the tarmac and ground were broken up, parts of the surrounding buildings were gone, and most importantly, there were two dead 'Cons on the ground, surrounded by a few 'Bots. The medics had set up between the planes and the base's infirmary, and around a third of the cots were filled. Next to the triage, Ratchet and Arcee were looking over the injured 'Bots and directing the mechanics what to do to help.

"Alison!" Bee was right by the doors, and knelt down to look at me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm f-" I started to say, then a look from Asami made me change that. "Mostly fine. My hand got burned when I sent an energon blast at Starscream's face, and dusty from his escape, but nothing too bad."

"She also passed out, and puked" Asami said, not slowing her stride. "I want Ratchet to look her over, cause that shouldn't have happened."

Bee hovered as we walked to triage, switching to his holo once we reached the lines of cots. Asami found an empty cot, set me down, took my helmet off, then pushed me to lie back. She then sat on the next cot over, placing the rifles against the side before resting her elbows on her knees and leaning forward with her eyes closed. Bee grabbed a couple bottles of water from somewhere and sat on my left side, first helping me rinse my mouth of the vomit taste, then helping me drink some.

With the other injuries to be treated, it was a little while before a medic made her way over to us. During that time, Bee talked to distract me from the pain, mostly about how the battle outside went. Sideswipe had already engaged the Cons when we arrived, and Jazz and Arcee's attack was an excellent distraction, and between the three of them they made the opening for us to land. The 'Bots and COTA made a push and managed to drive the 'Cons away from the warehouse, then Starscream surprised them all by transforming and flying to the opposite side of the building, breaking in the back way. Bumblebee had tried to follow, but he had been confronted by another 'Con, and he'd only just managed to defeat him when Starscream erupted from the building and called for a retreat, laying a strafing fire to cover them. All but two 'Cons got away. They weren't anyone special, just two grunts called Fangry and Tankor, whose names were only known cause Ironhide and Chromia had fought them once. The whole time, he was holding my good hand, and occasionally we exchanged squeezes back and forth.

The medic finally came over, at the same time as Optimus and Will. "Hi guys," I said, sitting up on one elbow while the medic took my injured hand in her own. "I heard we won."

"What happened to your hand?" Optimus asked.

"Burned it overpowering an energon blast. It's nothing too serious."

"Too serious?" The medic - her nametag said "Frist" - shook her head. "If you were a normal human, you shouldn't even be awake right now. Without your healing ability, this hand would be out of commision for at least several weeks. As is, you're not using it for a while."

"What happened in there?" Will asked. "A full report."

I told what happened from entering the warehouse to when Asami carried me out to triage. As I did, Frist peeled the glove from my hand and started cleaning the burns. Bee ended up having to sit behind me to prop me up, rubbing a soothing had up and down my arm and letting me clench his hand when I had to wince.

Will and Optimus both started frowning when I told them how I had personally attacked Starscream, though I wasn't sure if that was because I had made the attack or because of how Starscream's attention immediately turned to me.

Will sighed when I finished. "Alison, didn't you say something about not being a hero?"

"I didn't intend to be, I had an idea and executed it," I defended, then sank back into Bee's hold slightly. "Though, Asami did say I need to tell her these things next time I try it."

"Mmhmm." He turned to Asami. "And what is your assessment of all this, Stark?"

Asami took a moment to take a deep breath before looking up at Will. "Bravo team did manage to hold the warehouse, with limited injuries. The confined space gave us cover and minimized Starscream's attack capability since he didn't seem keen on using any form of explosive weaponry and risk bringing the structure down. However, we were being initially forced back towards the cadavers. Alison's use of an EMP to disable Starscream's weapon was the turning point for us. She certainly should have expressed her plan with me before enacting it, but it was a sound tactic. Perhaps unrefined, but still sound."

"I was a bit more caught on the fact he was closing in on Love," I admitted. "I promise, I'll give a warning next time I try something like that."

"I will try to go over some more battle tactics with your in our lessons," Optimus said. "If you'll be insisting on joining us in the battlefield, it will be with the training to defend yourself properly."

"Yessir," I said, giving a small salute with my left hand.

"Sirs," a soldier came up. "Chromia and her team have arrived."

"We will be right over," Optimus said, then turned back to me. "Rest, Alison. We'll take care of things here."

I nodded and he and Will walked away. Frist finished with my hand, wrapping it lightly in padding and bandages. When she left, Bee wrapped both his arms around my waist from behind, tucking his head on top of mine. "You need to be careful, Alison. I don't know what we'd do if Starscream nabbed you."

"Everything in your power to get me back," I said, resting my arms on his and leaning back into his embrace. "But, yeah, I'll try to watch myself."

Asami reached over and put a hand on my shoulder. "You do that. I've gotten too fond of you to let some ugly 'Con run off with you." She stood up. "I'm going to check on Love and the others."

"Okay. Give all of them my thanks and well wishes," I said. "They were very brave today."

"I will." She walked away, and I snuggled into Bee's hold.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said and squeezed. "Seriously, Alison, it was scary seeing Starscream bust out of the warehouse. We didn't know if he had you or not until Asami called saying she was with you, and you were unconscious."

"It was scary having him that close," I said. "I mean, Mission City had been bad enough, but this time he was after me specifically. I just wonder if he wants me for Megatron or for himself."

"Either way, it's not good news, and I'd rather not find out the hard way."

"Same here." We were quiet a moment, then I lifted up my bandaged hand. "So, what excuse do you think the school will buy? Campfire accident?"

"In January?"

"People have done weirder."

We talked for probably a half hour, during which time most of the clean up was completed and preparations were made to head back to base. The more critically injured were staying at the warehouse base, some still being in surgery, but the rest of the troops and all the 'Bots were coming home. Bee had wanted to carry me, but I insisted on walking onto Charlie plane. After all, it was my hand injured, not my legs, and my rest had restored my energy enough I could at least do that. On the flight back, Ratchet inspected my hand and confirmed Frist's initial diagnosis that it would take a couple weeks to heal, and I was able to get a read on the mood. Everyone was tired, but there was a touch of excitement and joy in the air too. We had just won a fight, and done so well, with low casualties. It was too optimistic to think the next fight would have the same results, but it was a good opening volly on our side.

After arriving at base, the leadership met in HQ, along with the frontliner teams (Ironhide and Sunstreaker via comms), and Bee and Asami accompanying me. We went over the battle with everyone, first Will and Optimus reporting what happened outside, than Asami and I what happened inside. Ratchet then gave the casualty report. Only four bots were injured, Sideswipe taking a slice to his arm, Skids and Mudflap several dents and burns from the melee, and Prowl had a doorwing wrenched the wrong way. Of COTA personnel, most had minor scratches and bruises, but a group had gotten a bit of energon splatter from Sideswipe and others had been almost too close to explosions. Some, like Love, had taken bullets to a limb, then a couple like Slani had been knocked out by debris or a swipe from a 'Con. Even so, the total casualties was only just over fifty, with less than ten in critical condition, and no one had died.

"So, do you think the Decepticons will try to go back for the hard drives again?" Simmons asked as we sat at the meeting table on the catwalk.

"I sincerely doubt it," Optimus said. "Having failed once, Starscream has likely abandoned that plan of action."

"Even so, it's too dangerous to have the deceased Decepticons intact and away from base," Ratchet said.

"What are you suggesting?" I asked.

"That we move the Decepticon cadavers here to base and Arcee, Wheeljack and I dismantle them for parts."

A couple of us humans shuddered. "Isn't that a little… ghoulish?" Will asked.

"It's not that different from deceased organ donations," Prowl said. "We just have the capability to use much more of the body. So long as the spark chamber and brain module are kept intact for funeral rites, a mecha's frame can be stripped down almost entirely."

"It's not usual in peace time," Jazz added. "But when the War reached a certain point, it became a more or less accepted fact that all fighters became post-mortem donors. Civilians were never used, on the Autobot side at least."

"I agree with Ratchet," Elita said. "Especially considering how low on supplies we are, having spare parts from five different bodies is a boon we can't afford to waste."

It made sense, and I could see most of us agreed about that. "We'll set up transport and try to get the bodies down here this week," Simmons said.

"Though we hopefully won't be in need of those parts anytime soon," I added. "What about leads to tracking down the 'Cons?"

"The EM detectors showed us the direction the 'Cons came from and retreated to," Lindsay said. "But even so, it's a large area of the country they could be hiding in."

::We can send out more teams, do a more thorough search,:: Ironhide suggested.

"Rotating teams," Elita said. "Three shifts or four, do you think?"

We started to hash out the basics of a plan to keep up the search for the Decepticons, then by the third time a round of yawns was set off, we decided to table it for the next day, and separated to get some rest.

Mikaela and Miles were waiting outside HQ for me and Bee, and she wrapped me in a tight hug. "I heard what happened. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Mikaela, I promise." I returned the hug, then stepped back. "I'll need someone to write out my homework for the next couple weeks, or to learn how to write left handed, but I'm fine."

"It was terrifying," Miles said. "We ended up spending the whole time with the hatchlings, the kids and the moms."

"I better see them, reassure them Mom is okay," I said, feet already turning to head that way. I only took maybe two steps before I was scooped off my feet by metal hands. I glared up to Bee from my perch. "I can walk you know."

"You're tired, and you're still pushing yourself. I'm going to carry you, and that's that." He was firm in his tone, and didn't give the chance to argue again before looking to Miles and Mikaela. "You guys wanna ride too?"

"Sure." Mikaela hopped up next to me when he lowered his servos, and Miles sat on my other side, effectively boxing me in. I sighed, realizing it was a fight I wasn't going to win, but really, it was nice to be pampered a bit, after the day I had. Just one more obligation, then I could rest until dinner, if not longer.


AN: So, funny story, the original version of this chapter has been written out for probably two years now, the revised version a year, and it took me reading over this chapter just now before posting to realize that I had originally had a outdoor triage set up. In Minnesota. In January. So, yeah, changing that to a place where it's not likely to be below freezing at that time of year.

Also, this is the longest chapter in the fic thus far, at 8,508 words. Wow!

So what do you all think of this chapter? Miles's new attitude? The battle itself? The aftermath of it? Do you find Alison's actions reasonable, or dumb? Let me know what you think in the comments!

One last note, I made a small edit to CH 19, in the NBE 3 description, so go back and read it over if you don't want to miss any potential clues as to who they are.

Guest Review Replies

Gerard DuGalle (CH 22): Crazy idea for the Spark suite: an exosuit specialized in agility and speed; with integrated energon dispenser or injector. We will get Jetstream Alison.
A possibility, the Spark is still in it's beginning stages, so there's plenty of room for play with it in the future.

Guest 1 (CH 22): I meant energon blades in the suit
I think I've had that listen as a possible upgrade, though it won't be for a while, since they still need to get the Spark working as an armor. As I said before, the Spark has room for improvement.

I'll see you all next week, same 'Bot Time, same 'Bot Channel!