Disclaimer: I claim no ownership to the Transformer franchise. I only claim the plot along with my OC.

Author's note: This story is completely AU with OC-Centric. Several Autobots and Decepticons that were killed previously are now alive with their history rewritten. Not all distance is exact in this story along with the living situations for the humans. Please ignore those minor errors. Please expect slow updates with this story.

A Riddle's Price
001

The wind carried the scent of rain on its breath. Drops of water dripped from broken pieces of concrete, bent rebar, and splintered wood. Puddles reflected the full moon that peaked from behind stormy gray clouds, hiding among the black canvas. The remnants of the storm, echoing in the distance, sang flashes of light across the horizon. Within the shadows, her hair bounced within a lose braid, hidden by a black cloak that concealed her.

The clouds moved, separating from one another, allowing twinkling stars and the bright moon to shine down, casting shadows upon the destruction of what was once a wide and populated city. Her hazel eyes wondered left right, up down, trying to pick out anything that could be hiding in the cover of darkness.

It had been two years since the massive metallic planet entered Earth's atmosphere. Strange tendrils dragged across the world, destroying cities, landmarks, and anything in its path. It took a small band of Transformers known as the Autobots along with a group of trustworthy friends to stop the destruction.

Now, these same Autobots and humans were working together, hoping to repair any of the damage left in its wake but also to repair relationships that were once tarnished.

Kate's eyes drifted to the sky. Hidden by the darkness of the night, Cybertron hugged Earth's atmosphere. Kate looked around the corner, her eyes shifting back and forth towards any sound. Old posters decorated any remaining standing wall. The leader of the Autobot's face printed upon them telling humans to report any Cybertronians whether they be Autobots or Decepticons.

Two years have certainly changed that.

Kate stepped away from the shadows, carefully crawling over broken bricks and shattered glass. The streets were hollow with vehicles burned leaving only metal behind. Houses stood erect, their doors blasted open while windows stayed dark and unresponsive. The wind whistled through hollow pipes, pushing paper down the deserted streets. Kate kept watch, looking through each darken alley, covered roof, and missing wall of a building.

Sounds of rocks tumbling to the ground startled the young woman. She dropped into the shadows of a small overhang. Bending to her knees, her hazel eyes narrowed, focusing on the direction the sound vibrated from. A towering shadow stepped out of the dark alley, the full moon's only light casting shadows upon the huge form.

Kate rolled her eyes as she stood, walking out from under the overhang. She stopped to sit upon a crumbled piece of concrete, her knees raised while her elbow rested on top and her chin rested upon her hand. She rolled her head to peer over her shoulder towards the towering giant.

"You should not be out here," rumbled a smoky baritone voice.

Kate sighed as she turned away. Her hazel eyes drifted down the empty street, clothing still hanging out to dry, shops with merchandise scattered around through broken windows. "Why did you follow me" she asked, frustration relevant within each word.

Bright blue eyes flashed follow by the sound of metallic scraping against rough stone. "You should know the reason by now."

Kate watched as a black metallic hand opened before her. Rolling her eyes, the young woman grabbed her bag and crawled upon the cold structure. It rose, forcing her to grab onto one of the metal fingers. The hand rested before a chest decorated in royal blue and burning red flames.

"You cannot travel alone at night," rumbled the deep voice once more. Kate could feel it throughout her body as the metallic titan walked through the rubble of fallen concrete, broken windows, and cracked wooden beams.

Kate turned and angled her head, the moon's light casting a shadow around the towering form. "You know why I am here. I need to find it."

"Not during the middle of the night." The blue eyes flashed brightly once more, but Kate shook her head and turned away.

They walked in silence for over an hour when yellow overhead lights soon surrounded them. Multiple metal buildings ranging in assorted sizes expanded the area around a long black landing strip. Both humans and Autobots roamed in different directions, some retiring for the evenings while others left for patrol.

Optimus Prime stopped before a hanger larger than him. He knelt allowing Kate to step down before returning to his full height. Kate stood, one hand resting on her hip, as both watched a man in his upper forties approach them, traces of grey hair throughout his brown mop.

"Kate, this is the third time this week," grumbled the young man. He ran his fingers through his hair; frustration and exhaustion quite easily seen written upon his face. "We can't keep doing this," the man continued.

"I didn't ask for any of this," yelled Kate. She rose her head and turned towards the commander, a determined and annoyed look upon her face.

"You might not, but Kira made me swear upon my spark." retorted Prime. He stood, arms crossed over his massive chest, a narrow look within his blue eyes.

Kate rolled her eyes and sighed. Pulling her bag over her shoulder, the woman walked away from the hangar and towards the human living quarters leaving the Autobot commander and Colonel alone outside.

.%.

Kate threw her bag into the corner, potion bottles rattled within the black leather. She started pacing within the small room, her hands reaching into her hair as she arched back and held in a scream. Each dream that came at night, it left her feeling the same. She knew there was an answer, something that she needed to find. Honestly, she didn't understand how he knew each time she went to the city. She didn't live on base or anywhere near the Autobot's hangar.

Dropping to the ground, Kate pounded her hands against the soft carpet. Triangle rituals performed each evening. Blue blood bubbling and spilling upon the ground. She has tried everything. Kate threw a harsh look at the door. For as long as she remained under the protection of both the Autobots and military, she kept herself hidden, never revealing what exactly she was.

Not this time.

Grabbing her cloak and bag, she swung both over and walked out the door. It slammed, the sound echoing throughout the small building. Her feet marched across the road towards the main hangar. People dashed in different directions. Her hands clasped tightly at her side, she didn't stop, her mind finally made up.

Optimus Prime stood outside the hangar with Colonel William Lennox. Kate marched over to the waiting men, her eyes trailing towards the bright ocean blue of the towering Autobot Commander.

"I have been pushing myself to the limit on trying to find this damn book, on finding the answers to these constant nightmares. No one, and I am speaking to you Prime, is going to stop me from finding it."

Prime dropped his arms to his side, his hands forming fists. "If you try leaving once again, things will not go smoothly." His deep baritone voice held a firm warning tone.

Kate ignored it.

"You don't have the power to stop me," yelled Kate. She stopped shortly before the towering commander. Her hands remained clasped at her side as she stared into the darkening blue eyes. "Just stay out of this."

Optimus stepped back before dropping to a knee. Kate watched cautiously before stepping back a couple of steps. A smirk graced her lips while Prime's eyes darkened. Bringing up her left hand, she remained in eye contact. His eyes narrowed before widening. Kate laughed softly.

"Are you sure you want to push it, Prime?" Kate glanced to her left hand. A small ball of red flames danced upon her open palm in the shape of a small sphere.

"What are you?" His deep baritone voice gravely whispered with both astonishment and horror.

Kate raised her palm. The ball of fire exploded against a block of concrete. "Someone you shouldn't be concerned about."

Without waiting for a respond, Kate walked past both the Autobot Commander and Colonel, both still in shock from what they just saw. Kate knew what she was. It was the very reason why she knew Kira forced a stupid promise. It was one she knew that was wasted.

.%.

Optimus stood to his towering height, his vents cycling with frustration. The young woman tired him and not only by this new discovery. Six months ago, he along with Colonel Lennox and Ironhide chased two rogue Decepticons into a nearby city. Their battle destroyed buildings before the Decepticon leader appeared. Optimus was unsure why Megatron had made his appearance especially after the brutal defeat he received within the Ignition Chamber upon Cybertron.

Turning from the hangar, Optimus walked across the tarmac towards the Autobot's own residing space. Ironhide sat against the metal wall holding out a cube of High Grade, the purple liquid splashing inside the container. Prime took it from the black mech's servo and sat down, his metallic mass scraping across the concrete.

Optimus recalled that night he followed Megatron as he drank the liquid, his servo folding into a tight fist. The Decepticon leader's voice growled as he fired against the city, destroying buildings, vehicles, and any remaining humans. An old mansion with rows of windows sat towards the back of the city, forcing the Decepticon leader to pause.

Megatron had fired upon the building. It had burned, windows breaking while wood cracked and fell. Prime never understood why he did not step out of the shadows and prevent the destruction. Megatron left as quickly as he arrived. Prime had finally stepped out to see an elder woman crash out the door and stumble to her knees upon the ground.

The scene played across his optics as if he were reliving them once more.

The woman known as Kira practically begged, forcing Prime to swear upon his spark to watch and protect Kate. She turned towards the house, words flowing out in whispers. She kept referring to Kate as someone special; she was not who anyone thought she was.

Optimus closed his optics and crushed the empty cube within his servo, finally understanding what that woman was telling him. Ironhide raised an optical ridge out of curiosity.

The despair and anguish that Kate had released when she arrived on the scene burned the energon within Prime's lines. Her voice had echoed throughout the broke buildings as tears dropped upon the ground like small rivers. He had stayed by her side throughout the night and into the lights of the early morning, never telling her that the elder woman was carried away by a young man, that both have survived the destruction caused by Megatron.

Prime had watched as Kate shifted through the rubble, pulling out a black, leather bag. She had sorted the items: multiple bottles varied of assorted color liquids, a syringe with a small needle attached to it, two different types of daggers, and one worn book with deep scratches upon the leather.

Kate had returned with Optimus back to the military base. He had explained to Colonel Lennox that Kate would remain under Autobot protection. She was moved into the housing community that was directly behind the military base. Just last month did the woman start to sneak off towards the same city. She kept yelling at Prime that she needed to find it. When question what it was, Kate never explained. At first, Optimus just followed. When Decepticons returned, he stepped forward, preventing Kate from returning. He thought Kate stopped looking only to learn that she started disappearing in the middle of the night.

Optimus ex-vented as he leaned his helm back against the metal building. He tired of the woman. She was an organic femme. His focus should be on reviving Cybertron, figuring out how he could use the staff upon the metallic planet. He did not need to worry about a human that clearly did not worry about her own life.

"Did something happen with the femme again?" asked Ironhide, his voice laced with humor.

Optimus narrowed his optics as he gave the black mech a side glance. He nodded in response, though. "She is not what I expect. I do not have time for this. My focus should be towards Cybertron not some human femme."

"Then don't."

Optimus leaned forward, his servos folding before him. "You did not see the pleading look the elder woman gave me. No, from just tonight, I knew there was something different. I just don't know why it should matter to me."

Ironhide stood and stared down at Optimus. "Prime, she is one femme. Don't worry so much."

Prime dropped his helm, hearing the metallic footprints disappear into the hangar. He wished it were that easy. Something about the woman, though, especially after witnessing what she did, it kept drawing him towards her. Prime ex-vented deeply before standing and entering the Autobot hangar. He had other issues to worry about, things that didn't involve him getting distracted by one human.

.%.

Kate stepped outside the military base, the yellow overhead lights casting shadows before her as she stood the black asphalt of the road. Her eyes raked back and forth, over any small sound whether that came from the destroyed city miles ahead of her or the many living quarters for both humans and Autobots. The rumbling echoes of thunder in the distance pulled her thoughts. She slowly collapsed against her knees, tears bubbling within her eyes and spilling.

Her wrist bubbled blue liquid. She reached for a cloth from the bag and pressed it. Her eyes raised to the full moon and the long black asphalt path. Rolling to sit on her ass, she pulled her knees to her chest. Thoughts trailed across her mind.

The book wasn't truly anything special. One handed down throughout time, it had seen better days with unraveling edges, deep scratches upon the leather cover, and yellow worn-down pages. It told stories of a corrupted magic, dragons, and metallic titans, of a strange staff and a planet carved with strange symbols.

Kate believed that they were just fairy tales. When the stories proved to be true, it was only then that she decided to take everything written serious, everything expect the main reason she needed to find the book.

Situated at the end of the book surrounded by weird hieroglyphic shapes were words of a riddle. The opposite page had two crystals crossing at the top with a strange blade resting in the middle, the word Illuminate written below.

Kira's voice echoed within Kate's mind. "The riddle is the answer. Everything will become clear. Protect Illuminate for it holds Navian. Seek the answer and realize your destiny."

.%.

Enjoy. R+R!