Alright then! Another Chapter up, as a side note, I didn't re-write the Shanghai Op, several soldiers died early into the battle, therefore I didn't feel that there would really be any good jokes or banter inherent, as callous as that may sound. Seeing as you're reading this, you've likely seen the movie, and therefore you've seen the battle. If you haven't seen the movie, then for Primus sake watch it already!

As always, reviews keep me writing, tell me what you like, what you don't like. It's my story, but I'm still tailoring it as I go :)

Chapter 7 - We were Shanghaied

(OPOV)

Optimus drove out of the plane and into the hangar with a heavy spark. Good men had died. Announcements rang over the speakers in the hangar, evidently a set of cars had been found for the twins to assimilate. Perhaps not needing to stay meshed together for their alternate form would slow their arguments.

::. Probably not.:: Ironhide sent in amusement over the senior officer's channel.

::. True, have you ever come across a set of twins that do not argue?.:: Optimus rumbled quietly, even as the twins began arguing about who got what form.

::. Not one.:: Ratchet snorted. Optimus looked over to see a dejected looking Bumblebee parked quietly in the hangar.

::. Bumblebee?.:: he sent gently.

::. Sam doesn't want me anymore.:: Bumblebee sent sadly ::. He wants a normal life now, so he's going to college.::

::. What of Mikaela?.:: Optimus sent quietly.

::. My big-sister waxed my armour.:: Bumblebee sent quietly ::. She spent an extra long time with me, talking and taking care of me before we had to say goodbye.::

::. Did she not wish you around?.:: Optimus sent worriedly.

Bumblebee sent him the conversation.

"But if I could come with you, would you want me? Sam doesn't want me," Bumblebee whimpered, cutting together the soundbytes.

"That's because Sam doesn't know how much of an incredible person you are, little-brother," Mikaela murmured, gently buffing Bee's armour. "You know that the college doesn't allow us first-years to have cars, even if they're as magnificent as you are." she stroked his hood gently. "And yes, if you could come with me there's nobody I'd rather have to have my back in unfamiliar territory." she kissed his hood.

Bumblebee transformed and reached down, and Optimus was surprised when Mikaela reached for him, wrapping gentle arms around his neck struts.

"I'm not going to say goodbye," Mikaela whispered. "Because I will see you again."

She slid down his chest somewhat, cupped his cheek and turned, walking away without another word.

::. It will not do to make her prediction false.:: Optimus rumbled calmly.

::. Sir?.:: Bumblebee sent in a frankly astonished tone.

::. Simply because she is not allowed to have you at college, does not mean you cannot be in the same city.:: Optimus rumbled with a small smile ::. in fact, I believe I shall make it an order, if you are amenable.::

::. Sir! Yes sir!.:: the newly cheerful scout replied gleefully.

::. Very well, Bumblebee, you are under orders to return to your duties as Mikaela's guardian.:: Optimus sent to the scout, lightly touching the voice of command and relieving some of the pressure inherent to it's use.

::. Yes Sir! Was there anything else sir?.:: Bumblebee sent cheerfully.

::. If you roll out now you can avoid the politics.::

::. Noted, I shall continue with my weekly reports, thank you Sir.:: Bumblebee sent gleefully, he started his engines up and quickly drove out to the planes.

"Where's he headed?" Epps asked curiously.

"He is returning to his duties as Miss Banes' covert guardian," Optimus rumbled calmly.

"Gotcha, I'll get the gears turning," the sergeant nodded, jogging after the scout.

Good man.

A helicopter sounded overhead, landing and taking off again.

Optimus turned to his unit and quickly scanned their individual reports before backing into the communications tower.

Time for the never-ending politics to continue. The Major was leading two strangers into their midst. Optimus listened intently to the man.

"Alright, so this is where we communicate with the JCS, and this area serves as the Auto-bots' hangar."

"Secure link to JCS is up, Major!" one of the techs shouted out.

"Let's get to it then," Major Lennox stated.

Optimus waited, scanning the area and listening as the Major jogged up onto the catwalk.

"General?" he started.

"Will, saw the Shanghai Op, we had a rough day out there," General Moreshower started.

"Yes sir," Major Lennox nodded. "We have intel that I believe warrants an immediate debrief. Now with your permission, I can't let you see him, but I would like you to hear from the leader of the Auto-bots."

"Proceed," the General stated calmly.

Optimus nodded to himself and transformed, making sure he didn't upset the catwalk accidentally or crush anyone. Of course, only the stranger was in any real danger, the soldiers knew how much space he needed to transform now.

He straightened and turned, looking down at the stranger.

"You gotta wonder," Epps murmured beside him. "If god made us in his image, who made him?"

Eventually the silly human might actually ask him. Primus only knew Optimus would happily tell him precisely who had made him. But that was not for this moment.

"General, our alliance has countermanded six Decepticon incursions this year, each on a different continent. They're clearly searching around the world for something, but last night's encounter came with a warning." he cued up the soundbyte, the pertinent part anyway.

"The fallen shall rise again."

"The fallen, meaning what?" the General asked intently.

"Origin unknown. The only recorded history of our race was contained within the all-spark, and lost with it's destruction-"

"Excuse me!" the stranger shouted.

Optimus turned to look at the man.

"With this so-called All-spark now destroyed, why hasn't the enemy left the planet like you thought they would?" the man asked, climbing up the ladders to the catwalk.

"Director Galloway, our National Security Advisor. The President just appointed him liaison," Major Lennox stated. Optimus watched him roll his eyes at the camera.

Ah. One of those.

"Well, I guess I didn't get that memo," the General stated flatly. Optimus turned to watch the man's progress as he made his way along the catwalk.

"Forgive the interruption, General. Excuse me. Coming through. Excuse me, excuse me soldier. After all the damage in Shanghai, the president is um, hard-pressed to say the job's getting done. Now, under the classified Alien/Auto-bot Cooperation Act, you agreed to share your intel with us, but not your advancements in weaponry."

Now Optimus could see why the Major had rolled his eyes. Optimus quickly synced his processors to suppress some of his irritation and rallied his normal argument.

"We've witnessed your human capacity for war. It would absolutely bring more harm than good." he rumbled sternly.

"But who are you to judge what's best for us?" Galloway asked rather snippily.

"With all due respect we've been fighting side by side in the field for two years," Lennox came to his defence. Optimus made a note of it.

"We've shed blood sweat and precious metal together," Epps added beside his leg.

"Soldier, you're paid to shoot, not talk," Galloway stated rather condescendingly, looking down at the man. Optimus couldn't help but bristle slightly at the man's tone.

"Don't tempt me," Epps muttered.

"And the uh, the newest members of your team-"

"Easy," Optimus rumbled quietly down to Epps. The man grimaced up at him.

"-I understand they arrived here after you sent a message into space, an open invitation, to come to earth, vetted by no-one at the White House." Galloway continued.

"Let me stop you right there Mr. Galloway it was vetted right here. And in my experience the judgement of both Major Lennox and his team has always been above reproach," General Moreshower stated firmly.

"Well be that as it may, General," Galloway stated snippily. "It is the position of the president that when our national security is at stake, no-one is above reproach. Now, what do we know so far? We know that the enemy leader, classified NBE one aka Megatron-"

Optimus could see it in the Major's eyes, Galloway was going too far. Not even the satellites could be trusted as completely safe. There was a reason that he was not on screen.

"-is rusting in peace at the bottom of the laurentian abyss, surrounded by SOSES detection nets and a full time submarine surveillance. We also know that the only remaining piece of your alien all-spark is locked in an electro-magnetic vault here on one of the most secure naval bases in the world."

Primus the man was an idiot.

"And since no one can seem to tell me what the enemy is now after, well there, there's only one conclusion! You! The Auto-bots! They're here to hunt you. What's there to hunt for on earth besides that? The fallen? Shall rise again? Sounds to me like something's coming-"

Optimus bit back a snort at the sudden thought flashing through his processors, Kae's voice resounding through his mind. 'Thank you Captain Obvious.'

"-So let me ask, if we ultimately conclude that our national security is best served by denying you further asylum, on our planet. Will you leave, peacefully?" Galloway finished.

"Freedom is your right, if you make that request we will honour it." Optimus rumbled quietly. "But, before your president decides, please ask him this. What, if we leave, and you're wrong?" Optimus finished sternly. He stood back and stared down at the man.

"That's a good question," Major Lennox stated quietly, looking at the man seriously.

Galloway just glared for a moment.

"We need to wrap this up!" one of the techs called out. "Signal loss in two minutes."

Optimus nodded.

"We'll talk more in the morning," General Moreshower stated calmly. "Prime, Major, Director. Good evening."

"Good evening, General," Optimus rumbled calmly.

"General," Will nodded, saluting the camera. The signal cut out.

"If you'll excuse me, I have an appointment I can't miss," Galloway stated calmly, descending the catwalks and walking out of the hangar with his aide close behind.

Optimus stood in silence until the man had gone before looking at the Major.

"Do I need to put my reaming helmet on?" the Major asked tiredly.

"No," Optimus rumbled quietly, shaking his head and venting a sigh. "Go, Major, you have already lost good men in battle last night. Take your ease, my battle is not with you."

"Thank you, Prime," the major nodded quietly.

Optimus nodded and transformed, driving to park among his unit.

::. Bumblebee.:: he sent softly.

::. Prime?.:: Bee sent worriedly.

::. I need to personally speak with Mikaela, once you have located her.:: he sent quietly.

::. Understood, sir.::

(WPOV)

Will watched with a heavy heart as Prime nodded to him and transformed, parking quietly among his unit. Ratchet chose that moment to transform into his bipedal form and strode carefully to his work-area.

The bots didn't deserve this, people hounding them for weapons. It was getting annoying even by Will's standards. Sure, weapons would help. But Optimus had told him precisely why... albeit quietly and in confidence. The power conversions were dangerous, you needed a mind connected directly to the weapon to control it properly.

But it was more than that.

You could see it in their eyes, when you cared to look.

They had seen their world destroyed. If they felt that humans couldn't handle weapons of the devastating force that the bots had, there was a reason. It had been a shock when at the hoover dam, a seventeen year old girl had dared him to look into the titan's eyes and not see the leadership and kindness in them.

She'd been absolutely correct. With age came wisdom.

Will glanced over at Ratchet to see the bot eyeing him speculatively. He was rather quiet, today. Will walked over and sat down beside the medic.

"Well, now what?" he asked quietly.

"Well, now you go eat something," Ratchet stated calmly. Will jumped and looked at the bot. The medic looked down at him calmly. "Before you say you are not hungry, I will tell you differently. Your stomach is empty, and your cortisol levels have risen."

"It never occurred to you that I don't want to eat?" Will demanded irritably. Ratchet looked down at him calmly. Waiting. "I've lost men under my command," Will continued. He wanted to stop, he really did, but his mouth had other ideas. "Good men are dead but you're telling me to just what, ignore it!?"

"Major Lennox," Ratchet stated quietly. "By no means do I ever tell another to forget their departed. I have lost thousands, yet every face is stored in my memories. We are not..." he trailed off, seeming to struggle for a word.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." Will started quietly. Ratchet smiled down at him.

"I know you didn't," the medic stated kindly. "When I was a youngling, my mentor once told me that losing a life does not grow easier. He was correct, each death is as fresh and sharp a pain as the first. "

Will stared at the medic, the quiet spoken words striking straight to the core.

"How..." he whispered.

"How do I handle the loss?" Ratchet murmured, looking down at him with optics full of ancient grief, compassion and wisdom. "I online, refuel and accept the pain, because despite that pain my first duty is to the living, I can do nothing for the dead but remember them. Remember what I have learned from them, even if it is simply how to prevent their death from happening to another."

Will stood up, and at a loss of what to do, settled for wrapping his arms around the medic's leg, praying to god that he wouldn't be offended.

Instead, Ratchet leaned down slightly and laid a gentle hand around Will. He squeezed him ever so slightly in a full-body hug.

"You are awake, Major, I would suggest that you eat," Ratchet repeated himself gently.

Will nodded and wandered toward the mess. He looked over his shoulder in time to see Ratchet staring into the distance for a long moment before visibly shaking himself and getting back down to work.

(MPOV)

The music had a strong beat, frenzied electric pickups, lights flashed, it was hot in here, humid. The smell of sweat and hormones bespoke a younger crowd playing older people's games. I still felt cold. Symbols began dancing about in front of my eyes.

"You're Mikaela right?" a tall guy sidled up to me with a cocky grin.

"Uh, yeah, excuse me?" I said with a weak smile, making a beeline for somewhere else, I needed to find Sam, then get the hell out of here. He began following me.

"Hey! I wanna dance! Relax girl, I don't bite... hard, I just wanna have some fun." he grinned at me. Irritated, I decided to get to the point.

"Right, what's your name," I stated coldly.

"Allan," the boy stated proudly, he began bouncing somewhat, his idea of dancing. "And I can't help but notice, no class ring, no jacket, where's your boyfriend baby?"

"Okay, Allan? First off I'd suggest that you quit that, you're making me seasick." I started calmly. "Second I have absolutely no desire to wear cheap knockoff rings like that monstrosity on your finger. Third. When was the last time your mom washed that jacket? Because frankly you smell like a horrifying combination of gym socks and far too many combinations of spray on deodorants, all of which are disgusting. Little hint, you shower after you stand around in the gym, posturing and pretending that you work out."

"Oh dude you been told!" another jock shouted with a laugh.

"Hey what's that supposed to mean!" Allan shouted.

"See that?" I stated calmly, leaning toward Cam, the girl having materialized at my shoulder to see what was happening.

"Roid rage," Cam trilled, no doubt a rumour well on it's making, I shot her a thankful grin, turned and finally made it to the bar. I glanced around and and surveyed the room, cell phones were already lighting up. Sam was walking through the crowd, trying his best to not bump any of them. He finally collapsed beside me.

"Mikaela, thank god," Sam panted. I looked around casually and spied a good girl.

"Blonde, two o-clock." I murmured.

"Yours or mine?" Sam muttered. I rolled my eyes, we were facing the same bloody direction.

"Yours, go talk to her," I muttered, I grinned, accepted a drink and wandered back into the crowd. The symbols danced in front of my eyes, I forced myself to look around them, holding back the desire to write and glancing out the window.

Right at a yellow Camaro. My cellphone buzzed against my hip, I quickly flipped the phone open and looked at the text.

"Need U K"

"distraction, 60s"

"got it"

I set the drink down, folding the napkin into my palm. Sam had picked the right girl out, pretty, intelligent, and a bright smile. But far more importantly, she had a predator's gleam in her eyes. Socialite. Total matchmaker girl, she wouldn't date Sam, but with the right impression, there was absolutely no doubt she would hook him up properly. I looked her over for another second and made a beeline, catching Sam around the waist.

"Hey!" I said with a grin, "listen, I gotta go bro, see you in class tomorrow."

"Uh, yeah, Mikaela." Sam half stuttered.

"Saaaam," I grinned, catching his chin playfully. "Stop playing shy and show the world my sweet little brother." I turned quickly and caught the girl's eyes, we eyed each other for a second, speaking in the language of women. She knew I wasn't his sister, but she also knew that I had full intent on protecting him from untrustworty females.

"You treat him right," I said with a small smile, showing her firm eyes.

"Oh yes ma'am," the blonde stated, throwing me a salute. I glanced at it and grinned.

"You're a brit!" I said cheerfully, her eyes lit up at my statement. "Incredible explorers! They got stuff done! Our great great grandfather was an explorer. Just don't blush when you say sextant bro. Later!"

The blonde grinned as I whacked a furiously blushing Sam's chest and made a beeline toward the door.

"So you know exploration! You know, I have a friend who..." the blonde grinned at Sam. Mission accomplished. I glanced over as a light shone through the window.

"HAY! Who drove the frickin' yellow Camaro? Huh? There's a frickin car on the lawn!"

I ran to the window and saw Bee, parked cheerfully on the lawn with his car alarm blaring, lights flashing.

The precise opposite of discreet. Perfect.

Sam was standing beside me a second later.

"I got this one," I murmured, I offered him a fist. Sam shot me an intensely grateful look, bumped my fist goodbye and went back to chatting up the pretty blonde who'd been eyeing him curiously.

I ran out and shoved my head through the window.

"What's happening?" I whispered worriedly.

"Houston, we have a problem."

"What is it?"

"Hay! Is that your car on our lawn?"

"Uh, yeah it is," I called up quickly, "Sorry about that, I have no idea what it's doing here, buddy must be pranking me. I'll get it out of here, just a second."

I jumped into the driver's seat and began wrestling against a shrub to get the door closed.

"Bitch you gotta ride? Why you holdin' out on us girl?" Cam asked incredulously.

"I've only known you seventeen hours," I replied quickly. "And he's not supposed to be here."

"I love Camaros." Allan drawled, leaning in the passenger window.

"Agh, I can't do this right now!" I looked at him exasperatedly.

"Don't be a wimp!" he said grumpily, sliding into the passenger seat.

"Get out of my car, please." I said flatly.

"Why?" he glared at me.

"My insurance doesn't cover passengers, so please get out."

He frowned and got out again. The second the door closed, Bee took off.

"What's happening Bee?" I asked worriedly.

"Message from Starfleet captain... we need to talk."

"Optimus is in town?" I asked incredulously.

"Here we go here we go."

"Good grief," I said tiredly, relaxing back into the seat and letting Bee drive. He began playing music quietly, I couldn't help but grin.

"So we're rocking out now?" I laughed softly. He began cutting soundbytes together, resuming the flirting game we'd always played while he was driving, or I was working on him. A long trip later and we pulled up in a cemetery. I got out and began walking toward Optimus, climbing up a retaining wall.

"What in Primus name are you doing here!?" I demanded incredulously. "You know university isn't a matter of go there, spend one day you're done! It takes a long time for humans to download information!"

"I am sorry Mikaela, but the last fragment of the all-spark was stolen." his voice rumbled softly. I'd almost forgotten how incredible that voice was.

"Like what, like Decepticon stolen?" I asked, immediately on edge.

"We placed it under human protection at your government's request. But I'm here for your help, because your leaders believe we brought vengeance upon your planet, perhaps they are right. That is why they must be reminded by another human of the trust we share," he looked at me quietly. Waiting for my answer. Just looking into those beautiful, burning blue optics tore my heart from my chest, chewed it up and threw it back in again.

"This isn't my war," I said quietly. I couldn't afford to be involved, not again.

"Not yet, but I fear it soon will be. Your world must not share the same fate as Cybertron. Whole generations lost." He shook his head sadly.

I moved forward and touched his ankle.

"I know, and I'm – I want to help you, I do, but I'm not an Ambassador. You know? I'm just a normal kid, I don't figure large in this world. I am where I'm supposed to be now, staying off the radar. Normal. I'm sorry, I – I really am."

"Mikaela, fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."

"You're Optimus Prime, you don't need me," I said quietly, walking back toward Bee.

As I hopped carefully down the retaining wall, my heart wrenched to hear his parting comment. The beautiful, rich voice so deeply laced with it's sad kindness.

"We do, more than you know."

"Kae?" Bumblebee chirped sadly as we drove away.

"I can't, little brother," I whispered. "I have my orders."

I could hear his sage nod resonate softly over the sounds of his engine.

(OPOV)

Optimus watched his scout drive away with the human femme, his processors ground and whirred with worry. Her energy signatures had changed. There was no doubt in his mind that the same Mikaela whom had saved his life resided in the tiny carbon organism. But there was more to her now, a... spark... an impossibility. Frowning, Optimus resolved to find a way to get her to Ratchet. The Medi-bot had been cheerfully studying the humans, letting them study him in return, the chance of firsthand research finally winning out over his grumpiness. He might know.

Stepping down onto the road he quickly transformed into his alt mode and took off, driving quickly to the plane that would take him to Diego Garcia.

Don't kick me! I know! 99.9 percent of us would have dropped everything to help the big guy! I'll tell you why later! Patience!