I found myself in the middle of Ringwood State Forest. I immediately sat down on the ground and shrieked in anger.

Jazz kept my parents' killer identity a secret.

Optimus had ordered him not to intervene.

My parents decided to neglect to tell me that my powers were because of this Allspark. And on top of that, they had expected me to trust the Autobots. Seriously? Heck, I probably couldn't even trust Lennox or Epps! Was there anyone I could trust? A tear let itself fall. I quickly stood up and began to throw vegetation and rocks. I didn't really know what came over me but I just went berserk. After several minutes, my body was drained of energy. Slumping to the forest floor, I had flashback to the significance of where I was. My parents and I would go camping every summer to Ringwood. There was this same spot where we would camp and have a great view of the sunrise and sunset. My eyes slid closed as the memories continued to reel like a black and white movie.

SMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSM

3rd POV

Everyone took a double take on what just happened. One moment, Emily was yelling at Jazz and Optimus and the next, she teleported. Where? No one actually knew where. There was a moment of silence between human and Autobot before Optimus spoke up.

"Ironhide, I want you to return to base with Lennox and Epps." The weapons specialist nodded in understanding and transformed, opening the doors for the two men to get in. Lennox picked up the scattered papers of the file Emily threw and returned to Ironhide. Seconds later, only Jazz and Optimus remained.

"Ah should've told her." Jazz said. His spark nearly split in two when he saw her face after she found out.

"You have done nothing wrong, Jazz. I should be the one to blame." Optimus countered. Emily's words stung both bots.

SCREW YOUR ORDERS! YOU RISK YOUR OWN EXISTANCE RATHER THAN SAVE MY PARENTS!

Wasn't my parents' safety also important?

"Optimus, what do we do?" the saboteur was at a loss. He needed to find Emily. Soon.

Emily's POV

A rustle of leaves jolted me awake. My face broke out in sweat from the heat and anxiety. But when I looked around, there was nothing. Only the birds and the gusting of the wind were present. I relaxed, reassuring myself it was nothing, until a branch snapped. It was then that I jumped to my feet and got into a defensive stance.

"Who's there?" I asked to the air. No answer.

You are not alone. A voice in my head spoke clearly but seemed strange.

Ok, talk about creepy. As soon as that voice had spoken, the hair on my neck and stood on end. I got this feeling like I was being watched. I felt as though eyes were watching my every move.

"Hello?" I said. Part of me believed that something or someone was here in the forest and the other half screamed at me to not to find out who or what. Suddenly, a sound that was similar to an explosion made me instinctively throw up a force field. I had tightly shut my eyes as I brought up my hands to shield myself. A tree nearby had fallen down. I opened them to see that the tree was almost hidden underneath the overgrowing green bushes and grass. I hesitantly moved toward the fallen tree and got closer. As I did, the hair on me stood on end again and I heard another sound.

The clicking and whirring of machinery. I had thought one of the Autobots had followed me so I ported over to where the sound was coming from and I panicked when I found out the source.

I had teleported in front of a police cruiser. What was a police cruiser doing in the middle of the forest? But this one had a familiar color scheme. It wasn't until the cruiser transformed that I really started to freak out. Metal shifted and I slowly started to back away, my body flickering in visibility. Finally, a Decepticon stood over 16 feet tall, his menacing ruby eyes looking into my soul. It was him. The same one that attacked me twice.

Crap crap crap crap crap! No no no no no!

My mind went into overdrive as the Decepticon took an ominous step toward me. Then, he spoke.

"So you're the fleshing I have the pleasure of offlining. But first you will tell me where it is!"

What where what is? I had no idea what he was talking about. I remained silent and cloaked. Barricade's hand transformed into a gun, a freakin' gun and shot at a nearby tree to my left. My fear began to rise as I started to flicker, revealing where I was to my death.

"ANSWER ME, FLESHLING!" he roared at me. My brain was frozen and my feet refused to move. My eyes widened in fear and my mouth was slightly opened, trying to tell a lie or something. Finally, my tongue was able to let me speak. But before I could stop myself, the three little words that evidently changed the situation, came out.

"I don't know."

Barricade came at me and I tried to escape by porting but I couldn't. He grabbed me and I felt myself being picked up. I was in Barricade's grasp. Barricade's next threat pushed me over the edge.

"Give me the truth before I take it from you."

"I- I d-d-don't know wh-what you're talking about." I whimpered. I was lying again, practically asking for my death wish. My breath suddenly became short and my whole body was shaking. His hand began to slowly enclose me as I felt the lack of oxygen in my body.

I don't want to die! Please no! I thought frantically.

"Barricade, release the girl." A stern yet calm voice stopped the Decepticon from crushing me to death. I couldn't tell who spoke but by the situation I was in, I REALLY hoped it was one of the 'bots.

"And why would I, Autoscum?" Barricade asked. As he spoke, his grip on me loosened ever so slightly. That allowed air to reach my mouth and my eyes to actually see. I tried to see who the mystery 'bot was and I was able to get a good look. He was also tall, with gray, white and black plating. His doorwings bore the words: Highway Patrol Police. His head had a distinctive chevron just above the eyes, which were blue. There was an Autobot symbol on his chest. The sight of that symbol gave me have hope.

"Because every outcome that begins with you not doing so, does not end well for you." The 'bot replied. He had his weapon trained on Barricade and looked like he was not putting it down. Barricade laughed at his threat.

"You really think that I would let her go? She is needed for Megatron's plans. A plan in which no Autobot can stop." The 'Con boasted. He might as well have shouted to the world this plan that they had. But while I was in Barricade's grasp, I tried reactivating my powers. Ghosting wasn't going to help. I could have tried porting but I didn't want to leave the Autobot who was trying to save me alone with a murderer. So, there was only one option.

"This is your only warning, Barricade. Let. Her Go." The Autobot stressed.

"You Autobots never learn. You would never risk a fleshing's life to get to me. You won't do anything." Barricade scoffed at him. I glared up at him. This 'Con was a ruthless killer and was going to either kill me, the Autobot or both. Someone had to do something. For the first time since I ported, I spoke up.

"He won't. But I will." I then released a force field around me and pushed outwards. This cause Barricade's hand to open. His grip on me broke and I dropped onto the ground. What happened next seemed like a blur. The Autobot seized the opportunity to charge at Barricade. Before things got heated, my savior turned to me, locking eyes,

"Go. Get to safety. I will come and retrieve you when it's safe." He ordered me. I didn't want to leave him with Barricade, but maybe I didn't have to. I nodded and mouthed 'Thank you' before sprinting off to a nearby edge of part of the forest. I had to help him. I didn't want him to die because of me. I didn't even know his name. I needed to find help.

3rd POV

Jazz was trying to trace Emily' bio signature when he was contacted.

*Jazz? Do you read? *

Evidently, he knew who it was.

*Yeah. Ah read. What's wrong? *

*I require backup. There is a human youngling in danger and I am busy holding off Barricade. *

Oh Primus. Emily.

*What are ya coordinates? *

*41.09374° N, -74.24268° E *

*A'lright. I am on ma way. *

And with that, the link ended and Jazz turned to the Prime.

"Ah know where she is. She's in danger." Optimus nodded.

"Lead the way, Jazz." Both 'bots transformed and sped off towards Ringwood State Forest.

Emily's POV

As soon as I got a distance away from the battle, my phone suddenly rang. Whoever was calling me right now had the worst timing ever imaginable. I took it out and saw the caller ID. It read Blocked ID. Hesitantly, I answered.

"Hello?"

"Emily!" It was Jazz! Wait, how did…Never mind.

"Jazz! Where are you? I need help! Barricade is fighting a giant robot death match with a 'bot!"

"Em, calm down. Ah am on ma way wit' Optimus. Righ' now, get somewhere safe until we get there. Ok?" There was concern in his voice. He was coming. He'll be here.

"Okay." He ended the call and I put the phone back in my pocket. My heart still raged against my ribcage. Even though help was coming, I was still scared. It didn't end there. I felt a vibration throughout my body as I noticed it was me. The ground was. It grew in intensity and finally subsided. I drew out a shaky breath. Abruptly, an explosion of dirt made me dive for cover. A giant robot scorpion exploded from the ground.

Holy macaroni.

It had the same red eyes as Barricade. It was a Decepticon and it was looking right at me. I started to run away from it but I ended up tripping over a branch, leaving the scorpion enough time to catch up with me. I didn't want to teleport, with risk of getting lost and not having the Autobots find me. The scorpion lunged at me and I rolled to the side to avoid getting hit. Its stinger stabbed at me but I kept dodging. Eventually, I was able to get up and tried to find high ground. My prosthetic felt numb from all the running I had been doing. I didn't know how much longer it could stand. I was at a disadvantage staying on the ground. Off to my right, there was a rocky hill not too far away. I ported over to it and started climbing the hill. The robot scorpion noticed me gone and saw me on the hill. I was halfway up when the stinger stabbed at the rocks right next to me. I lost my footing and fell back to the ground. My face turned pale at the sight of the deadly scorpion looming above me. It raised its stinger again to strike, only this time, a force field prevented it from striking. Confused and angered, it hit the field again with its claws and stinger. Each blow continued to shake the field and weaken it. I concentrated on keeping the field up.

Do not let go.

Stand your ground.

Help is coming, little one.

The voice from earlier, the one that told me that I wasn't alone.

Thump. Thump. The repeated blows to the field started to weaken me. I grunted at the amount of force the Decepticon brought. My legs began to weaken and my vision started to blur. I was close to passing out before the scorpion was thrown to the side by a familiar red and blue color scheme. The force field disappeared and it took me a minute to realize who was there.

Optimus!

"Lil' lady!" a Cajun accented voice called to me. I tried turning to the voice but before I could, my eyes rolled to the back of my head and darkness swept over me.

3rd POV

Optimus and Jazz managed to reach the forest in a few minutes and by the time they had arrived, they saw there was a fight going on. But it wasn't who com linked them. It was Scorponok and he was trying to get to Emily, who was struggling to keep her force field up and stay awake. Optimus immediately yelled in anger as he charged at the Decepticon, knocking him well away from the girl. While the Prime was fighting Scorponok, Jazz instantly went for Emily. He saw that she didn't look well. Her face was pale and there was scratches all over her. Hesitantly, Jazz called out to her to make sure she recognized him.

"Lil' lady?" She started to turn but before she came fully face him, her eyes rolled back. She fell to the ground. The saboteur began to panic. He scanned her and found that the energon that she had was very low. Jazz gently picked her up and cradled her close to his chest plates. He needed to get her to Ratchet!

"Jazz, get Emily and contact Ratchet. Now!" Optimus shouted as he stabbed Scorponok with his energon blade, killing him. Jazz nodded and transformed with Emily in the passenger seat. He contacted Ratchet and informed him of his charge's condition. He could hear the CMO swear in Cybertronian before he hung up. Jazz sped off to where Ratchet was going to meet him. He quickly glanced down at Emily. She was losing color to her face. His spark hammered against his chest. He failed. He promised to protect her. He promised her parents and he failed them. He failed her. Right now, she needed to be okay.

*Jazz. Jazz, is the human youngling alright?*

*She isn't. Ah need ta get her to Ratchet. Are ya ah'lright?*

*Affirmative. However, Barricade retreated before I was able to get more information on his mission. I am on my way back to base.*

*Fine. Jazz out.*

He had to get her to Ratchet. Fast. He stole one more glance at his charge, her breathing repeating in a pattern. Inhale. Hold for five seconds. Exhale. Nothing. Inhale. Hold for five seconds. Exhale. Nothing. This caused Jazz to speed down the road, only one thought on his mind.

Saving Emily.