The Blind Girl Shall Lead Them Chapter 15: Hero, a transformers/beast wars fanfic

Each man is a hero and oracle to somebody. -Emerson

Through her readings and figurative observations, Kayla had long since come to learn that the definition of a hero has long been bounced around the proverbial table for centuries. Fact of the matter is, is that everyone holds within them, whether they know or not, heroic qualities. It all just depends on what sort of prism they're being viewed through.

For all her life, her father was a hero, and he would be forever more. There was no denying the amount of courage the man possessed; both on and off duty. Even when he was faced with the fact that the shrapnel from the car accident ensured his daughter's sight could never be restored, he only saw it as another challenge. "Just another wall to climb over", he once said. She was only five at the time, but when one is suddenly thrust into a world of darkness, one takes pleasure in all the many sounds we tend to ignore. Just her dad's presence; the way he held her hand, his warm and gentle voice, even just his breathing, gave her comfort. She didn't understand completely until she was older, how he, to her, never seemed too fazed by the whole ordeal, but it did make sense. A person didn't need eyes to function-to help others-to love.

And when she had to learn how to rely on her remaining senses, her dad stuck by her always-helping her learn; pushing her when she almost gave up; teaching her how to accept fears and face them…the man had made her who she was. Very quickly, admiration set in of his confidence-mainly in her when he had to leave to fight the good fight. But it wasn't until recently she learned that his morals, lessons, sacrifices, and love would live on forever…all in the name of duty.

He fought for what he believed in. He died defending his country…he died defending her.

Peter Matthews-the tragic hero.
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"I've been out in the field plenty of times, but I'm more behind the scenes."

Strangely enough, it was those words that first came to mind as Kayla thought back to when she first met Ratchet. She began to consider it during the days Jazz was still confined to the med bay…of the doctor's profession in general. Now she, quite frankly, didn't care what planet one was from; one is never forced into being a medic, one chooses to be. So keeping his "don't mess with me" attitude in mind, why would he possibly choose to dedicate his life to digging inside bodies on a regular basis?

She asked her mother, who was a nurse herself, about it once, and the woman explained of how rewarding the job was-to know that you, with your own two hands, saved a life. Well, saving people was a good enough reason…but that didn't explain how she felt when most patients walked out of the hospital without so much as a simple note of gratitude.

"Why do you do it?" the teen finally asked Ratchet upon Jazz's release, "And don't say 'to save lives', 'cause I already know that. I mean, don't you ever get thanked for doing this stuff?"

The Autobot scratched his head and gave it some thought, "Well…most of the time, no. During battle, the others either forget, or don't have time to because they need to get back to fighting."

The girl tilted her head, "Doesn't it bother you?"

To that, the ambulance sighed, "It used to…but being with this crew for so long, you tend to learn mannerisms and such. I've learned to not need it; they all have different ways of showing care…I know they appreciate it."

The red head still seemed a bit incredulous, "You're sure?"

The medic let out a huff, "My best friends are all aboard this ship…and no doctor wants to see a patient die, especially under his own hands. Just them getting off the operating table alive and well is a 'thank you' in and of itself. I haven't lost anyone-I'd say that's a generous enough exchange."

At those words, the musician smiled; now in understanding…although that wouldn't stop her from verbally thanking him whenever possible.

Ratchet-the unsung hero.
.

Kayla and Bumblebee sat side by side in the grass not far from the Ark. It wasn't often these two were alone together, although they both figured it probably stemmed from him being off; Jazz being on a mission, and Spike and Carly being…out. (That was all Bee said anyway, and Kayla didn't question him any further.) So, girl and mech were content to just sit there and enjoy the warmth of the sun while waiting for the people they usually hung out with to return. A wide variety of topics were discussed; most of them stemming from a comment in a previous one. And eventually, somehow, their chit-chat made the red head bring about the following question, "How'd you become an Autobot, anyway?"

The Minibot turned to his fellow conversationalist with a look of slight amusement, "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me…frankly, I don't believe it myself."

The teen was lying on her back; hands pillowing her head, but she then rose to a sitting position and turned in his general direction; her voice challenging, "Try me."

The Volkswagen turned his gaze toward the sky as he thought back to days long past, "Well…part of it was because I wanted to be an Autobot in the first place…but, I guess another part of it was because of a bet."

The girl raised an eyebrow, and her voice didn't betray her slight shock, "You joined the 'Bots on a bet?"

The Beetle rubbed the back of his head at his poor choice of words, "Well-er-not a bet, really, it…well, ya' see, there were these two friends of mine that I hung out with all the time. Only problem was that they were a bit…tougher…not mean, just…they had more of an edge than I did."

The musician nodded, "So, in ZZ Top, you were the one without the beard."

The mech looked at her in confusion; cocking his head, "What?"

Not wanting to interrupt him with a long explanation, she merely waved a hand, "Never mind."

Bumblebee blinked a few times, still a bit puzzled, before continuing his story, "Um…well, anyway…the war had just started, but the fighting hadn't reached our part of the world yet. At the time, the three of us were still neutrals…" A far away look came over him as he went on, "But when I found out what was happening in other cities, I told my buddies I was considering joining the Autobots. So, being the young, cheerful mech amidst two tough ones, they started laughing 'till their CPU's nearly crashed. They thought a nice mech like me wouldn't last an astro minute-thought I couldn't…what's that phrase? 'Hack the ketchup'?"

" 'Cut the mustard'," the red head clarified, "I know what ya' mean. So what happened next?"

There was a short pause, during which the Minibot's optics fell to the ground. With a sigh and a pained lilt to his voice, he started again, "Well…eventually, the day came that our city was attacked…and in all the mayhem, I got separated from my friends…for the longest time, I searched everywhere for them."

Kayla leaned in a tad; taking note that the yellow 'Bot said "separated", not "killed", or "lost", "And…you found them…right?"

"Yep", was all he replied.

Now the girl was really interested, "Where were they?"

To that, the Volkswagen sighed, "Well…alotta' time passed, and I still couldn't find them…and then I found out about a factory near the town I was staying in." He rubbed his chin in thought, "I'm not sure how, but somehow, word had gotten around that the Decepticons were manufacturing weapons in that place. Others had tried, but no one could get in without being caught." There was a hint of embarrassment in his voice as he continued, "So, being smart in the CPU, but dumb in the head, I decided to give it a shot. I figured the 'Cons wouldn't look for a little mech like me, and I wasn't getting anywhere finding my buddies, so what did I have to lose? Plus, this was my chance to get back at them for all the times they picked on me. If I could blow up the place, that'd prove I was Autobot material."

The teen leaned forward a bit more in utter suspense, "Did you do it?"

"Yep", he answered; a small amount of pride seeping in, "I snuck in through the cooling vents; stole some bombs, then placed them around the outside at each corner of the factory."

The musician titled her head, "O-kay, but that doesn't explain where you found your friends."

Bumblebee emitted another long sigh, "Oh, I found them alright…after nearly blowing myself up." A look of shock came over his one person audience, and he elaborated, "I'd placed the last bomb and activated them all, when one of those 'Cons up and grabbed me from behind. There weren't any around when I snuck in, so I didn't think to look when I left." A pause, and then, "I don't need to tell you how I escaped; all you need to know is that I did. So, I transformed and took off as fast as I could to make up for lost time-but it was too late. I just heard the explosion; a wave hit me, and I blacked out."

By that time, the girl was on the edge of her proverbial seat, "And?"

"…next thing I know, I'm in a med bay with Ratchet repairing me", the Beetle answered. He then smiled as he continued, "…and who else should be there, but my two friends I was looking for all along. Turns out, when we got separated, they ran into a team of Autobots and joined up with them. Not only that, but they were sent on a mission to destroy that very factory-"

"-only to find it already blown up and that's where they found you", she finished; putting the pieces together.

"Exactly", he nodded. A burst of giggles escaped him as he thought back on it, "I wish you could've seen the looks on their faces. They couldn't believe that 'cute little Bee' could do such a thing…and when Prime himself presented me with the Autobot symbol, they never gave me a hard time again."

The teen raised an eyebrow, for one question still remained a mystery, "And might I ask just who, are these two friends of yours?"

The mech turned to her with a smirk; his voice adding a layer of irony to his tale as he stated simply, "Brawn and Cliffjumper." To that, Kayla laughed.

Bumblebee-the unexpected hero.
.

Taking a break from her usual endeavors, Kayla plopped down on the Autobot-sized couch and began to read the newspaper (after she fed it to Teletraan-One to spit it out in Braille for her). Not surprisingly, the front page was filled with nothing but stories concerning the Autobots, ranging from new inventions they were presenting to the science community, to recent battles. Only when she finished reading did she pause to consider the many friends she both hung out and worked with on a daily basis.

There was no denying the nobility of the team; they didn't ask to be on Earth, and with the space bridge and deep space 'Bots like Cosmos and Omega Supreme, they didn't have to be. They could've left…but instead, they chose to remain on Earth-chose to protect a race that was so primitive in comparison.

She asked Optimus about it once; what he possibly saw in the humans. To which, he replied, "Your planet is one of great beauty, and one that we can't afford to lose. More importantly, you, Spike, Carly, and the rest of your race have brought us ways to have fun. On Cybertron, we were so busy advancing our world and fighting this war for so long, that many of us forgot how to be people. You've taught us how to live."

His words made her realize how important the mission was, both to the Autobots, and for the world. Only question now was where they got their will to go on. They were fighting for millions of years, and yet they never gave up. Perhaps it was just what their leader said; they couldn't afford to lose two planets and many along with it to something so evil, which is why they'd always be standing by-waiting, protecting, and ready to fight for universal peace.

The Autobots-the action heroes.
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He was once a simple mech leading an easy life, until fate bestowed upon him a great power and even greater responsibility. No doubt it must've scared him to suddenly have the weight of the universe on his shoulders, but carrying on despite said fear only made him stronger.

He led his troops with such tremendous skill and passion, that only the bravest dared to face him. And never would he ever take refuge behind his soldiers; he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if it ensured his friends' lives. For that, the troops hailed his leadership, only for him to selflessly proclaim that only through teamwork did they win the battle.

For many a good reason, he was admired by all; his strong, but kind words touching a chord and inspiring many to do the right thing…for freedom was the right of all sentient beings.

Kayla couldn't think of anything else to say about him, for he'd done so much…only that most importantly of all, he became a father when she needed one.

Optimus Prime-the epic hero.
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Reflecting back on the days she helped Jazz recover in the med bay, Kayla was at a loss for words of how much the saboteur meant to her. She'd never forget the day she met him, and thus, had her life changed forever. Two musicians who marched to the same beat finally found each other, and in doing so, made the other's life complete. No one could've asked for anything better.

But there were other reasons for her passionate liking. During his stay in the medical ward, the Porsche wasn't without a wide gallery of visitors. After the red head, the first had been Optimus Prime, who commended his brave effort to save his comrades from Devastator. Prowl was next, and he didn't hesitate to point out how illogical it was to face such a monster, considering the size difference. (Although, everyone knew that was just his way of saying he was worried.) Then , came the twins, who were already plotting ways to sneak him out of there to watch movies with them. And of course, there was Blaster, who happily provided some tunes while the teenager rested her hands from playing her guitar. And still, more visitors came, all with the basic message to get well soon.

Judging by his tone, Jazz had taken it all with a smile; joking, laughing, and bidding them ado with a friendly wave. But Kayla knew of the motive behind it. Many a comedian once said that life is only in balance when it has a sense of humor. The saboteur obviously knew this, for he went to great lengths to not make a big deal out of the whole affair. It was all to make sure the others didn't worry about him. That was the Porsche for you; always being the column of support, even when he couldn't support himself.

And of course, when tragedy struck, and a friend was in desperate need, the mech put aside the world to help raise her hope. By doing so, a friend had become a brother…and he'd forever remain one.

Jazz-the local hero.
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"Aww, you guys save the world all the time. I'm nothin' special."

To this day, the Autobots who were there the day Kayla joined the team, were still a bit shocked at her outright statement. The girl had pretty much saved them all from the whole "Magna Ray Incident" as they so graciously dubbed it. A warrior would usually celebrate or boast their victory, especially if they accomplished something of her valor under her unfortunate circumstance. How could she possibly believe she was unimportant?

Optimus was even more puzzled as he thought back to what he said to her upon introduction. "You're not giving yourself enough credit", he had explained, "While I understand that you wish to not be treated as a hero, there's no denying that your selfless acts have helped us in more ways than one.

You were brave enough to face Skywarp, and in doing so, gave Jazz valuable time in the battle he was in. Then, came the warning you slipped us in your music, without which, we might not have considered a trap was evident, given the circumstances. And you've given us valuable information with which we can use against the Decepticons. But your bravest act was when you risked your very life to retrieve that device and destroy it. Had you not done so, the battle might have turned out vastly different, and more than likely, for the worst."

But that was just it; the leader understood the act of not wanting a hero's welcome-it was the reasoning that stumped him a tad. She was, arguably, the most interesting human they'd come across, for she had an ability to connect to the others on one level or another. But why? The teenager had a courageous spirit that's hard to find. Her talents had helped them greatly, and on more than one occasion, the Autobots gave her their deepest thanks-and yet she'd always politely decline the attention. Why?

After much thought, the 'Bots finally came to the conclusion that maybe she was taking a page from Jazz's book and just didn't want to make a big deal out of everything…but that didn't mean they wouldn't stop trying.

Kayla Matthews-the reluctant hero.
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TONIGHT
For ONE night ONLY
"A Salute to Music"
Celebrating everyone's favorites
Oldies & Newies
With guitarist and rising artist
KAYLA MATTHEWS
Sponsored by: B & W's MUSIC CENTER

This very sign displayed outside of said music store was enticing a very excited crowd as they made their way to the vacant lot next to the building. Rows and rows of fold up chairs were lined across the black top; all facing a well-put together stage, complete with speakers, lights, and a red velvet curtain. But as the men and women took their seats, all conversations were a buzz of what was possibly to come.

Backstage, the 50-something proprietor of B & W's Music Center was putting the finishing touches on his tuxedo; adjusting the black tie ever so slightly. His mop of graying-brown hair was combed over for once, to make up for having to ditch the Pink Floyd bandana he usually wore to cover up his bald spot. Hair: check. Shined shoes: check. Suit: check. Now, all that was missing was…

"Yo', Scratch!" called a familiar, Southern voice.

The man in question turned around to be greeted by a dark-skinned, blue eyed man wearing a white T-shirt, black pants, white sneakers, and sunglasses, jogging up to him in high spirits. With a surprised smile, he gave the man a friendly smack on the back, "Jazz! Ya' made it!"

"Wouldn't miss 'dis show fer' da' world!" the Autobot in disguise practically cheered. It was then he gave the store owner a once over of his new look with a low whistle, "Whoa, man; back in black."

"Oh, ya' like it, huh?" Scratch inquired with a laugh as he looked over his good suit, "I know I'm no James Bond, but since I'm hostin' this thing, I figured I better 'de-hippify' myself a bit." A sniff of pride, and he added, "I'd say I cleaned up pretty well."

The saboteur, meanwhile, snuck a peek through the curtain and gazed out at the many people already seated, as well as the dozens more still coming. Turning back around, he replied, "Man, it looks like it's gonna' be a full house! How'd ya' get all these people ta' come?"

"I just ran a couple of flyers and handed them out", the elder musician explained, "I told my neighbors and they told their friends and they told their friends and so on."

Jazz gave a grin, "Well, it looks like it's gonna' be a pretty excitin' night. You'll definitely get a lotta' business now."

"Yeah, and I got you and Kayla to thank for it", Scratch replied as he thought back to that day his protégé' first introduced him to her new friend, "You guys came up with this whole idea." He then swiveled his head around, "Speakin' of whom, where is she anyway?"

"Don't worry, she's 'ere", the 'Bot reassured as he jerked his thumb behind him, "She's jus' talkin' ta' some of ma' friends who wanted ta' see da' show. They're in da' back row."

The store owner raised an eyebrow, "The back row? Why?"

The saboteur ran a hand through his black hair, "Well, their cars are parked back 'der, an' I guess they jus' wanna' keep an eye on their wheels."

It was then that a faint, but familiar tapping sound could be heard, causing the two musicians to turn…and be greeted by the most pleasing sight. There stood Kayla, trading her usual shirt and jeans for a fashion makeover for the event. She wore a dark blue dress with flat dress shoes to match, but thankfully, her mom made the right choice in helping her choose something unlacey and unfrilly. And her long, red hair had been pulled up into a ponytail, with only a few strands hanging loose. The only evidence that she was still her same, rockin' self was her black and white guitar slung on her back. Jazz, meanwhile, just looked her up and down; mouth agape-he'd never seen her get dressed up before.

"Hey! There's our star!" Scratch exclaimed; opening his arms for emphasis.

With a bit of hesitancy in her voice, the girl shifted on her feet, "Um…I know I'm not into this stuff, but for the sake of the audience-how do I look?"

The saboteur grinned and tilted his head; a far away look to his eyes, "Ya' look beautiful." The musician turned beet red at the statement.

"Ya' look great, kid", the store owner added, "I appreciate you helping me out."

The teen merely shrugged, "No music-no life". She then took a step forward, "So, let's run through what you said on the phone one last time. You get on stage, make introductions, then I come out-right?"

"Right", Scratch explained, "There's microphones set up so everyone can hear you playin' loud and clear. Just walk forward, I'll help set you up, and we'll be good to go." He then raised an eyebrow, "But you still haven't told me what you picked for your opening song."

Both he and Jazz looked to the red head expectantly. But all she gave was a soft smile, "Don't worry; this past month's given me a lot to think about…I got something special in mind." Her voice became softer as she added in, "I know my dad liked this song."

The elder musician mournfully nodded his head. It wasn't long before the girl confessed to him of her father's passing and his heart went out to her, for he too, went through losing a parent. Even if it was to old age and not battle, the feeling was all the same. With all the concern of a parent himself, he gently patted her shoulder and spoke with care, "Kay…I understand what you're going through…and I told you before, you don't have to do this if you don't feel up to it."

Kayla thought back to that fateful conversation on the phone…how he wanted to cancel the show right then and there…and for her, that was out of the question. A moment later, she sighed, "I have to."

"Why?" he inquired.

The teen tilted her head; stating, matter of factly, "First rule of showbiz…the show must go on."
To that, her two friends smiled at her amount of gusto. There was a short pause before Jazz replied, "Good luck out 'der."

"We're rootin' for ya'," the store owner added.

The girl smirked and spread her arms wide open, to which her fellow musicians each gave her a warm hug and a pat on the back. Her voice filled with happiness and mirth, she said softly, "Thanks guys…"

Meanwhile, in the aforementioned back row of the audience, a very…interesting collection of people sat together in anticipation. One such person was a blue eyed man, who looked to be in his late 30's-and who might've stepped out of Frankenstein. His brownish-black hair was completely frazzled, as if he'd taken a few volts of electricity, which, considering his get up, wasn't hard to believe. He wore dark green pants, a red shirt, and a white lab coat to boot; eliciting a few stares from the passerby. His patience wearing thin, he swiveled his head around, and spat in a Brooklyn accent, "Where's Jazz?"

A blue eyed, blonde haired, teenage boy, wearing a yellow T-shirt, black pants, and yellow shoes was sitting next to him. Turning with a half smile, he answered calmly, "Backstage. He'll be out soon."
The scientist didn't seem convinced, as he so implied with a huff, "He better be, or he might blow his cover."

The teenager couldn't help but chuckle; their stylin' Special Ops. agent blowing his cover? Like that would ever happen. With a quick glance at his friend's attire, his voice didn't betray his sarcasm as he drawled, "Oh yeah, Jack-unruly hair and a lab coat-you're real inconspicuous."

Wheeljack shrugged his shoulders, "So I saw Back to the Future one too many times-so kill me."

On the other side of the scientist in disguise, sat an equally blue eyed man in his late 30's, whose brown hair was slicked back. Garbed in plain, white medical attire, and sporting an armband with a red cross, he slid his fingers under his steel-rimmed glasses to rub his face in annoyance. The two had been at it for a while and he just about had it. Snapping his head in their direction, he grumbled, "I'm going to short both your mouth circuits if you don't shut up."

Thankfully, Wheeljack had nothing left to say. The blond teenager, however, turned to his other side to converse with an older gentleman, wearing blue pants, a red button shirt, and a cowboy hat that hid most of his black hair. His voice hushed, the teen asked, "Say Prime-why do we have to be in our holo forms anyway? I mean, we walk the streets practically every day. The world knows we exist."

Optimus turned to the boy with a small smile, "This is Kayla's show, Bumblebee-not ours."

The disguised Minibot nodded in understanding-so much wisdom in so few words. He was about to say more, when Jazz's holo form came jogging up and sat next to Prime at the end of the row. With a wave, he shout/whispered down the line, "Yo', I'm back!"

"About time", the medic grumbled.

However, before he could mouth the saboteur off, someone lightly tapped his arm, and he turned to Chip Chase, who had his wheelchair parked next to him. With a smile, he teased, "Aww, come on, Ratchet; you know he wouldn't miss this…and neither would we." To that, the computer wiz motioned next to him, revealing Mrs. Matthews, followed by Sparkplug, Spike, and Carly. As small as it was compared to most shows, this was Kayla's first concert, and none of them wanted to miss this, and a recording, courtesy of Jazz, would be sent to the 'Bots who couldn't make it.

Suddenly, the stage curtains split apart and the lights grew brighter, making the audience hush-show time!

It was then the spotlights came to life and shown down upon Mr. Tuxedo man himself as he came out upon the stage. A welcoming clap from the audience accompanied him as he arrived at the microphone and tapped it a few times to ensure its clarity. With one last adjustment to his tie, Scratch nodded politely, then motioned for everyone to settle down. Once everything was indeed quiet, he cleared his throat and began, "Thanks everyone. My name is Billy Ray White; I'm the owner of B & W's Music Center, and I welcome you all tonight to this-a salute to music." A pause, and then, "Now, music has been around for as long as we can remember-be it juke box, records, tapes, IPods, or what have you…but very few have stopped to consider just how much music has impacted our cultures and society…for music is a form of expression that is the voice of the soul. So, in celebrating some of our old favorites from the 20's to today, we hope you hear some of those voices tonight."

To that, everyone gathered clapped once more; albeit more quickly, for they knew he had more to say. And again, the store owner waited until they were hushed. With a grin starting to show, he continued, "Now, ladies and gentlemen, there's someone I'd like to introduce you to…this young woman came into my store when she was six years old, and before she left-had developed an instant love for the guitar. It's been over 12 years now, and through her unrelenting hard work, I've watched her become one of the best guitarists I know. It gives me great pleasure to introduce-a great musician, and even greater person…" A huge smile plastered on his face, he practically shouted, "Please welcome-Kayla Matthews!"

With a wave of his hand, the spotlights directed themselves to the far side of the stage, and sporting the proudest smile, the teenager emerged into the light. Immediately, the audience started to applaud, to which she gave a small wave in return…but a few seconds into her stroll, all eyes darted to the cane clutched in her hand…and slowly, the people hushed. A few tiny gasps could be heard as well, as everyone was left to gawk in astonishment at this surprising twist.

Only the entire back row continued to clap, with Jazz and Bumblebee adding in a few whistles.
But all the while, even through the wave of mumbling that spread across the crowd, the girl continued to walk straight ahead; retracting her cane upon reaching Scratch. Quick, but gentle, he guided her to the chair behind him; taking the guitar off her back as he did so. As soon as she was situated, he handed the instrument back, and carefully adjusted the microphone to the height of her sitting position. After all was said and done, she nodded in thanks, to which he gave her a pat on the shoulder, before turning on his heel and making for the shadows.

But the store owner wouldn't make it without one last retort. The red head's sharp ears picked up on the awkward silence radiating from the spectators and realization hit. With a wry smile, she turned in his general direction, but stayed within mic range as she called, "You didn't tell them I was blind, didn't you?"

Scratch kept on walking, but still grinned, for her talking in the mic was a clear indicator she wanted the people to hear what he'd say in return. With a shrug, he called innocently over his shoulder, "Didn't think it mattered!"

To that, a few chuckles could be heard from the audience, but on whole, they still remained in a stricken quiet, for they hadn't expected…this. One could only imagine what was in store, but they all knew for sure this was certainly going to be interesting…a modern day Ray Charles performing; who would've thought?

Jazz and the gang, meanwhile, could only giggle; man, was everyone in for a surprise.

Taking a deep breath, Kayla slowly felt for the microphone and tapped it a few times to get everyone's attention…not like there wasn't enough attention on her already. But never the less, she did so to signal she was about to speak…and speak she did, "Before I start, I just wanna' thank you all for coming…it means a lot." She then gave her guitar one final tune up; ensuring it was ready to play. Upon satisfaction, she then continued, "Um…in this day and age, there's so many people worried about themselves, that the little guy often gets overlooked…so, for my opening song, I just wanna' say that-this goes out to all the people out there who're workin' hard to help others, and…just a call for others to lend a hand when they need it."

The audience merely remained quiet, with the entire back row smiling, as only they understood the full meaning of her words.

With a warm smile and both her family and friends in her thoughts and heart, the girl began to strum an even, steady, and beautiful chord; her fingers jumping and gliding across the strings as she poured her soul into her angelic singing.

Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night, I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need…

I need a hero
I'm holdin' out for a hero 'till the end of the night
He's gotta' be strong and he's gotta' be fast and he's gotta' be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holdin' out for a hero 'till the mornin' light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta' be soon and he's gotta' be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight in my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach-there's someone reachin' back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna' take a Superman to sweep me off my feet

Up where the mountains reach the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone, somewhere watchin' me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach like the fire in my blood

As the last timbers of the chords were carried across the breeze, the entire audience was stunned silent for only a second…and then erupted into what was possibly the loudest applause possible. With both praise and amazement, every last person quickly rose from their seats to give her a standing ovation, and this was just the opening song! So loud were the cheers, that they almost didn't hear her give a hearty "thank you" in return.

"Say, Prime?" Jazz inquired as he continued to clap, " 'Fore she got on, Kayla said da' past month gave her a lot ta' think 'bout…ya' think she meant…?"

"She meant a lot of people", Optimus finished as he turned his gaze to the saboteur, "If there's anything we've learned since living on this planet, it's that heroes can be found in the most unlikely places."

To that, Jazz smiled brighter and turned back to the stage; watching as Kayla tuned up for the next song-a long night of music and fun ahead.

Heroes indeed.