Author's Note: Sorry about the wait, been writing this while finishing a paper for a class. I hope to have the next chapter up soon. Thank you for your patience while I'm writing this. Hope to have chapter seven up as soon as I complete it. Please R&R! Comments and criticism are welcome! Ja ne!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters relating to Transformers, even though I own the DVDs. I only own my OCs that are in the story.

Rating: T

TTTTTTTTTTTTTT = scene change

'italics' mental communication

"italics" talking on a phone

The silence that followed the statement wasn't one I was not already expecting. David had told me long ago that if anyone, no matter who they were to him, got in his way they would not survive long after betraying him. Which, in some people's minds, meant I only had about another day or so to live and put things in order.

Well, I knew how to disappear thanks to my dad teaching me. He had been with the army for the past ten years.

I watched the faces of the Autobots that were near us as their expressions changed. Each one was different varying from shock and disbelief to anger and concern. That was how most people reacted. Especially Tara and Jen when I had first told them about what David was really planning to do once he had built up his arsenal. That was one of the reasons why I had disappeared from his life before by coming up here. Hopefully then I would be able to stay out of danger and more importantly keep my family who were down in Indiana safe from harm if David ever tried to do anything.

"Angel?"

I looked up at Carly. Her eyes still wide with shock.

"You mean he'd really…"

I nodded. "I've told you that before Carly. He will stop at nothing."

Carly looked back over her shoulder at the Autobots before coming closer to me. "Well, maybe we could help…" she stopped as I held up a hand.

"No Carly. I don't want you guys getting more involved than you already have. It was my decision to go against him. I'll fight the consequences on my own. But please don't do anything rash, this will only end between me and him, in a fight if necessary."

She was about to protest but I shook my head again. I gave her a smile and turned and walked down the road away from the warehouses to head home. If I was to do anything it would have to be soon. I needed to get in touch with Tara and Jen to let them know what was going on and to be careful. It was unlikely that David knew where they were already but it wouldn't hurt just to be sure.

The main thing that ran through my mind was the fact that I had to destroy all evidence that I had been keeping tabs on David's operation and had explicit information about his weapons and where his factory was located and that I had found ways to counter his weapons' effects.

Though before I left I would give a copy of everything to the Autobots with instructions about what the data was and how to produce the antidotes in mass quantity just in case they ran into him on their own terms.

'Angel please stay.'

My eyes widened as Steeljaw's voice flooded into my mind. I hadn't heard him follow my so I assumed his was still back with the others as they tried to sort things out. Apparently I didn't have to be close to him in order to talk.

I sighed mentally. 'You know I can't and won't Steel.'

'But why? Why handle this by yourself?'

Mental shrug. 'I guess it's just how I've always handled things Steel.'

I could feel his disappointment in his voice. 'I suppose so but that doesn't mean you can't change Angel.'

I smiled. 'I know, but I guess I'm not ready to right now.'

With that I broke off communication to him and continued down the road towards home.

I looked up as a car engine rumbled through the air as it drove around the corner. I watched as a black and white police car shot past me towards the warehouses.

Prowl…

I sighed with relief. The antidote I gave him had worked to its full effect, repairing the damage to his leg and internals. I saw him transform at the top of the hill and saw the other black and white, Jazz, say something to him with excitement in his voice. I was not surprised that the others had been worried about Prowl.

From the looks of what I saw by Jazz's reaction was that he and Prowl were really close I had gotten that vibe from them before when I had first seen the two of them after Tara and Jen had helped me up the stairs that led from the little beach after the whole episode with Laserbeak and the Deceptions earlier in the week before David had even decided to make an appearance in our lives here and make it a living hell.

Prowl nodded to him and then turned to talk with Optimus Prime about something I couldn't hear as I was too far away. Something important about what had happened to him as to why he didn't return to the warehouse sooner to report on his findings about what I was doing at home. I turned away from them but stopped as I nearly ran into someone else.

"Rewind." I said. I hadn't noticed him before when Prowl had driven by, I had thought he'd be with the police car instead of walking down the road.

"Hi. I see you saw Prowl."

"Yeah. The antidote worked, better than I hoped. You'd better join them, Steeljaw will be wondering what happened to you."

He looked at me with confusion radiating from his visor. "You're not coming?"

I shook my head and undid the belt I was wearing, rolling it up before I handed it to him. "No I'm not. But take this with you. It contains most of the antidotes to the weapons that David has. I'll be able to bring you the rest later on."

Before he could reply I ran around the corner and down the sidewalk for awhile, stopping past the end of the warehouse that started the line up the hill before passing into the residential area. I kept my eyes on the sidewalk or just about anything else within sight as I tried to hold back tears.

To tell you the truth I really did want to stay and help them. I wanted to be part of their group to help them in their battle at least until David was gone. In my heart and mind though I knew it was not right. Sometimes you had to sacrifice wants and dreams to do something else that was more important. Right now that was getting the information from the basement and giving it to Rewind and the others.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

I reached up and wiped the sweat of my forehead with an extra cloth that I had on the table. Taking a step back from my work I made sure that everything was wrapped properly. Several large white packages now littered the top of the table while a couple of boxes lay on the floor with fragile written on the tops. Those contained the vials of antidote that I had already made and stored down here.

I looked up at the basement clock. I had gotten back home shortly after eleven and it was now around three-thirty. Only four and half hours, that was a new packing record for me. I opened the trap door and picked up one of the smaller white packages first and brought it upstairs. I put it down by the side door that lead into the garage before going back down for another one.

I put my cell onto the kitchen table when I came back up the second time. I didn't want it dropping out of my hand when I picked up a box. Tara had called earlier that day after I had gotten home to check up on me. I told her about what had happened and that she and Jen should keep a look out just in case David did figure out where they were.

Tara assured me that she would let Jen know and that the two of them would stick together for the last two days that they were down there to make sure that the other was okay. If anything or anyone appeared she promised to let me know as soon as possible so that I could help them figure out a way to get out of the area safely. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, I had thought when I hung up.

After bringing up the last box I closed the trap door and pushed the rug over it. Opening the door I started loading my car's trunk with the packages and boxes so that I could drive them up to the warehouse later that night. At least then I was less likely to get caught by Carly or Steeljaw trying to convince me to stay again.

I went upstairs then to shower and put on some fresh clothes. I sat in the warm water, letting it just seep into my skin to relax my muscles. The water felt like it could just wash away the troubles that I had right now. At least for the hour I was in there, I didn't have any troubles. I had at least that time for some peace from the rest of the world even though when I stepped back out to dry off reality had the knack of just falling back into place.

I put on a white spaghetti-strap tank top with a green vest over it and some light colored, blue jeans that had a boot-cut style at the bottom that slipped right over the brown ankle boots that I put on my feet. I put my silver chain-link belt around my waist and grabbed a light jean jacket as I walked out only my balcony. I slipped the jacket over the back of one of the chairs before crossing my arms on the waist-high railing that framed the whole outdoor space.

The evening air was cool at the start of the summer season. It was one time a really enjoyed about living up here is that the summer really did not get too hot as it did back where my parents were in Indy. Not to mention that I had a great view of the sunrises and sunsets, which is what I was watching now.

The red light of the setting sun reflected off the water back up to shine on the houses along the cliffside and the ships that were in the harbor awaiting their turn to leave to make their run to another part of the lakes. I pushed back one of the longer bangs of my golden hair behind my ear as I watched the light design its own little patterns as the water moved about on the surface from either its own current or a passing boat created the waves.

This time of day is something that a truly cherished.

I wasn't aware of it at the time but I was being watched. Not by anybody I don't know about now. Around the corner on the road that led down into town was my 'watcher' for the night. Optimus Prime sat there just watching me as calmly as I watched the sunset. Caught up in his own thoughts about not only the war but what was transpiring here in Duluth.

Prowl would tell me later that Optimus had told him that he wanted to watch over me that night. For what reasons I could not figure out.

I watched the sun a little longer and then grabbed my jacket to go out for a walk. After locking the door I turned north towards the water and started my walk. I headed towards an observation cut out that sat next to the road where travelers could pull over and stretch their legs as they watched the water and the ships come in and out for a time before continuing.

I was about halfway there when I got the feeling that someone was following me but I ignored it, content with enjoying the peace of the evening as much as I could before things when to all hell in a hand basket by tomorrow.

I reached the observation section of the road and walked out to the center of the railing that faced the water, standing on the sidewalk there in case anyone did come along they wouldn't hit me at least. The slight rumble of an engine drifted towards my ears as I heard the one following me approach. I looked back at them before turning away again, I didn't really feel the need to let him know I knew he was there.

I heard another rumble from behind me and then surprisingly, a question.

"What are you doing?"

I turned around and was thankful that the sunlight was shinning on me to hide the slight blush that appeared on my face when I saw it was Optimus Prime. I had admired him from the first moment that the Autobots had appeared on Earth to stop the Decepticons. I wouldn't exactly call it a crush of any sort but to actual see him right there in front of me with no other Autobots around was kind of unnerving.

"I like watching the sunset. I have a good view from home but the best one is from here as the sun doesn't disappear behind anything." I finally replied.

He was silent for a few moments thinking about what I said. It's hard to tell exactly what he was thinking then but I had a pretty good guess that he understood the reasoning I had for coming here.

I looked toward him again. "Why are you here exactly? I thought that Prowl would be watching me again."

I could hear the slight laughter in his voice as he answered. "No. I have come to ask you something."

"What is that exactly?"

"To join us for at least the duration of the time we are here."

I looked away again, turning my back to him as I did. Well, there went that plan of leaving quietly. I sighed, nothing seemed to really want to play in my favor for once.

"Why?" I asked, still facing the water. "Why have me stay with you guys when I could just give you the data and then keep him away until you knew what you were dealing with."

I heard him sigh. "You are the only one who truly knows anything about this person, as Carly pointed out before. You knowledge of what he might do next is invaluable."

I smiled a little at that. "I suppose so." I turned to him again. "But that's not the real question you wanted to ask is it?"

He was silent for a few moments. I kept my face blank but I felt like I had hit the right chord, like a well played symphony and we were all just the keys to make the song flow. A gust of wind blew some strands of hair across my face. I looked up to see some dark clouds rolling in from the west. Rain again, just when I had finally seen a brilliant sunset after a week of the stuff.

Both of us stood silent for some time, lost in our own thoughts about things either related or not related to what was happening. I just hoped the questions didn't lead too much into my past some of the things that had happened then weren't all that pleasant. But I supposed that I would answer them anyway. I always believed that it was better to talk about problems with someone than to keep it buried inside where it would just hurt more.

"Why are you doing this?"

"What?" I asked innocently, turning my eyes away from the clouds. Optimus' words bringing me back to reality.

Even in his vehicle form I could feel his gaze on me. "That's my question… why?"

"Because I want to help, but more importantly I want to protect those close to me. Even though I don't know any of you very well, preventing David from doing what I know he's going to do is important to me." I paused for a moment, letting him take in my words before continuing.

"I know that his malice will not end when he's completed this task. Whatever he wants he'll get by using his weapons. Doesn't matter who he was to kill, hell, he'd even kill the President to rise in power! He's evil. That I've known for years, but until now I've never had the strength to fight him. Now I do, and if I must I'll kill him to put an end to all this."

Optimus was silent while I talked to him, answering his question with the truth. During it I felt some rain starting to fall but I didn't stop. I wouldn't move to get under some shelter so that I could explain it better there. It felt like I was running from the truth about how I felt, what I wanted. By the time I was finished talking the rain was coming down in a light downpour.

Silently cursing the weather gods I started to move towards the shelter where the vending machines and public restrooms were kept in order to get out of it. I heard a click and turned to see that Optimus had opened one of his cab doors. I ran over and climbed in, he shut the door behind me as the rain decided to increase the speed that the water droplets fell down to the earth.

I mumbled my thanks as I wrapped my arms around myself to help suppress a shiver from the cold rain water running down my back. I looked around the cab. I was sitting on plush leather seats that were a bench instead of being separated like in most semi-truck cabs. The steering wheel sat in front of me as did the regular dashboard dials and buttons. In the middle of the dash above the radio was a blanks screen that looked like my old TV set.

My eyes went over the rest of the dash but flipped back to the screen when an image popped up on it.

"Better?" Optimus asked.

"Huh.. oh! Yes, yes thank you." I stammered.

I could hear the smile in his voice. "You're welcome. I'll take you back now."

I wrung out my hair as Optimus slowly started back to my house. I let the water fall onto my jeans. There was no real point about getting more water on the inside of the cab then what was already there. I watched the road. Optimus had turned on his head lights as the rain had created a haze that would only let either of us see only a foot in front of us.

"Miss Angel?"

I thought about something for a moment and then answered. "Alia."

"Huh?"

"My real name is Alia. My friends started calling me Angel as a nickname back in middle school. I guess the name stuck so everyone else just started calling me that too."

"I was thinking about your answer, Alia. I do believe you. It was not that I didn't want to before. But with the situation as it was at the time…"

I sighed. "It's okay. None of it is your fault. You did what was best at the time and I understand and respect that."

His face on the screen nodded in reply. Then a button on the dashboard beeped. He told me it was a communication from Prowl and the screen then went blank.

I watched the dim outlines of the houses as he talked with Prowl. I couldn't hear them but I figured Prowl was just checking up on where he was. My house came up and Optimus stopped out in front of it along the curb. I slid across the bench and opened the door to climb down.

He closed the door as my feet hit the sidewalk. The streetlamps provided illumination through the gloom. I stepped back farther onto the sidewalk then turned to walk back to my house.

"Alia?"

I turned back.

"You will come to the warehouse tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Yes. I'll bring everything that I have with me."

"See you then."

I watched as he started to drive off. Smiling I turned back and walked to my house.

I got to my front door when a defining boom echoed through the air. A bright flash of light blinded me for a second before disappearing as quickly as it had come. I turned towards where the light had come from in time to see Optimus land back onto the road hard, after having been blasted a few feet into the air. His trailer was nowhere to be seen but then I remembered he didn't have it in the first place.

My heart leapt into my throat as I sprinted towards him through the rain and the mud splashed sidewalk. It felt like forever before I finally reached him. I ran past the wheels to the cab. Optimus was slightly tilted as his lower left half lay in a two foot deep hole. His right side was stuck in the air about the same distance from the surface of the road.

I leaned down to check the underside. I wished afterwards that I hadn't. Metal and cables were melted and fused together. A line that I knew was a vital one that contained a vital part of Optimus' life and another tube were leaking black and a violet colored liquid. Both were slowly filling up the hole in the ground. I stood up again and placed my hands on either side of his front grill.

"Optimus? Optimus!!" I cried out, failing miserably at keeping the hysteria out of my voice as I called to him. I placed my hands right on the grill this time and almost immediately removed them as a large jolt of energy passed through me. I slowly reached out again and moved my hands as I tried to shake him, which surprisingly wasn't hard considering he was off balance but that didn't matter.

"Optimus!" I cried again, leaning my head against him. "Please… please answer me! Please Optimus!"

I let the tears that were flowing from my eyes mix with the rain as it came down and splashed off him and onto my face. I didn't care that I was soaked. I lifted my head for a second as I heard a deep groan come from him.

"Optimus?"

The groan sounded again. I sighed with relief that he was at least starting to respond. A ringing sound from my belt caused me to jump and I held back a scream as I lifted the communicator off of my belt and opened it.

"Hello?!"

"Ratchet!" I yelled into the phone.

"Angel what happened?! One minute we're talking to Optimus the next minute all we're getting is static! What happened?" he asked again.

I tried to keep the worry and hysterics out of my voice as I answered but I figured that he could probably hear them anyway.

"I… I don't know. One minute he's driving down the street to head back and the next minute there's this large boom and he's got one side in a hole and other in the air. His underside is melted and leaking fluid and he wasn't responding and he is now but I...I….I….I….!" I couldn't stop how fast the words came out of my mouth.

"You weren't riding with him when it happened were you?!" Ratchet said suddenly.

"No, no! He had already dropped me off at my house before this happened! Oh god Ratchet I swear if I had known I would have…!"

"Angel listen to me right now, you could not have known about this. It is not your fault."

"But it is Ratch! I should have known that that bastard would try something like this! I should have known and then I could have warned Optimus about this! I could have…" I trailed off.

Tears started streaming down again and the words of what I wanted to say got caught up in my throat as I cried. I was surprised I was even able to have some sort of a conversation all this considered in this situation.

"Enough Angel calm down please. Just stay where you are okay?"

"Okay." I replied pacing back and forth a few feet in front of Optimus.

I could hear Ratchet as he talked and tried his best to help calm me but I only half listened as I paced. Thoughts ran through my head like a giant conveyor belt on super speed. Was this David's doing or was it the Decepticons? If it was David what kind of bomb had he used? If it was even a bomb or a new version of one of his guns that exploded as it shot some poison into its victim?

My eyes kept going back to Optimus, there was no change no matter when I looked over at him. I just prayed that nothing else had been damaged. As I talked to Ratch I pulled a couple of rags out of my jacket pocket and tied each one around the breaks in the two fuel lines. The black and violet fluids swirled in the hole as the rain mixed them together creating haunting patterns.

The rags would keep the fluid at bay for a little while, hopefully long enough for Ratchet and the others to get down here but some lighting that had appeared in their area from the storm had knocked over one of the old, thick trees in front of the door.

Lighting flashed, illuminating the scene in its glowing white light. I turned my back to the alleyways that were across from the houses as I explained to Ratchet where Optimus and I were located along the road that led to my house.

A loud pop reached my ears and I gritted my teeth as a sharp pain shot through my right arm just below my shoulder. I held back another cry of pain as something grazed past my leg. I turned towards the alleyway where I had heard the pop come from. The lightning flashed again and I saw a tall figure holding something in his hand aimed straight at me.

The popping sound came again to my ears, louder this time than the others and something small and hard slammed into my right side. This pain, which felt like a fire had just ripped through my skin like a hot wire though butter, was too great to hold in and I shrieked long and loudly but was suddenly cut short as something or someone hit me in the side again and I saw a brief flash of silver pass by my side as whatever it was shot past me and disappeared back into the night. Leaving no trace as to what it was or what it had used on me.

The phone dropped from my hand and landed on the ground next to me as I fell back onto the ground. My left arm draped itself over my left side while my right arm lay by my head as I looked up at the dark, rain filled clouds as the water splashed onto my face. Rain falling into my eyes, melding with the tears from the pain I felt from what happened to Optimus and the wound in my side. I could feel that my legs were bent at the knee and were facing to one side. But slowly I lost feeling in my feet and it crept up my legs.

I slowly turned my head to the right looking at the communicator. I could faintly hear Ratchet calling out my name repeatedly. I tried to answer him but no sound escaped my throat. My eyes caught a glimmer of something and in the next lighting flash I saw the growing pool of my own blood as it swirled and twisted in different patterns before it traveled with the water towards the sewer drains.

That was the last thing I saw before my world went completely black.