A/N:

Okay, I have no excuses. It's be over a year, and I've just been having a hard time. I swear I was working on another chapter that was supposed to be published before this one, but I hit a road block and this needed to be out today. As it's international women's day and I planned this a year in advance.

Trigger Warning: Discussion of Sexual Assault and Rape. Doesn't happen on screen though.

Nya didn't know what to expect when she first moved onto the Autobot outpost. Prime seemed like a fair commander, but she couldn't make a judgement until they worked together. Needless to say, the Air Major wasn't disappointed. The human woman found that teams could either be something that was strictly professional or a tightknit pack where brothers and sisters were willing to take a shot to save your life, at risk of theirs. Team Prime was surprisingly the latter. And Nya couldn't be happier about it.

Despite what most people would think about a military woman, which the stereotype in movies is usually this cold badass with many scars and pixie cut (Not that Nya didn't secretly consider herself a badass, she did shoot an alien warlord in the face and lived after all), Nya preferred to work with people she could be friends and laugh with. Maybe it was just her personality, maybe it was the fact that she was alone for two years, but Nya liked having a community she could trust around her. As such, she did her best to give back to the community that had accepted her, and weird battle partner. Now that didn't mean she was stupid, she knew that people can often take advantage of her generosity and hard work but frankly, she didn't feel like Prime would allow such behavior in his base.

Now considering, that she wasn't a 20 foot tall war machine from another planet, what she could do when not called out to provide air support was limited. But that didn't stop her. Nya was small, even by human standers, she never grew any taller once she hit 5 feet and 4 inches. Heck Jack was taller than her. However, that didn't mean her size was a weakness. Often, she would assist Ratchet and Starscream will repairs to the silo's systems when their large metallic hands couldn't reach into the nooks and crannies.

However, Nya considered her most important task was keeping track of the children. Now, what Prime was thinking bringing three minors into a military operation, Nya had no idea as to why but she would die before she let something happen to the young ones. Honestly the Air Major had grown quite attached to them.

Jack was the eldest and by far the most mature, so Nya mostly hung back when it came to him. If he needed her, she'd be there (it also helped his mom's anxiety know there was an adult human on base full time), but she knew that he wanted and needed space.

Raf was young, too young to be in high school in Nya's opinion, sure if a kid needed to jump a grade to keep them engaged in lessons, by all means due so. But they still needed to be a kid at some point, and Raf's mom seemed to push the boy a little too hard for perfect grades at times. Nya may have never gone to college (having joined the military right out of high school), but she was pretty sure that the occasional B wasn't going to affect Raf's chances of being accepted in the country's best universities. So, she did her best, when the situation was appropriate or AKA not fighting evil alien robots, to make him laugh and get him to relax. To be a kid. And Nya's heart all but melted when he asked her to be his sponsor for his confirmation in the church in a year's time.

Miko was a different case. Nya knew a wildcard when she saw one, not that that was a bad thing to be. So, at first, she hung back, trying to figure out when and if she should step in. In fact, Miko would come to her more than the other two kids, though it was usually to see if she had any cool war stories to tell. Miko seemed to crave adventure, and Nya would indulge her with stories, but at the same time try to sneak in lessons for Miko to hopefully learn. Though as Miko got to know Nya more, the Air Major seemed to lose some her coolness points. Two incidents came to mind, when Miko learned of Nya's love for country music, and when Nya agreed that even if Miko does go the military route rather then college or trade school the teenager should still try to make good grades. Still Nya would be there for Miko if she ever need, and that turned out to be a good idea.

It had been, not to jinx anything, quiet day at the base. Nya had nothing better to do then to catch up on an old book series that she had to drop after her crash, as Starscream was taking a nap, and Ratchet wouldn't let anyone talk to him and ruin the silent. All the other bots were on patrol, Raf had bible study, jack was at work, and Nya didn't know what Prime was doing, but he wasn't home. Then Bulkhead came driving in, picking up Miko from school and instantly knew that the girl had gotten in trouble at school.

"You know that fighting isn't allowed in your school," Bulkhead said.

"I wasn't fighting Bulk!" Miko argued as she opened the autobot's door and got out.

"I saw the mark on the kid's faceplate Miko. You hit him," Bulkhead transformed, "You're already getting detention for your grades and sneaking out of classes, if you start fighting, they might send you back to Japan."

"You don't think I know that!" Miko yelled back, "Yeah I hit him, but he deserved it!"

"Miko you can't just go around hitting people."

The human girl let out a loud growling sound, "You guys are all the same! I didn't hit him without a reason! I'm not stupid! But no one listens to me!"

"I am listening to you Miko."

"No, you're not! You're lecturing me! You don't even know what happened!"

"Then tell me what happened."

"You won't understand even if I did! No one will!" And with that Miko stormed off deeper into the silo.

Bulkhead sighed after a moment and went to go look for the girl, but Nya stopped him as he passed the platforms.

"Bulkhead?" Nya asked.

"Hey, Nya," The green autobot said tiredly.

"What was that about?"

"Miko got into a fight at school and she was griping about getting detention for it. I thought we had talked about her getting in trouble."

"You know what started it?"

"No."

"She didn't look all that beat up."

"No, but the other kid had a servo mark on his cheek."

"A single mark?"

Bulkhead nodded.

Nya's gut churned, something wasn't right here, "I think you should let me talk to her."

"What?"

"No offense Bulkhead, but I think right now, Miko needs help from a fellow human, not an autobot."

Bulkhead only nodded, clearly not fully understanding Nya's words, but her tone seemed to get the message across to not follow her as she went looking for the younger human female.

Nya knew something was off the moment he heard the guardian and charge arguing. Miko had shown anger before, but she wasn't angry when she was screaming. Upset or frustrated sure, but angry? Not in the way Nya had seen her before. And certainly not on the verge of tears. The look on Miko's face, was one Nya recognized. Not just from seeing it on other girls, but on her reflection, long ago. When she was young, too young. Like Miko is right now.

It didn't take long for Nya to find Miko, especially when she was close enough to hear Miko's sniffling. The young girl had hidden behind some of silo's large pipes in one of the back corners of the silo. Curled up into a small ball, hugging her knees and her shoulders trembling.

"Miko?" Nya called out gently, and lowering herself to crawl over.

A pair of teary hazel eyes looked towards her, "You here to lecture me too?"

"No," Nya said, "I just want to know what happen."

"You won't believe me."

"Try me."

Miko looked at the ground and sniffed, "It's nothing important."

"It is important, Miko. You won't be so upset if it wasn't. And I want to help you, but I can't if you don't tell me."

Miko was quiet, hiccupping a few time before finally talking, "There's this boy at school, he's been…messing with me."

Nya's brows furrowed, "Messing with you? In what way?"

Miko sniffed, rubbing her nose, "He calls me names in the halls."

"What names?"

"Baby. Beautiful. Sugar. Sweetheart. Honey. But not in a nice way."

"And you hit him for that?"

"NO!"

"Miko what happened today?"

Miko started to cry harder, and Nya knew they weren't sorrowful, but frightened tears. Nya opened her arms, not reaching out, but allowing Miko to choose to accept her embrace or not. The pink-haired girl all but rushed into the Air Major's arms. Nya clutched the sobbing child close, tucking Miko's head under her chin and rubbing the girl's back. They sat like that for a long time Nya being the stable anchor Miko needed.

"Miko?" Nya murmured, "Did this boy try to touch you?"

Miko nodded, still whimpering, "He kept trying to grab me in P.E."

"Did you tell your coach?"

"I tried. He wouldn't do anything."

"So, you hit him?"

"I slapped his face."

"You got in trouble for it?"

Miko nodded.

"Did he get in trouble for touching you?"

"No, they never saw him do it."

Nya held back a growl, adults only see the second slap, "What did you get for hitting him?"

"Weekend detention."

"You have your phone?"

Miko nodded, "Why?"

"Because you're going to call you host parents, tell them about what happened and to meet us at your school. I'm going to have some words with your teachers."

Despite Miko's initial protests, the girl phoned her host parents, though Nya had to explain what happened, as the young girl broke down again. The host parents were ticked, to say the least and agreed to meet them at the school. Next Nya asked Bulkhead, to drive them back to the school. Later Nya would look back and laugh at the conversation, the wreaker looked utterly terrified of the tiny pissed off human woman.

But later was later and now was now. And right now Nya was sitting in the Jasper's high school's Principal's office, waiting for the family of the boy to assaulted Miko. Looking at the principal, a pudgy older man in a brown suit, who clearly didn't want to be here, and initially he wanted to put off the meeting till a later date, AKA men talk to shove it under the rug and forget about it. But Nya was very convincing, especially when she was ticked off.

When the parents of the young offender came in Nya immediately recognized them. One of the wealthier families in Jasper. Their genetics whiter than artic snow and their heads seemed fixed in a position that made them have to look down at you. The Air Major knew the from church, but she didn't like talking to people who bragged about how much they donated. Keep donating it's a good thing, but no one wants to hear you brag about the amount. So, she didn't know them personally.

Their son looked young. Dressed in khaki pants with a black leather belt and a white button up dress shirt. Pale hair clipped short and a gentle sprinkle of freckles across his nose. Though these weren't the features that stuck out to Nya. Her forest eyes honed in on the blush hand print on the kid's pale cheek. The Air Major was honestly surprised Miko hadn't done something worse to the boy.

"Well, now that were all here," The principal grumbled, "I suppose we can begin."

"Yes lets," the Father all but growled, "Now care to explain why we were called in about a settled matter?"

"Settled?" Nya chimed in, her voice calm to the outside, "How is situation settled to you?"

The father looked at Nya with a critical disapproving eye, "I'm sorry I don't believe I know you. Miss…?"

"Major," Nya said sternly, "Major Nya Lee."

"Major?" The father looked at her skeptically, "As in military?"

"Yes, sir. I was in the Air Force, but I've moved to a specialized division recently." And yes, they do allow women to hold my title, you misogynistic dipshit.

Normally, Nya wouldn't be so insistent that people address her by her rank, but she doubted that it made these men feel like they were in charge of this conversation if they had to call her by an earned title. Rather than the one she was born with.

"Well, then, Major Lee. Why are you present? I believe this matter isn't any of your business."

"Miko is a member of the same Science Fiction club as me and my husband. And this matter became my business when she broke down in my arms during one of our meetings."

"So, the brat couldn't handle her punishment? And ran to you? You're wasting your time, trying to get her punishment lifted."

"Oh," Nya scoffed, "I'm not trying to get her punishment lifted. If the school feels it necessary, they had all the right to discipline her. What I have a problem with your boy getting away without his due punishment while Miko gets all the blame for the incident."

"Due punishment? Our son did nothing wrong!" the mother spoke.

"Oh really?" Nya turned her attention to the Elder woman, "You call, Sexual Assault 'nothing wrong'?"

"That is ridiculous!" The father said, "Our boy would do doing of the sort."

"Pardon me Miss-" The principal started to say, only to correct himself the moment Nya flicked a glare towards him, "Major Lee, but these are serious accusations you are making. Are you certain that this is what happened. Miss Nakadai is known as to stir up trouble."

"Are you suggesting that Miko would lie to me?" Nya raised a brow, "The girl that I spend with hours with on the weekends, who knows I hate liars, would lie to me. And you someone who doesn't know her personally is telling me what Miko is doing to me?"

"Principal Mitchal," The Father cut in, "With all due respect I think we all can see what is going on here."

Nya fixed a glare at the man, "Oh no we don't. Tell me what is it going on here."

The father looked at her smiling like he was looking at an ignorant child, and then spoke to her like she was, "Oh, dear, you know."

"Don't call me dear, and no I don't. Spell it out for me. For everyone in this room," Nya dared.

"Well, it is a common knowledge that most woman can be dramatic when situations don't go in their favor.…" The father started.

Nya's fury began to bubble, "Oh, so you're saying Miko is lying to get your boy in trouble?"

"Yes, I am."

Nya huffed and looked at both the father and Principal, "Well, tell me this, in all of her mistakes has Miko ever shown behavior prone to violence?"

"Well," The principal, "She escapes, detention, doesn't always turn assignments in. Disrupts class…"

"With all due respect, Principal Mitchal I was asking if Miko has ever even violent. Not all the other offenses she's committed. Now answer my question. Has she been violent?" Nya said.

The principal remained silent for a moment, "No."

"Does any of that pervious behavior you just listed, give her motive for striking another student out of the blue?" Nya said.

"No," the principal reluctantly said.

"Now let me ask the both of you this," Nya said, "Have you ever had to calm a young child from a breakdown due to being groped and then treated like it's her fault? Do you know how out of control an attack like that makes you feel? To not feel safe in your skin? How it makes you feel helpless? Makes you think no one is going to believe you?"

"Oh, and you'd know that?" The father scoffed.

"Yes, I do," Nya stated plainly, pausing for a moment, "Because I was sold to middle aged men at four years old. Then I had a to deal with teenaged boys trying to rip off my bra all through high school," Nya swallowed, keeping the burn of tears in her eyes from flowing down her cheeks, "I know what this kind of attack can do to someone. And I know how it feels when no one does shit about it!"

"Oh, please," The father scoffed, "Principal Mitchal can't you see this? This is a clearly overly emotional woman who bought into a child's lies."

"Overly emotional?" Nya raised a brow, "You don't want to see me went I get overly emotional."

"See she's in denial. I think its best we drop the matter," The father stated.

Nya shook her head angrily, "No, we won't be doing that."

"Miss Lee, I suggest you calm yourself," The father said looked down at her.

"It's Major, and I suggest you take this matter more seriously, if we don't settle this on school grounds, I'll be taking this to the authorities," She looked towards the boy, "And I'll tell you what kid I'm being nice. If convicted you could face life in prison for this."

The boy paled, a look of fear in his eyes. Yeah, that was a guilty face alright.

"The authorities? You get them involved and I'll have you arrested, Miss Lee!" the father said.

"And you'll charged me with what? Assault? I haven't laid a finger on you. Defamation of character? I haven't told anyone outside of this room about the matter. Ticking you off? Hate to break it to you, but that ain't a crime," Nya clicked her tongue, "You know I'm wondering what your richer friends would think of you if they heard your boy was groping and harassing girls," she looked to the principal, "And I can't imagine that an investigation would do wonders for the school either. Now, are you willing to talk or am I going to have to go the legal route?"

In the end, Nya managed to get the boy the same punishment Miko would have, and the principal would have the staff review the policies of sexual crimes. Not the outcome Nya would've preferred, but it was better then nothing. And she wasn't done. As soon as Miko was up to it, Nya would teach the girl self-defense (and the other kids), cause if Miko was going to get in trouble every time she defended herself, might as well make the offender hurt more then a slap on the cheek. Kid still deserved a broken nose or black eye in Nya's opinion. Though, she knew she shouldn't be wishing that on someone.

Miko hadn't wanted to go back with her host-parents yet, so Nya took her back to the silo. Together, they raided Nya's ice cream stash.

"You want a cone or a bowl?" Nya asked.

"Cone," Miko said her voice still plain.

"Cone it is. Chocolate or Mint chip?"

"Mint."

Nya walked back to where Miko sat on her cot, ice cream cones in hand. The Air Major handed Miko the mint one before taking a seat next to the younger girl on the bed.

"You going to be, okay?" Nya asked.

Miko took a lick from her Ice cream, "Yeah."

"You don't have to be right away, but I'll you'll be alright. You're a tough girl," Nya said.

Miko gave a quiet amused giggle, "Did that really happen to you?"

"Did what happen to me?"

"What you said, in the office. Did all that stuff happen to you?"

Nya paused mid-lick, her smile faltering, "Yeah, it did."

Starscream knew something was off the moment he walked into the hanger and radio wasn't on. Nya liked to have music on while she worked, and when there was nothing to repair she would tinker always with the local country radio station playing in the back ground. Today however the hanger was quiet. Nya working a little more forcefully with her tools.

Her full anger on display when the small slither of metal she was working on snapped, and a growl escaped from her lip. She slammed her tools on the table in front of her and shoved the rolling seat away from the table. Her face fell into her hands as a sharp breath escaped her fleshy frame.

"Are you alright?" Starscream finally said.

Nya jumped in her seat, before finally looking towards him. Those beautiful green organic optics gleaming with unshed tears and anger. Oh, what had happened?

"Starscream? What are you doing here?" Nya said rubbing her face, trying to keep her voice level.

"I heard from Bulkhead you seemed upset earlier, and went looking for you."

Nya sighed, "I scared the big guy pretty bad didn't I?"

"He seemed quite…intimidated."

"I'll apologize to him later, just something happened today that…Ticked me off."

"You want…to…talk about it?" Starscream hesitantly said, trying to copy the comfort techniques Nya used on him.

Nya shook her head, "You won't understand it. It's a human matter, you wouldn't get it."

"Was it something to do with Miko?"

"You could say that."

"Did she do something?"

Nya huffed, and angrily spoke, "No. Nothing that happened was her fault."

Starscream paused before speaking again, sensing he had hit a pain sensor, and a volatile one, "So, something happened to her?"

"Yeah, something awful."

"Would you be alright with elaborating?"

"That were you wouldn't get it Scream."

"Truly? I do have vorns of study underneath my belt."

"No, offence but I doubt cybertronian's have to deal with sexual crimes."

Starscream's wings twitched, weren't sexual activities, as he understood them, considered taboo amongst the human race?

"Miko was doing that?"

"No, but some idiot! Thought he could do it to her!" Nya growled, standing up from her seat, her breath and limbs shaking with anger, "It could've been worse. So, so much worse. That doesn't matter though, the shit shouldn't have been happening in the first place!"

Alright, she was upset enough to start using human profanity, something was going on.

"And they were going to punish her for it! For something that wasn't her fault! It ain't right! It ain't fair! She didn't ask for it! She didn't want it to happen! When she finally had enough of it and stood up for herself! They punished her! Not the one who could've hurt her! They blamed her! They always blame the wrong person! It's all Bullshit!" The human woman continued to rant, angry tears slipping from her eyes and pacing back and forth with fury.

Starscream had never seen Nya so upset. The human seeker continued to rave and shout. Anger and pain bleeding from her being, until finally she slumped back into her chair and sobbed into her hands. Starscream couldn't just watch anymore. After settling his frame somewhere safe, the seeker activated his haloform, walking over to the distressed human. He let Nya reach out to him, and embraced her when she did. Combing false fingers through her hair, and wiping away her tears.

Eventually the fit of emotion calmed, and Nya only sniffled, "Thanks."

"Should I ask, or will I not understand?" There was no sarcasm in his question, just genuine concern.

Nya sighed, "Let's just say this hit close to home alright?"

Starscream nodded, and hugged her again.