Chapter 2

Transformers Belongs To Hasbro

Lisa and Rosie Belong To TC_Stark

Nirvana Belongs To Autobot Nightfury

Julia Belongs to PixelTheLittlestFembot

The hidden base was bustling with the noises of the remaining mechs moving around and speaking. There was not a large number of them, but they were thankful there was as many as they had, especially with the circumstances.

Ratchet was careful to keep his hand cupped over Julia to keep her hidden away from curious optics. He wasn't sure they would appreciate her presence quite yet and he knew she was still very much frightened by them.

"What ya hiding, Ratchet?" a mech asked, noticing the way Ratchet was holding his servos.

"None of your business, Ironhide." Ratchet grumbled, quickening his pace toward his medical bay. The mech did not look satisfied with the medics words as he followed after him, his large red chassis making long strides.

Getting to the bay, Ratchet gently sat Julia down one of his work benches. The girl perked up a little as she tried to take in her surroundings. Looking toward the ground, she quickly backed away from the edge. She would probably break an ankle if she fell.

"Why are we here, Mr. Ratchet?" Julia asked curiously, looking up up at the mech with large eyes.

Ratchet gave her a small smile and gave her head a gentle pat with his digit, "Optimus does not know you're here yet and the others… would be concerned with your arrival. You'll be safer in here, Julia."

"So this is what ya were hiding, you old cog piece." a voice laughed loudly behind them. Julia quickly scrambled to where she was hidden behind Ratchet's large chassis.

"Ironhide! Get the Pit out of here!" Ratchet growled, protectively scooping her back up.

"Oh, take an oil bath, Ratchet." Ironhide grinned, leaning down a bit to get a better look at what lay in the medic's servos, "She's a cute little thing. You took Optimus up on his offer? Never thought ya would find yourself one ya wanted to take care of."

Julia poked her head up to look up at Ironhide. His expression was kind enough, but he was absolutely huge and red. His body was also littered with all sorts of scars and old healed wounds.

"Aw, don't be afraid, little one. I don't mean you no harm." he frowned, taking in the way she looked at him.

"My name is… Julia." she managed to squeak out. It wouldn't do to be impolite to the new mech, especially since he looked like he could kill her with a look of his optics. Ratchet's expression was shooting warnings at Ironhide to not cause trouble.

"Julia, huh? Mine is Ironhide." the mech grinned, trying to show her he did not mean any harm to her.

They were soon interrupted by the sound of two sets of peds making their way into the bay. It took a moment glance to realize that it was Prowl and Jazz.

"If it isn't the two lovers. Did ya enjoy your romantic drive?" Ironhide chided, but frowning when he realized they were also carrying a small human, "Apparently everyone is getting the human fever."

Prowl ignored Ironhide as he carefully set down the red-headed human on the workbench that Julia had momentarily occupied. Ratchet was instantly concerned as he saw the dried blood on her bottom lip and the bruises.

"Did you-"

Jazz instantly held up his servos defensively, "We didn't lay a servo on her, Doc! This was all human work. It's a long story though."

A huff came from Ratchet. Of course it was a human that had harmed the femme. Their kind held no kind of sympathy for those that could not defend themselves. His look softened though, when he saw how scared she looked. He could tell her mind was still trying to make sense of what had happened.

"What is your designation, little one?" he asked gently, kneeling down a bit so to be on eye level with her. Jazz opened his mouth to answer but Ratchet instantly hushed him, "I want her to tell me her name."

"Lisa." the femme managed to answer. It wasn't in her nature to be so reserved like this, but she was still so confused. Scott had been acting like himself and she had made a simple suggestion when he had hit her. Then the police sirens, her getting in, and then suddenly realizing exactly what they were. She felt like she was going to be sick.

Ratchet's optic brows furrowed at her response, he didn't know how to exactly calm her. Julia had been a bit easier and had calmed with a bit of gentle words and affection. Then it struck him: Julia.

Lifting his servos up, he gently sat the blonde human next to Lisa. The red-head's eyes instantly stared at her with shock. There was another human here? And this one did not look hurt or abused.

Julia did not know exactly what Ratchet wanted from her but the other human looked so scared and it made her heart hurt. Timidly, Julia began to gently stroke her back. When Prowl had sat her down, Lisa had curled her legs underneath her to sit on them.

"It's okay." Julia tried to comfort, "Ratchet saved me from a group of bad people. Is that what the others did for you?"

Lisa gulped a little before responding. Having another person around was helping the tension leave her shoulders.

"Yes, they did." she finally spoke, looking up at Prowl and Jazz, "Thank you for helping me. ...And I'm sorry for freaking out on you."

Jazz was the first to get a big grin, "Well, we did just kind of snatch you up without giving a proper introduction. My name is Jazz, and this is my mate, Prowl."

The police car flinched a little as Jazz so loudly announced their intimate relationship, especially with humans that would most likely not understand. Little did he know that the femmes just thought he was calling Prowl his friend, like an Australian would.

Lisa nodded as she heard their names, a small smile pulling at her lips. She instantly winced as she was reminded of her busted lip. The smile had pulled the wound taunt and opened it back up.

"Can I help?" Julia asked, picking up a scrap of cloth from the bench. She wrapped it tightly around her finger as she knelt down in front of Lisa. It hurt but the red-head remained still as the blonde dabbed at her lip to clean up the blood and and also put pressure on it to ensure it closed back up.

"Guess you mechs followed the Prime's orders pretty well." Ironhide chuckled, "Finding humans that still had good in them."

Lisa pulled Julia into a hug when she had finished up. She was just so happy to have another person around and it made her not feel so alone. It was also almost unnerving how much they looked alike. It was as if the only differences were in hair color, eye color, and their personalities. Julia instantly cuddled into the embrace.

Their embrace was short-lived as another mech made his entrance. From the way the other mechs were looking at him, he must've been someone very important to them. His optics were quick to find the girls sitting on the bench.

"I assume you got my message, Prime." Ratchet said, stepping aside to let Optimus walk up to the bench. His optics seemed to be taking them carefully in, as if he was looking for something. Lisa still had her arms around Julia as they stared wide-eyed up at him.

"Hello, humans. My name is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots." Optimus introduced, kneeling down the way Ratchet had done before, "We are happy to have you here."

"You're Optimus?" Lisa asked, surprise filling her, "You're the one that the news talks about so much. They said that you ended the alliance between the humans and the Autobots. Why?"

The words caused Optimus to deeply frown and Lisa was afraid she had offended him with her question. She had just been so confused to why they were brought here, especially if there was no alliance with their kind.

"That's the bullshit they've been feeding y'all?" Ironhide growled deeply, "Of course Prime didn't end the truce. He loved you little organics like his own metal."

They could see the sadness and hurt in Optimus' optics as he nodded his helm in a agreement, "We were betrayed, little ones. Lives have been lost to protect your kind, and lives have been taken by your kind. Fear and greed has made us your enemy, when we wished you no harm."

Julia gasped as Lisa's mouth fell open in disbelief. Why had their human governments done such a thing? The Autobots had lost their lives defending them from the Decepticons. They had protected them. Even now, they had been watching over them when they had protected Lisa and Julia.

"Why though? Why would they want to kill you?" Lisa begged for an answer, "The Autobots have never lashed out at humans."

"Because they're afraid of what may come from us. They don't like the slightest possibility of us lashing out. Little do they know that the Decepticons are already in control of most everything. They looked to kill us when they should have been watching out for the snakes in the grass." Ratchet muttered, shaking his helm.

Julia teared up at his words, "Does that m-mean the Decepticons are going to kill our kind?"

It was the mechs' turn to freeze up. That was the question they had dreaded being asked. Lisa was now looking up at them, waiting for their answer to come.

"Yes." Optimus finally answered, their scared expressions hurting him, "But we have given you sanctuary with us. We can not defend every human, but your guardians have chosen to bring you with us."

"Wait, y-you're leaving?" Lisa gasped, her eyes wide and confused.

It was Prowl's turn to speak up, "We cannot stay here and defend humankind. It would be hard enough to fight off the large number of the Decepticons, while the humans try to kill us in the attempt. There is nothing that can be done. They doomed themselves."

The situation fell heavily on them as they realized the implication. Their world was going to be wiped out and nothing could be done about it. Human cowardice had sealed their graves.

"Why were we brought here, Optimus? We're human too." Lisa asked. She wanted to know why they had been chosen to save.

"I would never be able to live with myself if I allowed every last human to be wiped out. It was then that I gave a specific order. Any Autobot who wished to could bring one human that they felt still had goodness in them. They were then responsible for their safety and guidance." Optimus explained, looking to the mechs, "And they chose you."

The girls looked to the mechs that had taken them in. Had they really decided to be responsible for them? They had hardly met, yet they had showed them more compassion and kindness than their kind ever had.

There wasn't words for the gratitude they felt to these mechs, but they still felt despair for the others. Earth was a massive place and there was still so many pure-hearted people out there.

"Mr. Optimus, there's still so many good people." Julia spoke sadly, tears filling her eyes, "I live in a bad place but there's a woman that a lot of people think is bad and scary, but she's a good person. She walks me home whenever she sees me walking alone and helps out a lot of people."

Optimus watched her carefully as she choked back her tears to speak. It made him truly appreciate the order he had been given. The girls were small and knew they were rescued, but still felt sorrow for those lost.

"And what is her name, youngling?" he asked gently.

"Nirvana Evangelous. She has really long black hair and her eyes almost look gold when you look at them. And she's really tall too. Nirvana is in a gang but I promise she's good." Julia begged, comforted by Lisa stroking her hair.

"I will see what can be done, little one." Optimus promised, looking to the other mechs before he left, "Take care of them."

They watched as Optimus transformed and left. Ratchet sighed, looking back to the humans. There was still so much to be done to prepare taking them away from their home. His thoughts were interrupted as he got an incoming transmission through his comlink. Lisa watched as his face slowly frowned and his optic ridges furrowed. His optics suddenly went wide as whoever he was speaking to finished their sentence.

"Get her back here right away!"

Rosie choked back a sob as she laid on the cold slab of metal. Every inch of her body was crying to be put out of it's misery. All she wanted at that moment was to be snuffed out. Her abuser could have done it so easily, but he always stopped before that moment.

"You've grown so quiet, my Rosie. I know your heart still beats." a voice chortled over her. The femme pulled weakly at her restraints in a vain attempt to curl her abused body away from him. A digit slowly pushed into the fresh brand on her bare side, eliciting a hoarse scream from her.

"P-Please...sto...stop…" she begged, only finding relief when he pulled the digit away. She could hear the monster purr, stroking away her tears with a mockingly gentle touch.

"Stop? But we're having so much fun. I have to admit that I'm pleasantly surprised how well your body has held up." he chuckled, optics scanning over her ribcage. The skin was pulled taut over the bones. Overlord had yet to have fed her anything but his vile concoctions, only sparing her a bit of water to keep her hydrated. Even that came in small quantities.

"Your delightful male friend did not even survive after the first dosage of energon, nor did he scream so beautifully."

Tears continued to slip down her cheeks as she remembered her boyfriend and his passing. Overlord had simply thrown his body away in the garbage when his heart had given out. There was no funeral or proper burial.

"You're growing quiet again on me, sweet Rosie."

A fresh scream escaped her as his servo pinned her to the metal slab, his grip tight and pressing against her damaged body and the brand.

"K-Kill me!" she begged, squirming under his hold, "Please just make i-it stop!"

"Oh? My sweet one, if I killed you, then our little games would be done and I'm not done playing yet." he cooed sweetly, "You should be happy, grateful even. Lord Megatron is going to make your world burn. I am your salvation from his wrath."

Her clothes were in tatters but bits of it remained. Just enough to cover the parts of that she was happy he could not see. It would only be a short-lived mercy and she knew that.

"Your skin is the most lovely tint of blue, Rosie. I thought humans turned green when they were ill. I suppose I am responsible, you know, with all the energon transfusions, injections, and digesting I've forced on you. You truly are a resilient creature."

Her long brown hair was wet with perspiration and tears as she tried to block him out. Even if she did manage to escape or be freed, she was afraid that she would die not much long afterwards.

"You're as fucked up as I remember." a voice hissed from the shadows. Red orbs seemed to float in the darkness before the massive mech walked out into the open.

"Ah, dear Maximus. It's been far too long." Overload purred, overjoyed to see his old plaything, "Did you miss being in my loving care?"

Rosie looked to the new mech in surprise. One mech had been bad enough, and now there was two. Someone high above was truly punishing her.

"Not long enough, Overlord." Maximus growled, stomping closer. The human female strapped to the table was not lost to him. It was common knowledge that he was prejudice against humans but even he felt sick in his tank over seeing her so lifeless, "You are fucked up. As much as I despise humans, I hate you more."

"You wound me, Maximus. I simply enjoy my toys. You were the most durable of all though. How long was it before you escaped? Three years? Three years of constant loving care and you survived. Tell me, has your port recovered…?" Overlord grinned, kneeling down to Rosie as he pushed his lips to her body.

It finally made Maximus snap as he roared his anguish and tackled the equally huge mech. Blows were exchanged and the sounds of heavy metal clanging rang in Rosie's ears. It was deafening and she clutched her eyes shut, waiting for one of them to land on her.

"You're as strong as ever, Maximus!" Overlord laughed, his voice is bellowing through the room, "I'd love to stay and play with you, but Megatron calls. Take good care of Rosie, I'll be back for her."

The sound of screeching tires sounded and with that, her abuser was gone. Maximus was about to run after him but stopped. Overlord was probably already long gone with a warp gate. His large fist slammed into the wall with a roar. It took a moment for his heavy venting to ease before he looked back to the metal slab. Another one of of Overlord's playthings, that was what he had called her.

Seeing her almost lifeless made all those past nightmares flood back. Holding his helm, he approached her. It would be so easy to just leave her there. She was almost dead anyways. If he left her, though, Overlord would simply retrieve her and continue his torture. For as much as he despised humans, he could not grant Overlord that pleasure.

Kneeling down to her, his optics scanned over her. The human's chest was still rising and falling so she was still alive, if only barely. It made his tank churn realizing that the blue tint to her skin had to do with the empty vials lying on the floor.

"I am surprised your heart still beats, human." he grunted, snapping off the chains that kept her restrained. Her limbs remained still, even after he nudged her with his digits, "How long will you live if I take you from this place?"

All she could manage was a soft groan. Her body was spent and all she wanted was to finally be at peace. How could simple metal be so cruel?

Huffing, he plucked her up from the slab and transformed. If she died at the base then it just meant he was not responsible for her, and that Overlord did not get to play. Primus, though, her body looked ready to give out and her skin was so blue from the energon laying underneath.

"W-Who a..are you?" she whispered, limp in his seat. Rosie was still dazed from the ordeal and the shock had paralyzed her.

"Fortress Maximus, fleshling." he grunted, flooring it out of the old factory Overlord had made her prison.

Rosie wanted to relax but Overlord's torture was still fresh. Those two had known each other. Was this mech just like her abuser? Panic instantly flared in her chest as her eyes went wild.

"Let me go!" she screamed, feet coming up to beat at his dashboard as her hands flew up to flail at his window. The sudden outburst caused Maximus to swerve on the abandoned road, "I am not going to be a p-plaything again! I'm a human being! Let me go, you fucking monster!"

Maximus growled as he tried to keep her under control. The life had apparently came back to the girl to make her fight so hard. It was actually impressive that she had the strength to fight him. How long had it taken him to calm after he escaped Overlord?

"Stop it, fleshling!" Maximus roared, his seatbelts snapping around the flailing human. He was surprised to hear a scream escape her. It wasn't until he felt blood seep into his seat that he realized what was going on. There was a still fresh brand on her side, the seat belt having reopened the healing wound.

Now Maximus was the one freaking out. He had no idea what to do with her. Just because he didn't care for humans did not mean he wanted to watch one suffer inside himself. Her skin was so sickly blue and her body so frail in its weakened state. Yes, she had lashed out at him some strength but it had been quickly used up as she cried weakly in his hold.

"Come in, Ratchet. I need your help! I've got a fucking human here that is blue from energon poisoning. Primus, I don't know what to do with her. I'm not a medic! She looks starved to death. Overlord had her." he explained, his hold loosening on her to not cause more harm. He heard Ratchet respond, telling him to bring her to base.

"Optimus better not take this as me taking on a human." Maximus muttered.