012

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - MLK Jr.

Optimus, forgive me.

….

"We will kill them all."

Sam's heart stopped as he turned to see the familiar red and blue flames that decorated Optimus's chassis. They were here, and now they finally stood a chance.

"Bee!" Sam yelled, "I – I saw your ship blow up!"

"We built the damn thing didn't we – We ain't goin' no where!" Leadfoot snickered, crushing a car underneath his foot.

"Optimus - " Sam faltered, the feeling of tears rising up for the upteenth time that week, "I'm sorry for what I said before it wasn't true I was just - "

"No Sam, you were right. It is my fault that she is gone, and there is nothing I can do to change that. But now, we are going to take the fight to them, and we will show those tanks of rust that they cannot get away with what they've done."

…

Delyia is, is dead, Mikaela sobbed as she sat huddled in a corner; the suite she had been stuck in for days had lost its charm within moments of her being there. Carly sat from across the room, watching her as she snacked on food, Mikaela's stomach moaned in pain as she watched her eat. Sam, I need you – God please get me out of here. Mikaela silently prayed as she shut her eyes, blocking out the terrifying sounds of Megatron's voice.

All too soon her heard a crash coming from one of the other rooms, and a familiar voice scream out.

"Mikaela!"

"Sam!" She screeched, jumping up.

Carly tossed the food to the floor, standing in Mikaela's way -

"Don't you dare." The blonde hissed, sticking a manicured finger in Mikaela's face.

All at once Mikaela grabbed Carly's hand and pulled her close, leaning back then smashing her own forehead against Carly's. The taller of the two fell to the floor, whining and moaning in pain. Mikaela rubbed her head, and gave Carly one good kick to the stomach for good measure.

"That's for Sam, you cunt." Mikaela hissed then broke into a run.

"Mikaela!" Sam's voice boomed out, echoing through the halls.

The raven haired teen followed the sounds of his voice until she saw him standing over the body of Dylan. Both their heads turned in Mikaela's direction, the distraction was enough for Dylan to shove Sam off of him, grab a nearby gun and point it at Sam.

"Do. Not. Move." Dylan warned, narrowing his eyes.

"It's over Dylan, let us go."

"No! It cannot be over, they promised me a position in the new world so long as I followed their orders. And their orders are to keep her here and away from you!" Dylan yelled, falling into a fit of hysterics.

Mikaela glanced to Sam, then back to Dylan; Sam slowly nodded, understanding her silent plan. Sam waited until Dylan's gaze left his face, then he sprinted up to him grabbed his hand and kneed him in the chest. Dylan fell over wheezing and groaning in pain, Sam took his chance and ran out the window, jumping off the balcony. Mikaela followed suite, running past Dylan before he could grab her and without a second's hesitation, jumping after Sam. He caught her and the two teens fell into one another atop of the ship, Bee chirped wildly from below. Not a second later the suite burst into flames, Bee letting loose all the gunfire the ship had to offer. Through all the smoke and fire they didn't see the familiar birdlike deception until it was too late, he began to pick apart the ship, attacking Sam, then going back to destroying the ship. A loud whoosh and the feeling of wind caused both Sam and Mikaela to feel their stomaches in their chests as they fell to the earth. Bee popped out from the pilot's seat, grabbing hold of his two friends, and jumped from the ship – landing and rolling against the earth a few yards away from the ship.

Once they stopped, Sam hugged Mikaela tightly to him – kissing her cheek.

"I love you," he whispered as his arms tightened around her.

"Sam, I – I love you too." Mikaela cried against his chest.

"Look!" Epps voice resounded, Sam's attention now turned to him.

"It's a military vessel, and the camera still works!"

Sam rushed over,

"C-Can you hear us?" Sam yelled into military's twitching camera.

"If you can understand us move north to south." Epps commanded, moving closer to the lens.

Slowly but surely the lens shifted once up and down; relief spread through Sam as he hugged Epps - they would be able to send in reinforcements.

To no one's surprise, the Deception attack began less than forty-eight hours after the Autobots erupted into flames in the earth's atmosphere. Sam had known it would happen however he didn't expect it to occur so suddenly. The city was left defenseless as the government thought they would be ushering in a new era of peace. Once the attacks began, and the casualties began to rise, the military was sent in to the city - but it was too late. The Deceptions had already weeded their way into the city and the armed forces were struggling to keep them at bay.

Once Sam and the others made their way into the city - Starscream launched an attack on the unsuspecting group of former NEST soldiers. They fended them off for what seemed like an eternity when out of nowhere a bolt of yellow metal collided with the 'cons and bursts of scalding energy ripped out of its form. Bumblebee and the Autobots had survived. After the fighting had subsided, and the seldom relief of being reunited had worn off, Sam and Optimus met each others gaze. It was only for a moment, but silently the two shared a brief mutual feeling of bittersweet happiness; they would take down Delyia's killers, together.

And now they all stood, united by a single soul, as Sam told Simmons where they were headed, and what they were planning to do. It all came down to these next hours.

…

Delyia stood, not as herself but as Harbinger, in the middle of the city. She had heard the shouts of thousands of humans as their souls were ripped from their bodies much like her own, and she could do nothing but sit idly by. She felt her heart – or the place in which her heart would be – burn with a fire she had not felt in a long time. A bloodlust began to build within her chassis, a lust that would only be sedated by the spilling of Megatron's energon. Harbinger glanced up to see the mentioned 'Con gloating at the top of the building before her. Even from the lowly streets she could hear his bounding cackle of a laugh, and the clinking of his claws against another metal. She needed to do something, anything before the signal was given and she would have no choice but to destroy or be destroyed by her friends. Her optics scanned the environment around her, her processor raking it's memories for anything that might help her. She could really use Ratchet's help right now, and Optimus's soothing voice to help keep her calm. Now she was alone; alone, and under the control of the most vile creature to ever exist in this universe. She felt the build up of tears, and she was grateful that she was at least in control of one aspect of her body.

…

"Sentinel," Optimus glowered, the worst of the battle had passed, now he focus on removing those who had taken her from him.

"Optimus, I never intended for this to happen -" Sentinel kneeled before him, his head in his hands. "I will accept my fate without resistance, but before you commit to anything permanent, I need to tell you something."

"I do not wish to hear what you have to say, traitor." Optimus snarled, his grip tightened on his blade.

"Wait! P-Please! It is about Delyia, she is alive." Sentinel whimpered.

Optimus's optics narrowed, his spark flared up with anger mixed with hope.

"You lie, you coward accept your fate!"

"No it is true, Megatron has melded her soul to the empty vessel of a femme. He created her, and h-has taken her. I cannot fight alongside a being that commits crimes such as this. Please you must believe me!"

"No." Optimus hissed, driving his sword through Sentinel's spark, "You will never be allowed to utter her name from your vocal processor again." Optimus ripped the sword from the dying Prime's body, his bloodlust almost overwhelming. Now to find Megatron.

…

"Harbinger! Go my hybrid creature, go now – Go and defend me against those who wish to end my life!" Megatron bellowed from the top of the building.

She felt her heart drop as her pedes began to move on their own, her form twisting and snapping into a small, black jet. She zoomed through the sky, her sensors searching for Optimus's energon signal. Please, do not let me find him, though as soon as these thoughts brought themselves to light, her sensors began to pick up a group of Autobots.

Her optic's widened when she saw Optimus, and the rest of the Autobots standing before a now dead Sentinel. Her chassis shuddered as she began a quick decent, transforming from her alt-mode and landing with a resounding thud against the cement of the Chicago streets. Her gaze wavered as she stood up, she saw him looking at her with confusion from the other side of the bridge before her.

"Who are you – I do not recognize your signature."

"She is your demise, Prime." Megatons voice boomed as they all looked to him; he sat perched on the balcony of one of the many towering buildings that surrounded them.

Delyia saw Optimus tense as his optics narrowed at Megatron's form, "You – you monster - "

Megatron held up a hand, "Ah ah ah, before you go trying to destroy me for the umpteenth time, Prime. Why don't you get better acquainted with your new opponent. Go ahead, tell him who you are."

Her processor flashed back to what Megatron had told her just before they got to the city. Her spark squeezed with anxiety as she felt her vocal processor speak up,

"I am Harbinger, bringer of the destruction of Optimus Prime."

"Go on, tell him everything."

Optimus's gaze fell upon her form, once their optics met she knew that he had connected the dots in his mind. He knew who she was.

"I was once known as Delyia, sister of Samuel Witwicky. O-Optimus I -"

"Enough, be silent." Megatron snarled, feeling slightly uneasy at the momentary break of control.

Tears began to fall from her Optics as her body set itself in a fighting stance, "O-Optimus – kill me, please."

…

I am Delyia – kill me please –

Optimus stood still, his processor unsure of how to respond in such a situation. He didn't know what to do, or what to say; all he knew was his spark was starting its final decent to breaking forever. It was her, she was alive, and now he had to fight her or she would kill him. What kind of disrespect had Optimus given Primus for him to treat him this way, what had he done that was so horrible that he could not hold on to the one thing he so desperately needed.

"D-Delyia, I - " Optimus stopped, what was there to say.

"K-Kill m -"

"Be quiet cretin!" In a flash Megatron swooped down, his closed fist colliding with Delyia's head sending her spiraling into a nearby building. "I do not know how you are doing this, but you will obey me! You are mine, you are my creation! You will do as I say!" Megatron howled, grabbing Delyia by her chest plates and slamming her into the concrete below.

A fire burst in Optimus's chassis, before he even processed all that happened, he found his hands on Megatron's shoulders. He dragged the 'con into the ground, then processed to hurdle him across the way with one loud bellow.

"Do not touch her again!" Optimus snarled as he stood protectively in front of the femme's injured form.

"Prime – watch out!" Jazz yelled, but it was too late.

Optimus felt something collide with his back plates, and he too found himself with a face full of concrete.

"Deylia, no please stop this!" Optimus heard one of the Autobot call out.

"Kill me," Delyia whispered, Optimus's audio receptors almost missing the soft tone.

"You know as well as I that I cannot do that."

"Then you must perish instead." Delyia's voice crackled, her processor raw.