I don't own anything to do with Transformers. Too bad.

Wow, response has been really positive! Thanks a bunch for the encouraging reviews and suggestions, it's easy to forget to explain what's going on in my head. Here's Chapter 5! 6 and 7 are written and waiting for me to go over them. They should be up in a day or two!

The silence of the cockpit was suddenly smothering. I tried humming to myself, but it came out tuneless and I let it go. Finally, Skywarp broke the stillness.

"What did the Autobot say to you?"

I wasn't sure I wanted to tell Skywarp. I certainly wasn't going to tell him that Hot Rod had been charming. I couldn't trust Skywarp's temper.

"He… He just told me he was an Autobot and he asked why I was out there. You got back before I could answer him."

Skywarp seemed satisfied with this, because he didn't press the issue.

I, however, needed answers. Despite my better judgment I blurted out, "But he wasn't doing anything. He was just sitting there and you shot at him. You just snuck up on him! Why?"

Silence, and then in a tone that gave me the mental image of a vicious sneer, "Autobots like that dirtkisser aren't worth anything, plus that low-grade piece of spare parts was bound to try and steal you. Are you aware that I'm the highest ranking Decepticon on the planet?"

"I thought you said you wouldn't press that issue."

"That's beside the point, you spoiled little thing. If I go around letting insignificant Autobots like that sorry excuse for a trash heap steal my property, how is that going to look to my subordinates?"

"You mean Barricade and Frenzy? Where are they by the way?"

"Barricade was detained by an Autobot just twenty-six miles from here. He received some damage and Frenzy is doing what repairs he can. He has your food."

I sighed with relief. The few drops of rain I had managed to swallow had only reminded me how hungry and thirsty I was, and a headache was starting to pulse insistently just behind my eyes.

"Are we going to meet them?"

"Yes. Ah, by the way… Barricade has a history of toying with organics. His alternate form is a police car, if that tells you anything."

"I guess it does. He turns into something people trust, and then he-"

"I won't let him touch you."

"Thanks." I suddenly realized with dismay that my soaking clothes were going to ruin Skywarp's interior and groaned.

"What's wrong with you, Bravura?"

"My clothes are dripping all over your upholstery."

He laughed, that harsh loud thunder that made me wish for Hot Rod's easy friendliness despite the fact I barely knew the guy. "I'm waterproof. Maybe this will help you dry." The air circulating through the cockpit got noticeably warmer and I relaxed the muscles I hadn't even realized I had tensed against the cold.

It wasn't long at all before Skywarp started descending again. The landscape was just as dark and deserted as the last, if a little flatter. Far away I could see the glow of the highway.

Skywarp set down on a gravel track in the trees that was just wide enough for his wings to pass through. He glided to an impossible stop midair and lowered to the ground with nary a jolt. We waited on the little road, rain pounding on the clear cover over my head, but the warm air gave me at least some comfort. It was hard to say how much time passed, but it felt like a long time before I saw headlights glowing through the steady rain.

I patted the instrument-bedecked dash in front of me to make sure I had Skywarp's attention. "Is that Barricade?"

"Yes."

Barricade rolled closer and turned slightly sideways as he parked in front of Skywarp so I could make out the large letters spelling Police painted across his door. To my unexplained delight I saw that he was a Mustang.

"Alright, my little pet Bravura, it's time to ride with Barricade."

I stared down at the glowing circuit board in alarm. "What! You said he likes to toy with people, and you're going to send me with him? Alone?"

"He knows what I will do to him if he hurts you. Frenzy shouldn't bother you either."

I looked around expectantly for some other kind of vehicle. "Where's Frenzy?"

Skywarp chuckled. "You'll see."

With that, the cockpit popped open and rain rushed in on me. I quickly scrambled down the pop-out ladder and ran the short distance to Barricade's passenger door. I tried opening it, but it was locked.

I frowned and tried again. This time the door swung out on its own power and smacked me down on the gravel.

"What was that for?" I stood up shakily, suddenly aware of my ankle, still tender from the fall in the woods. "I'm just doing what Skywarp told me to! Don't take it out on me!"

His engine revved menacingly and I sneered at his steering wheel as I climbed in. The door slammed shut behind me. I heard a rumble outside and watched as Skywarp took off again, disappearing immediately into the stormy sky. Barricade's engine came to life again and he took off at a speed that didn't seem safe for gravel, but there was little for me to do but hook up the seatbelt and watch the road.

Eventually curiosity took over and I started to look over the inside of the car. It was clean and new, and an apple computer was sitting on the plush black leather of the driver's seat.

I started to reach for it on a whim when it broke its smooth finish and started to turn into something else. I yelped and jerked back against the passenger door, which swung open to the rain easily. If not for the seatbelt I would have fallen out. I wordlessly screamed my frustration at Barricade and turned back to look at the new robot sitting in the driver's seat. He was silver, thin, and very pointy. He looked smaller than me. One glowing blue eye glared at me, but the other hung crazily to the side, flickering.

"Are you Frenzy?"

He glared at me balefully and turned to address the steering wheel in a mixed up mess of words, but I think I caught the word human. Barricade responded in an equally unintelligible language, deep and sharp and menacing.

Frenzy snapped back quickly and turned to look at me again.

"Ok… I'm going to look at the food... Please, please don't stab me." I unhooked the seatbelt regretfully, then reached down between my legs and grabbed the white paper bag stuffed against the back of my floor space. It held a bag of crushed chips, two bottles of water, and a slightly smashed turkey sandwich. I wondered how they had gotten it. Without dwelling on it, I snatched out the water and the sandwich, tearing it open and eating in silence while Frenzy glared at me.

I gulped down a whole bottle of water before stashing the trash back in the paper bag, and then put the seatbelt on.

I was now fairly content, except for the wet clothes. Barricade didn't have his heater on. I reclined the chair back as far it would go and tried to relax despite Frenzy's barely accepting stare.

"Barricade?"

Silence.

I sighed heavily and turned my head to look at Frenzy. "Where are we going?'

At first I thought Frenzy was going to ignore my questions too, but he surprised me. "A house. No huuumans."

I wasn't exactly sure where we were going, but as long as it was dry I would be happy. Barricade's clock said it was 11:30. I slowly reached out for Barricade's climate control, Frenzy's glowing eye on me the entire time. I turned on the heat and aimed the vents at me, then leaned back and curled up facing the window. I could still see Frenzy's bright blue eye reflecting in the glass as I let myself ease into an exhausted sleep.

I dreamt of another pair of blue eyes. I had barely spoken to him, but Hot Rod appealed to me. With my entire life missing identification, a history, and family, all I had were metal aliens… and I wanted to see him again. Hot Rod smiled down at me, his blue eyes vivid, but they melted into the bright red of Skywarp's. He towered over me threateningly and leaned down, his fist balled up and coming down on me. I closed my eyes in anticipation – but nothing happened. I opened them and a Police Mustang was parked in front of me. Its engine roared and it slammed on the gas, about to hit me-

I woke up with a start. Frenzy was poking my thigh fiercely. "Ow, stop, I'm up, I'm up."

I unhooked the seatbelt and glanced at Barricade's clock, reading 1:14. It was still dark, but it had stopped raining.

Frenzy suddenly tapped frantically on the window from outside. I hadn't even seen him get out. "Outoutout, we're heeer-ruh."

I stretched out for a few seconds until Barricade popped the passenger door open. I took the hint and got out, looking around in the darkness. Frenzy zipped around the car and pattered up a fairly nice looking driveway, setting off a motion sensitive security light, revealing a picturesque little log cabin in the middle of a large overgrown clearing. Trees surrounded us yet again. I started up the driveway as Frenzy picked the lock of the front door and disappeared inside, turning on lights as he went.

I peeked inside and the place did look pretty deserted. The furniture was all covered, and an inspection of the cabinets resulted in a couple old cans of soup. It had running water, at least. I went into one of the two small bedrooms and found a pair of gray sweatpants and a plain whitish t-shirt to fit me. Frenzy was zipping from room to room, inspecting every little decoration before moving on.

The little log cabin had a washer and dryer, so I threw the stiff and dirty clothes I was wearing into the economical little washer. There was even a little detergent, so I poured it in liberally.

Afterwards I went to the bathroom and found some shampoo and soap. I jumped into the shower and went on to scrub off the sweat, dirt, and utter madness of the last day. I took my time even though the water was cold. They'd turned off the water heater when they'd left, apparently. I got out and dried off, then pulled on the sweats and tee.

I walked out of the bathroom still drying my hair with a thick white towel. I switched the clothes from washer to dryer and went to the living room. It was surprisingly big with a high ceiling and huge windows. An impressive deer head decorated the wall over the mantle. The best part, however, was the big-screen TV. I settled into a squishy leather couch after peeling back its dusty cover and picked up the remote. It came on and I started flipping through channels, finally settling on a comedy marathon. I was laughing at one of the better jokes when I heard a scratchy laugh from the leather armchair.

Frenzy was watching standup. He was enjoying standup. I smiled and looked back to the TV screen. I fell asleep at some point, and I dreamt of Hot Rod again. He didn't turn into Skywarp this time.

I woke to bright light shining in from the big windows. Frenzy was watching me from the doorway to the kitchen.

"Clothes in the drrrrryer. Get go-go-going, Skywarp says-zuh to take you shopping."

"Shopping? How will we pay?"

Frenzy seemed to smile, but his pointy little face was hard to read. He reached up to his chest and pulled out two cards. One appeared to be a Visa credit card, and the other was a driver's license with my picture on it. I was smiling, my hair was a wet mess, and I was in the white tee, so he must have taken it last night. My name read Bravura Person. "Rrrigged. No limit."

"Oh," I said, smiling despite my conscience. "Can we go to the mall?"

"Ask 'Cade."

My spirits had lifted with the prospect of going out shopping with an unlimited card. I went to the dryer humming cheerily, ditching the comfy sweats for my own clothes. To my dismay the white shirt was still stained so I kept the white tee, but the jeans looked all right. I walked out of the laundry feeling refreshed and ready to go. I got a warm juice box from the pantry and went out the front door where Barricade and Frenzy were waiting. Barricade didn't smack me with the door this time.

Edited March 10th, 2010