Chapter 2! Yay!

Optimus had gotten out of Chicago in one piece, the Human still in his servos, and found something devastating outside the ruined city. The Decepticons, though unable to bring Cybertron, had decided instead, to simply take over the Earth. In a few hours, the 'Cons had managed to spread their rusty claws all around Illinois, and every state around it. The Autobot leader didn't even want to imagine what they could do in a few short months.

The Human in his seats, his team by his side, they quickly drove away from the Decepticon filled states. Optimus wished there was more he could do, but first, they needed to rest, find or build a hideout, and make a plan. Sam rode in Bumblebee, along with Carly, and Will Lennox and Epps rode in Ratchet. But, Optimus had failed to tell them about the young Human in his own interior. He hadn't had any time, trying to get out of there and blasting Decepticons at the same time.

Optimus processer raced as he tried to think of a suitable place to stay, something hidden from the 'Cons. The White House, and most other government bases had been bombed by the Decepticons already, and most of the surviving soldiers were showing people to safety on the Southern side of America. It seemed a safe haven for most, the luckier ones getting a plane to the next closest country.

Driving down the road, Optimus looked inwards at his passenger, only to see her curled up, sleeping soundly, twitching her arm or leg from time to time. He needed to tell them this, before they got back to the Southern side.

-Ratchet, come in Ratchet- Of course, first he wanted to tell his oldest friends about this, sudden news.

-Yes Optimus, I read you loud and clear. Is something the matter?-

-I, picked up something in Chicago-

-Picked up what exactly Optimus?-

-I currently have a passenger Ratchet-

A pause. A very long pause.

-A Passenger?- Ratchet finally said, sounding completely confused.

-When we were fighting off the Decepticons, I noticed a Human in distress, and took it upon myself to take her- Optimus stated calmly.

Another pause, longer then the last.

-Toke it upon yourself? Optimus, their were hundreds of other Humans in that city, and you just randomly choose to save one?- Ratchet blurted.

-Yes-

Now the CMO just seemed to be in shock. –Oh…well…alright then. If that's what you thought was right. Ratchet, over and out-

Optimus smiled at this. Ratchet had grown fond of that Human saying, the whole "Roger" thing annoyed him greatly, and he preferred over and out, though the twins, both sets, always pestered him with that saying whenever they got a comm with him. Actually, it didn't matter if they were comming or not, whenever the twins would leave his med bay for whatever reason, they would always say on their way out, "Bye Hatchet! Roger out!" But usually, they'd get a dent in their helms from the medics wrenches.

Sighing, he watched as several of his teammates stopped, but kept moving towards Optimus slowly. Of course, Ratchet had told them.

-Optimus. Who's in your rig- Wills voice was gruff and hoarse, probably from his battle cries.

-Yeah Big Man, who's in there- Epps was slightly friendlier, though just as gruff as Wills.

-Optimus? We heard what Ratch said, is there really somebody in there?- Sam asked.

But Optimus didn't answer, which arose their worries.

-Who's in there?- Sideswipe persisted.

-Are they hurt?- Ratchet questioned.

-Why are they even in there?- Dino snapped

-Are you sure they can be trusted?- Roadbuster spoke.

-Who is it?- Sideswipe cried, though everyone still ignored him.

-Where did you find them?- Carly asked shakily.

-WHO ARE THEY?- Sideswipes scream almost shattered everyone's audio receptors and ears.

-I haven't gotten her name yet- Optimus said calmly, and mumbles came from the Comm. But Sideswipe cry had startled the girl inside, and she jumped up at the sound, looking around. Not remembering where she was, Danni panicked, going for the rigs door. Before she could even fling it open, the locks clicked. Her breathing became fast and nervous, and she crawled around the seats like a caged animal.

"Please, do not be alarmed. You are safe young one. All's well." Optimus cooed, making Danni slightly relax. She remembered him now, and sighed in relief. He was an Autobot, the one that had saved her. Settling down in the leather seat, she looked around curiously. It was oddly nice in here, and the seats were quite comfortable. "Now," Danni jumped at the voice. "what's your name?"

"Oh, uh, D-Danni. Danni Tunningham." She said with a slight stutter. She was still pretty shaken up from watching the battle, and had a reel of her parents death rewinding over and over in her head, though she tried to push it away. "Where are you Optimus? Where are we goin'?"

Optimus sighed. "We are just on the border of Ohio, and I do not know exactly where we are going." He said honestly. Danni blinked once, and looked out the window. They weren't in Chicago anymore, that was for sure. It was just grass and road. No building, and no screaming, crying, and or dying people.

She saw several other cars on Optimus' sides, some behind him, and at first, thought they were Decepticons getting ready to attack. But, when she saw the Autobot emblem on their forms, she calmed down.

Optimus noticed her nervousness as she looked out the window. It seemed like she was afraid of every little thing now. But, he wouldn't expect anything else from one so young. Most people in that city were either adults, or maybe twenty year olds. He hadn't seen one Human Sparkling there, not one. "Relax Danni, they are just the rest of the Autobots." He said, and Danni simply nodded towards the dashboard. Looking back at the cars, she managed to see through the tinted windows people inside of some of them, and cocked her head to the side. Had they been saved by the Autobots too? Tapping the dashboard, she got a small "Hmm?"

"Yeah, Optimus. Who are those guys?" She questioned.

"They are our allies. They were the ones that made it out of Chicago…." He said, and sighed. "The three men are Samuel Witwicky, Robert Epps, and Will Lennox. The woman next to Sam is Carly Spencer." Danni nodded again, and looked out the window. Optimus sighed once more. Better show the rest of them who exactly was in his rig.

Rolling down the window, Danni poked her face out.

-Uh, I think we just found out who's with Optimus- Sam said, and Danni could see him and Carly going wide eyed.

Epps threw his arms up in the air. –I knew it! Didn't I tell you Will? I knew it was a kid! Now pay up!-

-Optimus! The Humans a Sparkling?- Ratchet yowled.

-Yes Ratchet, the Humans a Sparkling- Topspin grunted, not seeming to care one bit.

-Why'd you bring her along Optimus? She's probably just gonna slow us down!- Sideswipe remarked.

Danni stuck her head out the window, eyebrows crossing angrily at the silver car. "Uh, I can hear you you know." She said shyly.

Sideswipe chuckled lightly at her meekness, and just for fun, went into to tank mode. He had only meant to jest, but this action scared the girl out of her skin, and she scrambled back onto the seat, eyes flicking towards the window as she curled herself in the corner of the rig. Optimus shot a mental glare at the soldier. "Sideswipe!" The silver car seemed to cringe at the angry voice. "What do you think your doing? You should never point a weapon at a Human, no matter what!" He growled, his low, baritone voice making it even more menacing. "She has been through enough from the past 24 hours, I don't want you scaring her even more!"

"Yes Optimus." Sideswipe said, going to the back of the truck, the very last in the line of Autobots.

Optimus said no more, just drove. Closing his window, he looked inwards at Danni, who was shaking slightly. One gun had been pointed at her already, and she didn't want another pointed at her again. She was scared of the silver 'Bot now, Sideswipe, as Optimus had called him. He didn't seem all that friendly for an Autobot, and she wished that not everyone of the Autobots were like him, and were like Optimus.

Laying down across his warm leather seats, and yawned. Even after her nap, she was still tired. Probably because all the crying she had been doing as Optimus carried her to safety. Optimus knew what a yawn meant, seeing it from some of the NEST soldiers when they worked late shifts. Turning up the heat, he made it to a comfortable temperature. Danni shifted once, and closed her eyes, falling into troubled dreams.

Dreams about the fall of Chicago, the deaths of millions, the slight defeat of the Autobots. If they couldn't save Chicago, one single city, how were they going to save the world? There were only several of their protectors, and millions of their soon-to-be dictators. How were they going to win a war, they'd already lost? And how would she manage without her parents? Where would she go? What would she do? Her only relatives, her grandmother and grandfather, had lived in Chicago, and she highly doubted if they were still alive after that disaster. She couldn't see her parents anymore, she would never hear their voices again. They were gone.

Optimus didn't notice as a small tear slowly pushed out of her closed eye, and rolled down her cheek.