CHAPTER SEVEN

First Fight

***

Bianca: Hey, Emma, what was that song you were singing in the last chapter?

Emma: It was Pain Redefined, by Disturbed.

Sideswipe: Isn't the lead singer some bald guy with chin piercings and…

Meg: ** Ah, that's David Draiman! **

Bumblebee: What's wrong with her?

Emma: She states that the lead singer of the band is in love with her, he just doesn't know it yet!

Sideswipe: Oh well, poor Ratchet – looks like Meg ditched him for some heavy metal singer!

Meg: I DID NOT DITCH HIM!!!!!

Bumblebee: R&R, humans!

***

It had been a week since I'd been introduced to the world of the Autobots and Decepticons, and I was having more fun then I'd ever had in my life. Bee and the twins became my best friends, we were usually always together, and driving everyone else crazy (although I managed to stop them from doing something that would have made Ratchet kill them, their prank-playing obsession was contagious, and I soon found myself running for my life after a particularly hilarious prank involving…well, you don't need to know what we did, but it took Ratchet and me two hours to get the base clean…yeah, I felt sorry for him, having to clean it all by himself…so I helped…okay, this bracket is getting really long…). And Bee and I played more video games than a group of hardcore gamers at a gaming convention. Sometimes Bia joined us. But she couldn't beat Bee, and Bee couldn't beat me.

Speaking of which, Bia, Arcee, Elita-1 and I had had more shopping sprees then a group of shop-a-holics. I taught them all how to dance, and they knew all the lyrics to the latest dance tunes. It was like having three robot sisters.

I was also getting to know the others – Wheeljack, the stylish Jazz, Ironhide and, of course, Optimus Prime. I couldn't imagine my life without any of them now, they all meant something special to me.

And, I thought I meant something special to all of them, too…but I never really believed it until the incident.

On a lazy, no-one-leaves-home Saturday, I was washing Bia in her car form, using the wash and wax in one. She was purring, and I reminded myself that this was just like a massage for her. I grinned.

Suddenly, Bee in his car form suddenly came speeding up to the house, pulling up alongside the curb. He transformed into a robot and then into a human all in one swift movement, hurrying over to us.

"Can you at least act human!?" I demanded to know, resisting the urge to throw the soapy sponge at him.

He seemed to be deciding something in his mind, but then he grabbed my hands, and the sponge fell to the ground by our feet – his sneakered ones, and my bare ones.

"You're gonna sleep over at the base tonight!" Bee informed me happily.

My mouth dropped open. "W-what!? Why!?"

"Because it'll be fun!" Bee sounded extremely happy, and it was hard not to pick up on that.

"It will be," Bia agreed, and I turned to her, the traitor. "Don't give me that look," She added, turning her wheels towards me. "Opti has agreed to it…in fact…" She paused, and I could tell that she was listening to something. "It was his idea!"

"When I get my hands on that…" I trailed off. I looked at Bee. He was looking at me with these huge, puppy-dog eyes, and suddenly I just couldn't say no! It was so cruel! I sighed. "Okay, I'll sort something out with Nenona…"

"YES!!" Bee pumped his fist into the air, and then grabbed me and twirled me around, holding me off the ground around the waist, and hugging me close to him as I yelled with laughter. "You won't regret this, Em." He added, in a softer voice, and I realised that he was looking right at me.

I gulped, because of the warm feeling glowing up in my chest.

"Ahem?"

I suddenly turned my head, and saw Nenona walking towards us from the front door.

I paled slightly, and Bee sensed that he should put me down, which he did.

"Umm, Nenona…" I said awkwardly, and I was relieved that her face was warm and friendly, she was smiling at us. "This is my new friend…Bee-Bee." I said the first thing that came to my mind, my nickname for the spunky yellow bot. "Bee, this is my guardian, Nenona."

"How nice to meet a friend of Emma's." Nenona said, stepping forward and shaking Bee's hand (something Bee had learned from yours truly). I also knew that Nenona meant my only friend. I mentally rolled my eyes.

Then, Bee nudged my side gently, and I looked at him.

He gave me a pointed Look.

I knew what he meant.

I said: "Umm, Nenona…Bee-Bee's sister," I stressed. "Is having a sleep-over, and she's invited me. For tonight – is that okay?"

Bee gave me a confused look, wondering why I had just lied like that.

Nenona, however, smiled, and said: "Jerome and I were actually going to stay over at the Vanhousens tonight. We were going to take you with us, but if you'd rather go to your friend's sister's…umm, there won't be any…boys there, will there be?" She asked, looking right at me.

"Oh, no Nenona." I lied straight through my teeth, not even looking at Bee, who I knew now must be looking more confused then ever. "No boys – just me, Bianca, Arlen and Elita…"

Bee suddenly started coughing. I reached over and hit him on the back a few times, as I was saying: "And – Bee's – going – to – his – mate's – house!" I glared at him so that Nenona couldn't see. "Aren't you Bee?" I whispered sweetly through clenched teeth.

"Y-yes Ma'am." He stammered.

"Excellent!" Nenona smiled. "Well, it was nice meeting you Bee-Bee, Emma, come in and pack your overnight bag whenever you're ready." She turned and walked into the house.

"Aurgh…" I said, leaning against Bianca's side. "What else…don't!" I said, holding my hand up to Bee, who had been about to speak. "Don't say a word."

"Yes Ma'am." He said again.

*

Bia took my overnight gear to the base, and I rode with Bee. For awhile, we listened to the radio, singing along to all our favourite old and new songs like Sweet Home Alabama by Jewel and Burning Love, by Elvis Presley. Then, The Bee came on.

"It's our song!" Bee exclaimed.

"Turn it up!" I suggested, and he did so.

We both started singing and, by the end of the song, I was panting, my stomach felt light and happy, and I was extremely happy.

Bee turned the radio down, just as another song came on, and I cried softly: "Oh, wait, turn it up again Bee, I love this song!"

Bee turned it up, and then asked me what song it was.

"Ssh…" I said, and then I began to sing:

"I'm not looking for someone to talk to
I've got my friend, I'm more than O.K.
I've got more than a girl could wish for
I live my dreams but it's not all they say
Still I believe (I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
I've often wondered if love's an illusion
Just to get you through the loneliest days
I can't criticize it
I have no hesitation
My imagination just stole me away
(Still...) Still I believe
(I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
Love's for a lifetime not for a moment
So how could I throw it away
Yeah I'm only human
And nights grow colder
With no-one to love me that way
Yeah I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) And I won't wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
You'll reach for me and I'll know it's for sure
Then I'll give all the love in the world
(Don't wanna wake up alone anymore...)…"

Bee was silent for a moment, and then he asked: "You seem kinda sad, Emmy."

It was my turn to be silent, and then I sighed. "I just…I've never…had someone love me…in that was before, like in the song…someone I could share my life with, and would do anything for. If he was immortal, I'd die trying to achieve immortality, just to be with him…well, I'm just not attractive to guys…"

"Em…" Bee sounded like he was debating whether or not to say anything. Then, he seemed to change his mind: "A Cybertronian has something called a spark partner. Each bot has one and, when you meet your spark partner, your spark lets you know that they're the one…"

"Oh, I see…" I said, sitting back and staring up at the night sky through the windscreen. "Like, we call it finding our soul mate, and our heart often lets us know…but I guess yours might be a lot more acute?"

"Yeah, it is…" He said quietly.

"So, have you met yours yet?" I wanted to know.

"I have." He replied.

Oh. Oh! I blinked. "Who is she then?" I asked, smiling. "Do I know her?"

"You…" Bee began, and then he broke off. "Is that…oh Primus, it is…" He increased speed, totally ignoring the 110 K/PH sign. The night flashed past us.

My stomach began to feel strange.

"Decepcitons?" I guessed.

"Yes," Bee said grimly, and then I heard him contact the others for help. "Optimus! Em and I are being pursued by three Decepticons! We'll attempting to get rid of them, but they're closing in too fast! Requesting back-up!"

"Bumblebee," I heard Optimus' voice, and wished that he was here. "We'll be there! Hold them off until we get there, and do NOT let them get Emma!"

"I understand!" Bee replied, and then he swerved to a stop. "Get out, Em, I have to transform…we can't get away…"

I was out of the car in three seconds, and then Bee transformed.

Primus help us… I thought. No longer did I believe in God – I believed in the robot version of the big guy!

Almost as soon as Bee's transformation was done, the Decepticons were upon us. Three of them, just as Bee had said. I stared at them, noticing the black one from before, and two others I didn't know.

"Barricade," Bee said, looking at the black one. "And Lugnut and Blitzwing…jut great…" He added sarcastically.

"Ve come for ze All-Spark!" The one known as Blitzwing (I realised it was him, he had the voice for being a Blitz-something) said in a crazy sounding voice. Then, he spoke calmly: "Zo hand 'er over."

"No way!" Bumblebee shouted, and then the Decepticon attacked him.

Oh slag, Primus we need help! I thought, as I watched Bumblebee trying to hold off all three of them at once. What can I do!? I'm not a giant robot capable of fighting! I'm weak! I'm helpless! I'm nothing!!

"I'm so useless…" I whispered.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over me from the moonlight above. I looked up and into the red optics of the black Decepticon. Barricade.

My blood ran colder then a thousand glaciers, and I couldn't have moved even if I'd tried.

"You got that right, fleshling," He said, and his teeth looked very sharp from where I was standing. "But you're not that bad-looking for a human…a bit small, though…although not completely a weak one…"

"Barricade…" I barely even said the name, it sent fear down my spine. He looked down at me. "W-what did you say? I'm…not weak?"

"E-Em!" Bee managed to cry, before Lugnut partially ripped off his arm.

"Bee!" I cried back, before turning my attention back to the Decepticon before me.

He chuckled, an evil sound that made my skin crawl. "Oh, so they didn't tell you…I'm surprised that they'd keep something like that from you…that a small human could have it…" And he reached down to grab me.

My heart stopped beating for a split second.

"NO!!!!" I heard the cry coming from all directions – but all I really noticed was Bianca, flying out of nowhere and pushing Barricade away from me. They fell to the ground, and then began fighting.

My jaw unlocked. "Bianca!!?" I looked around me. Bumblebee was no longer alone – the twins were fighting alongside him, easily overpowering the two Decepticons.

Ratchet hurried over to me as I collapsed to my knees, suddenly unable to keep standing. "Hey, kid, are you alright?" He asked me, kneeling down to my level. I was aware of someone big, red and blue helping my Bia fight off Barricade.

"I'm fine," I said in a frozen voice. "He didn't touch me. But Bee…his arm…oh look, there it goes…" I pointed as Bee's arm flew through the air and landed a few feet away from us. "Bee-Bee…" I muttered. Tears began stinging my eyes. I shut them tight, and wished for this to all stop.

It had to stop…I had to do something…

*

Bianca's P.O.V:

I didn't know what Barricade had said or done to my Emma, but I felt an irresistible urge to rip his spark out right then and there. I wasn't sure if Opti and I were up to it or not, but by Primus I would try!

Through the fighting, and the anger welling up inside my spark, I was aware that Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had arrived to help Bumblebee – but that didn't stop Bumblebee from losing his arm.

Through it all, I heard Emma's voice, spoken at first and then whispered: "Please stop…" She said, and she said it over and over again. I could hear the tears in her voice, and then I stopped fighting, because my spark had just started glowing.

I looked over at Emma, not in shock. Her hands were clutched to her chest, where her human heart was, and her hands were glowing blue, just like my spark. But, her eyes were closed and full of tears, so she didn't see it.

I was glad.

With her eyes still closed, she got to her feet, and walked slowly towards the bigger part of the battle – the one with Bumblebee, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker in it.

They, and the Decepticons they were fighting, stopped and stared at her.

That's because she was walking forward, and glowing with a brilliant blue light. She walked slowly but surely, and seemed to miss all of the unconquerable holes in the now very holey road.

Then, she opened her mouth and said, in a completely different voice: "My dearest Primus, god of all beings, please repair my Bee's arm, in exchange for this blood." And I watched as she picked up a piece of rock and stabbed her forearm. The blood that flowed out was blue.

"That's not Primus she's praying to…" Opti said from my right. I tore my gaze away from the disturbing scene before me to look at him. His blue optics were filled with worry. "I don't know what she's doing…"

"Is it…her half?" I wanted to know. I dreaded the answer.

Opti punched out Barricade, who was attempting to get back up, and then said to me: "I think so."

"Get. It. Out. Of. Her." I said in a dark voice, as my spark continued to glow.

"We can't," He said, and I looked at him. I'd never heard him sound more upset. "If either you, or Emma, have your All-Spark pieces removed, then you will die."

"Oh Primus…" I whispered, and turned back, just as Bumblebee's arm returned to its place, and Emma turned to Lugnut and Blitzwing.

"Leave," She commanded. "Now! And tell Megatron that he'll never get his hands on my Bianca!"

'She's doing all of this for me…' I realised, something stinging my optics. 'Me…and the others…Bumblebeee…the twins…all of us…we mean this much to her…'

"Ve cannot return vizout ze girl…" I heard Blitzwing whisper and, the next second, he had attacked Emma! "Ve vill get ze All-Spark!!"

Emma suddenly seemed to snap out of her reverie, just as she was thrown into the air.

"What the…" She suddenly realised what was happening. "Blitzwing!!? Why..!?"

"Give me ze All-Spark!!" He shouted.

She suddenly screamed. It was the first time the others had heard her scream, and they seemed frozen by the sound.

I wasn't.

I was on my feet, knowing I would be too late. I wouldn't get there and…they would take her…

Suddenly, one of the others came flying out of nowhere, a small flurry of yellow and black that tackled Blitzwing roughly to the ground, ripping out vital parts. Blitzwing began screaming, and the other two rushed to help him, so of course the twins got in there as well.

Meanwhile, I had caught Emma, and was cradling her in my hand, as if she were a fragile doll that might break.

Her breathing was ruptured and sharp, and she looked around as if in wonder. Then…

"We've been ordered to retreat!" Lugnut shouted, and transformed.

"Fall back!" Barricade added, and also transformed.

Somehow, Blitzwing was still able to transform, and the three of them left as quickly as I'd known they had arrived.

"Let them go." I heard Opti order, and then he and the others were crowded around me, looking down at Emma who was looking up at all of them.

"She's exhausted," Ratchet said, scanning Emma quickly. "But the laceration to her arm is what I'm most worried about…she hit a vital artery…I need to operate on her NOW!" He was using the tone of voice that you never argue with, and so I set Emma down on the ground, aware that she was half unconscious.

"Hey, Bia?"

"Yeah?" I asked, kneeling down beside her. Ratchet was already on the other side, barking at everyone to move back.

"Who…tackled Blitzwing?" Emma wanted to know.

"Who…" I looked around, and saw Bumblebee looking down. "Why…I think it was Bumblebee…"

"Bee…" Emma said, and a small smile graced her lips. "Then…he's okay…" And she fainted.

In my mind, I saw the light of her spark waver, but not die.

I smiled.

***

Meg: We're almost at the end of part one!

Bianca: What happens in part two?

Meg: *Mysteriously* Wellll…

Sideswipe: Uh-oh – she's got that look…

Optimus Prime: *Gulps*

Meg: I want to thank Autobot Alythia for sending me her character, whose name I can reveal to you is Zikya.

Zikya: Hi-hi!

Meg: AURGH!! You're not supposed to be here yet!! Get outta here!! *Drags Zikya from the room*

Bianca: *Sweatdrops* Umm…so, like, R&R peoples, because Meg's counting on your input to keep her inspiration running and…

Ratchet: Read and review or else!!

Readers: *Hurry up to review*

Ratchet: You gotta speak their language.