Chapter 23

I don't know how long I was unconscious for, but when I came through I was face to face with a woman. Her blonde hair was in a tight tidy bun on the top of her head; her brown hazel eyes were analyzing me as she took in my features. I was aware that I was laying on a hard cotton surface which doesn't make sense until I felt the cold radiating from the rocky floor.

"Who are you?" I asked. "And where am I?"

"My name is Sue," she replied. "You are in a safe place Katherine Scholes Hide."

"How do you know my name?" I asked.

"You look a lot like your father but your mother has many of your aspects that have passed to you," she replied, as she stirred a cauldron in the middle of the cave like shape.

Ahh I was wondering when she would show up, Solus said, a bit smugly. A friend of your mothers and one of the best in her line of work.

Don't confuse the poor child Solus, Nexus said, but a smile was clear in his voice. I wonder if the High Council knows about this.

"I'm guessing the thirteen primes are talking to you," Sue said as she handed me a jar of steaming liquid.

"How you know about that?" I asked. "My family doesn't and they say one of their names every day."

"I know many things about things that some people don't understand Katherine," she replied. "Not everyone sees what they have right in front of them."

I frowned, taking a sip of the steaming liquid to fins it was a bit like herbal tea Ratchet makes me drink when I'm ill or when he wants me to have it for one of his strange reasons. Thinking about Ratchet made me realised that I couldn't see the others.

"Where's Mikaela, Jazz, Sunny and the mini bots?" I asked.

"Your friends are safe as well as the rest of your family," Sue said as she looked at something behind me. "My time with you is almost up; remember that you have those thirteen in your mind for a reason; use them when the time is right."

A headache frowned between my eyes and gradually built as I clutch my forehead at the pain. Tears of pain flow from my eyes like a river until I couldn't take the pain and blackout.

"Karen wake up," a voice said as I felt something shake. "Karen please sweetspark wake up for me."

The voice made me feel confused. The voice was full of worry and desperation as they shook. Water splashed across my face, before I realised they were tears and the person was a male.

"Karen Hide please just say something that shows you can hear me," they whispered as lips traced briefly across mine.

I felt my hand squeeze something hard firm but warm and it returned the gesture; my eyes flicked open to be meet by the concerned eyes of my boyfriend as he sighed in relief before placing his lips to mine but with more pressure this time.

"Sunny what happened?" I asked, as he trailed a line of kisses along my jaw line.

"The plane was attacked by an unknown enemy that engaged with us as we fell from the plane," he replied as he continued making sure I was with him.

He pulled me up so that I was sitting in his lap, with my legs on other side of his waist. He hesitated as he then stood up, placing me on his hip protectively before dropping my legs as so that I was standing. My arms were wrapped around his waist, as I buried my head in his chest.

"Hey it's okay," he replied, rubbing my back to comfort me. "We are all fine. I was able to crash near to where you had landed to find you easier. Both Jazz and Mikaela are fine. Jazz has her and they are heading towards us."

I gave a sigh of relief when I heard that. Iremoved my head from his chest to place a loving kiss on his lips before someone cleared their chest. Turning around we were meet by Jazz's hologram, that was smirking but also looked serious as Mikaela hold onto his arm to keep her steady. Jazz seemed to enjoy that situation.

"Just so you two know, Hide is on his way," Jazz stated. "I wouldn't do that in front of him Karen."

"But Jazz I am old enough," I whined before grasping what he had said first. "Are they okay? Who else is coming Jazz?"

"You're pa, boss bot, doc, Sunny's twin, Hound and a couple of others," he replied. "Oh and the aerial bots as they are in this sector as well."

I nodded, giving a smile at the thought of seeing my family again unharmed. Jazz gave a smile back, before both Wheelie and Brains fall from a cliff twenty feet above us. They landed with a thump on the rocky ground before they looked around them.

"Oh man that hurt," Wheelie said. "Oh Karen how ya doin' girl?"

"Why you ask?" I questioned, resting a hand on Sunny's chest to stop him from killing the mini-bot.

"Just wonderin'," he answered swiftly, as if he could see Sunny's protectiveness.

I shoot Sunny a look to behave before he moved away from me for a second. Before I could ask him what was going on, I was pulled in a great bear hug from the three bots that I loved more than my life as well as Sunny: Sides, Bee and dad all let go of me, as I struggled to get oxygen into my lungs.

"Fragile human here," I said, pointing a finger at myself. "Watch the oxygen levels."

"You better watch yourself young lady," dad said, wrapping a protective arm around me. "Now I believe that we have to go to the Smith Island."

His turquoise eyes had dropped to the floor, in pain and slight confusion. I understood why as I hugged him, hiding my head in his chest. Dad gave sigh as he hugged me back.

"What's going on?" Mikaela asked.

"The Smith Island is the last place that we had the location of Helen fourteen years ago," Jazz replied. "Hide always tries to avoid that area of the Eastern World."

Optimus walked towards us, and rested a hand on my father's shoulder. Dad turned to look at the Prime as I watched their optics dim as they talked on the commlink.

"I hate it when they do that," I muttered as I walked to Lennox and Epps. "Hey do you have a change of clothes I could use?"

"Here," Lennox replied handing me a duffel bag. "We have a feeling; well Sarah did, she packed your stuff."

"Thanks," I replied. "I'm gonna go into the shelter of the cave over there to get changed."

They both nodded as some of the bots arrived for the orders from Optimus. When i had got into the shelter of the cave, and went behind a tall pillar of rock, I unzipped the bag and gave a prayer to Sarah. There was my black combats, blue tank top and my purple long-sleeved top as well as my converse. In a side pocket was a mini gun I had got for Christmas off dad for my protection Optimus agreed with him. I took out my black leather jacket and tied it around my waist before walking back to the others, pushing my hair into a high pony tail, clipping back any loose strands that would cover my eyes. Placing my sunglasses onto of my head like I hair band which made Mudflap and Skids looked at me as I walked past them. They both nodded, and commented on my outfit before they turned back to listen to Optimus' orders.

"Autobots we have to find out the power source that penetrated our defenses and who is behind it," Optimus stated. "Karen, Sunstreaker, Jazz, Sideswipe and Mikeala as well as Mudflap and Skids you seven will go to the island by the east coast. Me and the others will go the west and meet at the centre of the capital. Autobots transform and roll out."

The sound of transformation was heard, before the yellow Lamborghini pulled up next to me. Sunny's passenger door opened and I slide in and gave sigh. My sunglasses were resting on his mirror that I had hung there earlier.

"So what do you think we will find in the Smith Island?" I questioned as we drove.

"Whatever it is I hope Hide can handle it," he replied as his hologram materialised into view. "You alright?"

I gave sigh and looked out of his window as the two groups split up to go their separate directions. "I'm fine."

He frowned and turned to look at me. He opened his mouth to say something but I thrust my headphones into my ears and turned my iPod on full blast. He turned away from me and went back to pretend that he was driving. I was left in my thoughts as we drove. The sun was behind us as the sun set, casting shadows and the sky lit up with pink and golds. My music went back to the first one until Sunny poked me. Removing them, I turned to look at him.

"What is it?" I asked, confused.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "When I found you, you seemed confused and thinking about something."

"I meet someone," I admitted. "She said her name was Sue and that she knows my mother. She knows my name Sunny; who is she?"

"Sue... was the woman who took you to Lynn and then she too disappeared off the face of the planet," he replied, before he continued, "There was another woman that we only saw once before, her name was Melanie. From what we can gather about these two women and your mother was that they have something about them that was abnormal and change of perceptive of life. Whatever it is that has brought those motions into play now must have a strong reason to do so. That is all I know about this subject. The only person that can tell you anything is one of the those three women. Why that face expression?"

"Sunny what about the thirteen primes?" I asked suddenly.

The Primes gave a jolt in my mind as they surfaced from the back of my mind.

What the hell are you doing? Solus questioned. This is not the time or place.

Calm down. I told her. I am not telling him the full truth just what I can. Solus please I can't lie to him anymore.

Very well then. She said. Let me tell you what to say though.

I agreed before I turned to Sunny, resting my back on the passenger door.

"Sunstreaker what do you know about the thirteen primes?" I questioned.

"That they have the power to be any where even in death and they pick people to carry them and communicate though them," he replied. "Why you ask?"

"Do you remember in Egypt when my strange behaviour started?" I asked, as he nodded. "I was communicating to the Primes in my head. Solus was the first one and she explained what was going to happen but I didn't know what she meant until afterwards." He looked at me as I paused for a second. "Then when I disappeared a month after it was because I was doing a job for them; a relic that could help me find my mother... I'm not crazy so why are you looking at me like that?"

"Karen it is a story that was told to younglings at bedtime as a story, it's not real," he said. "I think you need to speak to Ratchet."

"I am not crazy it is the truth," I growled. "Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Oh I don't know maybe because you hit your head when you landed," he said back, some anger seeping into his words. "Karen I love you, but I can't watch you make a fantasy world to escape reality. This is war and you are in it whatever you like it or not."

"Stop driving," I growled, shaking with my anger making him stop suddenly. "I'll ride with Mudflap instead."

Before Sunny could protest I had climbed out and went to the green Chevy that opened his drivers door for me. I slide in and gave sigh, resting my head against his steering wheel as I listened to the Primes.

This is why we didn't want anyone to know. Nexus said. Karen you have to be strong child.

Strong for what? I asked. Strong so that Ratchet will tie me up in a straight jacket and keep me locked in a padded room. Or something else?

"Hey Karen you wanna move your head?" Mudflap then asked.

"Huh... oh sorry Mud, I forget my head was there," I replied, coming out of the conversation with the Primes. "He is being jerk when I tell him the truth."

"Maybe he thinks ya just usin' the Primes to ease your mind," Mudflap suggested. "Ya know how to drive yet?"

"Does it look like I know how to drive?" I asked. "Dad forbid the guys to teach me as he wanted to do it himself. Oh what fun that is going to be."

"Well, ya don't tell ya dad and I'll teach ya," he replied. "Deal?"

"Deal," I said smiling. "Okay how does this go then?"

Half an hour later, we had reached the ferry that would take us to Smith Island. I had driven Mudflap and according to him I had done well but I wasn't so sure.

"Okay all humans on deck," Jazz said.

I sighed, before leaving the Chevy and turned to face the first Lieutenant that was in charge on this mission. Sunny looked at me, as I walked past him. Mikeala and Sides looked at us both in confusion. The guys knew we had a falling out but they didn't know about what.

"You two just kiss and make up already," Jazz said, losing a sigh.

"He doesn't believe me," I stated, crossing my arms. "Why should I when my boyfriend believes I'm lying to him?"

"What did they argue about?" Skids whispered to his twin.

"No ide bro but it pissed Karen off," Mudflap whispered back, not realizing we could hear them.

"Enough you two," Jazz ordered, looking at the twins. "Okay fine don't make up but you can't stay angry at each other for ever; so this is the plan when we reach the East coast: contact Prime so that he is informed we arrived safely, guardians take their charges, and un-guardians act like a buffer for any on coming attacks from cons or those that we believe are linked to this. All clear? That's good then."

I rolled my eyes at Jazz as the ferry lunged into life and we travelled across the ocean. I walked over to stand by the railing of the ship and rested my arms on it, crossing them over each other. The sound of someone approaching me, made me look up to see who it was. When my eyes meet Sunny's blue ones, I turned my face and ignored him, until his arms wrapped around my waist and turned me to face him.

"Speak to me," he begged. "Karen look me in the eye and tell me that the Primes are in your mind."

"Autobot Sunstreaker, I swear on my heart and soul that the Primes are in my head," I replied looking into his eyes.

I didn't break contact with him, until he smiled and placed a long kiss on my forehead.

"I'm sorry," he whispered against my forehead. "I should have believed you earlier."

"It's okay," I replied back. "How long is it going to take?"

"Depends on if the cons attack us," he replied. "This is a nice view to see though."

I smiled, and gave a breath to smell the fresh salty air as well as the sound of seagulls and bird flying in the sky hit my ears. I turned back round, resting my head on his shoulder as I looked. The sun was setting behind the horizon when we were approached by Jazz.

"Told ya you'll kiss and make up," Jazz sad us, with a smile. "So what was it about?"

"The Primes inhabit Karen's head," Sunny told him. "That explains her strange behavior and how she knows stuff before we do."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Jazz asked me.

"I wasn't sure how you guys would react," I mumbled before he pulled me into a hug. "Love you too Jazzy."

"Good to know sis," he replied before pulling away. "Nearly there now."

I gave a smile before I went to talk to Mikaela dragging Sunny along with me.

The capital of Smith Island was busy in this time of day as I rode in the changed alt form of Sunstreaker. The roads were blocked with the market as we travelled. My eyes flickered to him as he went, driving across the side streets to get to the site Prime had sent us.

"This is disgusting," he declared, looking at me. "Karen this is disgusting. How can humans live like this?"

"To be honest I have no idea," I replied, pressing a button on his dash-board. "Man its hot."

"Take off you jacket and you sleeved top then," he replied.

"Yeah meaning I will have to take off my tank top as well," I replied, feeling a blush go over my face.

"Karen I won't look or anything," he declared before he deactivated his hologram.

I gave a sigh before I unzipped my jacket and placed it on his drivers sit before removing my tank top along with my long sleeved one. Untangling the tank from my purple one, I felt Sunny give a shiver making me give a smirk before I pulled on the tank.

"You alright?" I asked still smirking.

"I'm fine," he replied gruffly before his hologram reappeared. "Next time we are finding a bathroom for you to get changed in."

I gave a laugh before a blast was heard to our left. Sunny increased his speed as his twin went to his rear bumper as the other two twins boxed Jazz and Sunny in as we went. Sunny's hologram disappeared again as I climbed into his driver's sit and grabbed the steering wheel.

"Let me try something," I offered.

"If you're sure," he replied.

"Mudflap Skids ya hear me?" I asked

"Loud a'd clear Karen," Skids replied. "What can we do for ya?"

"Remember the drive up?" I questioned, yanking Sunny to the side to avoid a blast.

"Yeah what about it?" Mudflap asked.

"What did you teach me?" I hinted before they gave an oww and moved in front of us.

"I hope you three know what your doing," Jazz said before he joined the single fill line we were in. "So what's the plan?"

"Cat and mouse," I replied. "Turn left."

The guys obeyed what I said to them meaning we were able to get clear of the shots before a horn was heard. A very familiar horn that made me and guys give a smile as we flanked the sides of our leader.

"Nice to see you," I said to Optimus as the commlinlk came to life. "Whats the plan boss?"

"This cat and mouse game until we reach out of the city limits," Optimus replied as there was the sound of engines behind us as the guys joined the line with Optimus in front.

"A bit like follow the leader," I said with a smile. "Hey guys missed me?"

"Cheeky missy," dad said over the commlink. "You alright?"

"Never felt better," I replied with a smile before looking into Sunny's rear mirror. "Prime we've got company."

"Autobots maxim override," Optimus ordered.

The speed needle on Sunny's dial reached its highest limit as the bots left the city behind them.

End of Chapter Next one up soon