Thank you all for waiting on me, I know I left you with a pretty interesting little hangoff last chapter :)

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Of The Spark And Heart

Part 1

Chapter 28

The devious chuckle that left the mech was enough to knock Fera from her stupor and push her back to the reality of the situation. Even in the pouring rain and the cloudy sheen covering her mind with pain, she was able to tell where that mech was looking. Her very core went cold and her instincts screamed at her to do something.

The mech took a step forward and Fera jerked, finally seeming to come to the realization that her current position on the ground probably wasn't the best place to be at that moment. She sucked in a sharp breath and threw herself back, scrambling on her glass-covered hands to try moving in reverse. Her eyes were wide and she couldn't help but stare at the Decepticon who towered over her. The constant wave of Hope in her system caused nothing but more confusion to surface. Low pulses of something thick slipped over her face and Fera lifted a hand, touched it, and then pulled her arm back. Blood.

Snapping her hand away, Fera yanked herself to the side and she used all fours to quickly shuffle over the slick blades of grass. Blood trickled in her mouth and she spat, spraying red confetti over the ground. Looking over her shoulder, Fera's breath caught as she saw the navy mech leaning down with his hand outstretched in her direction.

She hurried to her feet and tried to keep from falling again as she swayed with the dizziness and fatigue trapping her. When she turned again, she grew horrified to see the 'Con coming so close to her, reaching for her as his eyes flashed that ruby-red and the calls of his own race echoed behind him...

Suddenly, a roaring bellow. Both heads darted in the direction of the noise and Fera fell back onto her butt, mud flying around her and dotting her clothing.

The massive bulk of red and blue charged through the rain and vibrated the ground with his earth-shaking steps and incredible length of stride. He then stepped once on the edge of the road and dove the stretch of the ditch, flying through the air and over Bee's body. He collided with the Decepticon in an incredible tackle and they fell across the earth in a tangled body of red, orange, and blue. When they hit the mud, Fera's very body jumped from the impact and she leapt to her feet in a frightened state of shock.

Optimus tore himself away from the mech beneath him and lifted an arm back, using the other to grab the 'Con's chest armor. But the Decepticon was able to use his own weight to throw Optimus off balance and cause him to lose his solid grip on his target. The 'Con ripped the Prime's hand away and he threw up his upper half to elbow Optimus in the stomach. The larger mech released a low grunt and paused enough to allow the Decepticon to toss him to the side, displacing him.

Fera gasped and she stumbled back as the red eyes locked on her and the Decepticon rolled to his hands and feet. When he was up, Optimus was able to leap forward as well to catch the 'Con and pull him back to the ground. They exchanged a few blows before a weapon appeared from the 'Con. It was a smaller gun, one that connected to the 'Con's wrist and started glowing surprisingly soon. It didn't appear that strong, but because it was so close, it would be far more powerful. Optimus' hand shot out to push it away, and he succeeded, but it was obvious he was having difficulty.

What made it worse was when a light blue Cybertronian that she'd never seen before came in and began to wrestle with Optimus as well. Fera knew the mech could hold his own with the one warrior, but two?

She had jumped when she saw the second mech after the Prime, but her shock had dissipated the moment she saw the escalating event before her. She took a step forward, her eyebrows drawn down, as one of the 'Con's swiftly punched the Prime square in the face. The navy-blue one jumped off and grabbed Optimus' arm, holding it back as his comrade began to wail away at the mech. Fera's fear spiked and she felt her heart racing, causing Hope to flare up and try figuring out what was wrong with her. Not now! she yelled harshly.

"No, no, no..." she muttered to herself, her head snapping to the road and her hand ripping through her hair. "This can't be happening." just over the crest of the hill, she was able to see the forms of Autobots and what she assumed were the Decepticons attacking them. there was a strained roar from beside her and Fera looked up to see Optimus actually fighting back with the Decepticons. He kicked out at one and was able to free one arm, where he then punched the other hard enough to make him stumble.

"Fera!"

It was a voice that was near, yet muffled and Fera sharply turned as soon as she'd heard it. When she searched for the holder of the sound, she was able to see the form of a man running full-out across the blacktop. "Fera!" he yelled her name again right before a large, metallic foot slammed down beside him, the Autobot holder stepping back as he fought for dominance with a larger foe. The black and blue 'Con suddenly yanked himself back, throwing Mirage up and to the side to land roughly on his back.

The man sprinting towards her was dressed in camouflaged pants with heavy black boots and a sleeveless, deep-green T-shirt. His dirty-blonde hair was darkened to a deep brown while the rain seemed to have soaked his clothing him long ago. He reached the ditch and didn't hesitate to jump down and slide to the bottom, continuing on the moment he touched the grass. He nearly ran into Fera, but as soon as he was close, he stopped running and grabbed her arm. "Come on!" he yelled over the fighting and thunder, breathlessly bringing her towards him so to show her he planned on continuing.

For a moment, her mind sluggishly caught up and she could barely understand just who this man was. But then, his face came up and her eyes widened. In her hesitation, she allowed James to give her a once-over with true shock to his expression. "God, Fera...you're a mess..." he lifted her arms and she abruptly snatched it back, holding it near as her pain began up again. Hope ran down her limbs and poked at the wounds, trying to understand. When she blocked it, her chest constricted and she closed her eyes, turning her face away so that the colonel wouldn't see her. "When I saw Bee flying through the air like that..." he stopped and Fera looked up at him. He was watching her with a mix of concern and fear. "I thought you'd at least be broken in half."

Fera opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't as both her and James were grabbed without warning and taken underneath a very large and dark form. Fera cried out and tucked into herself right as the ground shook and an extremely loud blast rumbled through her eardrums. The space around her was small and warm, but it was also buzzing softly and blocking any rain from reaching her. Her head spun and her mind was in a total fray, allowing absolutely no clear thought to enter. She had her hands covering her head and her knees pulled up to her chest, their skinned surface touching her collarbone.

When the shaking stopped and the noise settled, the massive thing that was hovering over her shifted and let the chilly air and blasting, wet winds to batter her skin. Fera's body seized and she jerked, giving a series of coughs and painful wheezes. The light returned and she was able to see her fingers as she drew them away, slowly turning on her side. With a soft chirping sound, Fera was able to see Bumblebee carefully holding himself over her with his dull eyes full of worry.

Fera flipped on her back and she looked up at the yellow 'Bot, giving him a grin that showed she was indeed grateful. Bumblebee shifted and moved back from her, allowing her to lift herself onto her elbows and look around. James was on his back as well, switching his surprised eyes from Bee to her.

When she glanced behind her, she saw the chunk of earth that had disappeared, flinging loose bits all around it and pushing back the ring of grass that framed the edge. The depth of the hole wasn't deep, but she was thankful all the same that she hadn't been there when it had struck. She swung her arm around and got on her stomach, using pure will to forced her arms beneath her and get to her feet.

"Come on!" it was James again, now already up and coming towards her. He grabbed her arm and didn't even wait a second before he turned on his heels and began for the road. "Hound is waiting with Sarah and the Witwicky's, so you'll go with them." he informed her. Fera's eyebrows came down and she dug in the bottoms of her heels, using all of her weight to slow down the soldier. Peering back on the weakened form of her friend, she struggled to get a good look at him. "But, Bumblebee-!" she exclaimed, watching him as he started to come to his feet.

"He'll be ok, just move!" James yelled, pulling her harder. When Bee was fully grounded and stable, Fera was able to run more easily with the colonel. They hurried past the scene of Bee's crash and started up the slippery slope of mud. James reached the road first and he bent down to help Fera get over the lip of the ridge. She dug the fronts of her shoes into the side of the hill and locked hands with the man. He showed no strain as he lifted her past the top, enabling her to once again start sprinting away with him.

Unable to push away her anxiety, Fera twisted her neck around to glance behind her. When she was able to see him, she saw Optimus Prime standing up over the two forms of his defeated opponents. He himself then looked up and saw her racing across the street. Their eyes met and she saw him give a brief dip of his head before he strode off to face the other 'Cons waiting.

Her steps were quicker and her movements were steadier as she felt her mind clearing with the cold chill of the rain on her face. James was trying so hard not to run at his full speed, but Fera could see it was hard for him. And she saw this even more so when yet another Decepticon appeared, catching both their attentions. Fera gasped and her hand freed from James' as he whipped around and grabbed her, quickly pushing her behind him. The thick frame of the bright orange and yellow 'Con traveled astonishingly fast as he rushed over the ground and headed straight for them.

He came within yards of them, and when he was close, he started to bend over, reaching for them. Those red, red eyes trained on them so viciously...

The echoing cry behind them was so loud and so full of anger that it physically made Fera fall back a few steps. Then, from nowhere, a black frame soared above and speared the mech from where he stood. They both flew back, despite the smaller form of the black 'Bot, and they fell into a black and orange ball of combined plates and mass. They only rolled once before the fembot straddled the mech beneath her and she lifted a fist, throwing it down before following that with another and another.

Colonel Marks kept her firmly behind him as the black 'Bot released Hell on the one under her. She held the upper hand for a good amount of time before the mech used his weight to his advantage, throwing her aside. Fera winced when the fembot struck the ground and the mech rolled over, using his hand to hold her head firm and crush it against the ground. Fera could see the pain on her smooth features and the black marks across her helmet and face. One of her eyes sit closed while her hands settled beside her to try dislodging the 'Con holding her. The mech came to his feet, but he wasn't expecting the one he kept down to swiftly shift her wrist into a gun and then aim that behind her. Before he could react, she shot him directly in the chassis, and he fell to the pavement, sliding a few feet from the pure force behind her blow. Bringing herself to her feet, the fembot Prime stood tall and slammed the butt of her gun into the side of the 'Con's head, knocking him out instantly. Rethalia Prime mirrored her sparkmate as she stood tall over her 'Con prey and held up her arm, the nose of the gun pointed for the sky.

Fera wasn't able to stand in awe at the Prime however before James yanked her again and they continued on in the pelting rains towards where the waiting form of Hound. Fera was now struggling to breathe, both from the run and the stress her body had been put through with Bee's crash. "Don't give up on me now!" James shouted behind him, his fingers tightening on her wrist. "We're almost there!"

Another pair of feet rushed before them, halting their path as two Decepticons charged on a helpless Mirage, double-teaming him and pushing him to the slick blacktop. They took hold of both his arms and harshly shoved his front into the street, one of them placing a knee on his back. The red Autobot cried out and his expression turned pained as he strained to free himself. Horrified, Fera knitted her eyebrows and halted upon seeing him. James stayed back with her and tried convincing her to move, but she stayed.

Without warning or hesitance, she started for the 'Bot. It hadn't been thought really, just instinct. Her brash personality allowed her to free her hand before James could stop her and push her on to rush across the ruined road. Hope was also encouraging her, feeling her determination and sudden drive and then intensifying it.

She didn't know what she was doing, or why, but all she knew was that she had to do something. Mirage was a friend of hers and she'd be damned to just stand back and let him be torn apart before her eyes. Behind her, she could hear the calls of James as he yelled her name and demanded she come back, but she ignored him. There was a small knowing that he would be in chase after her, but that did little to affect her.

When she was at a dangerous nearness to the three-on-one fight, she started screaming. As hard as she could, she bellowed and hollered until her lungs were about to burst. But still, she made as much noise as possible, even waving her arms at one point so to get the 'Cons' attentions. "HEY!" she cried loudly, finally coming in a closer distance. Mirage seemed to abruptly realize her presence and he gained a look of complete anger. His struggles increased and he roared, yelling things in Spanish that Fera feared would melt a child's innocence.

"Chica, no te acerques! Leave! Run!" he ordered, squirming and rolling his shoulders so he could try twisting from the Decepticons' grips. Fera faltered for just a moment before she began swinging her arms above her head again, going on with her desperate attempts. One of the 'Cons actually looked up at her and he burrowed his eyebrows in for a moment, seemingly confused at her actions. "You glorified junk scraps! Down here!" she shouted, locking eyes with the mech who watched her.

Suddenly, his face changed into shock and then he shoved his comrade with his shoulder, jerking his head down at her. "That's the one Arachnid wants!" he exclaimed. The nearly identical partner holding down the enraged 'Bot nodded and he threw aside Mirage, instead leaping forward. Fera squeaked and pivoted on her heels, dodging to the side as his fingers came within inches of her. "Leave her be, you hijos de puta!" Mirage bellowed, darting from his position on the ground to bring down the one after her.

Fera sucked in a sharp breath and ran as fast as her legs would carry her back the way she came. The ground under her feet rocked and she looked behind her, briefly seeing a flash of red as the aggravated 'Bot knocked both his captors from him. Their silver and blue frames tangled into one and Fera turned back away to focus ahead. James was waiting for her, standing small before the background of the distant forms of Bumblebee, Optimus, and Rethalia as they each took on the other attacking 'Cons.

"Where did they all come from?!" she cried when she reached him, colliding with him as he reached out and grabbed her upper arms. He swung her around once to slow her down and then they both gazed out over the carnage around them. Smoking holes of black rubble made up the entirety of the once whole street, while the short strip of meadow before the treeline seemed devastated in the mere thick of things. Growls and feral sounds of battle rolled heavily in the air while new shots scattered over the ground and the smell of smoke and burning rubber masked the air like a mist.

Through the grey curtain of rain and dull lights given by the clouds above, Fera was able to see Rethalia being brought down by a much larger figure. But before she could even blink, she saw the fembot's towering shadow of a sparkmate step over her and use the massive sword in his wrist to swing up and ward off her attacker. The orange glow of the weapon shone proudly against the dimness of the rain and its light bounced from the saturated blacktop as Optimus skillfully swung around in a circle before throwing up his arm at the 'Con. When its own piercing cry rang through the air and it fell into a retreat, Optimus stepped back to help his mate stand. They didn't even take a moment to themselves before they were both back to the fight.

"Damn." James whispered on an awed breath. Fera whipped around and knitted her eyebrows at him, seeing his amazed expression. He was obviously impressed, but the very way he expressed that almost made Fera laugh. She cracked a grin and Hope poked at her consciousness in interest of her suddenly less fearful emotions. "Potty mouth." she teased when he peered back down at her. James gave a snort and turned, taking her wrist once more. "Says the girl that could very well have grown up on a pirate ship from the way you yelled last week." he retorted.

Fera rolled her eyes and started running again with the colonel. Despite how much she hated to admit, she was really glad her mother hadn't been in the room when she had pinned her finger between that heavy box and the tabletop. Even Ratchet himself had chuckled from the shocked looks of those around her. What was that about her being a hot-head again? To be fair, she didn't actually have the right to be calling anyone a potty mouth after such 'colorful expressions', as Ratchet had put it. Oh, and Optimus' face when he just happened to be there...

James abruptly cursed again and Fera was about to yell to him that he wasn't such a good role model himself before he released her wrist and sharply turned on his heel. Surprised, Fera jerked as he leapt back at her, his hands outstretched. His palms met her chest and he launched her back off her feet and through the air. Before she hit the ground, she saw him jump away as well. Her back hit hard against the road and she gasped when the wet surface shoved all air from her lungs and sent vivid pangs of pain up her spine, elbows, and arms. The wounds she already held returned their incredible amounts of agony and she groaned, slowly rolling on her side as her ribs pulsed and her left leg screamed in silent affliction.

Without a doubt in her mind, she knew she had broken something. Yet that didn't even faze her for a second as a giant jolt of the ground caused her body to jump and then fall back to the hard blacktop. She blinked and looked up, flipping on to her elbows and lifting her head to see who was there. Seeing the familiar navy-blue leg and past the orange wings that held the Decepticon insignia, she traveled up his frame as he stood. When she stopped at his face, she saw his smirk and the evil expression of pure joy at seeing her on the ground, defenseless.

As quickly as she could, she twisted around and shoved herself to her feet. Waves of vertigo overtook her and a constant discomfort came from her arms and legs. Her straight path moved before her eyes and swam in her thoughts, confusing her and making it that much more difficult to run. Right now, she was at a full-out sprint, despite the sickness she felt and the howling agony in her lower shin. Rain covered over her eyes and entered her mouth, which caused her to fall into a coughing fit when the liquid went down the wrong tube.

When her steps stumbled and her legs wobbled, she felt a shadow cross over her and she panicked, swinging herself around. A large, blue hand was aimed at her yet again, seeking to cover her and overshadow her smaller body. Everything seemed to happen so quickly and so violently that she was unable to think of how to react in time. Before, she was able to see things differently and to react as so that someone could help her or those around her. Now, she could only scream as the fingers wrapped around her wounded body and an unfamiliar mech lifted her.

Fera!

It was a roar that she didn't know whom it'd came from, but that it sounded angry and loud. The very noise rattled her ears and sent her mind in an echoing set of reverberating clashes, fixing her already muddled mind into a horrible headache and confusing ocean of perplexity.

Her body lifted high from the ground and she was brought close to the mech's eyes, where they gleamed brightly from behind the covering drops of splattering water. She wished she could cry out again, that she could just fight her way out and run away into Hound's cab. But here, she couldn't even move, and her breath was fighting to return to a normal pace as it was. An accomplished smile spread across the face of the mech and a deep, rumbling sound came from the strange vents behind his shoulders. With that noise, absolute, all-consuming fear took hold of her.

She didn't know where this sudden terror had surfaced, or why she felt so without any warning, but what she did know was that everything about this mech suddenly became far, far worse.

With wide eyes, Fera froze up under the gaze of the mech and she physically shook in his grasp. Muscles locked in her limbs, and her stomach clenched with the many images of just what this 'Con was capable of tore through her mind. Hope was angered to say the least, actually raging in her heart to locate the source of her horrified spike in emotion and abrupt sense of deathly fright. Its reaction only intensified hers however, and she finally found the air to tip her head back and screech as loud as her voice could possibly handle. This fear...this fear was so much...it suffocated her and swallowed her whole...

No, no, keep it together! She told herself. You can get through this! Just distract him like you did to the other 'Con! Along with Hope, she was able to calm down enough to start struggling in the Decepticon's hand. He growled and she just moved at a quicker, more hurried pace, actually grabbing and tearing a wire from his hand as she did so.

The 'Con yelled out and his hand opened, just as that other mech's did. Fera's heart skipped a beat and she felt her stomach floating along with the whistling of the wind on her ear and the feel her clothes flapping against her skin.

But unlike last time, she wasn't allowed to hit the ground. The Decepticon was able to grab her again before he turned heel and brought her close to him. "Let me go!" she shouted desperately, using her now freed hands to pound the mech's chest. Maybe if this Decepticon had let her fall, that would have been a better fate than what she thought he was planning for her. "You're nothing but a thieving scum! You murdering piece of trash! Let me go!" her quick insults were heard on deaf ears as the 'Con simply ignored her and thudded across the street. Something buried in his chest clicked and Fera's voice dropped with the sudden realization.

Fera!

How it was possible that this call was louder than last time, Fera was unsure. Her very vision went fuzzy and she cried out, clapping hands over her ears and squeezing her eyes shut. She felt her body lifting and then falling over and over with the steps of the mech who held her. Stinging pellets of water bit her scalp and scattered across her skin. When she opened her eyes again, she was able to see every 'Bot pass by her in a blurred rush. Blue eyes that appeared in a darker hue each witnissed as she was carried past and more than one call rang out to mimic that of the voice in Fera's head.

The mech handling her held her out for a moment and then his head sunk into his chest. Fera's eyes stretched open and she pushed on his fingers again, trying to slip away as her mounting knowing piled high with her horror. "Oh my G- no! No!" her cries went unheard as the mech's arm shifted and twisted around, popping and then winding around to connect into his shifting chest. The light snuffed out immediately and Fera's muffled screams seemed lost in the grinding parts and slamming gears around her. More than once, multiple pieces of the 'Con's insides would miss her by a hair, brushing past and then colliding into their designated match.

Fera's body rolled and crashed around shortly before her smaller frame was thrashed forward and then yanked back. Her head hit something hard and with that startling bash on her skull, her eyesight swirled and became dotted with black for a few seconds. The confusing blur of movement clicked and slammed all around her for mere heartbeats before she was once tossed into a panel of thick, crystalline glass. Right as she was about to figure out exactly where she was, another invisible force took her from spot quite roughly and threw her into a padded surface that seemed out of place in so much metal and harsh iron.

She could even blink as her body flipped and strips of long black material snapped over her upper half, crossing in an X pattern over her soaked shirt. Those same straps ran across her arms and locked her in place, not allowing her to react at all to what was happening. Her body pressed against the seat she had been chained against and the view outside shifted from the treetops to the dusky, ash-colored sky. These clouds sent the rains over the front of the glass windshield to streak in long ribbons of wind-whipped water. Jet engines roared to life with a new intensity and Fera clutched onto the armrests beside her as the ghostly presence moved the pilot's wheel.

"Let me go!" she yelled, using her free legs to kick out at the dashboard. the wheel kept turning even though she repeatedly struck it with her feet and the entire body of the plane she was now in tipped to the side. Her legs strained to lift and she used whatever strength she had to place the powerful blows she held into the tools lining the front of the dash. One of them actually cracked with her constant thrashing and the straps across her tightened when this happened. "Worthless worm." the voice over the speakers growled, "Behave!"

Fera screeched loudly in a last-ditch effort of just plain annoying the mech. Maybe his ears would short out and she would be able to stop him from climbing any higher. But all that seemed to do was get another furious squeeze from the belts. "I suggest you not do that again." he hissed, seeming to whisper right next to her ear. Fera jerked her shoulder, trying to dislodge her arm and get a good grip at the straps against her. "Please, I'm begging you to just fly in that cloud and get struck by lightning."

"You would be affected too, you idiotic pest."

"Better that than be here with you!" she spat, once again kicking despite the pain it caused her. Suddenly, the view below changed and Fera looked up to see it as the ground beneath their flight. The 'Con she was in now was only circling above, maybe calling for his fellow peers. One by one, they joined the mech in the sky, and he rounded once over the gathered 'Bots below. Fera jumped as much as the belts would allow when her friends appeared in the pan of the windshield. They were all scattered over the street, looking up at the plane that held her with blatant rage and overwhelming concern.

She saw Optimus standing with Rethalia as they both came back from their retreating opponents as well as James when he ran up beside them. Mirage was holding one of his arms, his face turned up as well. A tear struck her eye as she saw little Bumblebee sprinting across the pavement towards them, his face clear in fear. He's ok, she thought silently. At least he's ok. Her shoulders sagged in her defeat and she could only watch in pain as Ratchet was helped over a cliff's edge by Mirage and the one last 'Bot she sought for was nowhere to be found. They were gone. Her mother and Sam's family were safe.

Each and every figure of the Autobots disappeared and Fera turned her head back forward, holding it firmly on the headrest behind her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, yet she refused to make a sound. Such a pathetic show of relenting would not leave her so long as she was able to consciously control herself. Pain was so heavy on her body that she felt that her quiet crying maybe mostly from that. As if that excuse would settled with her captor.

Through the glass, she was able to see other shapes of Decepticons as they flew ahead all around the one she sat in now. I'm in a Decepticon, she moaned mentally. They finally got me...

In her frightened bout of mind and uncharacteristic rolling of complete anger from Hope, she almost didn't hear the soft chuckles from the speakers. But she did, and she lost nearly all her fear. Why was she so scared? These scum-bags wanted nothing more from her than to just see her break down and submit to their attempts of frightening her. They wouldn't get it. Not in her lifetime.

"Such a pitiful creature." he said over the air, thrusting forward to pass his comrades and take the lead of the group. Fera barked a laugh and lurched her shoulders again. "Pitiful? Try me you son of a b-"

"Hold your words prisoner!" he snapped, cutting her off. "Your fear is tumbling from your very flesh- leaking from your sorry resolve before you have the chance to mask it. Even if you lived for far past your life expectancy, you would never be able to merely suggest such capability in concealment." he sneered. Fera huffed and kicked out again, and when the straps tightened once more, she actually grinned. "Yeah, I'm scared. But of you? Please." she blew it off quite steadily despite the shaking she'd expected. "Fear makes me stronger and nothing you can do will ever break me."

"We will see about that." he vowed lowly. Fera swallowed and dug her dirtied fingers into the armrests. "We will."

Her equally as spiteful remark to the mech gained a brief moment of silence before she threw out her leg and struck the steering wheel. The plane swerved, leaning her to the side and shaking her already battered body. The 'Con bellowed and righted himself. When he was straight again, the seat Fera sat on shot forward and slammed her into the dash. She cried out and clenched her teeth with the breathlessness and pain now crossing over her chest. "I said behave." the mech snarled.

Fera collected the saliva in her mouth and she spat all over the dash, spraying it across the broad surface. Her seat immediately pulled back and her body jerked with the abrupt stop. "You're defiance is annoying human." he spoke over the speakers with a tone that was less than pleased and Fera glared at them as if he would be able to see her blood-covered face in such spoken stubbornness. "Yet it is oddly intriguing."

The teen's expression fell and her tense body went slack. What was that supposed to mean? As if on cue, twin cables escaped from the dashboard and snaked in the air, sliding to reach out for the ceiling as a pair of thick ropes. They bowed over the space and struck out, startling Fera as they came straight for her. Eyes wide, Fera just sat as they ran right past her head and hit the seat behind her. "You are a different specimen human, one I feel who knows how to control their fear- which is impressive in itself."

The cables slowly removed themselves from the seat and slid over her shoulders, down her arms, and across her stomach. Her body flinched at the sudden contact and she thrashed again when she felt them roaming across her legs. "Don't touch me!" she squeaked, kicking out at the cable as it traveled up her calf. Hope flared at her outburst and she now felt the absolute rage that was the essence. "This is rape!" her voice broke as the cable lightly brushed over her thigh and crossed the edge of her ruined skirt.

"Rape would imply forced intercourse with your species." the Decepticon rumbled evilly. The cable moved back up and grabbed her chin, pinching it between two small fingers there. "I am merely examining a differing race I have found impetuous interests in."

The booming sound of the rockets above shattered the air and rang loudly throughout the surrounding area like a bellowing battle cry. Rain fell harshly against the now blasted and hole-ridden black pavement to create a shallow top of water. A new darkness had taken the sky as it dulled into a deeper level of the storm. Winds carrying pelting droplets of water screened down from above to obscure any solid view.

One after one, the retreating forms of the enemy stole away to the air and created audio-shattering recoils as they went. Particles of still-fresh, glowing energon littered the surface of the street as they were kept from drying by the constant downpour. Spots of this Cybertronian life flecked across the broad chassis of the red and blue Prime and his comrades as they stood back to back, weapons raised. The fembot Prime behind him shifted and warded off her opponent as best she could while her sparkmate did the same with two of his adversaries.

But when they simply turned and ran, the sudden change in tone had every 'Bot confused for a few astroseconds before they set chase. Optimus ran along Rethalia after the soaring engines as they climbed higher and higher into the airs above them. "Why would they just suddenly take off like this?" Rethalia questioned over the roar of the 'Cons above them. Optimus drew back his sword and brought out his rifle, holding it tight in his servo while his other bracer entered his assault code and turned to the blaster he possessed.

"I do not know Rethalia." he admitted, lengthening his stride as the odd weights between him lightened. Rethalia fought to keep up with him and his longer steps, but she was only just able Quickly, Optimus reached out to his group to find who was there and who was missing. Everyone was functioning, but when he sent his sweeping optics around, he was unable to see Ratchet. Mirage abruptly peeled off from beside Rethalia and dived across the short expanse of ground to slide up to the edge of an overhanging cliff.

"Grab on!" was all Prime heard from the red 'Bot as he hurried past, his mate still by his side. Her own sniper pulled into form and she was swift to use it, holding it up with one servo on her upper arm while she closed off her left optic. Something deep inside of him was stirring that he couldn't describe, nor claim familiarity, but when it hit him, he couldn't help but sprint even faster ahead.

Rethalia was left behind him as he pelted past the ditch Bumblebee had flipped into and on towards his fleeting enemies. His spark was anxious with a dark knowing that held itself so far from his grasp, yet close enough for him to truly understand. The frustrations had him growling behind his mask and the disdain overwhelming his already heated vents sent coursing concern through him. What was this feeling? What meaning had it to him?

Optimus lifted his blaster and aimed before taking the shot, barely missing his target by mere inches. Decepticon warriors shot further away as their apparent leader of the squadron pulled back around for another loop. They were too far away now for his shots to reach them, so Optimus conceded and started to slow his steps so he could come to a stop. The horrid feeling of utter darkness consumed his spark and he knitted his optic ridges. Chilly air sucked into his vents and brushed his scorching frame, echoing the cold dread in his spark. What is this? he asked himself, pulling back his blaster but keeping full grip on his rifle.

Suddenly, a terrible scream pierced the air. It was high-pitched and piercing, but the pure emotion behind the cry was so deep that Optimus immediately looked towards it. Hound was holding Sarah Lennox to his chassis, covering her with his servo and struggling to keep her in his grasp. She was clawing and thrashing violently, yelling something at the hight of her voice's ability that at one point, it actually cracked and her volume faltered. The very intensity in her strained attempts at escape was shocking to the Prime and he grew bewildered. But then he allowed his CPU to travel and he found himself searching over the gathered by the scout's peds.

Four humans. There was supposed to be five.

The ultimate truth behind everything showed and Optimus' tanks dropped. His shoulderbolts tensed and he felt his entire being become consumed in epic disbelief. Dreading what he would see, Optimus looked up at the plane circling them just as his sparkmate joined him at his side, venting heavily. She brushed his arm and he unconsciously reached over to grab his servo in hers.

No. Impossible. This couldn't happen.

Rethalia moved in the side of his optics and he felt her watching him. But on he stared into that 'Con's cockpit. It was rounding around now, coming into view...

Optimus was finally able to see the being in that space and immediately he felt the rage boiling in his lingering battling program as it grew spontaneously into an all-consuming wave of both horror and anger. The very fight in him dimmed and the hope he always carried in both spark and presence lost a lot of its luminescence. For who he witnessed inside that Decepticon, in his mocking grasp less than a hundred feet away, was who they all had sworn to protect; who they promised safe passage through to Washington...whose very being was the future of not just the war, but his race itself.

Fera Rosalie Lennox was taken once again by the Autobots' worst and highest rivaling adversaries.

Rethalia's soft gasp broke the silence between them and she returned the squeeze of her servo with his. Optimus could feel her building concern and he felt he could drown in her accompanied shock. Fear of the unknown passed between their bond and a certainty of the oncoming events shared as well. She looked so trapped and frightened in that small space of the unfamiliar mech's seat...so full of discomfort and pain. It tore him apart.

Such raw emotion just poured from that one look of the human. One so young, yet put through all the terrors of what war's claim had to give. Truest in its name, war was not the one to feed nor to give, but the one to take. Everything and anything involved in war -from its often destructive paths, to its choice of taking lives of innocence over that of experience- was to be fought with the lives of -shall he say so- pawns of the master's control. Mere beings forced through the risk of life to settle disputes made by their leaders...what role did civilians play in this?

That small aura of stubbornness and ruthless sharpness was falling apart in a battle she had no place being in. That defiance was gone from her face and yet, as small as it may be, there was a carefully preserved lasting of it in her vivid eyes. Those eyes that reminded him so much of one of his comrades- of those on Cybertron who had decided their fate be that of the path of righteous freedom. Maybe she was one of them- not in form of course, but in spirit. What powerful spirit this human possessed.

"Primus help us." Rethalia whispered, coming closer to Optimus as she let her rare feelings of disdain leak through their connection. Though he kept his posture strong and his appearance unreadable, the mech Prime had no such standings in his spark. Rethalia must be feeling it and he wanted her to. He wanted her to know of his failure and what it all meant for not only them, but the poor human herself. He wanted her to know that he had no plan and he didn't know. Though they all expected him to know, he didn't.

"Primus help her." he corrected softly, turning his helm as the sound of hurried steps closing in behind him. The jet twisted abruptly in the air and started after their peers, cutting off the view from Fera as it put on a sudden burst of speed to shoot after the others. A mass of yellow rushed past Optimus and Rethalia, continuing the useless rush after the 'Cons as their secondary forms grew increasingly smaller, smaller, smaller until they were hidden in the fog of the rain. Bumblebee's desperate last attempt of rescuing his given charge seemed to gradually leave his frame.

Every step he took slowed until he was at a stand-still, his cranial unit turned towards the departing 'Cons. To have to stand here and watch as she was taken away from them...it was a disturbing experience to be forced to watch- even after they had disappeared behind the clouds. Every 'Bot took stand from their positions around the road, their faceplates aimed above. Rethalia still had Optimus' servo wrapped tightly in her own and it seemed unlikely like she would let it go anytime soon. Sadly, Optimus turned his gaze to the back of Bee's helm, watching the small cyberling as he stood disturbingly still. The 'wings' on his spinal support dropped low and he stayed on his peds for only a few sparkbeats before he fell to his kneebolts.

Something held itself on the edge of Optimus' glossa, but as hard as he tried, he couldn't say it. Oh how much he wished to comfort the mech and assure him that things were not always in his servos. But...but saying anything right now could basically snap him. Once, decacycles ago, he nearly lost Sam. Now, he was helpless to help the charge that possessed so much yet meant so much more. Hadn't she spoken of him as a brother? And he was her 'fatherly figure'...

Rethalia placed her free servo on his arm and Optimus looked down on her, no longer trying to hide the defeat he felt. Her optics were bright with sadness and her faceplates were full of understanding. This situation was nothing like what she had gone through losing her entire unit in that Decepticon attack only a few quartexes ago, but it hurt in a way that no one could explain. It was as if she were a sparkling among them. And to most who were close with her, they wouldn't be courageous either of the possibilities. "I've failed." he murmured to his sparkmate. Her optic ridges drew in but she didn't say a word. "I promised them I would protect her and I failed. How is it I am going to find the ability to speak of this to the others?"

Again, his sparkmate gave him that look she wore far too often as of late. It was something far beyond her life and imbedded into the depths of her being. She was searching her wisdom and reaching for the solutions that every numb 'Bot on this pavement would be. However, the only thing she could do was to hold on to his arm and servo as if she would find it through his contact. Such a petty task that was given to them: broken before they could do a single thing. Optimus gaze back out across the horizon that seemed blotted by the constant drops of water. The very air was grey and lifeless, the only sound being that of the vents of the Cybertronians and the pounding rain.

How many had been lost to this war? How many had served for the right they saw and the truths they believe; the lies they followed; the blindness that seemed to obscure every processor to the actualities? Innocence was given to the deserving of whom would never be meant for things such as this. Fera...she was as innocent as the sparklings in the hold of their creators. Only now- now he was seeing things for what they were; for what they had become. This was no longer something of control and basic belief. This was animosity objectified.

Once again, the leader set his view on the young 'Bot on his kneebolts. He was no longer looking to the sky but letting his helm bow and his frame sit back on his heelpeds. The grief was rolling off of him in powerful stems of dark emotion. Never before had Optimus seen Bee quite so defeated, and it had himself in a deeper mood of frustrations himself. She was never safe. Nor had she been. This undertaking was going to be made in a matter of time. It had only been a waiting game.

Mirage was standing off on the side of the street, his cranial unit bent as well and his digits curled into fists. Even Ratchet, who never really became emotional over the humans, could be seen to visibly shake where he stood. It wasn't long ago when Fera called him an 'uncle' and that must have struck harder with him than Optimus originally realized. Each link the Prime had with his comrades pushed open, leaving each to feel the other's thoughts. Bumblebee was in complete turmoil over his inability to protect Fera, Mirage was both enraged and stunned with disbelief, Ratchet was so infuriated that Optimus wondered how he was still standing still as he was. Rethalia was- well she hadn't anything to share.

In their private bond, he could feel her shock and her anxiety for the human, and he noted the small sense of determination behind it all. So much had been taken from them both, and now another thing stacked against them. But here she stood, defiant in the last of her energy. And little Liora...she had recharged through it all- a basic fallback program all sparklings possessed for when their fembot creators need them out of the way. The small light she held as her side in their connection was so bright that it seemed almost surreal. Too far had they'd gone when they killed those in the Dark Hunt. Now was no different. Arachnid would have plans for Fera of course, that was for sure. Optimus pressed his lip plates together in seriousness. Just how far she saw Fera's importance as was what he was concerned most for. If the human couldn't be figured around with the skills Arachnid had gained in her vorns with the Decepticons as a scientist, then what would happen to her?

How far would the fembot leader go before she decided Fera was no more of use and she would be cast aside, or worse: killed. All they wished her for was her association with the Autobots, so to the levels they carried in concerns with her, she was but something to take and studied. They would want to know why. They would wish to understand such the protective measures for her. What would they achieve?

~Optimus Prime, this is Sideswipe.~ Optimus' grip on his sparkmate tightened and he retracted his mask, flashing his hard disguise for all to see. Right now, looking a casting gaze on his peers, he could see that they needed a leader- someone to seek as support. His own self-blame wouldn't aid them any. He caught Ratchet's optics, but he wasn't seeing the medic. No longer was his friend standing there. The battle programs installed inside him were taking over. His officer's duties and atonic anger was spilling from behind his frame. That deep purple edge to his optics was evidence that things had been taken too far. Optimus lifted a servo to behind his audio receptor where his comlink communicator sat as his eldest friend walked away from Mirage and roared.

~This is Optimus...~ he flinched with the emotion behind his voice. It appeared he was unable to hold back his feelings even when he was speaking with his peers. This realization was unsettling, but not as much so when he stood back and watched as Ratchet ripped a few trees from the ground and threw them across the street. The mess of road was added into the earth and loose lumber now there. A few nanoclicks later, Sideswipe's voice returned. ~We...uh, well, have a situation here.~ it was a hesitant statement, one that was both distracted and full of uncertainty. Fully concentrated now, Optimus remained focused on the comment, even turning his faceplates away from Ratchet's episode to listen. Rethalia watched him carefully. ~What situation?~ Optimus asked firmly, trying to put as much sternness as he could behind him tone.

Sideswipe didn't answer for a good click before the communication blared to life with a strained edge. ~It's Solas Kaon! He's gone berserk!~ he was yelling over the link now and Optimus winced with the volume. Obviously, things were getting out of hand and the mech Prime would have to do something soon if he wished to rein it in. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't stop replaying that last message in his CPU. Berserk? Optimus had acquired suspicions before, but this- this was the proof he'd been looking for. ~Ow!~ Sideswipe accidentally broadcasted his cry and Optimus' frame tensed from it.

~Sideswipe, what is happening?~ Optimus demanded, lifting his cranial unit just as Ratchet flung another tree. Primus, that mech had a good arm.

~He's tearing the place apart; screaming his capacitor out about Primus-knows-what! He's-~ the mech cut off and Optimus couldn't help the sense inside of him that everything was falling apart piece by piece. ~Sideswipe?~

~This mech is haywire! He's got the- woah!~ the warrior broke off again and Optimus locked optics with his sparkmate. She noticed the clear worry on her sparkmate's faceplates and she reached up without a word, plugging in the tip of digit to the back of his helm to hack into his comlink. ~He keeps shouting things like 'I've got to help her' and something about tearing someone apart.~ his voice was flustered and he sounded like he was struggling. They're holding Solas down most likely, Optimus decided silently. Rethalia gave him a confused look, which he returned. ~Restrain him as best as you can,~ Optimus ordered, attempting at keeping the order. ~and tell Wheeljack to administer sedatives to clam him down. If I am at any understandings as of now, then I see this is no time to risk anything further-~

The words froze on Optimus' vocal processor, not a single mutter exiting his lip plates. The fembot in his grasp also turned stock-still, her expression nothing less than turned to a dumbfounded stupor. Ratchet's enraged echos died and the only sound was that of the very startling, and very broadly open comlink voiced to every 'Bot standing around the Primes.

~They took Fera!~

Solas Kaon's cry rang long and was met by utter quiet. How the Guardian would know of his charge's fate, no one would be sure. No one would understand as Optimus and Rethalia did. No one would understand as Solas most likely would now. Everything was so obvious that he was so surprised he hadn't noticed before. The looks, the sudden spikes in each other's emotions, the pained longing from Solas...it was all so startlingly frightening to realize that Optimus couldn't process quick enough. He met optic contact with Ratchet, who's faceplates had turned from anger to a flabbergasted daze. Between them, knowing passed and their theory resurfaced from which the hole the medic had thrown it into and the dim corner Optimus had hidden the prediction. Was it even possible? Somehow, some way, things were moving in his favor. But to speak of truth, he had not wished for this upon them.

It was right in front of his faceplates the entire time. So why hadn't he realized before?

That bit with the cables was inspired from Soundwave in TF 3 :)

I HATE this program though...erases my entire day's work so I have to go back and redo ALL my editing...:P

But thank you all for your support and reviews, and I hope you can enjoy the rest of my work!

P.S- I have a little something in the works for all of you :) It's definitely not as long as this one will be, but it's different, that's for sure

*Chapter Inspiration: In The End= Linkin Park*