Finally got chapter five out! I want to get a big thank you to Luckyhyna for beta reading the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own transformer or any brands/products referred to in this.

Chapter Five: Smoke and Mirrors

SARI'S POV:

We're in a lot of trouble.

OK, let's just go over what happened. Firefly and I went out for a drive. Sounds safe, laid back, nobody gets in between a rock and hard place kind thing, right?

Wrong!

Starscream attacked us. Firefly is fighting him but I can tell that she can't continue to hold out like this for much longer. I reach in my pocket and take out my fortunately mostly undamaged phone (Which is pretty much a glorified flip phone that I can only really call and text people I know with), and look through my contacts. I hit the 'Call' button under Prime's name.

"Hello, Sari."

"Optimus!" I screech into the phone. "Firefly and I went out for a drive and now Starscream's attacking us."

"We are coming to your location immediately, be careful." Optimus responded, worry working its way into his normally collected voice.

"Please hurry!" I tell him just before the line goes dead. I turn my gaze to the fight.

Firefly and Starscream are circling each other. It almost reminds me of the way animals will circle each other before they fight. Starscream lunges forward and Firefly jumps out of the way. I can hear him snarl before renewing his attack. He tries again, and this time Firefly takes out her blade and hits his shoulder. Starscream didn't appreciate this very much. He said something in Cybertronian and transformed and flew high up into the air. Firefly stiffened before running and scooping me up.

"Firefly?!" I exclaim.

"Stay calm." She warning before transforming to her pick-up mode. I feel the accelerator lock to the floor as Firefly put on more and more speed. I grab the steering wheel and scream. Wouldn't you scream?

Firefly spun around once she got in a parking garage and pretty much forcefully ejected me before spinning around and driving through the other levels to get to the top. I follow her. Once I got to the roof, I could see Firefly and Starscream continue to fight. Firefly slices her blade through his wing, which causes him to holler. I think she just made him mad. He spins around and tackles her to the ground, tearing into her shoulder with his claws. Firefly let loose an agonized screech. She frantically tried to push him away. She transformed to her Link form to knock him off…

…just as three trucks speed to the roof from the ramp or the parking garage. The green search-and-rescue truck stops beside me as the semitruck and big black pick-up truck transform and give Starscream what he had coming for him. I get into Ratchet's vehicle form.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"I'm getting you out of here." Ratchet responded grimly.

"But what about Firefly?" I'm concerned about my guardian.

"She is not a sparkling; she will be fine." He answered, but he sounds like he's trying to tell himself this as much as he's trying to tell me.

I hardly pay attention to where Ratchet's driving, instead I turn in my seat, trying to see if Firefly is ok. Ratchet accelerates suddenly.

"Woah!"

"There are two more decepticons." Ratchet said with concern.

A blue F-22 transforms. This decepticon looks a bit like Starscream, but it's not him.

"That is Thundercracker." Ratchet said, and swerved out of the way of the decepticon's landing.

I hear something loud chasing us and turn to see Firefly in her link form chasing us down. She leaps above us and knocks Thundercracker away. Ratchet suddenly transformed. I ended up in his hand. He dug his feet into the ground to stop himself. Just as I'm about to wonder why he does this, something explodes a few feet in front of us. A purple F-22 swoops low and transforms. I think this one is called Skywarp.

Suddenly he disappeared and reappeared behind us. Firefly barged forward, ready to protect. She looked feral. She transformed from her bipedal from to her link form.

Skywarp slams into Firefly and Ratchet. I grip his metal plating to not fall…

…just as we get whisked away in the strangest feeling, almost like the spacebridge Wheeljack made, to find ourselves in a lifeless, grey room with eerie lighting.

There was no way this was good.

I turn around to see if Firefly and Ratchet are okay, but when I do, I realize we aren't alone.

A red decepticon leans against the door with his arms crossed. My heart skipped a beat as my mouth hung open and my eyes went as wide as saucers.

The decepticon takes out two heavy duty cuffs and puts them on Ratchet and Firefly. He whacked them both hard upside the helm, knocking the both out. The red decepticon's optics settled on me.

"Well, well, well, the autobots have another pet." He picked me up in his claw-like hands.

"Who- who are you?"

"I'm the decepticon medic, Knock-Out. You could also call me an automobile enthusiast." He said almost gleefully. He turned to one of the silver and black guards.

"Bring one of the autobot's to my med-bay and I can start the interrogation. You can bring the smaller one if you're weak."

As the red 'con walked down the hall, he hummed a melody. I turn in his hands to see one of the guards drag Ratchet's unconscious form along as the doors close behind them. I guess the guards are weak then.

Knock-Out walked into a big room and set me on a counter. I glanced over the edge. I'd hurt myself if I tried to get down. One of the cons secured Ratchet to the berth with glowing blue restraints next to the counter, and next to me. Knock-out walks out of the room.

When I think back to the drive we took that got us into this mess, I remember the conversation we had.

"Firefly? Do you think you could come to my school play?" I shoved my hands in my pockets, feeling silly. "I know you have stuff to do, and I know its only a school play but-"

"Sari," She took a finger and lifted my face up to meet her brightly glowing gaze. "You're the sister I never had growing up. What's important to you is important to me, too."

I didn't respond because Starscream came. I close my eyes for a minute, and then try to see if Ratchet is ok. Firefly did that for my dad. Granted, she could do way more in that situation than I can in this one, but I'm still going to try.

I crawl to the edge of the counter and lean down.

"Ratchet!" I shout. "Wake up!"

When I don't get a reaction, I look around to see if there's something I can throw. I take out my cell-phone. The screen is cracked beyond any hope of saving, it's just a pixelated white, pink and green screen. So, I throw it at his head. Ratchet groaned and blinked open his optics.

"Sari?" He said. "What are you doing up there?"

"Knock-Out put me up here."

Speaking of which, Knock-Out walks back in whistling with a black crate. He sets the massive thing next to me which shakes the counter. I flattened my body to the counter so I don't fall. Knock-Out laughs like the sadistic aft he is. He rummages through the bin in a long, drawn-out manner. I think he's doing this to make us antsy. If he is, it's working, because I've already played through 10 different ways this can go wrong, starting with but not limited to taking Ratchet apart piece by piece. Morbid, I know, but I can't help it.

Finally, after an agonizing 15 minutes and 34 seconds (yes, I was counting) he takes out something. The end of it looks like a cattle prod, but its handle is short and it's half the size of Knock-Out's arm.

"We can do this the easy way, or the hard. I'd have more fun if you chose the hard way." He says, walking toward Ratchet. Ratchet refuses to look him in the eyes.

"Tell me," He grabbed Rathcet's chin to force the medic to look at him. "Which way is it going to be? Will you tell me what I want to know, or will I have to drag it out of you."

"Go scrap yourself." Ratchet hissed, struggling in the restraints.

"The hard way it is." Knock-out snarled, jabbing the prod into Ratchet shoulder. He gritted his mouthplates together, wretched his optics shut but said nothing. Knock-Out let up and tossed the prod across the room.

"You!" The red 'con pointed to the discarded prod. "Get rid of that, it's defective."

Knock-Out looked back at Ratchet. "Resilient, I like that. Too bad it's only going to make things worse for you."

Knock-Out reached into the crate and lifted something out. He glanced at whatever was in his hand, which was blocked from my few with the crate, before setting it back inside. He transformed his arm into a drill. Ratchet's optics widened, and with renewed fervor, he attempted to escape the restraints.

"Oh, you don't like the way this looks?" Knock-Out said, before his optics brightened with realization. "Hmm…"

"Don't hurt him!" I can't help but shout.

"Someone always gets hurt in war, kid." The 'con stated off-hand. I huffed at the 'kid' part before looking back at the terrifying scene. Knock-Out slowly walks to Ratchet who is still trying to get out. Knock-Out grabbed his head and held the drill threateningly near his optic.

"So, does Optimus have any way of evening the odds?"

"I don't know," Ratchet muttered, "but even if I did, I wouldn't tell the likes of you."

"Wrong answer," Knock-Out brought the drill closer, mere inches from Ratchet's optic. "Tell me, does he have a way to possibly defeating us?"

"What makes you think I know?"

"Because you are one of Optimus's top officers. Slag, You're his chief medical officer, you even came with him to this backwater planet for the fragging Allspark." Knock-Out snapped, and jabbed the drill into Ratchet's optic. He screeched so loud I had to cover my ears.

"No!" I cry and close my eyes. I don't want to watch.

"Knock-Out." A new voice joins when Ratchet stops screaming. I open my eyes to see a purple con with one optic walk in. "Clearly, this is not working. May I suggest another way?"

"Yes," Knock-Out muttered, walking up to Shockwave, I think his name is, and talking with him.

I glance back at Ratchet. I try not to look at his optics, but when I do, I immediately noticed what's left of the damaged one. The lens is cracked, tubing and wiring are exposed, energon dripped down his face, and it glows very dimly.

"It's only an optic, Sari," Ratchet said in a low and comforting tone. "I can repair it."

I nod and swallow nervously. Shockwave breaks off conversation and turns back to Ratchet.

"Perhaps something as simple as hacking would work." Shockwave looks like he's about to start attempting this until a bang at the door cuts him off. Shockwave and Knock-Out seem to be expecting someone who's on their side but I know exactly who it is.

An angry blue and red autobot leader crashes through the door instead. Granted, was expecting a royally pissed off orange and yellow link, but I'm not complaining. Optimus punched Shockwave right in the face, grabs a transformed Knock-Out in his Aston Martin mode by the grill, lifts him up and slams him into the ground.

Needless to say, the guards run pretty quick.

Optimus undoes the restraints and helps Ratchet to his feet. Optimus says something in Cybertronian and presses his hand to the damaged side of Ratchet's face, although I can't understand it, it sounds like he's concerned. Ratchet responds grumpily in Cybertronian and gruffly shoves Optimus's hand off. Honestly, Cybertronian sounds like the lovechild of dolphin language and mechanical noises. Ratchet picks me up.

"Can you see?" I ask with worry.

"Only with one optic, but I'm going to be fine."

Optimus runs forward and Ratchet follows. The moment we get out into the outdoors and the sunlight, an orange and yellow angry link is pummeling the scrap out of Megatron. I grin my biggest. Ratchet sets me on a ledge and I look around. The ledge overlooks a cliff, below is an ocean. Arcee rushes up to him and takes both his servos in hers.

"I was worried." She murmured when he pulled her close.

"I didn't mean to worry you." He responded in a low tone.

Arcee shoved herself out of the embrace and brought her servo to Ratchet's damaged optic. "Knock-Out did this to you."

"He did." Ratchet nodded.

I look over my shoulder at Firefly continuing to destroy Megatron. Something was about to go down big time.

I could just feel it.

FIREFLY'S POV:

I chase Megatron relentlessly. He's not getting away with this. Not a chance. I trap him at the edge of the cliff and, in my link from, rear up and slam my hooves down on his frame. I do this several times. Nobody hurts the ones that I care the most about and expects to get away with it. Just as I'm about to strike again, I hear jet turbines and turn to see Starscream slam into me. I transform to my bipedal form as I freefall down the cliff. I brace myself for when I slam into the rocks just below the water's surface.

Believe me, it hurts.

I sort through the warnings that come up on my HUD. Cracked Plating, Dented Armor, Wet Circuits- wait. One catches my attention: Scrambled Transformation Cog. The only way to unscramble it would be to scan a new vehicle form or have a medic do it.

I hear Sari scream and look up. Thundercracker picks her up, flies up, and starts tossing her in the air and catching her. I have to help her.

But I can't do slag down here. I glance up at the skies to see our human allies flying F-22s in a welded wing formation.

I'm pretty much out of options. So, I scan it, change its colors to my orange and yellow colors scheme, and take off.

"WOAH!" I scream, really only to myself. This alternate mode is so much faster than my old one! "That's got a kick to it!"

While getting a feel for my new form, I activate the afterburns to get to Sari quicker. Just as Thundercracker drops her, I open the cockpit and scoop her out of the air.

"Oof!" She grunted and her rear end hit the seat. "Firefly? You can fly now?!"

"Yup! So, what do ya think?"

"So awesome!" She exclaimed, grabbing the controls.

"Excuse you." I would frown at her if I could. "I can do this myself. Been doing it almost my whole life ya know."

"Driving, not flying." She says.

"And how many times have you flown an airborne plane or helicopter?" I retort.

"None." A disappointed Sari responded truthfully.

::What in the name of the primes, Firefly!:: Sideswipe exclaimed over general comms.

::There's no way in Cybertron you're flying?!:: Sunstreaker stuttered.

::I had to save Sari from Thundercracker. I couldn't do much at the bottom of a cliff in the ocean.::

I swoop in low and transform to my bipedal form, taking Sari in my hand. My wings end up vertically on my back, along with my thrusters. I could fly without transforming if I wanted to. The decepticon look like they've fled.

Bumblebee slaps me on the back, which pushes me forward.

"I can't believe you just did that!"

"Neither can I." I quip.

"That was awesome! You're totally gonna have to take me flying! Can we fly back to base? I think you make a good flyer. Do you think you can fly good?" Sari rambled. "Hey, could you do a loopty-loop with me in the cockpit? Can you fly in your Link form now? Do you think you could fight Starscream in the sky now? A firefly is a bug, and now that you can fly, you're closer to your namesake now. Could we go catch fireflies tonight? Does Diego Garcia have fireflies? Did Cybertron have anything like fireflies? But now, technically you can't be part of the Woodward Dream Cruise-"

"I couldn't be in it before." I cut her ramble off.

"Oh." Sari says, before getting a big grin. "Now you could be part of the blue angels!"

"I'm not blue. Plus, they fly F/A-18s." I joke.

"An F-22 is close enough." Sari shrugged.

"Not really, but ok." I shake my helm.

Once we get back to base, Sari and I hang out outside.

"What if I upgraded your thrusters with my key?" She asked.

"What if that sounds amazing?" I say as I transform. Don't mind us getting into trouble over here.

Sari used the key on my thrusters. I open the cockpit and let down the ladder.

"Wanna come?"

"That would be awesome!"

I do an almost vertical take-off.

"Wow!" I gasped. "That's soo much faster!"

"Woah!" Sari shouted.

For a moment, I think I spotted a something lime-green on the ground, but push the thought of getting in trouble with dad out of my mind. I try to bring myself comfort by thinking that he's still fixing his optic.

::This is Firefly, requesting high-speed fly-by.:: I contact the tower through general comms.

::Negative, Firefly. The pattern is full.::

I do it anyway, angling my wings slightly toward the tower and put on my speed before accidently making a sonic boom.

Oops.

::FIREFLY WHAT THE SLAG IS WRONG WITH YOU?!:: Prowl shouted over general comms. ::I JUST SPAT MY ENERGON ALL OVER THE FLOOR -and myself- BECAUSE OF YOU.::

::Good one, Firefly.:: Jazz laughed.

::Learning from the best.:: Sideswipe laughed. ::By the best, I mean us.::

One comm makes be very concerned. Its the next one. I play it in the cockpit for Sari.

::Firefly, I think we need to talk about your guardianship duties.:: Dad says. ::And Sari needs to be talked to about proper uses for her key.::

Aw slag. I did see him.

"We're in so much trouble." Sari whispered, saying exactly what I was thinking.

::I'm sorry.:: I say, making a sad attempt to shield myself slightly from Dad's either anger or silent disappointment. Neither sound fun right now, but if I had to take my pick I'd rather take him angry. He yells, he's mad for a minute, then its done. But his silent disappointment and quietly seething-ness is scary. You don't know how mad he is. It's- it's kinda scary.

::I know.:: Dad responds calmly.

And in that moment, I think Dad's better at hiding his emotions than Soundwave. I'm so fragged.

::Dad, we won't do it again.:: I say almost pleadingly, before thinking to myself. Please don't dismantle us.

::You're so fragged.:: Sunstreaker commed with fear in his voice. ::It was nice knowing you.::

::This isn't making me feel any better! What if I just stayed flying?::

::Sarah and Will are gonna need Sari back, and then you're gonna have to run.:: Ironhide grumbled.

::Firefly, come to the med-bay with Sari now.:: Optimus says gently.

I transform to my Bipedal form and walk into the base with Sari in my hand.

"Can you put me down?"

"Sure." I set her down. We walk through the base, and take the long way in a dismal attempt to delay the inevitable.

Once we walk into the med-bay, Dad is working on Sideswipe. First Aid calls him over for help with Wheeljack. Dad points out a few things and gives him a bit of advice. Dad finishes with Sideswipe then whacks him upside the helm for being an idiot. He runs to get out of here.

"Don't die, Firefly!" He says as he gets his aft out the door.

Dad turns his thoroughly disappointed gaze to me. "Firefly."

"Sorry."

"I'm not mad." He pulled me into a hug. "but I don't want you to make an irreversible mistake."

I nod. "Thanks, Dad."

"Of course, Sparklet." He patted my back.

I was expecting to get my aft kicked, but I'm not complaining.

Firefly and Sari aren't really good at staying out of trouble, are they?