So, it's been 2 odd years since I last updated. In recent times, I've gone back and overhauled the entire series as well as finished writing the next instalment called "Bout" which follows Rise of The Fallen.

I'm currently doing final revisions, so Bout, which will continued to be uploaded within this book, should start by Monday.

This chapter is short, as it was always meant to be, but I've had it sitting around for the 2 years admittedly. My plan was to hold back updating it until I had begun Bout...but that never happened lol.

Hope you enjoy.

Book title and summery will change soon to reflect Bout!

I would also recomend going back and rereading as things have changed across both books, most minor but in significant ways.

Chapter Eleven: Reunions

The Pentagon felt busy, but Zelda hardly paid any mind to it.

The sound of her heels on the tilted floor agitated the part of her that lived in the shadows, that preferred stealth over being in the open. It was so integrated into Zelda nowadays that even the notion of drawing attention to her made her skin crawl, especially somewhere like the Pentagon where so many specialised people lingered.

Zelda sucked it up because she was here for a reason.

Spotting Logan before he spotted her, Zelda changed her trajectory. Her heels finally caught his attention, and Logan raised his gaze from his tablet. Relief flashed across his face as Logan stood.

"Zelda," he held out a hand, and she shook it, resisting the urge to bring Logan into a hug. They were in a professional situation; they could greet each other far friendlier later. Somewhere they could hash it out, so to speak. Zelda knew Logan had some choice words for her going solo, for dropping off the radar and not letting any of the others get their rightful justice against the organisation that had haunted them since long before they were even born.

"You doing okay?" she asked, a tease in her voice. "Holding down the fort?"

Logan snorted. "As well as I can be with the integration. That team of yours is getting antsy, Ze."

Zelda smiled softly, knowing just what he was talking about. As much as she wanted to immediately head to the new base, she had some things to clear up and sort out, with MECH cohorts being arrested left and right.

She and Soma had been awarded medals in private, having no desire to make their identities public when the president announced that MECH was finally under control. There were too many risks on top of Zelda hating the notion of her face being public knowledge—it would defeat her purpose of fading into the background. Especially now, with her entwined fate with the Cybertronians, it was even more crucial than ever that Zelda be just another person on the street.

"Well, I'll be heading back at the end of the week, so I'll see them soon."

Logan hummed but didn't get a chance to respond as the door to their right opened, and General Moreshower stepped out, offering his hand, which Logan and Zelda both shook.

"It's good to see you again, Ms Larsson," Moreshower greeted.

"Just Zelda is fine, sir." Zelda assured. "And it's good to see you too."

Following the General into the office, Will Lennox looked up from his paperwork with a smile.

"Hey," Will stood, and Zelda rounded the table to shake the man's hand happily. "Good to see you again, Zelda."

"And you, Will," she chimed.

The meeting commenced.

Afterwards, as they part ways with General Moreshower, Will turned to Zelda and Logan. "There are quite a few of my unit over this side, and we're meeting up at my place for a barbeque tomorrow. You're both welcome to come. Especially since the Autobots are going to be there."

Zelda perked up since this was news to her.

Logan laughed. "I'd love to, but I'm swamped with work. I have to head out to meet up with Soma."

"But I'm definitely there," Zelda smiled. "Trade numbers?"

Will laughed and tugged his phone out.

The Lennox homestead is a quaint little house with cream walls, a thatched roof, and a front garden full of vegetables, fruit, and healthy trees. Zelda knew that they also had some chickens and goats and wondered what it was like to own a little farm like this.

Zelda parked her bike, swinging her leg over and pulled her helmet off just as a blonde woman, who had to be Sarah, opened the door with a baby on her hip.

"Hi," Sarah greeted warmly. "It's lovely to meet you, I'm guessing Zelda?"

"That's me. Sarah, right?" Zelda returned just as warmly before cooing softly at the little one. "And this must be Annabelle?"

Sarah laughed, gently rocking the baby, who stared at Zelda intently, thumb in her mouth. "It is. Come on in, Will's just beginning to warm up the grill."

Zelda followed the blonde into the house and set her bike equipment down on the sideboard by the front door, hearing the soldiers out back, chattering and joking. It brought a bittersweet smile onto her face, reminiscing about her own broken unit. They had been a family at the end of the day, all raised together since the moment they could walk and talk. Some might say it was inhumane, and Zelda was inclined to agree, but they had done some serious work that would have taken years to get to if they started later in life.

Will smiled at Zelda when he spotted her, and cheers from the group were prompt. He gestured for Zelda to join the circle, and she did, laughing.

With a beer handed to her, Zelda joined in with the chatter, getting to learn more about her future colleagues. They pry some stories out of her, mostly lighter ones, ones that wouldn't compromise anything since only Will knew about Zelda's former occupation in depth.

At one point, Sarah convinced Zelda to hold Annabelle with a teasing smile despite how Zelda protested. She had only ever held a baby once before.

"Honestly, Sarah." Zelda felt stressed just holding the little one, awkwardly cradling Annabelle against her chest.

"You're a natural," Sarah soothed, and Will, having stepped inside to get the last of the skewers, laughed softly at the sight of Zelda's pleading look, silently asking for help.

"Sarah's right," Will agreed cheerfully, not at all sympathetic to the ginger's plight.

Zelda groaned.

Eventually, Sarah granted Zelda mercy, taking Annabelle to put her down for a nap and leaving Zelda and Will beside the barbeque.

"I'm glad to see you're doing okay," Will started. "I'm sorry about the loss."

Zelda sighed, offering a small smile. "Aria is far from the first person I've lost, Will. But I'm older now, got my head on straight that I don't immediately disregard everything and go off the deep end."

Will shot her a confused glance but also understanding.

"When I was sixteen, me and my boyfriend at the time were captured by MECH. He died, and I was experimented on." Zelda took a swig of her beer, giving a little wave of her robotic arm. "I did go off the deep end in grief and guilt, and I killed a lot of MECH, but I learnt to deal with it all in better ways with Aria's help when I finally let myself go back."

"Grief makes us do lots of things," Will remarked subduedly, mulling over her words, knowing it barely scratched the surface. He had been permitted to read up on the D.A.A to better understand the skillsets of the surviving members. There had been lots of redacted, but what was there painted grim pictures for all of them.

(Will's ashamed to be associated with the government. Look, he knew America had done many things, things that were not in any way okay but child soldiers? Child spies? Child assassins? He's not ashamed to admit to vomiting at some of the things he read, and they were tame enough for him to look at.)

"Mmh," was Zelda's only response, her empty hand reaching up to tug at her ear lobe.

Zelda perked up suddenly, head turning towards the house.

Wil watched her from the corner of his eyes as excitement flashed across her face.

"The bots are here." She slipped from her perch and loped for the house, leaving Will to blink after her.

He strained his ears, only just barely able to hear the sounds of approaching vehicles. He knows his hearing is damaged, but damn, Zelda had some excellent senses.

Will heard the sudden breaking and Bumblebee's ever-growing familiar voice, filled with excitement. He smiled to himself, listening as Zelda laughed heartily, no doubt embracing his holoform. Other voices joined, and Ratchet's scolding tone followed, but it's filled with fond exasperation.

"I'm fine!" Zelda's words reach him, laughter in her voice. "Seriously, no wounds. I promise, Ratchet."

"Yes, yes," Ratchet drawled, but the scans don't lie, and Zelda's smug at proving him wrong.

Jazz swooped her up, stealing her from Bumblebee—the boy pouting—and away from Sideswipe, who attempted to hug her next.

"Jazz!" the red twin whined while Sunstreaker snorted at his brother's neediness.

Jazz laughed, and Zelda grinned, happily letting the guys fight over her. Wiggling free from Jazz, Zelda slipped up beside Optimus and Ironhide.

The latter pat her shoulder, praising her. "You did some good work, kid. You and Soma did something you've been trying to do for years in a matter of a month."

Zelda feels bittersweet about it.

"Should have gone rouge sooner," she mused. "All the restrictions on us prevented the D.A.A from really getting down to the nitty and gritty, if what we already did wasn't."

Optimus hummed. "Thinking of what ifs are a terrible way to spend your time."

Zelda blinked up at his holoform, understanding immediately what he was hinting. With an agreeing nod, she turned the topic elsewhere.

"You guys been treated well?"

"As well as we can be," Ratchet stepped beside Ironhide, watching as Jazz, Bumblebee, and Sideswipe messed around while Sunstreaker watched on with amusement. "It will take some time before the humans become comfortable around us."

"I've heard the phrase, those who bleed together stay together," Zelda remarked offhandedly, offering the doctor a smile. He snorted in response.

"That is not—"

Zelda's flash of teasing-amusement made Ironhide snigger. Ratchet sighed.

"She is not far from the mark, however," Optimus agreed.

Zelda pointed enthusiastically at the Prime "See!"