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❝ CHAPTER 28 ──
WITHOUT A FIGHT ❞
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      ━━━━━ STEPHANIE WALKED WITH Sam she looked around as everyone was working to finish up things they were doing. Mearing briefly looked at them as the two came to a stop near her.

"We'll debrief you both in transit." Mearing told the two.

"Yeah, I really don't see how I can be of any help." Sam mentioned, as he walked past the monitor. "I mean, you guys seem pretty busy. We could just do this another time, I think." Sam then walked to the other side of Mearing, his hand was being pulled towards the other tech. Sam groaned in pain, Stephanie looked at her brother.

"I have underestimated you at every turn. As well as your sister."

"What?" The two questioned.

"You warned us that they were using humans. And you knew that Sentinel was the key."

"Director!" A man called out. She walked away from the siblings while Sam started to talk and Stephanie looked around at the people who had been working.

"Who am I? Hey, you're the expert. I'm just a walking security risk." As he said that, the watch shocked him, causing him to groan slightly and roll over the table to the other side where Mearing was. Stephanie quickly ran to the other side standing next to her brother. Mearing looked at the two.

"Are you all right?" She asked Sam.

His face had started to turn red. "Yes." He simply answered, Stephanie knew it was a lie, and Mearing had picked up on it as well.

"No, you're not. You're sweating."

"I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm sweating because I'm nervous. I'm nervous because you got me in here with this information. Okay, I'm a Twitter junkie. I blog everything. I can't keep a secret to save my life." Stephanie sighed internally and lowered her head at her brother.

"Oh, you wouldn't dare."

"That's the truth. I'm telling you."

"Director, the Pentagon's calling in 15." She then walked away from the two, Stephanie watched her brother lift his hand over one of the man's head.

"What are you doing?" He asked Sam.

"Nothing. What are you doing?"

"Get away from me." After that the two met back up with Mearing, they stood in front of a screen watching the news report.

"It's been a remarkable series of events today at the Capitol. Just moments ago, legislation was passed to exile the Autobots from American shores. The U.S. military alliance with them is officially over. In the words of the House Majority Leader, the sponsor of today's resolution, "We cannot in good conscience...""

"What? They can't do." Sam said, while Stephanie stood there in shock. "You gotta tell them. They can't do that."

"Okay. It's official. It's a go, people."

"No." Stephanie breathed out, turning her head to look at Mearing.

"These are our allies. The Autobots fought for us. They fought with us."

"And where are we now? Facing an enemy invasion with an enemy that has the means to deploy countless more."

"You're a coward." Stephanie shouted, as Mearing turned away. The woman ignored her and walked away from the Witwicky siblings.

───── ☾☾☾ ─────

They were on a plan with Mearing, Stephanie sat on the opposite side of her brother and Mearing. She was looking out the window, too pissed to talk to anyone.

"If there is any more either of you know, anything at all about the enemy's intentions..." She paused looking between Sam and Stephanie. "...now is the time to tell."

"Autobots have no way of leaving this planet." Sam replied.

"And that is where you're wrong. Its name is the Xanthium. It brought the second wave of Autobots, and it's been under NASA's care and study ever since. We linked it with a decommissioned shuttle to maintain military control until they're gone."

They arrived at the small airport where the Autobots would have to leave. Once in the car they made it to where some of the Autobots had been. Stephanie stepped out of the car and walked to the front of the car standing next to her brother.

"Gonna be 10,00 pounds of torque on that itsy-bitsy bolt, not 19!"

"You're gonna risk the lives of all me mates! I'll ball you!"

"These guys are the Wreckers. They take care of the Xanthium. We don't let them off the base much, cause they're assholes." Mearing explained to the siblings.

"You gotta pull that, ya Nancy wanker!"

"It's time to kill him!"

"I'm just trying to help, you know. Just doing my job."

"Just calm down. Leave him alone. This is a human being." Epps said. Sam and Stephanie walked away from Mearing to catch up to them.

"Epps!" Sam shouted. Epps turned to see the Witwicky siblings staring at him, he then placed a smile on his lips. "Is that you?"

"What up, man?" He and Sam grabbed each other's hand but Sam wouldn't let go.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asked him.

"I retired from the Air Force. Can you let my hand go?" Sam dropped his hand but held onto it while Epps walked towards Stephanie. "What the hell was that?" Epps pulled Stephanie into a hug while Stephanie hugged him back. "The red looks good, Steph."

"Thank you." Stephanie said, as she pulled away from her friend.

"Now I just consult to run interference for them."

"Well, you're not helping!" Roadbuster said.

"No more combat and aliens shooting at my ass. I got a dream job."

"Time to get off this planet."

"Kicking the Autobots out. Can you believe this is happening?" Epps asked the two.

"No, not in a million years." Stephanie mumbled.

"Where do you think it's taking them?" Sam asked.

"Any planet but here."

Stephanie stood near her brother, but she had her eyes on Simmons as he rolled in on a wheelchair. It was clear he had taken damage when they were attacked. Dutch was walking behind him, he too had suffered an injury, as he had a neck brace on.

"I wanna talk to whoever's in charge here." Simmons shouted. He came up to them and his wheelchair slid to the stop. Mearing walked up as Simmons looked at her. "Well, well, well. Charlotte Mearing."

"Agent Simmons. Former Agent Simmons. So, I see you survived Washington." Mearing said, staring at the man.

"Washington, Egypt, heartbreak. I survive. I will survive. They're bringing everybody in, kid. Putting all the intel on the table. And if you think deporting ten Autobots is gonna solve a damn thing─"

"It's out of my hands." They walked away from the Witwicky siblings. Hero and Caspian had been brought over and they stood with them. The four watched as they started to get the Autobots onto the Xanthium.

"Sammy, listen to me. Don't let them exile us." Wheelie said.

"Don't let them take us, Sam, Steph." Brains said.

"It's a Decepticon trap."

They had been taken to the cars, Stephanie and the others were also taken to the cars. At least they would get a goodbye even if it wasn't the one she wanted. Hero and Caspian stayed back with the others while Sam and Stephanie walked towards the Autobots. Optimus looked down at the two humans as they walked closer to him.

"Optimus?" Sam called out.

"What your leaders say is true. This was all my fault. I told them whom to trust. I was so wrong." Optimus told them.

"That doesn't make it your fault. It just makes you human for a change."

"Remember this. You may lose your faith in us, but never in yourselves." Optimus went to turn around.

"I don't want you to leave." Stephanie said. Sam groaned shortly after causing the redhead to look at him.

"I need to know how you're gonna fight back. I know this is strategy, I know you're coming back with reinforcements, something. I know there's a plan. You can tell us. No other human will ever know."

Optimus looked back at them. "There is no plan."

"If we just do what they want, how are we gonna live with ourselves?"

"You are my friend, Sam. As is Stephanie. You always will be. But your leaders have spoken. From here the fight will be your own." Optimus turned away from them as Bumblebee and Daisy walked towards them. "Make it short. We're loading up."

Stephanie separated from her brother and walked over to Daisy as she kneeled down to look at her.

"I don't want you to leave." Stephanie said, looking up at her Autobot friend.

"Steph, you will always be my friend. I will never forget you. It was an honor to be by your side." Daisy replied.

Stephanie could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks as Daisy stood up and turned away from her. Sam walked to the edge while Simmons rolled up to him. Hero and Caspian came up to Stephanie as she watched Daisy and Bee walk away from them.

"Years from now, they're gonna ask us, 'Where were you when they took over the planet?' We're gonna say, 'We just stood by and watched.'"

"No, don't go!" Stephanie shouted as she started to run away. Hero ran after her and tackled her to the ground, not letting go of the redhead. "No, let me go! Let me go! I won't let them leave."

"Stephanie, this isn't the way to win the fight. You know that." Hero told her as he held her arms down to the ground.

"I can't let them do this, Hero. I can't." She cried out.

"It's not your choice."

They were pulled back, Stephanie, Hero, Sam, and Caspian sat outside watching the ship lift off the ground and fly towards space. Sam took his phone out as Dylan called him, he put him on speaker so they could hear the conversation.

"You wanted an answer. You got one." Sam told the man.

"I always get what I want, Sam. We just needed to be sure." Dylan replied.

"Sure of what?"

"That they would go without a fight." Stephanie turned looking away from her brother and up towards the rocket. They watched as missiles were fired at the rocket, hitting it and causing it to explode. Stephanie collapsed to the ground as tears fell down her face. Hero kneeled down and hugged her tightly.