I think I finally feel exhausted again for the first time in a while. After a week of holding myself together wherever I go. I'm worn out. It's getting harder and harder to keep up this façade. There haven't been anymore run-ins with Sunstreaker, but he is monitoring me. He has only come out of his and his brother's room a few times. When he is out, he's leaning against the wall, staring at me. I'm getting tired of him watching me. At least he hasn't tried to grab me again, but I'm more paranoid than ever.

Tonight, I'm going out to the cliff. I can't hold off any longer. It's almost like it's calling to me now. Maybe I'll feel rejuvenated once I get out there. I'll have to sneak out of my room. I can't have certain eyes watching me leave. No one can follow me. That doesn't stop me from worrying that he will still show up. I don't know what he does after I retire to my room. All I know is that I can't stand one more night stuck in my room.

My fingers type relentlessly against the keyboard. The minutes ticking by slower than a snail. Only a few more hours left until I can leave. It's all I can think about. The cliff, coconut tree, rock formation. I need the ocean breeze flowing through me. The mist from the waves raining on me. Something that takes me away from this walking nightmare. I need to feel free. At least for now.

It feels like everyone is moving slowly around me. The hands on the clock slowly move forward. Yet my fingers move faster and faster. The feeling of my heart beating rapidly is a phantom in my chest. Nothing makes sense. I feel as if I'm moving at hyper speed. No one is keeping up with me. My eyes move back and forth from my desktop to the clock. I'm trying to focus on work, but my mind won't let me. Time slowly moves towards the end of day. Just under an hour left and I can feel the eyes on me. The same ones that watch me at the same time every day this week.

By the time the clock strikes 1630, I never turned around. I would never give him the satisfaction. Attempting to keep myself relaxed, I lock up my computer. Taking my time is harder than it looks. When I finished, I get up and carefully make my way across the hanger. I do everything I can to not make eye contact. His eyes follow me as I walk. It's unnerving and uncomfortable. I wish he would stop staring at me. As soon as I round the corner, I pick up my pace to get to my room.

"Where are you running off too?" A deep husky voice comes from behind me. His wheels screeching to a halt behind me.

"My room?" I question, turning around, keeping a blank face as I look up at him.

"You're not going to go eat with the other soldiers?" He moves closer, interrogating me.

"I can't go to my room first? Maybe I have to pee." I cross my arms, not liking where this is going.

"You get done with work everyday and go to your room immediately. You then don't leave until work in the morning. The only place to eat is the chowhall at the other side of the base. So how do you eat? Humans need to eat. Don't they?" He bends down to my level. His voice going to a whisper the more he accuses.

"You stalking me, Sunstreaker?" I get as close as I can. I will not let him intimidate me. My nose almost touching his metal face.

"You are not a normal human. There is something different about you." He ignores my question, but backs up a tad.

"None of us are normal. We are all different." I give him a small smile, "I got things to do. Please stop stalking me."

I finish and walk away. He growls lowly behind me. It keeps the smile on my face. I don't want to aggravate him, but this is getting ridiculous. I debate if I should say something to someone. If I do, they may have question why he is harassing me in the first place. That could lead to so many more questions. It could also piss off Sunstreaker more, which in turn could cause him to go off the rails on me. None of the outcomes sound good. I look back over my shoulder before entering my room. He's gone. Not sure where he went, but at least he's not watching me anymore.

My door is barely shut when the alarms start going off. I can't help the growl that leaves my vocal cords. Guess I'm not going to the cliff tonight. I hear the intercoms shouting 'Decepticon Attack'. I threw my game face on and rush back out to the hangar. Soldiers and Autobots file into the large area. Optimus shouting orders to his team. The Osprey's are already ready to go. Everyone just has to load up. I rush over to my station. Getting eyes on the activity. As I pass by, I see the twins transform and drive up the ramp into the Osprey. Lennox and Epps go with the main group onto the first one. The twins are in that group. They all know the drill. A part of me wishes I could go with them. Now isn't the time to dwell on that. My focus needs to be on the mission.

The noise around me is overpowering. I've delt with this dozens of times but this time feels different. I try hard to focus on my work while listening to the ospreys take off. My trigger finger is itching for action I'll never see again. All the bots left on the flight. Over half the soldiers left with them. I guarantee only ¾ will return. Maybe even less. Optimus does his best to protect them all, but he can only do so much. Anyone here never blames Optimus or any of the other bots. I can't say the same about civilians. Government officials specifically. One minute they are on our side, the next they hate us. Such flip floppers.

I help run recon from base. All of us here are working to keep insight on our men and bots. We are tapped into the cameras around the area the Decepticons are causing trouble. Our boys are set to arrive in a few minutes. We have only seen three lower class cons making a mess of a downtown city in a lower class country. They seem to be looking for something. Not caring where they throw things that are in their way. What they could be looking for I have no idea. I let my superior know my view on the situation. Unfortunately, we can't let them keep looking. The area has been evacuated, but that doesn't mean they can keep destroying things.

The Autobots and soldiers drop in from the sky. On one camera I am able to see Sideswipe and Sunstreaker swooping in, landing on two out of the three cons. Sunstreaker doesn't take long to rip into the con he landed on. His matching twin blades cut through him like butter. Then he stops mid swing and turns to look at something or someone. The three cons are down, two I believe are dead. Especially after the twins got to them. Sideswipe never leaves them alive. Watching Sunstreaker, I can see he does the same.

There is no sound, I only have visual. Optimus walks into the picture and over to the one left alive. He grips the con by the neck and lifts him into the air. I assume he is talking to him or trying to make him talk. The other bots and soldiers close around them. The con fights against Optimus's grip. He is much smaller than the great leader. Not going to get far. I can't see Optimus's face, but the cons face is determined. I wonder if he knows he is about to die. The cons mouth moves. I wish I could hear what they are saying. I'm so low on the totem pole, I'll be lucky if they tell me anything.

I notice Sunstreaker bouncing on his wheels. Sideswipe is watching him intently. Not sure if he is even listening to Optimus interrogate the con. It seems Sunstreaker was itching for a fight. He needed to release anger or stress. Optimus interrupting him probably doesn't sit well. My eyes shift back to Optimus, just in time to watch his fist close tightly around the cons throat. Its thrashing stops immediately. Optimus drops the lifeless body on the ground and turns towards everyone. This time I see his face and he doesn't look happy.

The group arrives back at base a few hours later. I'm not sure on details, but I believe thy went to search for whatever the cons were looking for. I was assigned to watch the outskirts to make sure no other cons were heading their way. A few more did show up, but I was unable to watch that fight go down. As far as I know, the big bad Deception leader himself, did not show. Now the bots and soldiers, that did survive, are coming off the jets, looking exhausted. Everyone is tired. It's been a long night.

The bots roll into the hanger, circling around Optimus and transform. I continue to finish up my work before I can be dismissed. Optimus starts to go over the mission. I attempt to listen, but my focus is elsewhere. I'm sure we will get some sort of briefing on it later. The ones that do the field work get the important stuff now. As I'm getting dismissed Optimus dismisses his team. I notice the twins are the first to try and slip away.

"Sunstreaker." I hear Optimus bellow.

Sunstreaker groan can be heard throughout the hanger, but he turns around and skates over to Optimus. Sideswipe at his heels.

"Sir." He says coming to a stop in front of his commander.

"When I give you an order, I expect you to follow it." Optimus says, staring down at the golden bot.

"Yes, sir." Sunstreaker sneers.

Then Optimus turns to Sideswipe, "You know better. I let you off training because of your twin, but you will be back tomorrow." Sideswipe only nods at the order, "Dismissed."

The two skate away as quickly as they can. I am released and head to my room. Other soldiers are still finishing up. Those we lost being prepared for transport. Metal coffins line the hanger. Open, waiting for the bodies to be placed inside. I get to my room, the door closed with a loud bang behind me. My body slides to the floor. The tension doesn't release. If I could have gone to the cliff, I might feel better. Nothing feels right. I'm exhausted, but sleep will never come for me. Once it does, I know I will never wake up.