"Optimus believes Megatron is building something. The con wouldn't say much. Only Megatron sent them to gather pieces. Wouldn't say what pieces. It could be anything. We need to keep an eye out for any Decepticon activity. I'm sure they will plan to strike again." Major Lennox explains to us.

It's the next morning. All of us soldiers are formed around the platform that has been assembled in the hangar. The ones that were on the mission attempted not to yawn. Most didn't get to sleep until early in the morning. I feel bad for them, yet I envy that they can at least sleep.

"Squad 10, my tech guys. You will be splitting in half. I want eyes on the cameras at all times. We will have day team and night team. Your squad leader will let you know who's on which team. Dismissed." Lennox says, then we all disperse.

My squad stays together, waiting to hear which shift we will be on. They all start talking amongst themselves. Most are hoping for the day shift. I honestly don't care at this point. I want to slip away and go to the cliff. That's all I want right now. I must go tonight. I can't wait anymore. My sergeant starts listing names for the day shift. My name isn't one of them. That means I'm on the night shift. I can use that to my advantage.

"Those on night shift head to the racks. You'll need to switch up your sleep schedule. Be at your computers at 2000 hours. Day shift head to your stations." My sergeant orders.

"Ay, Sergeant." We all shout. Then we head our separate ways.

It's early and there are too many soldiers are moving about for me to sneak out. I prefer to wait until I'm outside the building to jump. I run out aways then jump to the cliff. There are usually no soldiers or bots outside the hangar in the evenings. Makes it easier to not be seen. This time I will have to jump from my room and pray no one is out there. I get into my room and put on my jogging gear. No one is going to stop me this time.

I think of the cliff. The tall, thick coconut tree. The ocean waves hitting the shore. The mist spraying over me. The small rock formation laying at the bottom of it. The next thing I know, I am standing there, looking over the ocean and the breeze rushes through me. I breathe it in and immediately feel rejuvenated. My eyes close for a moment taking in the scent of the salty sea. A smile grows on my face as I finally feel free again. 

"You are a liar." My eyes pop open and I freeze at the unwelcoming voice. "You said you would never go out here because it is dangerous."

My lips feel sewn shut. I never heard him coming. How long was he standing there? This can't be happening. I'm almost afraid to turn around.

"When you got up after falling through my servo. You told me 'You never saw me'. You clearly want to keep this a secret. So much so you let me believe I was crazy." His voice closer than before, "Why?"

I bit my lip and looked over the ocean quickly before turning around.

"Yes, I lied. I have a good reason." I say looking up at him.

"I'm waiting." He crosses his arms.

"I can't tell you. Please you need to forget what you saw and leave me alone." I try to say confidently.

"You fell through my servo. According to my brother, humans don't do that. I can't forget what I saw. You should have died from what I've learned about humans. I've learned far more than I want to about you fleshy things. Humans are disgusting, but none have the ability to survive a 30-foot drop or phase through things or be able to teleport. Autobots nor Decepticons can even do that. Well, there was this one con, haven't seen him in eons. But that's not the point. You can do all that. I need to know why." He's adamant. Not sure how I can get him to let this go.

"Sunstreaker, that is an answer I can not give you. No one can know about what you saw. Please, I'm begging you. Please let it go." I clasp my hands together in desperation. My eyes pleading to him.

He takes a moment, looking me over. Like he's scanning me. I can almost see the gears turning in his head. I feel guilty for lying to him, but I had no choice. No one can know my secret. His eyes then leave me, and he looks out to the ocean. A sigh leaves his lips.

"Can you at least tell me why you come out here? You said it was dangerous." He asks walking closer to the edge.

"It is very dangerous. That means no one comes out here. It's the only peace I can find in this war." It's not the whole truth, but it is the reason I started coming out here in the first place.

"I've been coming out here whenever I can. To see if you would actually show up. Sideswipe has barely let me out of his sight. Not seeing you here made me believe I did imagine what happened. Do you come here often?" I'm shocked he is still talking.

I feel his eyes on me, waiting for me to speak.

"You got lucky catching me out here this morning." I say, hoping to dodge the question.

"Answer my question." He says with a slightly angered tone.

"You can't intimidate me. I don't have to answer you." I continue to look over the ocean.

"No, I guess not. You'll just disappear before I can squish you." I try to hold back my laugh, but it comes out anyway.

"What's so funny?" He growls.

"You say I can do all these things, but if I can't, you would just kill me." I smirk up at him.

"You're still going to try and deny it?" He gets down on a knee, closing in on me.

"I didn't deny it. I just said if I can't. I will neither confirm nor deny anything." I state.

"But..." He starts.

"You should get back to base. I'm sure Sideswipe is looking for you." I interrupt, hoping to get him to leave.

He stands back up and looks over the ocean again, "He's training. Doesn't even know I'm gone. I overheard your team get split into two different shifts. So I had to try one more time to see if you would come out here." He admits.

"So, if I would have waited one more day, you would have gave up?" I ask.

"No, probably not, but I would have started to move past it." I appreciate his honesty.

I decide it's time for a subject change. "How are you doing? I'm sure the new environment has been difficult to process."

He looks down at me, his optics wide, mouth agape. He's silent for a moment before looking away and shaking his head, erasing the surprised look.

"I am fine. I'm adjusting." He breaks the silence.

"That's good. I'm glad you're doing alright." I give him a small smile.

He doesn't smile back, but he doesn't look angry anymore. I'm taking that as a good sign. Hopefully this puts him at ease enough to leave me alone. The silence looms over us again. We are both looking over the ocean. Though my eyes slowly gaze over the rock formation. I try not to turn my head towards it. I don't need Sunstreaker asking more questions than he already has. As long as he stops trying to get information, I'll be good.

"How long do you usually stay out here?" He asks quietly.

"Depends." I answer.

"On what?"

"Time. If I could I'd stay out here all day long. Sometimes I can have hours or merely a few minutes." I explain.

"That is understandable." He says after a moment.

"You do not have to stay here." I try a small attempt to get him to leave again.

"I know. I came here to confront you. I wanted to scream at you. I've been so angry since getting here." He pauses.

"I didn't give you the reaction you wanted." I finish for him.

"No and I thought that would anger me more. Sideswipe was right about you." He says more quietly.

"And what did he say about me?" My curiosity getting the best of me.

"He said you are easy to talk to, but hard to get you to talk." I feel him looking at me, studying me.

"I talk." I say defensively.

"Not about yourself. Sideswipe says he doesn't even know your first name. It's weird that humans even have two names." He says, still looking at me.

"There isn't much to know about me. I'm just a soldier. Nothing special." I look up at him slightly.

"You can go through things, teleport and survive death. That's nothing special?" He crosses his arms.

"Not gonna let that go, are you?" I can't help but smile.

"No probably not." He mutters.

That was the end of the converstation. The ocean breeze passing over us and the waves crashing on the shore below are the only sounds around us. I thought the air would be filled with tension. It could be where I am, but I feel comfortable at peace. Sunstreaker is intimidating, but not as scary as I thought. I think he is misunderstood. A part of me wants to learn more about him, but I feel I shouldn't get more involved than I already am. Though, I'm not doing a very good job of that.

"I see why you find this place so peaceful." I'm not sure how much time has passed when he speaks.

"For being so dangerous, I find this my safe place." I admit to him.

"Sideswipe is comming me. I have to go." I look up at him, he has a finger up to the side of his head.

"Then you better get out of here." I say to him.

He doesn't say anything, only nods. Then he transforms. His body moving, pieces aligning together to form his alt form. He races off, leaving me in a cloud of dust. I cough and wave it away from my face. Unfortunately, I am now covered. I'm not sure if he meant to do that or it was pure accident. Either way, I need a shower. Don't have to take those very often. I take one more look over the rock formation, then I jump or as Sunstreaker calls it, teleport, back to my room.

Dirt and dust fall from me, covering my floor. I heave a sigh before starting to undress. I shake my clothes and hair out, trying to get all the dirt out. My clothes go into my hamper, and I head to the shower. It's awkward showering. If I don't hold myself together, the water goes right through me. I wish dirt and dust would go right through, but somehow it always sticks. Haven't figured that one out yet.

I sit on my rack reading while I wait for time to fly until my shift starts. I don't know what to do otherwise. The days are going to start getting really boring. As the time gets closer. I start to put my uniform on. My hair goes up into a bun and I have an hour left. I try not to start pacing, but I don't know what to do with myself. As soon as the clock struck 1945, I scramble out the door. I'm ready to work and have my mind distracted.

Other soldiers have already left the hanger. A few bots linger around but most are doing their own thing. My small night shift is coming out of the woodwork. A few still yawning from just waking up. The day shift is shutting off their monitors and finishing things up. A few rushing, ready to get out of there. As I'm making my way to my station, I see a certain golden bot leaning against the wall out of the corner of my eye. I can't help but smile to myself. At least it's not an angry stare this time.