"Stars only fade when the sun rises."

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Toby's head leans heavily on Ratchet's passenger seat, mouth agape and ginger hair covering her eyes. Soft snores leave her lips on occasion, blowing strands of hair with each exhale. Ratchet chuckles to himself at her appearance, glad that she's finally resting her body.

A bellowing horn causes the woman to shoot forwards, eyes wild and hair a mess, kicking the medic's glove box out of reflex.

"I'm awake!" Her scream makes Ratchet cringe, though seeing Optimus make a sharp u-turn to follow a convoy of military vehicles, he tightens Toby's seat belt to keep her from flying into his window. The mechanic screams again, caught off guard by the sudden movement and nearly short circuiting the medic's audio receptor in the process.

A split second passes as Toby struggles to grasp what is happening, staring blankly at the cars in front.

"It's Bumblebee!" She pauses, expression brightening. "Piston, could you open a comm channel with him?"

"Already working on it."

:.—timus!.: Sam's high pitched voice cause Toby to clap her hands over her ears.

"Yes, 'tis us," she sarcastically remarks. "But there is no need to use such a volume."

:.Toby? What are you—?.:

"I was invited. Now, what's happening? Does it have anything to do with Megatron or the Allspark?" The dead silence on the comm channel makes the woman realise that her sarcastic question is actually relevant. "Oh frag, it's both isn't it?"

:.Not by choice!.:

"Ah, what the hell, we only live once anyways," she sighs, though shudders slightly from an unknown feeling. Her eyes widen in panic and terror. "The Allspark, is it safe with you?!"

:.H-how do you—.: The whiny teenager doesn't get to finish his sentence, interrupted by the ever-impressive Mikaela Banes, :.—It's safe! But Megatron's back!.:

"I figured!" Toby growls at the comm, throwing her hands up in frustrated stress. "'Bee, what's the plan?"

:.~All~spark~to the city~safe from evil.: The radio whirs an answer from the Autobot scout.

"So we're hiding the Allspark somewhere in the city?" The woman checks, wanting to know everything that can sway the course of the events about to occur.

:.~Yes, ma'am.:

"And I presume that these military guys are your convoy?"

:.~Aye aye.:

"Contact the lead vehicle if you can, and tell them to prepare for heavy fire. See if they can evacuate people," Toby runs a hand through her hair, feeling overly connected to the whole thing. "There's no way the Decepticons are giving up without a battle. They won't care who gets hurt or who sees them. Got that?"

:.~You can count on me.: His reply ends the comm connection and the woman sighs nervously.

"I've got a really bad feeling about this, Ratchet," Toby whines fearfully, hugging her arms to her body.

The use of his designation catches the medic's attention, notifying him of how terrified the girl is.

"And don't try to tell me that it's gonna be alright, because I know it's unlikely that I will survive this."

"You will survive, I will make sure of it."

"I guess we'll see then," she looks out the window at the approaching city, "the battle is about to begin."

Sirens begin to blare behind them, causing Toby to look back in confusion. She swallows thickly, eyes wide in horror as she observes a minesweeper vehicle ram a civilian car off the road, and flip another, leaving nothing but scrap on the highway. A police cruiser speeds through the wreckage, almost trying to gain on the convoy.

Tires squeal as Optimus slams on his brakes, his unspoken command urging Ratchet and Ironhide to stay close to the scout. The minesweeper breaks apart, it's pieces rearranging themselves to form a twisted looking Cybertronian with devilish red optics—a Decepticon. Fear embraces Toby's very soul, shaking her to the core but fueling her motivation to push onward into the battle.

Metal clashes, this time more gracefully as Optimus transforms, stumbling to gain his balance while avoiding the cars in his path. Tarmac cracks beneath him, his pedes digging into the road to slow his velocity.

The Decepticon skates closer, tearing through a bus to reach its target. Toby's heart wrenches at the thought of the people inside, but shoves them away as her determination to get through this grows. The 'con tackles Optimus, throwing him off one the bridges and to the ground below.

With her lost visual, Toby can only pray that the Autobot leader can handle himself as the convoy enters to city.

Buildings loom ominously overhead, casting long shadows on the convoy below. Streets are full of innocents, civilians who have no idea what is about to happen. People stare in curiosity and confusion at the strange group of vehicles speeding down the road.

They come to a stop somewhere in the middle of the city, several soldiers exiting their cars while Sam and Mikaela get out of 'Bee's alt. It takes a few moments for Toby to leave Ratchet's alt, but when she does, there is no trace of fear, every emotion hidden by a steel mask. Her hand rests on her corrected plasma gun and the other on the brim of her snow white cap.

"Air Force has arrived! Pop smoke!" One of the soldiers calls, clearly in charge of the group of military men.

Green smoke billows in the air, and the sound of jet engines is deafening as a F-22 flies low between the buildings. Suspicion ebbs at the back of Toby's mind, telling her to turn tail and run, but she ignores it, unwilling to flee before the fight has begun.

"Raptor, Raptor, do you copy?" Another soldier speaks into a radio, making the young woman look up. She knows that voice. "We have you visual. Green smoke is the mark. Provide air cover and vector Black Hawks for extraction."

"It's Starscream!" Ironhide transforms, sending all the civilians running and screaming in terror.

"Please tell me you copy," the soldier begs.

"Back up! Take cover! Bumblebee!" Ironhide calls out to the young scout as he transforms.

The two hoist up a nearby Furby truck as the jet circles around, finally getting the humans behind to understand. Orders are delivered, sending the soldiers out of their vehicles and away from the area. A metal servo scoops Toby off the ground and pulls her close to a chassis just as two missiles come into view.

An ear-shattering explosion rips through the street, sending concrete and metal up into the air. The Autobot cradling the young woman falls to the ground in a thundering crash unheard by those nearby, saving her from the worst of the blast and leaving her with only scrapes and bruises.

The world only exists as a whining hum to Toby; colours are blending together and up is down. Nothing's quite right but is better than it could be.

"Ratchet!" A faint voice screams through the settling dust.

The woman remains unmoving, regaining her breath from the unexpected attack.

"Toby," the servo handling her moves to reveal a concerned Ratchet. "Toby, are you alright?"

"Ratchet, I'm fine," she waves off his concern, gesturing for him to put her down. "There's a war going on, let's focus on that."

Almost reluctantly, the medic places her on the ground, standing to his pedes as he does. Toby nods to him, accepting that his duty to protect the city must remain greater than his promise to protect her.

"Don't do anything stupid," Ratchet mutters, not really intending for her to hear him.

"Everything I do is stupid, Piston!" She forces a laugh before giving him a stern glare. "Don't die."

He nods, turning away to defend the civilians and soldiers from incoming Decepticons. Toby breathes deeply, attempting to wash away her fear before looking for Sam, or more specifically, the Allspark.

Chunks of tarmac and building pieces lay scattered in the street, steel wires exposed from their concrete casings. A panicked beg eases through nearby debris, drawing Toby to the familiar voice.

"You got to get up. You're okay," Sam pleads to the person.

The woman's eyes widen upon seeing the situation as she climbs over a flipped car. Both Sam and Mikaela stand by a crippled Bumblebee, his pedes blown off by the blast. The scout whirs and beeps in absolute agony, dragging himself over to a small cube.

Sam collapses on a chunk of tarmac in front of 'Bee as Mikaela runs off to make herself useful. Bumblebee continues to crawl, making the mechanic snap out her small daze.

"'Bee!" The two look over to see Toby jump off the car, landing without so much as a stumble. "Don't do that! Don't move!"

She kneels beside him, assessing his injures the best she can. The scout whirs in protest, only to receive a sharp glare as she checks his energeon lines.

"What are you doing?" Toby sighs, halting her examination to look at the boy.

"Making sure that he won't bleed out."

"How?"

She shakes her head in disbelief. "We're in the middle of a battle, and you want to ask me that now?"

"Sorry," he mumbles, looking at Bumblebee in devastation.

"You should be fine, 'Bee," she pats his stabiliser tenderly before getting up to stand by Sam.

Her gaze is captured by a small cube lying amongst the rubble, deep markings and symbols carved into it. It seems almost familiar to her, but the memory is just out of reach. Though she knows it's powerful; the Cube has an aura of raw energy.

A shell explodes nearby, showering the trio with dirt. Another soon follows, this time much closer. Toby pulls Sam to the ground as she peeks over the pile of rubble.

A tank rolls down the street, crushing a car in its path and sending civilians screaming as they run. It fires upon a group of soldiers, their vehicles driving to meet it head on. An engine roars promisingly in a different street, a siren sounding as well to solidify said promise.

"I'm not gonna leave you," Toby looks back down at Sam, finding him watching Bumblebee as he hands him the Cube. Every ounce of cruelty and harsh attitude the woman has towards the boy immediately melts away. To hold that relic of the universe, he must be worthy.

"I take it that's the Allspark?" 'Bee nods, his optics locked with the woman's eyes. He sees the guilt and acceptance. He knows she's willing to fight.

The sound of gunfire catches her attention, drawing her back to watch the tank.

'Wait a second. Is that Ironhide?'

A Topkick pickup truck speeds past, his wind blowing back Toby's hair. He swerves to avoid a shell, and transforms halfway to prepare for the next attack. Suddenly, he jumps, transforming completely as two shells pass under him. As he comes down, his servos disappear, replaced by his cannons, and he fires at the ground, propelling him up as he rights himself. His pedes land on the road, but upon seeing another projectile, he catapults himself over it, barely missing the shell before landing in a roll.

"Come on, Decepticon punk," out of nowhere, Jazz hops onto the tank, spinning its barrel before it can fire.

The tank transforms, standing up as Jazz successfully kicks off one of its cannons before it grabs his pede and throws him into a building across the street. Using the time granted to him, Ironhide fires at the tank, twisting in the air to avoid another two shells while continuously shooting at the 'con.

As the weapon specialist lands in a tumble, Jazz slides past, his shield raised to deflect attacks. Ratchet leaps off a nearby car and spins, his saw blade running at a deadly speed as he hacks off the 'con's arm, landing with nothing that resembles exhaustion.

The soldiers fire their guns in an attempt to help, only to have their efforts blown away as the medic shoots the tank in the chassis, offlining it for good.

Something utterly massive lands behind several buildings, muttering to itself.

"It's Megatron! Retreat! Move! Fall back! Fall back!" Ratchet commands, his words making Toby freeze in fear. It's one thing to see a hologram, but another entirely to be in the presence of the real deal.

Screams of terror cloud the air, deafening to those listening. Death. So much death. Toby can see the bodies of the people who have perished already and the grief of those who lost them. This is war. To think that she was going to fight. She should run. Every instinct is commanding her muscles to move, to get away from the Decepticon Lord. But she can't. Not now—not while she has a chance to fight back. The woman pulls up mental barriers in her mind, an attempt to block out the cowardly thoughts. She will fight beside the Autobots as one of them, no matter what it takes.

Sam jolts beside her, the Allspark in his arms, causing her to look over at the thing that scared him. A tow truck sits where there was once empty street, its driver side door slamming shut as someone jumps out. To the woman's surprise, Mikaela comes into view, her appearance making Sam stand.

"Sam, help me with this," she pulls him over to the back of the truck, gesturing to Toby as well.

The woman quickly catches on, yanking on the cables and handing them to the teenagers. She soon joins them as they attach them onto Bumblebee's armour, though reluctant to allow the scout permission to do this at the thought of worsening his injuries.

The air vibrates with the sound of a jet, followed almost immediately afterwards with the sight of the aircraft. Only this one appears to be half jet, as a claw holds the Autobot First Lieutenant in its grasp. It flies up to the top of the buildings, its form shifting into a monster many times the size bigger than it was and traps Jazz beneath its pede as it lands on a clock tower. Jazz squirms, his efforts of escape useless against this foe.

"Is that all you've got Megatron?" He cockily addresses the Decepticon before he's grabbed again.

"Come here, you little cretin," Megatron growls, picking up the lieutenant.

Fear and panic fills Toby, the emotions reminding her of the gun in her pocket. Her fingers fumble for the grip as she runs, every second it takes losing time for Jazz.

"You wanna piece of me?" Her finger slides onto the trigger, the barrel of the gun pointing at Megatron's back. "You want a piece?"

Time slows dramatically as the Decepticon grabs the other side of Jazz. Every gear and joint becomes visible to the woman. She sees them spin and tick, each motion aiding in the movement of the giant.

Her heart pounds in her ears. Babum...... Babum...... Babum...... Babum. Screams become silent.

A weak breeze blows a short strand of hair in front of her face, the ginger lock not hindering her sight. She inhales the dusty air. In......... and out.

"No," Megatron snarls, pulling on Jazz.

The gun whirs dangerously, powering the deadly shot.

Jazz screams in pain, the parts in his abdomen popping and snapping out of place.

"I want—"

Click.

Time returns as the projectile flies free, it's intended target tormenting the Autobot in his claws as he prolongs his agony.

Boom.

Toby blinks, her heart thundering in her chest.

'No.'

"—two."

Jazz's screams come to an abrupt end as Megatron tears him in half.

Toby chokes on a sob, her hand plastering itself on her mouth as she fights back the flood of emotions. She falls to her knees, gun slipping from her hand in shock.

"You think that a child's toy can sway me?" The Decepticon turns to face the trembling woman, a grin on his dermas, though misses the change of expression on her face. "Pathetic."

The woman shakes her head, hands clenching into fists as she moves. First, the gun is returned to her pocket. Then, she fights to stand on her feet. Her knees shake. Fury is difficult to contain.

She glances at Megatron one last time, finding his optics already on her. Toby growls lowly and forces herself to turn around and run.

Her feet pick up the pace, and as she turns to avoid a chunk of concrete, she barrels into someone. She falls backwards, landing rather ungracefully on her rear.

"What are you doing, kid?" The man picks himself off the ground, revealing his military uniform.

"Helping," Toby replies sharply, getting to her feet before moving past him.

"Hey," he grabs her arm, "I can't allow another civilian to get into this mess."

"With all due respect, sir," she snatches her arm from his grip, glaring at him menacingly, "I know what I'm doing."

The soldier appears to be about to retort, only to be interrupted by a shout. "Toby?"

The woman freezes, turning around to face the owner of the voice. "Uncle Robert?"

An African-American man in uniform stands in momentary shock before composing himself. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I got caught up in an alien war, same as you," she shrugs, already turning back to find Sam. "As nice as this is, we both have a battle to fight."

"Stay safe, kiddo," he nods reluctantly.

Toby smiles to herself, jogging through the street towards the place she abandoned the teenagers, stumbling across the same soldier from before shouting at Sam.

"Listen to me! You're a soldier now! Alright? I need you to take this Cube. Get it into military hands while we hold them off, or a lot of people are gonna die," he turns to Mikaela, who pretty much just glares at him. "You gotta go. You gotta go."

"No, I'm not leaving," she stays out of his grip, dodging his attempts to gently grab her.

"You need to go. Go."

"No, I'm not leaving 'til I get Bumblebee out of here, okay?" Her eyes harden, making the soldier falter.

"Hey," all eyes look at Toby, "what's the plan? I missed half of it."

"You are getting out of here."

"Let me make myself clear," she glances at the soldier's name tag on his vest, "Lennox, I have been with these guys since the beginning of this. And I made a promise. One that I'm not going to break, especially now after watching that demented owl Decepticon, Megatron, rip apart one of my friends."

Lennox doesn't make an attempt to stop the woman as she marches over to Sam, her rage boiling in her eyes. "Sam is taking the Cube to that building over there," the captain points, gaining a nod from Toby, "and we are buying him time."

"Time that we are now wasting," Toby pats the teenager with the back of her hand, jerking her head in the direction of the building. "Come on, I'll help cover you."

"You got a gun?" Lennox asks, wanting to know if she needs to be armed.

"Of sorts," she smirks, turning away with Sam before he starts to run.

"Sam, we will protect you," Toby jumps, unaware of Ironhide's presence, but smiles upon seeing the Autobot medic behind him.

"Already forgotten me, Trigger Fingers?" She smirks, holding her arms out wide in a sarcastic motion. "Some friend you are."

"We will keep you safe."

"I'll do that on my own, my priority is Sam and that Cube," the mechanic grabs the teen's sleeve, jerking him forward as a gesture to run. "Come on."

"Sam!" The boy slips from Toby's hand, halting at the sound of Mikaela's voice. "No matter what happens, I'm really glad I got in that car with you."

Toby groans, once again pulling him away from his girlfriend. "As romantic as this moment is, now is not the time!"

"Get to the building!" Ironhide orders, backed up by a 'move!' from Ratchet as he readies his weapon.

The two take off running, Toby practically dragging the teenager behind her as her feet pound against the road. Never, in all her life, has she ever run so fast. Missiles and shells explode behind them, spraying them with dust as Ratchet and Ironhide fire back at the enemy.

Toby glances over her shoulder, her eyes widening upon seeing the tank Decepticon shooting at them. "I thought that guy was dead!"

"Can't. Talk. Keep. Running," Sam puffs, sprinting faster than previously, threatening to leave the woman in his dust.

A familiar jet engine roars in their ears, and Toby tackles the boy to the ground, shielding him with her own body. The telltale sound of a Cybertronian transforming rattles their bones, the Decepticon kicking the cars at its pedes in an explosion of blinding sparks, sending them in all directions.

Toby howls in pain, a piece of scrap metal ripping across her back, though its sound is lost in the heat of the battle. She risks a peek at the Decepticon towering over them and tilts her head at his shape. Starscream shrieks in blood lust, firing at the two Autobots in front as they return the favour. After dealing his damage, he flies off, going between Ironhide and Ratchet as they collapse from their wounds.

"Get Sam to the building," Ironhide rasps, steadying himself with a cannon.

Toby rolls off Sam, biting her lip to keep from whimpering when chunks of stone enter the gash on her back. He helps her stand, failing to notice her pain as he pulls her to run alongside him.

People fill the streets, all screaming in terror as they try to escape the city. Those unaware of the current battle are left confused and abandoned on the side of the road, many still driving their cars as though nothing about today is different.

The duo knock over several people, not bothering to apologise as they sprint through the crowds. They run out onto the road to avoid the worst of the people, risking the cars that drive there. Then, for the second time in five minutes, Toby sees a danger that heads straight towards Sam.

The boy tumbles to the ground, the Allspark falling from his hands and landing on the pavement with a shockwave of blue sparks. A groan has Sam looking behind him, discovering Toby sprawled on the tarmac and a car a mere foot away. She coughs, slowly picking herself from the dirt with the bumper of the car that knocked her flat.

"Toby!" Sam lifts her to her feet, though she ignores him, displaying a rather vulgar hand gesture to the driver before stumbling over to the Cube. As she reaches to grab it, her attention is captured by something else.

Two sets of blood red optics stare at her in fear, rage, and respect. The woman freezes, eyes locked on the two Cybertronian youngsters in front of her.

"Run, children," she whispers, her voice imprinting in their young processors. "Run from this battle and be safe."

They scatter, taking her words to spark as they make their escape. Toby sighs, the breath painful and difficult, her hands hovering over the Allspark.

"Sam, you are going to take this and run as fast as you possibly can, do you hear me?" She looks over her shoulder at the boy, who only now sees the wound across her back.

He gulps thickly, nodding his head. She breathes in relief, finally taking the Allspark in her two hands. Toby turns to return the Cube to its runner, only to drop it.

Blue sparks run up her arms, an intensifying feeling of heat and raw power speeding through her veins. She inhales sharply, her chest tightening as she collapses to the ground in complete agony. A groan leaves her lips, her head beginning to pound and the world starts to spin.

"Toby!" The voice echoes madly in her skull, causing the woman's stomach to knot.

"Go," she manages to say, words slurring. "Leave me."

"No! I-I can't—"

"Go!" Toby roars, scaring the boy into moving. She only hears his fading footsteps as he disappears, abandoning her to suffer in agony.

Noise merges into an ear splitting whine, making the woman clap her hands over her ears to silence it. The knot in her stomach grows, and fire burns throughout her body. Memories flash past in a blur, speeding through her life until suddenly they stop. One image remains in her mind. Megatron.

That rust-bucket murdered her good friend. That nightmarish beast wants to destroy all that's good. That Decepticon is going to die.

A combination of adrenaline and hard set determination gives Toby the will to stand, her pain numbing her body until she can't feel anything at all. The world becomes silent, the screaming people of Mission City running without a sound—like a movie put on mute. Wind ruffles her hair as she turns toward the raging battle.

She sees Optimus be blasted into a building, falling to the ground with a pained grunt. The cause is not hard to miss. Megatron stands victorious, looking to where Sam once stood, finding only the woman with her gaze locked on his form.

He laughs, a cruel sound that sends shivers down one's spine, finding amusement in the human's hatred. The Decepticon Warlord narrows his optics at her, recognising her as the one who shot him.

"Primus sends two to end me, but I shall end them both!"

The woman tilts her head, eyes cold, and hand on her gun. "I wouldn't say so, Megatron," her voice is deadly soft, carrying through the air. "No-one sent me."

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

I hope y'all enjoyed this!

See ya in the next chapter!

Drag0nRider out!