I had been out on a drive with Xandred most of the day, just talking with the mech about random things- and sometimes telling him about Barricade and the sweet things he had done… I wanted to know if it was all fake, if he ever meant any of it but I wouldn’t have that chance- not after what I last told him, but I was angry and now I regret my words…

                All of a sudden Optimus spoke over Xandred’s comm, telling us to return to the base. Apparently while we had been gone, they had been dealing with Decepticon attacks- and apparently whatever it had been about, was important and involved us. “Don’t worry X, we can try and go out on a peaceful drive some other time.” I said, grinning at him.

                Xandred simply chuckled and rolled his eyes, as he gunned it back to the base- of course as soon as we got there, we noticed the glances and slight glares we received and it made me move back into my seat more. “Xandred, what do you think happened?” I mumbled, getting a shrug from the mech but I could tell he was just as confused as I was.

                As soon as we were in the hanger with Optimus, I slipped out so Xandred could transform. “Optimus, what happened?” I asked, burying my hands in my jean pockets as rocking back on the heels on my tennis shoes while waiting for an answer. If everyone was on alert like this, then it couldn’t be good at all.

                “Megatron revealed to us that Barricade has betrayed the Decepticons, by setting free a captive they had… he was beaten but somehow got away, running off severely damaged. I’m sorry for your loss Lucille… one of the seekers spoke up, saying he had one last message for you.” Optimus whispered, causing me to gasp and put a hand to my mouth.

                “He said that ‘The light is following me, and the flowers surround me’ and none of us knows what it means… do you, Lucille? We all believed that maybe it meant in his time of dying, he had finally realized the horrible ways of the Decepticons… and that maybe he wanted to join the Autobots but it was too late for him.”

                Immediately I knew what the words meant, during the beginning of sophomore year- Cade and I had come up with codes to where we would be, and that code… I knew exactly where he was. “Optimus, back before I knew Cade as Barricade… we came up with these codes of places we would go, and that is the code for a meadow we found the summer after freshman year!” I said, a grin on my lips.

                Immediately I turned around, racing towards where the jeeps were being kept- of course I was stopped by Lennox right as I got there, and I struggled to try and get out of his arms. “Uncle Lennox, I have to save him! I can’t let him die, after all he’s done… I still love him, and I don’t want him to die- especially after the last words I said to him.” I said, as I turned around with my wrist still caught in his hand.

                He looked as though he was having an inner war with himself, before sighing and grinning at me. “You can go, but not without me and Epps.” He says, and my other uncle came running through the door to join us. “Now, let’s get going. We’re going to need to take a trailer bed, we’ll have to hook it to one of the jeeps that can handle that and possibly Barricade as well.”

                “There is no need for that, Major Lennox. I will accompany you in rescuing Barricade, as long as you three will allow me to go with you.” Optimus says, making all three of us jump in shock- how had a mech his size snuck up on all three of us?! “We need all the help we can get Optimus, so you are more than welcome to come.” Lennox said, grinning up at the mech.

                Soon it was me, my two uncles, Optimus, Ratchet, and Ironhide on the way to the meadow- and just when we were about to get there, it started pouring down rain. I kept glancing out of Optimus’ windows, wishing for us to get there before it was too late to save Barricade… I couldn’t let him die, not without letting him know I still loved him and I was sorry.

                Before we even came to a full stop when we reached the meadow, I had thrown the door open and raced out- I was soaking wet within seconds of running towards the edge of the meadow, looking for the one spot the code was deemed to be. I couldn’t tell at all, since the storm clouds were blocking the sun out… There’s only one last thing I could do.

                “Barricade!” I yelled, my hands around my mouth so it would be louder and echo more too. “Barricade!” I kept yelling his name for a few minutes, before suddenly I heard a plasma cannon charge up before going off- firing off into the sky and giving away Barricade’s position. Instantly my legs starting racing me towards where the cannon had gone off, my ears deaf to the sound of the others yelling for me to come back.

                I raced to the edge of the hill and lost my footing, sliding down the hill of mud and scratching my arms, legs, and various other exposed places but I ignored the pain completely- I was more worried about Barricade, and I continued running even though I knew I would be feeling the horrible pain to come later on when I finally relaxed.

                I slid around a corner into a clear grove of trees, almost losing my footing again from the mud but barely catching myself against a tree- and that’s when I saw Barricade, in his bi-pedal form. I could see bright blue energon all around him, but his optics weren’t online. I could still hear him breathing though, but it was shallow… he was still alive, but not for too much longer.

                “Bariccade…” I whispered, but he seemed to have heard me- because his optics came online and he looked straight at me, his optics widening slightly and a small smile showing on his faceplates at the sight of me. Ignoring the pain I was starting to feel, I raced forwards and fell beside him- letting the tears finally slip out of my eyes. “I-I’m sorry, ‘Cade… I’m sorry for what I said…” I whispered, starting to sob.

                I felt him gently scoop me up while groaning in slight pain, making me glance up at him with wide eyes. “No ‘Cade stop, you’re going to injure yourself even more!” I said, trying to stop him but he wouldn’t listen to me- same old stubborn ‘Cade. I stared up into his optics, and I could see the pain in them from his wounds.

                “Lucy… I thought I wasn’t going to see you again.” He rasped, gasping painfully from talking. “Shh, don’t talk ‘Cade… the others will be here soon, don’t worry. You aren’t going to offline yet, you’re still stuck here on earth with me.” I said, tears welling up in my eyes and slipping down my face the longer we stayed here and spoke.

                I heard the sound of tires racing in the mud, before I saw the others pull into the clearing- but that was the last thing I saw, the day’s events finally getting to me and causing me to go unconscious. The last thing I heard was Barricade yelling at them to help me instead of him, even after Ratchet told him I was perfectly fine that I had just passed out due to the adrenaline wearing off and pain finally taking its place.

Hey my lovely readers, as you can see I updated- but it's not Sunday! It's Monday! XD

I decided (well, my friend said I should) to spoil you and let you read this chapter- over 1,300 words.

My friend said this chapter was awesome (but she said it in all caps) and I decided to let you all read it a week early!