Your POV
"And this is why I stayed out of school for as long as I could before Fowler forced me back into this miserable place." You mutter, watching with mild amusement as your English class erupts into chaos for what seemed to be the twentieth time in the seventy five minute time span that teachers typically use for instructional purposes.

"Be quiet! All of you!" The supply teacher snaps as the class continues it's rioting. "Don't make me get the Principal!"

Like that'll do anything. Tomorrow is summer vacation. I don't think even the President of the United States could calm this class.

You sigh, feeling genuinely bad for the teacher who had sat back down and buried her head in her novel once more, completely ignoring the chaos unfolding in front of her. You on the other hand had also had enough and fish your phone from your pocket, along with your earbuds, and begin to search for a suitable playlist.

Deciding on your most recently played 80's playlist, you tap the shuffle button, your phone deciding to play 'It's the End of The World As We Know It' by R.E.M.

"Suitable song." You chuckle quietly, the various noises being drowned out by your music.

"Alright! That is enough!" The supply teacher yells, slamming her book down on the desk, the class dropping into an eerie silence. "All of you need to calm down!"

Some kid in the back of the class smartly retorts, "Yeah right, Teach."

The defeated supply only sighs in frustration.

"You all have my permission to go for lunch early. There's only five minutes left of class anyway..."

Almost instantaneously, the entire class, minus you who had your head buried underneath your arms in a vain attempt to block out the remaining noise that remained audible through your music, rush to their feet and stomp out of the door and into the hallway, howling in satisfaction.

Not noticing the class' sudden absence you remain in your seat, waiting for the bell which signals the end of this education system that had managed to waste so much of your lifetime.

Finally some peace and quiet... Something isn't right here.

Your head snaps up, scanning the now empty classroom.

"Everyone just got up and left?" You muse aloud, directing your question to the woman at the front of the room who was typing away on her computer furiously.

"Yes. I told those brats that they had my permission to go for lunch five minutes early." The teacher replies, finishing with something you couldn't quite make out.

"Well then... I guess I better be going..." You mutter, packing up your stuff and making your way to the door, pausing at the front desk. "Sorry about the class."

At this, the Supply teacher raises her head and stops her typing, smiling slightly.

"It's no problem... Today was the last day of school after all."

You smile sadly, not looking forward to this years summer break.

For all I know, I could end up dead tonight with those Cons lurking around...

A chill runs down your spine as that thought crosses through your headspace.

Nothing else has happened yet...

"I never got your name, dear." The teacher says, breaking you from your worrisome thoughts.

Startled, you shake your head before answering.

"I'm Y/N. Y/N L/N."

"Thank you. You'll will be mentioned in the well behaved part of my letter." She smiles once more as the bell rings.

"Well, have a great summer, Ma'am. I've gotta go for lunch." You declare, waving goodbye as you hastily exit the classroom.

One more class and then I'm outta here for two months.

As you make your way through the now crowded hallways of the school, you can't help but let your thoughts wander to the Autobots.

I wonder how they're all doing... Surely Jack would've told me if anything had happened while I've been gone.

Speaking of Jack, and your other two friends, they weren't waiting for you at your locker like they usually do.

Confused, you go about your business of grabbing your lunch bag and your last period binder, and continue your wait, growing more and more concerned with each second ticking away.

Where on Earth could they be?

Whipping out your phone, you fire off a text to Miko, an uneasiness settling within you.

'Where are you guys?'

You stand there, shifting your weight from foot to foot, your patience wearing thin.

'We're already downstairs! We figured you'd just come down here first, seeing as your class was let out five mins early!' The reply explains, as you release a breath you hadn't realized your been holding.

'Alright. I'll be down shortly.'

Turning on your heel, you begin to walk in the direction of the Cafeteria, only to be stopped by another vibration from your pocket.

You quickly pull out the device, reading the screen's message.

"Bring everything with you... Let's go out for lunch." You read aloud bluntly, the confusion settling in your head once again.

Oh, why not. It'll do me good to get some fresh air.

You turn yet again, and head back to where you had just came from, unlocking the locker and throwing all your belongings into your backpack.

'I've got everything. Anything else I should bring? How about the kitchen sink.' You type back with flying thumbs, laughing slightly to yourself as you hit the send button.

'Nah. You'll be fine now. Come on already!'

****
"So what was so important that I needed to bring everything?" You question, setting your extremely heavy backpack down on the chair beside you in the Cafeteria at the table that your three friends were sitting at.

"Like I told you!" The Japanese transfer student bubbles, quickly glancing out the large windows that were situated behind where you were sitting, looking out onto the front area of the school. "We were going to go out for lunch, but then Raf said that there's a chance for rain."

"Rain?" You muse aloud, raising an eyebrow questioningly. "Miko, it's sunny and clear skies out there!"

Turning to Rafael, who was glued to his computer screen, you ask, "Hey, Raf? Could you pull up the weather forecast for me?"

No answer.

You wait a few moments before asking once more, before Miko cuts you off.

"Y/N, here! I've got the forecast right here!" She butts in, shoving her phone towards you hastily.

You look over the various readings displayed on the screen, your gaze resting on the way too enthusiastic ball of energy before you.

"Rain, huh?" You start, gliding the device smoothly back over the table to it's owner before continuing. "There no rain in the forecast till next week."

"Really?" Your Japanese friend chirps, fumbling over her words. "I, I guess Raf was looking at the wrong forecast!"

You cast your gaze towards Jack, who had been silent the entire time and then back to Miko and then settling on Raf and his computer.

"Alright you three. What is going on here?" You question sternly, laying your hands on the table in front of you.

Once again, no answer.

"What. Is. Going. On?!" You demand sharply, leaning forward towards the trio who were not paying any attention to your queries.

"Jack." Rafael finally speaks, though his voice sounded nervous. "We need to go."

"Go? Go where?" You demand once more, confusion, uneasiness and worry worming their way into your thoughts.

"We've got company!" Miko declares, her gaze set on an all too familiar vehicle that had just pulled into the high school's parking lot.

Fed up with the secrecy, you whirl around, your angry gaze scanning the sparsely occupied parking lot, coming to an abrupt halt on the cherry red Aston Martin's familiarly daunting paint scheme.

"No way. This can't be happening!" You mumble, urging yourself that it was all your imagination as a jolt of panic dances down your spine.

Suddenly, the blaring of the school's fire alarm causes you to jump, accompanied by the various curses and profanities spoken by your peers as they make their way to the nearest exit.

You and your three friends however, stay glued to your table, not risking getting separated in the flood of people that were likely back logging the hallways.

"Please tell me the Autobots are on their way." You sigh worriedly, turning once more to face your three friends, realization settling within you.

The Decepticons have come to take me... to take us...

"Yeah... About that..." Raf yells over the blaring alarm. "No one would answer my calls!"

Your thoughts begin to churn, running through every possible scenario of why the bots wouldn't be answering.

Ratchet should be on communications... If no one is answering, that either means no one is home, or the Comms are down...

"Ack! First the school decides to blare an alarm at us, now it's throwing water at us?" Miko complains, pushing a strand of wet hair from her face.

You hadn't even noticed that the sprinkler system had turned on.

"Alright." You begin, only to be stopped by the stench of smoke hitting your nostrils, sending you into a coughing fit. "We've got to get out of here as quickly as possible. The sprinklers are on, there's smoke, so that means that there's an actual fire somewhere."

"But the Decepticons are just out there waiting for us!" Jack reasons, his voice barely audible over the sound of water, your coughs and the fire alarm.

"We've gotta take the risk! We either burn alive or get snatched up by Cons!" You yell back, the smoke stinging your eyes now as you grab Miko's wrist and head out of the room you were currently in, looking for the nearest escape.

"That way!" Your Japanese friend coughs, pointing to a side door weakly, the smoke becoming denser, making it nearly impossible to see anything.

You nod, tightening your grip on your friend's wrist as Jack and Raf follow closely behind.

Almost there. Almost there.

You pick up your pace to a run now, the smoke burning your eyes and lungs, not to mention the physical burns you likely had on your arms from the intense heat that had suddenly engulfed the hallways.

Reaching the door, you throw your weight against it expecting it to fly open and reveal the open air, only to find that it won't budge.

Scrap!

"It won't budge!" You cough once more, gazing hopelessly at your trio of friends before you, panic written on their features, as well as yours.

"We've got to get it open!" June's son declares, joining you at your side. "On the count of three."

You can only nod as the smoke fills more and more of your respiratory system.

"One, two, three!"

You both push the door with all your might, but still no movement.

"Outta the way!" Miko coughs distantly, her voice accompanied by the sound of pounding footsteps and moments later, a body flying at the door.

"I felt it move! Raf! Get over here and help push this damned door open!" You croak, your voice fading, fast.

The twelve and a quarter year old joins the three of you in the middle of the door as you hold up three fingers.

One, two, three!

All four of you tumble outside and into Jasper's fresh air with a series of coughs and splutters as you crawl away from the now open door, evading the smoke as best you could, all while looking for a hiding spot from the Decepticons that were likely lurking around the building in their vehicle modes.

Pointing feebly, you drag yourself over to a nearby boulder and your friends follow suit, catching your drift.

As you all sit behind the rock, regaining your breath and recovering from a near death experience, you can't help but feel alarm chorus through you at the thought of the situation you were currently in.

We're out here... With no bot backup... Who knows where the Decepticons are...

"That. Was. Insane." Miko gasps, breaking the silence that had settled amongst everyone.

"We nearly died, Miko." Jack states bluntly.

"But we didn't." She retorts.

"Shut up! Both of you!" You snap, your attention fixed on Rafael, who had immediately re-opened his laptop (which some how miraculously survived what you'd just been through) and was attempting to get a response from the Autobots.

"Still no answer from Base." He sighs sadly, lifting his gaze to face us.

"I'll try Arcee."

"And I'll try Bulkhead."

After what seemed like an eternity of suspense, both teens put their phones down, defeated looks upon their faces.

"No answer?" You muse aloud.

Both only nod slowly.

"Well then. It seems we're stuck here until either someone at Base picks up our call or the Cons find us." You mutter, slumping down with your back against the boulder.

We are totally scrapped.

*Before*
*Ratchet's POV*
"This primitive human technology!" I hiss, abruptly standing up from my work, making my way angrily over to the monitors which had been beeping occasionally for quite sometime now, which I had ignored for the longest time, but now they were annoying me to no end.

Letting my gaze wander over the various pieces of information displayed on the screens, I can't help but feel a wave of sudden concern wash over me as an alarming component of the information strikes my attention.

"By the Allspark!" I muse aloud, examining the alarming data hurriedly. "Those Decepticons are heading directly into Jasper!"

What purpose would they have to do so?

I quickly reach for the Comms, only to draw away as realization hits me.

"Everyone else is otherwise engaged... So that leaves me..."

Scrap.

Turning, my gaze rests on the empty container that would soon carry stable Synthetic Energon.

If only I could work faster. It would be so much easier with an assistant...

My thoughts are interrupted by yet again, another harsh sounding tone from the monitors.

I turn quickly, genuine worry replacing the earlier concern as the data corresponding to the tone appears on the screen.

"They're at the school. No doubt looking for-"

Rafael, Jack, Miko and... and... Y/N...

"Optimus, I have a situation." I explain through the Comms rather hastily, a vague plan formulating in my headspace as I do so. "It seems that the Decepticons have invaded Jasper and are heading towards the school, no doubt in search of our human allies."

No answer.

"Optimus? Do you copy?"

Silence.

"Great. Communications are down." I mutter, turning to the empty missile silo.

I guess I'm rolling out. All I can hope is that I don't run into Cons.

Worry ebbing away, I calmly make my way towards the Groundbridge controls, entering a set of coordinates not too far from my destination, in a secluded area, and pull the lever.

The Groundbridge spurs to life, the energy of green and blue illuminating the empty space.

"This better work."

I'm the only chance these humans have... The only chance Y/N has...

*Presently*
*Your POV*
"Come out come out wherever you are..." A familiar voice sneers from the other side of the boulder you and your three friends were currently seeking refuge behind.

You freeze, going rigid with fear.

That sure sounds a lot like Knockout...

Glancing at your three friends, you only see faces of shared fear looking back towards you.

We've got to move.

"Ugh. Humans. Too tiny lay optics on." Knockout growls, the sound of his vehicle mode rumbling past your hiding spot.

Phew. That was close.

"That was way to close, dude." Miko breathes, running her fingers roughly through her hair.

"Agreed." You mutter quietly, a rough plan formulating in your thoughts.

The Con's want me. They just want me. And I can't let them get what they want.

"We're gonna get out of here." You declare, facing your friends with a determined look. "We will head towards the outskirts of Jasper, using the back roads to our advantage."

"Makes sense, except for one thing..." Jack trails off, his expression thoughtful.

"And that would be? Spit it out already, wise guy!" The pink haired Japanese girl snaps, seeming to be anxious at the current situation.

"We won't make it outside of town. Not without a fight, anyway. And we're no match for the Cons."

"What Jack is trying to say," Raf butts in, straightening his glasses after he had just finished cleaning them. "Is that the Decepticons will likely have some sort of discreet perimeter set up. Whether that be Vehicons parked in the streets or sending Megatron's best after us, they'll be on high alert."

You mentally face palm.

"You're right, Raf. We can't just walk outta here like everything is normal," You sigh.

Maybe because things aren't normal! At all!

"I say we see how far we can make it!" Miko exclaims quietly, seeming to be back to her normal energetic, over enthusiastic, self. "Bulk and the rest of the crew are likely already on these Con's trails, so they'll show up sooner or later!"

"Alright. We will move, quietly and quickly, through town." You order, only to pause to glare sternly at your Japanese friend. "No phones."

She rolls her eyes.

"Who died and made you Leader?"

"Can you two just shut up already and get going?" Jack hisses, clearly annoyed.

"Yeah, yeah." You mutter lowly, getting up from your sitting position and making your way to your knees, peering around the boulder with heightened caution.

We're clear.

Giving the thumbs up, you draw yourself to your feet, and rush across to the sidewalk, now in plain sight of any passing vehicles, human or Cybertronian.

"Why are we literally just walking down the road in plain sight?" Miko hisses from beside you, keeping up with your long, urgent strides.

"The Cons would be stupid to make their move in front of everyone in Jasper." You reply through gritted teeth.

"Well, I don't see why-"

You, Jack and Raf all cut the transfer student off.

"Just be quiet, Miko!"

****
Wiping a bead of sweat from your forehead you sigh tiredly, meeting your friend's weary gazes.

We've only been walking for about half an hour and we're already fading away?

You close your eyes in a futile attempt to block out the intense heat of Jasper's sun boring into your back as you continue to trudge along the sidewalk, letting a slight twinge of relaxation flow through you.

"Anyone else feel like we're being watched?" Jack muses aloud softly, breaking you from your brief moment of peace and quiet.

You allow your eyes to snap open and scan the area for any possible threats, only to find none.

"I'm sure we're fi-"

Your breath hitches in your throat, your gaze resting upon an all too familiar ambulance, sitting parked off to the side of the town's one and only gas station.

"Y/N! That's-" Raf starts, apparently having noticed the vehicle as well, only to have you cut him of abruptly.

"Yeah, I know..."

The memories come crashing back upon you unwillingly, blotting out everyone and everything.

The knowledge I gained... The heartache I suffered... I knew I would have to go back, but this soon?...

"Hellooo? Y/N?" Miko taunts, waving her hand back and forth in front of your face.

Noticing that you must've been lost in thought, you stammer a reply.

"Y-yeah?"

"Are you coming with? Doc here is our only chance for safety!"

Safety. Autobot base. Ratchet. Here.

You nod quickly, not trusting your voice to say anything as Miko grabs your wrist and drags you over to the vehicle, practically throwing you into the backseat.

"Hey there, DocBot!" She cheers in an attempt to lighten the heavy mood which had settled the minute you had been tossed into the back of the ambulance.

No answer is given, only silence as the Autobot medic begins to make his way out of Jasper and into the bleak desert at a rather hurried pace.

"Rafael, an explanation would be helpful." Ratchet finally speaks, breaking the silence.

This all seems so familiar... The last time this happened-

"Well, for starters, the Cons set our school on fire, we were stuck inside but Y/N got us all out-" He starts, only to be stopped abruptly as the vehicle you're sitting in comes to a screeching halt.

"Are you telling me that you've all breathed in large quantities of smoke?!" Ratchet demands, his holoform appearing in the driver's seat, whirling around to glare at the four of you. "Why didn't you say so earlier! Smoke inhalation of this type requires medical attention!"

I'm so stupid! I should've known that! At least everyone is in one piece, for now.

Jack, Miko and Raf nod silently, as a sudden coughing fit rocks your body.

"I- I'm fine." You wheeze, your breath coming back. "We've got to get back to base... Cons are likely following us."

Your Guardian casts you a doubtful and concerned gaze, the vehicle now back in motion.

"Y/N's right. Those bucket heads are probably on our tail!" Miko adds, her eyes wandering to the mirrors.

You do the same, your heart jumping as you do so.

The cherry red Aston Martin, along with - from what you could see - three or so Vehicons, speeding up the road behind you.

"Scrap!" You hear the Autobot medic curse, the ambulance speeding through Jasper's desert, the complete opposite direction of the Autobot base.

"Doc! The Base is that way!" The black and pink haired Japanese girl exclaims, pointing towards the large rock formation.

"Miko!" The three of you chorus, silencing your friend.

"What's the plan?" Jack inquires quickly, getting his head in the game.

A brief silence settles as Ratchet's radio crackles.

"Still no answer!" He grumbles. "Looks like we'll have to stand our ground and fight."

Another silence settles, louder than the first.

"Uhhhhh... Doc... I don't mean to be uh, rude, but uh..." Miko muses aloud.

"We'll be fine." You finally speak, a sudden peace amidst the chaos unfolding in front of you settling within your bones. "Ratch knows what he's doing."

Your friends look towards you, doubtful expressions written on their features.

"Trust me." You affirm, climbing into the passenger seat beside the Medic's holoform. "Trust us."

Your determined gaze meets Ratchet's.

"I've got your back, Y/N." He nods, smiling slightly.

"Glad to hear it, DocBot." You reply, a smile tugging at your lips.

"Let's do this and kick some Con tailpipe!" Miko cheers, along with Jack and Raf who seemed a bit less enthusiastic.

"No way, Miko."

Your friend pouts.

"Awwww! Why do you always have to be such a grouch! Your worse than Ratchet! But then again, I can see why you two get along so well."

This is what Optimus meant. Ratchet and I... Working as a team...

"They're gaining on us!" Rafael shouts suddenly, gesturing to the mirror to the right of you.

"This is where you all get out." The Medic orders, the holoform sizzling away as the vehicle comes to a halt beside a field of boulders and rock formations, the door beside you opening.

You quietly sigh, jumping out of the vehicle and rushing towards the nearby rocks, the boys hot on your tail.

We've been hiding behind large rocks all to often today it seems.

"Where's Miko!" You hiss to your two friends who were beside you, sitting on the ground calmly.

They both just shrug.

You risk a look from behind your hiding spot to see the Japanese girl facing the oncoming threat with her fists balled, ready for a futile fight.

"Are you serious?!" You mutter to yourself as the sound of the shifting of gears drowns out the sound of the multiple motors approaching your position at a high speed.

Your Guardian - in his bot form now - sighs, rolling his optics as he quickly scoops your friend off the ground and drops her behind the boulder with the rest of you.

"Honestly, I think Doc thinks I can't take care of myself!" She growls, beginning to pace the small space behind the natural cover.

You however, pay no mind to what's going on behind you, all of your attention is focused on the Cybertronian Medic who was readying himself for the inevitable fight that was mere moments away from erupting, his blades out and ready for use.

I can't let them beat Ratchet to a pulp. If what Knockout said was true, then they just want me. If I make my presence known before a fight ensues, he might get away without much more than a few scratches...

Your mind was made up.

If the Decepticons take me...

You ignore the lump forming in your hoarse throat.

I'll be fine... I have knowledge that my Mother didn't have... The Cons won't kill a living piece of information.

The many sounds of shifting gears hurts your ears as blaster fire erupts from the Cons, which when the smoke cleared, Your Guardian miraculously survived.

It's now or never.

You turn to your friends, determination and fear written all over your face.

"Where are you-" Rafael begins, before you lay a finger to his lips, silencing him.

"Jack," You begin, sudden tears springing to your eyes. "Tell June thank you for everything and keep these two out of trouble for me, will ya?"

"Y/N, what are you doing?" Both Jack and Miko scream as you turn on your heel and rush into the road clearing where Ratchet was staring down Knockout.

"I'll never give you anything, Knockout." The Autobot Medic seethes.

Knockout only smiles deviously.

"Doctor, you already did! Thanks to your little mishap last we spoke, I have enough of that green stuff to work with and solidify into the next fuel for the Decepticon cause!" The opposing Medic sneers, approaching your Guardian slowly. "But, I cannot do that work alone..."

"What are you proposing?" Ratchet orders sharply, keeping his guard up.

"Oh, not much. Just a little trade off."

At this, Your Guardian lowers his guard ever so slightly, signalling he was listening.

"Your precious little human pet, for... Let's say, enough Energon to last your team a good while."

You freeze, halfway to your destination point, beside the Autobot Medic.

Another trade...

Ratchet raises his blades once more.

"I am no fool, Knockout."

"Well, unfortunately, your human pet here, is." The Decepticon Medic concludes, noticing your small form on the ground.

You cast your gaze around wildly, looking for some sort of cover, weapon, anything to fight off the approaching Cybertronian.

"Ack! Let go of me! Please! Put me down!" You scream as the cherry red bot grabs you from where you were standing, squeezing you.

That'll leave a lovely bruise.

"I... Can't... Breathe!" You scream hoarsely, banging on the metal digits surrounding you, preventing you from making the slightest movement.

Knockout must've noticed your plea for oxygen, because he releases you slightly, your lungs filling with air as you breathe heavily.

"Y/N!" Jack, Miko and Raf all shout, drawing attention to themselves.

"No! Leave them alone!" You yell as two Vehicons approach the boulder, weapons drawn and ready to fire.

Seeing this, Ratchet lunges towards the two Decepticons, as you watch, unable to do anything as Your Guardian goes down with a shot to the leg, letting out a cry of pain as he tumbles to the sandy ground.

"No!" You scream, lungs gasping for air, voice hoarse. "Just leave them alone! I know what you want! Just leave them alone!"

"Stand down." Knockout orders, seemingly bored with all that was happening.

Acknowledging the Medic's orders, the Vehicons make their way back to where you were currently being held, allowing the wounded Medic to make his way to his feet and your human friends to come out of their hiding spot, horrified expressions written all over their faces.

As Ratchet makes his way to his feet, you can't help but feel the tears prick your eyes once again.

"Ratchet..." You murmur, as Knockout turns you to face him.

"He'll be fine. They weren't shooting to offline." He smiles, sending chills up your spine. "Anyways, you were saying?"

You shake your head, unable to respond.

"Tsk, tsk. You should've heeded my advice and joined back with the Autobots sooner... If you did, none of this would've happened..." The Con chides.

Your head snaps up, tears of defeat rolling down your cheeks.

"Y-Y-You want me, so I can help you solidify that formula..." You stutter, the tears falling steadily now.

"Ah! Glad to hear that you've put the pieces together! You're much more intelligent than I would've given you credit for, fleshie."

From behind you, you hear the shifting of movement, as Your Guardian struggles to comprehend the situation.

"You monsters want Y/N just so she can help you and the rest of your bucket heads solidify the Synth-En formula! Might I inform you, Doctor, that I have tried to do so! I've stretched every available resource and I've still come up empty!" Ratchet explains harshly.

At this, your captor begins to laugh.

"There's a little something called Decepticon engineering, Doctor." Knockout chuckles, turning to face the open road behind him, swinging you haphazardly around in the air. "Well, if that will be all, I have a formula to solidify and a prisoner to lock up."

The tears begin to flow again as your senses become overwhelmed by all the noises suddenly erupting around you.

Shifting gears, screams of agony and sadness, the faint crackle of a radio... Was that Optimus' voice? You weren't so sure.

The next thing you know, the hand you were previously captured in is gone, replaced with the unfamiliar surroundings of a vehicle.

"Knockout... Please! Don't do this!" You yell, your voice merely a whisper as a sudden jolt of electricity choruses through your body, rendering you unconscious as the cherry red Aston Martin you'd once admired on the street side drives away, leaving your friends in the dust and leading you to what seemed to be your ultimate doom.