“So there I am on the lookout when out of nowhere these high beams light up my rear view, and then it hits me…” He slightly pauses for dramatic effect, then continues, “I’m illegally parked!” I laugh as Cliffjumper continues down the road, the deserts boring compared to his stories. Arcee jumps in, listening from across the continent. “Another parking ticket?” She says, a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Better! The boot!” I say, and Cliff laughs as Arcee elaborates. “Big metal tire clamp, impossible to remove.” I chuckle and Cliffjumper does too. “Bingo! So the local po-lice do their thing, and I let them get all the way down the block. That’s when I kick off my new shiny shoe and…”

“New York’s finest soil themselves.” Arcee chuckles as Cliff replies with a soft laugh. “You know me Arcee, you mess with Cliffjumper…”

“And you get the horns.” Arcee and I both say at the same time. Cliffjumper just starts laughing as we keep driving. Despite her trying to sound tough, I can still hear her lightheartedness as Arcee attempts to reprimand him. “Not sure how that complies with Autobot rule number one. Keep a low profile?”

“What can I say? Patrolling for energon out here in dullsville gets lonesome, ain’t that right, Iris?” I sigh as I lean back in the passenger’s seat. “Yeah…. Not much happens out here, anyways. Almost makes me miss the Decepticons.” Cliff chuckles. “You just read my mind, kiddo.” We continue on for a while, not spotting much other than cacti, sand, and a lot of nothin’.

It’s been three years since the Decepticons have done anything after the college incident. Agent Fowler was able to set me up in Jasper, Nevada and I ‘repeated’ my senior year of high school there with my new name, Iris Aurum. Now I was a substitute teacher, and on call assistant for Agent Fowler. Not a bad set up, if I might add. However… I did one thing no one, except possibly Ratchet, knew about…

But that would have to wait as a large mass appears on Cliffjumpers radar. “Woah, I got something.” He says, and I sit up straighter. I had zoned out and not been listening to them until this point. “Need any backup?” Arcee asks, and Cliff scoffs. “Do I ever need backup? Plus, Iris has my back.” I smirk. "Oh yeah I do."

We suddenly take a sharp turn and head towards a large crater. I lean forward and whistle. “That’s a whole lotta energon, huh Cliff?” He revs his engine in joy. “You know it kid. Arcee, we just found a whooole lotta energon.” I smirk as he copies what I say, but a sudden shadow casts over us. I feel an unending sense of dread fill me as I recognize the spikes the shadow forms. The passenger side door opens and I swiftly exit as Cliffjumper transforms. “Decepticons….” He growls, and I glare at the large ship.

The Nemesis…..

I reach down and grasp the small pistol on my hip. Whipping it out, I hold it gingerly in one hand and gaze up towards Cliffjumper. He gazes back down at me, then looks towards the gun. “Ratchet made it… packs more punch than you think.” He only gives a grim nod before turning his optics back to the ship. It suddenly releases a shot and Cliff barely surrounds me before we are both thrown into the crater. I grunt as Cliff lowers me to the ground and he straightens up again. "Thanks for the save…" I hiss, holding my gut. He nods his helm. "Don't mention it." Something opens and multiple flying objects come from it.

“Arcee… about… that backup.”

I swiftly raise my weapon as they near. Just before reaching the ground, they transform and slam down, sending dust everywhere. Their red triangle visors glare at Cliffjumper, and one notices me as well. I growl as Cliff huffs. “Fair warning, boys. I’ll put a few ‘dings’ in ya. Huah!” He transforms and charges them. He transforms again in mid air and slams his clenched servo right in the face of the one in the middle. The small amount of attention I had is instantly gone as the drones turn on Cliff. “Oh no you don’t!” I shout. With the click of one button on the side, the pistol suddenly grows and shifts into a rifle similar to an M16…

Except the barrel has slits that were glowing a bright energon blue.

I don’t hesitate to begin firing at the closest drone, who was still standing on the edge of the crater. He turns to look at me, and I grin. “Big mistake, buddy.” I easily land one blast straight into his visor, and he stumbles back with a shout of pain. He blindly flings his arms around, flailing without his vision. While he’s now ‘out of comission, I climb up the side of the crater. A con is thrown over me, and I watch it with a grin. Finally making it up, I spot Cliff duking it out with a few of them. I smirk and shoot at another as Cliff continues pounding another into scrap metal. We were actually surviving…..

Until a shot rings out, and Cliffjumper goes flying.

“Cliff!” I shout, and he crashes against the ground. He quickly flips over and lands on his feet, servo out to slow him down. However, as he regains his footing, he is easily surrounded and the drones take aim. “No!” I shout, firing at one across from me. I miss his visor, but he spots me and I grin. Gazing up, I meet the visor gaze of the drone I was hiding behind. “See ya.” I say, with a fake salute. He seems confused until I duck behind him just as a red blast slams against his leg. I gaze up, hoping to see Cliffjumper fighting, but instead I see him getting beaten. A blast sends him flying back down into the crater. Before I can say anything, a blast too close to me makes me jump back. I gaze up in time to see a drone reaching out for me.

I yelp and try to escape, but to no avail. Thankfully, he doesn’t hold me captive, which means they don’t recognize me….. However, he instead walks to the cliff and ungraciously throws me towards Cliffjumper. “Cliff! Incoming!” I shout, hoping he would gaze up in time. He does, and his optics widen. “Primus! I gotcha.” He says, catching me gently. I grunt, slightly bruised but alive. He sets me down, and I hiss. “You okay?” I nod my head, gingerly stepping on one leg. “Just.. bruised… They didn’t recognize me….” He smirks. “Guess your disguise worked after all, huh?” I grunt in reply. We had decided to completely change my look. Instead of brunette hair, I kept it dyed a natural looking dark red. Contacts changed my eye color to green and I got an extra set of ear piercings. No reason for the last part except I always wanted to anyways.

I gaze up, but frown. He was missing a horn. “Cliff…. They messed up your do, man.” I say, a slight smirk on my face. He grins. “I know, now I’m mad. You want the horns?! You got them.” He charges forward, firing at the drones as they jump down. However, they also begin to open fire, and I suck in a breath….

We were standing mere feet from the energon. “Cliff, wait!” A shard explodes as a blast hits it, and I cover my face. I don’t hesitate to quickly rush away as the explosion causes a chain reaction, and suddenly a massive blast propels me forward. I scream in shock and duck my head down once I near the ground again. I roll across the sand twice before flopping sideways, and finally rolling to a stop. I groan, pushing myself up painfully. I definitely cracked something, as pain was radiating through my body. Gazing up, I find myself on the opposite end of the crater, and the drones were dragging an unconscious Cliff towards the ship as it slowly descends. I growl as I spot two searching for me before carefully crawling behind a large boulder.

I could see my weapon near one of their peds, and I curse. I must have dropped it and now I was defenseless. However, one of them kneels and inspects it, spotting slight red on it. I hiss as my hand slides to my hip, were a gash was at. Something sliced my side as I was thrown, but it wasn’t deep. I’d survive…..

Its helm lifts, and it turns towards the ship. It must have been told to return, as he transforms and takes off towards the Nemesis. It lifts off and begins to leave just as a ground bridge portal opens and vehicles launch out of it. Each shift into their respective bot form as Optimus launches out, transforming above them all and landing in the front. Blasters at the ready, they inspect the scene and gaze around, confused. Arcee jumps into the crater, finding Cliff’s missing horn. She shows it to the group, and Optimus turns to their medic. Ratchet opens his arm, and says something that I barely catch as the wind shifts.

“Cliffjumper’s signal…. Just went offline….”

My heart stops, and I feel tears forming as buzzing meets my ears. *What about Iris? Wasn't she with Cliff?* I force myself to snap out of it and slide carefully up the rock until I am standing. I feel warmth against my chest, and gaze down. I carefully pull the necklace hiding under my shirt out. It was a simple design, the Autobot symbol made from CNA with blue pieces in the optic areas that served as trackers. The CNA donated to make this….

Was from Cliff.

I hold back my cries of sorrow and push myself around the boulder, hobbling slightly. “Optimus! Arcee! I’m over here!” I shout, waving a hand while the other keeps me steady. Everyone’s helms snap towards me and Ratchet rushes over. “Iris! Are you alright? Are you hurt?” I shake my head, but hiss. “I’m okay… just bruised and…. Charred a bit…” I feel the ground shake as Optimus kneels down before me. “What happened here?” He asks carefully, and I feel he tears return. “We found the energon, a-and…. The Nemesis arrived….” A tear betrays me and slips down my face. My eyes fall on Arcee, who was still cradling Cliff’s horn in her servos. She locks optics with me, and sorrow fills them. “We tried to fight back…. T-to survive until y-you guys could make it…. B-but they ignited the energon behind us a-and I was launched away while Cliff… was taken back with them…”

My vision goes blurry as I close my eyes. The tears were not stopping, and I feel a warm, steady servo carefully slide behind me and scoop me up. “H-He’s gone… isn’t he?” I ask, opening my eyes to gaze directly into Optimus Prime’s. He doesn’t answer, but gazes down and I completely lose it. Arcee turns away, holding the horn closer to her spark, but I can’t see much anymore. “Return to base….” The Prime says, and I feel him carefully transform around me. His seats warm to me, and I slowly calm down again.

The feeling of loss, mourning, and sorrow begins to leave as anger, fury, and rage replace it. The Prime senses this, and as we enter base, he drives towards the lift and we slowly make our way to the roof before everyone else. Ratchet gave the okay, telling the Prime I wasn't in immediate danger from my wounds. I heard that much from my position. I was curled up against the seat, despite the pain from my leg and wrist protesting against it. As well pull up to the edge of the roof, Optimus opens the door and I sniffle as I carefully slide out. I gingerly put wait on my right foot, ignoring the pain from it. My wrist is cradled against my chest and I stare at the sunset, tears welling in my eyes.

I hear Optimus transform before he cautiously walks to the edge and sits. His massive legs dangle over the edge and I can feel his optics gazing at me. The worry was flowing from him like a tidal wave, but I could sense the hint of anger and rage he was suppressing. It was no wonder he was a Prime. I don't turn to face him. Instead my right hand stops holding my injured wrist and grasps the pendant around my neck. It still felt warm. My eyes fill even more. One tear escapes. 

Optimus turns towards the sunset as well. We sit in silence for a while before I finally sniff again and take in a deep, shuddering breath. I cautiously wipe my eyes clean with my hurt wrist, sniffing again in an attempt to clear my nose. 

"(Y/N)...." 

My eyes widen as I turn my gaze to Optimus, shocked. No one has called me by my real name in years. Mostly for safety reasons as we needed the Decepticons to believe I was dead and they tracked many frequencies. I changed everything and asked everyone to only call me Iris…. And they did….

Until just now.

"Do not allow hatred to overcome you for the Decepticons. Despite what has already happened in your life, you must learn to move on…. Leave the heartaches in the past ..." His voice lowers at that last part and I sigh. "I...I know Optimus. It wasn't my fault either, I know that. I… I just wish I could have done… something! Anything! I'm.. I'm just so fragile and easy to target!" I growl as I accidentally throw my hands up in frustration, causing my wrist to throb. I cradle it swiftly with a hiss. The Prime looks at me, then lets out a long vent. "I know, (Y/N), but the fact remains that you did do something. We noticed your weapon was out and missing quite a few rounds. You assisted Cliffjumper-"

"And it wasn't enough! He's dead now, Optimus!" I shout, rounding on him. I feel the tears fall now, and I keep myself in check as Optimus turns to me, surprised. "What else is going to die because I can't do anything about it?" I take a few deep breaths, but my eyes don't leave the Prime's optics. Finally I turn away just as we hear the lift. The other boys join us and Optimus stands up. As if we had done it before, each bot grabs some stones from around the roof and begin to make a pile. Even with Ratchet glaring at me, I heft up a large rock and make my way over, adding to Cliffjumpers memorial. I give the medic a glare right back, slightly shocking him. Once I set the rock down, I step back and cross my arms. 

Arcee was standing across from me now, and we lock eyes to optics. Her faceplates show the same sorrow I feel, and I avert my eyes. I couldn't stand to see her in pain again. Optimus says something to honor Cliffjumper, and Arcee places his horn on the top of the pile. She suddenly leaves, and Ratchet stops Optimus from following her. I don’t blame her, actually. I wouldn’t mind just leaving for a moment, but I knew that would only lead to disaster. I couldn’t bottle this up. This was a risk we all took….

But now one of my closests friends made the ultimate sacrifice….

I also turn away and begin to make my way towards the lift. I feel everyone watch me, and only turn to face them once I’ve pressed the button to open it. “I’m not going to let him die in vain. I’ve got work to do….. It will help us all.” I mutter the last part as I turn away and enter the lift. As the door closes, I see the bots do not move, and I am thankful. I wanted to be alone for a moment….

I didn’t like crying in front of everyone.