"I need all the ammo I can get. Load that jet up." I call out to the Airman and Soldiers running around. A bunch of 'Yes, Ma'am's' get called out.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Drake asked walking up behind me.

I turn around and look at him. My arms crossed from watching the men and women run around.

"I have to do this." Is my answer.

"You don't have too. I'm shocked the captain is even letting you do this."

"Yes, I do. And me to, honestly." I shrug.

"Can't more of us go with you? We can help. You shouldn't be fighting them alone." He gets closer, attempting to talk in a whisper.

"I will not put others in danger. No one knows the real danger out there and I'm not about to let anyone die." I turn back and watch my jet getting loaded with ammo.

"What if you die?" His tone sounded sad. I want to turn around and hug him, but I know that would be out of line.

"Then I die, but at least I'll have saved thousands of lives." My breath hitches in my throat as I speak. The nerves really starting to hit me, but I know what I need to do.

"You're not going to die. You're a good pilot. But I love you, Rebecca. You're my best friend. So, make it back in one piece alright." I barely hear him over the sounds of the engine starting up, but I turn and give him a wink.

"I'll be back. You're not losing me that easily." I smile and grab my helmet from one of the airmen and jump up in my jet.

I buckle up and get ready to take flight. I put my helmet on, turning on my radio and the cover to the cockpit latches over me. The runway is cleared, and I move forward.

"You are clear for takeoff, Lieutenant." Control relays to me.

"Cleared to go." I say back and I pick up speed.

Soon I am in the air. I haven't been in flight in a few weeks, so this feels amazing. The sheer force from my speed keeps me in my seat. The freedom I feel is keeping my mind from thinking about what is about to happen next.

"Oscar one Juliet to Autobot Outpost Omega One." I speak into the receiver.

"Ratchet here. Autobots are ready. When you get close, they will go in." Ratchet explains.

"I'll let you know when I'm 20 klicks out. That will give you enough time for the Autobots to start the distraction."

"How long?"

"45 minutes tops. Maybe sooner."

"Sounds good. Ratchet out."

The call ends and silence fills the cockpit. I go over the strategy in my head. A lot of the plan is riding in me to get there and blast the Decepticons away. My only hope is that Dreadwing doesn't get in the way. I didn't tell him I was coming. As much as I want him to know, I can't give the others time to slip away. I wasn't about to give them a warning, giving them time to run away. This is bigger than our friendship. If I have to choose my country over him. I will choose my country. I always have and I'm not about to change today. 

I arrive sooner than I thought. I hit 20 klicks and call the Autobots.

"Oscar one Juliet to Autobot Outpost Omega One." I call.

"Ratchet here. You close?"

"Send the Autobots in, but as soon as I come into position, they need to get out of the way." I warn.

"I am sending your signal to Optimus. You two will be able to communicate."

"Understood."

"Ratchet out."

I hear the ground bridge opening in the background before the call ends. I am ready for this battle. This is something I never thought I would have to do, but here I am. I start to get closer and begin my descent. I turn on my radar and life signs begin to pop up. Larger than human life signs. My scanners aren't rated for Decepticon and Autobot life signs. So, I can't tell who is who, but they are fighting. 

"Optimus, I'm coming in." I radio in.

"We are moving. Make contact."

"Deploying." I hit the trigger and the bombs drop.

I hear them explode from underneath me and I fly off. I swing the jet around to do another sweep.

"Lieutenant, they are taking to the skies." Optimus warns.

I keep a look out around me and sure enough there are Decepticons heading towards me. I fly high and I can hear them shooting at me. I maneuver around avoiding the shots. I speed up and do a quick u-turn to get pointed at them. They are still coming at me, and I fire upon them. I'm able to blast one out of the air but the other two keep coming at me. I keep shooting until I get the second one and then fly past the last one. It turns around and follows me. Sweat is dripping down my forehead at this point and I can feel my hands getting clammy under my gloves. I still have a good grip, but it is not easy up here.

I'm trying to evade the enemy, but they are still hot on my tail. As I'm about to try and turn around again to shoot, they are shot out of the sky. It explodes as I spin myself around. Then I see him coming at me. The sun shining off the golden cockpit. He stills in the air, like he's staring at me. I pause, unsure of what to do. Then just as fast as he came, he jets past me. He's gone before I can go after him. I notice other Decepticons leave the area. I fly down and am able to land. Not a graceful one, but I land none the less. I pop the cockpit open and jump out. The Autobots running up to me.

"That was amazing." Bulkhead complements.

"Thank you. Think they are done?" I ask after taking my helmet off.

"For now." Optimus answers, "You did well. Let's get back to base."

"I'll meet you there. I got to take the jet back." Optimus gives me a nod and I get back in.

The Autobots wait for me to take off before going back through the ground bridge. I begin my flight back. About halfway, I notice I'm not alone. The blue and gold jet flies next to me. I already know what he wants me to do and I follow as he starts a decent. I land and he transforms. The look on his face isn't one of happiness. He's angry and I know why.

"Rebecca. What were you thinking?" He asks furiously storming over to me.

"I was thinking that I was helping the Autobots. Doing my job." I defend, hitting the hard ground.

"That is not your job. Your job is to stay safe." He goes down on a knee, getting closer to me.

"My job as a Airforce officer is to save live and protect my country. That is exactly what I was doing." I take a few steps forward, not letting him put one over on me. 

"You could have been killed." He leans his face towards mine.

"But I wasn't." I'm on my tip toes now, trying to reach closer. 

"Because I stepped in." 

"You didn't have too. I had it handled." I cross my arms, staring up at him. Now I'm just as angry.

"I wasn't about to watch you die." He shouts.

"For a Decepticon, you seem to care an awful lot about me. Why? I'm the race your leader is trying to extinguish."

He doesn't answer me. He transforms and his holoform jumps out. Wearing his flight suit of blue and gold. He deep red eyes glaring at me. He walks straight up to me. His chest inches from my face.

"You are the only one I want to be saved." He stares at me for a moment before turning around shaking his head. His hands wipe over his face, before looking back at me. "I never should landed with you the first time. I should have flown off like I planned."

"You don't mean that do you?" My anger fades in that moment.

"I made a mistake. The greatest mistake of my life, but I put you in danger. I was selfish. This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't landed." I can see him fighting inside. I feel sorry for him, but I don't wish for things to change.

"Dreadwing. Even if you never landed with me. I would have still continued to search for you. You may not have landed with me yet, but I saw you. You flew over me. You showed off and I knew from that moment that I had to meet you. On every flight I took, I looked for you. You are unmistakable. I would have recognized you anywhere. Whether you flew off or not."

"Rebecca, I don't know what I'd do if you died. I already lost my brother, I can't lose you too." His hand goes to my cheek, resting for a moment as he looks into my eyes. "You have made my being of existence a happy one again."

I don't stop myself from jumping up and hugging him. My arms wrapped around his neck. He catches me, holding me close. I wish so bad for us to have met under different circumstances, but I'm happy to have met him non the less. I don't want to lose him either. We slowly let go and I'm back on my feet.

"I must go before Megatron becomes angery. I imagine Team Prime is looking for you. I can only do so much to protect you, so please be safe. I'm begging you." He pleads to me.

"I promise to do my best to stay safe. That's about as close to actually being safe I can get." I smile and I get a beautiful smile back.

"Text me when you get back, okay?" He asks as he starts to back away.

"That I can promise." He gives a deep chuckle before disappearing.

Back in his real form, he rises off the ground and slowly takes off. I climb up into my jet and get ready for take off as well. He is nothing but a blip in the sky by time I am off the ground.