Last Edited: May 31, 2019

Megatron

"Soundwave. I want you searching for the human femme. Check all security cameras on this wretched planet if you must! Get that girl back!" I snapped.

Soundwave merely nodded his helm before walking away, Lazerbeak already on his right arm.

Starscream, my lousy second-in-command, spoke then, "My liege, why do we bother with such a pest?" He sneered with a frown.

I glared at him. What a lousy piece of scrap. It made me sick just looking at him. But the weak was easier to control.

"That human could be the turning point of this war with the help of Shockwave. Don't question my orders again." Starscream cowered and nodded his helm.

I tapped my digits against the arm of my throne. How hard could it be to capture a human insect? She was weak, but soon, she will be strong.

Shockwave would make sure of that.

Miko

Hope was fitting in perfectly! I could scream! She was now my best friend forever! After introductions, Hope had tucked in her wings (yes, I said her wings) and shyly thanked the Autobots for all the help.

"No thanks needed!" Bulkhead smiled as he placed me on his shoulder. I grinned down at Hope.

"Besides! It was Wheeljack who did the rescuing!" I said. Optimus nodded, though the look of disapproval towards Wheeljack and his actions still lingered.

Oh well, who cares what that ol' boy thinks? I thought it was awesome!

"So who's going to be Hope's guardian?" I asked, looking at Optimus.

"I am too busy to keep track of Hope. So..." Everyone looked towards Wheeljack, who raised his hands slowly in defense and took a step back.

"Hey, I'm not around too often! I can't watch the kid! No offense," He added the last part turning to Hope. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Ratchet.

"I cannot watch the sparkling!" He argued.

"Come on, doc-"

"Don't call me that!" Ratchet growled. I smiled.

"Girls, girls, your both pretty!" I shouted. Both Autobots looked at me like I was an alien. Well... a different alien than themselves. "It means," I racked my brain, trying to think of a way to explain, "you know what? Never mind."

Hope cleared her throat, setting everyone's attention on her.

Hope

"I don't have to have any guardian," I said shyly, looking down at my feet. "I-I have to get home... I'd rather not make you all angry at each other."

The red and blue Autobot, I know knew as Optimus Prime, leader of this small group of robots, smiled warmly.

"It is for your own safety. I wish to know why the deceptions wanted you in the first place. Would you mind explaining?" He asked politely.

I took in a deep breath. "I-I don't know much... the big silver Decepticon said I was useful to them. I know that's not much, but-"

"Enough to know that the 'cons are up to no good..." Wheeljack interrupted me. His eyes scanned over my small form, hesitant as he opened his mouth to say something. I stared down into my lap, embarrassed as his eyes met mine.

After a few moments, he gave a long, dramatic sigh, but not before smirking at me.

"I guess I can look after you. Just try not to be a pain in my aft," He teased, a warm smile on his hardened facial features. I blushed in embarrassment, nodding. Nodding in agreement. But I couldn't help the small smile tugging on the edge of my lips.

I had gotten to know the names of the Autobots. The green one was named Bulkhead, and he was Miko's best friend. Also, the vehicle that took her to and from school. He was Wheeljack's best friend and from what I could understand they both joined the 'Wreckers' during the war against the Decepticons on Cybertron.

The blue one was Jacks ride to school. Her name was Arcee. A hardened 'femme', as I learned to call females. She was Jack's guardian. The yellow and black Autobot was a mute, apparently, making only a few beeps and clicks here and there during a conversation.

He was Rafael's guardian. And Raf, strangely, could understand him. Ratchet was the medic. A grumpy one at that. I had tried to stand when I got, "Ep, ep, ep! I didn't say you can get up! You still require stitches!"

Wheeljack was the all white one, but I had already known that from my rescue. He seemed... different from the others. Ready to kick 'con 'aft' as Bulkhead put it. He was calm and collected in the heat of battle, as I had experienced on what the Autobots called the Nemesis.

Yet he had a sense of humor to make a dampened mood lift up. And I had only spent an hour with this small group.

I couldn't get the strange realization out of my head. I had wings. I was different. And yet, my new human friends and Autobots didn't care.

Wheeljack was still smiling warmly at me, and I made a bold move, moving the hair hanging down into my face and smiling up at him.

"Now, sparklings," Optimus starred as he turned to us humans. "You are required home. It is getting late." Then, all of my happiness came crashing down on me.

"What day is it?" I squeaked.

"Sunday. You were gone since Friday!" Miko said, one hand on her hip. "Man, you must be hungry!"

I wasn't paying attention to her. I froze in fear, my whole body trembling. A day. A whole day...but it hadn't felt like that long.

I had spent an endless amount of time sitting on that creepy examination table while Knockout poked and prodded me, asking endless questions about my health.

I liked Ratchet better.

I haven't been home in a day! Macen was going to kill me! "Let's get you home, Jack." Arcee transformed with the grinding sound of metal, and he hopped on as a groundbridge appeared.

Miko and Raf did the same; hopping into their guardians and speeding off. Wheeljack sighed. "Guess we have to get you home as well?" He grinned at me.

Ratchet looked down at me. "Coordinates?" He asked me. I gulped.

"Umm... it's in Jasper, Nevada like the others. On Main Street. If you can do that please." I shifted on my feet uncomfortably. Ratchet opened a groundbridge a second later and Wheeljack transformer.

"Come on, kid. Hop in." He chuckled. I did shakily, clutching onto the seatbelt that fastened around me. We went through the swirling portal, and I took in a deep, shaky breath as I realized we were sitting in front of the orphanage.

"Kid? You okay?" Wheeljack asked. I couldn't move.

What would Macen do? Had he been out looking for me?

"Kid?" Wheeljack asked again. Mouth dry and voice weak, I stared at the steering wheel.

"Y-yes..."

"Are your parental units home?" Wheeljack asked suspiciously. I sighed.

"This is an o-orphanage Wheeljack," I whispered. Suddenly, a man appeared beside me. I let out a squeak and then grabbed at my chest.

"Don't do that!" I gasped. But his face was serious.

"You are an orphan?" He asked. I hesitated before nodding. He sighed, running a hand through his white hair. I took a moment to study him. He looked in his mid-twenties. Maybe early thirties... maybe.

Crazy bright blue eyes stared down at me. His head almost touched the ceiling of his own roof. He was tall.

"Hope?" He asked softly.

"I-I'm okay... it's just..." I shuddered, thinking of how handsy Macen had gotten with me. The word bounced around in my mind, and bile rose in my throat.

"Come on. I know you just met me, but you can trust me. I'm your guardian now." He thought to himself for a moment before smiling shyly and rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm new to this, but you can tell me anything 'ya want. You're my charge now. I'll look after you." I suddenly felt tears in my eyes.

"I'm scared," I whispered. Wheeljack locked his jaw.

"What are you scared of?" He asked. I looked over at the orphanage.

"M-macen," I whispered. Wheeljack raised an eyebrow before realization suddenly hit him.

"Is he the reason you twisted your ankle? And had all those bruises?" He demanded. I shied away and pushed myself against the car door. Wheeljack just stared at me quietly as I felt a few tears falling down my face.

After a few minutes, he finally spoke. "I can't let you stay here," He said. Jerking my head up, I looked at him with shock.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked. "Please, Wheeljack, I'll be fine. I've dealt with him before."

"No." Wheeljack shook his head. "You are coming back to base with me. Go and get some clothes. I'll be right here if he tries anything." I sat there, shocked, and then shook my head.

"I can't-"

"Don't." Wheeljack held up a hand. "Look. Your just a kid. A sparkling. You shouldn't have to go through this," He whispered the last part. "It's like a war between humans. How can they be so cruel to each other?" He asked me.

I shrugged and he sighed. "Go on and get the things you need. And don't try to argue. I won't take no for an answer."

So, shaking, I opened the door and stepped out. It was dark out. Probably around nine. I grimaced. Would Macen be drunk? Would he even notice me? I wondered as I slowly opened the front door.

The room was dark. No sign of Macen. No smell of alcohol. I couldn't be sure if that was good news or bad. Trying my best not to make any sound, I tiptoed to the stairs, passing the kitchen on the way.

It had been torn to shreds. Glass was shattered and spread everywhere. What the heck happened here? Is this the way he did the dishes? I tried to joke with myself but failed miserably.

Where in the heck was Macen? At the top of the stairs, I finally saw my bedroom. The door had been forced in and was barely hanging on its hinges.

Stepping in, I flicked the light on. Everything was in shreds. My clothes, my bed... everything. "What the-"

There were footsteps from behind me, and I jumped, suddenly alarmed.

Macen.

Running to my closet, I hid in the corner and closed the door to a small crack.

The footsteps grew closer, and then he walked in, looking around. "The lights weren't on before! I know you're in here!" He stated quietly. I shuddered. His quiet anger was worse than his yelling and screaming.

"Come on out Hopeless." The familiar nickname rolled off of his tongue, making me flinch. I closed my eyes and held my breath. A few seconds later, everything seemed to still, and I forced myself to open my eyes.

Had he left?

Suddenly, the door opened and a hand reached in to grab me. "There you are." Macen's grinning face was staring down at me as he yanked me out and threw me to the ground.

"Where were you?" He asked calmly. But the anger was there in his eyes. I scooted away from him.

"I-I'm sorry! I won't do it again! I-I...I..." I racked my brain, trying to think of an excuse. I came up with nothing. Nada. Zip.

I was going to die.

A fist came down on my face and I screamed as my head slammed into the ground. Chills ran down my spine as Macen sighed and unbuckled his belt. A grin covered his face as he noticed my trembling.

"No fun today, Hopeless. You've ticked me off. You know the rules." He snapped the belt and slammed it against the floor.

I screamed again. Macen rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up you piece of-"

"P-please, don't! I'm sorry!" I whimpered.

He shook his head, making a tsk sound.

"You're right. You won't do it again. But there is some good news for me! You're being taken away, Hopeless."

"W-what?" I was being adopted? How was that possible?

Macen made an evil grin as he cracked the belt again, this time right next to me.

"I've sold you."

My breath hitched in my throat, and horror filled my entire being. The word repeated over and over in my head. Sold.

He sold me?

"You see, Hopeless, I know more about you than you think. I got a large sum of money that will rid me of this wretched orphanage. And you," he grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at him.

"You, little bird-girl, will most likely die in a cold cell, wondering how you will live to see the next day." I whimpered as he snapped the belt again and cocked his head to one side.

"I want some fun with you first, before I send you away, bird-girl." I shook my head, tears falling down my face. How could Macen know about my wings? And how could he sell me like an item?

With a laugh, Macen pulled his arm back and released it, slamming the leather belt with its metal hook onto my skin.