I don't think I ever traveled this far for so long. I had switched between my two alt modes during my travels to avoid any chance I could be caught by any humans.

Considering how much I love to speed whenever I do use my motorcycle alt mode, its safer to just travel in my Cyberwolf form.

The heat was unbearable, not a clpid in sight in the sky which meant no break from the harsh heat of the sun. I grunted as I felt my legs cramp. I take in a sharp inhale as I finally reach my destination.

It's been roughly a full on day of traveling with no breaks. If this energon signal was real, I didn't want to waste anytime. I let out a huff as I crept into an alleyway. The town of Paris, Texas.. it looked peaceful..and welcoming.

I peeked around the corner, scanning the area. A few cars drove past and other humans walked past.
Given by the attire; you could tell that you were in Texas..

I flicked my audio receptors as I sneaked behind the dumpster.

'You ok?'

I froze when I hear Bee's voice in my head. 'Yeah..I think so..'

'Where are you?'

'I just got into Texas..I..I can't find Primes engeron..' I nearly jumped out of my skin when I hear loud laughter from the entrance of the alleyway.

'Lisa?'

'Im fine.' I grumbled in reply as I lashed my tail back and forth in an impatient manner. "This is so fragging stupid." I cursed out as I tried to locate Optimus's signal.

Not to long ago all remaining Autobots had received a distress call from him which Drift was able to track and the signal led me to Paris, Texas.

But now I can't find a slagging signal. Not a single damn one, it was like it just vanished in thin air! Come on Prime where are you?

I audio receptors shot up as I hear a loud radio blasting its music. I raised an optic ridge as I went to investigate the noise.

"I'm a heartbreaker! Gonna make you cry!" The radio sang out of a black MINI Cooper, along with a curly blonde hair male who definitely fit the stereotypical 'surfer'. He rocked his head up and down to the music while singing along to the lyrics.

The guy got out of the car and met up with another male who was coming out from the old blue Chevy truck with piles of scrap in the trunk.

"What, surf report no good at South Padre?" The male asked who had a black duffel bag full of tools including a brown work belt.

"The waves are flat and I got no gas. You know that, Cade." The surfer replied as he stopped in his tracks as a large silver Dodge Ram drove past him with a large trailer in tow filled with some lambs and pigs.

The surfer stood their shocked as the truck passed him. "Tsk. Rude!" He called after it as he then crossed the road where he had laid his eyes on two females crossing the road who were both wearing very revealing clothing.

"Look at these two junebugs. My, my!" He said as they looked unamused as they continued to walk. He sighed and looked back at the guy with the hat and sunglasses.

"Hey, you're paying me on this one right, Cade? Please tell me I'm getting paid." He begged him as he sighed.

"You know, Lucas, a lot of guys are just happy to have a job at all." He replied to his friend who I now know is named Lucas. Huh..Cade's not bad looking. I hummed to myself as I could feel Bee's jealously spike within our bond as I smirked.

"You got any cash on you?" Cade asked as he took off his sunglasses and Lucas nodded. "All right, good." He replied as they both began to walk over to the old movie theatre named "Uptown".

Many of the windows where broken. The red sign where the large letters were place was faded. The metal lining was rusted and the lights that probably used to work are now all busted and missing parts.

A few white dirty curtains hung over the front entrance. I couldn't help but question it. Why the hell would Prime hide somewhere in here?

I let out a low growl as I watched Cade and Lucas walk over to another male who wore a white cowboy hat, black glasses, a pale blue western shirt and blue jeans with a pair of cowboy boots who I'm assuming was the owner.

"Hey, Lucas Flannery." Lucas said as they shook hands-well I wouldn't call it a hand shake. The weird looking cowboy guy's arm just wobbled around. I squinted my optics as I watched the three of them enter the theatre.

I peeked around the corner and made a run for it, hiding behind parked cars as people passed by and dashed across the road and into the movie theatre just as the cowboy started to babble away at these two new comers.

"Place has been in the family since '28. Granddaddy ran it al his life. Ain't that right Granddaddy?" The cowboy asked an older male who clearly wasn't interested in the whole conversation.

"Real soon he's going to sign it over to me." The guy said as his grandfather scoffed. "The movies nowadays, that's the trouble. Sequels and remakes, bunch of crap." He said as the group walked past a few old movie signs.

"Oh I loved that one." He said as he pointed to an older western movie poster still in an old rusted frame on a wooden easel.

"He's deaf and senile." The cowboy said as he looked over at Cade and Lucas. "I heard that." His grandfather said as he took the lead.

I snorted out a laugh as I followed close behind, ducking and hiding behind the large posts and other large scattered items that filled the main lobby.

I wandered around the theatre as I couldn't sense no signal whatsoever. I sighed as I watched the group of men walk around the theatre and walked into another room.

I scrunched my optics ridges before I picked up my pace and followed them. "Now these just need some spit and polish. I believe they're digital, possibly IMAX."

"Yeah they're not." Cade informed as he walked over to the cowboy. "Look, mister, we'll have a look around if you want to leave us to it, okay?"

"You know, folks used to come from miles around to see the dancing girls with the big cha-chas." The older male spoke as he looked away from the blue folder he held in his hands.

"I swear to god I'm one diaper change away from poisoning his oatmeal." The cowboy grumbled as Cade looked over at his grandfather.

"Hey, you hang in there, buddy. If coming here makes you feel young, then you tell this kid to bring you here every day." Cade said as he pressed an item against the guy's chest who stumbled against another old movie projector.

"Seven bucks or I keep talking." Cade challenged as the guy nodded. "Sold."

I sighed as I stepped out of the old dusty room and find myself traveling down the long hallway that lead to a pair of large doors that were broken off its hinges. I was a bit hesitant at first but as soon as I stepped through the enterance I was in awe.

I enter the large thearte room. Everything was covered in dust. My optics widened as I see the many rows of the red faded silk recliner seats and the large wooden stage. Its been years since I stepped foot in a theatre let alone one from way back then.

I take the leap of faith and transformed into my human self. I held onto one of the red seats for support as I stumbled on my first few steps. Damn it's been long..

Once I managed to get my balance on two feet again. I took a really good look of my surroundings with my jaw dropped.

I brushed my fingers over the dusty red chairs. I sniffled as the dust entered my nose, causing me to sneeze.

"Remember this place when we were kids? How many girls did you think you brought here?" Lucas asked as I froze in my spot. Shit, shit, shit! I quickly transformed again, running to take cover behind the old ratted curtains.

Cade sighed, walking down one of the lanes inbetween the rows of seats with his large flashlight. He paused for a moment as something caught his attention at one of the seats he had walked by.

"I only remember one." He replied as he reached over to grab what appeared to be an old football.

"Hey heads!" He called out to Lucas as he tossed the football in his friend's direction.

Within seconds of the football being thrown, clearly failing to catch it; he was hit in the head and went flying backwards into a pile of scrap.

I sniffled a laugh as I watched. "Ugh..ow.." He grunted as he slowly got back up on his feet.

"That's why you didn't make the varsity team." Cade said as Lucas fixed himself up and picked up the football.

He side stepped away from the scrap, getting a good grip of the ball. "Oh yeah? Ok go long." He challenged as he got into a strong stance.

He lets out a grunt and throws the football, which hits the chair, and goes flying straight up into the air and straight through a window and crashed back down two rows in front of Cade.

"Leave it." Lucas grumbled, sighing in defeat as Cade continued to make his way around the theatre before he laid his eyes on the truck.

My auto receptors pricked up as I scanned the truck. I nearly fell back in shock.

It's Optimus!

He was covered in tarps, old towels and other boxes. Just as Cade walked over Optimus hunched over just as Cade stepped on his running boards.

I watched as he opened the truck door to see large mortar shells fall out of the vehicle. I frowned as I watched helplessly. Prime's whole radiator was shot, and blown to bits.

Cade reached over and picked one of the shells up. "Mortar shells? What the hell happened to you?" Cade asked as he examined one of the shells.

Bullet holes littered his alt mode, large holes through the metal. Ranges of many different sizes. His windows were scratched, and cracked, he was covered in dust, holes and dents.

Cade jumped off of Prime's running boards and walked over to the stupid cowboy who had his feet kicked up and was relaxing on one of the old seats.

"Hey Snakeballs, how much for the truck?" Cade asked as he looked over at Cade.

"Truck?" He asked as Cade nodded. "Yeah that one right there. How much?" He asked as the two males busied themselves away in making a deal.

I stayed hidden for as long as I could. I tapped my tail repeatedly on the old wooden floor of the stage.

Now I know it's Prime how can I get him out of here?! As I was rambling to myself trying to figure out a plan Cade had called up another semi truck to load up Prime.

Of course I had to follow them. There is no way in hell I can let Prime out of my sight.

I watched as they loaded Prime up and began to exit the old movie theatre.

I peeked around the corner as I then ran to where Prime was. I grunted as I had to crawl underneath him. I let out a small wheeze as I gripped onto anything from his alt mode so I wouldn't fall off.

The whole drive to I'm guessing his house was killing me. It didn't help either that these damn roads were gravel..

Rocks, pebbles and spits of pavement flew from underneath the tires and hit my bipedal mode, even causing a few dents in my metal.

By the time the sun was setting we arrive to the destination. I release my grip as I roll into the long grass near the enterance of the driveway.

I peeked through the long grass before running through the field, following the truck up the driveway to a farm house.

"All the way." Cade directed as the truck driver pulls in near the barn. I sighed as I peeked through my hiding spot behind one of the few scrap cars Cade had on his property.

The place didn't look terribly. Of course there was the farm house, the old barn. He had tons of scrap cars, many where stripped down, others were just rusting away. Again...not a terrible place he had here.

The large semi revved it's engine as Cade signalled the guy to pull in closer.

"A truck? Dad? Please tell me you didn't spend our money on this." I looked over to see a blonde girl coming out of his house I'm guessing was his daughter.

"Hey don't worry, he spent my money. 150 bucks of it." Lucas growled as he leaned off his black MINI and leaned against a small fence.

"As an advance on your regular paycheck." Retorted Cade as he looked at him.

"What regular pay check?" Lucas asked as he glared at him. Clearly ticked off at the fact Cade had blown his money.

"Which you will get back." Cade replied quickly as Lucas rolled his eyes.

"When?"

"Never. We're broke." His daughter declared as she walked past her father and stood next to Lucas.

"I knew it." Lucas said as he looked at Tessa and then. back at Cade.

"Sweetheart can you not drive a wedge between employer and employee?" Cade asked as he glared over at his daughter, making hand movements between him and Lucas.

"Whoa, whoa, I thought we were partners?"

Cade sighed. "Look I came up short, ok? I had to buy her a prom dress. Do you want me to deny her a prom dress?" Cade asked Lucas as he glared at his friend.

"You might as well. You denied her a prom date." He fired back, as he leaned back on the fence.

"No, I offered to take her and chaperone."

"Who wants to go to the dance with their dad? It's weird." Lucas exclaimed as Cade clenched his jaw, sucking in a deep breath. "It's not the issue."

"Well maybe it should be." Tessa declared as she looked at her father, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Hey, could you guys just get off my case? You know what the engine on this runs for? I can break down, strip it for parts." Cade explained, directing a hand towards Prime as my optics widened.

Strip it for parts?! He can't take Optimus apart! Cade sighed as he dropped his arm to his side as he looked at his daughter, finally taking notice of her shorts.

"And sweetheart your shorts are shrinking by the second, okay? Cold water, air dry please?" Cade asked as he walked over to the truck.

Tessa rolled her eyes and stormed off back into the house. "I think she looks hot." Lucas pointed out as he watched her storm off.

"What did you say?" Cade asked as he started to make his way towards him as if he was going to punch him out. I don't blame Cade if he did. If she was my kid I would've just killed Lucas for even saying such a thing.

"Like a hot teenager." Lucas added on quickly, raising his hands up in defence.

"Oh so it's the "teenager" thing that makes it better?"Cade asked as Lucas shook his head. "Thank you." He added on as Lucas sighed.

"It didn't sound like what it meant." He rambled out as Cade rolled his eyes, walking away from him and towards Optimus and the trucker who towed Prime in.

I snorted as I crept back into the corn field to examine the area. 'Lisa? You ok?' I hear Bee ask through the bond nearly making me shriek.

Once I was able to get my processor to function again I rolled my optics. 'Yes Bee I'm fine, chill out.' I replied through the bond as I continued to look around.

'Well did you find him?' Bee asked as I groaned, pinning my audio receptors back. 'Don't worry about it..'

I peeked my head and looked over at the truck backing up in the barn where they parked Prime. I looked around in defeat. Now where the hell am I gonna stay hidden?

I crept into the barn as Cade stepped into the barn with Lucas. "That goes by the circuit boards." He said to his friend as Lucas sighed, placing whatever he had in his grasp down where Cade told him to put it.

"Put the Zeiss lenses over there." Cade directed as he moved the large IMAX projector before heading to his desk and looked through a telescope looking thing.

"Dad, please. You can't keep spending money on junk, just so you can turn it into different junk." Tessa said as she entered the barn and walked towards her father.

He stared at his daughter mortified as if she had said something foreign. "We do not use the "J" word in here." He declared to his daughter as I scoffed. Ohhh the "J" word, I'm so offended..

She laughed as he pointed to the large movie projector. "That is a Super Simplex theatre projector. It's very rare." Cade exclaimed as she eyed the dust and rust covered projector.

"What about the SmilePilot?" Cade asked as the little robot which looked like one of those giant walking tanks in StarWars.

"Or the Exer-Mower that I invented? Simply way ahead of their time." Cade explained as he went back to examined the scope.

"Yeah, like the alleged Guard-Dawg." Lucas said as the robotic dog sagged his ears before he started to go ballistic, moving his head around and began to bark angrily.

"You're going to get him upset." Cade said as he glared at his friend. He huffed placing a box of scrap down. "Hey, Cade, Cade!" He called out as the dog stopped barking and Lucas ran to the fridge.

"This thing still work?" He asked as his daughter rolled her eyes. "No!"

"Yes! Yes, and still groundbreaking. Go back there and lay on the recliner and just wait for a cold one." Cade exclaimed as Lucas walked over and punched a punching bag which it fell off its chain and crashed into something.

"Dude, stop breaking stuff." Cade said as Lucas sat down on the recliner waiting for the little black bot to bring him a Budweiser.

"Final notice, late notice, past due." His daughter listed off as she dropped all the enclosed bills on his desk.

"Come on, come on. Bring daddy the alcohol." Lucas encouraged to the little bot. I rolled my optics as Tessa walked back to her father's side and looked at the scattered junk in front of him.

"I mean what is all this crap that people send you?" She asked as she picked up two items off of the desk.

"That's a Discman and that's an 8-track tape." Cade said as she looked at them. "Music." He added on as she sighed. "Never heard of it." She replied as she tossed the two items on the table.

"Look, I fix that, it's $100 bucks. I fix that, it's $250. If I would've been able to fix that before you broke it even more, it would've been $20 bucks. This stuff is what's gonna put you through college as long as you land on one of those scholarships." Cade exclaimed as Cade sighed.

"What's the estimated time of arrival, usually? Average?" Lucas asked as the bot whirred before it flipped its cap and held out the beer can. "Wait. So it just brings the beer near you? That's the trick?" Lucas asked as Cade sighed.

"It's got a couple kinks man." Cade said as Tessa sighed. "Dad, you think maybe some things should never be invented?"

"No, I don't. That's backwards thinking." Cade replied as he got out of his seat. "This is a temple of technology. You guys are standing in a holy place." Cade added on as I rolled my optics.

"Aha! What do you think? Why don't you look at all this? This could be yours. What about this land?" A woman said as I hear a faint engine. My audio receptors flickered as I see Cade reaching over to grab a bat.

"Purple People Eater's back and she looks hungry." Cade said as he exited the barn.

I sighed as I exit the barn as well, following him as I slipped between two run down cars and slumped down, watching the scene play out.

I look over at the small car, a large sized woman wearing a purple outfit and a older couple was with her.

I hummed as I watched the three people walk around the front yard as turn my helm to see Cade. "Isn't this incredible?" She asked the couple as I rolled my optics.

"HEY! Hey you! I own this house! It's not for sale!" Cade shouted as he walked over to them with his baseball bat in hand.

I lowered my head as I kept my optics on them. Hm..note to self, Cade has a temper issue..

"Six months late on payments Mr. Yeager and I see you stealing power at the pole." She fired back as she rested her hands on her hips.

"Hey, that's not your concern." Cade spat as he looked at the couple that was with her. "Sir do you want to see the property?" Cade asked politely as the partly bald male nodded.

"Sure." He replied as Cade nodded, sucking in a deep breath.

"I'll be more than happy to give you a tour. I'll show you three other buyers I got buried out back, then I'll crack your head open like an egg." He threatened as he made his way towards him.

"Stay back! He's crazy." The Purple People Eater said as Cade glared at her. "I told you don't come back here anymore!"

I snorted out a laugh as the three of them ran back into the car. "I will have my brother come back and beat your ass! Don't you start with me!" Purple Eater shouted at him as Cade laughed. "Why don't you do it yourself?!"

"I'll bring the police when I come, too! My brother ain't no joke!" She snapped as she got into her car.

"Who Jerry? You bring his fat ass up here he'll be huffing and puffing before he could squeeze out of that car!" Cade snarled as she slammed the door shut.

"You back out on my grass you'll be in big trouble, you tell Jerry to come see me, I'll give him so pecan pie." He shouted as he turned away from her car.

As she reversed to back up she drove right on his grass and smashed right through his fence. Cade snarled as he threw the bat at the back of the car. "She smashed through the fence?!"

He spun around and stormed off and past Lucas who was drinking a beer. "Cade, relax. You're going to have an aortic infraction."

"What is that?" He spat as he was breathing heavily. "I think it's a..brain heart attack?"

"Yeah I already had one already." Cade said as he waved a hand at his friend in dismay.

I frowned as I slumped back down on the grass. I miss Bumblebee..I miss the others..more importantly if I stay here any longer I think I'm gonna go insane..

"So we're stealing power now?" Tessa asked her father as he walked over to her. "No we're borrowing it from the neighbours." Cade replied as she glared at him.

"Great that's awesome. Once I graduate and I'm gone, who's going to take care of you?" Tessa asked as Cade stared at her.

"Oh you take care of me?" He challenged as she nodded. "Who taught you how to solder a circuit? Or write a program? Or French braid your hair? Or throw a spiral? Me. That's what I do." Cade listed off as she scoffed.

"Who taught you how to cook without ketchup, or balance your checkbook? Who always has to be the grownup around here?"

"All right, you got a point, okay? But that means we're a great team. And I know it's been sucky around here lately. But we're going to be fine, sweetie. You just gotta keep believing, okay?" Cade said as she forced a smile.

"I mean, that's what great inventors do. I promise you, one day, I'm going to build something that matters." Cade added on as she nodded. "I believe you, Dad."

"You know, your mom would be very proud of you." He said as she smiled. "It's going to be ok."

I felt bad for this family..struggling to to make ends meet, including with mourning the loss of her mother and his wife. I couldn't even begin to think of what I would've done if I ever lost Bee...

I sighed, bringing my focus back to my mission. What the hell am I supposed to do now? I can't leave Prime here. Leaving is not an option.

Maybe staying here won't be so bad.. I raised my head again, looking at the sunset. For once, after years of hiding, running and just trying to survive.. I felt relaxed..

Sometimes I just wish..

I wish that the world didn't want us gone. That the war in Chicago had never happened in the first place.

So much had happened within the last few years...so much was lost. I look back towards the barn where Optimus was kept.

There's not much I could right now without risking getting caught. The only thing I can do it wait..

I closed my optics and I transformed back to my human self. I looked at my hands, my arms..it's been so long since I've seen my human skin.

I swore to myself that I'd never go back to being human. I felt so weak...so useless in this form. It was nothing but a painful reminder of my past. A reminder of how much I lost along the way...

I take in a deep breath, ignoring the pain as I transformed back to my Cyberwolf form. I lowered myself back to the ground and closed my optics falling deep into sleep.

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Welcome to another chapter!
How are you all liking it so far?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! I always like reading through them whether it be feedback or just to share your overall enjoyment of the story!
Thanks for all the reads, I really appreciate it all the support! See you all in the next chapter!
Love always,
Alexandra Capone💕
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