[Rachel POV ???]

My eyes are heavy, but I finally get them to open. However, I'm met by complete darkness, forcing me to blink multiple times until I realize my eyes are, in fact, open. I lift a hand, and I can see it just fine. Quickly, I sit up, dazed and confused. There was no way I was on the Nemesis, everything was too quiet. Was I in a dream?

My chest was hurting.

I look down and I shout as I attempt to scramble away from the glow that was emitting from my chest. It was an orange glow, almost like a fire. It was painful, but not in a way that hurt. I don't know how to describe it. It feels like it's blocked, and the discomfort was from the fact I was suppressing it.

But what was it?

Your rage, child.

I snap my head up, letting out a scream as I lock eyes with a pair of burning yellow optics. The glow they were emitting outlined the helm they sat in, but only enough to tell this was not anything human or mech.

It looks like a dragon.

You continue to hold it back. Learn to control it, or it will overtake you.

I can barely control my breathing, but my chest starts burning again. What was happening? Is this a dream? Who is this being? So many questions are in my mind right now, and I can't figure out how to produce any words.

All I know is I have to wake up. 

You must let it go.

I gaze at the optics, but they begin to fade. 

Take control, or lose it all.

Suddenly, I feel tightness around me again. I feel pain start to resurface in my body. Noises and voices echo around in my ears, but the burning sensation in my chest remains.

Let it go.

Fine.

I finally stop suppressing the rage in my chest and let it flow freely through my whole being. I can feel anger surging, and my mind suddenly has only one thing in mind:

Survive.

I can feel my hands pressed against my sides, and my knives are still in place. I grip the hilts in my hands and hear the voices finally clear up until I can understand them.

"Activate a ground bridge, Soundwave."

That's right. Soundwave has me in his tentacles. I was trapped. 

Not for long.

I hear the ground bridge activate and feel movement around me. I have to act now.

With a rageful shout, I press my arms outward with knives in hand and somehow slice through the metallic tentacle that was holding me. As I gravity takes hold, I throw my knives out toward Soundwave's exposed joints. They hit their mark, causing the mech to crash down against the ground within the bridge he opened. Once I near the ground, I prep myself to tuck and roll. With easy, I succeed and dash forward out of the bridge. I open my hands, feeling the magnets activate and the knives crash against my open palms. 

I quickly fling my arms forward, releasing the blades once more as Megatron's ped comes into view. They crash through an open slit in his plating, and I feel joy as he crashes to one knee in pain. "Jump." I say, and I feel the suit around me shift towards my legs. "Reinforce leg plating." The armor around my feet and legs shift once more.

As I near the downed Decepticon, I launch myself into the air, feeling the boost from my suit send me higher than natural. Quickly, I flip over as Megatron turns to look at me. The last thing I can see before my foot connects with his helm is his wide optics watching me in utter shock. 

My foot connects with a satisfying cracking sound. Megatron's helm snaps back, and he falls flat on his back. This causes Starscream to stumble back as well, as he had been right next to his leader in an attempt to help him back up. Once again, I roll as I hit the ground, but quickly spring up and rush towards Smokescreen. The smoke had cleared by now, and his whole form was visible. Despite the blast from earlier, his chassis was still intact, and a small shield was over his whole chest. His optics were cracked open, faking death. Once they land on my form, however, they snap open in shock. I skid to a stop next to him and launch up to land on his chest plate again. I turn to face the stumbling Cons.

I recall my blades again, but I put them away. I reach out my hand once more, hoping the magnets would pick up on where my rifle was. I had lost it during the blast that took out Starscream's knee earlier and have no idea where it was.

I feel my palms tingle, indicating the magnets have made contact, but it will take a minute. It was most likely buried somewhere in the debris. "Smokescreen, can you get a signal through?" I can't see his movements, as my eyes are trained on Megatron and Starscream, who were starting to regain their footing. Soundwave was already back on his feet and walking out of the ground bridge. His movements were fluid, but I can tell he was angry.

"I hear something, but there's still static." 

His voice is quiet, indicating he was talking through our comms. If our comms are working, perhaps I could-

"You insolent pest! I'll tear you apart!"

Megatron was already back on his peds and started charging toward us. His cannon was aimed at us, and I quickly raise my arms, crossing them in front of my body. A shield appears, surrounding us both, but I know it won't be enough. Megatron releases a shot, and I know my shield won't hold up against it. I brace myself for the impact.

But instead, all I see is an orange blade slice through the blast and send the two pieces careening past Smoekscreen and me. I feel joy overwhelm the rage in my chest as a blue and red flame-painted mech appears and slams his servo into the helm of Megatron. The silver mech crashes backward, crushing Starscream once again.

"Optimus! One o'clock!"

Said mech quickly raises his blade and blocks an electrified tentacle. I feel the magnets in my hand react, so I open my left palm again and my rifle explodes from a pile of rubble. I quickly catch it and switch hands. Raising my weapon, I train my sights on Soundwave, following him in the fight that was ensuing. Optimus was starting to struggle, unable to keep up with the swift movements of the slim mech. One tentacle escapes his defenses and lands a shocking blow on his side. Optimus collapses to his knees, opening up the sights. I smirk as Soundwave moves his helm toward me. 

"An eye, for an eye, 'Con."

I squeeze the trigger, releasing a single shot. It flies straight and connects with it's intended target. Soundwave's screen shatters, and the bullet crashes straight into his optic. He stumbles back, and Optimus turns to look at me. I lower my rifle slightly, shocked that the bullet truly went through the glass. Soundwave slowly moves his helm back to look at me, and I find his glass nearly completely shattered. Behind it, his one good optic glares back at me, burning a bright purple. He looks like he wants to attack, but Optimus is quick to rise up, grabbing the cons arm and flinging him into his leader and commander. They all crash together once again. 

Optimus rushes over, and I strap my rifle to my hip again. "He's got internal injuries and energon leaking everywhere. Two major wounds on the front, a few minor ones on the back." Optimus nods, and I carefully climb off Smokescreen and onto Optimus' shoulder. When I turn to watch Optimus' back, I hear Smokescreen suck in a breath. "I thought you were gone, Rachel. How did you-" 

"Please, save your strength. We can talk about it later."

Thankfully, he listens, and grows silent as Optimus helps him to his peds. I spot Megatron starting to stand, but I also see a white mech barreling through the woods at us, swords drawn. It is obvious that Megatron is now outnumbered, and he growls.

"You win this one, human. Next time will not be so lucky."

I growl.

I can feel the growl from my chest, and it resonates with the rage. I could feel Optimus turning to look at me, but I ignore him. Another ground bridge opens with Soundwave standing next to it with an open servo. His gaze meets mine again, and I could feel the anger... but there was something else hidden behind that cold look. Something inside me pushes me to remove my helmet, as if his gaze was coaxing me to meet his optic and look eye to optic with him.

My helmet fizzles away, and I can't help but gasp as his optic widens in shock. The coldness leaves only for a moment, but Megatron's form breaks our line of sight. He walks slowly through the portal, his gaze glaring at Optimus' back. I retrain my rifle swiftly to lock onto Megatron's optic. Wheeljack was beside us now, and I could see Bulkhead rushing to our position as well. Soon, all the Decepticons that were present before were now gone, and the bridge was closing.

I let out a sigh of relief. I place the rifle back on my hip, then turn and sit on Optimus' shoulders. I feel his helm turn and I wave. "I'm fine, just bruised a bit from getting tossed around." I hear Smokescreen chuckles as a ground bridge appears. Bulkhead arrives finally and huffs. "Aw man. I always miss all the fun!" Wheeljack only chuckles, sheathing his swords on his back. "Next time, finish off your 'cons a bit faster." Optimus carefully starts moving towards the ground bridge, helping Smokescreen limp through the portal. As we cross through, the base appears, and Rachet is the first to greet us. "By the Allspark! Bring him to the medical bay, now!"

Optimus was quick to do as he was told, and I hold on as he moves. Once they are in the medical bay, Prime slowly helps Smokescreen onto the nearest berth. Once he was safe and secure, he turns and makes his way toward the human side of the medical bay. I knew better than to argue at this point, feeling the adrenaline drop and the pain rise. Carefully, he kneels down, and I see Lennox waiting for us along with the medical team. Slowly, I stand and make my way down Optimus' arm. I jump off his servo, turning to thank him for the lift. Optimus only gives a small nod before standing and heading back towards Smokescreen.

When I turn, I see Lennox making his way over and his face shows signs of concern. I shake my head, trying to wave off the doctors that were trying to inspect me. "I'm fine, really. Just some bruising is all. Cup of coffee and I'll be right as rain." Lennox only sighs, then reaches up and gently touches the side of my head. Pain slightly flairs and I snap back. He lowers his hand to show blood on the tips of his fingers. "I'd say otherwise. You're getting a full debrief. And Ratchet needs to repair your suit." 

I sigh and only nod my head in defeat. As a doctor ushers me towards a table, I sit down and let them take the data from my suit and start bandaging my head. One of them starts deactivating my suit, and I quickly stop him. "I, uh, only have undergarments on under this." The doctor's face flushes, and he quickly backs up. "When we finish with your head, please change and return so we can finish your checkup."

I give my thanks and sit still. As much as I hate checkups, I knew I'd need it. Perhaps they could tell me what was going on with my chest, but I couldn't mention the dream. At least, not to humans. That might get awkward.

I hear a few voices, then the sound of one of the mechs transforming into their alt mode. A male with grey and black hair sporting a white leather jacket appears from the cybertronian medical hanger. He makes his way toward the human side, a frown on his face and a few bags on his arms. As his blue eyes meet mine, the frown fades into a smirk. At the sight of my injury, however, he frowns again.

"So much for never getting hurt on missions, huh?" Wheeljack comments as he gets close enough to hear. I only shrug before being told by my doctor to sit still. "In my defense, this wasn't exactly a mission. I was on my day off." I move my eyes to look at the bags. "My fudge! It's still intact?"

That earns me a chuckle, and I sigh. "Well, I'll still eat it." The doctor finally tells me I can head to change, and I gently touch the wrapping on my head. I sigh and carefully slide off the table. When my feet hit the floor, I feel pain shock up them, and I have to grab ahold of Wheeljack to stay standing. He carefully helps me towards the hall with our rooms, and I limp my way next to him. Despite reinforcing the plating around my legs, nailing a Decepticon in the face with my fragile legs is still apparently not the best idea.

We make it back to my room, and he opens the door. He looks to me, and I nod. "Yeah, I'm going to need help picking out some clothes." He nods and makes our way to the bed. He cautiously releases my arm and I sit on the edge of my mattress. Wheeljack looks me over, and I can see his eyes brighten. He only huffs as he turns away and sets my snacks down on the center island before heading to my dresser.

"So, want to tell me what's eatin' at ya, kid?"

My head snaps up, and I sigh. Of course, the one time I wasn't making sure I was showing it, Wheeljack spots my unease and pain. And not just the physical type.

I sigh, laying flat on my back on my bed.

"It's a long story."

A shirt covers my face, and I rip it off and turn to face the mech. I scowl, but he replies with a smirk.

"I've got all day."