There's a hole in the wall of the main hangar, and I launch through it. The brace on my leg is sparking, but I keep my gaze ahead. I needed to make it to the other bots, and lead them to Ratchet and Smokescreen before-

I skid to a stop, my heart - er, spark - hammering in my chest at the sight.

The Autobot berth hanger was in flames. I could see Bumblebee fighting off a few drones to the side, and Ironhide was directly in front of the entrance, blasting some vehicons off their peds. However, the bright blue energon leaking from them was evidence enough that they were attacked at the same time as us. There is movement behind him in the base, but I can't distinguish it.

And right now, I'm out in the open, in the middle of a battlefield. 

All around me are jets flying low, fighting off the aerial attack while soldiers and other bots are on the ground trying to fend off the ground units. I could see blood and energon mixing from the wounded. My legs are frozen in place.

This is all my fault. They were after me and I led them here somehow...

Laughter pierces the air around me, shaking me to my core and wrenching my feet off the ground in shock. It was a deep, soul-crushing cackle, one that I hoped never to hear again. I spin as the ground quakes with the landing of a massive silver mech. His purple optics lock onto my small form, and I feel tears start to form in my eyes from the fear rising within me.

"I tried to warn you, human, but you wouldn't listen."

"Megatron..."

I barely can say his name when a familiar purple and black mech steps out from behind him. His faceless gaze turns towards me, and I suck in a deep breath. I need to focus. My leg is still mending, the brace is failing, and I am in the middle of a battlefield. I turn to look at the Autobot berth, or what's left of it. None of them have seen me yet, let alone the leader of the Decepticons. I turn to face where I had run from, but the only ones that I can see are the humans running from the falling building. I spot Sam and Raf booking it towards the lab. At least I know they are okay.

Because I don't think I'll make it out of this one this time.

I turn back to Megatron, who steps toward me. Instinct makes me step backward, and I feel the brace shift on my leg. I grimace in pain-

There's no pain.

My eyes widen and I gaze down at the brace. It was nearly falling off my leg at this point, but there was no sensation of pain or a broken bone coming from it. My pulse quickens, and I remember the energon that was absorbed into my skin. My mind races, ideas forming. I have used inhuman strength before, but it wasn't mine to control. I turn to face Megatron again, who had gotten uncomfortably close now. Soundwave was just behind him, his weird tentacle-like appendages appearing from his back.

Megatron was kneeling before me as if he was trying to seem kind. My spine shivers, screaming 'danger' throughout my body. I need to think, focus. Figure out how to use whatever odd abilities I have from this meld of man and machine and escape.

"If you come willingly, we will leave this place and all who are in it alone."

I stop thinking.

My eyes meet his optics.

He's lying, I know he is.

But what if he's not?

I hear a shout to the left, towards the berths. I can just see the outline of a blue and red mech fighting. His bright cyan optics are shining in my peripherals, but I can't move my gaze. 

"Swear to me."

Megatron actually moves his helm back, as if shocked I was actually agreeing to this. "What did you say?" 

"Swear to me you will leave this place, stop the fighting, and never return. Then I'll come willingly."

His sharp-toothed grin is not comforting in any way, and I try to hold my ground. He extends his servo towards me, his gaze never leaving my small form.

"I swear, Rachel Darby."

I suck in a breath, shocked that he knew my name. However, I can't help but smirk at the silver I could see growing in my peripherals. I know that mech, and I shake my head.

"I never trust the word of a 'Con, Lord Bucket-head."

At that moment, I hear a voice shout, "Drop!" And without hesitation, I flatten myself on the ground. I feel a missile barely graze my back. Before it makes contact with Megatron, I feel a servo wrap around my small frame and pull me to safety. I can still feel the explosion, but my whole world was currently spinning. When it finally stops, the air hits me again as I am dropped on the shoulders of a smaller silver mech. He was using the wheels on his peds to swiftly maneuver through the fight towards the lab.

"Good save, Swipes!"

"I'd never let any harm befall you again, little lady. Now, hold on!"

I steady myself as he picks up speed. He blasts a few drones away and sends a grenade toward Barricade. I turn, checking behind us.

"Sides, roll!"

SIdeswipe quickly drops down and rolls across the ground. I keep myself protected against his helm. When he's on his back, he aims at our would-be attacker and launches multiple missiles. They all hit their mark against the chest and helm of Bonecrusher. As he regains his footing, I can spot Optimus slashing against the same deception before gaining on us. We all enter the lab, and I can see Raf was already at the computers. I point towards the computers as well and Sideswipe seems to understand. He lifts a servo, and I jump down and hold onto his digit. He quickly drops me next to Raf, and I help with the codes.

"Have you calibrated the sensors to our backup base?"

The boy shakes his head but keeps typing. "Not yet! I had to rewire most of the system after a beam crashed through. I just got it powered on again!"

I quickly begin typing as well and load in the coordinates for an old missile silo. It was one of three backup bases in case this one ever became compromised. I check every sensor and feel the hair on my neck stand once I slam the power button. To our left, a massive circle lights up, and I feel the energy in the air sizzle. Suddenly, a green floating liquid-like substance starts circling the inside of the huge circle. Blue and yellow flecks start appearing as the substance reaches the outer edges. 

Optimus turns to us, his gaze somber. He lifts his digits to his audio receptor.

"All units who are able, the ground bridge is active! We must retreat." 

I turn to him, trying to hide my panic.

"I have the self-destruct set for five minutes." My gaze starts to move around as more bots make their way to us. I feel fear rise as Ratchet and Smokescreen are nowhere to be seen. I move to the edge, trying to get Optimus' attention as he blasts a few cons. He flicks his gaze toward me, and I speak quickly.

"Ratchet and Smokescreen were cornered in the main hangar!"

His gaze drops, then meets mine again. It's somber and I feel my grip on the bars tighten as he speaks.

"I am sorry, Rachel."

I shake my head, the sounds around me growing quieter. A ringing sensation is filling my ears. My chest burns again, and I turn to the entrance. I see Wheeljack barely make it through the door, a slight limp making him stumble. He makes it over to where I'm at, and I can tell he's trying to talk. However, I couldn't hear him. My gaze was focused on the door. I see a red mech suddenly appear, his bright red optics locking onto me once again. His grin sends shivers down my spine.

Until a small silver mech crashes into his gut and sends them both flying out the door.

"No, Sideswipe!"

I start to rush towards him, but a servo grabs me and picks me up. 

"No! No, I can't leave them! Let me go!"

I hear Wheeljack's voice speaking to me, but I struggle in his grip.

"No! Let me go!"

I slam my hands against the restraints around me. I feel them fall away and the ground meets me quickly. I feel the concrete break beneath my hands. Dizziness is overtaking me, but I try to make my way to the door anyways. Fatigue is filling my limbs. Another servo wraps around me, and I can't fight it again.

"No... I can't... leave..."

As the sound of the ground bridge echoes around me, I see one last glimpse of Sideswipe as he blasts the entrance to the lab, causing it to collapse and keep anyone else from getting in. Then the ground bridge suddenly floods my vision just as my consciousness slips away.