Author's Note: Thanks for your comments everyone! They really helped me out a lot while I was writing this. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters relating to Transformers, even though I own the DVDs. I only own my OCs that are in the story.

Rating: T

TTTTTTTTTTTTTT = scene change

'italics' mental communication

"italics" talking on a phone

The scene that lay before my eyes was one of complete and utter chaos. The dark night sky that was spotted with glittering stars, was lit up even more by the light of the flames as they shot up to touch those stars from the buildings that they rose from. Each current fire and even more new ones kept popping up as the buildings were hit by the constant stream of gun fire shooting back and forth between the two opposing sides.

The slate gray of the ground glittered with the reflected light that danced across its surface. Only broken once in a while when someone ran behind new cover from where their previous position was as I watched them from well over a thousand feet above their heads.

I watched as during the battle, one of the buildings' roofs started to go down like an elevator, revealing a large, golden ship inside. A large blast came from outside the building as it tried to destroy it but the building held its ground. I suddenly felt myself fly down towards the planet and the ship as I went inside the building.

Through the smoke I could see Jazz and Prowl running towards the ship with Ironhide and Optimus not too far behind them. My eyes widened. I had thought that this was Cybertron when I first laid eyes on it but how was I seeing this in the first place? I had never been to Cybertron let alone see it as well and in as much detail as I did now. I had heard so much about this place from Spike, who had been here, but never did he tell me something like this.

My thoughts turned to Cybertron's past. I had asked Rewind and Steeljaw over the past few days about it and they had said it was once a marvelous and beautiful place to live before all the energy was taken out of it when the war had first started. Now I sat and watched as more of this place, the home of my friends, was slowly destroyed as they were about to take off in their ship to help restore the planet to its original state and beauty with the energy they found on other worlds.

Prime and the others made it to the ship and the hatch closed behind them. I saw them appear at one of the windows beneath where the bridge area would be. My view then changed again to outside the building. My eyes caught a flash as four people ran for their lives towards another building for shelter.

The one in the front was blue and gold in color with wings on his back that were similar to Prowl's. The three behind him were a lot slimmer than the Autobots I had met and I remembered that Rewind had said that there were female Autobots as well, referred to as femmes.

One was colored violet, black, and green, odd considering I had seen two of those colors on a Decepticon before, never on an Autobot. She had what looked like horns on either side of her head that curved backward and some star-shaped weapons strapped around her legs.

The second one was colored pink and gold and had airplane wings coming out of her back with jets on the end of each one. She also had what looked like a star that sat on the back of her helmet and made it look like she had a crown on if someone saw her from the front and had two laser guns, one on each hip.

Though the last of them was one that really caught my eyes. The fire reflected off of her rose, silver, and sky blue colors, making each one glow with an unnatural beauty. Her helmet was beautifully designed with wings on either side and a curved back to protect her neck. Coming out of the helmet though was a long silvery-gold braid that flew about as she ran.

An Autobot with hair? Now that was something completely new to me.

I heard a shout from somewhere else behind me and I saw the one in front whirl around as a bright burst of light flew past me. Time seemed to slow down as I saw him block and divert the attack away from them as he rushed past the girls to protect them. He then waved a hand in a circle around his head and they were surrounded by a white light. Each of the girls disappeared one by one to somewhere else away from Cybertron, but he lingered behind for a few moments as he threw something black with stray pieces of metal in it onto the ground.

Then he turned his bright, sapphire eyes towards me. I froze as those eyes seemed to burn right into my soul. A small smile graced his lips as he started to slowly vanish as well, following the three he sent before him.

''Remember…'' I heard a voice in my head say.

''Remember… Alia…''

'Alia…' I watched as he finally disappeared.

'Alia…' I was puzzled as the voice seemed closer to me than before. Then my view started to swirl and distort around me throwing everything into a jumble of colors and shapes.

'ALIA!!'

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

My eyes flew open and the first thing I saw was Steeljaw's head taking up my whole field of vision. I reached up and pushed him backward so that I could sit up. I looked around me dazed and confused about where in the world I was.

'Well it's about time!' Steeljaw growled. 'I thought you were never going to wake up!'

'What happened?' I asked, still a little unsure.

He was instantly remorseful. 'Sorry. You hit your head after the blast knocked us off our feet. Remember?'

The memories came back to me like a raging wave after an earthquake. I remembered that the day had started off normally. Carly and I had just gotten back from getting some food for her, Spike, and myself. Then the Decepticons had attacked the base. We had gotten under some cover but one of the shots from Megatron's cannon had strayed and smashed into the ground not even five feet away from where Steeljaw and I had been.

'Where are Spike and Carly?!'

Steeljaw leaned down and supported me as I stood back up on my feet. 'They're this way, out the back of the building.'

We ran towards the back door. Jumping over the fallen concrete from the ceiling and a few of the walls that had been knocked down elsewhere. I could still hear the shots of the fight, some close some far away. The door came open easily and we made it through just before a large stone slab fell down behind us, blocking the door. We made our way towards Spike and Carly as they stood at the far end of the alleyway away from the warehouse.

"Thank God. I thought you two had gotten hurt!" Carly exclaimed, a relieved look on her face.

"No, I just got knocked out for a minute or two." I replied.

'More like five.'

'Shut up.'

I looked back at Spike. "What's happened so far?"

"Optimus and the others are trying to lead the Decepticons away from the warehouse. It's worked so far but I don't think it will for long."

"We better get out of the way then. It won't to anyone any good if we got hurt." I said.

Both of them nodded and we headed out towards my house. Shouts and some explosions echoed behind us as we ran down the hill and came out on the sidewalk. We could see the other people of the town running for their lives on the streets just down the other hill that let towards the center of town. Just a few stragglers left their homes to join the throng of people as we ran past.

'DOWN!'

Steeljaw's voice echoed in my head as I suddenly found myself being pushed onto the ground. Spike and Carly followed suit as something flew over our heads from just to the left of us between the houses just a few houses down from my own home. I lifted my head and looked in that direction as Steeljaw kept himself between me and whatever it was, a deep growl coming from his throat as he roared at whoever it was.

"You know. If it wasn't for that blasted creature, I would have had you where I wanted you."

I froze as David and two others came out of the shadows. Each of them was dressed in black from head to toe with several weapons strapped to them as well as one in each hand. Carly and Spike moved as they lifted themselves off the ground just a little. I got onto my knees before placing my right foot flat on the ground.

"What do you want?!" I shouted.

"What else do you think?" was the calm, reply. He then lowered the gun in his right hand and shot a warning blast at Carly and Spike.

"Leave them alone! They have nothing to do with this!" I shouted.

There was no warmth in the smile he gave. "Oh but they do. You involved them when you joined their little group."

I looked at the two next to me. Carly was shaking as Spike held her and kept a level gaze at David to see what he would do next. Carly glanced over at me. I motioned for them to run back the way we had come, hopefully one of the Autobots would spot them. She tugged on Spike's arm and they sped back down the way we had come.

"After them." David ordered. The two men beside him started after my friends.

"No!"

'Alia!'

I ducked just as another shot from David's gun went over my head.

'Run Alia!' Steeljaw shouted.

'But…'

He glared at me. 'Don't argue, just go!!'

I nodded and then sprinted off down the street towards the observation area as fast as I could. I heard David yell as Steeljaw pounced on him, tearing at whatever he could get his teeth on. I was around the corner as a strangled roar reached my ears and Steeljaw's words of 'keep running!' shot through my mind before his voice died out.

Spike

My lungs were burning as air past through them but I willed myself to go on. I shot a glance over my shoulder every few seconds to check on where those two men were that were following me and Carly. Both of them looked like well dressed Rambos instead of being dressed for the war in a jungle or something like that.

I looked back again before stealing a glance at Carly. Even in all this she managed an encouraging smile and nodded as she went a little faster. Both of us ran around the corner to the road that led back to the warehouse, just as a shot pierced through the air and slammed into the building overhead.

Prowl

One of the shots I fired smacked Starscream right in the face, knocking him backward in the air several feet. He snarled in rage and shot a null ray blast at me which missed by a couple of feet. I fired again, this time hitting a wing and he fell into the water. I then turned and ran over to help Bumblebee who was currently trying to fight off both Rumble and Ravage.

I grabbed Ravage around his middle and literally threw him over the cliff edge into the water. Bee managed to push Rumble back far enough before getting a shot off aimed right at Rumble's chest and sent him flying over the edge as well. I saw Soundwave, though he was fighting with Wheeljack and Blaster, turn as he heard, or felt, his cassettes cry out as they were harmed. But Blaster punched him in the face, returning his attention to the matter at hand.

"You okay?"

Bumblebee nodded. "Yeah. Do you know where Spike and Carly are?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "I thought they were with you…"

We both turned as a shot rang out down the hill below us. Spike and Carly then ran over the top of the hill and headed for us with two men appeared shortly after them in hot pursuit. One of them got off another shot and it struck Carly in the leg, knocking her down. Bumblebee rushed over to her as I went for the two pursuers.

They both stopped in their tracks as I came at them. They only paused for a second before trying to run but I swatted them with the back of my hand and they flew back down the hill and didn't stop until they crashed through the wall of one of the buildings at the bottom.

"Prowl?!" Bumblebee cried, shocked.

"Don't start. They deserved that and you know it."

He nodded slowly as he turned his attention back to Carly, helping her up as Spike tore a piece of cloth from his shirt to tie around the wound. I turned and watched as the Decepticons, at least what was left of them, flew off after their leader as he called a retreat. Ratchet went around helping to repair the slight wounds that some of the others had received from the fight but from what I could see it was nothing major.

Jazz and Rewind made their way over to us.

"How is everyone?"

Jazz smiled. "Just a few scrapes that's all."

"Good." I replied and went past him as Optimus and Ironhide came over to be debriefed on what exact damage had been done around us.

Rewind

After coming over with Jazz I broke off and ran over to where Spike and Carly were. Bumblebee was holding on to her as Spike finished wrapping up her leg. Both of them looked unhurt, except for the one scrap now because a stray shot. I had lost sight of them when the fighting had begun outside the warehouse. I had been in the main communication room and was blocked by a huge slab of rock before I could get to Wheeljack's lab, where all of them had been.

I looked around us, my eyes searching frantically for any sign of Alia or Steeljaw. Blaster had told me that he knew Steeljaw and the others were all safe so thankfully they weren't still inside the building. But now where were those two? I half expected the both of them to come out of one of the alleyways any minute now and stop the slight panic that started rising within me.

"Spike, where's Alia?" I asked, not bothering to hide the worry in my voice.

He looked up at me as he finally finished the last not, securing the cloth to Carly's leg. "We don't know. We left the warehouse to head back to her home for the time being but we got shot at. That guy from before, David, it was like he was waiting for us!"

I could feel myself start to shake with fear. The voices of Prowl and the others above me stopped and I could feel their eyes gazing down at the four of us on the ground as Spike was explaining what happened.

"What happened then?"

"He, he said that he would have finally gotten rid of her if it wasn't for Steeljaw's warning. We ran back here and those two men that Prowl sent flying down the hill came after us to kill us I think."

"You left her there!" I exclaimed.

"She told us too!" Carly shouted, moving into a sitting position. "She didn't want us to get hurt!"

"Where is she now?" Optimus asked.

Alia

I sat in an alleyway behind a dumpster trying to catch my breath. I could hear David walking slowly in the distance as he came closer towards the alleyway. The other end of the alleyway, that I was facing, was an exit towards the observation point that was right across the street.

I know this kind of thing would probably make people see their lives flash before them but that wasn't happening with me. The only images in my mind were the faces of my friends if this didn't end in some way here and now. I just didn't understand why David didn't just keel over and die, it was like he was a cockroach incarnate, but a thousand times worse.

"Why don't you make this easier on yourself little bijou? Just give up." David's voice echoed around me.

With no noise from anyone else it felt like his voice was right next to me instead of passing the entrance to the alleyway. I peeked around the corner of the dumpster. David slowly walked by the entrance I had come in, his head moving back and forth as he scanned around for me.

Even at this distance I could tell that the weapon he held was powered up and ready to fire. He walked past without even a second glance down the alley and I quickly moved to another position behind some boxes that were closer to the exit.

'Alia?'

I bit back a gasp. 'Steeljaw? Are you alright? What happened?'

He sounded a little woozy when he replied. 'I'm okay, he hit me hard over the head with something that knocked me out. Where are you? We need to know to find you.'

'No! I need you guys to stay where you are! Don't come find me please!'

'Alia, don't argue!'

I froze as I heard a shot at the front of the alley.

"Where are you! I know you're down there!"

'Crap.'

'What is it?!'

'Nothing! Gotta go!'

I broke off communication and sprinted out of the alley. I ran to the left and a laser went past me and exploded on the metal railing of the observation area causing it to twist and melt into a silvery puddle. I got a little further before another shot struck me on the leg, right where my newly healed wound was from the other night. A shout of pain escaped my throat as I fell onto the ground, holding onto my leg.

Steeljaw

My head shot up as I heard Alia's shout. I jumped off the ground, throwing off Rewind who had been helping me remember exactly where I was. Without giving anyone time to think I ran off towards where the shout had come from. Hoping to all Primus that we weren't too late.

Alia

I could only watch as David got closer. Somehow I gathered the strength to get up again and ran towards the stairs that led down to the small beach area beneath this first level of the observation area. I flung open the gate and ran down the stairs, as best I could with an injured leg, as another shot just missed my head by a few inches. The stairs were made of wood so it wasn't hard to hear his footsteps as he started after me.

I reached the bottom and swung myself around to crouch under the stairs. I looked in the sand for anything that I could use against him for now. My fingers touched something cold and hard just beneath the first stair and I picked up a lead pipe, left over from when they put piping in for the fountains that were on the upper level. I leaned as far as I could into the stairs as he finally reached the bottom.

He stepped out in front of the stairs, his back to me. He slowly turned his head, scanning for where I could have possibly gone and started for the water. I came out from under the stairs behind him and swung the pipe with all my strength.

Ratchet

Optimus, Prowl, and I headed after Steeljaw as he led us away from Alia's house and towards another area of town. Jazz, with Spike, Carly and Rewind, was following at a slower pace in case anything bad happened and they needed to get away quickly.

The place gave off an eerie vibe as no other humans were around. That would make whatever was going to happen a lot easier without having to worry about hurting innocents or not. I sped up to keep Steeljaw in sight. For a cassette he was pretty fast on his feet.

We came around a corner and Steeljaw headed towards a branch off road that led to what the humans called a 'rest area'. From here I could see that part of the metal fence was melted. I just hoped that we would find Alia somewhere safe.

Alia

I was about halfway back up the stairs when I saw David start to move again. Damn, I thought I had killed him! He had fallen like a rock after the pipe had bludgeoned his head. I gritted my teeth and went up the stairs two at a time. I reached the last couple of stairs before getting back onto solid ground and looked over. David slowly got up and grabbed his weapon. I ducked back and ran before he saw me. I slammed the gate behind me and started towards the alleyways again.

A roar reached my ears and I turned to see Steeljaw heading towards me with Ratchet, Prowl and Optimus right behind him. I ran towards them and met Steeljaw about halfway between the stairway and the edge of the small information building that stood near the edge of the observation point. I wrapped my arms around Steeljaw's neck, thankful that he was alright. I looked up at the others as they pulled to a stop behind him.

"I told you to stay away! He's still down there!" I said, pointing towards the stairs. "He'll kill you if he finds you here!"

"Then let us take you back to the warehouse." Optimus said calmly. "It would be safe…"

I shook my head. "No it wouldn't! He'd find me, he won't stop until he's completed his task like I told you before! I would rather die than lead him back to any of you!"

Even though they were in their alternate forms I could feel both their glares on me as I defied them. It wasn't as if I didn't want to go. But I cared more for them then my life right at the moment. I heard the sound of some rockets powering up. I whirled around just as David flew up from the beach area, smoke coming from the backpack he wore. The launcher he had in his hands, he raised up and aimed at me and Steeljaw.

Steeljaw and I jumped away from each other as a small missile slammed into the ground, creating a five foot wide crater. I rolled on the ground as the blast knocked me further away from the Autobots. I got up on my hands and knees. I heard them transform.

"Alia! Watch out!" Ratchet shouted at me.

Before I could move I was grabbed from behind with an arm wrapped around my neck and a cold piece of steel pressed to the back of my head. The arm was thick with armor and small projectiles that could be loaded into any type of weapon. A foot was next to the inside of my right leg as I was still on my knees. A knee and some armor were pressing into my back as the arm brought me closer to the person behind me. In front of me I could see Optimus and the others all standing there, their own weapons aimed and ready.

"Stand down freaks! Or she dies!" David shouted, pressing the gun against my head harder that before for emphasis.

Optimus

I had had a clear shot before but now that he had Alia as a shield I wasn't sure I could get him without hurting her. Prowl and Ratchet behind me slowly lowered their own weapons. I started to lower mine, keeping an eye on Alia as I did. Her green eyes looked at me with fear, but there was also a desperate look, her eyes silently pleaded with me to go ahead and shoot to kill him. But I couldn't… I couldn't, no I wouldn't risk it! I didn't care what the outcome of this stand-off was, just as long as she was safe... that was all that mattered.

Carly

After Jazz had stopped behind the corner of the buildings, Spike and I had gotten out and made our way through the alleys to try and get where Alia had landed after the missile blast. By the time we got there David already had the gun pointed to her head. Something that poked out from behind a box caught my eye and I moved it revealing Alia's Desert Eagle that she always carried with her, just in case. I picked it up and showed it to Spike.

"It must have fallen off before she started running again." he whispered.

"Maybe," I replied. "Let's use it."

"What?!" he hissed.

"We have to do something!" I hissed back and removed the safety from the gun.

Alia

"You have smart friends little bijou." David whispered so that only I would hear him as we both watched Optimus slowly lower his ion blaster.

My eyes went from Prowl to Ratchet before finally stopping on Optimus. Our eyes held each other for a few moments both of us not exactly knowing what to do and knowing that we could do nothing without hurting the other in some way.

I could hear the smirk in David's voice. "I'd say your goodbyes if I were you."

Before I could reply David suddenly yelled in pain, dropping the gun in his hand to the ground as he clutched his wrist. I looked over to the alley and saw Carly holding my slightly smoking gun in her hands while Spike was frantically waving for me to get away. I nodded and grabbed the gun from the ground before running over.

I hadn't gotten far when my hand was suddenly jerked behind me and the gun literally flew out of my hand and went back the way it had come. Spike grabbed me and pulled me down into the alley as I watched the firearm go right back into David's hand. There was some sort of magnet that caused the glove on his hand to glow when in use. The glow died exactly when the weapon was back home.

"Bad decision!"

The weapon fired, right at Optimus and the others.

I hadn't even realized that I moved until I found myself in front of the bright blue-violet light that was flying through the air. The energy rammed into me full force. Someone shrieked in pain, I didn't even recognize it as my own voice for a few seconds. My hands moving to cover my ears to keep that haunting sound from echoing in my head.

The energy ripped through and washed over me, moving through my veins like rushing water. My blood felt like it was on fire and I felt like I would melt from the inside because of the painful heat and burning sensations that the energy caused.

My eyes were only open for a second before being closed in pain again. In that brief second I could see that in a sense I was glowing as the energy did whatever job it was programmed to do.

I could barely hear anything around me. The only coherent thing that reached me was Carly's screaming my name and both Spike's and Steeljaw's roars of rage as they apparently charged towards David. I could hear the faint hiss of a gas that was released and someone coughing, then someone shouting orders to look for whoever had gotten away and finally the roar of engines as those ordered drove away.

The energy then dissipated and I felt myself fall to the ground. Any possible strength that I had had in me before was completely shattered and I was numb from the energy so I didn't even feel the ground when I hit it.

I must have blacked out for a few moments because the next thing I remember was being on my side, with one arm by my face and another over my side slightly feeling the heat off of the pavement and someone gently touching the side of my face.

I forced my eyes open and slowly turned my head to look up at Optimus who was currently kneeling down beside me. Concern filled his eyes as he watched me. I knew that if I wasn't lying here half dead I was sure either him or Ratchet, more than likely Ratchet who I saw standing a little ways behind him, would chew me out for not staying out of the way and keeping myself safe.

I smiled weakly. "You… all… alright?" I managed to get out.

He looked like he was about to cry but he nodded slowly anyway.

"That's… good…" I said before blacking out again.

Ratchet

My fists shook where they were at my sides. Rage all but consumed me at the fact that not only that Alia might be mortally injured but also at the fact that the son of a bitch that shot her had gotten away from me, Prowl and Jazz as we chased after him while Optimus stayed to keep an eye on Alia. I had gotten back and told Optimus what happened and then Alia woke up for a short time before she blacked out again.

Spike and Carly went over to her. Spike gently lifted her off of the ground.

"Ratchet! We need to get her to the hospital!"

Optimus and I exchanged a glance before he nodded and I transformed, opening my rear door to let Spike and Carly in as they carefully moved Alia. As soon as they were settled I slammed the door and rushed towards the hospital with Optimus not far behind me.

Carly

Spike and I got out as soon as Ratchet stopped in front of the hospital and rushed Alia inside. We found a nurse and told her what happened. She brought us a gurney and Spike laid Alia onto it before the nurse and two doctors rushed her through the hospital corridors with both of us following. The nurse stopped us as they took Alia into an emergency care room.

We sat down on one of the cushioned benches and waited. I went back to the front to check on the others and I could see all of them in the parking lot, transformed in their vehicle forms, even though it was basically empty. Faint voices reached my ears as Prowl informed the others who had stayed at the warehouse about what had happened. I grabbed a water bottle from the vending machine and headed back to where I had left Spike.

A few hours past before one of the doctors finally emerged from the room. We shot up from our seats, fearing the worst.

The doctor raised a hand. "It's okay, no need to panic. Her condition is stable for now but we won't know anything definite for another twenty-four hours. Is there a number I can reach you at to let you know?"

I nodded and gave him my cell number as the other doctor and the nurse came out of the room. I went in as Spike talked to the doctor some more. Alia lay on another gurney in a hospital gown and was wrapped in a few blankets. An oxygen machine and IV were hooked up to her. I held onto her hand, afraid that if I left something bad might happen.

"Carly?"

I turned to Spike.

"Come on. We have to go."

"But…"

He walked over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I know, I don't want to leave either but we have to get back to the Ark."

I nodded slowly and with one last look we left Alia's room and headed outside. Bumblebee opened a door for us and we climbed in. Spike explained to the others that the doctor would call us if Alia's condition changed at all or not if, well, those words didn't really have to be spoken. I watched the hospital as long as I could before I had to turn around as we headed back home.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Elsewhere in the Universe…

The man, if you could really describe him as such, turned off the screen after witnessing what happened in Duluth. He eyes showed no emotion whatsoever as the girl on the screen collapsed after the energy that had enveloped her whole body disappeared. He turned around in his chair and faced one of his soldiers who was kneeling at the base of the stairs that led to the man's large computer.

"It seems our little servant has taken care of what you failed to do, Telshann." The man stated coldly.

Telshann flinched. "Forgive me, my lord."

He couldn't really say anything more. His master was harsh and would not stand for excuses. Though no emotion showed on his face he was seething inside. Why had that puny, almost insignificant newcomer that his master had found on earth been able to succeed where he had not? It just was not in any way fair. But his master was happy and right now that was all that concerned him.

"I want you to keep an eye on our little protégé Telshann. Let's just hope for both your sakes that she stays dead this time." the Master stated before facing his computer again to come up with a plan for business that concerned him elsewhere in the galaxy.

"As you wish sir." Telshann said as he bowed before backing out of the room and disappeared into the shadows.

Author's Note: TBC in Journey to Oregon