Heat beat down on her body, and the young woman let out a groan.

Her hands scrabbled across the warm sand beneath her, clenching and unclenching as the ocean waves washed over her knees.

Her eerily blue eyes opened, squinting against the sun and she maneuvered herself up.

Metal clinked around her shoulders, and she lifted pieces of the orange metal.

Gone.

Her Autobot was gone.

Alex could remember when she had first found her bike...

The day was hot, but it was always hot here. A flower scented breeze flew through the small workplace.

The sound of a screen door opening and slamming against its hinges to rattle a jar of screws echoed through the open garage door.

"There you are, Alexandra." A woman huffed. "You're late! I've been worried sick!"

"Yeah, yeah." An annoyed growl flowed into the garage.

"What is that hunk of junk doing on my property!?" The woman screeched, following what could only be her daughter into the garage.

"You told me to find a way to get myself places. Well, this is it." A young female appeared in the broken garage door. "It's not like anybody's gonna steal this hunk of junk, because A) we live on a private island off an island, and B) there isn't anyone here."

"I am not giving you any money towards this...this...machine. It's your responsibility."

"Yes, I know." The girl propped the rusty motorcycle against the workbench. "Just like I've bought my clothes, and my food, and I live in the garage and pay rent. Blah blah blah."

"Well, I've taken care of you-"

Alex snapped, flaming braid whipping around her body as she turned.

"You abandoned me the moment I could earn money for myself." She snapped, brown eyes narrowing. "The only reason I'm still on this property is because I don't have enough for my own house. I'm only eighteen!"

Her mother clenched her light dress, gray eyes narrowed.

"Now, if you don't mind," Alex turned around and hefted a wrench, debating whether to throw it into her mother's head. "Get out of my fucking garage."

Alex didn't turn, pressing the button on a nearby remote to shut the metal door and plunge herself into temporary darkness.

When the single, but bright light, flickered on, Alex observed the hunk o' junk bike she had hauled home, and then used the wrench to start disassembling it.

It was nearly two months later when Alex had finished the bike, repainting it a vivid orange, and tuning up the oddly new engine.

Alex planted her feet on the warm concrete of her patio, basking in the warm sunset, before grabbing the waiting helmet on the bike's leather seat and throwing her leg over it.

-:-

The crunching of metal sounded behind Alex, dirt spraying against her shirt as she turned slowly.

The young woman let out a screech, but snapped her mouth shut as the hulking metal monster shoved his face into her's.

"I am Fender." The red-eyed robot growled. "And you, fleshie, have something I want."

"What could I possibly have," Alex snarled, pointing her calloused finger at him. "That a giant talking robot would want!?"

"I am not a robot!" Fender snarled back, snatching her up and holding her directly in front of him. "I am a Decepticon, from the planet Cybertron!"

"That's nice. Now put me down right now." She snapped.

"Not until you give me what I want." He lifted his eye ridges, tightening his grasp on her middle so she gasped for breath.

"What do you want?"

He wasn't given time to answer when there was a sudden sound of metal against metal and was tackled to the ground.

"Keep your fragging claws off my femme!" The attacker screamed, arm whirling as it transformed into a glowing gun.

Fender made a series of clicking noises, and dropped Alex to the ground.

The new robot snatched her from the air, placing her safely on the ground.

When Fender had been driven off, the new robot crouched before Alex.

"Who are you?" Alex stared, taking in the single leg and orange paint.

"Your bike." The robot replied.

"I knew that. Jeez, do ya think I'm stupid or something? I meant, what's your name?"

"My name is Piper." She responded, because the bike was positively female. "I am an Autobot. Thank you for onlining me. I own you my life."

She swept her hand, out bowing at the waist.

"I'm Alex. Nice ta meet you."

Piper glanced down at her friend.

"I've searched your Internet." She began.

"Again?"

"Yes. I think I've found something." Piper swung her wheel against the cliff face as Alex climbed up her arm and onto her shoulder to screw in a loose plate.

The human made a noise, and Piper continued.

"I think I've found the Autobots."

"Where?" Alex's keen eyes sparked, as the orange paint scratched slightly.

"Diego Garcia."

"Where the heck is that?"

"It's an island. I'm positive that they're there." The longing was heard in Piper's voice.

"I'll make you a promise." Alex swung her legs over Piper's shoulder. "We'll get there. Together."

"Deal." Piper hummed, mechanics shifting as she transformed back into her auto mode. "Let us return to your creator."

Alex groaned, tightening her grip on the handlebars.

Piper had taken the fight with Fender down to the beach, and Alex rapidly followed as her Autobot beat the shit out of the taller male, who had appeared as a mail delivery truck.

Piper shoved her hand through Fender's shoulder joint, ripping the arm off as he fired a blast into her well armored chest.

Piper flew down the beach as Alex sprinted for Fender's leg, nimbly diving inside and snapping wires. The Decepticon yelled, beating at his leg as Alex moved to his chest.

When the lights vanished, Alex scrambled out the other leg, sprinting for her bike as Fender roared, legs giving out.

"Piper, are you alright?!" Alex cried, falling to her knees in the sand as her bike nodded.

Her blue optics swiveled behind her charge, widening. The orange Harley rolled over the human femme, blocking Fender's last and futile shot.

Blue energon rained around Alex, sizzling against the sand and falling on her skin.

"I'm...so sorry...Alex..." Piper croaked falling to the side as Fender shot again, blowing Alex off her tanned feet. Piper shot once more, Fender explored.

Alex remained unconscious, blood pooling around her head and soaking the sand.

"You made a promise, Alex." Piper dipped her finger into her chest, ripping her spark from it. "Keep it. Find the Autobots."

Her hand fell against Alex's opened wound.

A bright flash of blue light lit the beach, and Piper's body crumbled, scraps falling and dissolving.

Alex moaned again, hugging a piece of orange metal as she stood, stumbling on her feet.

The white and red sand beneath her swayed as she staggered down the beach, eyes locked on the large boat in the distance.