Hotshot: Sorry if this isn't as long as some of the other chapters! I really did not want to have all the diologue in that scene in this chapter, hope you guys don't mind! Enjoy and make sure to review!

TRANSFORMERS: The Age of Extinction
Chapter 6

Camp
2017

Matsuri sat away from the three humans, on the other side of the fire with Echomix nestled in her lap happily. The sun had disappeared, letting the stars and the moon took its place high up in the sky. Currently, the autobots were each reporting into Optimus.

"So, there's been no sign of any others?" Optimus questioned, making Matsuri quietly sigh. That means that Ratchet was still out there somewhere.

"Nada." Hound shook his head.

"We're all that's left." Drift stated.

"They're picking us one by one." Crosshairs sneered.

"We're the pathetic dirty foursome." Hound paused for a moment. "You make five."

"So, that's our best-case scenario?" asked Shane as he looked at Tessa and Cade. "Autobot witness protection?"

"Hey, speed racer, you're welcome to leave any time." Cade told him.

"Well, for the record, Superdad, I'm not hiding with you. I'm hiding out with that big guy." Shane pointed to Optimus. The leader just gave the young human male a blank look, causing Matsuri to snort quietly.

"Sensei," Drift spoke up. "With your fate unknown, Bumblebee has held command."

Matsuri zoned out when Drift started to insult Bumblebee and only moved when it seemed like they were going to fight. It wasn't long before the younger mech was pinned by the older with two swords at his neck. She shook her head, completely missing what Crosshairs had said.

"Oh, sure looks like you've been missed." Cade deadpanned as he turned to look at Optimus.

"Autobots, Lockdown is hunting us and humans are helping. We need to know why." Optimus stated.

"Well listen, I don't know why but I have an idea about who. Can one of you guys project images and what not?"

Drift answered by transforming into his alt mode and popped the driver's side door open. Cade walked over and slipped in, taking out a drone and hooked it up to Drift. Then, images began to project. Matsuri watched…until a familiar green form came into frame, causing her spark to constrict. She continued to watch until Ratchet were surrounded by humans and then a large explosion happened, and it was cut to one of Leadfoot.

"Oh, that's Leadfoot." Hound sighed sadly as Optimus looked away from the carnage. Hound reached up and took his helmet off, putting it to his chest. "Savages."

Matsuri looked down, biting his lip as tears well up in her eyes. So, that was it, both of her creators were gone now. No more gentle purrs from Ratchet again, no more lessons in the Cybertronian lessons…

She stood up and walked away from the group after making sure that Echomix stayed where he was. She walked until she couldn't hear them anymore and she just fell to her knees, staring up at the sky.

"Pops…I'm sorry." She whispered as she continued to stare upwards. "I'm so sorry…I couldn't…I…"

The tears finally slipped from her eyes and down her cheeks and a gut-wrenching sob made its way out of her. Her family was getting smaller and smaller now because she couldn't slagging save them! She dug the fingers of her mechanical arm hard into the ground below her, her frame shuddering at the effort of keeping in a wail that wanted to come out of her throat. All she wanted to do was to lay on her side, curl up and just cry her feelings away, but she knew she couldn't.

This god forsaken human organization was still out there, hunting her and her family and there's no way she'll let anyone else die on her watch.

After she cried for a few minutes, getting all of her pain and anguish out, she sniffled and wiped the tears away from her face and eyes. She took a deep breath and got to her feet and trudged back to camp and when she got there, she could see that everyone was in their alt modes once more.

Optimus' door popped opened when she got close and she quickly scrambled in and sat on the sleeper, letting out a heavy sigh as she did.

"Try and get some sleep." Optimus rumbled after a moment. "You'll need it. We are going to head to Chicago in the morning."

She nodded, toed her shoes off before curling up on her side on the sleeper, her eyes closing as her body relaxed. It's been so long since she had truly felt safe as she did in this moment. Optimus always seemed to have this effect on her.

With a small hum, she let her eyes droop and her mind slowed enough for her to fall asleep, her dreams filled with happy what ifs.