This is the last chapter before Dark of the Moon! It's a lot shorter than the others but it's more of a gap filler than anything else. And we get more badass ThunderStrike.

ThunderStrike stood beside Wheeljack as he examined her first electric shock prototype gun. "Some bots had something like this during the war?"

Wheeljack turned to her, nodding. "Oh yeah. Some people had electric whips which had the same concept." He examined the barrel and smirked up at her. "You made this?"

ThunderStrike nodded, turning her wrist around to look at it. "Yeah. I even have the same gun in my wrists now."

Wheeljack looked over one of the bullets before he rushed over to his table. "I think we can make these stronger."

ThunderStrike followed him, watching as he tinkered with the bullets more. "Ooo.."

Wheeljack grinned at her, "Let's see how they like it now."

ThunderStrike picked up the Cybertronian sized gun and smirked. "I have a feeling I will." She followed him outside to the firing range. She waved at the gladiator twins, smiling at them. "I'll see you at training soon!"

Sides nodded, grinning at her. "Alright." Sunstreaker nodded, waving her off.

ThunderStrike held out the gun, aiming at one of the far off targets. "Alright.."

Wheeljack bounced on his feet next to her, anxious to see how it works now. "Try it!"

ThunderStrike pulled the trigger only nothing happened. She held the gun out and looked it over. Then she yelled out as the gun exploded in her hands. A cloud of black smoke enveloped her and the mad scientist. "Uh oh.."

Wheeljack laughed nervously. "Though usually my inventions blow up first..."

"THUNDERSTRIKE!"

ThunderStrike turned to see Bumblebee running through the thinning smoke, right to her. He looked her over before hugging her tightly. "What happened? You scared the pit out of me!"

ThunderStrike rubbed his back, tilting her helm. "I'm fine, Bee. The gun Wheeljack was working on just exploded when I tried to shoot it."

Bumblebee pulled back and held her hands in his own. He looked them over before venting softly. "Okay.." He looked over at Wheeljack and laughed softly. "Another one?"

Wheeljack shrugged, grinning. "Yeah."

ThunderStrike grinned and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure we'll get it soon."

Mirage snorted as he walked over, clearing the smoke away with a wave of his hand. "Don't let him blow off your hand next time."

ThunderStrike smiled at Wheeljack, shrugging. "I have faith in him." She thought about what time it was and ran down the road, waving. "I'm late!"

Bumblebee shook his helm. "Oh Primus."

{X}

ThunderStrike walked inside the hanger to see the twins talking to themselves quietly. ThunderStrike walked up to them, venting softly. "Sorry.. Wheeljack's gun blew up in my face."

Sunstreaker looked her over, smirking. "I can tell. You're covered in dirt."

ThunderStrike rolled her optics. "Yes, well, that can't be helped."

Sideswipe tossed a sword at her, his expression neutral. "Let's get started."

Sunstreaker raced over to her, drawing his own sword. He quickly swiped at her side. When ThunderStrike dodged Sideswipe was there, slashing at her chest. ThunderStrike used her engines and flew up above them. She shot them both with her shock charges. When both bots were paralyzed she dropped down, aiming her sword and both of their necks. "Were you ready?"

Sunstreaker smirked at her. "We're not even warmed up."

Sideswipe ducked under her sword and swerved around her. "That was good though. You need to be faster. We could have seriously hurt you if we wanted too."

Sunstreaker ducked and quickly dragged her to the ground, his sword pressed against her neck. "Don't get too cocky on us."

ThunderStrike grinned up at him. "That was amazing. Let's go again." She got up and held up her sword. "What now?"

Sunstreaker got into his stance, Sideswipe being a mirror image on her other side. "You asked for it."

ThunderStrike ducked around their blows, tackling Sideswipe to the ground quickly. She held her gun at his spark chamber. She was distracted for a second by her victory. That let Sunstreaker grab her wing and point his own gun at her face. He squeezed his hand until ThunderStrike disarmed. She frowned and moved her wing back quickly, hiding her gun again. As soon as she stepped down she sensed Sideswipe behind her. She ducked down and swung out her leg. As Sideswipe tripped she dug her knee into his back, pinning him with her weight. She then quickly shot Sunstreaker with her charges. He froze just as he was about to tackle her. She got off of Sideswipe, helping him up. "I didn't hurt you did I?"

Sideswipe stretched out as Sunstreaker recovered. "Nah. We're a lot tougher than you think, 'Strike."

ThunderStrike looked back at her wing and saw the metal wasn't warped. She grinned back at them. "Me either."

Sunstreaker chuckled and held up his hands. "Well lets try some regular combat now. Just one on one." Sideswipe moved so he would watch them both, coaching ThunderStrike on how to improve.

{X}

ThunderStrike laid down on her berth, face first. She sighed and let her wings move around to stretch themselves out. She felt Bumblebee getting closer, groaning to herself. A few seconds later Bumblebee walked into their room. "I'm fine, Bee."

Bumblebee huffed as he walked up to her, rubbing her shoulders when her wings flattened for him. "I didn't even say anything yet."

ThunderStrike sighed happily as she began to relax even more. "Yeah, but I know you. You were going to say I need a break. And a waxing."

Bumblebee leaned over, kissing the back of her helm. "True. You do."

ThunderStrike smiled softly and looked back at him, half raising up. "Well I do have tomorrow off from training. So you can if you want."

Bumblebee grinned, bouncing on his heels. "Yes!" He got the buffer out and gently pushed her back down. "I got it!"

ThunderStrike chuckled as he began buffing her armor. "I don't understand why you enjoy this so much. You enjoy it more than when I do this for you."

Bumblebee gently buffed the metal on her wings, being sure to be gentle. "Well I love getting an excuse to touch you. And you're gorgeous. You deserve to flaunt it." He kissed the highest part of her wing he could reach. "And you look stunning after being waxed."

ThunderStrike hummed happily at the attention. "That's sweet."

Bumblebee smiled and turned her over, buffing her front as well. "As sweet as honey?"

ThunderStrike snorted before laughing loudly. "Oh my god."

Bumblebee grinned and kissed her softly. "I'm the best, I know."

ThunderStrike smiled and kissed him back. "You are, you dork."

{X}

ThunderStrike walked into the main hanger to see the rest of the called upon Autobots standing around. Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and herself. Optimus was to the side but he didn't seem to be going. "What is it, Lennox?"

Lennox turned to her. "Well, we've picked up a Decepticon signal over in the desert. It's the only one we've picked up in a while."

Epps grinned at her. "And it's your first solo mission."

ThunderStrike looked over at Optimus in shock. "Really?"

Optimus nodded. "Yes. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker have vouched for your readiness. I've seen it too. You're plenty ready. I trust and believe in you."

Bumblebee rubbed her shoulder. "I'm only going as backup. As are the other three."

ThunderStrike nodded quickly. "Thank you for the chance."

Epps motioned to the screen. "These are the coordinates. You're going to stay in the cargo hold with the others until we get close. Then you're going to drop out, the rest is up to you." He winked at her before shooing her off. "The plane is already waiting!"

ThunderStrike walked toward the plane, grinning over at her mate. "Really? My first solo mission!?"

Bumblebee chuckled and high fived her, playing the song from when he first met her. "Oh yeah! You're just that awesome."

Sunstreaker rolled his optics before transforming, driving up into the cargo hold. Sideswipe grinned at her, high fiving her also before following his twin.

ThunderStrike watched as Bumblebee followed. "Alright. I can do this." She transformed into her car form and drove up beside Bee.

{X}

"We're ten minutes out, ThunderStrike."

ThunderStrike activated her holoform and looked out the cockpit window. "Alright. Thank you. I'll be dropping out in a second. I'll radio in what I find." She turned to the others. "Hopefully you won't be needed." Sideswipe chuckled while Sunstreaker just groaned to himself.

I know you can do this, darlin'.

Thank you, Bee. I'll be back soon!

ThunderStrike let her holoform dissapear, instead waiting on her fellow soldiers. They unbuckled her, opening the hatch door. She waited till everyone was clear before gunning it out the back of the plane. She immediately transformed straight to a jet. She hovered before shooting off into the air, breaking the sound barrier. She turned her cloaking shield on before scanning for the 'con. As she flew closer to what once was a city, she saw the dot on her screen. "Got you."

She slowly descended to the ground, transforming to her real form. She peered around some collapsed walls, frowning at the 'con. He was in his bipedal form, walking around. He seemed to be trying to talk to someone.

"Where is he?... We need to regroup... Autobots are taking us all out..."

ThunderStrike moved closer, grinding her denta together. She watched as the 'con straightened up, smirking. She recognized him as one of the 'cons she saw in Egypt.

"That bitch, human femme is dead now though. You should have seen how the 'bots reacted. It was sickening. They were love with the pathetic fleshie."

ThunderStrike you need to stay calm.

I AM calm, Bee.

ThunderStrike walked up in front of the 'con, sneering at him. She brought out a sword in her arm, stabbing it through his spark. She then dropped her shield, growling lowly at the 'con. "Go to the pit." The 'con growled back weakly before slumping against her sword, his optics dimming. A few seconds later he offlined for good. ThunderStrike pulled her sword back out, hiding it in her arm. She looked away and commed the others.

Target destroyed.

Bumblebee responded over the general comm so the others could hear.

We'll land the plane soon for cleanup.

ThunderStrike turned to the 'con and narrowed her optics. "Pathetic fleshie, my aft. I could have killed you before.." She turned and scanned the area for anymore threats. She didn't find any so she relaxed, turning to the aircraft landing nearby.

The twins reached her first, somehow still skating smoothly on the sand. Sunstreaker examined the body while Sideswipe stood beside her. "Nice one."

ThunderStrike gently bumped against him, shrugging. "It wasn't a challenge. He didn't see me until I let him." She turned to Bumblebee when he walked up to them. "The Decepticons are all scattered. I don't know who he was talking to but he sounded scared, nervous."

Bumblebee looked at the dead 'con and glared. "Well their leader is who knows where dying or barely alive. We've been killing the ones who leave a trace. They're running for the hills."

ThunderStrike nodded and picked up the body with one arm, carrying it to the plane. She smiled at the NEST members, laying the body on a tarp they had ready. "Here you go."

Sunstreaker picked the tarp up and placed it inside the plane. "Let's get out of this awful desert."

The NEST members agreed, hurriedly getting ready to take off again. ThunderStrike watched as Sideswipe drove up behind his brother, Bumblebee getting ready to transform. She paused and turned her head to the side. "Hold on.."

Bumblebee turned to her and frowned. "What is it?"

ThunderStrike got a warning message about an incoming Decepticon. It was traveling very fast right to their position. "You need to watch over our team. There's a Decepticon coming." She flew up into the air, hovering above them all. She looked down to see Sideswipe and Sunstreaker standing by the humans. Bumblebee was beside them, watching her worriedly. "I got this, Bee. I just don't want them to get hurt in the crossfire."

"Just watch yourself, 'Strike!"

ThunderStrike turned back as she saw the 'Con flying towards her. She shot at him, punching him in the face. He was sent spiraling to the ground away from them, metal flying from the force of the impact. ThunderStrike landed on his back, aiming her sword right at the back of his chest. "Surrender."

The 'con snarled at her, trying to throw her off. "Never to you, Autobot scum!"

ThunderStrike was knocked up into the air when he used his jets. ThunderStrike leveled herself out and shot at him quickly. "Then you're going to die here!"

The 'Con sneered at her before dodging the attacks. He raced for her again. ThunderStrike weaved around him in the air, punching him in the chest. She missed his spark but managed to shove her hand through his plating, jerking out wires and vital components. She quickly grabbed a hold of him, shooting up into the air. She was going so fast she broke the sound barrier again. The 'Con tried to pry her off of him but she was stronger. ThunderStrike leveled up high up in the sky, higher than most planes flew. "I told you. You're going to die here." She clawed at his insides, her other hand blasting through one of his wings. His screams echoed in the silence around them. She dropped him then, watching as he tried desperately to level himself out.

Evacuate the area, the 'Con is coming in fast.

What did you do?

Just watch.

ThunderStrike shot down, spiraling around the 'con as they fell. After a while she saw the ruins again. She reached out and slashed his chest open, firing her cannon into his exposed spark. With that the 'con was dead. He landed on a home, crushing it with his weight. ThunderStrike hovered just above the ground before dropping. She stretched out her wings, putting away her weapons. She looked over to see Bumblebee running to her. "I'm fine, Bee."

Bumblebee looked her over thoroughly. He then grinned at her, high-fiving her. "You're so amazing. That was awesome!"

ThunderStrike laughed softly and kissed his cheek. "Thank you. I try."

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker picked the body up out of the rubble. Sunstreaker rolled his optics as he heaved the 'con up with his twin. "Get a room."

Sideswipe laughed loudly. "Oh they did."

ThunderStrike winked at Sideswipe, making Sunstreaker groan. Bumblebee laughed and walked back with his mate to the plane. "So how did you like your first mission?"

ThunderStrike grinned at him, her wings straight up in the air. "It went a lot better than I thought.. The next time anyone tries to hurt my family, I'm ready. They'll have to go through me."

{X}

ThunderStrike finished her debriefing, walking along the island. She stopped by the beach, watching the sun rising over the horizon. She froze as she got a text message straight to her processor. It was the number she programmed into Sam's phone.

Hey.. It's Sam. What's up?

Hey. Just watching the sunrise. What about you?

ThunderStrike sat down, pulling her knees to her chest as she watched the sky turned into a mixture of warm colors. Her brother was talking to her.. Thora, not ThunderStrike, nor Ebony, but it helped heal a part of her broken spark.

Trying to go to sleep. College is easy now.. but I wish it was hard. It would give me something to focus on.

I feel restless sometimes too.. I've seen a lot of people, very dear to me, die recently... And it's been tough to find peace.

I know what you mean... Most nights I have nightmares about Egypt.. About my sister..

I used to get them all the time.. It gets better with time, which is a horrible saying really. But it's somewhat true. I remember once Ebony told me something.. Find a reason to keep living, find a reason to survive until it's easier. Until you no longer feel like you're dying inside.

ThunderStrike felt a tear trail down her now metal face. She had said the same thing to Bumblebee in his letter. The letter she left for him in case she died..

Ebony told me that before... It's kind of nice to here it again.. Thanks for being there for me, Thora. It's helped a lot.

Any time Sam. I'm always here to help. Goodnight.

ThunderStrike leaned her helm against her knees, crying softly. She could only be there as a fake person, a hologram. She would never be his sister again. In her spark she would be, but he would never have her again...

Darlin'... I'm so sorry..

Bumblebee sat down beside her, pulling her into his lap. He gently held her in his arms, cooing softly. "Take your own advice, darlin'.. You can better protect Sam now that you're an Autobot. You can stop any possible threats that would harm humans... We're both alive, together. More Autobots may be coming. We're slowly taking down the Decepticons.. It's tough, but some day it will all be okay."

ThunderStrike laid her head on his chest, listening to his spark beating in tune with her own. "I love you so much, Bee..."

Bumblebee kissed the top of her helm, squeezing her gently. "And I love you just as much, 'Strike."