Important Information

"Blah" Speaking

::Blah:: comm. link

'Blah' bonded speech

'Blah' thinking

Astrosecond- 2.5 earth Seconds

Klik- 150 earth seconds/ 2.5 earth Minutes

Orn- 150 earth minutes/ 2.5 earth Hours

Joor- 60 earth hours/2.5 earth Days

Metacycle- 17.5 earth days/2.5 earth Weeks

Vorn- 10 earth weeks/2.5 earth months

Stellercycle-30 earth months/2.5 years

Breem-slang for a moment/minute.

Night Cycle: star down to star up

Day Cycle: Star up to star down

Authors Note: Thank you so much to Darkness_Rising for doing the first round of beta work on chapter 1!

Please be aware that I am only posting a FEW CHAPTERS on fan fiction. The last chapters will be too mature to post here on fan fiction but can be found on Archive of our Own. Please head the FOLLOWING TAGS: The later chapters will contain elements of rape and dub con/ torture.

NEW NOTE: Thank you everyone for letting me know the chapter had not loaded properly. It has now been fixed.

Disclaimer: I own only my OC's, nothing else.

Excitement rushed through Mia's veins as she accepted the socks that Danny handed her with a smirk, and shoving them into her ruck sack Mia positively beamed at her sister.

"I can't wait!" If it was possible her voice inched even higher in her excitement. "It's gonna be like camping, but better than camping."

"It's not camping." Callie informed her, again, with an exasperated sigh as she made her way to the front of the Ark, dipping carefully between large, moving pedes.

"It's kind of like camping." Danny shrugged, following Callie through the throng of mechs and soldiers, Mia practically bouncing behind her. "I mean, you are going to be sleeping on the ground, outside, and you'll have to cook your food over an open fire. Just add marshmallows and its camping."

As the trio came to the mouth of the cashed space ship, Callie gave her cousins a flat look. "It's a training mission, not camping."

"But," Mia interjected before Danny could say anything. "We get to sleep outside. If that's not camping then what is?"

The blonde opened her mouth to speak before Mia continued. "I mean, I know we have to run training drills and set up satellite points and….stuff around Decepticon territory. But in the end we still get to camp! Aaaaaand! And we get to learn about surviving out in the wilderness. I mean," she gave a shrug to her cousin and sister, her face still bright and excited. "We know how to survive in a city, but we would totally die in the wilderness. Without a doubt." She nodded, glancing up. "Like, totally die. It would just be embarrassing."

Callie snorted and shook her head at her cousin. "Listen, you city girls would die, but I'm a farm girl. I would survive, but you bitches would totally die. "

Mia burst out laughing at Danny's flat, annoyed look. "Being a country girl is one thing. But this is straight up survival. This training might actually save our lives one day." Green eyes sparkled in amusement. "Besides, we won't be too close to the 'con's base. It's all about, can we survive out there."

A long, limber frame stepped over the women, momentarily blotting out the light that poured into the Ark from outside, before dropping down next to them. Sideswipe grinned at them, dark blue optics sparkling with his own excitement. "That's right." He sang. "Jazz, Sunny and I are going to be doing all the dangerous work while you guys go camping."

Sideswipe grinned at that, at the thought of getting into a scrap with a Decepticon that was not one of their fellow Seekers. "Sneaking into 'Con territory, spying on them, setting up equipment."

"Watching them frag like the pervs you are." Skywarp laughed as he appeared with a vop, suddenly behind a crouching Sideswipe, all smirking and mischievous grin.

Sideswipe snorted, tipping his helm back to smirk at the seeker. "Please, you 'Cons don't do anything fun like that. You're all boring and PG."

Skywarp laughed. "That's only because the fun Decepticons are all here." He wiggled his brows at the humans and Sideswipe, producing snorts and giggles.

Looking rather proud of himself, Skywarp swaggered away just as Thundercracker was making his way outside, the blue Seeker shaking his head at his mate.

"Well," Danny smirked. "At least Callie will have entertainment whilst she's camping."

Sideswipe grinned. "If you can get a picture of them fragging, I will give you ten dollars."

Blue eyes rolled. "Ten whole dollars? How will I resist that?" The blonde huffed, sounding more amused than she should have as she shook her head at the frontliner.

"It would be bragging rights." Sideswipe told her, still looking amused, despite being ignored.

Mia giggled at her sister and Sideswipe's amused looked before Sideswipe tipped his optics down to Danny. "Soooo, I know you're stuck here."

Danny shrugged and Mia grinned. "I can't believe Prowl grounded you." She mocked whispered.

"Right." Sideswipe agreed.

"Can't believe I've been grounded." Danny muttered.

"She deserves it." Sunstreaker said as he joined the party on their way out. "After all, she shot me in the face."

The pretty face smirked down at her and Danny at the very least looked ashamed; it had been six months since the day Sunstreaker awoke, and since he got out of med bay the three of them had become nearly inseparable.

Following the incident in Vegas Sunstreaker had been fully repaired and repainted, and the pair very rarely spoke about what happened in the city. They would occasionally joke about it, something about LVPD not being able to drive and that Sunstreaker throws a mean garbage can, but beyond that they never spoke about Vegas to anyone other than Sideswipe.

"Just don't crash." She added with a smirk, prompting Sunstreaker to snort as he crossed his arms and leaned against the orange wall.

Sideswipe huffed at his twin. "Yeah, whatever. Look, I know I can download it when I get back," he started, when Danny jumped in.

"Yes Sideswipe, I will PVR Walking Dead for you."

Sideswipe beamed at her and behind her Sunstreaker cleared his throat. Danny's head tipped up to him with a smirk. "Yes, I will also PVR Game of Thrones too."

Sideswipe shook his head at the pair with a small frown. "I don't understand why you two like that show."

"Story line." Sunstreaker shrugged.

"Everyone dies!" Sideswipe whined. "How fun is that?"

Sunstreaker glowered at his twin and before the twins spat could devolve into an argument over whose show had more characters die, Mia piped up. "Oh! Oh! Can you PVR American Horror Story too? Lady Gaga is amazing!"

Danny grinned and nodded as Sideswipe pushed himself to a standing position to better argue with Sunstreaker over which show was better, Walking Dead or Game of Thrones, Danny laughing at the light barbs the twins threw at each other.

Mia laughed too, light and happy, encouraging the twins on when crimson and navy caught the corner of her eye. Turning, Mia spotted her partner for the next two and a half weeks as Starscream strode in, looking annoyed by the whole situation.

Irritated, crimson orbs slid around the room, falling first to his trine, giving a nod of acknowledgment to the pair of them before they found Mia.

The women gave him a small, uncertain smile and offered a half wave, but her fingers curled into the palm of her hand at his dark look. She allowed her hand to fall back down, the bright smile losing its shine as it fell a little.

The blonde next to her saw Mia deflate at Starscream's dark look, and Callie huffed a small sigh as she griped at her back pack. "You going to be okay? With him?"

"Hmmm? What? Starscream?" Mia gave a shrug, narrow shoulders hunching a little. "Yeah. I'll be fine."

Callie gave her a disbelieving look. "Right." She said slowly. "You're so fine that every time you two are in the same room, you look like you're going to cry."

Mia managed a glare, weak as it was, but a glare none the less. "I'm not going to cry." She muttered, arms crossed over his chest.

Callie sighed again, looking at her younger cousin. "Mia look, you don't have to go with Starscream. Thundercracker and Skywarp can teach you just as well. You don't have to subject yourself to his….mood just because he saved you."

"That has nothing to do with this!" Mia spat, causing Danny to pause, giving her sister a confused look.

Mia ignored her, green eyes pinned on Callie. "Nothing." She said firmly.

Callie's head tilted, blue eyes worried. "Mia, he's a jerk. An absolute jerk."

"Danny's a jerk too Callie, but no one seems to hold that against her."

Callie sighed, deep and exasperated. "Mia, he wants nothing to do with you. Why are you subjecting yourself to his…to his bull shit?"

Mia looked away, green eyes focused on the twins as they continued to bicker back and forth, mouth in a hard line. "That's my choice, not yours."

Callie's mouth opened, hoping to argue or sooth her cousin, but Mia was at her wits end with the conversation. She turned away, face set, trying to hide from her cousin how upset Callie had made her. She was not weak. She had her own skills, and she didn't need her cousin to remind her of that when everyone else did.

"Mia!" Callie called out, her voice weak and falling on deaf ears as Mia wound her way through the crowd that gathered. The blonde's shoulders slumped in defeat, blue eyes meeting helplessly to Danny's dark brown; Danny mirrored her helplessness with a huff.

From across the room, Starscream watched Mia disappear into the crowd, impressed how someone with such bright hair could blend in so readily, ignoring Jazz as he strolled up to the remainder of the group; dark visor flashing, a smirk on his mouth.

Starscream sighed, feeling almost miserable as ruby optics searched out the little human that was going to be in charge of over the next two and a half weeks. His systems rumbled in annoyance that something like hurt feelings would send Mia scurrying. How was he supposed to do anything with her?

A large, heavy frame edged into his personal space and Starscream sighed irritably, his wings twitching before he slumped his own.

"This is your fault." He snarled lowly, not turning around. "There are many other N.E.S.T soldiers I could take on a training mission like this. There is no need to take her."

Optimus sighed as he came to stand next to Starscream, watching the twins playful arguing, and Jazz egging them on as Danny and Callie shared a worried look. Optimus could easily guess who had brought up the worry. "Mia is not this horrible little beast."

"I realize that Prime." Starscream sneered. "That does not mean that I wish to train a green, little soldier whose only skill is her milk sacks!"

Optimus frowned. "I doubt that the female soldiers would like you referring to their-"

He was cut off by an angry, scratchy voice. "She is not a soldier!"

Optimus stared at him for a long moment. "Not yet, not in the way we see a soldier to be. But she is not without skills Starscream. Skills that need to be encouraged and new ones taught."

The Seeker glared with baleful red optics, and Optimus knew that in order to win Starscream over, he needed to appeal to his ego. "And who better than you to teach her?"

Starscream's wings rose just ever so slightly at the compliment and Optimus knew he had him on the hook at the very least. "Mia needs a teacher who is patient, one who will understand her weaknesses and tell her where and how she is vulnerable. Everyone else, with the exception of her sister-"

"The grounded one."

Optimus nodded. "With the exception of her sister, everyone else treats Mia like porcelain. She needs someone who will not act like she will shatter with a little bit if pressure. She needs you, Starscream, to teach her."

Starscream held his glare to the Prime for a full minute, his sharp mind calculating every angle, every bit of information that Optimus gave him. Eventually the crimson and navy armour deflated a little and settled. "Fine." He groused. "I'll teach the little weakling how to survive. I won't like it though." He spat, more venom in his tone than Optimus thought was necessary.

Yet Optimus still nodded, his hand coming to clasp Starscream's shoulder warmly, causing the Seeker to flinch. "Thank you, Starscream. I know you will teach her well."

The dark grey face looked at him, full of surprise as his crimson optics flickered. Even now Starscream was surprised when anyone thanked him, but more so with Optimus. A testament to how deeply Megatron had gotten into the Seekers head, and how deep those scars ran.

After a moment Starscream shook himself off. "Sure. Whatever. Someone has to teach the little bitlet, might as well be me." Still looking bothered by the whole thing, annoyed even, Starscream shook off Prime's hand and with one last huff and went to collect Mia for their two and a half week long training mission.

Optimus sighed and shook his helm as he watched the Decepticon take even strides in the direction Mia had run, carefully stepping over humans in an attempt to find her. Lennox was gathering everyone up for one last run down of the mission and who would be where and when and with who.

With a deep sigh, Optimus hoped he had not made a mistake partnering them together, but he had hope this would work out for the best. Quietly the Prime turned to go back to his office and complete paper work to finalize the last hanger for the Seekers and the Aerialbots.

Mia pulled her long, curly hair into a thick, bushy pony tail as Starscream caught up with her and Mia purposely did not look up to meet his optics. Thus far, this was not the best start to a mission.

Lennox outlined what their mission would be; for the most part it was just training. Teaching everyone involved how to evade Decepticon detection, proper radio use and how to set up Wheeljack's new monitors, surviving on their own. It should be fairly easy, even for someone as new as her, a good way to get her feet wet.

Her easy going smile fell away as she focused intently on her commander's explanation, taking in every single word he said. She honestly didn't want to give Starscream any other reasons to dislike her or be irritated at her and make their mission longer then it needed to be.

Her green eyes flashed to the Seeker for a moment, who was standing next to Thundercracker, who had come in to listen to Lennox's words and she huffed a small sigh. She wanted to like Starscream, she really did. It had been him that had saved her life, it had been him that dove for her when Megatron had let her fall; but he was just so surly.

Crimson orbs flicked to her, neutral face pulling into a frown when he caught her staring. Mia felt her face flush with the embarrassment of being caught staring and quickly brought her eyes back to Lennox. She could feel Starscream's cold stare on the back of her head and she fought not to shiver.

It wasn't as though she had not had a rough start at life, just like Callie and Danny both had, she just didn't carry it like they did. Sure, she had nearly been killed a few times, nearly raped once, but she didn't hang onto things like they did. It rolled off her back once everything was done and over with and she moved on. She didn't hold grudges, but she could be as ruthless as any of them when the time called for it.

She reached up, fingers scratching at her sculpt and felt the raised bump along her hair line; an ex-boyfriend had gotten a little handsy with her, and when she had refused his advances he smashed a full bottle of beer over her head. Mia had proven to everyone that she was just as tough as Callie and Danny and broken that boys nose so thoroughly that he had needed two surgeries to repair it.

She had later gotten fourteen stiches in her head, just under her hairline and when she was stressed out that scar would itch. Sometimes, when she focused too much on it, she could still feel the pull of stiches.

Mia huffed and let her hand drop back to her lap, fingers knotting as Lennox finished up. Taking a deep breath, she glanced back up to Starscream finding his crimson orbs still glaring down at her. She held his gaze this time, and offered him a bright smile. It was just so much easier to be happy then to hang onto her anger, and she determined to help Starscream smile.

Instead the Seeker rolled his optics at her and huffed. Thundercracker leaned over to nudge Starscream's wing, earning himself a glare; the blue Seeker smirked at him, clearly unimpressed with his commander's look.

"Any questions guys?" Lennox asked as he finished up, rough hands clapping in front of him.

There were a few chuckles, heads shaking no. Lennox nodded. "Alright boys, get to it!"

Around her, everyone started breaking off into their unit for the mission; some of the soldiers bumping into her shoulders as she stood as well, fighting her way through the crowd to Starscream. She wasn't sure if they did it on purpose, but tried not to let it bother her.

She ran past Callie, who was standing with Thundercracker and Skywarp, nodding to her cousin as she flew by, trying to ignore the unguarded look of pure worry on the blondes face. She offered a small smirk, just to show Callie there was no hard feelings between them before she quickly bound after Starscream.

The navy and crimson Seeker was waiting for her just outside the Ark; arms crossed over his canopy and his hip cocked. There was that ever presence look of annoyance on his face.

Mia tried not to skip over to Starscream, any kind of frolicking seemed to irritate him further, but couldn't stop her bright grin up at him.

"Ready partner?" she chirped happily, her argument with Callie washing away.

His optic twitched, it actually twitched, at her words. "Let's get one things straight Mia." He said coldly, his face unchanging once his optic fell still. "We are not friends. We are not partners. We are simply going to get through this, and I'm going to make sure you don't die." He spat.

Mia's smile fell a little before she forced it up. "I'm not totally fragile Starscream, I think I can survive a little time outside."

"Yes," he hissed. "I'm sure you can, but this isn't camping. There will be no camp fire or any kind of pampering, and you are going to have to rough it."

Mia's smile did slip as she frowned up at him; her mouth opened to rebuff his comment, but Starscream had already turned away and barking at her to hurry up. They had to leave, and get this farce under way.

Trying to not allow her shoulders to droop, Mia glanced back to see Jazz ushering the twins out, all three of them looked revved and ready to go; but most importantly they were all happy to be going with each other.

Mia huffed a sigh, shouldered her bag and quickly caught up with Starscream; her bright smile back in its usual place. Starscream caught how quickly Mia forced that smile up, and vaguely wondered if that was her defence mechanism. He brushed that thought off as he picked her up and transformed; he didn't care, he decided, what kind of mechanisms she had, he just wanted to get through this.

"Alright boys!" Jazz said happily, arms wide as though he were welcoming them home and not on their way out to a mission. "We've got bad boy 'Cons to spy on, you two sorted and ready to roll out?"

The twins stopped their bickering and Sideswipe grinned at his commander, patted his hip where his hidden subspace was kept. "Locked and loaded." His dark blue optics sparkled with excitement. "Let's go make new friends."

Sunstreaker, unlike his twin, sobered with the realization that it was time to start working, and likely start fighting to kill. He gave his commander a curt nod. "Yes Jazz. I am ready to go whenever you are."

Smiling, Jazz nodded. "Alright boys, lets a-go!"

Sunstreaker gave a small nod to Danny as Jazz turned. "Keep out of trouble." He ordered the woman who smirked back up at him.

"Will do." She said brightly. "After all, without you guys to hang out with who am I going to get in trouble with?"

Dark optics rolled. "You're very creative. I'm sure you will find a way." With a final smirk Sunstreaker turned to follow Jazz.

Sideswipe gave Danny a small wave then paused with another "Oh!' He turned fully back to Danny. "Last thing. Can you watch out for Prowl?"

Both Jazz and Sunstreaker paused and half turned back to the crimson hellion, Sunstreaker carefully neutral whilst Jazz looked out right hostile to the idea.

"You know? Make sure he recharges each night, fuels, smiles at least once a day. Without us three here he's bound to worry and when he worries, he over works himself."

Sunstreaker shrugged, turning back to Jazz, accepting that Danny had been given the task of watching out for Prowl in their absence. Jazz, however, still did not look convinced and glared darkly at her.

Danny nodded, her smirk becoming a sincere smile. "I will Sideswipe. I'll make sure he takes care of himself."

Sideswipe grinned. "Thanks squirt!" He said brightly before turning to catch up with Sunstreaker.

Jazz gave her a dark look a moment longer. "You'd better." He added coldly before he turned to leave with the twins.

Danny shivered at the cold tone and knew that Jazz was one of those mechs you simply did not cross. Not ever. Especially with Prowl, and Jazz did not trust her after her little stunt in Vegas.

Swallowing back her fear Danny managed to wave goodbye to the departing Cybertronians and N.E.S.T soldiers before her shift began. Glancing around she noticed that she was the last one at the mouth of the Ark, and with all her friends on a mission she knew it was going to be a long two and a half weeks. Needing breakfast, Danny turned on the ball of her foot and headed to the mess hall before her morning shift began.

It was when she arrived at the mess hall, and Cliffjumper's look became dark as he scowled at her, that Danny knew coming in here had been a mistake, and that these next two and a half weeks were indeed going to be long and brutal; she tasted blood when she bit her tongue to keep her snide comment to herself.

His friend, Brawn, Danny realized after a moment, followed Cliffjumper line of site and frowned at the little human. The Autobot turned back to his little red friend and said something that made Cliffjumper's head shake no, his glare becoming darker.

A shiver went down Danny's spine, like an old instinct telling her that Cliffjumper was not thinking kind thoughts about her.

Dark brown eyes narrowed as her shoulder went back and her chin went up despite the sudden knot of fear in her belly. She was alone, totally alone without her friends now; normally that didn't bother her as she could hold her own in most fights, but if Cliffjumper really did want to kill her then there was precious little she could do to stop him. It was the twins and the Seekers who kept mechs like Cliffjumper at bay, and it had been Optimus's words that stopped Sunstreaker from killing her in Vegas.

Her tongue may be sharp but she was still human. She would still pop if stepped on.

Head still high, dark eyes narrowed as she crossed the hall for coffee and her breakfast. Sucking on her teeth, she refused to turn to look at Cliffjumper but the hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she was certain he was still glaring.

Shoving her food onto a tray Danny turned about face, finding that Cliffjumper was indeed glaring at her. Meeting his glare with her own she held his optics as she crossed the room and out of the mess hall, slumping into a sigh as once she had left.

Staring at her breakfast Danny truly did consider eating breakfast in the bathroom, if anything to get a moment of peace when a better idea popped into her head. Danny had promised Sideswipe she would watch out for Prowl in their absence and she was willing to bet that he would be willing to allow her to join him for his morning energon.

Nodding to herself, she set off for Prowl's office.

Prowl was surprised when he heard a small knock at his door, too low to be a Cybertronian.

"Come in." he called as he commended the door to open; he had discovered very quickly that humans did not take a door opening as an invitation to enter and they usually waited for an audial invitation before entering.

He was surprised, despite not showing it, when a very nervous looking Danny appeared at his door.

"Danny." Prowl nodded to her. "What can I do for you?"

She looked down at her tray, feeling a little stupid and she squirmed. "Uhh. Liz and Aleyah are on shift and all my friends are on the training mission. Soooo I was wondering if I could have breakfast with you." Brown eyes glanced around the room and she offered him a shy smile. "Here."

Prowl blinked at her, his vents sighing. "I'm sorry Danny, but I have a lot of work to do. I really don't have time."

Danny licked her lips and glanced behind her, worried and unusually quiet. "I won't disrupt you."

"You're disrupting me now." He said blandly, icy blue optics tipping back down to his data pad, missing the dismay on Danny's face.

"Please, Prowl?" That brought his optics back to her nervous face. "I'll be quite."

Frowning, Prowl sat back and tented his fingers as he looked at her with suspicion. Danny took his silence as permission to keep going. "I've never had to worry about Callie and Mia out on their own before." She gave a little shrug.

"Liz and Aleyah are here, that should be enough to keep you entertained."

She frowned up at Prowl. "They are, but it's not often that parts of my family are out there alone, where I can't help them."

Prowl sighed, his neutrality falling into semi-annoyance.

"And, this is different. I'm…" her face scrunched up, finding the words before Prowl sent her out of his office. "I'm worried. And Liz is coming off of night shift and Aleyah is getting Lucy ready for school. I don't…I don't have anyone else to be worried with."

Prowl vented a sigh and narrowed his optics. "Alright." He said. "But you must be quiet."

Danny's face beamed as she nodded. "I promise. You won't even know I'm here."

Prowl suspected that would not be the case with Danny.