Her only intent was to figure out what that fierce vibration was inside Crown Forest. She did not expect to be standing to the side of a fight between a large maroon bear robot on top of an orange one with only what looked like an arm cannon pinning the other.

She did not move. She felt stuck in place.

She didn't know who was good and who was bad, so she took a wild guess. Gathering all the courage she could gain, she snatched up a rock and chucked it at the maroon one.

Plink! Not even a dent to the shiny metal. His narrow face turned to look at hers, and he let out a fierce roar.

"Over here, you, you nutbrain!" she shouted, and before she realized, she found her feet carrying her as fast as they could take her through the dense forest.

She could hear the sound of metal and the large body crashing through and tearing down trees as the robot gained on her, and she dared not look back, instead using her new adrenaline to shoot her faster through the woods.

It wasn't long until she found herself in a tight grip, staring into a yellow visor as she was lifted from the ground forcefully. She squirmed a little, trying to escape, but with no way out, stopped and gave in.

"What did you call me, little fleshbag?" He had a rough baritone voice, almost on the verge of a growl. Her heart practically stopped.

"You heard me, nutbrain," she repeated, and even in her state, she kept her voice loud and firm. She was in no position to be making threats to her captor, but sucking up would do her no good either. Not at this point, at least.

Anger raged in the bear's visor, and he squeezed her tighter, causing her to cough and gasp for breath desperately.

"Drop the human, Metalbreaker."

Those calm words were the wrong words, and she knew it as soon as she heard them.

Metalbreaker looked up with a smile and loosened his grip slightly, allowing his captive to twist around and see where the new voice came from.

From the darkness limped an orange robot - the same robot from before. He held a single katana in the air pointed at Metalbreaker, and his other hand clutched at his arm.

Metalbreaker's deep, rough laugh filled the air, and suddenly, she was falling. Screaming and falling.

She wasn't quite sure what happened next or how it happened, but she landed, not long after being dropped, onto metal. It was a short and soft fall. Her eyes opened to meet her savior, the orange robot, right as she heard tires speed away.

Her savior let out a breath, his blue eyes closing momentarily before looking at her.

"Are you injured?" he asked with a smooth and slightly accented voice. She shook her head, and he continued. "You saved me."

"That – that thing," she finally started, beginning to form words again, "what was it? What are you? Who are you?" There were so many questions in her mind, though those were the only ones she could manage out.

"That was Metalbreaker," he explained, lowering his hand to the ground to allow her off safely. "A Decepticon fugitive. My team and I are here to bring him and others like him to justice."

Team? Others like him?

"My name is Drift. I'm a Bounty Hunter for the High Council. And who might you be?"

"Carolyn," she breathed. "Carolyn Fench."

"Well, Carolyn Fench," he began, standing straight and placing a large hand on his chest, "I owe you a life debt."

She tilted her head slightly, not understanding. "Life debt?"

"You saved my life, so I must do everything in my power to save yours." She glanced back at the glistening city behind her.

"Well, I don't think I can bring you back," she thought aloud. "But I don't think I'll need much protection anyway. I appreciate-"

A new voice chimed in with, "Drift! Report in!" He brought a hand to the side of his head.

"Metalbreaker got away. He is heading east, deep into Crown Forest." He removed his hand, and his blue eyes met Carolyn's again. "I must go." Drift turned away, but not before the human could throw out her hand, as if to stop him.

"Drift, wait!" He stopped, as did everything around. She recovered herself by putting her hand down, brushing back some stray hair behind her ears, and standing up straight. "Will I see you again?"

It was quiet for a moment, and she was almost certain she saw a slight furrow in his robotic brow.

"If you need me, I will show up here, at this location." He paused, then turned away again. "I must go now."

As he pounded off into the forest at a run, he left Carolyn standing there, alone with a smile.

She already couldn't wait to see the giant robot again.