If Only

With the first signal, we raced towards the busy city of Alexandria Virginia, where a parade was currently going on. Their intentions couldn't be deciphered, not from just the location but seeing as a parade is going on gave us the idea they are attempting to get our attention. Attacking humans was the best way of doing just that.

I had taken my bike along, it was faster and gave me the small chance I could avoid the Autobots. On top of that, my motorcycle carried extra weapons along with it, which came in handy. I hadn't the chance to grab ahold of my remade helmet, so I stuck with the one given to me by one of the soldiers. Although, I would have preferred mine, we were rushed out of base in order to save the civilians. Not that I complained about being rushed; I still care for civilians no matter what, my view will never change on that point.

We drove in a long row of cars, military in the back while Autobots stayed up front. Even at the high speeds, we still didn't seem to arrive fast enough. Weaving through traffic would've been difficult if it wasn't for Ratchet; Ratchet was an ambulance and kept his emergency flashers on as we sped along the highway, giving us an advantage.

The first glimpse I got of the Decepticons was of Starscream. I had finally found a list of each Decepticon, making it easier to list each one. Starscream was also the one I had fought last, and the one I fought before meeting N.E.S.T. Megatron was there as well, but not fighting, he was waiting on something, looking for someone.

Arriving at the scene, each bot' transformed and aimed their weapons. I jumped off the bike and followed suit.

Each soldier already got out of their jeeps and were preparing their weapons, hiding behind the cars as they did. Deciding to follow, I reached one of the jeeps and hid behind the top, just close enough so I could see the battle take place.

"Optimus, looking for someone?" Megatron began, mockingly looking around at the other Autobots.

"What are you doing here, Megatron?" Optimus questions, just as Ironhide charged his cannon and stomped up to the large warlord.

"Where's Sideswipe?!" He demanded.

He chuckled menacingly, pulling out a sword kept from his side, clashing it with Optimus' just as Bonecrusher tackled Ironhide to the ground.

Taking a look at the surroundings, the parade had been evacuated but many people were still fleeing. "Lennox," I whispered, attempting to get his attention even from the distance we were apart.

"Lennox!" Not caring of getting others attention, I crawled closer while flipping off the safety on my gun. "We need to get the civilians out of here." Waving him over, he nodded and stood up, gathering the other soldiers attention.

"Team! Get the civilians out of the area! Make sure none get caught up in the Decepticons path!" He orders, running off followed by Epps and a few others.

Rushing the opposite way, along with a few others I gather the citizens and point them towards a safe spot located behind a building not to far from here. Passing over the rubble, remnants of the parade, we made it to the safe harbor where we could hopefully leave the civilians.

Glancing back, Chromia and Elita-1 were both fighting Barricade at this point, seeming to be doing well. Ironhide still battling Bonecrusher and Optimus the same with Megatron. Both looking as if either one could win or lose.

The soldiers were now on the Decepticons path, preparing the weapons to attack as well. The weapons had been designed specially after years of fighting with the cybertronian metal, and loosing. Firing, it shot Bonecrusher, allowing Ironhide the split second to charge his cannon and shoot the nemesis.

Optimus, on the other hand, was not so lucky, gaining a gash reaching from his abdomen to lower leg, he almost toppled to the ground beneath him. With the weight of his sword, he rebounded and flipped out his gun located from his back and fired it directly at Megatron. Throwing the warlord to the ground, but he still got back up.

Being thrown to the ground tossed me out of my dazed state. Arcee, one of the triplets, was just in front of me, lying on the ground. Chromia rushed to her aid, attempting to get her up, just as I fired my weapon at Barricade who had shot her down.

"Arghh, fool!" He stammered, holding his face. I am one to admit, my aim is great for just a 19 year old girl.

"Phoneix! Get out of here!" Elita-1 yelled, pointing to the soldiers she wanted me to run to.

Nodding, I struggled to stand and watched as Barricade looked at me, curiously. Rushing towards the soldiers, I skid to a stop near my bike, ripping off the extra gun I had prepared for these type of occasions.

Flipping the strap of it onto my back, I run towards the others, ducking as ammo flew my way. Stopping behind a piled behind jeep, I noticed Megatron had glanced back my way, looking for something.

"We need to aim for Megatron, Optimus is loosing!" I cried, pointing towards the two large robots.

"We can't, we're running out of ammo." Epps returned, looking dim.

Casting off my gun, I tossed it to him, in which he caught, surprisingly. "Where did you get this?"

"It's mine. Now use it, it will help. Go!" Demanding, he nodded and got up, followed by a few others who looked confused.

I looked around to see all the Autobots. Looking to be going down, slowly. All because if Optimus' injury, I would come to guess. Preparing the small pistol, leaving it on top of my left arm for balance, I shoot directly in-between Megatron's eyes.

Fazed, he clasped the wound and stumbles back. Uncovering his eyes, he looks directly at me, "You." He growled, before shoving Optimus away and advancing towards me.

Leaping, and rolling into the hard ground, I tried to scramble away as he neared my position. Reaching his hand out to grab me, Optimus bounded towards him, and tackled him to the ground.

Being tossed to the ground, I watched as the battle continued, Optimus was now getting the upper hand, and so were the other Autobots. Finally retreating, Megatron growled, "This is not over, Prime. You still do not have the location of Sideswipe." He finished, before transforming and flying off.

Sideswipe, the one I lost track of. Nevertheless, he had my phone, we had a chance of getting to him.

Optimus gathered his weapons back and walked up go me, kneeling down he reached down to help me up. As I touched the metaled finger, my hand seemed to melt into it. I could see myself, as if in a vision, but through the eyes of someone much taller than me. Through Optimus' eyes at least.

Retracting my hand, I got up, staring at each other quizzically. I looked away just as Lennox came running up. "Are you alright?" He began, looking between both Optimus and I.

"F..fine." I sputtered, still confused of what had just happened.

Slipping my gun back into my boot, I walked back up to Epps, "Alright, hand it over." Directing to my gun he was still carrying.

"Did you make this?" He asked, handing it back over.

"Yep." Flipping it onto my back, I carried it over to my Motorcycle, only to put it back to its respectful location. Taking hold of my helmet, I put it back on as well.

"Is everyone alright?" Optimus inquires, checking on everyone to make sure they were all there.

The triplets were all helping one another. With their arms wrapped around each other shoulders, they stood to their full height. Ironhide was with Ratchet, while checking on the soldiers.

"We are all fine it would seem, Optimus." Ratchet replied looking dim.

Sideswipe was still not here, there was a chance of finding him; when I return to base, I plan on tracking my phone signal once more, to see if the signal has moved. Will N.E.S.T believe me?

We all drove to base after this, staying silent hind the mess. Pain was evident in the sight of the Autobots. They wanted their lost comrade, their friend. I could understand the grief, upon my families loss I felt so torn. Didn't have a clue of what to do, but there is always a way. We will save him, we will save Sideswipe from the Decepticon no matter what.