Disclaimer: As usually I own nothing.

She walked down the halls... like a ghost. A phantom. Unknown by most, but those who did... made her wish she was totally invisible. Especially Vince. He smirked at her as she passed by, nervously casting a side-glance at him before hurrying down the halls. She didn't want to be anywhere near him... not alone... and not after what he did.

Miko hadn't been watching where she was going of course, eager to break out of this prison called school and get back to Bulkhead and the safety of base. In her attempt to flee the school she practically knocked the other girl over, shoulders crashing. Miko jumped back in shock as the action triggered a flashback....she stood there, shaking.....staring blindly like a deer in headlights, silently praying for Jack..or Raf...anyone to come rescue her.

The other girl scrambled up, and with a soft, "Sorry..." hurried away. Rushing outside and rounded the school, only to come face-to-face with Vince. "Vince!" Her eyes widened and she backed up."Hey Pretty girl." Vince crooned, blocking her path. What do ya say? You, me, this weekend? Come on you know you wanna."

"I h-have stuff to do..." She stammered, backing up. "Homework doesn't do itself... y-you know?" Her aqua eyes were wide as saucers. At the first sign of offense she'd bolt.

Jack had caught up with Miko and managed to calm her down some. The pair was exiting the school together to wait for their respective 'bots when Miko caught Vince and the girl out of the corner of her eye. Adrenaline and anger overtook the small girl, lunging forward to get between Vince and his newest prey. "Get AWAY from her!" Miko yelled charging Vince and knocking him to the ground. "Come on!" Miko said, grabbing the girl by the shoulder and leading her in the direction of Bulkhead, who had mercifully shown up in the nick of time.

The girl's eyes widened as she suddenly was thrown into the large green truck. She rubbed her head, trying to regain her senses of what had just happened. She looked up and met Miko's eyes, confused and bewildered at what had just transpired. "Th-thank you...?" She whispered uncertainly. "I-I could have h-handled him..." She added slowly.

Miko shook her head. "Vince is bad news. You're welcome. I wasn't going to leave you The other girl slowly sat up. "I-I think he's gone now... I'll uh... see you around..." She stammered, turning to get out of Bulkhead.

Miko's hand rested softly on her shoulder as she turned. "Look, be careful ok........Vince is bad........bad, bad." tears began to well up in Miko's eyes. It was breaking Bulkhead's spark. He couldn't contain himself. "Easy girl" he said. He wanted so much to transform and comfort her, he knew even speaking was probably too much, but seeing his girl like this was just too much for the 'bot.

She froze. ".... d-did... did... did the c-car just... just... talk?" She stammered, her heart skipping several beats.

Miko nodded. "Bulkhead's my guardian. He's cool. He won't hurt you. He's an Autobot!" Bulkhead groaned softly. "Miko...." Miko shrugged " What Dude, she asked!"

The girl looked bewildered first at the car and then at Miko. Her mouth opened and closed, before she finally screamed loudly, turning and bolting out and across the parking lot.

Miko tore out of Bulkhead running and tackling her. "Chill OUT!! It's Oh-KAY." Miko sighed, hoping she'd calm down soon. "Look, come with me we'll explain everything."

"I... I... the car..." She kept stammering, then a pair of shoes caught her attention and she looked up and met Vince's eyes. ".... Hi?" She squeaked.

Miko's eyes followed the girl's "ugh." Vince laughed. "Well if it isn't my two favorite ladies." Miko growled. "Get Fragged! Vince!" and proceeded to lead the girl back to the safety of Bulkhead.

She stopped, dragging her feet. "L-let me g-go...!" She pleaded at Miko, wrenching her arm away. "I c-can handle... him..." She looked at Vince, locking her eyes into his and balling her fists.

Miko shook her head "No.....I'm not leaving you with him! Not after what he did!" Miko balked, realizing what she had just said....what she had never intended to say. Miko nudged the girl back in Bulkhead's direction. "Just...come...... trust me."

The girl looked back at Miko. "I'm not letting anyone else get hurt by him..." She whispered, finally admitting. She stood her ground, eyes ablaze.

Miko stood, hands on her hips. "That's why I'm protecting YOU! Now COME!" Miko sighed, exasperated.

The girl's eyes widened as Vince closed in. Her heart raced and she froze, unable to move an inch! Her eyes widened as she remembered that horrible night...

Miko knew that look, she took a deep breath..... "You'll thank me for this later." With that she dragged the girl back into Bulkhead. "Drive!" she called to Bulk, holding the girl. "It's OK he's gone, he can't hurt you again." Arms wrapped around her, fingers running softly through her hair as Miko spoke in hushed tones. "He won't hurt either of us ever again."

The girl swallowed hard and softly began to cry. She just couldn't help it; after so long of suppressing everything... she finally caved. Miko held her, letting her get it all out. "Shhhh, It's OK. I'm here, you're safe." she drew the girl into her, rubbing her back comfortingly. "No one's going to hurt you again."

She swallowed hard. "Th-Thank... Thank you..." whispering, as she closed her eyes.

Miko nodded, Still patting the girl's back. "You're welcome.....I've been there. Last week........when Vince and I were absent." Miko swallowed hard "I was......was with...friends and.....he-was-in-jail..." she rushed out the last part, taking a deep breath. "Easy, Miko" Bulkhead cooed softly, wishing so much that he could transform and hug his brave girl.

The other girl swallowed hard. "H-he shouldn't h-have done any of that to you.. I-I was 'his girl'... I was the one he-..." She trailed off, ducking her head. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

Miko only held her softly. "Guys like that....say things, he's......Twisted" She spat. "You deserve better, we deserve better. I wouldn't have made it without my friends." She paused "Hey, I never got your name....."

"It's... C-Crystal. Crystal Jenkins."Miko squeezed her again softly. "I'm Miko. Miko Nakadai...and my guardian is Bulkhead."

Crystal looked at the dashboard skeptically, biting her lip, a nervous habit. "It's... n-nice t-to... meet you both..." She murmured, twirling a lock of her hair.

Miko smiled "You too, just wish Vince wasn't involved..." Miko scoffed. Bulkhead interrupted "Miko, where are we going? " The Japanese Asian girl shrugged. "You're the driver, Base? " Bulkhead groaned driving on.

"Base...?" Crystal stared at Miko uncertainly. "What's... 'Base'?"

"The Autobot base. You'll be safe there, they know ALL about Vince." Miko hugged her reassuringly. Crystal couldn't help but say it. "How can I t-trust you...?"

Miko swallowed hard, choking back tears "Vince........h....he.....hurt........ me too." her eyes closed slowly."I still have nightmares.....th...that's why I freaked out......when we bumped in the....hall." Frag! Bulkhead's spark was breaking for his girl!

Crystal bit and chewed her thumbnail; another nervous habit she'd developed over the past three months. "..... He used t-to be my boyfriend..." She whispered softly. "Y-yeah..."

Miko sighed softly "I'm sorry.....we.....I didn't.......we were just supposed to be doing a school project together...." she exhaled slowly, small frame quivering.

Crystal nodded. "I know... we were supposed to be st-studying together... he... he had other plans..." She closed her eyes, trying to push out the horrid things he'd done to her. And he'd had all the time in the world to do it too.

Miko nodded, hugging Crystal close...."If Bulkhead hadn't come......" she trailed off.

Crystal swallowed hard, eyeballing Bulkhead's dashboard again. "..... He must have done a number. on him..." She mumbled.

Miko smiled very slowly "Bulk.......and Jack, Jack really did the most damage to Vince..Bulk was too preoccupied with me." Miko wondered why Bulk had slowly down and saw they were getting closer to base.

Crystal looked up and saw the column of rock. She shifted nervously, chewing on her other thumbnail now. Her eyes widened all the more-so as they entered and she saw the Autobots gathered around. "O.... M.... G..." She whispered.

Miko kept close and guided the stunned girl out of the car. "Crystal....meet, the Autobots!" Miko's hand extended with a grand flourish.

Crystal's eyes were practically falling out f her head trying to take it all in. Once again, her mouth opened and closed without any words able to come out. Although this time, instead of screaming and running, she fainted.

Bulkhead had transformed behind them and caught Crystal in his large servo. "Bring her to the Medbay!" Ratchet ordered gruffly. Bulkhead did as he was told, Miko following the 'bots close behind as her guardian placed Crystal gently on the human sized gurney they kept.

After a little while she came around. "Ahhhhhghhhh...." She looked up at Miko's blurry face. "Whoa... had the weirdest dream..." She murmured, then looked up and met the face of Bulkhead! "WHOA!!!" She screamed sitting up and banging her head against Miko's in the process. "Oooowww..."

"Owwww" Miko rubbed her head..."Umm...yeah, not dreaming! Sorry" Miko bit her lower lip nervously. Bulkhead walked over and waved "Hi".

It took a minute for everything to come into focus before she came around again. She looked at Bulkhead and another giant robot, with a bright orange and white pattern. "Kay... uhm... not dreaming... uh... so could somebody explain?" She asked, her head darting all around

Just then Optimus stepped forward, speaking "We are Autonomous Robotic Organisms from the planet Cybertron. After our own world was ravaged by war, we came here, and are now guardians to Miko and her human friends, Jack and Rafael, as well as all of human kind."

She stared at him in amazement. Wow. Just.. plain... wow. "From who?" She asked, cocking her head a bit and brushing a lock of hair behind her, revealing a secret of her own,. A tiny flesh colored blob that looked implanted into her ear.

"Our Enemies are known as the Decepticons." Optimus continued. "Yeah.." Miko interrupted "You think Vince is scary...wait til you see MEGATRON!" Miko's eyes brightened wide "Miko" Optimus chided "It is our job to protect you! We shall strive to make sure your friend is never at risk of falling into Megatron's clutches." He nodded decisively. Miko muttered something under her breath that sounded an awful lot like " buzz-kill."