*I don't own Transformers or anything affiliated with Transformers. I only own my original characters and plots. All rights go to Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg.*

It was far too early for all of this. In reality, I wasn't sure as to how early it specifically was, but I happened to have more important things to worry about. I just wished that it was a later time of day.

On the bright side, Sam and I were all freshened up from yesterday's mess. I had accidentally fallen asleep in my disgusting clothes last night so this morning I wound up taking about an hour long shower. After that, I changed into a black tank top, black skinny jeans, my black leather jacket and a new pair of black ankle booties; a girl could never have too much black. Sam, on the other hand, had raided through "Ron's" clothing and I hadn't a clue why considering we were going to his house. He claimed he felt too dirty to continue on and I didn't really blame him, so I just let him go on with his business. He managed to find a charcoal grey v-neck, a matching leather jacket that was just slightly too big for him and a pair of light wash jeans. He kept his shoes though; there was no way he could have fit into a pair of the holoform's shoes. 

Currently, the two of us were in my car on our way to Sam's house. Sam was driving, as I had instructed him to do so last night, and I was leaning back into the passenger's seat with my eyes closed just thinking about my life and more specifically, my mate. It had been almost twenty four hours since I had last seen him, well technically. All I needed was for him to show up and tell me that he was alright and then I would be okay. It was all that I asked for, but truthfully, I didn't think I was going to get it. I just really hoped to see him soon.

"Uh, Lea. We have a bit of a problem," Sam spoke.

I could feel the car slowing down and I opened my eyes. Looking out the windshield, I noticed that we were now back at Sam's apartment but there were about three police cars sitting in front of us. Sam pulled the car to a stop and the two of us got out which in turn caused the policemen to step out of their vehicles.

"Is something wrong officers?" I asked.

They just stared at the two of us.

"We're going to need you two to come with us. Mearing would like to see you," one of the men said.

I looked to Sam and he nodded cautiously before proceeding. One officer grabbed me gently by the arm and placed me inside the back of the police car. I sighed and sat back in my seat. It looked like we weren't finding out where Carly was today.

____________________

What seemed like an hour later, which I was almost sure that it was, we pulled into some sort of private airport. The car that we had been traveling in stopped directly in front of a large private jet that was sitting in state inside some type of hangar. Dozens of people scampered throughout the building and I noticed Mearing in front of a row of computers and other agents.

Our doors were pulled open and Sam and I got out, the two of us walking over to Mearing who had taken a good five seconds to notice our arrival.

"We'll debrief you in transit," Mearing spoke as she looked into a file folder.

What?

"You know, I really don't see how we could be of any help here. You guys seem pretty busy. We could just do this another time," Sam said. I raised a brow as I watched his spastic movements.

"I have underestimated you at every turn."

Sam seemed confused by her words. "What?"

"You warned us that they were using humans and you knew that Sentinel was the key," she told him before walking away.

"Who am I? You're the expert. I'm just the walking security breech," he called.

His right arm stiffened and he hissed. The next thing I knew he was flipping over the table to. I blinked at him as he stood back up. What the hell was wrong with him all of a sudden? Mearing seemed just as startled by his behavior as I was.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he lied.

"No you're not. You're sweating," she retorted.

"I'm fine. I'm sweating because I'm nervous. I'm nervous because you got me in here with all of this information, okay? I'm a Twitter junkie. I blog everything, I can't keep a secret to save my life. That's the truth."

I snickered.

"You wouldn't dare," she threatened him.

I laughed again before Mearing was summoned away by her assistant, but stopped as I watched Sam's right arm shoot up over a man's head. He gave the boy a strange look.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Nothing. What are you doing?" Sam replied nonchalantly.

The man looked incredibly freaked out. "Get away from me."

Sam just walked away from the man and headed over to me.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked him.

He was holding his right arm closely to his side. "Nothing. What's wrong with you?"

I just scoffed and stepped around him.

"Azalea, Sam, come over here," Mearing called.

She was standing by two monitors, the news playing on each of them. Sam and I walked over to see what the fuss was about but the only thing I saw was the headline 'America Ends Alliance'. I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion and listened as the anchorwoman spoke.

"It's been a remarkable series of events here today at the Capitol. Just moments ago, legislation was passed to exile the Autobots from American shores. The US military alliance with them is officially over," she spoke.

I couldn't even listen to the rest of what she had to say. My fucking heart was too busy breaking.

"What?" I exclaimed.

"They can't do this! You have to tell them they can't do that," Sam said to Mearing who was hanging up her phone.

"It's official. It's a go, people!"

I stepped towards her. "No. You can't do this. These are our allies. They fought for us and they fought with us," I remarked.

She looked at me. "And where are we now? Facing an enemy invasion with an enemy that has the means to deploy countless more. Follow me," she instructed us as she walked towards the private jet.

I growled and followed behind her and Sam. The three of us, along with other crew, boarded onto the plane. Sam and I hadn't even been informed that we were flying in the first place and I had no clue where we were even going, plus planes kind of frightened me, though I was too busy being worried about this whole Autobot expulsion rule to care. Everyone was too busy hustling around that nobody could answer my question. It wasn't until the damn flight was almost over that I was finally able to get my question out. 

"Where are we going?" I asked Mearing.

"We're on the way to Florida. I assumed that you and Sam would like to share your goodbyes," she answered softly.

So she did have a heart. .

"Sounds lovely," I retorted.

"If there's anything you know about the enemy's intentions, now's the time to tell," Mearing stated.

Sam sighed. "The Autobots have no way to leave this planet."

Wrong.

"That's where you're wrong. Its name is the Xantium. It brought the second wave of Autobots and it's been under NASA's care and study ever since. We linked it with a decommission shuttle to maintain military control until they're gone," she explained to him.

The plane jerked and before I knew it, we were landing. I looked out of the window to see that we were on the ground. Around us sat several vehicles and I sighed before getting up with Sam and Mearing. We climbed down the jet stairs and onto the concrete below, the bright Florida sun nearly blinding me.

"So, what now?" I asked.

"Now we're off," Mearing said as she got in to one of the white vehicles.

And yet another trip. I was growing sick of this shit. At the moment, I should be home, possibly with Ironhide and the two of us should be doing something semi-productive considering I was fairly lazy when I didn't need to be productive. But now he was being forced to leave along with the rest of them. It wasn't fair. My lover and my family was being taken away from me yet again and this time they would never be coming back. I just didn't understand how the humans had the audacity to betray them like this. All they had done for the past four years is fight for us; they had kept our planet safe from any harm that managed to find its way here. This truly was heartbreaking.

We drove in silence for about five minutes until coming to a stop. The familiar sound of Autobot voices filled the air and I looked out of the window to see the wreckers standing on top of a large, rolling platform. I opened the door and got out, Mearing and Sam following my actions. I just stopped and watched as they yelled at the two men below. Oddly enough, I was going to miss their dick-ish ways.

"Those guys are the wreckers. They take care of the Xantium. We don't let them off the base much because they're assholes," Mearing laughed.

I just chuckled and continued listening to their banter. What surprised me next was the sound of my Uncle Epps's voice. I noticed him beside the other man and mentally scolded myself for not recognizing him earlier. I smiled and ran over to him.

"Uncle Epps," I called as I approached him.

He turned around at the sound of my voice and a smile appeared on his face as he looked at me. I ran into his arms and he laughed, wrapping his around me. I pulled away and looked at him. Sam soon ran up and he and Epps shook hands.

"What are you doing here? I haven't talked to you in so long and William has failed to inform me on what you've been doing with your life," I chuckled.

"Well, I retired from the air force. Now I just consult to run interference for them," he told me.

"Well you're not helping," Roadbuster exclaimed. I laughed and he looked down at me from the platform. "Oh, hey look. It's little Azalea. How are ya' youngin'?"

It truly surprised me that I was really the only human they could tolerate. It was probably because my attitude could be just as bad as theirs. "I'm good," I exclaimed as I turned back to Epps.

"No more combat and aliens shooting at my ass. I've got a dream job," he chirped.

I scoffed playfully. "It sure seems like it."

Suddenly he stopped walking and turned to face the two of us. "They're kicking the Autobots out. Can you believe it?" I frowned. I did not need to be reminded.

"Where do you think it's taking them?" Sam asked.

"Any planet but here," he answered.

"Lennox, Witwicky," I heard Mearing call.

The two of us shot around to look at her. She motioned us over before getting into the vehicle we had come here in. Sam ran over quickly but I turned back around to face my uncle. He gave me a small smile and immediately enveloped me in a comforting hug. I squeezed my eyes shut and wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm so sorry that this is happening to you again, Lea. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you, especially the second time around," he said to me.

I let out a breath. I was quite surprised I hadn't started crying yet. Given the circumstances, I should have been drowning in a pool of my own tears right now and inside I most certainly felt that way, but I just didn't think I had the energy to even cry anymore. It was about time that I came to terms with everything. My life was the way it was and I may not enjoy the events that were taking place in it right now, but there was absolutely nothing I could do to help it.

"It is what it is, I guess," I said, my tone dry.

He pulled away from me very abruptly. He looked me directly in the eye, nothing but seriousness on his face. It was almost as if he were scolding me.

"Don't you even dare, Azalea Grace. Don't you give up," he demanded.

I sighed. "There's nothing left for me to do, Epps."

"Yes there is, little girl. You can fight. It isn't like you to suddenly want to give up on everything. You're a fighter and you have been your entire life. You didn't give up the fight when you lost your best friend and you didn't give up the fight in Egypt, so don't you dare let this ruin you to the point where you feel you need to give up this time. You need to fight," he remarked.

"Azalea," I heard Sam call.

I just sighed again. "I'll try, Uncle Epps. But I'll see you soon, okay?"

He nodded and I gave him one last hug before running over to the vehicle. I hopped in quickly and before long we were off to God knows where. I just wanted this day to be over.

About another five minutes later, we stopped again. Without bothering to even worry about where we were, I just hopped out of the car and trudged into the building with Sam and Mearing. My heart nearly broke when I saw Wheelie and Brains locked in a large cage. What the hell was this? They weren't animals! I quickly ran over to them, ignoring Sam's calls. I placed my fingers through the openings on the cage and looked at the two Autobots in front of me.

"Why are they treating you like this?" I whispered more to myself than to them.

"They don't care about us no more, Azalea. We ain't nothing to them. We're just a bunch of machines," Wheelie stated, hurt resonating in his voice.

I leaned my forehead against the cage and closed my eyes. "I am so sorry that this is happening to you." I felt a small, metal hand on my head.

"We're sorry this is happening to you too," Brains said.

I couldn't take anymore of this. Without another word, I walked over to stand with Sam and Mearing, Seymour Simmons coming into view. Mearing stopped in front of him. It was only now that I noticed he was in a wheelchair. In all honesty, I was quite surprised he wasn't dead.

"Agent Simmons, former Agent Simmons. I see you've survived Washington?" Mearing greeted him.

"Washington, Egypt, heartbreak, I survive; I will survive," he retorted. I walked over to stand with Sam. "They're bringing everybody in, kids. They're putting all the intel on the table and if you think deporting eleven damn Autobots is going to solve a damn thing," Simmons started.

Mearing cut him off. "It's out of my hands," she responded and walked away.

He followed closely behind her, leaving Sam and I alone.

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle this, Sam."

He placed an arm around my shoulder and I leaned into him. "Me either, Lea."

"Sammy, Lea, listen to me," Wheelie spoke. We turned our heads to face him. He and Brains were being picked up and I frowned. "You can't let them exile us. It's a Decepticon trap."

"Don't let them take us," Brains pleaded as the two men took them away.

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. This was happening way too fast for me and I didn't know what to do about it. A hand grabbed my wrist and began pulling me. I opened my eyes to see that Sam was yanking me towards the vehicle again. I rolled my eyes. I was getting so sick of being in a car but once I was told I would be going to see Ironhide and the rest of the Autobots, I calmed down.

Helicopters could be heard overhead as we drove down the long runway that lead to the Xantium. The car stopped yet again and Sam and I got out. Optimus watched us and started walking over to the two of us. This was becoming realer by the second. .

"Optimus," I whispered. He had the saddest look in his optics. The sight was absolutely heartbreaking.

"What your leaders say is true. This was all my fault. I told them whom to trust; I was so wrong," he started. I shook my head.

"That doesn't make it your fault. That just makes you human for a change," Sam assured him.

"Remember this; you may lose your faith in us, but never in yourselves," Optimus said to us as he turned to walk away.

I could feel my lip trembling.

"I need to know how you're going to fight back. I know there's a strategy, I know you're coming back with reinforcements or something. I know there's a plan. You can tell Lea and I. No other human will ever know," Sam called, his voice strained; I could tell he was on the brink of tears and if this continued, I probably would be too.

"There is no plan," Optimus replied softly.

I could literally feel my heart breaking into tiny little pieces. "If we just do what they want, how are we going to live with ourselves?" I squeaked.

"You are my friend, Azalea; you and Sam are both my friends, you always will be. But your leaders have spoken. From here, the fight will be your own," he said to us and turned to walk away.

I fought hard to hold back the tears as Bumblebee approached us. Sam looked as if he was about to lose it. Bumblebee knelt down in front of us and let out a whir.

"We're going to do whatever we can to make it like it was. You will always be my friends. I gotta be going on though," he said to us.

He got up quickly and walked away. Ironhide walked past him and over to us. I could feel a single tear roll down my cheek but I wiped it away just as quickly as it had appeared. Sam placed a hand on my back and Ironhide knelt down in front of us just like Bumblebee had.

"Don't you dare cry," he told me.

"I'm not," I croaked out.

"You know I love you, kid."

I nodded and wiped away another tear. So much for not crying. "And I love you, but you promised me you wouldn't leave me."

"I'm so sorry, Azalea," he said to me. It took every ounce of concentration that I had not to burst into tears at the sound of his voice. This wasn't fair.

"It's not your fault, Hide. Don't apologize to me," I told him.

He just frowned.

"I've got to be heading out now though," he stated. He turned to look at Sam. "Keep an eye on her for me please. She's going to need you."

Sam just nodded and I sighed. He gave me one last look before getting up and walking back towards the Xantium with the rest of the Autobots. I walked over to the railing and placed my hands tightly around the bar. I closed my eyes and bowed my head, rocking my body back and forth in an attempt to calm the tears that were flowing. Beside me, I could hear Sam's sobs and this only caused the tears to flow faster. For the second time in the matter of a year, the two of us had our lives stripped away from us.

"Years from now they're going to ask us 'where were you when they took over the planet?', and we're going to say 'we just stood by and watched'," Simmons said from behind the two of us.

That seemed to be the only thing that any of us could do at this point.

*Please vote and comment. It'd mean so much to me. I wanna know what you guys think.*