11 After four years: Barricade's Demise and It starts.

In just four swift years, from 2003 to 2007, the staggering reach of Infinite Industries became a global spectacle, particularly within aerospace circles.

The fact that this company had a stash of weapons capable of widespread destruction had nations frozen in disbelief.

The United Nations found itself in a tight spot, acknowledging that Infinite Industries had evolved into a nation without a defined territory.

Despite the hair-raising arsenal, today, the company had taken a turn for the better, providing essential supplies and aid to developing nations across the globe.

The incredible feat achieved by a sixteen-year-old, Sam, over a mere decade left the world in awe.

The sheer thought of a teenager wielding weapons of mass destruction struck terror into the hearts of many, rendering even the mighty United States powerless to act.

The entirety of national defense networks and security codes had been crafted by none other than Witwicky himself.

Refusing Infinite's assistance meant inviting a barrage of cyber-attacks probably from hackers who were contracted by Infinite itself that could plunge a nation into absolute chaos.

As governments scrambled in panic, the young Sam shared a serene moment with Miks, pulling her into an embrace while watching the sunset.

"It's beautiful, Sam," Miks murmured softly. Sam beamed, planting a tender kiss atop her head.

"Not as beautiful as you, Miks. Seriously, what's that scent? New conditioner?" he inquired with a grin, delighting in the simplicity of the moment amidst the tumultuous global scenario.

Sam's POV

It has been four years since I met Miks, and it took me three years just to understand her. Well even then I haven't been able to understand her. Women.

I was just cruising with Mikaela when things took a wild turn. A police car started tailing us, but it wasn't just any ride; it had this freaky symbol on it that meant one thing, "Decepticon."

That's Transformers lingo for trouble.

I steered the Pagani to this nearby field, warning Mikaela to stay put, lock the doors, and not budge no matter what. I knew what was about to go down, a big police car.

I let out my energon that only transformers could catch. "Barricade," I called out, bracing for the assault.

The police car started to transform as it ran towards me, metal grinding against metal as it transformed, its red eyes lighting up like fireworks. Barricade.

Man, this Decepticon had been a total joke for years, always on my tail, always causing a ruckus. I did hit him with paint bombs and egged him quite frequently.

But tonight, it was time to put an end to this madness.

"Barricade, why all the fuss?" I questioned. This was serious business. He snarled about glory and Cybertron and his leader, Megatron but it was all noise to me.

I as a Prime had a duty to set things right, even if it meant taking a life, which was heavy, let me tell you. However, the bad cop ran towards the pagani. Shit! Mikaela!

I concentrated, mustering my energy. Barricade was about to learn that crossing me was a big mistake. "You had a shot to back off, to live. But you chose this path.

Your days of hunting humans, they're over," I declared, my energy draining away his spark, his life force.

The moment hit Mikaela hard. She was rattled, understandably so. I pulled her close, trying to ease the shock, all the while feeling the Autobots surrounding us.

I let out my energy again, as a signal or a warning, I'm not sure which.

It was intense, but necessary. Barricade had pushed it too far, and I had to step up. That's the thing about responsibility, even when it's tough, you gotta face it head-on.

And man, being a Prime sure comes with some heavy-duty baggage. "Sam, what was that?" Mikaela asked and I sighed.

Sitting there, with Barricade's deactivated body nearby, I pulled Mikaela close, hoping to ease her shock.

"Hey, what if I told you there are aliens living among us?" I ventured, watching her gaze shift from me to the fallen Decepticon.

"If I hadn't just seen this, I'd think you're kidding. But now? Yeah, I believe you," she murmured, her eyes fixed on Barricade's metallic form.

"What happened to that... robot?" she inquired, her voice a mix of fear, curiosity and concern.

I knew I couldn't keep the truth hidden anymore without straining our relationship. "I... I took it out. It came for you, Miks. I had to protect you," I confessed, bracing myself for her reaction.

Mikaela was stunned for a moment, absorbing the weight of my words. "You... you have powers?" she asked, disbelief etched in her tone.

"Yeah," I admitted with a nod. "I've had these abilities for as long as I can remember. It's been a part of me since day one."

Her shock lingered, and I could see she needed time to process everything that went down. "Can you drop me off at home, Sam? I need some space to wrap my head around all this," Mikaela requested, her voice soft yet resolute.

"Sure thing, Miks. Take all the time you need," I assured her, knowing that tonight had been a lot to take in.

We drove in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.

Mikaela's POV

He stepped in when my family needed help the most, bailing my dad out of jail and supporting us through our toughest times.

We started out as friends, just talking about cars and bikes, but there was something about him, a kindness and a strength that drew me in without me even realizing it.

Sam wasn't just the guy the world talked about; there was more to him, a depth beyond the surface. He was always there for me, someone whom I could rely on, and that's when I started falling for him.

He would be there during the fun times when we would hang out and even after I would lash out my frustrations on him. 

But there was this whole other side he'd kept hidden, and it threw me off when that robot attacked.

I was terrified, panicking, wanting to protect him, to tell him to run. But he stood his ground, facing danger head-on.

That's when the questions flooded my mind. Why didn't he share this with me? Was he keeping secrets to shield me or was there something else?

Walking away from Sam without a goodbye, I headed straight home, where Dad was tinkering with a bike.

He sensed something was up, and as I talked about Sam keeping secrets, Dad paused, contemplating his words carefully.

"Honey, did he keep those things hidden to protect you? Did he ever intend to hurt you?" Dad's words lingered in my mind.

I pondered, trying to understand the motives behind Sam's secrecy. Was I so unreliable that he wouldn't share his secrets with me? Did he even trust me?

Later that night, I scrolled through my messages, stumbling upon Sam's text. 'I know I've hurt you, Miks. I'd never want to cause you pain. I love you, always.' It hit me like a ton of bricks.

I felt like a jerk, not even saying goodnight. I sent him a apology but received a message which made me feel better. I decided to go to sleep.