Through Ash and Dust (ROTB)

Based upon the Rise of the Beasts

A nineteen year old girl who has gone through her life as an unwanted person from her parents manages to find herself on her feet in the city of New York. She is not wealthy by any means, but she was comfortable and that was all that made her happy. She has herself a seemingly nice boyfriend and she believes that her life will only keep going up and up.

But when she purchases her first car, her relationship with her boyfriend comes into question. And in the midst of that, she finds herself before four autonomous, robotic, organisms hiding on this planet. Information that she thought was a dream, along with the displeasure coming from the leader, believing she needs to be dealt with.

When she does manage to flee and attempt to get back to her boyfriend, bricks of truths fall upon her in ways she never imagined. And when the autobots find her again, she finds a new friend within the autobot who came to her by chance when she bought herself a new car. Even Optimus will feel his wall fall away slowly the more time is spent with this girl. And he learns there is more to humans than meets the eye.

And when a darker threat reveals itself in a way they never though possible, and a possible way back to Cybertron, Optimus sees the courage in this girl even more. Especially when she finds herself wanting to help them get back home. Something he finds himself surprised that she is willing to help him. It is as if something has changed, and he did not know why or how that is possible.

And soon enough, his cold exterior may have just fallen away. Or could his processor be mistaken?