Starscream ran as fast as he could. He couldn't let himself get caught again. He gripped his wound tightly, not letting any energon fall onto the snow to let himself be found. He could hear Blackout a good distance behind him, following his trail.

He couldn't shake him.

Starscream looked around desperately as the sun was coming up. There wasn't much around to save him until he smelled something. Something strange. Something foul.

The air commanders olfactory sensor scrunched up at it before he smirked.

There was a human nearby with shelter.

Starscream hoped there was a garage he could hide himself in. It would be humiliating but the mech always loved deceiving others, especially if he lived in the end.

Starscream made his way to the cabin, a shack just a hundred feet nearby that was big enjoy for his jet form.

He could see a small girl inside, smoke exiting the chimney as a fireplace was going.

Human children...always so easy to decieve...

"Perfect." He smirked and went toward the shack, transforming painfully.

...

Mirage was an hour away from the base and couldn't help but think of the girl the whole trip. It puzzled him.

Why was she alone?

Why was her Aunt taking forever to return? He drove just fine through the snow and it wasn't something he did often.

Where was her brother?

Why was she so afraid?

Mirage sighed heavily, pushing the thoughts aside as he tried to focus on his mission and the information.

"Come on, Mirage...think...remember training...why would Starscream travel north? There isn't anything useful in the north. Unless...unless it was south? Oh Primus, did I get the direction wrong?"

Mirage groaned to himself as he thought. Both situations he couldn't figure out. He decided to give it a rest and just let Optimus think over it. He was better at predicting the Decepticons actions.

The Italian mech pulled into the gate and was let by, driving toward the building. Once he was inside he transformed, walking to Optimus Prime who greeted him immediately. They shook hands, the both frowning.

"What did you find?"

"Nothing much. Starscream was traveling north at approximately 7 hundred hours yesterday. The civilian reported he was shot down."

Optimus rose an optic ridge, "and?".

"And I scanned the mountains myself. Not a trace." Mirage reported firmly. Optimus rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Good work, soldier." Optimus praised gently, setting a servo on his shoulder. Mirages optics didn't brighten like they used to when complimented. Optimus tilted his helm slightly. "Something bothers you?"

"No." Mirage answer quickly, his mood turning a bit sour. "I'm fine." He said as his mind wandered to the child again.

Optimus gave a nod and removed his servo. "Refuel then check in for training."

"Yes sir." Mirage saluted briefly before leaving to the rec room for energon. He ignored the other bots and humans around him. His mind wasn't focused.

...

Zoe began making herself tea and watched a few movies after she left the door. She made herself soup from the cans left in the pantry and finished it quickly. She was getting really hungry as she was running out of food.

Zoe frowned and began putting on another movie calmly, turning on Star Wars, something she enjoyed greatly when she was stressed or upset.

Getting bundled up in her fluffy blanket and pillows, she yawned and began reading through the scrolling texts. As she did so, she began getting settled and relaxed but jumped out of her skin as the door was knocked on.

Zoes eyes widened and lowered the volume of the movie before scrambling out of the couch and to the kitchen, just beside the door. She snatched a knife and carefully peeked through the blinds above the sink.

A man stood, holding his abdomen groaning. He wore a pilots jacket and his face was twisting up in pain as he muttere inaudiable words. Zoe frowned deeply.

This must be the pilot that was shot down...

Zoe slowly went to the door and unlocked it and opened it. She pointed the knife at him before he could enter.

"Who are you!?" She demanded.

"I-I'm Steve...Steve Rodgers." The man gasped, leaning against the doorframe for support, his dark brown eyes closing shut in agony.

"Like...like Captian America, Steve Rodgers?" Zoe blinked.

"Sure, like Captian America." The man frowned deeply, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Can I come in? I need to use a First Aid kit." The pilot pleaded.

Zoe frowned and then blinked. She couldn't refuse helping Steve Rodgers-possibly Captian America.

"Sure, come in." Zoe muttered and stepped aside to let him in, putting the knife away. The pilot stumbled in groaning and sat down on a chair in the kitchen as Zoe went through cabniets under the sink. She grabbed the small white kit and brought it over to the man.

"Thank you...thank you so much." Steve smiled. Zoe shuffled a bit in her socks but nodded.

"You're welcome. Now uh...I'm going to go watch my movie while you...fix yourself up." Zoe said quickly and began walking away but her arm was grabbed making her tense.

"I need your help." The man wheezed. Zoes eyes widened and she scrunched up her face, looking to the blood oozing out of his leather jacket.

She wanted to throw up.

"I-I can't help you. I'm sorry." The blonde whispered. The grip on her arm tightened.

"I just need you to get a few things for me. You want to help Captian America right?" The man began smiling a little. Zoe winced.

"Yeah..." she whispered.

"Great, can you get me a shirt and a few cloths please?" He asked and Zoe nodded a little, running off upstairs. She couldn't hear the mans laugh, too scared and focused on not to lose a Marvel Avenger in her home.