"Beware soldiers bearing gifts," Will Lennox announced as he jumped from his jeep. "And, before you ask, Ironhide, the answer's still no. I can't get you any nuclear-tipped missiles. Sorry."
"Well, what do you have?" Ironhide asked, after the mandatory grumbling.
"Hang on..." Will went to the back of the jeep and uncovered a large black gun, one that a human would have to balance on one shoulder to operate. "It's called a 'pulsed power' gun, still in the experimental stage. Meant to deliver a 10,000 volts, hence the name." He hauled it out to show to Ironhide. "This is one of the first designs our military came up with, but it was labeled as flawed and rejected. I figured if anyone can tinker around and get it to work, it's you."
"Hmph. Well..that might be interesting," Ironhide grudgingly admitted, lowering a hand to Lennox's level for it.
"Thought you'd say that." Will smiled, dropping the gun onto the huge palm. "I had to call in a couple favors to get this thing. Actually, it was kinda strange, the way it just fell into my lap," he added, thoughtful.
Ironhide nodded absently, already thinking of ways to boost the weapon's power, and modify it to add to his arsenal.
"You're welcome," Will said--to Ironhide's back. The large black Autobot had already wandered off, engrossed in examining the weapon.
Maggie shook her head, chuckling. "I think he likes it."
Used to Ironhide's manners by now, Will grinned, nodding. "Yeah, me, too."
"That will keep him occupied all day," Ratchet remarked, before greeting Major Lennox.
Optimus stepped forward next. "It's good to see you again."
"Same here, Optimus. Sorry I couldn't get out here last month."
Optimus smiled down at him. "Ironhide did not complain, too much."
"Meaning he didn't blow up too many trees," Will joked, then turned to greet the silver Autobot, Jazz.
"Yo, Captain," Jazz said. "How's it hangin'?"
"...Jazz..." Sam muttered under his breath. His partner's definitely watched too much television.
Will smiled indulgently. "Now that I'm not telling, Jazz. And it's Major now, as you already know.'
"Oh, sure. I just think 'Captain' sounds better."
"Thanks...I guess."
"Will, my man!" Glen gushed, clapping hands with his army buddy. "How ya been?"
"Pretty good, Glen. You?"
"Doin' great, thanks. Maggie's lettin' me go with her to a comp expo in January," Glen enthused.
"It's a electronics expo, actually," Maggie corrected, smiling at Glen's excitement. "The International CES, in Las Vegas."
"Sounds cool, Glen. Congrats," Will said, with another grin. "And good luck getting some software there."
Glen grinned back broadly. "Thanks, pal!"
"Hey, Major." Sam stepped forward next to shake his hand. "Good to see you again."
"Did you bring more pictures," Mikaela asked, eager for more photos of Will's baby girl.
"Tons, of course." Will pulled a thick envelope from a back pocket.
Mikaela laughed. "Well, let's get inside and look at them, then!"
"Okay, lead the way, Mik-- Whoa!" Will exclaimed when Bumblebee suddenly picked him up in one hand. "Ok, maybe not.."
"Bee!" Mikaela chided, but couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. He was as fond of Will Lennox as Ironhide was.
"That's ok, Mikaela. As long as he doesn't drop me," Will added, winking at her.
"I would never drop anyone," Bumblebee protested, indignant.
"If he does, I would have you fully functional again within days, Major Lennox," Ratchet had to point out. Bumblebee directed a mock growl at him and picked Mikaela up with his other hand.
Will carefully kept a straight face. "--thanks, Ratchet. That's good to hear."
"That was so not funny," Mikaela said, patting Bee's fingers as he took her and Will inside to the living room.
"It kinda was, actually, " Jazz disagreed, and plucked Sam off the ground.
Sam rolled his eyes, sitting up in Jazz's palm. "You think everything's funny."
"You bet." Jazz grinned at him, then followed Bumblebee.
Ratchet chuckled and scooped Maggie up. "I can walk, you know," she reminded him, giving his thumb a small squeeze.
"Yes, I am aware of that fact," was his casual reply, which made her laugh as he took her inside to join the others.
Shaking his head at the affectionate jibes, Optimus went inside last. The humans were seated on the sofa now, with their Autobots standing behind it, gazing down. Ironhide had also found his way to the living area, just as Will passed around over two dozen new photos of his daughter.
"Hey, she's got hair now," Jazz remarked.
"Yeah... It was going to happen eventually," Will said with a laugh. It was funny how the Autobots reacted to what were, to humans, common occurrences.
"I think she looks like you," Mikaela said, smiling at him.
"So do I," Ironhide agreed, even though he couldn't figure out how she came to that conclusion. To him the infant's features just looked...round.
"Thanks, you two."
Ratchet looked up from the photograph on his palm. "Someone's coming."
Ironhide immediately went into battle mode, hands fisting as his cannons were extended and armed. "We have an intruder."
"Did you invite your cousin again?" Jazz asked Glen.
"I'd warn you guys if I did!" Glen insisted, puffing up.
"Stay calm. Ironhide, retract your cannons," Optimus ordered, looking to Ratchet.
Ratchet shook his head. "I do not sense any threat to us."
"They'd be an idiot to start something with you guys, anyway," Will stated, matter-of-factly, as he picked up the photo Ironhide dropped.
"But who could it be?" Mikaela asked, frowning worriedly.
"We'll find out." Optimus turned to Bumblebee. "Bumblebee, recon."
"Yes, sir." He gave Mikaela a pat on the back with one finger before leaving the room.
"Be careful!" she called out to him.
"I will."
"--gonna go get the grill goin'," Glen muttered, still miffed at being the 'obvious suspect', and headed out back to the pool area.
Maggie sighed and got up. "I'll help Glen with the barbecue."
"All right." Ratchet nodded, staying to see who their visitor was.
Bumblebee took up a position on the roof and waited. It wasn't long before a black SUV with tinted windows appeared. It drove slowly across the desert, it's occupants making no effort to conceal themselves. They even went so far as to honk when they were within twenty yards of the 'vacant' army base.
He scanned the vehicle; there was only one person inside, driving it. It couldn't be Lennox's friend, Master Sergeant Robert Epps. He had only been able to visit them once since Mission City, having been sent overseas again shortly afterward. Ironhide had been quite disgruntled by that.
Curious, Bumblebee jumped down and cautiously approached the SUV, halting in his tracks when the door opened and He emerged.
"Is it safe to go in, or are you gonna lubricate on me again?" Agent Simmons asked, keeping his distance from the large yellow Autobot.
Bumblebee folded his arms over his chest, giving the human his most imposing stare.
"I shall ask Optimus Prime the answer to that."
"Okay." Simmons also crossed his arms, refusing to be intimidated this time, and waited, leaning against the back of his SUV.
This is very odd, Bumblebee wondered why this particular human persisted in coming here, where he obviously wouldn't be welcome. /It's Agent Simmons, Optimus. He's alone. May I send him away?/
"It is Agent Simmons," Optimus informed the others.
"Simmons?" Sam frowned, as did Will. "What the hell's he doing here?"
"I believe the only way to discover that would be to invite him inside," Optimus said mildly. /No, Bumblebee. Let him come in./
/...yes, sir.../ "--you may go in," he told Simmons.
"Okay, thanks." Simmons straightened and starting following him. "...I also dropped by to say I'm sorry, for what you went through before...Bumblebee."
Bumblebee made a noncommittal sound, the only response Simmons was going to get from him, as he led the man inside.
"Why'd you come back here?" Sam asked when they entered the living room.
"Did you follow me?" Will accused at the same time.
"We were assured that we would not be bothered here!" Ironhide stated, talking over the two humans.
"One; I just wanted to stop by and see how things are going. And two; I did wait until your scheduled visit, Major Lennox. I figured with you here, they'd be on their best behavior." Simmons looked pointedly over at Ironhide and Jazz. "You haven't been out on any more midnight excursions, have you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Jazz snidely retorted, while Ironhide flexed his hands.
"Manners, please..." Optimus quietly admonished both Autobots and Simmons, and they obediently stopped needling at each other.
"Well...I'm gonna go see how the barbecue's's coming along," Sam said, getting up and making his exit. Simmons is not gonna to ruin this party, he decided, determined to have a good time.
"A barbecue, huh?" Simmons asked. "This a private party, or can anyone join?"
"Are you asking our permission?" Ratchet inquired, also reacting to their guest's rudeness.
Simmons hesitated, glancing at Optimus, who looked back at him impassively. "Yeah.. You mind if I stay a while?"
"I do not mind, entirely," Ratchet said, a touch condescendingly.
"Guess I don't, either," added Jazz, with a careless shrug.
Ironhide fiddled with one of his cannons. "Fine. He can stay..I suppose."
"Thanks, Simmons replied, after Optimus nodded.
"Their party is outside by the pool, behind this building," Optimus told him.
"We have to take the long way, 'cause we're too big for that door," Jazz griped.
"You mean the door is too small," Ratchet corrected. "It must be replaced."
"Ok, I can arrange that," Simmons said, then frowned when they all looked at him. "What? It's no big deal."
"Thank you, Agent Simmons," Optimus answered for everyone present. "We would all appreciate that."
"Okay..You're welcome." He shrugged, and headed out to the pool.
"He's being strangely helpful," Bumblebee said, puzzled.
"Yeah.." Ironhide glowered. "What's he's up to?"
"We need to keep an eye on him," Jazz said, firmly, as they transformed and rolled out.
"Yes. He cannot be allowed to freely roam about our home," Optimus agreed. "I'll watch him."
They reached the pool a moment later and changed back to their robotic forms, then observed the human ritual of a pool party: The scorching of meat and vegetables, listening to loud music, liberal imbibing of a liquid called beer, and conversing on a variety of topics, the main one being Will Lennox's budding family.
Simmons made no attempt to sneak inside and snoop around. Instead he spent his time being ignored, and watching everyone.
Maggie switched to a soda to humor Ratchet, who'd analyzed the beer and mentioned that too much of it had a negative affect on humans. Plus it's odor made his olfactory sensors spasm. She cajoled Ironhide into showing her all three of his cannons, then whispered something else which made the dour-faced Autobot smile; almost eagerly, it seemed.
Glen snickered when, instead of one of the lounge chairs, Sam sat on one of Jazz's huge feet, with the excuse that it was more comfy.
"Thanks, Sam," Jazz replied, with a grin that was downright suggestive somehow.
"Welcome, Jazz." Sam patted Jazz's 'toe', then leaned back, wiggling a little in the process. The silver Autobot's optics glowed a little brighter.
Interesting. Weird, but interesting, Simmons thought as he took another swig of beer, and glanced over at Mikaela. She'd sat down in a chair next to Bumblebee, who was practically hovering over her. It didn't bother her at all, though. She smiled up at him and rested a hand on his foot.
Turning away, Simmons noticed Optimus watching him again. Might as well be now. he couldn't hang around here much longer, anyway.
He got up and, snagging a second bottle from the ice chest, caught Optimus' eye -- or, rather, optic -- before heading back toward the base's main entrance.
/Ratchet, with me./ Optimus said over a secure line, since his medic appeared to be the least distracted of the four.
/Yes, sir./ Ratchet jokingly told Ironhide not to get carried away and fire off a missile, before following their leader.
Simmons had stopped halfway to the front of the building and was leaning against the wall, drinking his beer while waiting for them to catch up.
"Why did you come here?" Optimus pointedly asked him.
"Maybe I'm just curious about that piece of Cube you said you've got. You don't mind showing it, do you?" he asked, taking another sip.
Optimus looked down at him for a moment, then pulled the All-Spark shard from a small crevasse under his chest armor, holding it up between two fingers.
"Uh-huh. That is kind of small, isn't it?" was Simmon's only comment.
"Yes..." Frowning, Optimus tucked the shard away. "Are you prepared to tell us why you're really here now, Agent Simmons?"
"Yes, I am," he said, and the two Autobots stared down at him. "Relax, it's not bad news. But it's officially deemed classified, so you didn't hear it from me. I didn't even know myself, until a week ago. Damn red tape."
"I see... Go on," Optimus prompted, briefly wondering what strips of adhesive had to do with the man's visit.
"One of those...Decepticons, you called them?...got away. Our satellites picked up images of it leaving Earth with it's tail between it's legs. That's just an expression," he added, when they looked puzzled. "It was the one that disguised itself as a fighter jet."
Ratchet scowled. "Starscream."
"When?" Optimus asked, equally displeased. Why would the humans conceal Starscream's escape? It made no sense to him.
"A few days after the Mission City Battle. We've been keeping watch day and night. There's nothing coming our way, other than the usual comets and such we already know about. It there was something new, we'd have spotted it by now," Simmons confidently told them.. "Besides, we know that it only took you guys a couple days to get here, when Bumblebee sent out a signal. That Starscream thing's long gone."
"That does not explain why we were led to believe that all of the Decepticons had been destroyed," Ratchet stated, annoyed with himself for failing to sense that that hadn't been true.
Simmons snorted. "Well, that's the human race for you. Taking credit for everything, even things we don't actually do. Welcome to our wacky world," he added, raising his bottle.
"Not all of them are dishonest." Optimus narrowed his optics at the man, aggravated by his pessimism. "We have found true and loyal friends on this world."
"Well, you're lucky, then. Better keep them close, your...friends. Anyway, I gotta be going now. See you later."
"...thank you, Agent Simmons, for informing us of Starscream," Optimus grumbled.
"You're welcome. And tell Ironhide to enjoy that new gun," Simmons said, as a parting shot, before continuing on to the front of the base. Everybody's got secrets, he thought as he drove away.Maybe he'll let the Autobots in on one or two more that he knew, later. Maybe.
"That man is...peculiar, " Optimus commented, staring at the retreating SUV, then turning to Ratchet for confirmation of Simmons' claim. "Do you sense anything?"
After careful contemplation, Ratchet shook his head. "No, nothing. If Starscream hasn't succeeded yet in rallying the Decepticons..."
"His position among them is weak. It is very likely that they've rejected him as their leader," Optimus agreed. It was better for the entire universe if the Decepticons have retreated back to Cybertron, the world they'd won, as much as it pained him to admit it.
"I apologize, sir, for not sensing Starscream escaping."
"It's understandable, Ratchet. Saving Jazz required all of your concentration at the time. However, we must remain cautious at all times."
Ratchet nodded. "Yes, sir."
'Nothing coming our way', Simmons had said, which meant Autobots as well as Decepticons. Optimus dampened a surge of disappointment, unwilling to give up, at least not anytime soon. He looked up at the sky for a long moment before following his chief medic back to the Lennox party.
One week later
"Can I ask you something?" Maggie said, sitting cross-legged on the work table, watching Ratchet build a larger outer casing for Ironhide's new weapon, the pulsed power cannon.
He glanced up briefly from Ironhide's 'toy'. "Of course."
"Just what does this Starscream look like?"
Ratchet took a moment to use a welder before answering. "In appearance, he is similar to Megatron, but slightly smaller."
"Well, Megatron was all iced up when I saw him, but he looked pretty damn ugly."
"Ugly is an accurate description," he remarked, amused.
"Yeah, it is." Maggie smiled, then turned serious again. "The only ones I'd really gotten close-up looks at were Bumblebee and that freaky little Decepticon, Frenzy. So, I was wondering..."
Ratchet paused before retracting the welder back into his left arm. "I can show you an image of Starscream, if you wish."
"Okay, sure..." She nodded, mentally bracing herself.
"All right." He pressed a finger against a spot on his head, pulling an image from his memory bank.
A huge, hulking metal monstrosity suddenly appeared a few feet away from the table. "Holy shit!" Maggie yelled, scrambling backward.
"Careful." Ratchet scooped her up when she got close to the table's edge. "Decepticons are an intimidating sight," he said apologetically, curling his fingers around her.
"...I had to ask, didn't I?" Maggie pointed out with a self-deprecating laugh, gripping his forefinger.
"'One should know thy enemy'," he quoted, deactivating the Starscream image as he set her back down on his work table.
"That's from... The Art of War, I think." She rubbed her upper arms, feeling chilled. "You're sure he's not coming back here?"
"Yes, I'm reasonably certain. He hasn't returned yet, which is a good sign." Ratchet looked down at Maggie, then changed to his vehicle form. His holoform was activated, and he put his arms around her. She sighed, resting her head against his chest for a moment before leaning in and kissing him. This is odd, he thought, wondering why one would become amorous after a frightening experience, and scanned her vital signs as he kissed back. Ah. That increase of adrenaline must be the cause.
"Lovely..." she purred, her hands sliding up his chest and over his shoulders. His 'skin' felt sort of tingly. Almost as if she could feel the power that sustained his holoform. That was a fanciful bit of imagination.
"Yes, you are." Ratchet kissed the side of her neck as he removed her blouse.
Maggie laughed a little at that. "No, I meant you. You're lovely," she corrected, helping him with the rest of her clothes, and shivering slightly afterward. It'd been getting a bit chilly lately in the mornings, in this steel and concrete building. Bloody winter...
"Hmm... Thank you," he said with a pleased smile, and lowered her to the table.
Guess no one's ever told him that, she thought, inhaling sharply when her bare skin touched the cool metal, then tugged him down with her. He always made her feel warmer. Much warmer. "You're perfect..." Maggie whispered, stroking his cheek. How did I get so lucky?
His smile widening -- he rather liked being flattered like this -- Ratchet shifted to push deep inside her, settling into the slow steady pace they both enjoyed.
"...yes..." Maggie moaned in response, kissing him again. Her right foot bumped against something hard, and she turned her head to look. "Oh...Um...I really shouldn't...interrupt your work...on that cannon."
"It can wait," Ratchet decided, reaching back and pushing the casing aside. "You're more important."
"Mmm...I like the sound of that..." she murmured, running her hands down his muscular back.
He smiled and slid a hand down her thigh. "Much more important," he amended, pressing his fingers against the back of her knee.
"Uh!" Maggie shuddered as she came with a sudden, intense rush.
Ratchet growled low, going still as her body tensed, muscles contracting tightly, which jarred his sensors, as always. Not that he minded that in the least. He smiled, kissing her deeply when her tremors faded.
God...how does he do that? she wondered, once she'd come back down to earth, breathing hard. "That was..."
"Amazing," Ratchet finished for her, then recited from memory. "As well as fantastic, amazing, and marvelous."
"Mmm... Not to mention fabulous."
"Yes, that, too," he chuckled.
"M-hmm..." Maggie closed her eyes, feeling very relaxed now, and twitched when he kissed the length of her neck. Smiling, she teasingly rubbed her foot against his leg. "Again?"
"Certainly." Ratchet smiled back, more than happy to oblige.
He was alone when she found him, crouched on a giant, dusty black boulder, on a barren, lifeless planet. She knew he had to be aware of her landing, but Starscream made no effort to acknowledge her as she strode up to his perch. That deliberate snub irritated Thunderblast. "So... No one else has deigned to grace you with their presence?" she asked, mockingly.
"---I've sent Dirge and Hardtop to track down the other Seekers."
"Do you really think they'll come willingly? Especially Thundercracker?" She smiled maliciously as the mere mention of that name had Starscream seething with resentment.
"As you have?" he bristled, infuriated by the reminder of his subordinate's defiance. "And without your shadow, Shortround. Tell me, did Shockwave openly refuse you in front of everyone on Cybertron?"
"You are hardly in a position to pick and choose your allies," Thunderblast angrily snapped back at him. "I won't deny that I approached Shockwave first. He is the one in command now."
Starscream stood and furiously paced atop the boulder. "I was Megatron's chosen second!"
"Yes, and that would have automatically made you our next leader, if Megatron hadn't humiliated you so often for his own amusement," she remarked, watching him prowl back and forth. "In the meantime, Shockwave's influence had grown far and wide. He is the one everyone listens to now."
His red optics narrowed suspiciously. "What do you suggest, then?"
"I suggest that you rely on more than just increasingly petulant orders." Thunderblast paused, her optics roaming over his metal frame. Starscream was very well-made, better than most Decepticons, but relatively young as well. She wondered if he, like that stiff-wired Shockwave, has ever merged sparks with another. "Do you have more to offer?"
Starscream stopped pacing, ignoring the innuendo, and mulled over her advice. As much as he hated the very idea of returning to that miserable planet, the alternative -- being forced to relinquish all authority to Shockwave -- was even more intolerable. "I know the location of Optimus Prime's new base," he reluctantly told her.
"Ahh." She smiled and jumped up onto the rock, standing beside him. "Optimus Prime still lives, while our great leader is dead. I can't think of a greater ploy than offering us a chance to finally finish off those accursed Autobots."
"Very well." Resigned to going back to Earth, he stepped away from her and sent out yet another message.
This time he only had to wait two mega-cycles before receiving the first reply, from Sixshot.