Hey everyone! Sly here. Welcome to the sequel to Toy Soldiers. If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you go and read it. Things might make more sense.
As for those of you who are back for more, thanks for dropping by! R&R with your opinions, and any suggestions or ideas you might have!
Enjoy.
~ Sly
It was this dream again. Well technically it was more of a nightmare. Except this time, everything was much clearer. She knew what was going on. Every other time she had this nightmare, it was… fuzzy. Why it wasn't this time was beyond her.
She always knew she was laying on some sort of stone table. Something like that. Not laying exactly. Laying against her will. Something was pinning her down. No…. no, not something this time. Someone. Panting, she looked up, panicked, to see the red eyes she dreaded. The eyes she saw in the dark, in the back of her mind.
Him. He was pinning her down. She tried to move, but she couldn't. Neither said a word. A sharp claw came down to her cheek, and she gasped at the touch, turning her head to get away from it. The claw was eerily gentle, giving her cheek a gentle stroke, before moving away. She looked up at the fear-inducing eyes. They held no recognizable expression.
Panicked, she tried to look at her cheek when she felt something sliding down. It was like a tear, but it wasn't… blood. That's what it was. She couldn't feel any pain, because it was only a dream. But she could feel a single drop of blood running down her cheek. When the claw had stroked her cheek, despite being gentle, it cut her cheek.
Her chest. Her chest was moving up and down rather quickly. Her breaths were labored with fear. Now despite being thirteen, her chest was on the large side. Hormones and all. That was important, considering what the claw had occupied itself with. One of her worst fears, was the fear of being 'touched' by someone she felt uncomfortable with. Not specifically him, but he was the worst possible subject.
It was like he knew her fears. As soon as she had thought about this, his red optics narrowed at her. The claw slipped under her shirt, before tearing the front open. Not all the way open, no. He wouldn't do that. He wanted to make her feel uncomfortable, and he wanted her to be begging to leave her be. Open just enough to expose some skin. Flesh.
She was panicking, hyperventilating. He was taunting her. Him and that… that claw. That sinister, sharp device. "Your Optimus cannot save you from a nightmare, pet." The sinister voice rumbled. Despite him being so sinister, she knew he wouldn't go…. That far. No. He was a different species. He had no interest in her. He wanted fear. That's what. Fear was what empowered him. And he had her under crushing fear.
"Why does this nightmare keep appearing? Why is it more clear now?" She questioned. Her voice sounded different. He had no answer for her. He probably knew, but he wouldn't tell her. No, of course not. Was he….. was he in her mind? Was he really in her mind? Was he doing this to torture her? Was he actually speaking with her?
Questions with answers that she would never find out. Looking around, beside the stone table, him, and herself, there was nothing but black. Why? Why couldn't she see what else was happening? Wasn't there something else happening?
"You have something I want, pet." His voice shattered her thoughts. His voice seemed to echo all around. The echoes made it seem like he was everywhere. But he wasn't. Her voice? It was distant. Quiet. "What do you want from me?" Was the distant question.
Something sharp pressed against her forehead. Oh god. This was it. She was going to die. If you die in a dream, you die for real, right?
"Your mind."
\/\/\/\/
"Alex! You're gonna be late!" Called her mother. The Witwicky in question had woken up from her nightmare sweating, tears in her eyes. She felt her cheek. No cut. No blood. Next was her shirt. It was fine. It wasn't torn.
Panting, Alexandria swung her legs over the bed and stood, closing her eyes for a moment. "It was just a dream. Just a dream…" She reminded herself. She took a deep breath before nodding to herself and starting to get ready for another nightmare, school.
The young teen girl got dressed in jeans, a grey tank top, and a blue cardigan. Once she had finished dressing, she brushed her hair and teeth, and shouldered the messenger bag she used for school. Alex didn't have time for breakfast. Alex sighed and rolled her eyes when she heard Bumblebee honk outside. "Coming!" She called, running down the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs was Sam, who was getting ready to go to college. In like… London or something. She didn't know. She didn't really care either. Their parents were going with him, so she was going to stay with 'Bee until they got back. Anyhow, she bumped into Sam, smiling at him. "Hey Sam, I'm sorry, but I gotta make this quick. Y'know. School and all that shit."
"Alex, watch your language. Just because we're not here doesn't mean you can go off saying willy nilly. But, anyway, love y' kiddo." Sam scoffed, hugging her and ruffling her hair. "I'll be back before you know it. Take care of 'Bee for me, alright?" Sam's little sister rolled her eyes. "Yeah, okay. Pretty sure 'Bee can take care of himself. Gotta go!"
"Love you mom, love you dad!" She called as she sprinted out the door. Bumblebee's door was open, and she practically leapt inside. "Go!" Alex told Bumblebee as soon as she got in. The Autobot scout shut the door and took off – well, inside the speed limit of course. Leaving her messenger bag on, the car buckled her in.
The ride would take a while. It gave her plenty of time to think. Bumblebee voiced his concern at her expression. "Everythin' okay, doll?" Came a texan voice on the radio. Being truthful, the young girl shook her head. "C-… Can you call Optimus…?" She asked quietly, looking out the window. "Affirmative!"
It took a few moments, but once the communications link had alerted Optimus that the call was from Bumblebee – for Alexandria, he immediately answered, despite being in combat. "Optimus?" She croaked. "Yes, youngling?" Optimus grunted. There was the sound of metal hitting metal. "I—If this is a bad time I—I can-" She said quickly, regretting calling.
"No - He-yagh! – If it's important I should - rrnagh! – know." Optimus replied huskily. "W—Well okay…" Alex swallowed, before frowning and closing her eyes. "I had the nightmare again." She explained. "Was anything different?" Optimus panted over the line as Bumblebee went around a turn. "Everything was clearer. I knew what was happening. And….. h-he was talking to me…" The girl choked. "It's alright. Megatron is -" Optimus paused, breaking into Cybertronian, before back to English. "Megatron is dead, youngling.
"Optimus – I - I don't know if he's like - I—In my mind or something – or—or- I—I don't know… I—I'm just scared… I wish you were here…" Alex sniffled. "As do I, youngling…" Optimus cooed. There was suddenly a scratchy voice in the backround. "The fallen… shall rise again…" ….. "Optimus? What—what does that mean? D—Does that mean Megatron's alive-?!" She yelled, her voice shaking. "No, no, youngling. Without the Allspark, there is no possible way Megatron could be alive."
Beep beep, beep beep. Another call. "Hold on, Optimus. Sam's calling. I—I'll talk to you later?" "If that is your wish, youngling." Optimus said. The tone of Optimus' voice implied he was smiling, and just the thought of her Oppi - no, it was Optimus now. She wasn't freakin' five. – smiling made her smile. "Bumblebee, you know what to do." Alexandria said. 'Click' and Optimus was gone. Another 'Click' and Sam was panicking. "Alex - I need you to do me a huge—huge freaking favor, o—okay?" Sam panted. "Okay, geez." Alexandria scoffed.
"Look, I—there was a piece of the Allspark left on my shirt from the day we killed Megatron - a—I need you to keep it safe, okay?" Alexandria gulped. The words piece of the Allspark left was enough to make her panic. "O—Okay- Okay Sam…. W-We're going home now…" As soon as she finished the sentence, 'Bee made a U-turn. "It's in a vial under your pillow, okay? I just… I gotta go." 'Click'. "Damnit Sam!" Alexandria growled. "Watch your language l'il missy." Bumblebee's radio went. Alex rolled her eyes.
\/\/\/\/
Alex's expression changed to pure shock to find half the house in ruins. It had been shot all over. Parked in the backyard (not that it was helping him to be discrete) was Ironhide. Alex gasped and unbuckled quickly, running out as soon as Bumblebee opened the door. She sprinted to Ironhide. "What happened?!" She yelled.
"The shard activated electronic devices in your kitchen. They needed to be exterminated." Ironhide rumbled. "Tell me you didn't shoot my room…." Alexandria panted, running a hand through her strawberry hair. "I didn't shoot your room." Ironhide rumbled again. Alex planted her hands on her hips, narrowing her blue eyes. She hadn't figured out why, but her mother said her eyes used to be green. "Are you lying?"
"…. No." Ironhide concluded. The thirteen year old sighed. "Thank god.." She mumbled, running inside to see the damage. Once in the kitchen, she rubbed a hand on her face. "Mom is gonna kill me…" She groaned, before making her way to her room to receive the shard. In the hall to her room was a mirror. As she passed the mirror, she saw a cut on her cheek. Her breath hitched, and she double-took. Nothing. Just her mind playing tricks on her… right?
Alex, starting to calm down again, reached under her pillow, feeling for the vial. When she felt the cold glass, she sighed and pulled her hand out. She didn't need to look at it. The girl sat on her bed and looked at the floor. Her eye caught the half-packed suitcase on the floor. She had assumed she was going to go with her brother and parents. But no. They had to leave her home. She hadn't gotten around to putting the suitcase away.
After a few moments to herself, the redhead stood and pushed the window open, leaning out. "Ironhide, you can get back to base. Everything's under control." Alex said to the black Topkick in the backyard. The truck revved in return, before driving off. "Bee, you can stay in the garage and recharge. I'll scream if I need you," She joked. Bumblebee noised an affirmative, before backing into the garage.
Alex bit her lip, drumming her fingers on her jeans. What to do now? She was far too late to get into class, so that wasn't an option. "Music?" She asked herself. "Hm. Alright, self. You've made a very persuasive discussion…" Alexandria scoffed to herself, standing and plugging her MP3 player into the speakers. The first few notes came on, and she knew precisely what song it was. She had to sing it. There was no not singing it. And so, she did.
"It started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope."
Bumblebee picked up noise coming from the girl's room. To be on the safe side, he listened in. The words were quite inspiring. And so he recorded Alex's singing.
"Which then turned into a, quiet thought, which then turned, into a quiet word. And then that grew louder and louder, 'till it was a battle cry! I'll come back. When you call me, no need to say goodbye." There was a pause, and the young girl smiled, closing her eyes. She knew the lyrics by heart. It was her number one song, her absolute favorite. "Just because everything's changing, doesn't mean it's ne… ver been this way before. All you can do is try to know who your friends are, as you head off to the war…"
Bumblebee was reminded of somebot who might enjoy hearing her sing this song. She was pretty good at it too. She was no pop star, but she wasn't an off-tune singer either. So, Bumblebee broadcasted to Optimus. Optimus was startled at the sudden broadcast, but it made his spark warm when he heard his precious Alex singing such an inspiring tune.
"Pick a star, on the dark, horizon, and follow the light…. You'll come back. When it's, over. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back. When it's over. No need to say goodbye…~" The singing was paused for the girl (and the two Autobots) to listen to the instrumental.
"Now we're back to the beginning. It's just a feeling, and no one knows yet. But just because they can't feel it too, doesn't mean, that you have to forget. Let your memories grow stronger and stronger, 'till there before your eyes. You'll come back, when they call you. No need to say goodbye. You'll come back. When they call you, no need to say goodbye….." Floated the young girl's voice. As Optimus drove back to the base, he felt… happier. "Thank you, Bumblebee. I will be sure to listen to the broadcast again." Optimus thanked over the communication link.
"Okay… What now?" Alexandria huffed, flopping on her bed.
