Chapter 1: A New Start.
You would figure on a normal day in Las Vegas, Nevada they would have noticed the cop car sigh and relax on all four of its wheels. Sitting outside the coffee shop where the girl held her normal job, he watched her for the seventh night in a row. It seemed just like a normal day (no one really cared) but all this cop car was focusing on was this girl, the subject of his mission, but mainly his real entertainment. She was not necessarily a threat for the Decepticons or Autobots, but she did have a rare ability that he had not seen in any other humans. When Barricade noticed this girl, her ability and the potential she possessed, Barricade had spent the last several days doing just that. This girl was constantly harassed by customers that found her a tad bit too friendly. The manager would finally catch on and send the customers out of the store. This girl was only 5'9'', she looked to be an average weight for a woman. As she walked around more in the shop most people would suspect her to be 19 or just a teen, but she was only 21.
Barricade did notice a trend with the harassers; they were all human males and in their late teens to twenties. On some occasions he would conjure up his ''human form'' and walk into the coffee shop to scare the boys, which the girl accepted gratefully and offered him anything on the menu for free. He would politely refuse, (since he did not not need human food or drinks to sustain his life.) and leave the coffee shop for the night. It was near the end of her shift for the night and a group of the regular harassers was just walking into the coffee shop for the night. He sat inside his original form, with his "human form" activated, to watch them and take action if necessary; however the manager saw them first and removed them from the building. He said something to the girl and she smiled, shaking her head. Barricade watched as she looked down at the watch she was wearing and walked in the back, beginning to take off her pale pink apron. His internal sensor said it was 12:01 am. He searched around the area and didn't see the harassers, but had a feeling they would be waiting for her. Barricade took notice as the bells on the door rang signifying she was walking out the door.
"Really Mac," she said halfway out the door, "I'll be fine. Look, if you need I'll message you once I'm home, okay?" With a gentle smile she walked out the door and began walking her mile walk journey to her house. With her bag on her shoulder she walked quietly as if she had once been trained for some occasions such as these. Suddenly before she went past the alleyway she paused. Barricade had heard the clang too. Using his "human form" he drove over to where she was paused and rolled down the window. However, he was not quick enough, for once he was there, she had started walking again and just as soon as she took her first step she was pulled into the alleyway. Turning on his sirens, Barricade whipped around the corner to see someone already was holding her with a knife to her throat demanding money. Until the criminal realized he was hearing a siren. He ran, throwing the girl onto the ground first. Barricade used his ''human form'' to step out of the car. She looked up at the young dark haired officer and recognized him immediately. He grabbed her arm and lifted her with a gentle grip. Even in his ''human form'' Barricade now knew he had to be careful with the girl. He knew if he used too much force, he could scare her. He did not want that in the least.
"Are you okay?" he asked using a soft, but yet stern baritone voice he had found on the internet. Her face momentarily flushed and Barricade wondered why her face did such a thing, but he figured to look into it later.
"I am, thank you. If you weren't here, I could have sworn you could have been looking at a dead body" She mustered a small smile, but Barricade raised an eye-brow at what she just said. Soon realizing the facts could have been true, he gave a small smile back. She looked at the side of his car. "...To punish and Enslave?" She looked at him.
"It's just a little saying I always used." He spoke softly, she smiled and nodded a little bit. "...I'm Officer Cadence," he said putting his hand out to her, but the smile remained. He had read from several sources that in America it was customary to shake hands when first meeting. "Call me Cade, though."
"Cade, thank you for helping me again; that's the second time you have helped me avoid those nasty people. My name is Danielle" she said shaking his hand. The moment their hands touched, Barricade's ''human form'' had a feeling to almost disappear. It took a lot of energy to keep it up.
"Danielle," he said smiling; he gave a soft sigh and released her hand. He didn't want to ask her this next question anymore, but under the charade of the cop knew he had to. "Would you like a ride home?"
"You don't have to if you're on the job..." she said sheepishly...looking at his uniform
"I insist, besides I just got off my shift, so I guess I'm free." he said keeping the smile on his face.
"Are you sure?..." she asked and he nodded. He was actually slightly hoping that she would accept the offer or at least question it once again."...Okay," she said and he led her back to the car opening his door for her. She softly sat in. At the slight pressure of her presence in the car, it took a lot for him not to shake or move. After all he didn't want to scare this human. Shutting his door he jogged over to the driver's side, opened the door, moved his laptop to the side and slid in. Putting the car into reverse he pulled back out onto the street.
"What is your address?" he asked even though he was already aware of where she had lived. He didn't want to make anything seem weird.
"1283 Martin Ave. It's a white house with homemade shudders on it. You can't really miss it." she said. Barricade hated humans, as a whole but also as a Decepticon. Under the charade of a police officer he had transported several humans before; none of those experiences had been pleasant. Most would have been knocked out or would have had a broken limb, none of which he cared for. However this girl riding in his passenger seat created heat in his core and felt the cables near his spark pull. It was about that time that Barricade realized that he was going a bit too fast and slowed down, taking a right on the street and slowly drove up the avenue. "Right here," she said and he stopped outside the house, right near a 2010 Mustang, he smiled mentally seeing the car. He parked the car near the other Mustang and sat there.
"Thank you again," she said with a small smile on her face, softly looking over to him. "I hope I'll see you again soon." She began to shift around looking for her bags, once she had them; Barricade didn't want to have her leave and be alone. He turned and placed a hand over her's. He felt her heart rate rise just a little bit.
"I was just wondering why you don't ever file a police report on that man. I would have if I was in your position." he said his voice serious and her heartbeat slowing back to its regular pace.
"I don't know why, I guess I haven't seen a real threat yet. But after what just happened you know I will." she said finally, shifting to face him and he couldn't contain the shiver she caused so the whole car shake. She gasped a bit and sat back in the seat a bit, shifting against the leather seat.
"What was that?" she asked nervously.
"A tremor maybe." he said shifting to look out the window. This human was destroying his harsh defenses and had no idea. He had known she had abilities but this was unexpected. He shifted back to face her and leaned over to her and rested his hand on her cheek.
"Get some sleep, you need it." he whispered and she looked into his eyes, then a quizzical look appeared on her face.
"Cade," she said so silent it was barely audible.
"Hmm?" he said closing his eyes at her voice. They quickly opened when her hand touched his face, gently stroking his hair on his face, he looked like he had shaved but she knew that it was growing back.
"Why don't you come inside for some tea? I could use some company" she asked so innocently he couldn't help but smile at this strange femme. Human femme. The doors unlocked and she opened the door. Stepping out the door she turned back to face him.
"Alright" He smirked at her briefly and shut his form down and opened his door, stepping out. He walked over to her. Her face had flushed again once he steped up to her.
"Ok. Well come on in." she said with an embarrassed smile and walking to the house. He followed her staying only a few steps behind, but once she stopped to look around the trellis. He stopped as well and looked; she saw that her one window was broken. A loud noise came from inside the house and she backed up a little bit, Barricade had his right hand out for her, while his other was on his gun.
"Were you expecting anyone to be home?" He asked with a worried tone. She huddled behind him.
"No, I wasn't. I live alone." She looked up at him, he looked back at her and nodded.
"Alright. Stay here." He spoke quickly and started for the broken window. Once he arrived at the window, he heard a shuffling noise come from inside. He cleared his throat a little bit, and looked around before grabbing a hold of the frame of the window. Quickly he hopped up and slipped inside the house. Once he was in, he saw that she was robbed and stood. " Looks like there was something this human wanted...but..what.." he thought to himself. After seeing many boxes and glass broken, he noted that a lot of her jewels were taken along with what seemed to be a cross. He walked around, gun drawn and walked upstairs to where the noises were coming from. Once he entered the master bedroom he saw the man who had broken in. "Alright, hands where I can see them" the man didn't respond but tossed one of the many jewelry boxes at him and ran. Barricade chased him right downstairs. He almost had him when he tripped over a wire that was hooked up to the stereo system. The man escaped, Barricade and ran down the street, Barricade stood and walked out the front door cursing himself mentally. Danielle ran up to him and looked at him.
"What happened?" She asked a bit worried for him. He merely looked at her with a small frown. Then sighed.
"He got away..." He looked down and shook his head. " ...You sure you still want to stay here, after what just happened? You can stay with me. I have an extra room back at my home." He asked looking at her, not sure whether or not she would accept.
" I'm sure. After all, This isn't the first time this happened to me." She said with a small frown on her face. Then she walked into the home and looked at the damage. Barricade walked in behind her and sighed.
"Well. Let me help you clean up." He offered, she turned around and nodded to him.
"Alright." She smiled back at him, turned and set her bag down on the "Love-seat" and started to clean. Barricade helped her, noticing she had a small collection of crimson roses. " Hehe, looks like this human femme has more unexpected things to her than what I anticipated." He thought to himself.
After a few hours, they both got the house cleaned. Danielle asked if he wouldn't mind if he stayed a few extra hours, and despite his Decepticon ways to hate humans. He accepted. They both rested on the couch sipping a glass of tea. Barricade had called in the robbery and told the supervisor that he would investigate into it. Once a few moments passed, Barricade wondered more about this human femme. But snapped back into reality when she shifted a bit, brushing his leg with her's.
"...I should get going, you have a long shift again I presume." He said, after finishing his tea. Soon looking over to her.
" Yea, I do. Maybe you and I could meet up, whenever you have off." She said, looking over at him giving him a soft smile.
" Sure..." He stood, smiling. Danielle stood up after he did, and walked him to the door. "...Get some rest, Danielle, you need it." He smiled placing a large hand on her shoulder. Her face flushed again and she nodded.
" You to Cade. Sleep well." She said smiling and patted his hand, it took a lot for him not to vanish right then and there. With a smile he left, Danielle remained at the door, and waved to him as he left.
" Hmmm...I wonder" He thought to himself soon deactivating his "human form". Once he was clear of all human civilization, he arrived on a hill and shifted to his real form. Standing at a towering 18 foot tall, and looked up at the moon. He shuddered at the emptiness inside him, realizing that the human femme, somehow made him change a little bit. " ...Slag, primus curse me now. That human did something to me. Tch, What am I saying, I'm a Decepticon for pitsake! Ugh...Never again will I do that, but...but she did do something to me no femme has..." He talked out softly in his native tongue. He sat down and leaned against a nearby tree and shifted a sigh through his air vents. He sat there for the rest of the night wondering what this human has done to him.
Danielle had slept well that night dreaming of Officer Cadence and his warm face and deep, soothing voice. Even in her dreams, though she could not avoid his lingering stare and his muddy reddish brown eyes. She felt safe around him, she knew it was odd for her to even dream of this type of thing.
But what Danielle doesn't know about Barricade is what he really is. After all, most things are meant to be seen when the time is right. Soon her life and Barricade's lives will change, no matter how scary or weird it is. Their worlds will collide and change drastically, but that's meant for a different time.
~~~To be continued...~~~