I just couldn't decide if the flow of this chapter is what I wanted it to be or not. Hence why it's taken so long to get it out. I've been working on it for a few weeks now….
In the end I realized that it was great the way it was.
So, yeah… here's the new chapter guys!
~.~ ~.~
Catherine stared at the Peterbuilt 379, and desperately wanted to die. This truck had met Ratchet on the way to wherever it was that they were going. At first it had been rather content to travel at the back of the line, behind Bumblebee. But then Ratchet had grumbled something about 'leaders needing to lead' and the truck had grudgingly taken the lead. Catherine had been informed that the truck was Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, by Jazz. And then Jazz had decided to tell her all about Optimus.
'So, let me get this straight… your leader did not want to be a leader but was chosen anyway by the 'council' to lead... and has done so ever since?'
That's right Cat…
'Couldn't he have just said 'no'… I understand that the idea that he didn't want to be the leader would make him a great leader… but he could have still refused, right?'
You see… The council acts on the will of Primus… so Op didn't have a choice.
'Who the hell is Primus?'
… Primus is our version of your 'God'.
'Ah, gotcha. So he was chosen by your deity, therefore couldn't refuse even though he wanted to.'
You got it Cat.
Catherine nodded absently. She was learning so much from just talking to Jazz, curiosity was now getting the best of her.
You know… if you want to learn about us I can show you instead of telling you.
Curiosity and excitement sparked in Catherine's mind and eyes. 'How?'
Just watch… I'll let you see some of my memories.
Catherine's eyes widened as she was shown images and feelings, thoughts and sounds. Overall it was the most amazing thing she had ever experienced. Buildings made of metal shot through her sight, she felt dwarfed, though she knew she was seeing it from Jazz's point of view.
'The buildings are so…'
Yeah, it was always like that, Cat, I was one of the shorter ones.
'Wow…'
Your planet is more alive though, there was nothing else but us on our planet, us and a few Cybercats.
'Cybercat?'
An image flashed in front of Catherine's eyes and they widened in awe. It looked like a deadly metal cat, but she could see the intelligence.
That one is Ravage… he works for the Decepticons.
Catherine nodded as images of the Decepticons flashed through her mind. It was exhilarating to learn this way.
"Catherine?" Ratchet questioned, stopping the flood of information.
"Yes Ratchet?"
The medic paused. "You were staring off into space and your eyes had glazed over. Are you alright?"
Go ahead and tell him Cat.
"Jazz was showing me what your planet looked like, Cybertron, right?" Catherine thanked Jazz silently after he supplied the planet's name.
"Ah, though I suppose he was showing Cybertron from before the war." Ratchet said absently.
Jazz showed her what the planet had looked like afterwards, and Catherine was filled with deep sorrow for a planet not her own. It was her sorrow, not caused by the sadness that Jazz felt. The bright silver metal and smooth glass that the planet had been was dingy and broken in these memories… there were also harsher feelings and sounds to come with them. Her own heart ached for the loss of such beauty.
'Why?'
Megatron wanted power, Cat… Jazz's voice was touched with sorrow and anger. He wanted that power so much that he was willing to ruin our planet for it.
'What did you do… before and during the war?'
Now Jazz shrunk to the back of her mind… he didn't want her to know.
'You don't have to tell me Jazz.' She quickly stated once she felt his reluctance. 'If it means that much to you, I won't push.'
Thank you, Cat… it's not that I don't want you to know… I'm just not sure how you would react to the knowledge.
'Then don't tell me Jazz.' Catherine's inner voice warmed, and she smiled outwardly. 'I think I want to get to know you just a bit better though… since we are going to be stuck together for who knows how long.'
Jazz's laughter surrounded the woman's thoughts and she found herself laughing with him… much to Ratchet's annoyance.
"This is the most frustrating thing I have ever put up with!" The medic finally snapped. "How in the pit am I supposed to tell if anything is wrong with either one of you if I can't talk to one of you without the other relaying the words for me?!"
Ask 'hatchet if 'Jack is on planet for me.
"Jazz would like to know if 'Jack is on the planet…"
Confused silence filled the air.
Slaggit… his name is Wheeljack… I need to remember you don't know the others.
"Wheeljack… he meant for me to ask about Wheeljack." Catherine sighed.
'Please remember that from now on Jazz….'
"We received a message that Wheeljack is going to be landing soon… Wheeljack and Perceptor both!" Ratchet suddenly sounded excited. "We might be able to find a way for Jazz to communicate with us without you having to relay the words Catherine!"
That was slightly creepy…
'What was Jazz?'
'Hatchet was excited… normally that doesn't happen unless he is talking about welding a mech to the ceiling.
'… Speaking from experience?'
Maybe…
Catherine grinned at his answer, and then started laughing almost uncontrollably when Jazz shared that particular memory. Which in turn caused Ratchet to ask why she was once again laughing, and then add his own commentary to the event; Catherine had not laughed this much in so long she thought her sides were going to burst.
After another rather quiet hour of driving, they arrived at what Catherine would have called an overprotected building if it wasn't for the fact that she was asleep. She had conked out about twenty minutes after the conversation that left her crying from laughter.
Therefore most of the ride had been very quiet. Ratchet would mutter to himself every now and then, but other than that… it was a very quiet ride.
"Catherine…"
The woman didn't move. According to the scans that Ratchet was doing, she was most definitely asleep.
"Catherine…" Ratchet was trying to be gentle about it, but she needed to wake up now. "Catherine, you need to wake up."
She muttered something that sounded like 'five more minutes' and Ratchet gave an annoyed sigh.
Hey Cat! Rise and shine, we've got things to do!
Jazz bellowing in Catherine's head made the woman jolt upright and look around in a panic. She sat there practically gasping for breath before a scowl covered her face and she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Jazz, I swear to god I will end you if you ever do that again." The red haired woman growled.
"What did he do?"
To her credit, Catherine only glanced around in a renewed panic before fixing the radio with a glare after she had calmed herself down again.
"Can we please not play 'Scare Catherine' just after I wake up? It throws me off." She replied smoothly. "And he shouted at me to wake up."
Ratchet was quiet for several seconds.
"I apologize for startling you, but you did indeed need to wake up. You did not respond when I tried, so I am going to assume that Jazz woke you up for me." The medic sighed with annoyance plain in his voice.
We're here Cat.
'Where is here Jazz?' Catherine closed her eyes and grimaced, now she had a headache.
Autobot basecamp so to speak. Get ready for more questions and not being able to leave until Ratchet says you can.
'Autobot basecamp? What kind of a group are you?'
Military… kinda forced military for most of us actually.
'Forced military.'
Civil war, where the other side was going to try and wipe out the rest of them even though they hadnt done anything to them.
'The Decepticons?'
Yeah, they wanted to wipe out the Autobots no matter what.
Catherine didn't know what to say, she thought it was horrible. But there were no words to explain how bad she felt for them. She didn't pity them, she just… could empathize somewhat.
Ratchet sighed as they passed through about ten security points surrounded by armed men with guns and a high security fence.
"What, do they think that the… Decepticons will take one of your forms and hold a human hostage just to get in?" Catherine asked after the last checkpoint. "From what I've heard that's just not their style."
"You sound like Jazz." Ratchet groused.
Catherine shrugged and studied the buildings that they were approaching. There was a black Ford Topkick approaching them with a silver Corvette following close behind, and that wasn't even the best part. No, neither vehicle had a driver.
"Ironhide and Sideswipe. Optimus told them to wait at the hangar… apparently they didn't want to." Ratchet stated emotionlessly. "Fragging pains in the aft."
Don't mind him, they probably just wanted to see if Optimus was telling the truth.
'Figures.'
Come on 'Cat… it's not that bad.
'You aren't the one that they are suspicious of.'
No, but I have been there before 'Cat.
'What?'
That's a story for another time 'Cat, time to talk.
'Talk? Talk to who about what?'
"Catherine, you'll need to step out. I have to transform." Ratchet stated with an edge of irritation to his voice.
The woman stared at the dash before realizing that she had been talking to Jazz for several minutes and that they had stopped in front of one of the buildings already.
"Oh… ehm, sorry. Getting out now." She fumbled for words while silently cursing Jazz for distracting her.
She hopped out of Ratchet and took several steps back as he transformed and she was looking up at a being that was two stories tall. The sound of a second and a third transformation brought Catherine's attention to a black and silver mech who were walking up behind her at the moment.
That's just Ironhide and Sideswipe.
'Just Ironhide and Sideswipe… they are tall as hell and terrifying.' Catherine replied quickly.
"So this is the human woman?" The black one stated. "She doesn't look like much."
"Hey now!" Catherine snapped, her patience was wearing thin. "I am standing right here and have no idea what in the hell is going on! So please cut me a bit of slack mister tall, dark, and imposing!"
Everything froze as Catherine's words sunk in. Even she seemed to be mortified by her outburst.
"I like her, she's got spunk." The one that Catherine had snapped at finally chuckled.
"Yeah, mister tall, dark, and imposing." The silver one grinned. "I'm Sideswipe, that's Ironhide. Optimus said your name was Catherine?"
"Yeah, it is. I don't know what in the hell just happened but I would appreciate if nobody tried to scare me for at least a week. Having a voice appear in your head is bad enough without having to find out a government secret that includes giant mechs and military bases to go with it. Please, for the love of god, lay off." Catherine snapped.
Tell 'swipe that I agree with everything I just said… and call him 'swipe just so he knows it's me.
'What in the hell is wrong with you people!? 'Swipe? Really?'
Just do it Catherine.
'Fine.'
"Jazz said that you need to back off a bit… 'Swipe. He agrees that I've been through enough for now."
'Happy now?'
Thank you 'Cat.
"Alright, I'll leave her alone." Sideswipe laughed. "Good to know you're still alive, Jazz. I've been hoping my commander was still around."
Tell him to shove it and that when I get back to my body I am going to kick his aft.
"He says shove it and that when he gets his body back he's going to kick your… aft?"
That sent Sideswipe into a fit of laughter, which caused Catherine to roll her eyes and turn back to Ratchet. Only to be met with yet another, much taller mech that made her feel like an ant.
"I am Optimus Prime."
"I can see why you're the leader of the bunch." Catherine stated, her brain-to-mouth filter failing her at that exact moment.
Meaning that she was suddenly ridiculously embarrassed and fumbling for words again.
"I mean… uhm… yeah. Hi, I'm Catherine McFaye."
Optimus only looked bemused at her sudden inability to form a coherent sentence, and nodded to her.
"Ratchet has informed me that you have a rather interesting predicament."
"Interesting is one word for it." Catherine muttered. "If you call having the life-force of another being trapped inside of your body and having him pretty much sharing your mind interesting."
Optimus chuckled, and then kneeled down to offer her his hand.
"I will not harm you, nor will any of my mechs." He stated soothingly. "I swear that you are safe here."
Catherine stared at Optimus and then glanced at his hand before sighing and gently sitting in it. She was by no means calmed down at all, but there wasn't much else she could do and Optimus seemed to be safer than the rest. So that's the option she went with.
"Can someone please just explain what is going on here and what it has to do with me?" Catherine asked in a somewhat pitiful voice, and then glared at her stomach when it growled. "And is there anything I can eat… I'm starving."
"I am sure we can find something for you." Optimus chuckled. "Ironhide, can you contact Major Lennox and have him come to the medical bay with some food for Catherine?"
"Right away Optimus." Ironhide saluted and walked away.
"Sideswipe, I need you to patrol the perimeter. Make sure that we were not followed."
"Sir!" Sideswipe saluted, transformed, and sped away.
Catherine watched as both mechs departed, and then looked up at Optimus himself.
"I am going to assume that Jazz is able to hear what is said?"
"Yeah, his constant commentary can be distracting." Catherine grinned.
I'm not that bad 'Cat.
'Trying to concentrate Jazz.'
"It is good to know that he survived, though the method of survival is not one we would have foreseen."
Who would have foreseen a spark being able to enter a human body? Seriously Op, quit blaming yourself.
"Open quote 'who would have foreseen a spark being able to enter a human body? Seriously Op, quit blaming yourself' end quote." Catherine stated with the same amount of irritation in her voice that Jazz had used.
"It is good to know that you survived, Jazz." Optimus repeated with a smile.
Catherine rolled her eyes and surveyed the building that Optimus had carried her into. It was lined with very large beds along one wall while the other wall had cabinets large enough for the mechs to use.
"I take it this is the medical bay?" She stated cautiously.
"Yes, do not worry. Ratchet only wishes to run a few scans to make sure that there are not adverse side effects of having a spark within you." Optimus stated simply.
"So… no needles or poking or prodding?" Catherine asked hopefully.
"No, there will be none of those." The large mech sighed.
The woman visibly relaxed and a smile lit up her features. Ratchet, who had entered the room behind Optimus, chuckled to himself and motioned for Optimus to place Catherine on the counter.
"You will feel as if you are underwater with each scan, don't be alarmed. It will only last until the scan is finished and then the feeling will be gone." The medic explained. "Once I have finished the scans I'll have Bumblebee take you to Major Lennnox's office where there is nourishment waiting for you. I believe he said that he has a cheeseburger and fries waiting for you."
"I'll do whatever you need me to do to make this go faster." Catherine quickly stated, she was hungry and her mouth had started watering at the mention of a cheeseburger.
"You only need to stand still." Ratchet grinned. "It'll take a few minutes and then you'll be on your way to food."
"You know the way to a girls heart Ratchet." Catherine laughed playfully, and then stood very still as Ratchet began to run his scans.
After ten minutes and countless scans, Catherine was being carried out of the medical bay by Bumblebee. Her mood had improved greatly just knowing that Jazz's spark being inside of her didn't cause her any harm at all. That and she knew that she was going to be getting food now. She hadn't eaten at all, and it was approximately five o'clock in the afternoon. She was hungry.
"So… is Lennox nice?" She finally had to ask.
Bumblebee nodded in confirmation before placing her on a walkway just in front of a door.
"In there?" Catherine motioned to the door.
"Yes, don't worry. He won't try to scare you." Bumblebee replied in his own voice.
"Should you really be using your voice?" Catherine asked with true concern. "I mean… doesn't it hurt you to talk?"
"It does, but if I don't speak with my own voice my voice modulator will not get any better." Bumblebee sighed. "Just don't tell Ratchet please."
"It's our little secret." Catherine winked. "See you around."
Bumblebee grinned, nodded, and walked away.
You're making friends. Jazz stated cheerfully.
'I figured that I'm going to be stuck here, so why not?'
That's a good attitude to have about it. And the four mechs to definitely make your friends are already there so you're doing good.
'Which four?'
Optimus, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Bumblebee.
'Gotcha, food and most likely interrogation time.' Catherine laughed back, she squared her shoulders and placed a grin on her face before knocking on the door in front of her.
"Come in!"
Catherine took a deep breath and opened the door. She paused long enough to take in her surroundings before studying the man sitting behind the desk. He was slightly taller than her with brown hair and a welcoming smile.
"You're Catherine McFaye right?" He stated after glancing at a piece of paper in front of him.
"Yep, I take it that the file in front of you is mine?" She grinned and took a seat in front of the desk like he had motioned for her to do.
"Yes. You were at Mission City?" Lennox placed a fast food bag in front of her and sat back.
"That is true." Catherine attacked the bag with the manners of a tiger attacking a gazelle.
"And… you have Jazz's spark inside of you?" Lennox was watching her with wide eyes.
"Yep, trust me, it threw me for a loop too." Catherine took a messy bite of her burger.
"Okay, do you have any combat training?"
"Two years of karate." She didn't care about manners at that moment. She was hungry.
"That's better than I thought. Any weapons training?" Lennox sighed, though there was a grin starting to form on his face.
"I went to the range with my dad a couple of times. I can hit a bulls eye from 40 yards and can switch clips faster than most of the guys on the force in Tranquility." Catherine finished off her fries and sat back.
"And you have a healthy appetite. How long did it take you to finish off that burger?"
"Five minutes." Catherine grinned at him. "Including the time it took me to eat the fries. I haven't eaten since yesterday."
"Nice." Lennox sat back with a full blown smile. "So you were at Mission City when the shit hit the fan, somehow got the spark of an Autobot stuck inside of you, and have plenty of weapons training?"
"That about sums me up."
"How old are you exactly?"
"Twenty, I missed a year of school because of the Mission City accident." Now Catherine began to fidget uncomfortably.
Lennox was quiet for several seconds before he sighed and nodded. "I have a feeling you know that we are going to be keeping you here on base. If you want we can continue with your schooling, but you seem intelligent enough for us to go ahead and get you your high school degree and then we can set up online college courses for you to take. All expenses paid if you want, and we can further any training you might need. Our goal is to keep you safe."
"You mean keep Jazz safe." Catherine scowled.
"No, I mean keep you safe." Lennox stated seriously. "You are now considered one of the human contacts. I hope you don't mind if we assign you a guardian as well."
Catherine sat very still before nodding slowly.
"One of the human contacts?" She finally ventured.
"Yeah, one of us humans that know about the Autobots. The Decepticons would attack you on sight, whether you have Jazz's spark in you or not." Lennox leaned forward. "You're not military, but you know about them. Not only that but you've kept their secret since you found out about them. You have, inadvertently, protected them. Therefore you are a human contact and the Decepticons will do their best to either capture you for information or kill you. That's why we are worried about keeping you safe. Yeah, you have the spark of an Autobot inside of you, but that doesn't really matter to us. Whether you have that inside of you or not doesn't count, you are one of us now. And we are going to make sure that you are safe."
They do care that I'm alive. But the point he's trying to make is that your life counts just as much if not more than mine. Jazz clarified for Catherine. You are more important than you think. Any human can be sworn to secrecy, but you didn't need to do that to keep the secret safe. You did so out of your own free will, and that means more to them than you know.
Catherine was numb, she didn't think that her choice to not tell anyone had really been that big of a deal. Who would have believed her? But apparently that did matter.
"Thank you Major." She finally muttered.
"Call me Will, I'll have Sideswipe take you to your room. If you want we can get your stuff from your house for you."
"You mean the foster home." Catherine stated quietly. "My stuff is at the foster home, I have no family members."
Lennox froze and stared at her, before nodding slowly. "Yeah… we'll take care of all the legal stuff for you. Okay?"
"Thank you." Catherine smiled warmly, a true smile that even reflected in her eyes. "Thank you Will."
"No problem. Now you probably need some rest." Lennox returned her smile. "You've had a long day."
"Yeah." Catherine laughed, then stood up and left the room. She stood outside on the walkway for a few seconds before letting her smile drop and her chin rest on her chest.
Catherine?
'I'm fine Jazz. Just… overwhelmed.' Catherine blinked back the tears in her eyes. 'I didn't want to remind myself about how I don't have parents or family members.'
Hey, you got me.
Catherine laughed, though there were now tears trailing down her face.
'I'm sorry Jazz… I just… I miss them, I miss my parents.'
Everyone misses their lost loved ones, 'Cat. But trust me, you've just gained too many more to count.
'Thank you.' Catherine looked up at the sky with a true smile. 'Seriously, thank you Jazz.'
No problem 'Cat.
Catherine shook her head and stared out at the base that had somehow become her home. She decided that she could learn to like it. Who knew, maybe Jazz was right.
Either way, it felt like she had finally found where she could fit in.
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Thoughts? Ideas? Feelings? Review please guys! Feedback keeps me going! XD
Until all are one,
Chistarpax
