We came in spastic
Like tame-less horses
We left in plastic
As numbered corpses
"Can you… Katie, can you please skip to another part?" Katie looked down at the dashboard, and sensing her friend's distress, obeyed.
We had no cameras
To shoot the landscape
We passed the hash pipe
And played our Doors tapes
And it was dark
So dark at night
And we held on to each other
Like brother to brother
We promised our mothers we'd write
And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together.
Jazz moaned and Katie turned off the music, pulling over as she did so. She bit her lip then changed the songs.
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild, wild heart
I know that you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take it anymore
'I'm sorry.' She typed into the laptop, sitting quietly in the seat.
"It's okay," Jazz murmured, starting up his engine once more. "Let's go."
'Where?' she typed as Jazz pulled on to the highway.
"You'll see."
-
Katie didn't complain as he took over, nor when he drove out of town to the middle of nowhere. She occupied herself with taking pictures of the landscape, looking at the blurry pictures and saving those she liked. Eventually Jazz slowed down and she looked up to find that they were coming toward what looked like a military checkpoint.
She packed away her camera and was digging for her license and reaching for her vehicle registration when the hand of Jazz's hologram caught hers. "Don't. Tell them that I'm an Autobot and just give them your ID." He slowed to a stop and faded away as two armed army men walked out in the baking heat towards her.
When he pulled to a stop, she opened the door and carrying her stuff, climbed out. "Stay where you are, ma'am. May I see your license and registration, please?"
Wordlessly, Katie juggled her stuff and handed over her ID as Jazz had told her to. She took a few steps away from Jazz and placed her laptop (thankfully in its case) on the ground with her ipod and opened her purse, reaching for her notebook and pen.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but this is private military property and I need to see your registration." The lighter-skinned one said, trying to look intimidating and succeeding to some degree. Ignoring him, Katie began to write.
'My name is Katie, and I was asked to come here. Rather, I was driven here. My car is an Autobot and his name is Jazz. I'm not sure why we're here, but he told me to tell you about him and so I am.' She extended the notebook to him and the army man tightened his grip on his rifle, obviously irritated.
"Miss, please go in your car and leave. This is private property." The darker man said, hefting his rifle. The silver Solstice's engine growled and they jumped.
Katie brought her notebook back and wrote something else in big, bold letters: 'I'M MUTE'. She extended it, gesturing at the bold lettering that spanned across half of the page.
The army man didn't even glance at it. "Miss, this is your last warning." Trying to be intimidating and scare her, they cocked their rifles.
The engine roared this time and a deep voice echoed over to them. "Stop being dumb asses and read the damn notebook."
This time Katie shoved it into the chest of the army man in front of her and he read it. He looked at the car. "Please come out of the car with your hands in the air or we will shoot." Katie squeaked when they pointed their rifles at the car, putting her hands to her mouth.
The tires turned to "face" her like it had a year ago. "Don't worry, Katie. They can't hurt me; they don't have saber rounds in those guns." With that, he transformed and loomed over the two guards who immediately dropped their guns. "My name is Jazz and I'm an Autobot. Will you let us through now?"
"Jazz?" Katie turned to see a yellow mech slightly smaller than him standing near the gates, a thoroughly surprised look on his face. "Is that you?"
Jazz turned and looked at him for a moment, hesitating. "Yes. It's me."
He leapt forward, steps shaking the earth and embraced Jazz tightly.
-
Katie smiled sadly, watching as her friend talked with his old comrades. His stiffness had disappeared, and he was more at ease with them. He was now recounting one of their more amusing adventures, involving the police, fire department, a bunch of ambulances, a few helicopters, and some paint.
No one noticed her as she packed up her things up – not even the other humans called Sam and Mikaela. She swung her laptop case on her back and her purse over her shoulders before casting a last glance at the Autobots. She left her camera for Jazz with a small note and left.
No one noticed her leave, save for the guards at the gate. She handed them each a note and walked out into the desert. When she was far enough away, she turned on her ipod and hummed to the music.
She follows the path of least resistance
She doesn't care to see the mountain top
She twists and turns with no regard to distance
She never comes to a stop
And she rolls, she's a river
Where she goes, time will tell
Heaven knows, he can't go with her
And she rolls, all by herself
All by herself
She paused slightly, watching as a green Hummer drove down the road toward her. She stepped off the road, and slowed when the Hummer slid to a gentle stop just in front of her. The driver poked his head out and cautiously, Katie stepped closer. She stopped when she noticed the red insignia – which Sam had told her showed that they were Autobots – and looked up to meet the eyes of the "driver"
Katie slung her earphones around her neck and pulled out her notebook and pen. She scribbled that she was mute and showed it to the "driver" who nodded. She put the notebook back in her bag along with her pen, then faced the Hummer. 'You must be Ratchet. They're expecting you back at the base.' Katie signed to his obvious surprise. She smiled slightly, hoping that it looked more sincere than sad. 'There's someone who wants to see you; Mikaela was saying that you were rather sad about him. You'd better hurry.'
"Wait," he called when Katie started to walk away. "Can I give you a ride somewhere? It's not safe for a human to be walking around in the desert alone."
Katie smiled. 'No, I'm fine but thank you for the generous offer. Everyone told me that no one comes down this road, so I'll be fine, and I have a while of daylight left. I should make it back to town before nightfall if I walk fast. Go back to the base; I'll be fine.'
With that, she walked away. She only put her ear phones back on when she heard his engine rev then die down as he drove away.
It's been a long road
Getting 'from there to here
It's been a long time
But my time is finally here
And I can feel the change in me right now
Nothing's in my way
And they're not gonna hold me down no more
No they're not gonna hold me down
Cause I've got faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of the soul
No one's gonna bend nor break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith
I've got faith
Faith of the heart
Katie walked on at a steady pace, resting often so as to not get heatstroke. So lost in her music, she didn't notice the yellow and black Camaro until it pulled in front of her and stopped. Frowning, she followed suit and watched as it backed up to "face" her.
"There you are!" he said without preamble, and Katie realized that it was the mech called Bumblebee. "Jazz has been throwing tantrums 'cause he can't find you!"
'Really?' she signed back and Bumblebee revved his engine in irritation.
"He nearly strangled Ratchet for not bringing you back and stepped on Lennox and Epps for letting you wander in the desert," Katie assumed Lennox and Epps were the guards outside. "So come on. Get in."
Katie stood there for a moment as Bumblebee opened his doors for her. It worried her slightly that Jazz was acting up like that, but he had done the same to her when they had first met. 'No.' she signed back.
Bumblebee's engine revved angrily. "Why not?" he asked with a resigned sigh.
'He's happier when he's back with you guys.' She explained. 'I want him to be happy more than I want myself to be happy, and if making him happy means leaving him like this, then so be it.'
Bumblebee was quiet for a few minutes. "You really care about him, don't you?"
'He's the best friend I've had in my entire life, and the only creature – human or otherwise – that cared about if I was dead or alive, or even if I was feeling okay. I owe him a great deal.'
"By breaking his spark like this? I doubt it." Bumblebee snapped back
'I'm not breaking his spark. If anyone's going to be hurting from this, it's going to be me.' Katie could feel the raw tears gathering behind her eyes. 'Just leave be me.'
Katie started to walk around the yellow and black car, only to be stopped when it backed up and placed itself in her way. "No. Jazz is livid, and won't calm down. He's already tried to get out of the base to come and get you. Just get in so I can take you back so Jazz won't have to be sedated."
Katie reached down and picked up a rock the side of her fist. She started to walk away and once more, Bumblebee backed up until he was stoutly in front of her. Gripping the stone tightly and feeling the sharp edges dig into her hand she flung it with all her might at his windshield. 'Just go away and leave me alone.' With that, she stalked past him. This time he didn't follow; rather he drove sullenly back to the base.
I catch the glimmer of your face across the sky
I watch the setting sun and I begin to cry
Because I miss you, my Hawaii
I rest my head upon the sands of Waikiki
I close my eyes and hear you calling me
How I miss you, my Hawaii
Katie sighed, stopping to rest at a shady rock formation, listening to the familiar song. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and rested.
--
Songs used in order:
"Goodnight Saigon" by Billy Joel (first two)
"Crash and Burn" by Savage Garden
"The River and the Highway" by Pam Tillis
"Faith of the Heart" by Rod Stewart
"I Miss You, My Hawaii" by Na Leo Pilimehana