The Blackbirds of My Remains

**Almost Red Handed**

"Hey, did you hear that?" a light-skinned soldier asked as he heard the distinct sound of metal groaning. He along with several others had been stationed in front of the barricade, just in case a wondering bystander decided they were curious. It had been a while since the battle had occurred, by nonetheless tensions were still high.

"Dude, it was probably just a building settling or something." a darker skinned soldier answer. He too heard the noise but stood firm to his initial statement. Regardless of the fact that it seemed the war was over, wariness was still hidden in all of them.

Optimus as well as his comrades had heard the noise as well, but with there scanners on high alert for anything and seeing as there was nothing, the sound could be exactly what the soldier claimed it to be -a settling building. However, Bumblebee and Sideswipe were a bit hesitant to dismiss the noise. Decepticons were stubborn.

"You want us to go check it out, sir?" Sideswipe asked over a private intercom link.

"No, I do not believe it is anything to worry about at this time. However, stay alert and keep in touch with the rest of the Autobots as need be." Was all his commanding officer replied. With this Sideswipe turned to Bumblebee and shook his head, the yellow meche nodded in return.

Soon after Megaton's defeat, the teams that had made it out alive with their men, were rounded up. Search parties were soon organized and an Autobot assigned to each one. More volunteers would be in the area tomorrow, but everyone was itching to do something. Life could be out there in the ruble of a collapsed building, with wound that could be treated, but too far to reach.

Optimus continued to stare out into the black nothingness that surround them. His mind wondered to the point some years ago that on this same soil similar events happened, only under different circumstances. Upon recalling the event he was again amazed at the capacity of human beings. Their ability, that under the circumstances of a common enemy, could force a bond so fierce as to defeat an enemy that they themselves could not alone. Their determination to survive and retaliate against a foe that threatened their very existence, their ability to stand in the wake of death's presence, and to except its embrace while standing on two feet.

He was soon back in the present, and listened as the CMO venting harshly, grumbling something to himself. A sadness entered his system as he realized his optics drifted away from medical officer in search for his battle hardened friend dawning black armor. Venting himself, Optimus covered his face with his good hand, feeling defeated once more.

I groaned to myself as I looked around us for some sort of landmark, something, that would indicate where they were. We had made it over the river and initially I knew where the three where but, now, not so much. Taking a deep breath I concentrated on seeking out there essences. I soon felt my mind projecting forward looking through every twist and turn of the city. Pausing for a moment when Wheelie and Brains were located, I took in their surrounding landmarks, then moved forward again. Wheeljack was a bit further away from the other two.

Sighing, with Fireblade in tow, we re-traced our steps back towards the river. Walking along the river drove us deeper into the darkness that engulfed the city. It was almost suffocating, drenching the night in a new found misery that the world had not seen. A scuffling that sound like metal against metal snapped me out of my thoughts.

Carefully, I picked my way down into the river where a Decepticon ship lay. Twisted metal stuck up out of the wreckage, the water lapped the edges of the ship as I walked towards the opening that was hidden. The noises grew louder as we walked closer to the two trapped beneath. We entered the space below, our footsteps echoed loudly within the space, Decepticon skeleton were scattered across the ship. A muted noise brought my attention towards a metal plate that covered the floor.

"Hey! Is somebody out there!? Can anybody hear me?!" a small muffled voice pleaded. Fireblade, having pinpointed the sound leaped over to a large metal panel and began to lift it. The two Autobots bolted out of the confined space they were in.

"Boy, are we glad to see you guys!" the small child's toy said in a Brooklyn accent.

"I thought we were going to be in there forever!" Brains agreed.

"Wait, now who are you guys?" Wheelie asked.

I smiled a bit and knelt down to them. "A friend, there's no need to worry."

I wasn't surprised when Wheelie retorted against my statement. "Uh-huh, right, how do we know you're not some human working for the Depictions?"

I sighed quietly to myself. "Would a Decepticon really come looking for you?" I asked questioning his own words. I began to walk back the way we came.

"Good point. Hey! Where you going?" the small mech yelled after myself and Fireblade.

"I'm going to find Que." I called over my shoulder without missing a beat. I could hear the two of them scuffle along the uneven surface trying to catch up to us.

"Hey, wait up! Don't leave us behind in here." Brains said with a slight edge of fear in his voice. I stopped at the opening that I had dropped down from. I looked back and watched as they came closer, their blue eyes glowing brightly in the darkness.

"What happened to Wheeljack, anyhow?" Wheelie spoke this time. Grabbing the two of them I hosted them up then myself.

"Wheeljack was offlined by Soundwave, he was held hostage and then executed." I replied simply. The two small Autobots slowed down their pace and then stopped altogether. I continued forward, but paused as well turning back towards them I gently picked them up. Surprisingly neither one of them complained about the action. Placing them on Fireblade's back, we continued toward my main objective.

After a short distance we paused again, "This is where I leave you two for now, the Autobot's have a make shift camp just ahead." I said as 'Blade knelt down, allowing the two to slide off.

"Thanks for the rescue, I don't know if we'd ever make it out." Wheelie said in passing. "Who are you by the way?"

A slight smile found its way to my lips as I looked down at the Autobots. "Who I am is a mystery even to myself, and you shall know soon enough. However, my name is Alice. We will meet again soon." With that said I took my leave of the odd pair walking off in the opposite direction.

Both of us used the cover of darkness to quietly stalk through desecrated streets. It didn't take us long to reach what remained of Wheeljack. I winced slightly as I stepped into the little bit of light that flooded the area. It wasn't far from the temporary base, the light that flooded the camp spilled over to this street. Walking over to Wheelajack's empty frame, I gave it a pat, sighing. Looking back over to the camp I could clearly make out the Autobots as they paced in the small space. I would have to make this quick. I couldn't be found out, not yet at least.

"Ready boy?" I asked looking behind me to 'Blade who was usually never less than a step behind me. He simply bowed his head in a 'yes' manner. Heaving myself up the off-lined skeleton, I positioned myself over his spark chamber. It was rather easy to mask the signature of the All-Spark that radiated off of me, it was as natural as breathing. Occasionally, Fireblade would help with the process, but most of the time I could handle it myself. The hard part was when it came to actually using the energy and masking it then.

Holding my hands out in front of me, I took a deep breath in, trying to focus all my energy as quickly as possible into repairing the broken frame. A blue glow lit the area and a blue outline formed over the skeleton of the Autobot. My breathing became labored rather quickly, as pieces came flying from all directions. I knew it wouldn't take long for anyone to notice the glowing blue light coming from the area.

Once his frame was reassembled, I quickly searched through the All-Spark's rift that held the sparks of those who perished. Finding his spark rather suddenly, it began to form and glow in my hands that I held apart from each other. Weak from repairing his frame, a glimmer of the All-Spark's power trickled from my barrier. They alerted me to their knowledge of my own presence by their engines racing closer to me. Carefully but hastily, my hands shook as I set his spark in its place, immediately his system flood with life.

Throwing myself off of his body I ran and hid behind an over turned SUV, Fireblade crouching beside me. I turned in time to see three Autobots hurl themselves around the corner, quickly transforming into their bi-pedal form. Sideswipe, Bumblebee and Mirage all stood and stared at the once off-lined Autobot, as he patted himself down.

"Unbelievable, I could have sworn... Oh, Bumblebee, it's good to see you again." he said as he stood up. The three other bots walked over to him, but where speechless for sometime before finally saying something.

"Um, sir you're not going to believe this..." Sideswipe said aloud, his voice trailing off. I could only assume he was speaking for everybody as well as communicating with Optimus. It was at this point I made a mental note to remind myself that they were speaking Cybertronian now instead of English.

"Que's... alive." Sideswipe managed to get out. They started conversing in low a low tone that I couldn't quiet pick up, but I could hear Prime's footsteps as he neared. I could make out a second set and could only assume they belonged Ratchet. Once the two came into view they too were stunned.

"Optimus! Ratchet! It's good to see you again lads. Bumblebee was just tell me that we..." It was at that point that I shifted my attention to the lone standing Autobot, Mirage. He still seemed very much on edge, searching for any sign of trouble from the surrounding area. I thought back to the memories the All-Spark gave me of him, I would assumed he would have relaxed. Thinking the thought over though I realized it would be some time if at all that the Cybertronians would be at ease considering they had been at war for millenniums. Of course while in this deep thought I wasn't fully aware of what I was doing, and had shifted causing a loud noise that echoed through the SUV and out into the abandoned city.

I groaned quietly in my head. However, this quickly turned into panic as Mirage made his way over to my hiding spot. "Shit." I said aloud. Fireblade was already transforming into this alternate mode as he red spy continued his way over. The instant that he was finished I shoved my helmet on, that I hadn't even known I had taken off, and jumped on to the motorcycle. This resulted in the conversation that the mechs were having with each other to pause letting the sound of Fireblade's engine fill the air. I grew all the more nervous as Mirage grew nearer.

I watched as he began to pick up the SUV, and with practiced ease Fireblade shot through the small opening under it. Everything was a blur of sensations after that. My need of escape without being caught overpowered almost everything else around me. Nothing made sense as we raced towards the end of the street, it this point I realized there was a presence behind us. Not needing to tell 'Blade to increase our speed, he picked up his pace. I realized as well, I hadn't let go of the shield covering my power and Fireblade's spark signature, so it would be like chasing a ghost. A sliver of a smile crept up on my lips, proud of myself.

We had hurled down the debris stricken street avoiding everything in our way. I looked back noticing how Sideswipe was the one following us and was having a somewhat difficult time keeping up with 'Blade. A rare cry of sheer laughter managed to escape my throat. It surprised me a bit. I looked forward again, a building that hadn't survived the attack, on its side was blocking our path, my confidence of escaping skyrocketed as we used slabs of cement as ramps, lifting us up and over the obstacle.

Although we landed fairly hard, we continued going, until I was sure it was safe to stop. Darkness surround us on every corner, but no one but us were there to witness it. "Now, we need a plan." I said aloud, to no one in particular.