Beyond Reality
Chapter 3: Spark
Somewhere in Washington D.C
.:.
"Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen… will these blocks ever end?"
Traffic zooms in a dramatic hurry, Always waits, speaking to her map, "Once I survive crossing this intersection Remy's apartment should be just over a bridge. All right, it's not too terribly far. Four hundred-nineteen, West Van Buren Street here I come!"
The warning signal flashes WALK and Always sprints out in front of the stopped cars. She notices some of the drivers watching amused by her extreme measures. Curious about her fellow pedestrians' reactions she twirls and proceeds backwards. A baby being carried by his unbiased mother giggles at her silliness. The other foot-travelers, a group of teenagers, walk oh-so drudgingly. Brazen since birth Always's tongue expresses her displeasure towards the teens, provoking them. Negative gestures are soon pointing her way. After waving at the baby she takes her leave, turning around and hopping onto the sidewalk.
With the concrete path under her feet she lets loose, running across the bridge. Halfway to the end, a siren echoes from ahead. Tragic scenarios involving her brother come subconsciously to her mind. Lost in a haze of such thoughts she leans against the bridge's safety rail. An engine revs smoothly by, awakening her back to reality. Gazing toward the noise she recognizes its maker, a Chevrolet concept car. Its brake lights flash as it sharply turns, continuing down a road near where a foreign looking fire truck enters a gated parking area.
"A lovely silver vehicle, roofless and operating without a driver. Whoa, Washington D.C sure doesn't have an inconspicuous touch." Always talks to herself, having not missed a detail. She laughs briefly before a number on the gate comes to focus, her spirits falter, "Four hundred-nineteen?"
Hoping she is mistaken Always looks up at the building labeled in white: Health and Human Services. Nope, this is definitely not her brother's apartment. She disregards the fact and swiftly heads for the guarded entrance. Beside a high wall near the parking lot a soldier uniformed in black turns around. The soldier seems surprised to see Always who memorizes his bright demeanor instantly.
Gripping his M4 firearm, the soldier calmly orders, "Ma'am, I need you to leave the premises. Please seek a safer place than here."
"Oh, no…" Always wants to say, "If my brother is in there I'm doubtlessly going to drag him out to safety and then direct my sore feet to his keister."
She smiles at her own inner antics, making the soldier uneasy. Quickening her tongue, she asks the man in all seriousness, "Thank you, sir, for your kindness. But is a team from R.O.A.R. stationed in that building?"
While the soldier squints at Always, checking her sanity, she tenses hearing harsh background noises of men shouting and clanking metal. It reminds her of the startling drive she survived earlier that day.
"Roar..?" The soldier wonders, confusion expressed on face, "No, and you really should leave."
A deep commanding voice then gains the attention of Always and the soldier. They both stride to the open gate hopeless to watch a giant red robot aim his gun at a heavier set robot. The red robot shoots twice at the other robot's back, dark metal explodes and clangs to the ground, flashing painfully ablaze. The yells of agony quake Always's inhales of breath. The dark metal robot falls upon his hands and feet, groaning as a sickly fluid leaks from his mouth.
"GET BACK!" A strained human voice calls out.
The humans surrounding the robots evacuate streetside behind the building. Following his orders the soldier grabs onto Always, in contrast she shoves him away. Still having a strong hold on her arm the soldier drags her to the road.
"Sorry, but no thanks!" Always hollers over the blasts of gunfire.
Taking the soldier off his guard, Always reaches underneath his upper arm and pinches him hard. He hisses and tightens his grip, overemphasizing this Always yelps loudly. Annoyed, but feeling guilty the soldier loosens his grip. Living up to her expectations Always easily slips out of his grasp and runs back to go help the fallen robot. She just refuses to not help.
Trying to stay unseen Always runs between large objects too pointless to describe. All she can do is follow words echoing, filled with pure horror, "What have you done?"
"I hereby discharge you from duty." The red robot's commanding voice sounds again.
"NO…" A long heart wrenching cry shatters Always's nerves causing her to fall underneath a transfer trailer, scrapping her hands. From there she witnesses a deafening blast she aches to forget.
Nearby a giant yellow robot is thrown from the blast along with rocky debris. The yellow robot whirls sadly, getting to his feet, diverting the red robot while the humans take fire upon it.
Next to the gate on the ground a young man hollers in fear, "BEE!"
An older soldier hoists him up yelling the same order from before, "Get back!"
Hidden in the shadows Always lays flat on the ground shaking as guns battle for life. Amazingly she is close enough to hear the yellow robot's cannon hum readily to return fire. The red robot carrying on his display of mayhem takes a shot at the yellow robot and misses, hitting a metal container that quickly turns to rust. Flexibly the yellow robot retreats backwards over a wall.
Always looks elsewhere, a hundred feet ahead where soldiers are cover-firing for a group of men sneaking past the red robot. She shuts her eyes and presses her bloodied hands against her ears, desperate to not fully sense the devastating amount of death. Close by the ground shakes as heated energy radiates from the red robot's blasts. Feeling weighty steps vibrate farther and farther away, Always takes in the ruinous sight of the parking lot.
The red robot is gone.
Crawling carefully over chunks of asphalt Always is soon out from underneath the trailer and stands up. She exhales deeply in sorrow watching dust fly in the breeze, knowing that what she sees is the deceased's remains. Remembering the fallen robot she searches frantically. A bellowing moan sounds, giving the young woman fearful hope. She turns a corner of the transfer trailer and finds the dark robot flat on his destroyed back moving relentlessly. Approaching from the top of his head she places her hands on his cheek plates hopefully giving him some comfort. He looks up at her with his soul piercing blue orbs. She stares, tears falling from her eyes, overwhelmed by the intense emotions he emits to her.
The robot lifts his massive arm, affecting parts of his rusting shoulder to fragment, it is a horrid sight. Crying out in pain the robot grips his lifted hand in resentment causing a few fingertips to turn to dust.
Always chokes on a sob, but snuffs it up, thinking, "This gentle giant needs peace, not a blubbering useless human."
The rusting affect starts disintegrating his legs, the robot growls darkly.
"What can I do to make it stop?" Always speaks forcefully, "Please! Tell me, let me help you!"
The robot coughs, taken aback, sputtering out more sickly fluids from his mouth. Always wipes her hand on his lips and chin, hissing when the liquid burns in her scraps.
Sagging against the robot, Always informs him strongly, "Fine, die if you must, but I'm not leaving you alone."
The robot blinks at her like a child, his raspy voice resounding, "No…"
"Your life is your choice as it is mine to not leave you." Always insists, tracing his face.
With an endless stare the dark robot captures Always's heart. His features mellow and he chuckles at her. The content sound vibrates up Always's arms, for her, it lightens the ominous veil around them. Yet an engulfing peace is still a coming loneliness.
"My Spark…" He gasps, his eyes flashing uncontrollably, "Take it before…"
"I will, just think of your happiness!" Always yells, not meaning to be so vehement but he still too sad to leave this world in peace.
His body begins disintegrating quicker than the young woman can comprehend. Jumping to her feet she holds onto his head while the rust takes him away. The scattering metal particles dig into her palms and she screams the inevitable, "Don't!" Steadying his head as it lifelessly drops, tears blur her vision as he falls apart entirely. Those eyes… his soul imprinted her essence, she still feels him. She aches for him.
"What's a Spark?" Sobbing loudly Always tries to make sense of his words, "Is it your heart…?"
Sidestepping to his left shoulder she bends over him, reaching toward the middle of his chest. She slips her violently trembling hands into the mound of rust. Feeling a warm metal still intact she picks it up straightaway. It is a sphere glowing as beautifully blue as the late robot's eyes.
Always wraps her arms around it, cooing tearfully, "You're about the size of a pregnant belly! I'll take care of you this time, okay?"
Finding herself in awe Always feels the spark respond, pulsing ever so serenely. Intrigued, she traces the edges of the blue shining through intricate carvings that cover its metal globular shape.
"Could this really be his heart?" Always speaks curiously to the orb, "His spark… He left you behind… for a sweetheart maybe? Or perhaps your kind could fix you a new body." The yellow robot's distressed face comes to her mind and she sends her best vibes to him.
"Girl, are you hurt?!" is yelled out, almost causing Always to jump out of her skin. The kind soldier from the gate is stomping toward her. He is fast, despite his bulky statue, so there's not enough time for Always to hide the spark.
She hollers at him, "Nope, I'm fine, thanks. I wish you well!"
After that she charges right past him and unconscious soldiers by the gate, escaping to the sidewalk. Two blocks away from that surrounding death Always takes rest in an alley. Breathing heavily she slides down against the eastern wall to sit. Curling her body around the spark she conceals it. Her memory for some awful reason reminds her of the sickening heat that had taken those soldiers' lives. Always had literally felt those men leave this world, and she despises it, wanting to panic. However, the spark does not let her as it hums soothingly in her lap.
"Where is my dumb-donkey-rump for a brother? I'm going to have fresh batch of nightmares to deal with 'cause of him. Why I am I constantly dealing with deep shit…" Always breathes deeply, the spark whirling its blue at her words which she continues, "Of course, I'd never regret you."
Nauseous from staring at the spark at such a close proximity Always aligns her upper body in the direction of the sun. A breeze chills her sweat, cooling her off, a good sensation much like home. She relaxes visualizing that she is solely at home, sitting in the barn's doorway during the end of summer. No sentient robotic beings, nor any soldiers fighting. Just Always overlooking her family's tranquil farm. The time for her visualization ends as her cellphone whistles. Although reluctant she maneuvers to cradle the spark in her lap and reaches behind, grabbing her newly roughed up backpack. She unzips it, grabbing the device from inside.
Entering the password swiftly she answers in midair, greeting, "Hello?"
"My, my Abby, you sound as tired as you should be." Thankfully it is a familiar voice to Always.
Always follows the topic of conversation, "Ms. Mila-Ann, you saw?"
Mila-Ann replies, "Yes, I did, as well as a few others of your brother's team. Are you all right?"
"Fair and partly cloudy," Always states playfully, making her brother's boss laugh dryly.
"I suppose you want to know what situation Remy has gotten you into…" Mila-Ann seems exasperated.
Always keeps up the niceties, "Please, do tell."
"No, I will not." Mila-Ann says coyly.
"Oh Ms. Mila-Ann, shall I start spouting out my knowledge of ROAR over this phone?" Always's moodiness causes the spark to hum louder, her phone crackles in protest.
"This line is secured. And I am…" Mila-Ann fails to convince Always.
Interrupting Always threatens, "So you're telling me that these advanced robots can't hack into your technology? I'm sorry Ms. Mila-Ann, you know me I am not going to banter well when I'm emotionally exhausted."
"Can you get to Reagan National Airport?" Finally Mila-Ann gets down to business.
"Yes," Always answers.
Mila-Ann instructs with practiced ease, "Take a cab, call us when you get there and we will describe the person that will take you to Remy. You should be able to rest during the flight."
"Thank you very, very much, sweet lady." Always conveys.
Giggling at her nickname Mila-Ann sighs, "Yeah, right! I am the one who is sorry for being a bee-otch at first."
Always expels air dramatically, "Ooh, it is okay. I'm used to you buzzing while stressed."
"Ha! I must end that subject and go. Please be careful, Always." Mila-Ann clicks her tongue.
Always says the last sentence, "You take care too, sweet lady. Goodbye!"
And Ms. Mila-Ann, like usual, hangs up without a single word.
Ogling at the spark in her lap Always notices that it relaxes when she disconnects from the previous call.
"Maybe it dislikes phones?" Always thinks, and then settles with confirming her thoughts with the spark, "I'm not fond of these freaking things either."
Fumbling in her bag Always puts the device away and grabs her thermos of water. She curses herself for not drinking sooner knowing a headache will momentarily be added along with her other discomforts. That reminds her of her hands, which are in a dry bloody mess. She shrugs saving the worry for later. Back at home the farm work that has to be done can be tougher.
Drinking a bit too fast she takes a break, thinking, "Farm life doesn't have giant robots."
"Would you like some?" Always asks suddenly, totally clueless, indicating her thermos to the spark, it remains motionless.
Always nods in silent agreement with the spark. And at last with her thirst satisfied she stuffs her thermos in its' rightful place. While rummaging in her backpack, she pulls out a flowery skirt Remy had gotten her from New York City. Always uses it to cocoon around the spark. To make sure that the spark stays calm undercover she presses her left hand on it. Feeling the spark's steady thrum, she takes it as a positive reaction. Beaming happily, the young woman holds the spark snugly. Being unable to use her arms whilst hugging the awkwardly proportioned spark makes standing up no easy feat. Laughing at herself Always eventually gains balance on her two shaky legs.
"Popping zits…" The young woman complains to the spark, "You really are like a pregnant belly!"
The spark murmurs warmly at Always in response. She then walks with a sway soaking in the sweet moment. It is shortly enjoyed bliss… as the tires of the driver-less car that Always had seen earlier skids to a stop, blocking the alleyway. Its passenger's side door swings up beckoning Always, and a male's voice demands, "Get in."
Instantly the young woman takes a step back, noting all her possible escape routes which are less than great. Always darts her sight at the eerily deserted street.
The robot in disguise speaks impatiently, "I need you to hear me out, human. What you have in your arms is very important to me and a whole lot of 'bots that you aren't aware of."
"Are you on the yellow robot's side?" Always inquires steadily.
"Bumblebee…?" The robot in disguise says blandly, "Yeah, we're both Autobots if that's what you are wondering."
Always quickly asks her deciding question: "Was the black robot an Autobot too?"
The evident Autobot growls out his answer, "Yes, now hurry before NEST starts tracking us. There's no slagging way I'm letting them take claims of Ironhide's spark."
Not sensing any bad vibes Always closes in on the Autobot, bumping her hip against his front right finder, boldly insisting, "Let me sit in the driver's seat, please."
The Autobot revs his engine in annoyance backing up barely enough for Always to squeeze by. Jittering she goes around to the driver's side, and unexpectedly the door opens for her. The young fairly frazzled woman hesitates realizing that in order to take off her backpack she would need to put the spark down.
"Trust me." The Autobot's voice edges on a bittersweet tone.
Always blows a few teal curls from her face, telling him, "For some infuriating reason I do."
Letting the spark sit all by itself in the robot's seat was, for Always, like exposing her heart to be taken. Quickly removing her backpack, mindful of the pristine interior Always places it in the passenger floorboard. Scooping the spark, it whirls heavily in her hold reminding her to breathe.
"For the love of Primus, get in! You're about to force yourself into stasis." The Autobot's mufflers expel air noisily as he huffs at the young human.
Always listens to him and ignores the darkness framing her vision. Getting in, she practically melts curving her body into the buttery seats. She giggles, absolutely giddy and nervous to touch any of the Autobot.
"You might want to buckle up." He tells her sarcastically.
Before she could react, Always jumps in surprise when a red seat belt slips across her body, under the spark, and clicks safely into a five point latch.
"Where are the other belts?" She asks curiously.
"Don't need 'em yet." The Autobot answers plainly.
"Bummer," Always exasperates teasingly, staring at the ordinary speedometer, "You're playing it safe with me, aren't you?"
The Autobot chuckles, his high tech gear brightening in amusement, "I am much faster than that, human. Wait until I get on an open road."
"I hope you realize you're teasing me." Honesty escapes Always and in her dismay a blush appears hotly upon her cheeks.
"Finally…" The robot in disguise rumbles, speeding forward.
Always's heart swells, thrilled by feeling the Autobot's power around her. She smiles, inquiring, "Finally what?"
"You're the first human I've met that hasn't objected my speed. You're kind is so fragile, and most of you use it as an excuse to 'take it slow'." The Autobot explains, changing lanes swiftly among the noon traffic.
"Well, personally I don't know many humans that wouldn't want to drive or ride in an unimaginably fast, amazing, sleek, quite stunning alien robot. I bet you're even more powerful in your robot mode. You can… change right?" Always rambles, her fingers tracing the spark's shining blue, trying to keep from grabbing the busily driving steering wheel in front of her.
Stopping at a red light, having to wait on a gaggle of elderly tourists to cross, the Autobot outbreaths, "Yes, I can transform from my alternate mode into my usual form, and vice versa."
Always beams, ignoring her brain to mouth filter by saying, "I hope to see your eyes someday."
It takes him a moment but the Autobot eventually says, "You are an odd human."
His gruff seriousness really amuses Always, making her laugh, "I'm not surprised you think so, Mr. Silver Robot."
"Call me Sideswipe."
"Yes, Sir… It's a pleasure to meet you, Sideswipe."
"Your name must be Politely-Annoying-Femme, am I right?"
"Ha, freaking, ha, ha. The robot Sideswipe thinks he's funny, how lovely." Always does her best to irk him, "Call me Always."
"Your oddness shows in your name, Always." Sideswipe accepts gruffly, full of honest common sense.
Quite touched by his bluntness, Always flabbergasts, "Thank you, no one has ever said that. Usually people deny my name."
Sideswipe has no reply for that asides brief silence until he demands, "Humans have last names, tell me yours."
"Why, are you going to background check me?" Always scoffs.
"Yes." Sideswipe admits.
Totally fallen for his honesty Always blurts out, "Brionwell."
Finally with the elderly safely on the walkway, Sideswipe turns left and heads south toward Interstate Ninety-Five. He slows down, following alongside the lax traffic.
There is a quirk in the spark's hum for a moment.
Gradually speeding up, Sideswipe shares his apparent research, "All databases say you do not exist. You don't even have a creation record."
This catches Always off guard, although she appears to remain calm. Remy, her brother for a hacker, must be behind this. Because of his line of work he is constantly protecting her and their family. He is positively nit-picky and paranoid about the smallest of details; he does not even have a cell phone. It dawns on Always that he might know about the robots. The fact that his boss Mila-Ann knows speaks volumes. Realizing she is in this deep, Always tightens her hold protectively around the spark. Should she sneak out of Sideswipe and go to the airport like Mila-Ann said to?
Since her brother has wiped out her technical existence, Always settles her heart thinking, "This is my path, my insane choice, my life. Whether it's with or against Remy, I choose this beautiful soul in my arms. I trust…"
"Sideswipe…?" Always says aloud, finally noticing that they were traveling on the interstate, "Where are we going?"
"I'm taking you to Ratchet." Sideswipe informs her, disregards the speed limit and shifts gears.
.:.
Author's note: I'm telling ya that ending was good about two drafts ago. This chapter was so wordy it 'bout made me hit the delete story button, but alas my love for Always wouldn't let me. (That child talks too much to herself, doesn't she? [Since she handled the second chapter so well I didn't see any harm in letting her ramble in this one.]) By the way... Remy doesn't mean to be an inconsiderate brother to Always, I can assure you that he is keeping her safe by keeping her in the dark. *sighs* The hacking biz involves some pretty serious stuff, especially so in this story. I promise, all will become a full circle in time. Unless my plotting skills aren't as great as my buddies say they are. Oh wells... Hope you enjoy this crazy story!
P.S. If you think the POV should be different or if you've got some constructive criticism you wanna share, don't be shy and give me a shout out via a review.
Boocoos of thanks~ Mopping-Sips
