Disclaimer-Transformers and all recognizable characters are property of Hasbro. As in I don't own them. All plots and original characters are property of me, myself, and the people in my head. We don't let other people use them because it's not cool. So don't steal them, because you really don't want to piss us off.
Title-Immorality of Morals
Author- MooMoo-Sama
Rating- T
Summary- It had been a slim chance. A slim chance that she would find him, a slim chance that he wouldn't kill her, a slim chance that they'd become friends, and a slim chance for survival. But how can you choose what's right or wrong in a war that you shouldn't be in? Meet her dilemma.
Author Notes- I suppose you could call this a filler chapter. I'm not really happy with it, despite all the time it's taken. But that's how it goes, eh? Takes longer to write things outside the plot then it takes to write the juicy parts. Still, like in my past chapters, there are quite a few bits of info that will come into play later.
--This note became rather long so it's been moved to the end of the chapter--
Immorality of Morals
Chapter Three
Vanessa wavered. Literally, she was wavering in a doorway. Not an activity she partook in often.
"Have you ever heard of the term ostentatious?" she asked after several seconds of silence, her voice thick with sarcasm.
She'd been wary as they landed in the massive Mission City. There was no way she could deal with city life. No matter how badly she wanted to go chasing stray facts. After New York, her tolerance for it was next to nil, and it was bad enough that her mother had all her penthouses in large cities.
The traffic in Mission City had been absurd, reconstruction still taking place after several months since the 'incident'. The incident that no one had a steady story about. Needless to say she'd been glued to her window, inspecting everything and snapping shots of construction crews off her camera. Fast-forward had been constantly calling stops to her assistant, getting out of the car for more angles.
After leaving the city limits though, they'd been in for a several hour drive until they skirted around a much calmer city and taken to the hills. After passing suburbia the houses had grown steadily farther apart and far more glamorous. Every building had seemed to come out of an episode of Cribs, and she didn't want the same incident as Florida.
Massive mansion. One person.
Paranoia extraordinaire.
But when the young assistant had finally stopped the car it was in no mansion. As a matter of a fact, it was in the middle of nowhere. She had no idea where the city she'd passed earlier was, and she had the distinct impression that Alyssa was going out of the way to be theatrical.
The house was large, but large in a way that it gave a single occupant plenty of room. Which was good. But the brunette had a taste for the lavish. A taste she insisted on 'spreading' to the members of the Zeiez clan. Spreading or forcing.
Therefore, what the home lacked in size it made up for in décor. The end result was one teenage girl gawking in a doorway whilst an imp fluttered around her excited at the mere notion of someone witnessing her amazing taste.
Alyssa merely giggled at the comment, stepping further into the room and beginning her usual chatter. The teen had no choice but to follow, dropping her bags in the doorway carelessly. The house was large, though unlike her mothers cluttered yet unlived in penthouses it was spacious and open.
There were no real doorways anywhere, besides the front door at least. The entire house was set up like a studio apartment, with a loft added in to provide even more room in the form of a second floor. The entire place was very 'mod' in Alyssa's terms. The floors were dark, possibly black marble, and the walls wood panels.
The kitchen was tucked off to the side, a half wall with the center missing as the only separation from the rest of the room. Every countertop was the same dark stone as the floor, and every appliance chrome. An island stood in the middle, with a potholder overhead. Vanessa eyed it warily. With her height, she was sure to have several unwanted meetings with the pots and pans. All of which looked painful.
She followed Alyssa to the left, down a short semi-hall and into the biggest bathroom she'd ever seen. A massive stall shower dominated the back right corner of the room, a toilet sitting tucked next to it to the left. Just inside the doorway itself was a movie star mirror and sink set up. Towards the end of the room was a massive tub.
"Is that a jacuzzi?"
Alyssa looked up, startled out of her explanation of the room. She looked curiously at what her boss was pointing at and nodded slowly.
"Yeah, I said that." she said slowly.
"Oh." Vanessa shrugged, turning suddenly from the room without letting the assistant finish the explanation.
Exasperated, she scurried behind the six foot runner. Vanessa turned into the living room and eyed it. The furniture was comfortable looking, the rug it sat on plush. It was faced towards the large screen set into the wall, a rectangle glass coffee table situated in-between the sofa's. On it were two remotes, one obviously for the TV.
It was in this room that the loft second floor looked over. It covered half the ceiling space, a wood railing lining the perimeter of the loft standing as it's only warning to the drop beyond it. The teen was looking up at it, perhaps getting ready to head up the wide stairs to take a look. She stopped short though as she noticed something.
"Yo, what's with the curtains?" she asked, turning to Alyssa.
Indeed, the entire south facing wall was covered with a thick curtain. The assistant smiled. "Watch this.." she murmured, walking forward to grab the second remote from the table. With a click, the curtains began to draw back. Vanessa's breath left her in a woosh.
The whole wall was a window, thin black frames spaced vertically to support the glass barely making a difference to the view. The house had been built off the side of a mountain, and the south end faced towards the downward slope, providing a view of the valley below and the small city nestled in it.
"That's where the city went." the redhead muttered. It wasn't like her to show any sort of sentiment for forms of beauty. But her wide eyes showed her appreciation more then any words could.
"Yeah.." Alyssa said, a smile in her voice. This was the one of the main reasons she'd made the pricy purchase. There were few times in life that Vanessa got to relax. Be it her schedule, the demands of those around her, or her own design.
Being named the fastest teen in the country wasn't something that just happened. She trained long, and she trained hard to get where she was. As stubborn and picky as she was, there were few times she wound down long enough to enjoy the simple things in life. Now, with the upswing in her career and her mothers work, Alyssa doubted the teen had even had enough air to breathe in the last few months. Vanessa had become harder to deal with as she aged, choosing all her own paths. Now that she was achieving her goals Alyssa was worried. She couldn't picture such a driven young woman without a purpose in life.
Hopefully, this break would give her life some direction.
"The south wall in the bathroom is the same way, though you actually have to pull the curtain by hand." the assistant stated, waving her arm in the general direction of the other room.
"Still ostentatious." was the firm reply.
The teen moved forward, standing close to the window but not touching. It was one of those views that needed to be seen at sunset she decided, eyes drinking in the sunny hills.
Alyssa called to her, pulling Vanessa from the view. It was midday, and in the distance the image of the city was wavering in the heat. Past the stairs that led to the loft was a sliding glass door. It opened onto a patio, and an in ground pool was glistening invitingly. The entire patio was set to the right of the window, so the view was left unhindered. There was no railing here, only a sheer drop into the valley of trees.
"Where did you find this place Lyss?" she asked, looking around "A porn magazine? This is so cliché.." the teen crossed her arms across her ribs.
The heat beat against her limbs, and she was glad for her choice in clothing. She'd chosen comfort over style and wore a simple pair of jean shorts and a tank, short hair hanging about her face wildly. The red shown almost orange in the light, darker auburn strands lining her face.
Around her neck was a digital camera, swinging slightly with her every movement. Her hands fiddled with it, fingers flicking against the buttons rapidly before turning again to her companion. Vanessa's' voice was mild, half meaning the words she spoke.
"I mean seriously, when I said yard I didn't mean mountain." she gestured widely to the valley.
"Oh, shut up. You know you like it." the older woman replied. She too was dressed casually, jeans and a blouse. Her massive hair was pinned up high to keep it away from her neck. The heat didn't agree with her as well as the younger girl, and there were two light pink patches on her cheeks.
The trip to California from Illinois had been long and exhausting. Be it the arguments that took place before hand or the tearful goodbyes from the twins it had seemed that fate had worked against the duo from making it to the west coast. Late flights, baggage issues, Vanessa cursing out a flight attendant..
Alyssa glanced at her watch in the lull of silence. It was beautiful out here, and she doubted Vanessa realized that her affection for the place was already showing. Her normally hard face was looking softly on the valley. The inherit wide eyes from her mother trailed longingly along the trees, and the assistant knew that the teen would be spending quite a lot of time outdoors. Now that Vanessa had made it safely to California, introduced to her new home and generally safe and in one piece, it was time for Alyssa to go.
As much as she enjoyed the company of her employer, she was tired and knew the girl well enough to know that the young woman wouldn't relax with her employee hanging about. Nor we she tolerate her chatting for too much longer. As cold as it seemed to out your friend out, it was simply how things were done. Vanessa was never a social butterfly. She liked her silences and being on her own. Despite what the tabloids said about Vanessa, she was in no way 'emotionally stunted' by moving around so much.
If anything, she preferred it. Alyssa had watched Vanessa when she was confined to home with a sprained ankle. She was a free spirit - and hated, absolutely abhorred, being with too many people for an extended period of time. Which was one of the many reasons the brunette was curious about the decision to enter a high school.
Vanessa had been home schooled since she was eleven by her own choice. She didn't like being around others. The runner didn't like bustle or business, it made her nervous and paranoid. Alyssa had never seen one person get so twitchy so easily. But put her in a crowd and it didn't take too long. She'd once said that she liked to keep track of everyone and everything. In a big group she couldn't do that, and that was one of the many reasons that it bothered her.
The same was true for people. Vanessa couldn't be around the same people without getting annoyed or at times becoming cruel. She could maybe be at home for a week or two before she started snapping at her brothers and fighting with her mother. Slowly but surely, she'd spend more time out running and the next thing you knew she was wondering if there was a competition anywhere in the country.
The only groups she could handle were runners. Be it a training camp or a competition, it was the time she kept her cool. Anyone who could keep her pace was welcomed in her world. Which was why she was alone so often, Alyssa mused, almost no one could keep up with Fast-forward.
It was just who she was.
So, the brunette accepted that the past few days she'd spent with Vanessa were going to reach their end soon. It was better to remove herself then have Vanessa get vicious with her. Plus, they were a day ahead of schedule, there were plenty of hotels in Mission City and plenty of bars. Whereas the teen hated city life, Alyssa loved it.
"The garage is right underneath the house, the driveway wraps around… the architect went for a more.." Alyssa began to rattle off stats again, a random smile blooming on her face that Vanessa ignored while she tuned her out.
Alyssa was a spazz, end of story.
Directly under the window of the house was a paved path, wide enough for a car. The aforementioned garage was settled under the main part of the house, support beams lining the door. The drop from the driveway and the patio was an easy ten foot gap, the stone side with a foe rock stairway.
The tour continued in much the same fashion, Alyssa speaking rapidly about designs and styles and Vanessa not listening. The window spread to the second floor, lighting the loft which turned out to be a bedroom. The floor up here was covered with the same plush carpet that was on the floor under the couches, and the massive bed pushed against the wall between a dresser and armoire.
The two women wandered into the kitchen eventually, poking around the near empty fridge. There was a jar of jelly, several boxes of Hot Pockets, and a few sealed bottles of water in the massive depths. Vanessa was pleased. She'd made sure that she had the bear essentials. This whole trip was something she'd wanted to do on her own.
Tossing Alyssa a bottled of water, she cracked open the other bottle and plopped into one of a matching stools at the counter in the kitchen. Alyssa had begun to wind down. She handed her a credit card, a cell phone (no phone line up here), and a map of the area.
Vanessa cocked a brow when she read the top of the map.
"Tranquility?" she rolled her eyes "You took me literally, how cute." her trademark sarcasm was firmly in place as she scanned the paper.
"I thought it might bring about some chuckles." came the snippy reply.
Alyssa moved to the teens side, pointing out several areas.
"We're here." she said, pointing to a circled spot on the map. "The city is a few miles down the mountain. There's a school bus stop about half a mile down the road that you can take to school. Since you're just inside the jurisdiction, you'll be attending John Marshall Highschool."
Out of nowhere, Alyssa produced a sack which was apparently the 'in-style' book bag. In it were her school supplies, and Vanessa eyed them warily before dropping the bag to the floor. Alyssa made no comment, merely continuing to produce items that she'd deemed necessary for her employers survival. At the sight of a small keychain Vanessa stopped her.
"What are those for?" she asked with an edge to her voice.
Alyssa looked innocent, which was never a good sign.
"Well, this is your house key.." she started, picking up one of the three keys. "This one is for the Vespa in the garage, and this is for a bike lock. Oh! This is the garage door opener. Vanessa, don't look at me like that, it makes me nervous."
Indeed, the teen was eyeing her evilly.
"I told you not to get me anything with a motor, I'm not going to use it." she ground out in a low voice. Her arms were crossed across her ribs as she stood up slowly from the stool. Her chin was lifted, and her impressive height was used in full to paint a rather intimidating picture.
"Don't start Vanessa." Alyssa said, also rising. It was a dangerous chance she was taking, Vanessa could tear her to bits on words alone.
"You're going to be living on a mountain, what if you have an emergency and need to get to town quickly?"
"I'll run."
From anyone else, the response would have just been a stubborn teen trying to make a point at all costs, making an empty threat.
From Vanessa, it was a possibility.
Alyssa was getting ready for a good row. The woman had worried that this argument was coming and had plenty of reasons listed in her head. But Vanessa's shoulder sagged suddenly and she shook her head. A small smile was on her face and she walked past Alyssa without a word.
She walked into the living room and looked out the massive window, eyes trailing the not so far away city. Glancing at the sun, she turned towards the stairs that lead to the loft and jogged up them, calling to Alyssa only when she reached the top.
"Forget it, I'll use it if I need to." she said, her voice slightly muffled. The sounds of drawers opening and sliding cloth carried over the house.
"I'm going to go for a run. There's got to be trails around here."
Vanessa reappeared in a comfy looking tank and a pair of windbreaker shorts. A sports bra peaked from the side of her shirt, and as she trotted down the stairs she pulled her short hair back into a tail that clung at the base of her skull.
"There are trails." Alyssa said, grabbing her purse. This was Vanessa's not so subtle way of dismissing people. Translated, it was a message of 'be gone by the time I get back'.
"I marked a few on your map, so that's a good place to start." Vanessa made a small grunt in return, going to the kitchen to look at the map. Alyssa started to rattle off small little things as she walked to the door. A small roll of twenties was on the kitchen table now, and Vanessa merely eyed it before leaving the chrome room following the sound of Alyssa's voice.
"Oh, and one more thing. You're starting school a little late, there was some sort of dispute about school districts. Remember, you've gotta be at that bus stop at like six fifty."
It wasn't too long after that Alyssa was making a U-turn in the road and waving while speeding down the hill. Vanessa waved mildly, a small smile on her face, before turning toward the surrounding forest. Stretching lightly, she clipped her cell phone on the elastic waist of her shorts before setting off at a strong jog with a water bottle in hand.
It didn't take her too long to make it to the first trail, which was only a little ways up the hill. As expected, the trail was dazzling and lovely and peachy and perfectly yay. Disturbing to say the least. If it's in the wilderness, it shouldn't be combed and changed to suit someone's needs. People who couldn't deal with real cross country needed to stop ruining it for everyone else.
She followed the main trail for all of two minutes before she found a fork. There was an arrow on the tree directing runners to the left and downhill, a rope blocking off the right path. Ducking under it, she continued on the right path. Fast-forward relished in the strain on her legs as she went uphill. Weeds gripped at her long legs, and her shirt constantly snagged. A true run.
She wasn't aware of the time, only the feel of the run. So when she stumbled across a malicious tree root and back into reality she was mildly surprised on how low the sun had gotten in the sky. The trail she'd been on was near invisible at this height, everything over grown. Panting, Fast-forward sipped slowly at the water while continuing to walk slowly upward.
Ahead there was a break in the trees, hopefully a place where she could sit and gather her bearings before heading back down to her new house. Pushing none too quietly through the brush, the scene she broke into was the second of the day to make her stop short.
There was no gate or fence, weather it'd been knocked down from time or it never existed she wasn't sure. The grass was tall and sweet smelling, reaching up to her waist easily. On a day this hot there was no breeze, but the sound of cicada's and crickets were in the air. And through the grass, barely visible, stood thick slabs of stone.
She couldn't tell if the names were still readable, and she didn't bother to try and read any of them. This graveyard was abandoned in everyway, including the people buried here. It was still and quite, and she didn't know how long she stood taking it all in.
Only when she realized that the orange light that shone on the grass was fading further did she turn back to the trail. There wasn't a doubt in her mind she'd come go back there. And soon.
Barricade hadn't been this tired since his last 'disagreement' with Blackout.
He was a proud mech, a good soldier, and a few chips tougher then most. But it had taken him nearly an orn to find a suitable place. After cycles of worming his way through the wilderness of the planet, he'd finally chosen. The structure was large and very empty. The trees only gave it a slight girth, still crowding close enough that he'd almost passed right by it.
It was poorly constructed (as most things on the planet were) of dead trees. Wood. The entrance was wide, and had he been standing Barricade may have had trouble entering the structure. Since he'd become so well acquainted with the ground though, the Decepticon fit easily though the entrance.
Inside, the ground was covered with dry stalks of grass as bedding. It crunched feebly under his weight, catching in his armor. He snarled his frustration, settling back against the largest pile of the bedding and starting his systems checks.
He had to have been slightly lucky, he figured. Despite his crippling injuries all of his scanners were working well enough to provide him with the information he'd needed. The Autobots hadn't found him, always a plus since that meant he was still alive, and now he had remotely suitable shelter.
And if he kept telling himself he was lucky, there was a chance his CPU would malfunction and he'd actually believe that load of scrap.
A sluggish rage was building in his systems. Rage at Megatron for being defeated. Rage at Starscream for leaving. Rage at Frenzy for filling his interior with chatter so much that he almost missed the noise. Rage at himself for not being in the final battle because then at least he'd have a good reason to be dead.
Most of all though, rage at those scum Autobots and their Prime.
If it hadn't been for them, there wouldn't be a war. If they hadn't decided that they were going to fight, Barricade would be relaxing on Cybertron with a femme and sipping some high-grade. He'd still have his gang and be roaring around the tracks on his home planet.
But now? Now he didn't even have that hope because the slagging flesh beast had destroyed the fragging Allspark.
Snarling, Barricade tried to reign his temper. The Mustang engine in his chest was roaring with his anger, and he calmed himself quickly. The avian in the trees were silent, and he cursed himself. He couldn't give away his position, not this close.
He wasn't far from the human settlement where the Autobots frequented. He'd managed to travel in a large semi-circle around the mountains, placing him north of the city. There were few human structures down the mountain, but not for several miles, and as far as the schematics had shown - no roads.
The squishies were weak, they didn't venture into places that they couldn't control. Optics trailing the structure he now sat, Barricade nodded to himself. It would have to do. Slowly he put himself into recharge, preparing to reverse the damage on his leg. He wasn't dead yet, and if he had his way about it there would be a few Autobot corpses to join Megatron at the bottom of the ocean before he went offline.
End Chapter
A/N Cont-
You all have no idea how happy your reviews make me, honestly. I'm glad Vanessa is becoming so well liked, and I'm even more pleased that people are having conflict over Barricade. I enjoy falling into his mind more and more, and I'm glad everyone thinks I've got his character down so well.
Also, there's a lot of Alyssa in this chapter. I hadn't intended to take her into account so much, but she's grown on me a bit. Plus, she's helpful to explaining Vanessa, who a bit more is revealed about in this chapter. You wont be seeing Alyssa again for awhile though, so say adios for now.
Next chapter things start to pick up again, and we'll be seeing quite a few new characters and start more on the plot. Introduction chapters are tiring. But I think these past few chapters were necessary to the plot. How can you go on an adventure without knowing who's taking you?
By the way, if anyone knows the real name of the canon school name form the movie, please tell me. I can't find it anywhere, and the movie is out of theaters. I don't like not having the right information.
Remember to leave a review!