Chapter 2
Bumblebee exited the Ground Bridge portal and transformed, dust and sand cascading from every nook and cranny of his systems. He let out an annoyed chime and beep as what looked like half a desert carpeted the floor. Arcee groaned in loathing as she extricated several pebbles from under her shoulder armor. The rubble hit the floor with loud clangs, some shattering into dust, adding to the debris on the floor. The only one who showed absolutely no discomfort whatsoever was Optimus. He converted to his bipedal form, sand, grit, debris, and a splintered cactus clattering to the ground. His faceplates stoic as ever, the Autobot leader walked to the nearest console to examine the object's trajectory. Ratchet, who had been tending to the Ground Bridge's screen, looked at the mess, and clapped a servo to his face.
/Sorry, Ratchet /said Bumblebee, rubbing the back of his helm sheepishly.
"That's alright," snarled the medic, "because you're going to clean it up." Bumblebee gave a sad chitter.
"Let me guess," said Jack, as he leaned on the metal railing, "Sahara?"
"Gobi Desert," grunted Arcee. As if to underline this point, a cloud of sand billowed out of her torso plates.
"The Gobi Desert?" said Raf, standing beside Jack, "I was expecting Egypt."
/I remember Egypt/ mused Bumblebee, /Nice place, if you don't mind the sand. And the pyramids are stunning at night. /
"Wow! You went to see the pyramids?" exclaimed Raf, grinning, "I used to read all about them!"
"I'd kill to see the pyramids…" said Miko, longingly, as she leaned on Bulkhead's shoulder plate, "I heard they still keep the mummies in there…"
Optimus was considering telling Miko that, yes; the mummified remains were still inside the ancient structures, and yes, they were intact, and no, she would not have to kill anyone to see them; they could always Ground Bridge her there. Instead, he decided to focus on the screen, optics skating over the grids and readouts, his brain processing the information rapidly. "Ratchet, have you calculated the object's trajectory?"
"I have," said the medic, "I'm uploading the coordinates to the Ground Bridge right now. I think it'll land somewhere on the…" He was interrupted when a notification appeared on a smaller screen, the Department of Defense logo. "Fowler," sighed Ratchet, faceplates grinding in irritation, "Of all the times-"
"It's fine, Ratchet. I'll take the call." A window flashed open and Agent William Fowler's face popped up. "Prime? This is Agent Fowler here! Do you read me?"
"I am reading you loud and clear, Agent Fowler," responded Optimus, arms crossed over his chest. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"The boys at the Pentagon say they've found an energon reading. In orbit," said Fowler. As he spoke, he wiped a napkin across his forehead; wherever he was, it was someplace temperate. "So which is it? Con or Bot?"
"It is aligned with neither, Agent Fowler," rumbled Optimus, "The craft is an ancient relic, from before the War. Our biggest concern is who claims it first."
Fowler's face tightened. "Is there something on that thing I should be worried about, Prime? I mean apart from the collateral damage?"
"Actually, we don't know exactly what the craft contains," said Ratchet, still occupied with the Ground Bridge console. "It could be data cores, artifacts, Cybertronians in stasis." He withdrew from his display, servo hovering cat like over the touch-board. "Maybe even weapons," he said, darkly.
Fowler bit his lip. Then, "Alright, Prime. Do you know where it'll hit the ground?"
"Yes," said Optimus, as he extended a servo and transferred a window to his own screen, "Ratchet has calculated that the anomaly will land in this spot, at these latitudes and longitudes. Within the borders of the nation you call Canada."
At the human's living area, Miko leaned closer to the boys and whispered, "Do any of you notice that Fowler looks permanently hung-over?"
Jack scratched his head in thought, brow furrowed. "Now that you mention it…"
"He does seem kind of…" Raf paused, searching for the right word. "…stoned."
Fowler swore, face palming. "Canada…that complicates things… I want you to handle this carefully, Prime, preferably covert. We don't want any issues with the Canadian Government." Optimus nodded but sighed inwardly. It pained him to admit, that despite humanity's best efforts, they were still a divided people, divided just like the castes on Cybertron had been. It did not bode well for this young race. "Understood, Fowler. However, I cannot-"
"You can't condone any human casualties, I know," sighed Fowler, "We've heard this before."
"Well, if it makes you any happier, the thing is going to land somewhere deserted," interjected Ratchet, digits clicking furiously across his touch-board, "A very densely forested area, hardly any human habitation for miles at least."
"Human habitation or no, I expect you to keep damage to a minimum," said Fowler, as he loosened his tie; it must be very warm indeed. "I've got the President breathing down my neck for this, Prime. Don't screw this."
"I understand, Agent Fowler. But I'm afraid I cannot promise you anything."
"Just deal with this, Prime. Fowler out."
The agent terminated the link and the window closed, making room for the usual slew of graphs and diagrams. "So, Canada, huh?" said Bulkhead, approaching Optimus, "Heard the weather's pretty good this time of year."
"I believe it is," said Optimus, "Ratchet, are the coordinates ready?"
"Just give me a few more minutes, Optimus. It takes time loading these, nowadays…fragging scraplets."
"Language, Ratchet", called a smiling Arcee, as she leaned against the railing, "There are children here."
Miko gave a small laugh as Ratchet grumbled something about applying a hydraulic ram to a scraplet's interface cable, when a cluster of sand trickled out of a small niche in Bumblebee's armor and engulfed the girl. With a yelp, Miko shut her eyes, lest she get a grain of sand in her retinas; she knew from experience, how irritating sand was to the eye. The scout snapped his optics in Miko's direction, and warbled apologetically, as he leaned towards her.
Sensing his concern, she waved a hand, the other brushing sand off herself. "It's okay, Bee, no need to say sorry. I'd probably not even understand…"
She stopped abruptly, as she felt a series of pricks on her back. They were under her shirt, on her skin, and moving methodically up her spine. It felt like what needles would feel like if they were lightly brushed against your skin, in the same way someone might brush a feather across your face. It was all too familiar…
Skitter-skitter-skitter
Bumblebee's optics widened at Miko's abrupt silence. He looked to Arcee. / Uhh…'Cee? /
Skitter-skitter-skitter
The Ducati, who had been flicking sand out of her Energon SMGs, looked up, and frowned, worry on her faceplates. "Miko… are you okay?"
Skitter-skitter-skitter
Miko's breaths were rising, and her heart was in overdrive. No, please not here, not now…
She gritted her teeth and tore off her shirt, rapidly pulling it over her head, revealing the smooth skin of her torso and back…
...and all ten of the black, cell-phone-sized scorpions that were in the process of exploring her body. The two bots fell silent, as they gaped at the creatures, open-mouthed, and the scorpions stared back, noticing the sudden change in light. Miko couldn't help it. She screamed. She screamed and screamed and screamed and screamed, until she was sure she was going to choke on her own blood, as she frantically swept her arms over her body, trying to brush off the monsters. Everything became a blur, she had no idea what was going on, and she didn't care either, because they were all over her, all over her skin, all spines and barbs, ready to pierce her skin, and torture her soul…
Doesn't matter where you are, said her inner monologue, and doesn't matter where you run off to…
"Bulkhead, NO! You don't have a clear shot!"
They'll find you, and they'll torment you, drive you insane, make you go all loopy…
"Miko! Miko! Answer me!"
And they'll keep on doing this until they get hold of your naked body, lick you, probe you, kiss you, fuck you…
"…heart rate's rising!"
And they'll enjoy every minute of it, the way your lips feel against theirs, the way your body moves, the way you sweat, the way you scream, moan and cry, because Kami, you just taste so good!
SPLOOSH
Miko, gasped as the jet of cold water smacked into her body. The last scorpion, dazed by the looks of it, lost its grip on her skin, and dropped to the floor, legs flailing. A foot encased in a sneaker descended and squashed the hapless arthropod. Miko shivered, and then noticed she was on the floor, shirtless, in the fetal position, her face, upper body, torso and bra drenched in water. She looked up, at the owner of the aforementioned sneaker, and locked eyes with jack. The boy threw aside the still dripping hose, and knelt beside the shivering girl, hand on her shoulder.
A panicked Bulkhead, who was being restrained by the combined efforts of Bumblebee and Optimus, shook them aside, and rushed towards the platform, optics wide in fear. Ratchet deployed a scanner, and ran it over Miko, who hadn't moved an inch. "She'll be alright," said the medic, calmly, though his vocals shook slightly; he hadn't seen anyone scream and thrash around like that, organic or not. "No traces of venom. Nothing to worry about Bulkhead."
The Wrecker wasn't convinced. "Miko! Miko, are you okay?" he practically screamed.
"It's okay Bulkhead" said Jack, "She's just in shock; her phobia…"
Raf who had disposed of his own hose, then began the necessary task of squashing any of the bugs that looked like they were still moving, determined expression on his face. Arcee, who had also joined in the hose-down, set aside her own improvised weapon, and peered at the creatures, optics zooming in. "What in the name of Primus are these things?"
"Scorpions," said Raf, stomping one more time, panting heavily, "relatives of spiders."
"…and if my database is correct," said Ratchet, gravely, "Most species are highly venomous as well. It's a miracle they didn't think of stinging Miko. "
/They must have crawled in my armor somehow. Freaky little things…/ said Bumblebee, his frame shuddering. Arcee agreed with the scout; these bugs were the most unnerving organics she'd encountered so far.
Jack helped a shaking Miko to the couch, holding the girl close, speaking soothing words, saying that they were gone, everything's going to be alright… Miko's arms were still wrapped around herself, and she leaned against Jack, whimpering softly, as he set her down. He sat next to her, one arm around her still-wet shoulders, the other clutching her discarded shirt.
"It's gonna be okay, Miko…" whispered Jack, stroking her skin, "You'll be alright. It's over now."
Miko closed her eyes, and rested her head on his shoulder. Optimus focused his optics on Miko, scanning her vitals. Apart from a slightly increased heartbeat, she was fine. "Miko," he said, softly, "It is over now. Be at peace."
Miko drew a shuddering breath, opened her eyes and gave a weak nod. Optimus tipped his helm, and turned towards Ratchet. "The Ground Bridge, Ratchet?"
Ratchet, who had been distracted, started, and inspected a screen. "We are locked on. I'll start the firing sequence."
"Acknowledged," said Optimus. He turned back to Miko and Jack, sighing. Despite their inner strength, and pure heart, humans, children especially, had troubles facing their inner demons.
He knew how it felt; he struggled with them every day.
