Mission Accomplished
With her 72 hours nearly up, Rachael prayed that there was some way to turn this situation around. Since it was a new day, she decided to change her hair a bit.
She dyed her bangs and three inches of the rest of her hair, and put the rest in a pony. She put on a Japanese school girl uniform. She had cut off the sleeves though, saying they hinder her fighting. She put on her gloves and boots, and the posed in the mirror, "Good god, I've spent too much time with Sari."
Wanting to have a word with her on the matter, Ultra Magnus called her and Optimus to his ship; said that it had something to do pertaining to the Cons.
When the two arrived, Magnus showed them a transmission they've received. A bot named Ironhide was being attacked by the Cons. Magnus ended the call. "We're getting reports of decepticon activity all along the rim of the galaxy."
"Apparently word has gotten out that their leader isn't as offline as they thought he was," Jazz said.
"Wonder where they got that idea?" Sentinel asked sarcastically sneering at Rachael and Optimus. Rachael shot him a raspberry.
"That doesn't matter," Magnus declared, "The important thing is that now we should put this rumor to rest."
"What do you mean put it to rest," Rachael asked, "If Megatron is still alive we should investigate. Who knows, the others may still be alive too?"
"And we only have your word against superior cybertronian scanner technology," Sentinel commented.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Our scanners haven't picked up one lousy cons energy signature," Sentinel declared.
"I DIDN'T BLOW UP YOUR ALSPARK FOR KICKS MAN," she snapped, "I took Megatron out with that blast."
"You know," Sentinel walked up to Rachael knelt down to her, "Ever since we came to this planet, you've done nothing but protect these worthless pieces of tin can."
"Which is more than I can ever say for you," she spat, "Always jumping the gun, as if you know what to do?"
"I do know."
"No. All you know is how ass kiss to Magnus," she got on Sentinel's knee and was inches away from his face, "You take credit for things you had no part in – except getting in the way, and you try to sound logical in front of Magnus," she finished.
"What's your point?"
"My point is: you hate being proved wrong," she concluded, "I wouldn't be surprised if you're scrambling the scanners so that they can't detect Decepticons." Her and sentinel squared off, both growling, waiting for one to stand down.
"Be that as it may," Magnus said, halting the growl match, "We are needed elsewhere." Sentinel stood, and Rachael went back by Optimus's foot. "Optimus prime, prepare your crew for departure."
Rachael's eyes went wide, "But sir, what about the Decepticons on this planet?" Optimus asked.
"Sentinel tells me there are no Decepticons on this planet." he said, "So I'll be taking you back."
"But Ultra Magnus, that wasn't the deal." Rachael explained.
"The deal was that you would prove to me the cons are on this planet. If you could not you would be put off line," he remembered, "So instead, take this as your punishment. Optimus and the others are to return to cybertron, and you may not have contact with them, ever."
Rachael gasped. I can't talk to prowl when they leave, "FINE," she declared, "But you gave me 72 mega cycles to complete this task, and I still have 12 left."
"Then use that to find fragments of the alspark," he ordered, "Seeing as there haven't been sightings of Decepticons," Rachael remained silent.
Optimus decided to take the wheel, "With all due respect sir-"
"You'll get the chance to explain at your side of the story at a public inquiry on cybertron command," Sentinel said.
"You mean a court martial." Optimus assumed.
"Court Martial!" Rachael shouted, "You're firing Optimus?"
"Not exactly," Magnus defended, "More like an opportunity for him to set the record straight."
"And if he says something you don't like, you'll just fire him anyway," Rachael snarled, "You know what, you and sentinel are exactly alike," sentinel and Magnus glanced at each other and cocked an eye, "When you don't like what you hear, or are about to be proven wrong, you go to the next highest rank and try to get them to back you up." she said.
"Is that all," Magnus asked.
"No," she said with a deep voice, "On this planet, a lot can happen in 12 hours. When you get in trouble, I'm going to watch as you get turned into scrap." Magnus saw the evil glow in her eye. She tapped on Optimus, telling him it was time to go. He saluted and left with Rachael.
Rachael and Optimus told the others what went down. Rachael told Sari about the deal she had made, and how badly it turned on her. She told them that she was originally going to be put to death for treason, but Magnus decided to take the guys.
"First my dad, now you guys."
"It's out of our hands Sari," Optimus said, "I'm sorry."
Sari went to Rachael and pulled on her skirt, "Say something Rachael. Why are you letting them leaving without saying something?"
"Because," she droned, "I've had people leave me before. I couldn't stop it then, why should I try now."
"Because you'll never see Prowl again, doesn't that bother you?" Rachael walked away. Not making eye contact with anyone – especially prowl. She went into sari's room. Prowl, not wanting to have left without saying something to help her feel better, went to her. "Should we go too?" bulkheads question was answered by the sarcastic looks of his friends. Then in came sentinel.
When prowl entered the room, he saw Rachael in the fetal position. When she saw prowl, she bit her lip, trying not to cry. Prowl sat next to her.
They sat in silence for 10 minutes. Prowl broke the silence, with a laugh. Rachael looked at him with a quizzical stare, "I was thinking about our last fight with Megatron. How we nearly lost you? I know it's not something to laugh about. But how I was acting was?"
Rachael thought back to that day. For her, it was the most terrifying thing she has experienced. "You know, when I blacked out, all I could think about was you." Prowl watched her with interest, "I dreamt that, you and I were sitting in a cave, our life was slipping away. You said something to me, but I couldn't hear you. After that, you disappeared, leaving me alone." Prowl blushed. He knew what words he had said to her. He was happy yet said that she couldn't hear him. "Every day since then, I've been having dreams where you leave me alone," she bit her lip even harder, "And now it's happening."
"At least we got to spend some time together." He assured her.
She jumped up, a glare on her face, "That's not the point," she snarled, "I want you to stay here – I want you to be in Detroit – I want you to be with me," she could hold back her tears no more, "You're one of the best friends I've ever had in my life. I love being with you, I love seeing you train," she wiped her face, "Whenever I'm with you, I feel like I can soar of above the clouds and higher. The thought of anything or anyone separating us tears me apart," she went on his knee, and held onto prowl like she was about time climb. She cried on his chest plate, "I need you."
He held her to him, listening to her cries, "and I need you." The moment was interrupted by a knock on the door, "Ultra Magnus is in trouble, Lets' move," Optimus ordered.
The Autobots, Rachael and Sari dashed through town, Fanzone behind them. "Why did you have to come?" Rachael asked.
"To insure dat none of you wreck my city again," Fanzone stated, "and keep your eyes on the road."
"Hey, prowl can drive himself, ya know."
They had finally made it on the street, and just in time to see the train go by. "There they are," Optimus announced. Jazz and Magnus were on the speeding train, trying to wrench loose an alspark fragment. An energy wave from the fragment pushed the two off the train. "Alright game plan, "Bumblebee and Sari use the key to try and get the fragment free."
"On it," bumblebee said, "Hold on Sari." He found the highway used it as a ramp and went for the jump.
"Prowl go sever the cars, get them away from the engine." Rachael started to fly, Prowl put on the gas and accelerated after the train. Launching himself, he landed on the train, using his shuriken to separate the cars.
Rachael turned on her boots to keep up with the speeding Autobots and police car, "What's our job boss bot," Rachael asked anxiously.
"We have to slow the engine down."
They caught up to the train. Sari had just got the fragment free, "Got it."
"But we're still gonna crash," Bumblebee exclaimed. They were yards away from the dead end, the crash was eminent. Closing their eyes….they came to a halt. Looking to see what stopped them, Ratchet in the front using his magnets, along with Rachael having her legs three feet in the ground. In the back, bulkhead had an iron grip on the engine. Optimus had his grapple hook around him, "Don't be so negative," Bulkhead said. They let go of the engine, and Rachael collapsed. Ratchet picked her up, "Couldn't been that hard," he assumed, "Didn't Sumdac say those boots and gloves of yours gave you extra strength?"
"I'm pretty sure….. Isaac didn't make… these so I could…stop a train," she said between breaths.
"Well now you can tell him to upgrade them to stopping runaway vehicles." Ratchet quipped. They were soon joined by ultra-Magnus, Jazz, and an extremely pissed sentinel. "Optimus prime, you're under arrest for assaulting an officer, and disobeying a direct order."
"Where have you been?" Rachael asked out of curiousity.
"He put stasis cuffs on me, and left me in the ship." Rachael snickered.
"Ultra-Magnus," Optimus said ignoring sentinel, "it seemed like this was a decepticon trap, so I felt I needed to aide you."
"One problem with your story," Magnus grunted, "Where the Decepticons?" right on cue something impaled the ground. Dust obscured the scene, once cleared, Sentinel marveled, "What is that thing?"
"That's right, you've never seen one up close before," Optimus mocked, "that's a decepticon.
"Not just any decepticon," Rachael said shocked, "THAT'S STARSCREAM!" Starscream was rubbing his head in pain.
"Everyone get back," Magnus ordered leave this to me," when he looked back at the con, he was shot point blank in the face. Starscream sent him into the wall of the train station.
Starscream's attention was drawn to ratchet – or rather who was with ratchet, "Well, looks that's still online," he said in regards to Rachael, "How are you Rachael?"
"A lot better than you are about to be," she growled. She used her bracelet, she drew a ray gun and shot Starscream. He fell like a tree. "That was easy." She spoke too soon. Starscream rose and decided to walk away.
"Where are you going?" bulkhead called. He sent his wrecking at the con and struck him in the back. Once again Starscream fell, he got up and began to walk away. Bumblebee and ratchet attacked, and that didn't work. Rachael turned on her boots, they sputtered. Her gloves began to short circuit. The shock her hands, the boots began to burn. Feeling the pain, she threw them off.
"What's wrong happened?" Jazz asked concerned.
"I'm not sure," she said rubbing her hands and feet, "I think my stuff broke." Ratchet came over, and scanned the two paired object. "Broken is right," he concluded, "The circuitry is fried. No doubt from the strain and dust they just endured. I can fix 'em, but it'll take some time."
"Time that you don't have," Starscream fired his cannon, rendering bumble and ratchet useless. Starscream continued to listlessly walk away.
Jazz was sweating, "Ultra Magnus is down and the decepticon is getting away. What's our next move Sentinel?" He asked. Sentinel stood there, stuttering. He had no clue what to do – no surprise there. Once again Optimus had to take the lead. "Ratchet, you and Sari take care of ultra-Magnus. Prowl, Fanzone, bulkhead, and bumblebee evacuate the humans from the area."
"AND THEN WHAT," Sentinel butt in, "We go after the con? We can't beat him on our own."
"Stop being negative," Rachael said flying into his face.
"Rachael I want you on the sidelines," Optimus declared.
"Negative boss bot."
"Without your gloves and boots help, there's no way you can damage star scream." He exclaimed.
"Don't have to damage him, just distract," The three bots were at a loss, "Sentinel and I will keep Starscream distracted, while you and jazz sneak up and put the stasis cuffs on him."
"But last time-"
"LAST TIME I WAS UNPREPARED TO FIGHT CONS," She convinced, "Now I'm ready," she turned to sentinel, who saw her determination, "Sentinel, LET'S GO."
"YES MA'AM," he said. The two went for Starscream.
"Prowls going to have his hands full with her." Optimus smiled.
"You know huh?" Jazz said.
"Yep. Those two may not admit it, but its obvious how they feel." Then those two charged. Starscream walked, oblivious to the charging bot and girl. "He doesn't know we're coming," Rachael assumed.
"Don't get cocky, he just might-LOOK OUT!" sentinel pushed her out of the way, the shots hitting Optimus and jazz. Both on the ground. Starscream took notice to Rachael and fired at her. Rachael saw purple flashes coming at her, sentinel blocked the shots with his shield. Starscream increased his fire, moving closer to increase the damage. Sentinel's shield began to crack under the pressure.
"How long can you keep this up Autobot?" Starscream mocked, increasing his fire power. More and more cracks appeared. That shield was about to go.
Rachael attached her fan to the shield, its energy transferring to the shield, and small amount of the cracks fading. "DON'T YOU DARE LET UP SENTINEL," she encouraged. She took flight, drawing her hammer, she came down on Starscream's turret, denting the barrel, preventing further shots. Starscream, annoyed with her, swatted her like a fly. Sending her into the pavement, hard.
"RACHAEL!" Sentinel called. Prowl heard the call, and saw Rachael in the ground. He went to go aide her, but was beat to the punch by Optimus putting on the cuffs. Starscream fell like a ton of bricks. Rachael staggered to her feet, "Man I'm going to feel this in the morning." She saw Sentinel kneel down, "Good job Sentinel," she congratulated warily.
"Not bad yourself," he held out a finger, propping her up. They loaded Starscream onto bulkhead and prowl, then took him to the ship.
Everyone, including Fanzone and Sari had gone with Rachael to sort of make sure she was okay. As well as to make sure she behaves. From what Jazz told him, her and Sentinel have a habit of arguing. "Well Rachael Sumdac and Optimus Prime, you were both right," Magnus admitted, "There appears to be decepticons here on earth. Looks like you win the wager Rachael." Rachael grinned with triumph. Prowl tapped her back in approval.
"Rachael," Sentinel called. He walked over holding out a finger, "Thank you for your help."
Both Rachael and optimus jaws dropped, yet she still took the hand, "Thank you for saving me Sentinel."
Prowl subconsciously smiled, "Well, looks like you're in good standing with prowl now that you saved his human."
"What do you mean his/my human?" the two asked.
"Yeah," sentinel said tapping his head, "though it disgust me to believe this between a bot and organic," he said folding his arms, "Don't you two love each other?"
Prowl and Rachael turned so many shades of red. The jumped five feet from each other. "THAT'S ABSURD," Prowl shouted, "WHY WOULD I LOVE HER?"
Rachael glared, "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"
Prowl cursed himself. He was in deep trouble now. Optimus joined Magnus and the others on the side lines. Rachael was hovering in the air, keeping eye level with prowl, "WELL!"
"I didn't mean it like that," he said quickly waving his hands, "i merely meant that-"
"I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!"
"NO-I MEAN YES – I MEAN-" He couldn't find the words, and Rachael grew more and more furious.
"Prowls in hot oil now," bumblebee whispered. everyone laughed, "Hey prowl just admit it's because she's human." He advised.
"Because she's human?" prowl covered his mouth again. If Rachael could spit fire, he knew she would have.
"is it because i have skin?" she asked flailing her hands.
"no, no it's because you have skin-"
"I get it," she wirled a finger in the air, "I'm not worth it because I'm human – sort of."
"it's not because you're human." He finished, "Well it is but it isn't."
"oh, so you can't like me because I'm a mutant." She assumed. "Then I can't like you because you're a robot ninja."
"What's wrong with being a ninja?"
"What's wrong with me being a mutant?"
"I never said anything was wrong with it, you did?"
"who's wrong?"
Prowl nearly pulled his face off, "YOU."
The audience did an ooh. They knew his situation just got worse.
"SO YOU DON'T LIKE ME?
"I NEVER SAID THAT."
"THEN WHAT IS IT ABOUT ME?"
"IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU THAT I LOVE YOU!" He clamped his mouth with both hands. Rachael was blushing and stunned. She slowly floated to the ground. everyone else had a shocked smile. Prowl tried to save himself. The words wouldn't form in his mouth or head, it was just gibberish. He was caught, what event could possibly save him now? "Can we just end the chapter please?"
SAFE!
Fine prowl, but this isn't over.
In the next chapter it will have officially been a year since Rachael returned to Detroit.
Till next time.