Chapter 4: Wanted
"Could you please try and not leak lubricants all over my interior." Ironhide sneered. The fact that Samantha was drenched with water and what his scanners detected as molecules of sewage made his processors cringe. Ironhide wasn't a neat freak, but he didn't take kindly to mess in his interior which was especially hard to clean in his bipedal mode.
"Oh I am sorry. I guess it slipped my mind to keep clean while I was running for my life!" Samantha replied with obvious sarcasm. Ironhide had inadvertently opened a can of worms because while Samantha had kept temporarily quiet about the whole attacked by a robot event, she was now going to unload all her woes on him after that snide comment.
"And speaking of my life," she began with an annoyed tone, "would you care to explain why a robot demolished my house and tried to kill me while I slept! Because this is not a usual night for me!"
Ironhide knew he owed this human the truth, classified or not, she was involved now and it is always safer to be informed. "That robot is a Decepticon, designation Dreadwind."
Samantha's temper was fuming which prompted her to interrupt people mid-sentence during a heated conversation, "Ah ha, and why is a Decepticon after me?"
"I was getting to that." Ironhide snapped, prone to his own temper when interrupted. Samantha caught on to the topkick's irritation and decided to keep her mouth shut as he continued. "I believe Dreadwind seeks to have you terminated because of your involvement in the destruction of his brother Darkwing."
Darkwing? Samantha repeated in her head bewildered. She didn't know anyone named Darkwing. Then it hit her, "The dark silver robot I hit with my truck yesterday."
"Indeed." Ironhide added to her realisation, "I presume he wishes to avenge his brother's death, and since you were easier to find than myself, he sought to eliminate you first."
This was heavy. And Samantha thought losing her job was the worst thing that could happen to her. Now she was on the wanted list of a murderous robotic alien.
Samantha heaved her body into the topkick's passenger seat, not caring about the 'lubricants.' Her head was spinning and she had to lean on something to catch herself. She tried thinking of a resolution, running her hands through her damp blonde hair, but her mind was blank.
Scanning Samantha's vitals Ironhide was not surprised that she had an elevated heart rate, and her breathing had intensified. The human was stressed. And who could blame her. She must have realised that her whole life was about to change, and most humans, and even Cybertronians, were apprehensive to change. "But don't worry," Ironhide offered trying to comfort her, "we will protect you. There is a transport waiting for us now far from here."
"Transport?" Samantha repeated, "Transport to where?"
"To NEST headquarters, a military base for the Autobot – human alliance team." Ironhide explained casually unsuspecting of Samantha's forthcoming reaction.
"Well screw that!" She screamed, "You are not taking me to some military base to be kept in lockup for safe keeping." Samantha knew very well what happened to citizens considered jurisdiction of the military. They may as well be called prisoners of war. But the military didn't even have the decency to call it like it was. Instead they labeled it 'national security' protection. Yeah right.
"There is no other way." Ironhide spat in dispute.
"Yeah there is. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Now pull over and let me out." Samantha demanded. But Ironhide was determined to keep Samantha safe, "You are being irrational, if I let you go Dreadwind would certainly find you."
"I am not an idiot Ironhide. I am a police off… an ex police-officer," Samantha corrected herself still coming to terms with her unemployment, "I know how to stay off the radar."
"Not with a Decepticon you don't." Ironhide retorted. "They are skillful trackers, even against us. They would eventually track down your location."
Samantha didn't know the extent of Ironhide's warning, nor did she care for him to further elaborate. She was determined not to be under military jurisdiction. "I don't care what they are capable of. I am ordering you to pull over and let me out right now."
Silence seeped between them momentarily before Ironhide finally responded, "No" which was immediately followed by four mechanical clicks around the car. Ironhide had locked all his door. Even though Samantha knew the sound quite well, she still leaned over and tested the door. It was locked tight, little surprise.
Snarling through her teeth Samantha fumed, "Ironhide, open the god dam doors." Nothing in response but silence, the topkick's engine humming in the background as it continued down the road.
Samantha was never one for hysterics, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She reached for her bag and pulled out her gun, pointing it at the car's dashboard. With a defiant click she ordered, "Pull over now!"
Ironhide was an old Autobot. And with age came a degree tolerance to certain things. The immaturity of young Cybertronians, the inexperience of his fellow soldiers on the battlefield, but one thing Ironhide never could stomach was being threatened. This intolerance was especially exemplified when a weapon was involved.
With an angry groan Ironhide slammed on his breaks forcing Samantha to jerk forward against his dash. While Ironhide's plan succeeded in forcing Samantha to lose grip on her gun, the weapon fumbling to the floor, Ironhide did not foresee Samantha's delayed reflexes and her failure to guard against her jaw colliding with his dash.
Wriggling and wailing in pain Samantha held her hands to her mouth that was now dripping streams of blood from the sides. Managing to swallow enough of the pool to talk Samantha screamed, "What the hell is wrong with you!"
While Ironhide felt his actions were justified he still felt guilty at causing Samantha physical damage. "You were threatening me with a weapon, what did you expect?" Ironhide defended with a sarcastic tone.
Samantha continued to grip her mouth, the throbbing pain agonising. She couldn't be bothered anymore arguing with this machine who was holding her hostage. She should have realised it from the start. It was a machine, intelligent as it was, how could she have expected it to have the emotional capacity of a human.
Inside Ironhide was hoping Samantha would have continued arguing, at least then he would have a reason to continue justifying his actions. Instead, her silence only made him feel guilty for causing her damage. Ironhide was stubborn, but not malicious.
Despising what he was about to do, he sighed in preparation of an impending apology for causing Samantha harm. The words were on the tip of his vocal processors but before he had a chance to vocalize them an alarm sounded and a warning extended across his visual display. His sensors had detected a Decepticon in the vicinity, and closing in on his position.
Another alarm sounded, this one far more imperative than the last. Incoming fire.
Detecting the source of the attack Ironhide quickly swerved left and right dodging the incoming ammunition. The trajectory and explosion of the arsenal indicated that these were missiles being shot from the sky.
Ironhide was close to the rendezvous point, but not close enough that he could continue dodging missiles. That left him with one option, request backup and hold off the assailant until then.
Ironhide's wheels screamed against the road as the topkick came to a halt, the smell of rubber and smoke filling the air. Without a second thought to the panicked human in his cab Ironhide initiated his transformation command program. Instantly the topkick's body began to change and Samantha's body was shifted from on top of a car sea to the inside of a large robotic hand that lowered her to the ground as the robot yelled across to her, "Hide."
Samantha didn't have to be told twice as she bolted from the middle of the road to a nearby tree. Taking in her surroundings she could see a suburb of houses not too far from their location, but nothing but grass and trees for at least one hundred metres either side of the road.
Ironhide stood steady on the road scanning the sky. His scanners detected an aircraft in the sky circling above. And unless Dreadwind called for reinforcements, which is unlikely, as Decepticons are known to attack in groups, Ironhide deduced Dreadwind was making a second attempt at achieving his revenge.
Samantha watched from behind a tree as Ironhide bellowed into the sky, "Come out and face me coward." As his voice echoed into silence she could hear the faint humming of an engine growing louder. Directing her eyes to the source of the noise she watched as a distant jet soared down from the sky, transformed its body, and landed onto its newly formed feet.
Ironhide glared across at Dreadwind who had landed just far enough away from Ironhide that he could easily dodge the Autobot's weapons, if he needed. Both were in a stalemate waiting for the other to make the first movie. Ironhide powered his canons at his side, but Dreadwind was well known for his preference of hand to hand combat, and he was skilled at maneuvering around artillery. Ironhide knew this was about to become a fist fight.
In a movement of an olympic runner Dreadwind took off in a sprint towards Ironhide, the bulkier Autobot initiating the same dash towards his enemy. Samantha's eyes widened as the two robots ran towards each other like they were engaged in a game of chicken. Ironhide fired his canons at the approaching Decepticon, Dreadwind dodging side to side evading both blasts. In a tremendous clash the two robots connected and began punching and kicking, both of them landing hits, but none vital enough to off balance the other into a fatal position. The loud noise of metal clashing filled the area around them making Samantha flinch with each vicious strike.
As much as she wanted to stay and see the results of the fight, she knew that no matter who was victorious, she didn't want to stay and face the winner. One would kill her; the other would take her prisoner. Spying her bag and gun on the road she made a quick movement to retrieve them and flee while the two robots were distracted in their battle.
Dreadwind was a formable foe, but Ironhide held his own countering and delivering just as much assault as the Decepticon. Minutes had passed and still neither of the warriors had gained the upper hand. Not a concern to Dreadwind, a long drawn out fist fight was his area of expertise and eventually the Autobot would make a fatal error. But unfortunately to Dreadwind, time was against him and his scanners alerted him that a group of vehicles were rapidly approaching their position. Vehicles with Autobot signatures.
Dreadwind pulled all his strength into a powerful strike against Ironhide, powerful enough to use the impact to gain enough distance to leap backwards and transform. The jet powered its engines and shot into the sky. Ironhide fired his canons after it but Dreadwind's skills of maneuvering again serving him well. In seconds the jet was out of firing range and out of sight as it disappeared into the night sky.
"Slag!" Ironhide grumbled as he lowered his canons to his sides. Initiating his scanners Ironhide detected what had prompted the Decepticon to retreat. He turned on his comlink to communicate with his team.
Ironhide to Optimus Prime. Come in Prime.
Message acknowledged Ironhide. What is your current status?
Engaged Dreadwind with minimal damage sustained. He has retreated and no longer in range of my scanners.
And the human?
Ironhide turned to the location he ordered Samantha to take cover. His optics failing to locate her, and his scanners failing to detect her. Ironhide scowled in frustration.
Unknown.
Optimus decided not to respond to Ironhide's obscure message. Instead he would request an explanation in person since he could now see Ironhide standing on the road not too far in the distance.
Author's notes
Hi readers. Thanks for taking the time to read my little story here. I'm still working out the direction I want to take this, weather adventure, romantic etc. but I'd like to know what everyone thinks so far, or if I should even continue with it. Please review and let me know.
