Yay! Double updates! If you're reading this and haven't read the previous chapter 'To Each His Own...' go read it now or you'll be terribly confused...
Chapter Seven: Conference…
"Do you believe in aliens?"
Looking up from her place in her currently in-hand book, Madelyn saw her mother's face peering down at her from the morning's paper.
"Huh?" Madelyn asked placing in a piece of scrap paper in between the pages and setting it down.
"Aliens," Julia Gates repeated as she pulled a page from the bulk of the paper and handed it over to here daughter. Scanning the page of the oversized and awkward paper, Madelyn read the words 'Minnesota farmer claims to have caught UFO on Polaroid camera' and found herself smiling dubiously at the printed words. Handing the page back to her mom she replied, "Nah."
"You think we're the only life forms in the entire universe?" Mrs. Gates asked with a look. "Kind of close minded of you Maddie."
Madelyn took a bite her of breakfast before picking her book up again.
"If you're too open minded your brain will fall out," The girl retorted and went back to her bookmarked page of her novel.
Opening her eyes, Madelyn felt a strangeness about her having just woken from a dream she couldn't recall. It was annoying for sure, but not something that was uncommon. About two days…that's how long she'd been a guest aboard the Autobot's ship Gigas Marta and so far the extent of what she'd seen was from the top of the table she'd been given residency over. Ratchet refused to let Daiga show her around the ship for whatever his reasons were. She was beginning to feel as if her life was going no where and 'no where' was defiantly not leading to a way home. The thought of home brought painful images to her mind and too many painful questions to be asked. Since her abduction, she had only voiced her concerns about home once and that was to Zandrex...and thinking of him brought contradictory emotions wavering between wishing he was here to comfort her and wanting to chew him out for bringing her into this mess. Daiga apparently didn't or couldn't read her emotions like Zandrex could or at least as far as she could tell, which she found to be a blessing. With the thought of Daiga, came the thought of the second key, the only one she had yet to meet.
Ratchet had told her his name was Groove and he was on the Valladus, another Autobot shuttle that was apparently in their vicinity. Supposing that the Valladus was too far to make internal linkage or he was just not interested in talking with her, Madelyn made no effort to contact him either. Instead she tried to think of ways in which to spend her time. Not much verity in that department. Most of the time she had slept which only succeeded in making her groggy and irritated…then she tried to stay awake as long as she could…turned out not to be the smartest thing she ever did considering she fell off the table. She would have been a human pancake too if not for Jazz being there at the time for his post-injury check up. That Mech was fast on his feet Madelyn found out that day. Of course then she had an hour long lecture from Ratchet about…something though exactly what she couldn't recall. She had fallen asleep half way through.
Stomaching the brown liquid Perceptor provided her with was becoming more and more tolerable – though no more pleasant. Of course she was looking forward to when they would dock on Nebulos for some repairs to the ship and where Madelyn would receive some creature comforts. From what she'd been told Nebulans and humans were very similar in their anatomy and dietary requirements so Madelyn should feel right at home there – as 'at home' one could feel on an alien world. What plans there were beyond that she'd no idea. Which prompted the new question that she felt rather slow to have just pondered – what was she a key to? Zandrex had never actually explained that. Though Megatron did say something along the lines of that her power was rightfully his…Ok…what power was that? From what she could tell there was nothing so special about that would warrant her to be labeled as having powers…the mink linkage between Daiga and Zandrex was a little freaky, but…well that was beginning to seem normal to her. Zandrex could manipulate technology, making virtually anything using anything available to him. Daiga hadn't said anything to her indicating what his specific abilities were and she had not the chance to even meet Groove, let alone ask him about his power.
How frustrating.
"Madelyn," Caught off guard by Ratchet's sudden appearance next to her table, Madelyn jumped, startled, and turned to look up at the towering Mech above her. "Optimus Prime had asked for me to have you delivered to him. He's calling a meeting and wished for you to be present."
Feeling her throat beating rebelliously in her throat, Madelyn considered a moment.
"I told him I didn't feel it to be the best thing for you," Ratchet explained. "But it's your choice."
Seeing Ratchet eyeing her, almost as if he were trying to influence her decision, she asked, "What's the meeting about?"
"Probably about you, Daiga, and Groove," He explained with an indifferent shrug. It would be a chance too meet the second key and maybe find out what was the big picture in all this. "I do not doubt he is intended to reveal you to everyone."
"I'll go," Madelyn said and seeing Ratchet's face, at her not agreeing with him, shrunk back from the Autobot CMO some. "I want to know what's going on…"
There was a long moment where Ratchet simply stared down at her and finally with a sigh, "Very well. I'll ask Wheeljack to escort you down."
After that, Ratchet disappeared into his office and did not come out. Less then ten minutes later Wheeljack entered the med bay flanked by Jazz. Both of whom looked…nervous.
"Ready?" Wheeljack asked. Madelyn couldn't help but absorb their anxiousness…mostly because she hadn't an idea as to what was for them to be nervous about – she was the one 'coming out'.
'I'm so glad no one I know from home is here to make a gay joke.'
"Yeah," She said. Wheeljack reached out with both hands and picked her up, cradling her between his palms as Ratchet had done when she was pulled from the iron box a few days prior. This now seemed to become the standard of handling her among the Mechs aboard the Gigas Marta – those select few she had contact with. Allowing Jazz to exit ahead of him, Wheeljack looked down at the small girl. "Ratchet asked me to warn you about some of the Mechs who'll be at this meeting. So just sit back and don't draw attention to yourself and you should be fine. Tempers are already pretty high as it stands. I think he's afraid someone will just snap and lash out."
Swallowing hard, she nodded.
"But don't worry too much," Jazz said with a smile, looking back. "Daiga, Wheeljack and I will be there to make sure no one messes with you."
Surprised at herself and the trust she seemed to embalm them with over the short time she'd been their guest, Madelyn smiled gratefully at them. "Thanks."
Jazz grinned. "Think nothing of it."
For the next minute or so it was smooth sailing through the empty halls of the Gigas Marta. Seeing what lay beyond the med bay doors was a new experience in and of itself. Large halls with impossibly high ceilings occupied Madelyn's curiosity as the traveled. They pasted only a few Autobots on their way down and each time, Wheeljack covered her with his hand so she wasn't visible. But after three of those Madelyn wondered with a mental giggle that the Mechs they were passing must think Wheeljack's gone bonkers.
Arriving at an official looking door a minute or so later, Jazz stepped up and typed a confusing series of codes into the small pad just to the side of the door. When the pressurized entryway hissed aside, several voices could be heard from within. And they didn't sound too happy.
Wheeljack followed Jazz through the door. Inside the conference room there was a table. Seated there upon were Optimus Prime (at the head) Daiga (second to the last on the end farthest from her) and three others she didn't know. Standing behind one of them (a green Mech with a seemingly perpetual scowl) stood a larger silver Mech. His optics shaded by a red visor and a face mask. Seated directly to Optimus Prime's left was a large imposing frame of a Blue Autobot. He sat idly, handing lying still on the table while he listened to the conversations around him. The room was circular with rows of seats lining the walls and was well lit, much like the med bay. As Jazz and Wheeljack entered the constant chattering died down as everyone turned to gaze at the newcomers. Madelyn made herself very small as she saw the glowing optics fall on her.
"Thank you for escorting her men," Optimus nodded to the two, who saluted back (though Wheeljack saluted backwards seeing as his saluting hand wasn't vacant). "You're dismissed."
"If it's all the same to you Prime," Jazz added, in a noticeable tone that suggested anxiousness. "Ratchet's kind of employed us as her bodyguards."
"Very well," Optimus chuckled. "You may stay."
Giving their commander another salute, they went to take their seat, but not before Wheeljack stepped up the table. As carefully as he could, Wheeljack deposited Madelyn into the table. Starring wide eyed at the array of imposingly large Autobots before her, Madelyn slid off Wheeljack's hand.
'Big…big…robots…' Madelyn thought stupidly. In her mind Daiga's voiced laughed.
'More like small, small organic,' Daiga chuckled.
'Not helping…' Madelyn replied.
"Thank you for agreeing to come, Madelyn," Optimus said to her with a nod, which she returned.
"What does this mean?" Asked the green, scowling, Mech to Madelyn's right. "The Artifact was only wieldable by Mechanical life. How could an Organic be a key?"
"We don't know for certain that only a being of Mechanical origins could wield the Artifact," The large Blue Mech replied. "Just assumptions."
"Ratchet tells me that she's shown no evidence of a physical manifestation of the Artifacts shard's power," Daiga said. "Both Groove and I had some sort of reaction after making internal linkage for the first time. Madelyn's shown nothing. Maybe that's a good thing. We don't know how the shard's power would affect her."
"But you remember what Megatron did to Diadaras," The green Mech replied. "The Artifact drained the entire planet of energy! The entire planet was a wasteland before we even got there."
Madelyn hadn't a clue as to what Diadaras was…and what was this Artifact everyone kept talking about? Feeling a little silly, Madelyn raised her hand. Optimus turned his massive head and peered at her curiously through glowing blue optics.
"Yes Madelyn?" He asked.
"Um…what is…the Artifact?" She asked. "No one ever really explained it…Megatron did say something like the power in me was rightfully his and…uh…"
Trailing off, she began to feel overwhelmed as everyone in the room looked at her.
"I suppose we should start at the beginning then," He replied. "The Artifact's origins are unknown. What we do know however, is that Starscream was the one who found it on a desolate planet somewhere in the Exodus Galaxy."
"The energy overwhelmed him," The blue Mech added. "He became power hungry and tried to overthrow Megatron as leader of the Decepticons."
"Pit born son of a glitch got ripped new motherboard," The Green Mech replied with a smirk. Daiga leaned across the table and scowled at him.
"Watch the language," Daiga told him. "Ratchet will rip you a new motherboard if he found out Maddie learned to how to curse from you, Springer."
The green Mech - Springer – raised an eye ridge.
"What is she?" He asked. "A protoform?"
"Actually," Prime replied, a smile in his voice. "She is."
"In his defense," Madelyn said, not being able to help but smile. "I already know how to curse rather vividly…not in your language, but well enough in my own."
"See?" Springer replied, indicating to Madelyn. "No problem. Besides, does she even know what 'pit born' means?"
"I could guess," She replied. "'Pit-born' sounds a lot like 'Bastard' to me."
"As interesting as this conversation is," The blue Mech pointed out with a smile. "We're a bit off subject."
"Sorry," Madelyn replied.
"After Megatron quelled Starscream's attempt," Optimus continued. "The Artifact then came into his possession. With it, he was able to defeat us time and time again until finally he was able to conquer our home world – Cybertron."
Madelyn suddenly felt a deep sympathy for those around her. She was stranded in the middle of space, far from home, but they…their home world was not theirs at all. As she was temporarily stranded until she found a way home, the Autobots would most likely have to fight a long hard and bloody battle to return to theirs.
"If he tried to over throw Megatron," Madelyn asked. "Why is he second in command?"
Springer's optics flashed. "The same question has baffled us for the longest time. You'd think he'd have Starscream disassembled and thrown in a pit, but…second in command?"
"On earth," She replied. "We have a saying: 'Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer'; Easier to see an attack coming from up close then far away."
"Then why not just slag the guy and be done with it?"
Madelyn was silent for a moment. Just mentioning of the name Starscream brought back frightening memories of their first and only contact. And incident much preferred to remain forgotten.
"While I was on the Dias Morga," Madelyn began. "Zandrex was trying to teach me to use my abilities to find the other keys. He explained that each key has a separate and special ability unique to the host. He showed me his just as Starscream entered the room and…" Madelyn took a breath. "Starscream wanted to punish him for using his powers against orders…and to teach him a lesson…he…tried to…"
Madelyn took another bracing breath and tried to keep from shaking.
"He tried to kill you," Daiga finished, his voice soft and understanding. "That's what you told me before right?"
Madelyn nodded. "But you started your attack just then and he let me go…I think that's why Zandrex chose to help me escape."
"Zandrex?" Springer asked dubiously. "That slagger wouldn't help a turbo-rat find oblivion. He's a Decepticon lackey and a traitor."
Madelyn felt her face grow hot in anger. "You're wrong. He helped me."
"But it's because of him you're in this mess, right?" Springer retorted. "Sounds like a slagger to me."
"Zandrex was the one who gave me the box," Daiga added. "The one we found Madelyn in. He told me to keep her safe or he'd deactivate me."
"Perhaps we know less about the first key," Optimus added. "Then we claim. Nevertheless we will need to have Zandrex's cooperation if we are to successfully collect all four keys."
"Then we have to free him," Madelyn replied. "He said he was being held prisoner. I think the Megatron may be using his home as leverage against him."
The blue Mech eyed her. "What makes you say that?"
"He deleted the warp gate information regarding my planet and its location," She replied. "He told Shockwave that he wouldn't let them use my home against me like they were with him."
"That would explain why he wouldn't come with us that one time," Daiga mused. "But…where is he from?"
"Yasurr," Madelyn replied. "I think that was it…"
Everyone in the room exchanged knowing glances. Mechanical bodies shifted uncomfortably as their internal systems hummed.
"Yasurr?" Optimus asked. "I regret having to tell you this, but Megatron had Yasurr obliterated vorns ago. There's nothing but a field of debris left."
A cold chill ran down her spine as Madelyn tried to grasp what she was being told.
"So all this time," She said finally. "Zandrex was doing the bidding of that mass murdering bastard to protect a planet that had already been destroyed?"
Lowering her head, Madelyn felt a great surge of morning. She recalled Zandrex's voice…and how sad he seemed to be…of anyone here he was the one who most deserved to go home…
But as life most often goes, those most deserving are often the ones left behind.
