Chapter 9: I am Not a Robot
It was daybreak the next day and Barricade had not stopped driving since the duo escaped the Decepticon base whilst Lexa was sleeping in the seat next to him. He heard Bumble Bee calling out for him several times over the comm. link, but Barricade ignored him. Suddenly the yellow car passed him and slowed down in front of him.
"Barricade, let her go," Bee said with a growl.
"She is safe with me," he said defiantly.
"So that's why she was being hurt by Starscream? We could hear her screaming out in pain through the comm. link. As Autobot's we share our communications and we gave her that phone in case she was in trouble. It was for her safety so whoever was closest could come to her aide. She could have died thanks to you!"
"And thanks to me she is safely away from there."
"Don't you dare!" Bee shouted his holoform appearing in the car next to her.
"Get out!" Barricade growled. There was not enough room for him in the car and because of that, he was practically on top of her. Barricade growled. He did not like that at all.
"I want her with me," Bee growled at him.
"You can't have her," Barricade said, "I can protect her better than you ever could."
"Prove it! So far all you've done is cause her pain!"
"Bee I'm fine now," she said softly and they both paused. Neither of them knew when she woke up.
"Lexa, you should ride with me for now," Bee said.
"Actually," she said as her stomach growled, "I would just like to eat." Barricade nodded and pulled off at the next exit. He found a cute little mom and pop place that was serving breakfast. They walked in and Lexa was happy that all the booths were in use; she did not want to pick sides just to eat. She sat at a table and Bee sat to her right, Barricade to her left. They were glaring across the table at one another.
"Boys behave," she whispered as she noticed the stares from the inhabitants of the restaurant. Bee looked at her first then smiled and grabbed a menu. Barricade continued to glare at the Autobot.
"So Cade," Bee said smoothly, "does this mean you're joining us?"
"I will speak with Optimus about it, Brandon," he growled back, "don't you worry your little processor about it."
"It's bigger than yours," Bee said in a nonchalant manner, "and as the humans say, bigger is better." Lexa blushed as she heard the reference fly from Bee's mouth. The server, a small older woman with silver hair wrapped in a bun and small half-mooned spectacles covering her eyes, walked over and took their order. After writing down the order, she smiled at Lexa and walked away briskly. Once the woman left Barricade smiled.
"It's not the size of the boat that matters, it's the motion of the ocean," he said low enough for only their table to hear. Lexa didn't know it was possible for her to turn as red as she did, but she was horribly embarrassed. Since when had the conversation become a sexual one? She was glad when the food came, for the conversation had gone downhill from there. To say Lexa was mortified was an understatement. She could not believe the things they were discussing. Bee was the first to notice her discomfort.
"Lexa are you okay?" Bee asked and she shook her head picking at what was left of her food.
"You guys areā¦embarrassing me," she said sheepishly looking around at the other customers who were staring and whispering. Bumble Bee blushed noticing the unwanted attention and hailed the waitress. He asked for their check and pulled out his wallet as she brought it. He pulled out a credit card and handed it to her. She walked away and was back quickly. Lexa understood; she was trying to get them out of there before they scared away the regulars. Standing as Bee signed the paper, Lexa all but ran from the restaurant. It wasn't until she was standing outside thinking about the looks on the customers faces that she began to smile at the situation. Bee and Barricade walked out shuffling their feet on the ground.
"Alexandra," Barricade said slowly not seeing the smile spread across her face, "I apologize for how I behaved, it there. It was inappropriate, and I was a disgrace to you please forgive me."
"As was I," Bee said rather formal, "I apologize as well."
"It happens," she said quietly the smile still apparent on her face and they looked up hearing in her voice, "I guess it was worth it to see the faces on the customers." Barricade smiled as Bee frowned.
"That's my girl," Barricade said putting his arm around her shoulders. She smiled up and him and Bee grumbled.
"So who shall I be riding with?" she asked and they both looked at her.
"Me."
"Me, of course," Barricade said at the same time as Bumble Bee. She laughed slightly.
"Well there's only one way to solve this predicament then," she stated sticking her hands in her pockets," RoShamBo."
"What?" Barricade asked and she pulled out her hand.
"Rock," she said with her hand in a fist, "Paper." This time her hand was laying flat. "And scissors," she finished holding her hand out in a fist other than her first two fingers which were apart and she pretended to cut the air.
"I don't think that will be necessary," a voice grumbled behind her. She turned to see a tall man leaning on a GMC Topkick and smiled.
"Hey Ron!" She said smiling, "What are you doing here?" Ironhide glared at Barricade as he walked over to the trio picking Lexa up immediately.
"Taking you back home," he said carrying her to the truck. Both Bee and Barricade protested following the truck in his holoform closely. He set her down in the passenger's seat of the truck and closed the door. He turned slowly and mechanically to face Barricade and Bumble Bee.
"You are both failures as guardians for the girl," Ironhide said, "Therefore neither of you get that responsibility any longer. You!" Ironhide said pointing at Barricade, "You let her go into the 'Lion's den' as the human's put it. You realized what was going on, you figured it out, yet you took her there anyway! And you once told Bee he could never care for her the way you do. You're pathetic if that's how you care for someone."
"T-That was what she wished for," Barricade said taking a step back from Ironhide. The normally calm Weapons Officer had just blown a gasket and Barricade was shocked.
"Haven't you learned that even what the humans want sometimes is not what benefits them the best? That sometimes to keep them safe you must disregard their bravery?" he growled and Bee snickered at the lashing Barricade was getting. Ironhide turned his attention to Bumble Bee.
"And haven't you figured out that humans are free spirits and chasing them around does not bring them to you? Lexa cares for you, but you are too blind to see that because of your hatred of Barricade. Perhaps both of you should stay away from her for a while and realize what your actions could have done!"
"I didn't do anything!" Bumble Bee exclaimed, "I just tried to save her from Starscream!"
"And mortify her in front of the humans," Barricade mumbled crossing his arms over his chest.
"You started it," Bee said glaring.
"Both of you are ridiculous," Ironhide said shoving past them. He walked around the front of his truck body and moved to open the door. Before he opened it, he looked at the two of them. "Let me guess, you both felt your spark ignite the first time she touched you? Do you think no one else felt that? You are wrong. Even Arcee felt that. She has a unique signature for a human that is true, but there is no reason for you to treat her as a doll that you can toss around. She is fragile compared to us, whether you like it or not. So back off. It's your only warning."
The car ride was quiet and Lexa knew Ironhide was unhappy. She only heard parts of what Ironhide told both Bumble Bee and Barricade, but judging by the looks on their faces, he had all but attacked the two bots.
"Lexa something is troubling you," Ironhide said from the driver's seat. Lexa looked over at him and smiled.
"I was just thinking the same thing about you," she said turning in her seat, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing is-"
"Iron hide I spent the better part of five months with you and I learned a lot. Including the sense that helps me know when you are upset. You are upset please tell me why," she said calmly interrupting him. He looked over at her hardly pretending to drive.
"When you were with Barricade," he began and she noticed they were pulling off the road. As soon as they stopped he continued, "Barricade used the number we put in your phone to contact us. The way we created that signal was so if you were in danger we would all be able to receive the call at once and whoever was closest to the signal could come and help you."
"That's brilliant," she said with a smile and Ironhide smiled back.
"I thought so too, that's why I made it," he said, but his smile faltered, "When he contacted us⦠You were being tortured. I could hear you screaming in agony and I know I felt the pain you were enduring."
"I don't remember screaming," she said quietly and he nodded.
"It was a terrible voice, and it sounded so surreal. I never want to hear that again," Ironhide said, "I knew Bee was closest and Barricade informed us that there were only two Decepticon's at the base so I spoke with Optimus. Barricade and Bee were placed as your guardians; they were obviously failing so I asked to take over the job. Optimus agreed it was in your best interest."
"Oh, I see," she said listening to him, whilst looking out the window.
"You do not approve of the decision?" he asked genuinely curious.
"It isn't that I disapprove," she said delicately as she looked toward him with a smile, "It's just that it was really my decision so if anyone should be in trouble it should be me." Ironhide nodded as he began to pull away from the spot in which they were sitting.
"I do have some news that you may not like," he said slowly and she looked back at him.
"What is it?"
"Soon you will begin training again," he said solemnly, "This time with the humans. Will Lennox will take care of you. You will only have a couple weeks after we get back."
"Oh," she said looking back out at the barren landscape, "okay." The rest of the journey home was silent.
The hardest part of leaving again was seeing Sam's face when he found out the same morning. He was mad, but not at her and let it be known throughout the base that he did not approve. Barricade sided with the boy.
"Optimus, this is ridiculous!" Sam said, "Why can't she just live a normal life? Why can't she just stay on the base?"
"I agree, she would be much safer if she were to just stay here," said Barricade standing next to Sam in his robot form.
"Let's face it, I couldn't stay on this base for the rest of my life even if I wanted to," Lexa said walking into the room. She nodded to Optimus, "I'm ready to go, sir."
"But Lexa," Sam began and she looked at him, "think of all the trouble you will be put in."
"Think of all the trouble you have been in Sam. If I have to go through all that trouble as well, I want to be able to protect myself. You were supportive the first time, why are you not as supportive this time?"
"Because this first time you were with Ironhide, I knew he would keep you from being hurt. This time you are going with Lennox's team to some random destination across the world for a survival game. You could be killed!"
"Sam, relax," she said, "I can't promise I won't be injured, but I do promise to come back to you completely alive." Sam looked to Barricade.
"Come on man! You've got to take my side against this!"
"I have said all that I can say to her I cannot convince her to change her mind," said Barricade as he looked at Lexa with a pleading glance.
"It's settled then. We will be leaving momentarily," Ironhide said and Lexa smiled walking out the door next to him.
"Hey there, girlie!" Lennox said as Lexa walked into the hangar. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and smiled, "ready for a long trip to Qatar?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she said with a nervous smile.
"You'll be okay. I'll be accompanying you for the first leg of the training, then its survival 101!" said Lennox much too excited for Bee's liking. The Autobot summoned his holoform to stand in front of Lennox and Lexa.
"Will, I trust you will make sure nothing happens to her?" Bee said protectively and Lexa smiled at him.
"Relax Bumble Bee, you act like you'll never see me again!"
"If I don't," he began with a warning in his voice.
"Don't worry about it Bee! I'll make sure she's safe!" said Will and they Walked onto the plane. Lexa turned back to her friends on the base and smiled at them. With a couple last glances at Bumble Bee and Barricade, Lexa turned and walked into the plane. She sat down and prepared for her long journey. Qatar was not the true destination; hopefully the pilots and soldiers were the only ones to know that.
A/N: I am so sorry it has taken me so long on these past few chapters. This one I actually had a lot of problems with because I'm really trying to build up for the climax of this story and I know exactly how I want the story to go, but getting to that point... well it has been a bit challenging over the past couple weeks. Plus there has been a funeral and finals and ... evil... holidays... . and work... horrible work... that place in which creativity happens yet my imagination is ignored.
To my reviewers:
ultimateanime12: Thank you for reviewing again and sorry this one took so terribly long.
FlamingBitch1408: Starscream will win. No just kidding, I can't possibly tell you though it will ruin all the fun! I'm interested in hearing who you would like to win though!
CharlotteAnnRae: Hello dear! I'm not sure how much you will like this chapter, but I am fairly confindent you'll love the ones I'm planning on posting as soon as I finish them up! :) Always glad to hear your reviews. You dont know the smile it puts on my face to see you comparing my stories to the Harlequin Stories.
Lunar Mist: They're such boys :). Glad to hear from you!
AutobotJena: As far as Lexa knows, yes. But I have plans for that as well ;). Sorry this one took so long!
diggydawg: Glad you enjoyed my story so much and sorry it took so long to post a new one. I hope my story continues to pique your interest :)
Oh yes, that stupid disclaimer that I must do... I don't own transformers, only Alexandra Raine. This is merely fan based and something I write for fun.
Also the title of this story comes from the song 'I Am Not a Robot' by Marina & the Diamonds.
