Since we were all wondering about our favorite Miko, here is her little 'adventure'
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Miko sat high up on a metal crossbeam, looking across the empty space she'd learned to call home. Sighing, she reached up hesitantly to run her fingers lightly down a angry scar on her left arm, wincing as the touch caused it to inflame. She'd only got it a few weeks ago, but Cybertronian lasers were one thing that a mortal body didn't heal quickly or painlessly from. Across the huge room, Miko was pretty sure it was at least 20 football fields long, 2 huge Cybertronians were throwing a wrecking ball back and forth for fun. The huge red being on the left was Red Bomber, Red to everyone in The Base, and the black being on the left was Shadow Quaker, just Quaker to us. Quaker tried to grab the incoming ball, but it shot past him and slammed into the walls, shaking the foundation and making Miko grab the beam in order to not fall to her death.
"Come on, Quake, you so could have caught that!" Miko shouted, standing up with a laugh.
"Yeah? Well you try you little girl." Quaker replied gruffly, but Miko saw the glimmer in his optics and knew he wasn't as mean as he tried to pass himself off as.
"Would love to, Quake, but I don't feel like dying today." She replied easily, walking to a rope and swinging on down to the ground floor. Quake's 'con symbol flashed in the light he was blocking, but Miko knew just because he wore the 'con symbol didn't make him a true Decepticon. The Base was a mix of beings with Autobot symbols and Decepticon markers, but here they were neither. Here, each Cybertronian was one of the Crusaders. Quake and Red weren't the only Crusaders, outside of this one room there was many others, to many for the young Japanese to count. There was Silver Lighting, once a 'bot now a Crusader, called Sill, a once-'con named Ram Out, a 'bot named Cambree, and the list just went on and on. Here, Miko found more than 1 female Cybertronian, there was actually a horde here. Wincing as the scar screamed at her, Miko headed to Red's outstretched hand.
"Yeah, can't kill the human, Quaker, Boss wouldn't be to happy." Red chuckled darkly, but Miko just rolled her eyes as she took a seat on the being's shoulder.
"Yeah, don't want to upset the Boss." Miko smirked, sticking her tongue out at the other Cybertronian.
"Boss doesn't scare me." Quaker muttered, but Miko ignored him.
"Red, take me up to my room? I want to lie down, my head..." Miko groaned, her eyes squeezing shut as the pain of everything she'd been subjected to because she had simply taken the wrong road. And it wasn't a metaphorical 'went down a wrong road', it was a literal 'I walked down the wrong road'.
"Course, Miko. I'm sorry, I thought I could make it in time. But that last 'con, he blindsided me." Red apologized for the thousandth time.
"It's fine, Red, what's done is done, that thing's at the bottom of the ocean. Those 'cons better have learned a lesson, I don't think I could take another round, not so soon after that other one..." Miko trailed off, her mind going back to the beginning.
"I'm still sorry." Red sighed, walking across the room. Her bedroom had been carved high up into a wall, high enough that made sure Miko couldn't escape. But by now, she didn't really get why they thought she would run away. Maybe in the beginning, but things were different now. Red gently lowered the fragile human into the alcove, his worried green optics peering in at Miko as she went about her room.
"I'll be fine, just some sleep and all will be well." Miko told him cheerfully, grabbing some nightclothes to change into to. She pulled the screen across her room's opening, shutting Red out of her personal world. Her room was small, a bed, a dresser, a makeshift closet, and the tiniest bathroom in the world. Changing quickly, Miko pulled herself under the covers, and as she tried to shut the memories out, the faster they came. How it all went down, why, and what she had gotten herself into...
Part 1: How it began...
It had started a while ago, maybe a few months, but it all started because she had wanted to walk home. Well, that and the fact she had known that she was being followed since she had been living in Japan. It was a day that she had decided to walk home from school. She had gotten into a fight with Jack, and she really did not want to be in the confines of the base with him for hours before she had to demand to go home.
So she had walked.
It was an accident really, she passed her street while in an oblivious day dream, skipping Avernus Lane and heading down Lilies Avenue. Miko hadn't noticed the jet gliding softly behind her, she had been so used to its presence she never gave it a thought anymore, but what struck her as odd was when a silver Austin Martin started driving right beside her. Miko got suspicious when it didn't leave her side as it drove forward, always at her pace and always right there. Miko knew something was up, something was off, and if Bulkhead didn't show up right now she was going to need a miracle. She started racing across a yard, hopping a fence, and racing through someone else's backyard as she threw herself onto Avernus Lane just as the Austin Martin sped unto her sight, she raced for her house, but the car's door opened and as she ran across the street, she was slipped into the the car's confines with a bang as the door shut behind her with a click.
"Let me out! Let me go! You are so going to pay for this! I have friends that could crush you in a second! Let me go! You don't know what you're doing!" Miko yelled, slamming her fists on the windows and doors after realizing the door wouldn't unlock. "Who are you anyway?" She demanded, turning to glare at the driver.
Except, there was no driver.
Miko let out a gasp, and leaned as far back in the seat as she could before repeating the question, and one slightly more important. "Who are you? Are you one of those stupid 'cons?" The car chuckled, and and ominous feeling crept into Miko's skin.
"I am Star, that is all you need to know." The car rumbled, speeding into the desert. "And no, I am not one of those low Decepticons."
"You're not an Autobot." Miko accused.
"No, I am neither." The car agreed, speeding up.
"Then what are you?" Miko demanded, cursing herself as she leaned forward curiously. She couldn't help it, her curiosity had been piqued.
"I am one of the Crusaders, the third party in our Cybertronian War. I belong to the 'sader faction, and you little one, have been chosen for our cause."
"Excuse me?" Miko demanded, glaring at where she supposed a driver should have been. "I am not some little piece of trash that can be picked up and bent to someone's will, take me home now! And what, do you think I'm stupid or something? There is no 'sadar faction! There is 'cons, and there are 'bots, there isn't a Crusader group."
"You know nothing, child." Star replied gruffly.
"The why me? What do you want?" Miko demanded again, crossing her arms and demanding an answer.
"It is not my place to speak of the matter." Star replied, speeding up and leading me deeper into the desert.
"Take me back!" Miko exploded.
"Star, do you have the girl?" A voice suddenly asked, and Miko jerked in surprise. "Star, respond." The voice commanded.
"Of course I have her, she's just as feisty as you claimed." Star replied to the bodiless voice, and Miko knew he was looking mournfully at the place she had tried to claw into the leather interior.
"Of course, I do not speak lies, Star, you know that full well." The voice hissed, and Miko knew she had to tread carefully around this guy, whoever it was. "Bring her to The Base, and bring her there now. I will meet you, and I expect no complications, is that understood, Star?" The voice called, and the car just drove faster. The only thing that caught Miko's attention was the part about The Base, base with a capital B. "Good, and welcome to the cause, little Miss Miko." The voice chuckled, and the human recoiled in fear.
"Who was that?" Miko demanded, and as a reply a jet's engine kicked up to supersonic speed, and a jet zoomed into the horizon.
"That was our Boss." Star replied subdued. Miko began to hyperventilate. She was being taken who knew where, for reasons she wasn't allowed to know, for a cause she didn't get.
Like at all.
Breathing hard, she mentally begged Bulkhead to find her, to get her home...safe. But the car was leaving Jasper, Nevada farther and farther behind, and as the last traces of desert sand disappeared, Miko knew she wasn't going to be rescued. Tears started dripping down her face, faster and faster, splashing into the leather with a light thump.
"Hey, stop leaking on my leather!" Star suddenly exclaimed. Miko just sniffed, and wiped some tears off her face with a choked sob.
"I'm not leaking, I'm crying." She said hoarsely, the tears coming back with a vengeance.
"And the difference?" Star inquired with fake politeness.
"Oh you don't want to know." Miko laughed weakly, brushing another tear off her cheek. "But tears, they say sad. Leaking...let's not go there."
"I do not think I understand." Star finally admitted.
"I'm crying because I'm being abducted!" Miko shouted, slamming a fist into the upholstery. "I want to go home, I want my friends, let me go, please!" Miko begged, the tears falling freely and just as quickly as possible. Miko's face turned red, her eyes became puffy, and the Japanese lost it as she began to cry. This wasn't fair, none of it! The tears stopped as sorrow was replaced with anger, and she started yelling at him in Japanese
"Oh, be quiet you stupid human! I mean it!" Star tried unsuccessfully to get her hostage to be quiet, his threats never ringing with an ounce of truth. He'd said so himself, they, whoever 'they' were, wanted her alive and well. "Oh shut up already." Star groaned, but Miko only quieted as she fell into a dreamless sleep. She awoke to the hum of an engine, and smiled as she realized she must have fallen asleep inside Bulkhead.
"Hey, Bulk, sorry, I guess I was just tired." She smiled, sitting up and stretching. As her eyes took in her surroundings, she realized she was not in Bulkhead.
Star.
"No, please no." Miko begged, squeezing her eyes shut hoping it would erase everything, and when she opened them she would not be in some unknown car somewhere going who knew where. Opening them didn't change the setting, she was still inside the Austin Martin, and she was still a hostage. "What do you want?" Miko cried, going back to banging on the window and kicking the door.
"Stop it! Stop it, human! Do not even dare scratch my leather!" Star roared.
"Oops, to late." Miko smirked, and raked her semi sharp nails down the door's side. She couldn't quite cut through, but she smiled realizing she was leaving an impression.
"Human." Star warned.
"This human's got a name, you whack job, and it's Miko! That Boss of yours used it, so you better too!" Miko yelled hotly, and kicked her boot as hard as she could into the door.
"Human!" Star barked, and Miko kicked the door again.
"Not my name you idiot! It's Miko!" She yelled at him, and kicking the door again Star skidded sideways on a lone, abandoned road. Star jerked to a halt, and taking the chance Miko tried unlocking the door.
This time it clicked open.
Sprinting out she started running back the way they had come. Jack and Raf didn't know one thing about her past, that she had been on her school's track team, and she was pretty dang good at it. Miko kept going, gaining speed as she heard the scrape of metal sighing over metal as Star transformed.
Miko didn't look back.
"Human!" Star shouted, and she heard the pounding of his pursuit. I can't outrun him! Miko screamed mentally, making a jolting sideways motion and sprinting sideways. While she had been sleeping, Star had driven them into another desert, and here she was racing for her life among the sands.
"It's still Miko!" She shouted over her shoulder, her voice coming out in gasps. Her feet started sinking in the sands, and gasping Miko knew she would be recaptured. She tried to get over a desert hill, and as she reached the top Star's crushing grip encased her and jerked her up to his optic level. "Let me go!" Miko squirmed, trying to twist but ending up gasping in pain as Star's grip tightened.
"I think not, you conniving little human." Star ground out.
"Why is it so painful to say 'Miko'?" She demanded. "It's 2 syllables, for crying out loud!"
"Human, do not tempt me. Do you know how easy it would be to snap you in half? You insignificant mortal, so fragile, so frail. I, on the other hand, I am strong and able, and a simple tap from one of my fingers would not hurt me as much as it would mortally wound you. Now, you be a good little pest, and don't try that again. Is that understood, you conniving girl?"
"Uh, no." Miko replied, daring him to snap her. She was praying he wouldn't, but she couldn't resist letting her personality show. Miko Nakadai did not bow to others wishes, she was her own master, and she would not take commands from some idiot whose name happened to be Star.
"Human." Star began darkly.
"Human, human, human, is that all you know?" Miko demanded with a snort. "Look, just let me go. We both hate each other, it's kinda apparent, and we both really don't want to be anywhere near each other, so let's just turn around, and we won't ever have to see each other ever again. Does that sound good?"
"It's sounds perfect." Star replied with a half smile. Taking the agreement as a a chance to look him over, Miko found herself looking at a being that had a silver and black paint job. His optics were the Autobot blue, and he was tall and broad shouldered like Optimus. He had the insight that Arcee's optics always had, and he reminded her of a being that could actually be a friend.
If he stopped trying to kidnap her of course.
"But," Star suddenly continued. "I do not get to choose, the Boss does, and he wants you on the 'sader side."
"What?" Miko exploded incredulous. "Why are you listening to him? He doesn't have your best interests at heart! He doesn't even care that you hate me and would probably squish me like a grape! He doesn't care at all! He's making you into a slave you know, making you his personal attendant. He just didn't want to have to deal with me, he didn't want me ruining his interior."
"True, all possibly true." Star allowed, transforming and Miko found herself in the front passenger seat of an Austin Martin. "But he is the Boss, and his word is law. Do you not have someone who controls your movements? Someone you believe against you?"
"Ratchet." Miko snorted.
"Precisely, he cares, but not in the way you expect." Star replied, his voice coming through the radio's speakers. Star drove fast and Miko stubbornly looked out the window, avoiding having to speak to him, and avoiding giving him the satisfaction of possibly being right. She was right, Miko Nakadai was always right. A river began to take the place of the desert, and Star suddenly drove into the water.
"What are you doing?" Miko screamed, bracing herself as she waited for the water to drown her.
That didn't happen.
Star was driving on top of the water, speeding across like it was nothing.
"What-What?" Miko stuttered, looking at the water beneath the tires in shock.
"Boss made a road right beneath the water, so we just drive straight across." Star replied like it was no big deal.
"Huh?" Was all Miko could say. Star drove straight across the water, and accelerated as he headed straight for a rock wall. Before she could scream. The wall lifted up and Star drifted on in. "Just like at the base." Miko murmured, and looking out the window she found herself in a large room. It was bigger than the whole Autobot base, and Cybertronians of every race, both Autobot and Decepticon, were waiting in the room. There was more Cybertronians than Miko had ever seen in one place, and she automatically took out her phone to begin shooting pics. Star transformed, and Miko found herself back in his tight grip.
"So that's the little pest Boss wanted?" A female 'con asked, her purple symbol flashing off her arm.
"Looks kinda tiny." A male bot with the Autobot insignia replied, and Miko's mind reeled in shock when the duo didn't automatically try to kill each other, and they were standing right next to each other.
"Big things come in small packages." Miko retorted, not liking how they talked about her like she was invisible.
"Yeah, whatever makes your spark beat at night." The female 'con replied.
"She's a human, humans don't have sparks, Lessa, they have, um, kidneys!" Another 'con countered.
"Nuh uh, humans have livers!" Another 'bot returned.
"You wish, they have bones." Another said.
"No that's the hard stuff, like we have metal." Someone else tried.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." The other chuckled.
"Um, don't they have-"
"Uh, hello? Human in the room here." Miko finally spoke up. "And we have all that stuff. And our sparks? Have you tried a heart?" The room burst into a round of 'oh'.
"Oh, I remember that."
"Big gushy thing, can't miss it."
"Totally, not like I forgot, just wanted to see if you knew it."
"Course, I just wanted to see what dumb stuff you could come up with."
"SILENCE!" Star roared, and all the beings quieted. "I am going to take her to Boss, and then we can begin." The room bursted into cheers.
"Finally!"
"Waited so long, it is almost time!"
"What we need to accomplish, the objective is almost in hand!" The room continued talking as Star walked her out of the room. He headed down a hallway, never stopping as a crowd of Crusaders came to see the 'little human'. Star pushed them all back, and Miko had no choice but to keep looking forward. She didn't get it, the room was full of both 'cons and 'bots, but neither was trying to kill the other. The worst was when someone was sparring, and even then they never went for harsh blows.
It was weird.
Star turned into a room, a room with only a sole occupant. The being was turned away from Star and Miko, looking out a natural window as his sharp, pointed fingers gently clacked together as he tapped them.
"Boss?" Star began hesitantly, slowly dropping to a knee bow. The bot did not turn to the duo, he kept looking out the window. Star opened his mouth to address his master again, but the bot cut him off.
"Leave her on the ledge, Star, she will not be able to escape there." The Boss said, and Star immediately jumped up to deposit Miko on a rock outcropping. "Leave." Boss commanded, and Star automatically left the room. The Boss still did not toward the confused human, and Miko was ready to start yelling when he finally spoke again. "Little Miss Miko, how good to see you. I have been waiting quite a while to be able to be face to face, it has just been reconnaissance for a long time."
"I remember." Miko replied. "That jet that I always saw."
"Exactly, just 'that jet', but this jet has a name Little Miss Miko, that name happens to be Chain Breaker. Not the prettiest I do admit, but I held no choice in the choosing and what was done is done. But we are not here because I have an uninteresting name, you are here because I have decided you shall be a Crusader."
Part 2: The Base
"What is the Crusaders?" Miko asked, hesitant about being alone with the the big being. He looked a lot like Bee, which put her slightly at ease, but his paint and metals were silver, plain silver. His optics were a simple red, and that freaked Miko out more than anything.
"The Crusaders, my dear child, is the third faction in the Cybertronian War. The Autobots fight for Prime, the Decepticons Unicron, and we, we simply fight to get off Earth. The 'cons, they see your race as a species to be controlled. I, on the other hand, see your race as pathetic and not worth our time. Each Crusader knows this, you humans are not worth the sacrifice so many of our kind made. You are weak, soft, useless, and even if it was slave labor none of your kind would survive to make it a year. If your kind was quicker, stronger, more able gifted, maybe the Crusaders would not exist, but they do. We want off your planet, we want to conquer a race more befitting to our superiority, we desire this."
"Okay, so why am I here?" Miko finally asked.
"Because you, my truly unusual friend, you are different." Was Chain Breaker's simple reply.
"I'm not following." Miko finally admitted.
"Must I explain everything?" Chain Breaker sighed. "Very well, if only for you. You know you are not the same as those of your kind, you know you were born just a tiniest bit different than the others."
"Of course, everyone's unique." Miko said.
"But you more than others, am I correct? You know." Chain Breaker said, and Miko looked at her feet as she accepted his words. She had never fit in, not until she had joined the Autobots had she ever felt included, like she was part of a group, meant for something important. "You know." Chain Breaker chuckled, and Miko nodded. "But it is more than that, little Miss Miko, your whole family is different."
"What?" Miko asked astonished.
"Your whole family, you are all different. Your auras cast different power than the rest of your race. I could feel it as I flew over Japan one day, and it led me to your family. But, it was you who cast the most power. Optimus is a fool, he could not detect your power for the greatness it is, but I can."
"What, you want to use me?" Miko demanded, deciding to approach the whole 'I have power and so does my family' issue later.
"No, as I have said I am not a fool, and to force something so wild would not be wise." Chain Breaker replied.
"I don't get it, I have power?"
"Very much." Chain Breaker said easily.
"But I can't do anything! I don't have any special abilities, I'm just a normal Japanese teenager." Miko spoke, her voice rushing.
"Power does not always equal an ability, little Miss Miko." Chain Breaker replied. "Power is sometimes something that can be used to achieve a goal. I cannot explain it, I just feel it. It does not amount to a special ability, that would indeed make you great, but it is just something growing inside you, something that can draw any Cybertronian's attention if they are paying attention. I believe Ratchet could feel it, but I think he summed it up as over excessive eagerness. You have a choice, Miss Nakadai. You can stay here willingly and I will not have everyone you know and love vaporized, or you can refuse and everyone you have ever met will be disintegrated." Miko let out a gasp, and stepped back, her body hitting the stone wall behind her.
"That-that's no choice! That's not fair!" She cried.
"Life's not fair, little Miss Miko, get used to it. Now, your decision?" He asked politely.
"There is none." Miko whispered. Her family...all gone? Jack and Raf..decimated? But the Autobots! They would be able to fight, to rescue her!
"Don't even think of those Cybertronian friends of yours, we out number them 100 to 1. And that ratio is being more than fair. In truth, we out number them more than you can ever count." Chain Breaker said darkly, and Miko's hope withered in her heart.
"Then I have to stay." Miko whispered, looking at her feet in defeat.
"There's a good girl." Chain Breaker purred.
"I still don't get it." Miko said. "Why me? Why not someone else?"
"Your power, though physically useless, can draw a Cybertronian's attention even if he's on the opposite side of the globe. I am surprised you haven't been destroyed yet." Chain Breaker commented, and the blush to Miko's cheeks made him laugh. "Oh, things have come after you before! No wonder you didn't blink when Arcee transformed in front of Jack!" Chain Breaker hooted, and all the memories of unmanned cars, planes that flew a little to close to the ground, gadgets moving...
"But I can't let my friends know I'm gone." Miko told the being in front of her gravely. "That's not the smartest thing in the world."
"True, true. They would not like hearing their precious little Miko joined the dark side." Chain Breaker chuckled.
"This isn't the dark side, is it?" Miko asked hesitantly.
"My mark shows Decepticon, most of the Crusaders were once 'cons, and the violence we thirst for is just a powerful as within the Decepticon ranks. We are the dark side, we seek a world's destruction and we will get it."
"But you're fighting to protect Earth! That's a good thing!" Miko replied quickly.
"Yes, so we can conquer another. Now, you are to call your sister, she can play the part of you while you are in my care."
"How do you know about Miki?" Miko asked softly.
"I kept track of your movements the moment I felt your power, a beacon like yours must be watched you know. You spent most of the time with that sister of yours, and she is quite the contrast to you isn't she?" Chain Breaker commented, and Miko ground her teeth together. "Call her, get her to America, your parents never worry about Miki, do they? The perfect daughter, they won't think twice about Miki wanting to visit her sister. Once your sister is in place, we can begin. Call her, now." Chain Breaker commanded, and resenting bringing Miki into her horrible situation she dialed her home phone number. Her sister's voice picked up. Miki automatically picked up on the sorrow in Miko's tone, and when she told her sister she had done something dumb, like getting kidnapped by a stupid 'con, her sister immediately offered her help. Miko told her sister she was going to be doing something incredibly dumb, which made Chain Breaker roll his optics, she made Miki come to America, like yesterday.
"I'll need to get back to Jasper." Miko told Chain Breaker softly.
"Of course, but Miki will need time to book her flight and arrange her passport." Chain Breaker replied.
"She has a passport." Miko murmured with a sigh. They had gotten passports together, just like everything else they did.
"True, I give her maybe a day and a half before she lands." Chain Breaker agreed turning back to stare out the window. "So until then, welcome to The Base." Immediately, a huge orange an white bot came into the room, picked up Miko in one of those huge, death giving grips.
"Loosen up! I'm dying here!" Miko gasped, trying to twist into a less pain inducing position.
"You're vitals are not showing signs of a mortal end, you are fine." The bot replied in a clipped, clinical tone.
"I'm the one being squeezed to death here!" Miko gasped, and the bot thankfully loosened its grip, just a tiny bit. The Cybertronian lead her back out into the hallway, took a few thousand turns and we ended up in a room huger than anything Miko had ever seen. The Cybertronian walked to one of the rock walls that had an alcove dug in and lightly deposited me in a makeshift bedroom. There was a red bed, a wooden dresser which on later inspection held all the clothes I would need, a little closet had also been carved into the wall, and a small, extremelysmall bathroom had been carved in the back of the room. The being was already gone by the time Miko came back to the opening, and having nothing else to do she sat down on the bed and sighed. What was she going to do? Miko worried helplessly. There was no way of escape, she was to high up, any type of jump resulted in her equaling dead. Leaning back, she tried to sleep, but everything that had been going on kept her up, tears began flowing, and her sobs echoed in the cave she was to call home. She just didn't get it! Miko Nakadai knew many things about herself, but the fact that she had power was not one of them. And she didn't have any powers, she wasn't some beacon, or whatever Chain Breaker had called her. Time dragged on, she couldn't sleep, no Cybertronians came to visit her, and the more worried she became the more her eyes began to be ringed with circles. She couldn't sleep, and adding on to that the huge worry that was prematurely aging her she found herself anxiety ridden and getting a bad case of paranoia. Finally, after worrying and waiting, crying and pacing, Star came to pick her up.
"Star! I never thought I'd say this but it is so good to see you!" Miko grinned, jumping into his outstretched palm.
"Odd." Star replied gruffly. "Boss is going to take you back to meet your sister, and no funny business, got that?" Star told her, and Miko nodded realizing what she needed to do.
"Wait, I need to get back in that room." Miko told Star urgently, and with an over exaggerated sigh she was placed back in her new habitat. Miko ran to the dresser, a dresser Chain Breaker had so thoughtfully decided to leave a notebook on top of. Grabbing that, a pen, and her cell phone, she let Star pick her back up and head back to The Boss's 'office'. Star bowed again, and this time Chain Breaker faced us as he told his underling to rise.
"Hand her over." Chain Breaker said, and Miko was placed in Chain Breaker's outstretched hand. "I will return shortly." He said calmly, and transforming midair Miko found herself in the cockpit of the jet she had become so used to. "We will be in Jasper in a few hours, hold on." Chain Breaker commented, and he zoomed forward. Miko didn't have time to look out the window, she automatically began writing to her sister. All her friends, her nemeses, the Autobots, the Decepticons, descriptions, notes, thoughts that could help Miki survive. She asked Chain Breaker to take her back to her Host Parents house, just to pick up a few things, and to leave a notebook. Miko raced into the house, packed a bag with a few things, and then left the house, leaving the notebook waiting for its owner to pick it up later tonight. Miko also made Chain Breaker go to the base, and after swearing she wouldn't tell, not when she knew without a doubt all the Crusaders could tear her friends to shreds, she couldn't risk it. She went in, heading straight for the offices. She was in luck, Optimus had been making everybody take a precautionary weapons course and Ratchet wasn't even at the computer as she zipped in. she headed for a back vent, one caked in dust, and softly, hesitantly, slowly unscrewed the vent door. She picked up her phone, and after a moment of heart breaking decision stowed it away in the forgotten space. Miko also wrote out another little notebook, the office had been deserted with some supplies thankfully, and screwing the vent shut again I traced out my sister's name in the dust. It was quick and hurried, but I knew it would survive for a while, hopefully. Taking one last look about her, letting all the memories sink back in with a smile, Miko ran to tack a walk on the other side of the tracks.
"You better not have done anything you will regret." Miko's newest warden said, and we zoomed away from all Miko had ever known. The Jasper Airport was a simple building, but it was a miracle there was even an airport in Jasper so Miko thanked her lucky stars and went into the building. She took a seat in a chair, popped in her Ipod, and waited. When her sister finally showed up, Miko grinned and gave her sibling a hug, and the 2 left Jasper Airport. Chain Breaker had told her a location to take Miki to 'explain', and after telling the cabbie where to go Miko waited. The desert grew around them, and she told the guy to stop. After Miki got out, Miko made sure the cab driver knew where he was going, her Host Parent's house, and got out. Miko wanted to spill her guts tell her everything, but that was impossible, and finally she just thanked her sister and sent Miki to the cab. She watched as it started driving off and then turned to find a not so innocent jet right behind her.
"Good job, little Miss Miko." The jet chuckled, and Miko sighed as she climbed in. The Jet left the desert floor without a sound and in a second they were gone. Miko knew not to look back, she would just end up crying, and so she didn't look back. The jet flew just as fast as possible back towards The Base, and Miko was once again deposited in her room of a prison cell. The days dragged on, slowly, painfully, and Miko found herself only in someone's company when a Crusader came to bring her breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
It was oh so boring.
Part 3:Escape
Miko wanted out, she needed to get out. She may have had to stay in this creepy hidey hole, but she wasn't going to stay here any longer. Looking around herself, Miko took an assessment of her surroundings. There wasn't much, nothing in my space could help. A little way across from her was a low hanging metal cross beam, and Miko realized her way out with grim determination. Heading to her closet, she ripped the pole out of its place and got to the back of her room. There was only one shot, and if she didn't make it she was about to become a pancake. Squaring her jaw, she flew forward as fast as she could in the little space. Right before she reached the edge of her room, she braced the pole down and pole vaulted across the expanse. She didn't look down as was thrown through the air, just waiting for the jarring touchdown on the other side. Miko slammed into the beam, slipping over the edge. Gasping, Miko twisted around just in time to grasp the edges of the beam, her fingers holding on for dear life. Gulping, Miko strained her arm to go over the lip of the beam edge and twisted her leg to get some purchase on the metal. Short of breath, Miko exerted herself and finally fell on the beam, safe and not a pancake. The one thing she hadn't told Jack or Raf? She was one of the best pole vaulters in all Japan. Her school had been one of those fancy shmancy private schools that all the kids of who's who had been sent, and each student was almost guaranteed a happy education. But what had made Miko happy? She pole vaulted. And she was good too. Miki was the runner in the family, she could win almost any race, but Miko could vault, and she was pretty happy with it right now. Panting after almost having a near death experience, well, actually she did have one, Miko stood up on shaky legs and carefully treaded across the beams. The beams led all the way to the other side of the room, and keeping a quick pace Miko was able to get across the expanse easily.
Once on the other side, Miko realized she didn't know how to get down. Debating, Miko bit her lip and looked around herself again. None of the beams were lower than the one she was on, and she had crossed over so many beams to get over here she wasn't sure she could get back. Looking forward, Miko scanned the area in front of her. There weren't any wires, but a pipe was scaling down the wall just a few feet in front of her. Casting a nervous glance at the pipe, she knew she had to try. Stealing her nerves, Miko jumped across the space and grabbed the metal for all she was worth. Miko's fingers missed the pipe, and she started slipping.
"No!" Miko gasped, this wasn't how it was supposed to end! It wouldn't! Reaching out her hand she was able to grab a single hand hold on the pipe, the motion jerking her to a slippery stop. Her hand burned as it slipped on the metal, and gasping in pain Miko's other hand shot out to get a hold. Bracing herself, Miko held her position for a moment as she breathed hard. Looking down Miko found she was almost halfway to the ground, and grimly Miko set about getting all the way down. It was slow and difficult, but finally she dropped to the ground with a thud. Miko Nakadai was getting out, today. Silently, Miko left the room at a fast run, looking for her way home. Trying to remember, Miko tried retracing her steps from when she had first been deposited in the dingy cave room. She knew she was on the right track when more Crusaders filled the rooms, and Miko was ducking and dodging and trying to hide every other second. After a few wrong turns, some right ones, and some maybe maybe turns, she found herself back in the first room with the rock wall that opened. The wall flew up as a car zoomed in, and taking the chance Miko zipped out. Remembering that Chain Breaker had built a road under the river, Miko set out to find her path home. The gray of the concrete blended in with the dark water, but finally Miko found it and started across. The water splashed as her boots fell down with each step, but Miko kept going, knowing if she didn't get across they would get her. A sound made her look over her shoulders, and a quick glance showed a motorcycle coming across the water bridge.
Miko sped up.
Her wet boots thudded into the muddy bank as Miko got to the other side and started running. She was on the road again, and she started waving a car raced toward her. Please let me hitch hike! Miko begged mentally, but her horror intensified when she saw the car was driver less. No, no, no! Miko thought frantically, running and running. The vehicles gained, and were joined by more Cybertronians, some in the air and some on the road, all circling her and keeping her trapped. A familiar silver Austin Martin transformed and came to stand over Miko with narrowed eyes.
"Well, well, well." Star remarked evenly. "Looks like you've been on your own to long, you little human."
"I want to go home." Miko told him hotly. "I don't belong here, I have nothing you'd want!"
"We 'saders choose who belongs here or not, and yes you do have something you little pest." Star replied reaching down to pick her up. Miko jerked away from his hand, backing into a black Sedan. "Now be a good little human, get in the car." Star commanded, and Miko shook her head furiously.
"No! And for the thousandth time, my name is Miko! M-i-k-o, Miko! Not pest you idiot." Miko said fiercely.
"I will call you as I please, no in the car." Star ordered, but Miko stood her ground.
"No Cybertronian, I don't think so." Miko replied, crossing her arms.
"Galactica, get her in." Star ordered, and the Sedan transformed, grabbed Miko, re-transformed, and drove me back over the water bridge. "No more funny business, human." Star's voice warned through the speakers in the car.
"Not likely." She muttered, glaring at nothing in particular. The next few days she did all in her power to escape. If she was placed on the ground, she ran for it. If she could jump, she jumped. If it was possible to get away, she attempted it. In the end, Chain Breaker had to post guards in her room and that was something she didn't like.
Part 4: So maybe I'm not escaping anytime soon
Her 2 guards, a Red Bomber and a Shadow Quaker, were always stoically silent. Finally Miko had a visitor: Chain Breaker.
"Miss Miko, your assistance is required." He smiled, and Miko was placed in his hand.
"What do you want now? You've taken my freedom, made me work for a 'con, and I'm being held hostage!" Miko yelled, beating his fingers as hard as she could with her fists. The 'con didn't feel a thing, and he walked her back to his office. "Chain Breaker, let. me. go!"
"Oh please, Miss Miko, we are more than acquaintances these days, please, just call me Breaker." The 'con chuckled.
"Okay Breaker." Miko sneered. "What do you want?"
"Oh, you are going to play a part, just like that sister of yours." Breaker replied easily.
"What do you mean?" Miko asked guardedly.
"We are going to the Sahara Desert, hold on." Breaker said, transforming midair as usual and jetting out the window. We flew to the Sahara, a fleet of planes and jets behind us, and then Breaker drifted to a stop, hovering above a battlefield. Miko sucked in a breath of air as she realized who was battling down below. She could tell Star was there, but what shocked her more was the Autobots. They were all down below, fighting a group of Crusaders with the 'con symbol somewhere on their metal bodies. There was Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead... a tear slipped down Miko's cheek as she looked below her sadly. Breaker's cockpit opening released a hiss of air as it opened, and Breaker said some crazy words. "Go stand on my wing." He spoke, and Miko gaped at him shocked. "Oh it's fine, I didn't bring you out here to kill you, Miss Miko." Unsure, Miko stood up and jumped onto the 'con's wing, crouching at first as she tried to get her balance. "No tricks, Miss Miko, my fleet is greater than those Autobots far below, you call out, and they will be destroyed. My fleet has all the best weapons updates, I suggest you not try anything drastic." Breaker said calmly, and casting a nervous glance at him, Miko turned to look at her friends for the first time in almost 2 weeks.
"Bulk..." She whispered, longing in her voice. He couldn't hear her, she was to high up, but she knew he would hear her in his spark, and that was all she could ask for. The ground bridge portal was still open, and to her delighted shock a familiar face rushed through, quickly followed by 2 other similarly familiar faces. "Miki!" She exclaimed in surprise. "Raf, Jack." She breathed. Miko stood on the wing looking down below happily. Her sister hadn't spotted her yet, Miki was to busy watching the fight. But eventually she did notice, just as Raf and Jack started dragging her away. Miki jerked out of Miko's friends' grips, running forward. High above her sister, Miko gave a huge wave, and knowing what Breaker would say she jumped back into the cockpit. The jet immediately zoomed away, and all of Miko's friends disappeared from sight. "Thank you, Breaker." Miko whispered quietly.
"You are welcome, little Miss Miko." Breaker chuckled in reply, and the ride was silent the rest of the way home. Miko almost gasped as she thought that. After 2 weeks, all the escape attempts, she actually thought of The Base as home. "Miss Miko, we really need to talk about your attitude." Breaker suddenly said, and Miko turned to look at the radio where Breaker's voice was coming from.
"What?" Miko snapped. "Don't like how I've been acting?"
"Nope, not one bit." Breaker responded. "Your power is lowering because you are sad, I cannot have that."
"Then let me go!" Miko cried.
"I cannot do that. We wish you no harm, so I expect you to be civil to your guards. Is that understood?" Breaker asked, an almost parental tone to his voice.
"What's the point? I don't care about whatever power you keep rambling on about. I don't feel any power, and I know I don't have any!" Miko told him angrily.
"You never notice what you have when you have it, Miko. You only realize when it is to late." Was Breaker's cryptic response. Miko sighed, but did feel the truth to Breaker's words. She should try to be nice to Red Bomber and Shadow Quaker, but she didn't have to like it. Breaker returned her to her prison, and sighing she sat on the edge of the cave floor looking at her 2 guards. Her eyes kept creeping back to Shadow Quaker's arm, there was something tattooed on it, and it wasn't the 'con or 'bot symbol. It reminded Miko almost of a hammer, but it also had a ball and chain crossed over it. Nope, not a 'con symbol and definitely not the Autobot's insignia either.
"Hey, Shadow Quaker?" She called, and the big machine jerked his optics in her direction in shock.
"Are you talking to me? Is something amiss?" He asked immediately.
"Uh duh, I think that's why I called out your name." Miko snorted. "I was wondering about that tattoo on your arm, what's it mean? What's it for?" She asked curiously.
"This?" Shadow Quaker asked surprised, his eyes drifting down to the yellow symbol on his otherwise black body. "It is just a memory from the past, nothing more." He said gruffly, but Miko could see the ghost of a smile in his optics as he looked back at me.
"What was it? I bet it was something cool, was it a gang or something? Were you one of the leaders? Why yellow?" Miko asked eagerly, her excitement overriding her hate at being held hostage. Shadow Quaker paled under her verbal assault.
"It wasn't from a..gang, it was from a squad I was on." Shadow Quaker finally replied slowly, and Red Bomber hit him in return.
"Shut up! We're not supposed to fraternize with the human." Red Bomber hissed.
"Oh be quiet, Red. I want to hear what Quaker has to say!" Miko said impatiently.
"Red?" Red Bomber exclaimed surprised.
"Quaker?" The other questioned.
"Well, you see, Red Bomber and Shadow Quaker are just to long, way to long. So I'm gonna shorten it, you're now Red," Miko said, pointing to her red guardian. "And you are Quaker." She smiled, pointing at the black being. "And I am Miko, not pest, not human, just Miko."
"Girl has guts." Red nodded approvingly, and Miko just smiled.
"Besides, if we're going to end up being roommates I really think we should feel normal around each other, not tread about. Apparently, I have to be civil, and I just really want to know what that tattoo is from Quaker!" Miko wailed.
"My yellow marker is a sign of my time in a wrecking squad." Quaker told her, and Miko gasped.
"Wrecking? Did you say wrecking? Did you ever know someone called Bulkhead? He's big and green and not really mean." Miko said in a rush, excitement gaining. Did Quaker know Bulk? That would be so cool!
"Bulk? You know that lunkhead? He was one of the best wreckers on Cybertron!" Quaker replied with a laugh. "How's the bolts for brains doing?"
"Oh, Bulk's great. He's working with the Autobots under Optimus Prime." Miko replied with a grin.
"Bulk the Destroyer got on a Prime team? That's not fair! I never got invited to join a Prime team." Quaker muttered.
"'Bulk the Destroyer'?" Miko repeat skeptically.
"That lunkhead could demolish anything he wanted to, one of the best I've ever served with." Quaker said proudly.
"Then why doesn't Bulk have a tattoo like yours?" Miko questioned, standing up as Quaker walked towards her.
"Bulk didn't need a symbol for people to know he was a wrecker, everybody knew not to mess with Bulk." Quaker replied. "Always admired the bot." The black Cybertronian smiled.
"Bulk's the best." Miko replied with a grin. Quickly the ice that had been built up between hostage and guards was broken and the trio conversed about everything they wanted to. Miko told about her friends and family, pole vaulting, and the fact the whole cross beam area above her head looked like an obstacle course, Quaker told of his time as a wrecker and everything that had gone on back then, and his curiosity to meet up with 'Bulk the Destroyer' again, and since Red didn't necessarily trust the unusual human yet, he stayed quiet most of the time. But he did see an opportunity to keep the human occupied, and he decided to take it.
"Hey, hum-"
"Miko." Both the girl and Quaker corrected immediately.
"Miko." Red said slowly, testing the name out. "Miko, you mentioned that the cross beams looked like an obstacle course. Why don't you try to see if you can do it?"
"Red, don't endanger her! Boss wouldn't be to happy if she was harmed." Quaker said immediately, using Miko's name for his partner.
"I'll be fine, let me try." Miko said excitedly. "Where do you want me to start? From here? Or on one of the beams?"
"From there, I doubt you can get across." He taunted her, smirking at her determined expression. Smiling, Miko got the pole out of her closet, got to the back of her room, and started running. She flew across the empty expanse of air, scrambling to stay on the metal as she started slipping just like in the beginning. Quaker started toward the flailing girl in horror an shock, ready to catch her.
"Hold on, Miko, I'll get you!" He called out, but Miko was grabbing hold of the beam just like before and hoisting herself up onto the beam she stood up proudly. Racing along the beam lines, she crossed up, over, jumped down, jumped up, swung this way and that, and twisted around to get through she stood tall and strong at the other end of the maze.
"Bravo, Miko." Red whistled, actually surprised she had made it across. There were a number of times Red had been afraid she'd fall to her demise, but the resourceful human always managed to cheat death.
"Thank you, thank you." Miko replied, giving a curtsy and smiling prettily. "So, if I can do it, how 'bout you?" She teased, knowing full well that if he even tried to get up here she might as well consider herself dead.
"Not today, Miko." He chuckled.
"Red Bomber? Shadow Quaker? Where are you 2 at?" A female voice called, and a bot that reminded Miko of Arcee entered the room. Unlike Arcee, this Crusader was yellow instead of blue, and had white metal where Arcee's was black. The bot had odd silver optics, and a nervous expression on her petite face.
"Here Silver Lightning!" Quaker called out, and the bot turned toward us. A look of relief fell over her face as she spotted us.
"Oh, Red Bo- what is she doing up there?" Silver Lightning demanded with a scream.
"Calm down, Sill, I'm totally fine." Miko reassured the Cybertronian with a laugh, taking a seat on the edge of the beam.
"'Sill'?" The bot asked confused.
"It's a lot shorter than 'Silver Lightning'." Miko explained. "I did the same to them," She added, gesturing to Red and Quaker. "you've got Red, and you've got Quaker. Everyone around here has a mouthful of a name, so I'm just going to shorten it. What do you need Sill? Oh, and what can you transform into?" She asked eagerly. Sill recoiled from Miko's reply.
"She's harmless, Lightning." Quaker informed the femme. He stretched out his hand, and with a simple hop Miko was in his palm. "Or as you'll learn to answer as, she's harmless Sill." Quaker grinned. Sill didn't say anything as she gaped at the human, and finally spoke.
"Boss wants the girl-"
"Miko." A human and 2 Cybertronians corrected.
"Boss wants Miko in the main area. He wants her to join us tonight, though you two will still act as her guards throughout the night." Sill explained.
"What's the tonight?" Miko asked eagerly.
"Oh, everyone is coming together to have some fun, it'll be the apex of the year!" Sill giggled.
"We have to go, guys, it'll be awesome!" Miko agreed.
"Then hurry up, Boss is starting early this time." Sill smiled, and giving the human a timid grin she led the group out and through the maze of halls and doors. The main room was bigger than anything Miko had ever seen, just plain humungous. Everyone that stood on the 'sader side were all together, laughing, playing games, having fun. Looking about her in delight, Miko let out a laugh.
"Wonderful, isn't it?" Breaker's voice asked, and everyone in the room dropped down on a knee.
All except Miko, that is.
"Oh, stand up please, enjoy the night, have some fun." Breaker said, and everybody went back to what they were doing. "Please little Miss Miko, have some fun." Breaker smiled, moving on to another group of 'saders. The night flew by, and Miko found herself liking the beings in The Base, and they in turn grew to like her. She tried anything they did, even if it was a wrecking ball toss and the thing weighed more than 100 tons. Everyone had fun, and Miko realized she did not only consider The Base her home, she also considered its inhabitants her friends, maybe even family. Miko knew she was part of the 'sader faction now, and even though she began as an Autobot fan she was now firmly embedded in the Crusader cause. It wasn't just the fact she was stuck here by force, Miko realized she actually liked it here. That made her pause for a moment, but she was Miko Nakadai, and things that didn't make since happened a lot in her life. She joined the Autobots without a thought, and she was now a Crusader without a pause. Weird how lines are crossed and redrawn. Days passed, and Miko became a full fledged member of the society, she was allowed out of her prison cell, especially since they now knew she could get out when she tried. She made friends amongst the beings just as easily as she had back at the other base. Friends multiplied for her, and she grew to love the odd beings she encountered. Star began to loosen up to her, and he even agreed to drive her off the base as time progressed. Miko didn't really worry how she came to be here any more, she even forgot about Miki as time passed. Miko had fun in The Base, and its inhabitants were just as amused by her as she them. More time passed, and finally the creatures began to look at each other uneasily and with a sense of gloom. Miko didn't notice when the Cybertronians began to cast nervous glances amongst them, but as the whispers intensified she knew something was up. Sitting on a cross beam near her bedroom she finally decided she was going to know. Red, Quaker, and Sill were tossing a wrecking ball, and 2 other bots I had met, a purple Cybertronian named Cambree and a navy blue bot named Ram Out, were watching the game with amused grins.
"Hey, Ram?" Miko called out hesitantly, and the blue bot turned to her with an easy smile.
"What's up Miko? Want to get down?" He asked pleasantly.
"No, I, uh, had a question." Miko replied slowly.
"Shoot." Ram replied, giving her half his attention as the wrecking ball slammed past Red. Miko took a deep breath, and decided to be blunt.
"What's going on?" She demanded. Ram took in a sharp breath, and his eyes flashed to the ground. "Tell me, Ram, I can take it." Miko told him earnestly.
"She's a strong one, that Miko." Quake piped up.
"Strong girl indeed, thinks she can lift a 50 ton ball." Red chuckled.
"Ram, please?" Miko begged softly, looking up at him with big puppy dog eyes.
"Quake? Sill? What do you think?" Ram finally asked turning from the curious girl
"I-I hope she is, tonight's the night. We can't have any problems." Sill answered hesitantly.
"Tonight's the night for what?" Miko asked confused, turning to look up into Quaker's black face.
"Tonight is the first assault against the 'cons, Miko. Today we fight." Red answered grimly.
"W-We fight?" Miko gasped.
Part 5: Let's take down a 'con ship
"You won't." Quaker assured the girl quickly.
"Then what am I-" Miko broke off, unsure.
"You are to be bait." Sill answered for the girl.
"Bait?" Miko questioned, and Quaker smacked his forehead as the truth was revealed.
"Sill, she wasn't supposed to know!" Red hissed.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't know!" Sill said quickly, and Red took a menacing step in her direction.
"Oh calm down, Red, better I know now then never." Miko replied in shock. "Bait?" She murmured, leaning against a support pole.
"I'm sorry, Miko, I shouldn't have said anything." Sill apologized quickly.
"What am I supposed to do?" Miko asked quietly. "Why am I bait?" The group around me cast each other hesitant glances.
"Y-Your power." Quaker finally said.
"My power?" Miko asked confused. The conversation about her having power flashed through her mind, so long ago when she had first taken up residence inside The Base. "I forgot about that." Miko said with a sigh. "And what am I supposed to do?" Once again the Cybertronians glanced at each other. "Come on, let's get it all out in the open now." Miko said firmly, pushing herself to sit up straight and look down at all the beings with a tired sigh.
"You'll draw the 'cons attention while some of us go to short circuit the ship, we'll sink it into the deep and escape before anyone ever knows." Red replied quietly.
"Okay." Miko sighed. "Can someone take me to see Breaker? I want to hear the it from him."
"Of course, Miko." Sill said gently, reaching out her hand for the little human to climb on. Sill didn't attempt to tell her it would be okay, she just took Miko in silence to The Boss's office.
"Ah, little Miss Miko." He smiled when he saw Miko. "How is our human doing today?" He asked pleasantly Miko didn't respond, she just looked at him stoically and quietly. "Sill?" He questioned, and she set Miko on the cave ledge she was always deposited on when in the room. The yellow being quickly left the room, and that left one unusually quiet human and a slightly confused Cybertronian in the room. "What do I owe the pleasure?" Breaker asked calmly.
"I'm bait?" Miko demanded.
"Very well, cut through the chit chat why don't you?" Breaker remarked dryly.
"This is serious, Breaker! Am I going to die?" Miko demanded angrily.
"My dear, of course not." Breaker said placatingly. "You are going in as bait, that is a correct statement, but you are not going alone. One of the 'saders that still proclaims his original mark of Decepticon will be going with you, probably Quaker or Ram, probably both." Breaker soothed. "You are not going alone, Miss Miko. Every 'sader is going, we are going to crash a Decepticon ship, my dear."
"What?" Miko exclaimed.
"I told you our mission in the beginning of this endeavor. We did not believe that Decepticons should attempt to destroy such pathetic life. We are a superior race, my dear, and as such we are to conquer a race befitting to our greatness. The Decepticons do not see this way of thought, so we are going to make them. We are going to destroy their ships, and then send a signal that will bring them to our realm. Here, we have ships that could transport Cybertronians off Earth and to go enslave a more befitting race. But to get there, we will be destroying some of their transportation."
"We're going to sink a 'con ship?" Miko repeated dubiously.
"Yes, now go change into bright colors. All the other 'saders are having their metals painted black, but you must be seen. As bait, you must be truly visible. I am warning you, although you will have guards you must be prepared to be possibly captured. Decepticons are not known for their gentleness to prisoners of war, if you are captured you must try to escape immediately. They will torture you if you stay in their grasp." The warning caused Miko to shiver, and the horror of what would happen made her shudder and gulp in fear. "We will rescue you, Miss Miko, never forget that. Once the ship is disabled we will free you, but you must promise to hold on until then." Miko gave a tiny nod. "Good, go change and we will set out tonight." Sill was called back in, and the little human was taken back to her room. Choosing the one color she couldn't stand, Miko pulled on a bright pink T-shirt and an even pinker pink skirt. Sill kept casting Miko worried looks, but the girl ignored it and waited for the D-Day signal. Star entered the room, now in pure black paint, and Miko automatically climbed into his outstretched hand.
"It's time?" She asked quietly, and the large bot nodded. "Let it be as it is to be." Miko whispered, her shoulders slumping. She knew going into a 'con ship was dangerous, but going in as bait was something Miko knew was a death sentence. Last time, Miko had actually been excited to get inside a 'con ship, but now, with torture looming Miko was actually afraid. She steeled her nerves as she was led out into the main room where everybody stood waiting. Everyone was in black, every inch of body was covered. The only thing to differentiate the beings were their eyes, some purple, some blue, a mix of green, black, all sorts of colors Miko had never know a Cybertronian could have.
"My comrades, now is the time, today we go to war! The 1st 'con ship is positioned over the Mariana Trench, a place that is luckily the deepest in the whole world." Breaker called out. What caught Miko's attention was the part about the con ship only being the 1st. How many ships could there be? She thought surprised. "Everybody knows their respective assignments? We cannot afford a mistake, is that understood?" Breaker asked, and a wave of nods gave him his reply. "There is nothing left to say but this: Crusaders, let's see what you got." As if on cue, everyone transformed and I found myself sitting comfortably in the Austin Martin. The walls of The Base flew up, and cars of every make and model, planes of every shape and size, jets, and motorcycles all rolled out. All the beings crossed or flew over the water bridge, and Miko watched as they all headed for the roads. Suddenly a ground bridge portal opened in the middle of the road, and to Miko's shock all the 'saders zoomed straight toward it.
"Boss set it up to open." Star explained, and she nodded in reply. The other side of the portal was the 'con ship, and how Breaker got the exact coordinates was beyond the little Japanese. The minute a 'sader touched down on the other side they transformed, the purple 'con symbol obvious on each 'sader's body. I was placed on the floor as the 'saders moved off into each of their positions, all of the people disappeared to do their jobs.
"Miko, go. Just be seen, lead 'cons away from this area until we can come get you. Quaker will be right behind you, good luck." Breaker told her, and with a grave nod she set off. She started running down the long hall, and then she did what she had wanted to do from the beginning.
Have fun.
"Hey, 'cons! Bet you can't catch me! Yo, who thinks they can catch the little human? Hey Megatron, guess who's taking over your ship?" Miko called out as she ran. "Na, na, na, can't catch me!" Miko shouted, laughing with a smirk.
"What's goin' on?" A 'con demanded.
"What'd she say?" Another 'con asked. Decepticons came spilling into the hallway, and Miko had to play tag with them. They reached down to get her as she passed them, but she was quick, and she could hear Quaker taking out the 'cons behind her.
"Hey 'cons, who thinks they can catch me?" Miko smirked as she ran, but then was thrown back from a laser explosion. A 'con was shooting at her! Miko realized shocked as she scrambled to get back up. Pushing and moving she ran into a side room, but the guns followed her and Miko was racing to avoid being fried. The gun's blast shot through the roof as Quake knocked him down, his optics checking Miko over for injury. Miko nodded her health, and getting back up she started running again. Quake was joined by Red and Ram, and with her guards in place Miko kept moving. Lights were flashing, and Miko knew the 'saders had taken out the ship's controls. Sounds flared up and around in warning as the ship began to dip down towards the water below, and Miko fell over as the ship angled down. Getting up she kept moving, not knowing where she was going, but knowing her friends were behind her she kept going. Suddenly, she was grabbed around her middle and hoisted high up into an unknown 'con's face. "Let me go!" Miko demanded, twisting in his unbreakable grip.
"Girl thought she was so tough, but your ego inspired words will be your doom." The 'con hissed, and Miko squared her jaw in anger. Raising his cannon arm to attack, Miko was suddenly thrown into the air as the 'con was shot into next week.
"Miko!" Ram shouted, and the 'con who attempted to kill
Miko raised his arm and shot another blast before he was silenced forever. From her place in the air, Miko got hit by the blast. It was only the breath of the blast's edge, a kiss of disaster, but it made Miko scream in agony as she plummeted to the ground and slammed into the floor unconscious.
Part 6: The Aftermath
Miko woke up with a groan. Her vision was way past blurry, and her body felt like it had been run over. Even her mind was slow, and as she blinked in the low light she realized she was back at The Base.
She was safe.
Breathing quietly, Miko tried to lift her arm to brush back a strand of hair off her forehead, but found her left arm wouldn't move. Glancing at it in fear, afraid she'd lost the whole limb, she breathed in a half relief realizing the limb had been covered in white gauze and bandages. The thing was soaked through with blood, and gasping she realized her head had also been bandaged carefully.
"Hel-Hello?" Miko called out weakly, trying to sit up but finding herself to weak to sit up. "Quake? Sill? Red? Anyone?" Miko tried again, but her voice came out in a rasp and she groaned as her dry throat tried to create sounds. "Ram?" She breathed, but her voice wouldn't work. "Quake?" She tried again, just a tiny bit louder. A groan escaped her as her head thudded in pure agonizing pain, it wasn't fair! It hurt like, like, no not going there. Miko sighed, not even able to form the thought. Pain encompassed her, and she was delivered back into the sweet emptiness of sleep. The next time she awoke, it was to the sound of low voices.
"She's been sleeping for a week, Red, I'm getting worried. Is this normal for a human, Breaker?" Quaker was asking quietly.
"I am not completely sure, but I know it takes more time for a mortal to recover from injuries such as hers. And as to the fact she was hit by a Decepticon laser, we knew it would be a situation in which only time would tell." Breaker's calm voice replied, a tinge of worry taking over his tone.
"I can't stand waiting! I want to be able to do something!" Red growled angrily.
"Patience, Red, as Breaker said, only time will tell. She will awaken, and all will be well again." Sill said with false optimism.
"Yeah, something like that." Miko muttered, her arm burning worse than ever.
"Miko?" One of her friends gasped, and then worried faces covered every square inch of Miko's 'door'
"How are you? Your vitals finally started recovering a few days ago, but you just kept sleeping. Apparently, you entered a type of stasis." Sill told me quietly, her silver eyes anxious.
"I was in a coma?" Miko asked hoarsely.
"I believe so." Breaker nodded.
"Great, just great. And how long have I been out?" She asked, blinking rapidly as she tried to keep herself awake.
"A week and a half." Red replied.
"Okay." Miko sighed. "Not to bad, huh?" She smiled weakly, and then drifted off again. The next few days were like that. She would wake up have some water, and then fall right back asleep. Finally, she managed to sit up and get off the bed. It was an unsteady progress, but she managed to walk to the edge of her room and back. Sitting back down, she took a look at her arm. Somehow, one of the 'saders had changed her wrappings and this gauzy bandage was cleaner than the one before. Carefully peeling the layer of protection off, she gasped seeing the damage she was dealing with. The whole arm looked like it had been singed to a crisp, and bruises and scabs were beginning to blossom where the skin wasn't to burned to look like a wreck. Reaching up to her head, Miko carefully unwound the bandage. Touching the area lightly, she found the same thing that had grown on her arm's destroyed skin. Her skin had been burned off from the blast, and also noticing a more pronounced slash going down her arm Miko had a feeling the whole 'take down a 'con ship' had gotten worse after she had been knocked out. Miko recovered her war wounds with the bandages, and headed to the lip of the cave. "Red? Quake?" She called out, and the duo came over instantly.
"Yes Miko? Are you okay? How are you feeling?" Quaker asked immediately.
"A little bit better, what happened?" Miko asked with a weak smile.
"After that 'con hit you and you stopped moving I thought I was to late, but your heart was still beating. So slowly, I was afraid you had lost to much blood." Red whispered. "It's all my fault I should have scouted ahead, I should have known." He said quietly, the horror apparent in his voice.
"It's fine, just one of those things you couldn't expect. Besides, Breaker said something like this might happen. I knew what I was getting into, Red, and I'll be fine." She reassured the bot, and he didn't look fully convinced but Miko knew he would try for her sake.
"After Red got you, he started heading back to the group to get bridged out, but another 'con was waiting and he shoved you out of Red's grip and you fell. Again. While Red was battling another 'con came, and he had a sword for an arm. We knew he was trying to silence your spark, er, heart and as he shot his arm down to kill you I threw him aside, but his sword dug into your skin, right on top of the laser's burn." Quaker winced. "I am so sorry Miko, I thought we could keep you safe. But look at you, we couldn't protect you."
"Hey, Quake, it's fine. We all make mistakes, and this isn't my first head banging you know. Back home, I whacked my head so much my parents called me a walking trouble magnet. Seriously, I'm fine." That was a lie, her head was pounding and her arm felt like it was on fire. Seriously, weren't there any pain killers anywhere in The Base? Anywhere? "We're all fine, right? Did we sink the ship?" Miko asked hopefully.
"It's at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, Miko, so yes we did succeed." Red smiled.
"Oh thank goodness." Miko breathed, and as she started to feel a bit woozy she headed back to bed. A week passed, and slowly her arm healed, well as much as something that bad could, and Miko was once again crossing beams, jumping, and laughing.
Part 7: Back to Today's Time
Miko got back up an hour later with her headache now manageable and another smile on her face. They didn't want her jumping to the cross beam anymore, not until her arm healed, so they had made her a makeshift rope bridge for her to use. Heading across, she started down the beams to the front of the room. Here, instead of dropping down the pipe, there was a rope ladder she was to use. It was so much more boring than her usual mode for getting around. But Miko was happy, her arm was finally starting to heal, and that meant she would be back to being her normal rambunctious self pretty soon. The only reminder of D-Day was the one long, angry scar going all the way from her shoulder to her wrist, a simple reminder of what getting in the way of someone with a sword could do. Smiling, she headed for Breaker's office. Breaker was talking in low, excited tones with one of his second in commands, and as I entered his excitement dimmed as his optics saw the scar on my arm. I had taken to wearing sleeveless shirts, it was just easier and the wound never got aggravated, but it also meant everyone could see what happened on D-Day.
"Ah, Miss Miko, how are you today?" He asked pleasantly.
"Better, always better, and yourself?" She asked just as politely.
"Almost afraid to tell you some news." He began hesitantly.
"Shoot." Miko replied immediately.
"Are you sure?" Breaker asked, but Miko's look gave him his answer. "Quite right, we've caught another 'con signal off the northwest coast of Alaska. We want to go after it immediately, but I was worried you wouldn't be up to the task in your condition."
"Hey, I'm a 'sader, Breaker, no special treatment, right?" Miko replied with a smile. Breaker smiled ruefully as he remembered those words. He had told Miko that about all those in the 'sader faction, there was no special treatment, everyone was equal and would be treated as such.
"Then get ready to go to Alaska." Breaker replied.