Views at a Different Angle
Cade's P. O. V.
I went over to Aurora's locker with Zak once we got to school. We were really worried about Aurora. I mean I know she is strong, but she looked very ill. Zak had his own concerns as well. We thought we knew some things about experimentation from movies, but Aurora was proof we knew nothing of our world. Who would do that to her, and how old was she when they first started experimenting on her? I mean, I'm sure if we asked Aurora, she would tell us, but I'm afraid of the answer. She is only eight, and yet she has endured pain that not many would know of. How much of her normal life have those monsters taken from her?
While we waited, many people gave as glances, rude stares, and whispers, but we ignored them. We waited for Aurora for five minutes, until she showed up.
"Hey, Aurora! Are you feeling better?" Aurora looked at me, and then to Zak.
"I'm fine, Barricade. Thanks for asking. I'm sorry for worrying you. The same goes to you, Zakarias." I was a bit surprised by the nicknames she gave us. It was kind of a nice combination our first and last names. That was very smart of my little- what am I thinking! Aurora is just a friend! I feel heat rise up to my cheeks. Aurora looked at me with concern.
"Ah, hey, Barricade, are you alright? Your face is turning red." I start to feel even more heat in my cheeks.
"Y-y-yeah! I'm a-alright. I w-was just t-thinking about how you look better from yesterday is all." I sighed in relief as Aurora's face lit up.
"Or he was thinking about new nickname you gave him." I felt my whole face go red, and I punch Zak on his arm hard.
"Zak!" He laughs and puts one arm around me.
"Oh come on Bar-Ri-Cade. I know you were thinking about how clever our nicknames. Even though nicknames are meant to be short, but hey I like it." I glare at Zak. I looked at Aurora to see her with a big smile that graced her face.
"So, you like my nicknames for you!? I thought you guys might like it." She turned to her locker, opened it, and retrieved some of her books. We are like giants compared to her. Just thinking about the fact she was eight years old is still surprising.
"Yeah, we like our nickname. Mine has a lot of meetings to Aurora though." Aurora nods and starts walking to class. We start to follow her.
"Well, I thought combining your last names made your names sound cooler. And, yes, your nickname means a lot to me. It is something that I feel is right for you," Aurora looked up at me and gave me a close-eyed smile. Then looks up to me, "You are my barricade from the harmful world of high school. You are the only one who has the power to protect me." I feel my whole face heat up, again.
"Hey! What about me?" I sent him a quick scowl, then looked back to Aurora.
"Zakarias, you're either a knight or my guard! Both of you care about me. I know you will do anything to protect me!" She gave us both a big close-eyed smile. There was a sudden heat in my chest I couldn't quite explain but I liked it. I look at Zak, who had a hand over his heart, with a slight blush.
"I'm glad you are able to trust us with your … you know. The secret about your life, Aurora. I'm glad to know you, and call you my friend. I mean we both are. Right, Zak?" I look to Zak who nods. Aurora stops in front of Ms. Obsidian's classroom, turns to us, and giggles.
"Did you know that I trusted you even before I met the both of you?"
"W-what!? How can that be!? We didn't even meet until yesterday!"
"Barricade, what did I tell you at lunch before Vince interrupted?" I recalled our little conversation in the front of the school.
"You have an ability to access a lot of information. That's how you knew I was one of the low lifes in Jasper, Nevada."
"I also know Zakarias has the same title in this town. I sort of think this is fitting for the 'Uncanny Twins' don't you two think?" I see Zak stiffen at the corner of my eyes. When I looked at him, he paled greatly, even for his light tan. I laughed a bit.
"So, it is true. I think that's a nice ability you have there. I hope you don't abuse such power."
"Oh, no, my daddy wouldn't allow that, and neither would my sister. Our family is built on morals. I would be lectured for doing such a thing." I was confused. Aurora never really mentioned her family. She only mentioned her guardians. I think I'll ask that later.
"That's just … I just can't entirely wrap my head around it. You have the ability to access information, but to what extent? How can you even do that? Were you trained to be a hacker?"
"I can't tell you to what extent or how, but I was trained on the arts of hacking. I'm a bit better than my Kuya Raf."
"Kuya Raf?"
"Oh, Kuya means brother. I told you Barricade, that I had friends who I considered family, and Raf is one of them."
"Rafael Esquivel, the really smart and young kid in your class?"
"Yeah, Kuya Raf is in all of my classes. My guardians had it arranged that way, so they could at least watch over me. The incident with Sierra, and the Sapphire twins, they have been on edge." I felt anger and sadness. Aurora doesn't really deserve such treatment. I may be a jerk sometimes, but at least I don't really target kids. Not like Vince and Sierra any way. I still can't believe I called them my friends.
"Don't worry about it, Aurora. They won't bother you anymore. Not as long as your Barricade and Sire Zakarias are here to help you."
"I know!" Aurora said as she hugged me. I hug her back, and feel her wings. I still can't believe I'm hugging an angel.
"Alright, Light. It's time for us to get to class since it's on the other side of the school. We'll meet you at the back for lunch, 'kay?" She lets go and nods.
"Okay! I'll see you then! Thank you for the nickname by the way!" Aurora quickly turns and enters class just as my face reddens, while Zak laughs behind me.
"It's NOT funny!" I growl at him as I stomp off to our class.
"Haha … It sort of is. I know what you see her as."
"I don't know what-"
"Don't play dumb, Cade. Don't be embarrassed about it either. I see her the same way." I turn around and stared him in the eye for a few seconds. Then I turn around and sighed. He was serious.
"And people wonder why we're known as the 'Uncanny Twins' for. At least I'm not the only one to feel this way about Aurora, but I would suggest not telling her though."
"Ah, but why not?"
"Simply put, we can't have her get attached to us. I mean, Aurora can rely on us, but I know that we aren't capable of helping her with problems outside of school. … I just don't want to disappoint her when we can't help her."
"I know, Cade. I know." Zak whispered. I hung my head low as we both entered the classroom.
Zak's P.O.V.
It was lunch now. Cade and I are heading to the back of the school, but we had a run in with Vince.
"Guys, where have you been!? Why haven't you guys been answering your guys's phones?" He hissed angrily at us.
"We've been out and about. Since when was it an obligation for you to know where we've been?" I asked.
"Whatever! I heard that you were hanging out with the demon spawn, is it true?"
"To answer your question, yes. We've been hanging out with Aurora. But I will not allow you to call her that." Cade growled.
"What, demon spawn?"
"DON'T CALL HER THAT!" I yelled.
"Woah! What the hell has gotten into you two!? What has that demon done to you?"
"Her name is Aurora, and she has done NOTHING to us. You and Sierra have her all wrong." Cade hisses.
"Aurora is an innocent girl who has been through a hard time. Not to mention that she is only eight and-" Cade interrupts me.
"She is trying to live a normal life than the one she previously had. You as well as others know nothing of Aurora. Therefore, Zak and I will no longer be associated with you." With that Cade walks off, while I hurry to follow him.
"Wait, you guys can't just leave me!"
"Oh, would you look at that, we're leaving you. Don't even dare contacting us, Vince. You lost that right a long time ago." I say with a cruel smile.
"What are you-"
"Don't play dumb, Vince. We know what you did. We will never forgive or forget your actions! We will not allow you to target Aurora!" I could never forgive Vince for what he did, and Cade would agree with me.
After that incident, we were slowly distancing ourselves from Vince. After that meeting with Aurora and her teachers, I saw that once again Vince was wrong. He was about to ruin a little girl's life who has been through Hell! She was a victim of kidnap and torture. Aurora never deserved it. She deserved better, a normal life with a loving family.
"Like you can stop me. I can still get her you know. One way or another. Oh, and that day was hilarious. Sierra told me to do it, by the way. It was punishment for disobeying me. You will soon regret going against me." He stormed off into the school. I looked to Cade and shrugged. We continued on our way to the back. When we were outside, we looked around, and saw Aurora with Raf.
"Hey, Aurora! We're so glad to see you're okay," I say as we walk up to them near the tree line. I noticed Raf looked a bit scared.
"It is nice to meet you. I'm Zak, and this is my cousin Cade. You must be Raf, it's a pleasure to meet you." Raf looked surprised by my gentle voice. Cade laughed at that. I can't blame Raf for being surprised though. We don't show our gentle side too often or in public in general.
"Don't worry about it too much, Raf. A relative of Aurora is a friend of ours." Cade said as I sat next to him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. I felt him tense up, but relaxed after a few moments.
"Light, you didn't tell us you were bringing your brother. I can't believe you didn't tell us! We brought lunch for the three of us." Cade pulled out a blanket, while I pulled out a few packed lunches, and a large variety of candy. There was chocolate to laughy taffy.
"Barricade, Zakarias, I don't eat. Or rather, I am unable to." We both looked to Aurora. I glanced at Raf and he looked shocked and fearful. I think Aurora didn't tell him we know of her experimentation and will turn on her. Or he doesn't think we knew about our nicknames. Or is it the fact that Aurora isn't suppose to tell us anything about her.
"Well, that's okay. I'm sorry for not asking you if-" Aurora interrupted Cade.
"No no no no. It was my fault that I didn't tell you clearly the other day. So I'm sorry for wasting such good looking food." Aurora looked sad, but then I looked to Raf.
"Hey, Raf, did you eat lunch yet?" He looked surprised by my question and reluctantly answered.
"N-no … Vince stole my lunch money … this morning." I growled at that. I saw Raf flinch at that. I felt bad and looked away.
"Raf, please don't take too much offence from Zak. We're not on great terms with Vince. He turned his back on us before, and now he is trying harm our Light. We do not stand for such morals of hurting innocence. Zak and I try to not get too involved, but we do cause a lot of trouble. Although it was when we were bored, so our reputation sort of proceeds itself." I look at Cade very grateful.
"I-i'm sorry, Raf. … I am a bit more expressive than my uncanny twin here. Will you ever forgive me?" I slowly look up into Raf's eyes.
"Y-yeah, s-sure thing. I-I forgive you Z-zak." I smiled at that. I never knew anyone who forgave that easily other than Light and my family.
"Thanks, Raf. I really appreciate it. I know we will be great friends." I see Aurora and Raf smile.
"Go on guys. Go and eat. We still have school, you know." We all ate as Aurora suggested.
We had some small talk about how I'm a great cook. I had to learn because it was just Cade and I. Our older sister was always working to pay for the clothes on our back and a roof to sleep under. When we were done we just laid there under the sun.
"Light, is there a way for you to keep close tabs on Vince?" Cade was right to ask. Vince was very unpredictable. He was like a ticking timebomb.
"Yeah, but why do you ask Barricade?" I saw Raf stiffen a bit. Then we aren't suppose to know anything about Aurora. It must be top secret, but why did Aurora tell us? I put that question aside for later.
"He asked, because Vince is out for revenge on us for leaving him. He plans on targeting you, us, and maybe those who are close to us. To avoid that possible outcome, we want you to keep tabs on him and warn us." I knew Aurora would understand. We all had a silent rule to protect those we care about.
"In that case, we should go to class now. He is waiting at the back entrance with a group of seniors on the football team." We got up, packed our stuff, and started to walk around the school.
"Thanks, Light. We should get each other's number to stay in contact."
"Don't worry, my knight. Both of you have mine and Raf's number as we have both of your's. Also, Barricade, you should avoid going to your locker or paint will fall onto you. Both of you should change your locks." We nodded to Aurora. We enter the front and head straight to class.
What people don't know is that I carry around everything important for the day, while we leave useless things in our shared locker. Cade and I agreed on Cade holding the leader role so people would target him instead of me. Though we are equal, Cade is the warrior and I'm the leader. We had this act for a long time. I think since we started kindergarden.
So when we sat down in class, I swiftly took our homework out. It's odd how people think we bully people to do our homework. We are capable of doing our own work. Why else are we able to pass with honors throughout high school? The bell rang and other students started to file into class.
Raf's P. O. V.
After school, I met up with Aurora a little bit deeper on the forest. I wanted to talk with her about Zak and Cade. I was walking a bit, when I was suddenly taken into the air.
"AAAAAHHHHHH."
"Calm down, Kuya. It's just me." I look up to see Aurora smiling down at me. I calmed down and reluctantly closed my eyes. I felt the wind flow passed me and I felt free. All my worries washed away with the breeze.
"Nice isn't it?" I nod in response. I never felt so carefree before. I wish I could fly around.
"We're going to land soon." I opened my eyes and saw we flew deep into the forest. Aurora hovered slowly, placing me down on a thick branch on a tree, then sat next to me. I looked down and saw the ground floor very far below us. I wasn't really worried, because Aurora would never let me fall.
"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" I turned to face her.
"Aurora, do Cade and Zak know about you and your powers?"
"Well, sort of. Only my C.L. ability and the fact that I have wings, but they don't know about my M.A.S. ability or the energon production and manipulation. They don't even know the true extent of my C.L. ability."
"Why would you tell them? You know we can't get them involved in our world."
"I know, but they needed to know some of the experimentation I went through. Otherwise they would have never gotten to be my friend like they are now." I thought about this. They were actually very nice. They were both very concerned about not just Aurora, but also me.
"Who else knows? Do you plan on telling the bots about this?"
"Well our teachers know that I have wings. Soundwave knows as much as you guys do. I was actually debating about telling the my family."
"Won't Arcee know that Cade and Zak know?" She shook her head.
"I figured out a way to keep her from things I don't want her to see."
"And how did you do that?"
"I hid them with in my memories of torture. They are to painful to remember that my mind automatically forces me to forget that entire time they come out. Much like when Ate came back from a space bridge explosion. There is some time missing after I healed all of them. I know one of my painful memories made me forget that time. So when I don't want Ate to know, I just think of the pain and the memories are locked away. Even now this conversation will be locked away." I got really concerned at that.
"So you won't remember this at all?"
"No, I'll remember. It will be a bit painful, but I will remember, but Ate 'Cee won't be able to see them. She knows that I don't want her looking through my painful memories."
"But Aurora, that doesn't go over the fact you won't remember this or any other conversations that will have your painful memories! Even if you can remember it at a time you need to, you will still forget! What if you forget something important? What if you start to forget much more than any selective events or memories? What if you forget about us, your family? Your friends?" Aurora shank away from me and hugged herself. I reach for her and hug her tight feeling her shake in my arms. I regretted saying all of that now.
"I … I know," she reluctantly answers. "I thought about that too. I knew this was a possibility."
"And you're okay with it?" Of course she isn't!
"No! Of course not! I don't want to forget anything, but I weighed the pros and cons, and eventually I would have to remember all the painful memories. So, eventually I would remember everything whether I liked I or not. … you know I r-r-rather not r-r-remember a-any o-of that. I-I-I-"
"Aurora, it's okay! I know. It's one of those one faith and many doubts, right? It's fine. I will always be there to bring you back." I noticed her shaking stopped. I really need to think things through.
"Kuya?"
"Yes, Aurora?"
"I … I need to tell you something, but I'm afraid you will react badly and tell the bots, or even act differently." I took a pause. I thought about what she could possible say to make me change the way I act. The immediate answer was simple.
"Is it about your death?" She nodded and slips from my arms as I stiffened. "What is it?"
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I'm not sure," I thought for a bit, and then it hit me, "and if I can't handle it, you can always use your M.A.S. ability on me. Then you won't have to worry about me so much." I saw her think it over a bit. Then she nodded.
"Okay, I actually forgot I could use it, but are you sure you can deal with the pain?"
"Oh, don't worry about. I know it won't hurt me, because you would never hurt me or the others." Aurora looked down below frustrated, at what I didn't know.
" … I know by the end of the war that I will … "
"What, Aurora?" Aurora started to cry energon. She looked really in pain, hugging herself once more. I once again, hug her close to me.
"When the war ends … " she takes in a shaky breath, "I will die." I was stunned. Aurora will die!? At the end of the war! When will that be? Where will that be? Is there any way to stop it?
"K-k-kuya?" I looked down and I saw I was squeezing her.
"O-o-oh! S-s-sor-ry, Aurora. I j-just-" She shook her head.
"It's f-fine. Are you okay? Do you want me to-"
"NO!" Aurora jumped in my arms. "I mean, I can handle knowing. I know that that you are scared, but I don't want you to suffer alone with knowing you will … you know. I want you to know I will be here to talk to so you don't feel alone with such pain. Okay?" Aurora looked at me with a little smile.
"Okay, Kuya. Thank you for listening to me." I wiped away her tears with my thumb and smiled at her.
"It's my pleasure to know you trust me. Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Aurora looked very thoughtful for a moment.
"Yeah! Ratchet accepted to me my sire, and also knows." She was really happy now.
"What is a sire?"
"Oh, right. A sire is the Cybertronian title for father. So Ratchet is my daddy now!" I was surprised, but then again Ratchet does have a soft side for little kids like me.
"Oh, that's good to know."
"Yeah! He let's me sleep in his alt. mode cab while he works in his bi-ped mode." Wow, he must really love Aurora like his own to do that.
"That's good to know. I-" My phone went off, interrupting me. I pull it out to look at the text message.
:Hey Raf, I'm at the front. Where are you?:
:I'm on my way. I was just talking to Aurora.:
:Okay, see you then!: I put my phone away.
"Aurora, Bee is here to pick me up. Are you coming?" See looked distant for a moment, then looked at me.
"Yeah, I'll come with you. I already messaged daddy to pick me up."
"Okay, let's go!" Aurora grabs me under my arms and we fly off.