Nellis Air Base, Nevada
October 29th, 2007
0450 hours
It was not an exaggeration that all her body permitted her was a wink of sleep.
She made the decision to forgo rest after the fourth time she jerked awake in a cold sweat. At zero-three hundred hours, Lyn discovered a shower in the bathroom, stripped off the gown and stood under the hottest spray she could stand, absently massaging the soreness plaguing the muscles in her thighs, calves, and abs. When she turned off the shower, heat convected from her body in waves of steam. She pressed her forehead into the wall. Water dripped down her arms and splashed onto the tiled floor.
If only the nightmares would leave her in the same way.
-.-.-.-
Nellis Air Base, Nevada
October 29th, 2007
0500 hours
The Autobots were not pleased. But, no amount of reason would persuade them— Ironhide, the most of all.
"This is ridiculous!" The black mech proclaimed, continuing a conversation he'd been having mostly with himself up until now. His servos were balled, and he began to pace, burning holes into the floor with his hateful stare alone.
"It's ours, Prime!" The declaration rang throughout the Hangar, bouncing everywhere and yet Optimus was standing right in front of him. Then, Ironhide stopped, daring to look at his leader, challenging him with a stare which threatened to melt the paint off his armor.
"We've combed through Alpha Centauri, landing on every glitching rock, risking our slagging afts for what? For hairless primates who can't leave their slagging planet? Have you seen what we've done for them— one of our own nearly offlined. And they repay us with what? A chance for us to return to Cybertron empty-handed."
He'd come within a clenched servo's distance from Optimus who stood unmoving.
Then, Ratchet intervened firmly. "Ironhide, I suggest you take a drive before you seek to engage in civil conversation. At the rate you are scrapping, you may risk frying your circuits."
Ironhide stepped back with a snarl. "Drive? Drive where?" He glared at Ratchet. "Through dirt and more water? I'd rather rust before that happens." He began to turn away and stormed off out of the Hangar into the night which would likely spare him no respite.
Bumblebee whined in his corner, damaged legs outstretched and back leaning against the wall of container which bowed out from supporting his weight.
Ratchet approached Optimus.
"Ironhide was out of line. But, he is exhausted…"
"And he is right." Optimus said.
Ratchet rubbed his hands together, quite not sure how to proceed with that admission. He was a medic— he remedied injuries not relationships.
"He'll get over it. You made the only call and you prevented an altercation with the humans. It was a hard decision that he too will understand." Ratchet assured as best he could, given the circumstances. "What we need— you need— is a good cycle's recharge. We deserve that, at least..." he paused and looked at the opposite end of the Hangar where a silver mech rested. He noticed Optimus had followed his line of sight too.
Ratchet continued with a heavy vent, "... and time."
-.-.-.-
Pentagon, Washington D.C
October 29th, 2007
1100 hours
Any other day of the week, he'd have felt honored.
But, today was not that day.
It was actually the worst.
He wanted to be home with Sarah. He would rather endure the few choice words she had for him. He would rather take her wrath. He would rather change Annabelle's diapers for the rest of his life than be on the other side of the country, donned in his Class A's and standing at attention in the center of a shadowy conference room with the two of the joint chiefs of staff, Secretary Keller and his deputy, and National security advisor sitting at a semicircle table.
Really, any other day of the week would've been fine.
This wasn't a meeting he was particularly prepared for and his feet were aching in his low quarters from standing so long. The inside of his mouth had turned into sandpaper, and he caught himself staring at the NSA's cup of water more than enough times to tell himself he was goddamned thirsty.
He'd been told, as a soldier, he could never skip the chain of command. It disrupted the order of the military. And now he was contending with two four stars and the closest thing to the commander in chief. This was his only chance to vouch for the Autobots.
Hadn't he said to someone that he'd skip the chain of command for this opportunity?
"Captain Lennox," The army general raised his hand to stop the man. It never meant anything good. Lennox was sweating bullets as is, and he hoped he hadn't said anything too offensive.
"What you're proposing is absurd."
Lennox caved in slightly.
"An alliance?" the man continued. "With the aliens? Did you take one too many explosions to the head, son?"
The NSA beside him, nodded. His black suit and red tie looked more rigid than the body wearing it. "They are a threat to this country greater than anything that has so far made the papers."
"Sir, these Autobots are not like their counterparts who attacked Qatar, Hoover Dam and Mission City." Lennox said. "They come in peace."
"Figure someone would say it." The marine general commented. He looked to be sixty yet there was no trace of middle age soft in him.
"We have their artifact." The advisor pointed out. "What makes you so certain that the enemy won't strike us at the soonest chance?"
Lennox cleared his throat. "Sir, if anything that is why now is an excellent opportunity to make an alliance and to protect our country. The Autobots don't wish us harm and we can't continue under the pretense that we're alone in this universe. There are enemies who have battle tactics that surpass anyone, anything I've seen in the military. They're cunning, they're bigger, they're badder. So far, the Autobots have proven their proficiency in warding their enemy. We can benefit from that."
"And should they turn on us?" The advisor asked.
"They've put their lives on the line beside my men," Lennox said.
He raised a brow. "What's your point?"
"The point is we shouldn't sell them short - they're more trustworthy than you think they are."
"They're robots. They're metal. You think they have the capacity to comprehend camaraderie and honor like we do? Is that all it takes? Just one battle and ET gets to be your friend? Your judgement, then, is questionable. Did you even pay attention to how many of your own men you lost?"
"One from my team."
Donnelly.
"Yes, and as the officer in command losing one was sloppy."
Lennox fought hard to not flip him the bird.
"The enemies of our enemies are our friends," Secretary Keller commented off-handedly.
The NSA gave a sidelong glance at the Secretary of Defense. "You cannot possibly be serious-"
"I've seen what those monsters are capable of." Keller maintained an even tone. "Best thing left is to have monsters like them on our side."
"And this Cube?" The army general added.
Lennox didn't miss a beat. "If it could be returned to them-"
"Not a chance in hell are we handing over something that can fall into the wrong hands. They want to see it, it'll be in the presence of the US military." The army general shut him down.
"Understood, sir." Lennox did his best to mask his grimace. Why would you ask in the first place?
When the advisor said nothing in refutation, Keller said, "As for you Captain Lennox, I think we need more information before we decide what to do with our new allies."
The NSA was non-plussed and the two generals remained impassive.
Lennox thought he deserved a generous leave after this.