Warning: Violence. I don't think it really needs a warning, but just in case.
Chapter Eleven: Fear
It was after six o'clock at night by the time the Decepticons had retreated. Mila and Prowl had been waiting anxiously when Optimus finally contacted Prowl, weariness coloring his voice.
/No one was offlined. It's safe./
Prowl had immediately relayed the message to Mila, who seemed to melt with relief. As the remaining adrenaline and anxiousness bled out of her system, Mila realized just how dead tired she was. Adding together the fact that she hadn't slept well the night before and today's excitement it was no wonder.
Prowl noticed Mila's increasing tiredness. He could definitely relate, although he had a lot to do before he could sleep himself. "Mila, you should get to bed," Prowl said.
"Yeah," Mila agreed with a yawn. She stepped onto Prowl's hand and he lowered her to the floor. Mila walked out of the room as if in a daze. Prowl stood up and followed Mila to her room, just to make sure that she made it there okay.
Mila made it to her room and, without looking back, went inside and closed the door. Prowl shook his head in mirth, turning to see Optimus for the report.
Optimus looked up as Prowl entered his office. "Ah, Prowl. I've been expecting you," he said.
Prowl nodded once. "So let's get down to business. Who was injured?"
Optimus sighed heavily. "Ratchet actually just gave me a detailed medical report. Everyone had minor injuries, as you can probably infer. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe each lost a limb each while performing their 'Jet Judo' on the Seekers, Ironhide's spark casing was dented, and one of Bumblebee's main fuel lines was ruptured. Luckily nothing was fatal."
"I see. How about the base? Was the Ark compromised or otherwise damaged?" Prowl asked.
"Other then a few scorch marks, no."
Prowl seemed to brace himself as he asked, "What about Mila? Did they see her?"
Optimus paused to think about it. "No... no, I don't think they did. The dust covered her."
Prowl's doorwings lowered slightly, a sign of his relief. He had really come to care for the girl, and everyone knew it. Well, everyone except Mila, that is. The girl herself remained stubbornly obtuse to their feelings for her and, in turn, her's for them.
"Do we know what the Decepticons wanted?" Prowl started the conversation up again.
"I believe that it was simply an ambush in a desperate attempt to lower our numbers."
"Agreed," Prowl nodded. He paused and frowned, studying his leader's frame. Dents and scratches littered it as well as dried energon – his own and other mech's. "You should really get cleaned up and head over to Ratchet."
Optimus nodded and the corners of his optics rose, signaling a smile. "I think I'll do that and then get some recharge. You should do the same, old friend. You did well today."
"Thank you, sir," Prowl said with a small smile. He exited Optimus' office, recognizing a dismissal.
Prowl made his way to his room for some recharge; today had been very taxing and he was practically dead on his feet.
Mila stared at the fight from behind a rock. The Decepticons – large, red-eyed metal monsters with jagged limbs and sharp fangs – were fighting fiercely. They obviously wanted the Autobots dead.
Mila was scared to realize that she was petrified of that happening.
"Die, Optimus Prime!" Megatron roared out. He shot Optimus point blank in the chest, creating a smoking and sparking hole. Optimus' eyes dimmed and he crashed to the ground.
Mila screamed, but no one heard her.
Optimus' frame dulled to a dark gray. Megatron let out a laugh, one that chilled Mila to the bone. "Optimus Prime has fallen!"
The Autobots were all shocked and heartbroken, which provided the perfect opportunity for the Decepticons to finish the Autobots off for good.
Mila watched with growing horror as each of the Autobots were slaughtered. "Hot Rod! Prowl! Jazz! Cliffjumper! Bumblebee! Sunstreaker! Sideswipe! Ratchet! Ironhide! Hound! Mirage! Wheeljack!" She cried out their names as each one fell.
She gasped as Spike and Sparkplug ran out to the battlefield only to be shot to ashes. She shut her eyes tightly, forcing down the bile that threatened to rise.
"Decepticons, retreat! We have won this war!" Megatron shouted. The Decepticons' cheering could be heard even after they were out of sight.
Mila wasted no more time in running to the downed Autobots. 'Please let someone be alive! Please!' She checked each and every one of them and found them all already gone. Until she came to the last ones, Prowl and Ratchet.
"M-Mila," Ratchet coughed when he saw her run over.
"Mila, you must... zzkt... go... we cannot stay..." Prowl said, static coloring his voice.
"No! No, don't leave me!" Mila shrieked, tears falling down her face.
"Goodbye, Mila..." they said in unison, their optics dimming and their frames fading to gray.
"No! No! No!" Mila fell to her knees and sobbed. Sobbed for the loss of her friends, the loss of her life as she knew it, the loss of Earth. Darkness descended on her, and she fell to the ground.
Mila bolted up in bed with a sharp gasp. She hunched over, burying her face in her hands as she cried. "It was just a nightmare... it wasn't real... It was just a nightmare... it wasn't real..." she repeated over and over as a mantra.
When the tears had stopped flowing Mila looked at the clock. Two a.m. She lied down, pulling the covers up to her chin. She had just drifted off when she saw the Autobots' dead frames. Mila opened her eyes with a shaky gasp. She looked over at the clock again. Three a.m.
"I'll never get to sleep at this rate," she muttered to herself. She was rather annoyed with that fact – she liked the peacefulness of sleep. Plus she was already tired from not sleeping well that night or the previous one.
But at the same time she wasn't too surprised. Today had been terrifying with the waiting for her "adopted or not adopted" fate and then the Decepticon attack. So it was only natural she would have a nightmare or be unable to sleep properly or fitfully.
Mila just wished she didn't have this horrible foreboding feeling...
End note: Just to clarify, the description of the Decepticons in Mila's dream are what her mind conjured them up to be, as she didn't get to see any in the battle.