To say that pretty much everyone at NEST was totally ready to rip off Galloway's head would be a big understatement, so I won't say it.
We were all shaken from our sleep by antsy guards, who reported that Gazzy had been recovered from a kidnapping attempt. And guess who was responsible? Galloway! His goons had snagged the Gasman while said bird kid was on a fridge-raiding quest. I wasn't at all surprised when I found out the results of that attempt. As soon as Gazzy was in our midst, Iggy slapped him a high five and crowed, "You're the MAN!"
It's a guy thing.
I crossed my arms and gave him my best glare. "Now do you know why I told everyone to stay put at night?"
"At least I didn't get attacked by Decepticons." Gazzy grinned. "I doubt they'd be as sensitive to my skill."
"Actually, they have pretty high-tech olfactory sensors, so you'd have probably given them overload," Fang said.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" Nudge bawled, crushing Gaz in a feathery bear hug. "Just think what they could have done to you!"
"I'd rather not," Gazzy managed, gagging in Nudge's death grip.
"I can hear their thoughts." Angel cocked her head, and then smiled. "They think you're radioactive or something. Now they're scared of you."
"The last thing we need is for the Gasman to go nuclear," I groaned.
Lennox came in through the door. The heavily guarded, authorized-personnel-only door. His eyes were still bleary from sleep. "Everyone OK?" he asked, his eyes flicking from one flock member to the next.
"Right as rain. Can I kill Galloway now? I promise I'll clean up the mess when I'm done," I asked cheerily.
"Not quite. Let the brass handle him. In the meantime, let's discuss the issue at hand: your safety. Clearly this base is no longer the safe haven we thought it would be."
"It's time for us to disappear," Angel piped up. "Like Agent Simmons said."
"Exactly." Lennox stifled a yawn and ran his fingers through his short brown hair. "Get dressed and report to the briefing room when you're done. And be sure you get everything you'll be taking with you. I doubt you'll be back in these rooms for a long time."
I glanced at Fang, who nodded. It was time.
"Sure." I didn't exactly like the idea of running off with Agent Simmons at, say, three in the morning, but lately I seem to be turning nocturnal, and it was our only viable option. "We'll hurry."
He left. I clapped my hands and shooed away the boys. "Let us womenfolk have some privacy," I said.
Angel pulled on her newest outfit: a set of sweats, some Hello Kitty tennis shoes, and a little purple and orange windbreaker jacket. Nudge dug through the drawer under her cot and donned the clothes she had come here in, dirt stains and all. I got out my original jeans-and-bloodstained-T-shirt ensemble, scrutinized it, then decided I would just wear my plain gray working-out T-shirt, my baggy dark navy blue pants, and my combat boots. They sure were comfy for military wear. I pulled on my own windbreaker jacket and shook my head, loosening my tangled hair. "Ready," I said.
We went out in the hall. The guys were already there. Fang was in all black, as usual; Iggy had on an oversize T-shirt and his old blue jeans with holes in them; Gazzy was in his NEST regalia, his khaki T-shirt and camouflage pants and combat boots.
We silently made our way to the briefing room, where Agent Simmons and some other agents were already waiting. Simmons looked relaxed, even amused. I caught sight of some high-tech troopers wearing a lot of body armor and carrying guns I had never seen before. Some security, eh? They kind of creeped me out, too.
"Well, Max Ride, looks like it's time to say bye-bye to your bot buddies," Simmons announced. I noticed he had on a trench coat over his suit, and he had donned his shades. "Before Galloway decides to exercise his federal authority against my Presidentially-ordained omnipotence, we'd better smuggle you outta here. You're familiar with air travel without the use of your wings, correct? Helicopter?"
"Yeah. Somewhat." I hated the idea of being cooped up in a flying box, powerless.
"Well, that's our ticket outta here. You got ten minutes to wrap things up and say your farewells. Then it's time to go AWOL."
"Wait a sec. I don't really think a helicopter is all that safe. I mean, a Decepticon could just shoot a missile and poof! We'd all be popcorn high up in the air," I protested.
"This ain't no ordinary helicopter, kid. He's a Bot. Name's Springer," Simmons said. "No time for chit-chat. Move, move, move!" He turned and almost tripped over Total. "Somebody keep that dog out from underfoot!"
"THAT DOG!" Total shouted, infuriated. "Excuse me!"
Simmons took off his shades for a moment, blinked, then popped them back on. "Fine then. Mister Pooch, would you be so kind as to remove yourself out from underfoot? Thank you."
Total opened and closed his mouth, growled, then trotted arrogantly over to Angel, muttering rude words.
I grinned.
As we walked down the hall toward the Autobots' hangar, Nudge matched walking speeds with me and glanced at me nervously.
"You're sure this is the right thing to do, right?" she asked, for the fifth time. "Like, has the Voice agreed? Is it a trap?"
"The only trap here is Galloway," I said, scowling. "If we don't wanna end up living as lab rats again, we'd better take our chances and get while the getting's good."
"At least we'll be able to leave this base. I mean, I can't see, but I still get claustrophobic. Stale air. No room to fly. Too many people," Iggy said.
"I agree. It's time we had a change of scenery," Fang added.
I slowed my pace and waited till Fang was at my side. I glanced over at him. He looked so dark and strong, so ready for anything. My silent, dunderheaded hero.
"Max, what does dunderheaded mean?" Angel piped up, cuddling Celeste as she walked.
I almost gagged. Oh, Lord.
"Nothing, sweetie," I said through gritted teeth. "Just a big word they use in spelling bees."
"Oh." Angel shrugged, her blue eyes wide and innocent. The little demon.
Gah, how I hate farewells. Even if you're only saying goodbye to, say, a gathering of alien robots.
"I trust Agent Simmons' judgment," Optimus mused, towering over us. "But I must say that my concern for your safety is considerable. Human means of protection are, frankly speaking, useless against a Decepticon assault. However, I will acknowledge that the recent advancements in weaponry put the six of you at a greater chance for survival."
"Oh, that's lovely to know," Iggy snorted.
"I agree with you there, big guy. Unfortunately, our only other option is staying here and letting Galloway poke us with probes. Not gonna happen," I replied, craning my neck back so I could look up in Prime's face. Not that he ever had any expressions, but it helped the conversation. Or something.
"We could always refer to my idea…" Ironhide said hopefully, fidgeting with one of his massive cannons.
"Your idea, Ironhide, is outside our code of conduct toward humans, and will not be executed," Optimus said flatly. "As I have said before: we cannot go against Galloway, unless we wish to reap the undesirable consequences."
"Uh-huh. Don't want the Man steppin' on us now," Skids proclaimed.
"We will be ready if you need us," Arcee—or rather, the three bots that made up Arcee—said. "If you are ever in danger, and have no means of escape, we will come to your aid. That is our oath."
"Gee, thanks." I crossed my arms. "I'll be sure to remember that."
Fang, who was standing off to one side, had been silent up to this point. Now he shuffled forward and cleared his throat.
"You guys have done so much for us—fighting off the Flyboys, saving the Gasman—I mean, you're all aliens, but you've done more for us than most humans ever have," he said. "How can we ever repay you?"
I almost fell flat on the floor. Fang was actually asking an emotional question? Since when did hell freeze over?
"By surviving." Optimus leaned down. "Your lives are precious. You are more than a feat of genetic engineering, you are warriors in your own right and protectors of Earth just as we are. As long as there are a few who will stand between Earth's people and destruction, there is hope. We fight to keep that hope alive. To keep you alive. Do you understand, boy?"
"I understand," Fang said, a determined light in his dark eyes.
"We all do," I intoned, and I glanced at my Flock. They were steely and ready to go, just the way I like 'em. We would make it. We had to.
Or there would be no world to save.