Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own any part of the Transformers franchise.
Chapter 26
It wouldn't have been the first time a strange took pity on her. Her life lately had been full of pity, people wanting to take care of her and where had it gotten Mikaela Banes?
The same hard cot that she had awoken in so many hours ago.
The hotel clerk felt so bad about Mikaela's recent run in with Epps, that he gave her a free night stay. And while the gesture was kind, there was simply nothing that the small bland bedroom could do for her.
In a way, she supposed she deserved it. After all, karma has an interesting way of coming back to you. It would always be her biggest regret, leaving Sam in that hospital. They had just graduated from high school; Sam would be going to the East Coast for college so they planned a special vacation, just between the two of them, a drive to Arizona, if she remembered right. They weren't even out of California when the assault from the air began. Since it was just Sam and Mick, no Bee since he was en route to D.C. to meet Prime, Starscream was able to swoop down upon them as if they were tiny white mice. She remembered the Doctor, just a tiny little Decepticon, scurrying about quickly and trying to inject a thick, lime green substance into Sam's limp body, but the cavalry arrived before he could finish. She wasn't even sure how Ratchet and Ironhide had found them, but she had never been happier in her life.
But most of all, she remembered the nights waiting for Sam to wake up, the doctors telling them how they weren't sure if he was going to make it. No human had ever been poisoned with raw radiation from Cybertron. There was nothing any of them could do but wait, and she couldn't. She couldn't sit there day and night, watching as doctor after doctor tore him apart with the same conclusion. She lost hope and in essence lost herself.
Mikaela now sat at the edge of the hard bed in her motel room. Night had long fallen upon the small town. Beneath her was a small duffel bag where her purse was stuffed in along with a set of clean clothes which had been generously donated to her. Her mind battled with the option of going home. At least there she would have Keiara, work and a family who cared, instead of the resentment, anger and denial she had dealt with for the past week. Although if Epps was half the man she remembered, Mikaela knew well that it wouldn't be past him to have the government after her when all of this was settled. Or maybe Optimus or Bee would fall pity on her and ask him to let it go.
Like that's what you need more of, she thought bitterly. Pity.
Mikaela ran a frustrated hand through her locks before slowly getting back up again. She reached for the light, ready to give sleep another try, when she heard the loud rumble of an engine—a very expensive engine. Curious, her ears led her to the window, but there was no car in sight, and just as went to turn from the window, a flash of metallic silver crossed the bushes that she was gazing at. Taken aback, Mikaela squinted harder looking for the silver flash again. She concentrated on a small bush that seemed to shake quickly before becoming very still. And when it rose, Mikaela had only a split second to recognize who it was and run as far from the window as humanly possible.
Yet of course, when you're faced against the feline monster that is Ravage, there is only so much one petty little human can do in a split second.
The decepticon leaped into the air with grace that was admirable and great ferocity, digging one of his paws into her back as he went to strike her.
Mikaela stumbled, but put her balance into gear and she rushed away from the ever approaching Ravage, pushing through several people and racing down stairs, which were soon destroyed behind her. Screams awoke everyone in the small motel as the chase ensued and when Mikaela reached the bottom of the stairs, the small motel clerk, still dressed in his pajamas aimed an AK-47, the kind that could only be found in rural Pennsylvania, and shot at her pursuer.
"Keys!" Mikaela hollered before snatching a pair from an innocent bystander, who was too captivated by the sight behind her to care about his loss.
Mikaela ran around the small parking lot before slipping into a 1974 Range Rover Classic. She threw the car in drive, headed for the nearest highway. It didn't surprise her that after she spent a few moments on the road, she could see her metallic fiend chasing steadily behind her, itching closer every second. Mikaela looked around, trying to find the easiest way to shake him, dodging wildly through cars, but Ravage stayed on her, his scarlet eye glinting dangerously.
It took everything in Mikaela to keep her foot on the gas and steady breaths through her body. Why did this decepticon have to chase her now? Wait—why was this decepticon chasing her?
The last twenty-four hours dawned on her heavily. If Barricade sent a transmission for a temporary truce between the Autobots and the Decepticons, why was Ravage chasing her down for his next meal?
Of course, that is, if there was a truce. Would it really be past the Decepticons to pull such charades? Pretend to be on the Autobots side, wanting to destroy the Amnabots, when in actuality they work for the Amnabots—no, the Amnabots must work for them.
Slamming her head against the wheel, Mikaela groaned at her own stupidity. Ironhide had indeed been right—after all, why would you trust in a being that's been trying to kill you since you were sixteen?
Mikaela's epiphany was disrupted by Ravage, who raced ahead of her Range Rover, before turning around and jumping on the hood. He destroyed the windshield in one effortless strike, reaching out to clip her in the face. Mikaela threw the car wildly to the right, driving straight off of the road and colliding roughly with a metal sign. Ravage growled loudly and slipped off the hood, allowing Mikaela to hit the reverse and run into the metal feline several times before she was sure he wasn't planning on getting back up again anytime soon.
"Give my regards to Starscream," Mikaela spat, before driving off, leaving Ravage crumpled against the sign that read 76 miles to Washington D.C.
The bright lights of Arlington greeted Mikaela about a short hour later, as she raced through the streets, in search for the military headquarters.
"Ma'am you cannot enter through here," one of the guards barked at her as she tried to jump the security gate. She paid him no mind, successfully making it over, before running wild to the entry doors. She banged on the doors until one confused Pentagon worked let her through, in mid question.
"Excuse me ma'—"
"I need you to tell me where I can find Secretary Keller or anyone who knows about—"
Her fumbling words were interrupted by the security guard who tackled her roughly to the ground.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" A loud voice exclaimed as the security guard dragged the kicking Mikaela up and out.
"Oh God, not you," Mikaela groaned.
Agent Simmons stood in front of her, with a full blown smirk on his faced, dressed in a sharp black government suit. Standing next to him was a small caramel haired woman, who had a set frown on her face.
"Well well, well if it isn't the criminal girlfriend?" Simmons greeted.
"Criminal girlfriend?" the small woman repeated eyeing Mikaela oddly.
"It's funny you show up now," Simmons continued. "After all, I just got an interesting message from Epps about you."
"Mikaela Banes," the woman concluded, snatching Mikaela from the officer's grip. "You're under arrest for the—"
"You can arrest me after you explain to me why the hell Ravage just chased me down I-270!" Mikaela yelled over her.
"Ravage?" the woman asked.
"The little feline thing?" Simmons clarified. "Are you sure it was N.B.E—"
"Oh what do you think Ironhide clawed at my back and tried to rip open my face?" Mikaela snapped.
The female official swore. "I told Witwicky he was out of line."
"What?" Mikaela asked.
"Take her to the holding cell, Cromwell" Simmons suggested. "I'll call for Secretary Keller."
Cromwell tightened her grip on Mikaela wrist as Simmons dismissed the security officer.
"Witwicky, earlier this week made a deal with N.B.E. 04, Barricade, that I informed him was completely out of line," the woman explained taking Mikaela to the nearest elevator.
"The one about the Decepticons aiding the Autobots?" Mikaela asked.
"Exactly," the woman confirmed, "in exchange for Starscream."
"WHAT?"
Mikaela stopped in the middle of the building, her heart along with it. Sam couldn't be that naïve? He had been fighting longer than she had. Surely he would know…
"He insisted that they would play the cat and mouse game anyway, and continued to tell me, that his experience outweighs my ambition," Cromwell continued. "Foster!"
A tall man heading in the opposite direction that the two women were going stopped immediately and approached them. "Yes ma'am?"
"Please escort Ms. Banes to the lower holding cell," Cromwell ordered. "And wait with her until myself, Agent Simmons or Secretary Keller arrives."
"Right away," Foster replied, putting a firm grip on Mikaela's shoulder and leading her to the elevator.
They entered quietly into the small box and Foster swiped his access card before reached out to press one of the many silver buttons. When his hand retracted, Mikaela noticed the cuff of his suit jacket retract slightly, revealing a deep cobalt coding, almost like a tattoo, but more a part of his skin. Her airways clamped shut as she faintly recognized that design.
"It's nice to see you as well, Mikaela," Mare smiled before slamming her head against the elevator door.
Thank you for reading and please do not forget to review!
Much Love,
Santiva Potter