A/N: So, finally was able to get this chapter to cooperate. Was also able to start on Chapter 26 too, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully, it won't give me as many problems as this one did. Tracy
Chapter Twenty-five:
First Aid spared a glance at the girl's form curled up in the corner. She had fallen asleep almost an hour ago. He was both grateful for her help, but just as frustrated that she didn't seem to take her own health seriously. He expelled a huff of air from his vents in his frustration; not only was Ellie selfless to the point of martyrdom, but the damage to Sunstreaker's chest was proving to be more extensive than he had initially thought.
The sound of Cybertronian sized footfalls caught his attention. He looked up and saw Bumblebee peer in questioningly.
"It's okay Bumblebee. I'm in between delicate surgeries on Sunstreaker at the moment."
The scout walked in and stopped short when he saw the girl sleeping in a huddle in the corner.
First Aid saw the look of pure devotion enter into the optics of the young mech as he looked at their new ward. It was rather odd, if you asked him, that Bumblebee could be so attached to anyone so quickly. As far as he knew, they only just formally met yesterday.
"How are you so attached to her already?" he asked in curiosity.
Bumblebee reluctantly pulled his attention from the sleeping form to assess the medic. He didn't know the mech that well, but Ratchet spoke highly of him. That was all he needed to share his suspicions.
He looked longingly at the girl again, then moved to the white board set up in the corner. He opened the dry erase marker and began writing; "Almost ten Earth years ago, when we were on the way here, I experienced a cybernetic lock with someone. They were experiencing catastrophic injuries to both legs and their left audial and optic. Toward the end of the lock, I felt this other's left arm being amputated before they must have lost consciousness. I realized it was the girl after she helped me on the battlefield three days ago."
"That's impossible! She's human, the only way you could have had a cybernetic lock with her is if you share spark energy," First Aid tried to argue.
Bumblebee erased the board and started to write again; "When I met her yesterday, she could hear my thoughts."
"Oh Bumblebee," the medic consoled, "I'm sorry that you are bound to someone with such a short life span."
He shrugged and wrote; "Don't the shortest lived stars burn the brightest? Now that I have her, I will take the few decades we have together and make them the brightest memories in my entire existence."
"You are a much nobler mech than I could ever hope to be," he said as he patted the scout on the shoulder.
"So says the pacifist," he wrote with a chuckle.
"Why don't you take Ellie to her room, a human child of her age should be getting at least nine hours of sleep a night."
Bumblebee put the top back on the marker and eagerly approached her sleeping form. Gently, he scooped her up and held her closely to his chest plates. He was pleased when she barely stirred as he lifted her.
VVVVVBREAKVVVVV
Livewire was heading toward the clean room, now redubbed the surgical bay by First Aid, when he met up with Bumblebee carrying a sleeping Ellie.
"Do you know how long she's been asleep?"
Bumblebee shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, it couldn't have been more than an hour or so," the medi tech mused. "Come on. Let's get her to bed. Her room's this way," he motioned as he led the way.
VVVVVBREAKVVVVV
"Optimus, the girl has been moved to your private quarters. I posted the twins to guard her," Jolt told his leader as he got off the elevator to the subterranean levels.
"Thank you Jolt. Are you certain she has everything she would need?"
"Yes Optimus; there is a human sized berth set up in your own private sleeping chamber, water, food and appropriate necessities within the human sized elimination room."
"Very good. Make sure to keep an eye on the twins, I don't want them to get into another one of their fights and disturb her."
Jolt nodded as he headed back toward Optimus' quarters. The sound of escalating voices made him hurry as the twins began yet another argument. He just hoped he could rein them in before they disturbed the guest.
VVVVVBREAKVVVVV
The former soldier smiled from his position on the runway behind the base. Fortunately, they had left their C-17's out for quick deployment if it was necessary, so they had plenty of cover and hiding spots.
"This is ear three," said the troop. "Freaks are talking about a girl under guard in king freak's quarters. Orders?"
"Any eyes on the girl?" asked the disembodied voice of the strike commander.
"This is eyes one. Saw a human figure with a hood covering their face and long dark hair coming out when they came in. Couldn't tell gender or age."
"Continue to listen for confirmation of identity. All teams stand by."
"Strike commander, this is tech two. My camera is in king freak's quarters; identity is confirmed. Package on site, repeat, package is there."
"Copy tech two.
"All teams move in. Engage! Engage! Engage!"
Quickly, team three moved like the efficient killing force they were; they threw the explosive compound onto the closed hangar doors and took cover as the doors exploded inward, before the dust had even settled, they were moving, throwing flash-bang grenades inside in an effort to subdue any humans and confuse the sensors of any robot that might be there as well. The shouts from within the structure were expected as the human team tried to regain their footing after the initial confusion.
The shouts of the strike team as they streamed in covered the sound of the ambush teams coming in behind them. They neutralized the guards covering the rear with brutal blows to helmets. They allowed the strike team to quiet before they made their move, swarming in after them like a hive of angry bees.
"On the ground! Let's go!" was heard from the newly arriving units as they surrounded the teams and held their weapons on them.
VVVVVBREAKVVVVV
"This is Angel one, in place," SrA Austin stated as she moved into position at the rear of the facility. She listened as the rest of her team reported their positions to the strike commander.
The entrance went off like clockwork, they saw from their position hiding near the rear fence. Then, the N.E.S.T. operatives appeared out of the adjacent hangars and quickly surrounded the engaging teams.
"Backup teams, engage!" came the order from the strike commander.
"Anyone see the engagement?" Gunny Young asked.
"Affirmative," Austin said. "They did not engage, all humans."
"Work the plan," he answered quickly.
Slowly, the backup teams approached the facility. As soon as they reached the lighted area of the tarmac, one of the robots spotted them and alerted the rest.
"Halt!" came the order from several members of the opposing forces.
Austin and her team complied by stopping their forward progress, but maintained their weapons.
"My name is Leslie Austin. We want to speak with the boss 'bot before anyone gets hurt," she called out clearly.
"Lower your weapons and maybe we'll let you," a cocky voice negotiated from the opposition.
"We've stopped as ordered, we aren't about to leave ourselves defenseless to the overzealous likes of you."
"What are you doing?" the strike commander asked through her implant just before the connection suddenly severed.
"Strike commander down. Continue as planned," Gunny Young informed a moment later.
"It's alright Fletcher," a velvet voice advised from the neighboring hangar. The sound of metal feet walking across the tarmac silenced him.
"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. You wished to address me Leslie Austin?"
"Yes sir. We are a part of the first unit of the Carlisle Security team. We have been deployed to retrieve and protect Maimed Angel. Will you turn her over?"
"No. We, also, are protecting her. However, we are protecting her from Dr. Carlisle. Tell me, are you aware of whom she truly is?"
"She's the first soldier to become a viable cyborg. Without her, none of us would be here."
"I'm afraid you are mistaken. She is the twelve year old niece of Dr. Carlisle. She may be the first viable cyborg, as you say; but she was three when it occurred."
"What?
"Fellowes?"
"It has to be true. He wouldn't lie about that unless he was lied to first."
"Gunny Young? Did you hear that?"
"Affirmative," gunny responded. "I hate to say this, but I believe him.
"Inform them I'm bringing in the strike commander and his subordinate via the front door. All personnel surrender to the robots; I don't trust the human soldiers."
"Copy," she addressed him.
"My unit commander is bringing in the strike commander and his subordinate via the front door," she addressed Optimus Prime. "We have been ordered to surrender to your forces, but not the humans," she said as she proceeded to drop her clip on the ground and clear the round in the chamber. The sound of her team following suit echoed off the metal walls of the buildings and planes.
"Very well.
"Sideswipe, Jukes, Ratchet, relieve them of their weapons," he ordered.
"I should probably warn you," Austin started, "we've been undergoing subliminal manipulation to increase our fear of you. You might want to allow for that."
"If that's true," Ratchet informed him, "then these humans will be more likely to engage in desperate measures to escape us, including suicide."
"Then we will place them under," he paused as he researched the web for the proper terminology, "suicide watch. I'll defer to your judgment as to who should be posted."
Optimus turned and walked back into the hangar. Now that the primary military weapon of the doctor had been captured, it was time to question the spy.