Chapter 26
"Is this a good idea?" Makeshift asked, the new recruit that had been an Autobot before Evelyn convinced him to be otherwise only because he wanted to be able to help as many humans and Cybertronians as possible. The rotor blades on his back twitched slightly out of apprehension and Evelyn watched the tan and purple mech in silence before turning her head back to the scene in front of her.
"No." She answered truthfully as she studied the sleeping figure of Stratosphere. "But it is the only way to get away without causing too much hassle to the Autobots and without the government knowing where we are going." Makeshift nodded slowly.
"Will it work?" He asked and she shrugged, sparing a moment to look around at the completely empty airway. Thanks to Ironhide, the soldiers were all exhausted from training and dutifully sound asleep. Even the ones who were apparently on guard duty were slumped against the walls sound asleep.
"Not sure. I think it is more believable with an Autobot." She answered turning to give him a grin. "So long as you play your part."
"I don't like lying to Optimus though." He grumbled and Evelyn nodded, understanding.
"Yeah, me either. That's why I wrote him this note to explain our actions. They'll understand. This is the best course of action for the Neutrals." Again the large helicopter mech nodded slowly, blue eyes glowing in the late night air. Barricade gave her a look as she shifted the bag on her back, laptop under one arm. "Ready?" She asked the group. The four or so other mechs gave a nod and she grinned. "Alrighty guys follow my lead."
The large cargo plane shift slightly as he awoke to the sound of several mechs approaching and if he could have he would have furrowed his brow. Evelyn smiled at him, waving with her clawed hand.
"Ready to go big guy?" She asked him and he was dumbfounded momentarily.
"Wha?" He grumbled unintelligently as he tried to comprehend what the red haired woman was saying or even talking about. Her smile faded slightly as she cocked her head to the side.
"Will didn't tell you?" She asked before groaning.
"Tell me what?" Stratosphere asked still highly confused. Evelyn growled as she shook her head.
"That we're heading back to the mainland." Evelyn filled him in. "Damn it, Ironhide must have put him through hell to forget to tell you that." Evelyn chuckled. "Ugh, remind me to kick Ironhide in his stubborn aft." She grumbled before placing her bag down along with Buzzsaw. "I don't want to but I guess I'll have to kick Lennox out of bed." With that, Evelyn turned around, making to the direction of Will's room before the booming voice of Stratosphere stopped her.
"Nah. Forget about it. Why so hush, hush though?" The large mech asked and Evelyn leaned in.
"You know that government official lady? Mearings?" Evelyn asked hearing the plane grunted in recognition. She grinned further. "Imagine the shit fit she would throw if she knew this was happening."
"Ah." He grunted as the door to the cargo bay lowered. Evelyn smiled at him as she walked up the ramp beside Knock Out and Barricade. "Hey Makeshift, what you doin' with them?" The plane asked and the addressed mech shrugged.
"I'm to accompany them to their new base." He lied easily and Stratosphere chuckled.
"How boring." He rumbled and Makeshift laughed.
"At least it is something to do." He answered simply with a still rather bored shrug and the large cargo plane chuckled again as the cargo door slowly lifted. Evelyn watched it close, only sitting when she was certain that it was completely sealed. "We ready?" Stratosphere asked and everyone gave an eased nod.
Evelyn released the breath she had been holding only after the large form of Stratosphere was in the air, high above the ocean. It was normal for the large plane to go for hour long flights without any reason. She shared a look with Knock Out who sat cross-legged against one of the curved walls. She winked as he grinned before she shook her head.
"Hey Stratosphere?" Evelyn called out feeling the plane shift slightly.
"Yes, little lady?" He rumbled. Slowly she reached down, pulling out an envelope from her bag and holding it in the air with a grin.
"After you return, do you think you can make sure Optimus and William get this?" She asked slowly. "It's a sorta farewell to everyone along with a thank you note." She finished with a shrug. A small compartment to her left opened and she placed the white envelope, watching as it disappeared.
"Not a problem." The large mech replied and Evelyn only smiled.
XXXX
Land couldn't come sooner and Evelyn could have practically kissed the ground with the relief she felt. Her plan had worked, not like she was convinced it wouldn't. She turned around as the several 'normal' cars and a helicopter pulled out of the plane. She leaned against the hood of Barricade as she watched the large cargo plane take off into the rising sun after a few heartfelt goodbyes.
Buzzsaw transformed after Stratosphere was a single dot in the horizon. Evelyn turned to the group of three cars and a single helicopter with a grin as Buzzsaw landed on her shoulders, perching gracefully with a smug grin. Evelyn stood from her position to address the group.
"I think we should get the hell out of here before he realizes that we just lied to him." She informed and Barricade opened his door without much complaint.
"I agree with you female." Barricade grumbled. Buzzsaw flew in despite the grunt from the police mech and the incredulous glare from Evelyn before she followed suit, sitting in the driver's side with the large bird curled quite comfortably on the passenger seat. Slowly the door shut and Barricade's engine gave a fearsome roar before he took off, Knock Out following behind him, Makeshift as a search and rescue helicopter scouting ahead, and Scavenge, an ex-Decepticon, in the form of an olive green camouflaged Harley Davidson motorcycle taking up the rear.
"Where are we going?" Barricade rumbled as Evelyn leaned back, the back of her head resting on her crossed arms. She blinked briefly before offering a shrug.
"Nightstorm will find us, for now just keep moving so we don't get caught." She answered.
"I hate to burst your false hope but our happy little group is sure to bring suspicion, especially considering that we have a motorcycle that doesn't have a driver." Evelyn blinked dubiously before ever so slowly turning her head to look at the offending mech. Sure enough behind the group of mismatched cars was a motorcycle clearly missing a driver. Evelyn stared at it for a few good minutes before turning back to the steering wheel.
"Are you serious?" She growled out to nobody in particularly as she held her arms out. Next to her she her Buzzsaw's humored chuckle and Evelyn did not hold back the glare she gave the metallic bird. "Barricade, can you hook up so sort of communication so that I can speak to him?" She asked sounding rather exasperated while shaking her head. Barricade was quiet for less than a second before the light on the police radio kicked on.
"You are connected to him, speak." He said nonchalantly and Evelyn nodded her thanks.
"Scavenge." She addressed him in a contained growl while placing a hand on her forehead.
"Yes?" He responded sounding rather innocent. Evelyn released a puff of air from her mouth.
"Answer me this. Do human motorcycles drive themselves?" She asked now surprisingly sounding considerably calm.
"No?" He replied after a few good seconds before it finally kicked in. He coughed, choking out an embarrassed noise. "Fixed now." He replied and Evelyn turned her head just an image of a man in a black tinted full faced motorcycle helmet, flickered into existence. She gave a nod.
"Thanks." She stated before the radio light flicked off.
XXXX
The sun was just rising, giving the barren sky an eerie red glow and Evelyn stretched, looking back at their crude caravan. Knock Out let his engine rumble in boredom and Evelyn gave a smile to the flashy mech though he probably wouldn't see it. It had been a week of just straight driving along the familiar route 66 and the desert scenery was quickly losing its aw but she still found herself staring out the window at it. Evelyn watched a large Red tail hawk circle lazily above them. Suddenly the bird dived almost frantically before disappearing.
Giving a frown, Evelyn studied the sky looking for what had caused the large predatory bird to act like that. Above them flew and oddly colored black f-16 with almost neon blue highlights lining the wings. It dived almost suddenly, as it preformed a barrel roll. Evelyn tensed as the jet only came closer and for a brief second she thought it was going to collide with them. At the last possible moment the f-16 pulled up, skimming inches away from the cars before rising back into the air.
"Seekers!" Both Evelyn and Barricade snarled at the same time as the jet performed an aerial flip and leveling out so that it was flying beside the three vehicles.
"Hello Barricade!" The f-16 chimed out sounding rather cheery and Evelyn studied the new mech finding the Decepticon symbol with four gouges across it. The seeker was one of them and probably one of the recruits that Nightstorm was talking about. "Is there an Evelyn with you?" He asked and Evelyn leaned out the window giving a half hearted wave.
"You with Nightstorm?" She asked and the jet bobbed slightly in what Evelyn assumed was some sort of nod.
"I am. Nightflight at your service." The seeker informed and Evelyn frowned slightly. Somehow she knew that she would be forever mixing up their names. "I was informed to lead you to our base."
"Awesome. That would be greatly appreciated. How far is it?" Evelyn asked.
"It would be a day flight but with you slow grounders, it will take at least three days." He growled and Evelyn crossed her arms over her chest, shooting the mech a glare.
"Oh yes, because all hell will break loose if a seeker can't go fast for a couple of days." Evelyn growled out sarcastically earning a pregnant pause from the seeker. It was at least a couple of seconds before the oddly colored jet spoke.
"Nightstorm said I would like you." The jet paused again before he added, "and I do." Rather cheerfully. Evelyn watched him as he raised again, leveling out beside the form of Makeshift who inched to the left rather warily.
"I don't think I under-" Evelyn began but Barricade cut her off.
"Don't even try to, he's a seeker. There is a reason as to why so many Decepticons were seekers. What's that phrase you so often use?" He rumbled sounding rather homicidal.
"Crazier than a shit house rat?" Evelyn offered with a simple wave of her metallic hand.
"Yes, that's the one. Are we really going to follow a seeker?" Barricade seethed and Evelyn angled her head out of the window, looking at the new Neutral who was happily performing barrel rolls beside the less than ecstatic helicopter. Evelyn sat back in her seat, a rather doomed look plaster on her face.
"Do we have any other option?" She groaned and beside her Buzzsaw answered.
"No." She purred with a rather sadistic chuckle. Evelyn sighed, running a hand through her head.
"I thought all Decepticons were horrible sadistic death bringers." Evelyn muttered half-heartedly looking back at the f-16 who was happily chatting away to Makeshift who, from what Evelyn could tell, couldn't get a word in edge wise.
"With Megatron, and dare I say Starscream, yes. Without any sort of leader they are practically useless and eventually as you see here revert to their insane tendencies." He answered and Evelyn stopped and was silent for a second.
"So without war there is hope for them?" Evelyn mused. Her cause wasn't for nothing then. Barricade paused and she knew he was watching the happy seeker for a brief moment.
"If you think that's hopeful." He growled out and Evelyn chuckled leaning back in her seat.
XXXX
"Nevada." Evelyn said in disbelief as she leaned out the window of Barricade's interior. Buzzsaw shot her a confused look, head tilted to the side as Evelyn shook her head.
"And only a four hour drive from Vegas." Barricade added with a knowing smirk. Evelyn chuckled slowly as she grinned. "and about a six hour drive from where we first met." He continued and Evelyn just grinned.
"Life is just one big circle." She added and Barricade agreed with a humored grunt before he roared his engine upon entering what appeared to be a newer desert town that had been abandoned for reason that Evelyn was unaware of. At the beginning, beside the tattered sign that had at some point held the town's name was a newer yellow sign that normally had symbols that warned of deer or other such creatures, with a symbol that looked oddly like a robot. Evelyn furrowed her brows at the symbol.
"Can you connect me to Nightflight, Barricade? I need to ask him something." Barricade grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like an insult before the light on the radio blinked on. Evelyn gave him a grateful nod.
"Hey Nightflight?" She asked and in mere seconds the Seeker's voice was filling the interior of Barricade.
"Yes?" He replied.
"Did you see that sign." The mech grunted in what she assumed was a yes response. "Do you know what it means? I've never seen that before and I'm pretty sure it's new." The jet laughed slowly.
"Hmm." He purred. "Yes. Those fancy government officials came in and put those there." The jet paused, swooping low to Barricade's window. "I believe it is to warn the insect population that this is mech territory."
"Mech territory?" Evelyn asked and the jet bobbed slightly.
"Yes. The remaining Decepticons are hiding out in places like this. It's dry, less populated, and quiet. What more can a mech ask for when recovering from a rather disastrous defeat?" Evelyn paused looking at Nightflight.
"And our base just happens to be located in this town?" Evelyn grumbled and the jet laughed again.
"The signs were up way before Nightstorm located this place. This city was evacuated after the Decepticon attack. Ever since then few of the insects have been interested in returning. The ones that do I'm sure are insane." Evelyn nodded.
"So this city is larger than I thought then." Evelyn mused out loud before continuing. "and this place has other mechs currently?"
"Very few. Most left after the arrival of Nightstorm. Some of the ones that stayed agreed to become Neutral. Very few actually agreed to become Neutral. Nightstorm said that we were lacking your charisma in recruiting." The jet flicked his wings in a motion that oddly resembled a shrug and Evelyn briefly wondered how he was able to do that and remain airborne.
"He." She paused pursing her lips. "He said that about me?" The seeker once again bobbed.
"among other praise. Apparently he has taken a liking to you. You are very lucky, hybrid. Very few gain his trust and less gain his praise." Nightflight finished angling up and returning beside Makeshift. Evelyn blinked while Barricade chuckled away, a low vile sound that indicated he was plotting something.
"You have gained a very powerful ally, putrid fleshling. Beside Starscream, Nightstorm is a very powerful seeker and many would rather die than disobey him."
"But how?" Evelyn grumbled bewildered. Barricades police form shifted slightly as he grumbled rather irritably.
"Seekers. They do not live by reason. They are the most illogical, egotistical, beings you will ever meet in your life. Once they decide they like something, they are very possessive of it." Evelyn paused with a nervous chuckle.
"You make that sound like a bad thing." Evelyn whined and Barricade paused and then bit out a harsh condescending laugh, causing Evelyn's grin to falter completely.
"Oh. It is a bad thing." He purred rather sadistically and she couldn't help but look to him with nothing but horror while he was grinning away.
XXXX
The base was enormous, not quite as big as the Autobot's but beggars couldn't be choosers Evelyn considered. She took a step, looking to Knock Out who was glaring on with a pleased smirk. Granted, it needed work but with a little patience it would be perfect.
Nightstorm walked out proudly from within a hanger that was high enough to allow him entrance without any problems. He grinned as he waved his hand out, gesturing to the entire area.
"You're kingdom, my lady." He chimed out in his gruff grating voice as two other seekers walked out behind him. Evelyn gave him a pleased smile as Buzzsaw landed quite gracefully upon her shoulder, her long neck curling around Evelyn's own neck to get a better view.
"You are one hell of a seeker my friend." She complimented while gesturing around her at the land with so many buildings. "This is. This is perfect!" At this the seeker bristled with pride, wings lifting as he held his head high.
"Let me show you around." Nightstorm volunteered very happily as she followed still with the large metal bird on her shoulder.
The first building would serve as the med bay and it was huge with great metal platforms that surprisingly would work well for being temporary berths. Knock Out looked around, cynical at first before wiggling his talons in his usual excited manor.
"Oh darling, you get me the nicest things!" He purred with a smug grin and Evelyn grinned placing a hand on her hip as she played along.
"Only the best for you babe." She cut in and Knock Out gave his usual cocky grin before leaning on one of the berths, sprawling his talons over it as he gave a very seductive pose.
"Keep talking like that and I might find an excuse to play doctor with you and break in these berths." Barricade grumbled something intelligible before Evelyn burst out into cackles.
"Bloody hell, can't even keep up with you. You're bloody terrible!" She replied.
"Doll, nobody can touch this." He said running a talon over his red chest. Evelyn shook her head stifling the laughter.
"Mechs." Buzzsaw cut in while giving the surrounding mechs a rather evil glare.
"Knock Out." Evelyn corrected. "He is in his own class." Buzzsaw nodded in agreement.
XXXX
Evelyn sat perched on the high shoulder of a seeker as he held a large metal plating against the side of one of the many as Evelyn secured it. Behind her all of the other mechs were working rather feverously to get the base as Nightstorm had said, 'up to par'. Barricade snickered as one of the mechs tripped with a large load of metal and crashed unceremoniously into the ground with a large thud.
She turned her head at Nightflight who remained lying on his face with his arms sprawled out. She watched his wing twitch indignantly before calling out.
"You alright there?" He lifted a single talon up, that happened to be the middle finger. Evelyn shook her head with a grating laugh. "Yeah, up yours too ya bloody clumsy bastard. How the hell can you fly when you can't even walk?" She teased earning a hateful glare from the seeker.
"The same way I manage not to 'accidently' step on you." He bit back pulling his large frame off of the ground." Evelyn grinned at him and surprisingly he was grinning too.
"Aw but here I thought you only avoided stepping on me because I would leave a nasty stain on your claws." She retorted at the seeker she was on chuckled, kneeling so she could hop off onto his hand then onto the ground when he lowered his hand down enough. She began walking as Nightflight chuckled as well, picking up the chunks of metal.
"Hey Barricade." She called out gaining the large police mech's attention as he was helping Makeshift install the perimeter sensors and energon detectors. He turned to her with a single eye bridge raised. "We need some new material, wanna come?" She asked and he gave a smug sneer.
"Looting? Hardly honorable actions of a putrid fleshling such as yourself." He sneered while placing a single clawed hand on his hip.
"Seriously?" She joked as well. "When have I ever been honorable and plus what is the point of an alien invasion if I can't loot? Looting is fun." Evelyn finished and Barricade transformed his driver's side door opening for her.
He peeled out rather quickly and Evelyn accidently clenched the seat with a harsh glare directed at the dash board of the Saleen mustang. He chuckled as he drove on, speeding through the mostly empty streets of the city. At the sight of a warehouse he stopped.
"I'm detecting a signal of some sort but it is stifled in a way. I can't tell what it is." He grumbled and Evelyn gave a frown.
"Not even if it is Cybertronian?" She asked sounding rather hopeful but by the growl that left his radio she knew that he didn't even know that.
"No." He snarled and Evelyn nodded, pulling out her Cybertronian pistol as Barricade opened his door.
"You coming as well?" She asked.
"Too much chance of being spotted." He smugly responded and Evelyn flat out glared at him. "I will look for a more discrete option." He rumbled with a hidden chuckle and Evelyn smacked the seat.
"You just like saving my ass when I almost die, don't you?" Barricade smirked, giving his low vile chuckles that always managed to send shivers down her spine.
"but you look so pretty with blood pooling around your pale body." Evelyn paused mid step, giving him a concerned look before grinning and shaking her head.
"Geeze you are seriously not right in the processor, you bloody sadistic bastard." Evelyn stated still with a grin which was returned with a low snaking growl from his engine that sounded oddly like a laugh. She turned around on her heels back to the building.
Evelyn turned the corner and to her utter surprise found a large gaping hole through the concrete that looked like it had caused by a very large and very pissed off alien, if the scorch marks along the jagged bricks was anything to go by. She ran her hand along a single corner of the brick before shaking her head and entering with her pistol held tightly in her grasps.
As she walked in, there was nothing but silence and a thick earie darkness that made any visual near impossible and it made Evelyn rightly nervous. Feeling the side of the wall, she found a pull lever and upon further inspection, pulled it. Several artificial lights, flickered on with a hard hum that sounded rather concerning. She looked at the rusted lights with a puzzled frown before deciding to just ignore it.
The inside of the building was destroyed, large crates smashed into splintering wood and many metal shelves pushed over and to top it all off there was a thick energon trail leading somewhere to the back. It looked like a crime scene, worse actually and Evelyn planned on checking it out.
"I'm a fucking idiot." She commented with a fake shit eating grin.
Authors note: Barricade is still one of my favorites to write. He is just so twisted.