Today is Keeping Secrets's first birthday!
Chapter One was uploaded exactly a year ago!
I can't believe I've been working it for so long!
Things are starting to look up in RL.
So much for my life going to the Pit...
I guess I'm just a pessimist at heart.
Thank you for reviewing!
It's hard to believe this is the second-to-last chapter.
Last one will be up...in no more than a week.
I hope. Primus willing.
"So we're stuck here until this evening?"
"Looks like it."
"I want a shower, a beer, a nap, and a barbecue, in that order."
"That's a tall order, Captain."
"We'll take care of the details, Captain Lennox, while you and your men rest."
"Thanks, Prime."
"Just one question..."
"Shoot."
"There's nothing to shoot at the moment."
"Figure of speech, Prowl. What's your question...Sideswipe, is it?"
"Yes, Captain. What's a barbecue?"
"Uh..."
"Sideswipe?"
"What, Jazz?"
"Ya need ta check out the 'net. Like, right now. It's got everythin' ya need ta know 'bout humans."
"And a lot that you don't."
"Hey, Ratchet, I think I'm beginning to like this place."
"Now that's a worrying thought."
Chapter Thirty Eight
Sam's parents were not too pleased when their son showed up on their doorstep at one in the morning with his girlfriend and ten military men in tow, but they were too sleepy to argue with him.
"You're grounded," his father growled, locking the door, and that was the extent of the conversation.
Mrs. Witwicky raided the closet for pillows and blankets while Lennox pulled rank on his men to use the shower first. Mikaela and Sam said good night and Jazz took the girl home. Katrina was sent to her room after a tearful hug from Sam's mother.
"Thank goodness you're back, Katrina, we were getting worried."
Katrina tried to smile. "It's okay, I had lots of people protecting me."
"Well, don't think being in mortal danger is going to get you out of being grounded, too. Off to bed with you now."
"Good night, Katrina," Sam called after her.
"Night," she mumbled, waving vaguely in his direction before closing the bedroom door, shutting out the buzz of conversation from downstairs. The girl went to her window and sighed, the Autobots had already headed back to their base, with the exception of Bumblebee, who was parked in the driveway, recharging.
Katrina sat on the edge of the bed, making no effort to sleep, since every time she closed her eyes she saw Starscream swooping down, Barricade racing out of nowhere to knock the Decepticon aside. The girl clenched her hands, fingers digging into the quilt on the bed.
"I didn't get to say thank you," she whispered, tears dripping off her nose as she stared at the floor.
A car engine purred outside and Katrina rushed to the window. It was Jazz; the silver car pulled up beside Bumblebee, turned off his headlights, then shut down his engine.
Downstairs the noise finally died down to the stillness of sleep. Katrina leaned her elbows against the windowsill, chin resting on her hands, staring into the darkness. She felt like she was the only living creature in the world.
Unsure what she was doing, the girl wandered down the stairs to the first floor, creeping past the living room, where the military men were sleeping – and snoring. Loudly.
The front door didn't creak, and Katrina shut it carefully, then sat down on the bottom porch step, arms wrapped around her knees. It was a warm night, but goosebumps were creeping up her arms and the girl shivered. Something's going to happen. But what?
Rumbling caught her attention, and she looked upward. The moon shone down from a clear, star-spangled sky. Where was the noise coming from? A triangle patch of blackness crept across the stars and her heart skipped a beat. What is that? She got to her feet and walked a few steps forward, the stone path cold against her bare feet. The blackness circled in the sky. Katrina watched, mesmerized by the sight. No human could fly that gracefully.
"Strange human. Can you hear me?"
A shiver ran down the girl's spine and she gritted her teeth against the terrible headache. It had to be a Decepticon flying overhead, but he wasn't attacking. What should she do?
"Catch."
Something round fell from the triangle, small but steadily growing larger as it approached the ground. Katrina's hands stretched up in automatic reflex; it never occurred to her that this might be a trap.
Chilled metal touched her skin a moment before soft plastic enveloped her hands. A small, muffled chirp came from beneath the material. Katrina gasped, her heart thudding with almost painful hope as she shoved the plastic – a small parachute – away.
"Morse!" Sobbing, the girl cradled her friend against her chest. "You're alive. You're alive."
"Thank you," Morse sent to the Seeker, already almost out of range.
Thundercracker didn't reply. He had no need of thanks; the look on the human's face had been enough. One more thing to do, then he'd report to Lord Starscream. It didn't take long to find his target.
"Barricade, the human youngling misses you."The Seeker didn't expect an answer, and received none. He watched the police car for a moment, then banked and headed for the Decepticon headquarters.
***
"But why would he give you back, just like that?" Katrina knelt on the stone path, untangling the strings that attached her friend to the parachute.
The spider shrugged.
"It doesn't matter." Katrina patted Morse on the head as she pulled away the last strand of twine. "I'm just glad you're alive." Her voice cracked on the last word. "I thought you were dead, Morse. I felt you die."
CAME CLOSE, the spider tapped. YOU SAVE WITH POWER.
Katrina smiled, scooping her friend up and standing. "I didn't think it worked."
An engine revved behind her and Katrina turned, frowning, then smiled at the sight of the police car. "Barricade!"
She was beside the car before she realized her mistake, and stepped back as a tall man with a large mustache jumped out. "Oh, sorry, I thought you were-"
"The man who owns cruiser number 643? You do know him, then."
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
The policeman's hand descended on her shoulder. "Oh, no, you're coming with me for questioning."
Before Katrina could cry out she was bundled into the backseat and the car took off down the street. Jazz stirred from recharge, scanned the surrounding area for intruders, and relaxed, sensing nothing amiss.
***
Thirty miles away, Simmons was awakened by an insistent beep. He slapped his alarm clock, but the beeping persisted. Yawning, the man clambered out of bed and trudged across the room to his computer desk. Leaning on the back of his desk chair, Simmons squinted at the computer screen, which kept blurring in front of his eyes.
"That crazy phone's back, and at police headquarters," he mumbled, scratching his head. "What's going on?"
***
"I swear, I don't know what you're talking about," Katrina insisted, clutching the cell phone in her hands. Morse had transformed just before the policeman noticed him, and she'd been allowed to keep it as long as she didn't try calling anyone.
"Don't be playing coy, we saw you going off somewhere with that other cruiser. Number 643. Then a call comes in that you've been kidnapped. I want to know what happened."
"Alien robots tried to make me bring their evil leader back to life," Katrina said, putting as much sarcasm in her words as she could manage.
The man laughed, a loud noise that was anything but humorous. "Listen, kid, you better tell me the truth or-"
"Last I checked, interrogating minors requires two police officers and a family member."
"Simmons?" gasped Katrina, straightening in the uncomfortable chair she'd been sitting on for the past fifteen minutes. "What are you doing here?"
"Found something strange on my scanner." He waved a black box in the air. "This place is hot. Wonder why that would be?" Simmons walked over to a file cabinet and reached for the bottom drawer.
"Hey, you can't go in there, that's confidential!"
"I'd say this is pretty confidential," Simmons agreed, pulling out a familiar object.
Katrina inhaled sharply. Frenzy's head? What's it doing here?
"This thing went missing from my living room a few days ago," Simmons continued, tucking the head under his arm. "I'm relieved to have it back. Come along, Katrina."
"You don't have any authority here."
Simmons flashed a badge in the man's face. "I'm with Sector Seven," he snapped, grabbing Katrina's arm and hauling the girl to her feet.
"Never heard of them," the policeman protested.
Pausing in the doorway, Simmons looked back. "Never will." He slammed the door behind him.
"Sector Seven was disbanded," hissed Katrina as Simmons dragged her down the street.
"He doesn't know that." The man held his prize out of reach when Katrina grabbed for it. "Hey, this is mine. You took the last one I had."
"Frenzy needs his head!"
"He's got one."
"You're holding it."
"No, it's right there." Simmons pointed behind Katrina, and she whirled around. Morse transformed and scrambled onto her shoulder, clicking loudly.
DANGER DANGER DANGER.
"No, Morse," Katrina said, a smile spreading across her face. "Frenzy!"
The little mech was hanging out of Barricade's front passenger window, waving. "Hurry-up-slow-human-we-need-to-go."
"Go where?" Katrina asked, taking a step forward.
Simmons halted her with a hand on her shoulder. "You sure that's a good idea?"
Katrina shot him a glare. "Barricade's a lot better than some people."
Simmons let his hand drop. "All right, suit yourself, kid. Take care."
"Autobot-coming-Katrina-hurry!" Frenzy's voice was high-pitched with fear and Katrina ran down the sidewalk, then stopped, one hand on the door Barricade had opened.
"It's okay, it's Jazz."
Jazz screeched to a stop beside Barricade. "Katrina, what d'ya think ya're doin'?"
"Do you want to come with us?"
"Ya're leavin'? Ya can't leave, that is, I don't... I can't... I can't leave, Katrina, ya know that! Ya can't, either, the Witwickys-"
"Will be fine without me." Katrina smiled sadly. "Please say good bye to everyone for me, and thank them for their kindness. You've all been kinder than I've deserved."
"But why?"
"The Decepticons aren't defeated, are they?" The girl shivered, one hand rising to her shoulder to cover Morse. "I almost lost Morse last time. I don't want them to take me again."
"The Autobots can protect ya."
Katrina shook her head. "I don't want to have anything more to do with the Autobots. Ever since I met you guys I've been in danger. I just want to have a normal life."
Jazz sighed. "Fine. I'll pass your message ta the others."
Katrina watched the silver car disappear down the road and blinked back tears. That didn't come out the way I meant it to, but I can't do anything about it now. Sorry, Jazz. "Ow!" The girl sat down hard on the back seat, clutching her head.
"Ya better take good care o' her or I'll hand your aft ta Starscream on a plate, ya hear me?"
"Loud and clear, Autobot."
"If ya're a Neutral now, ya better not harm any Autobots, either."
"I swear to leave the Autobots alone if they do the same."
The headache faded and Katrina sighed in relief. Another good reason for not staying with the Witwickys, she thought, rubbing her temples, which still throbbed with a phantom pain.
"What did I miss?" asked Barricade. "I thought you couldn't wait to get back there."
"I thought you were going to find a good hiding place," Katrina retorted.
"Got a message from Thundercracker. Apparently the Seeker was telling the truth."
Katrina sat up, almost dislodging Morse. "Is he a jet?"
"Yes."
"I bet he's the one who brought Morse to me!"
YES, Morse confirmed her guess.
"I didn't get to thank him. Or you, Barricade. You've saved me lots of times, and you helped the Autobots..."
"Don't you humans say 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'? I didn't help the Autobots, I fought the Decepticons."
Katrina grinned. "Whatever you say."
"I-fought-too," Frenzy said proudly.
NOT I, Morse clicked, sounding annoyed.
"Maybe-next-time."
"Won't be a next time," Barricade said, picking up speed as they left the town behind. "Time for you three to recharge, I'm not listening to your chatter the entire way."
"Where are we going?" asked Katrina, covering a yawn.
"You'll know when we get there."
Meaning, you have no idea. The girl shook her head and curled up on the seat, Morse clasped between her two hands. A moment later Frenzy scampered into the back and transformed, his altmode tucked against the girl's stomach. Katrina smiled and wrapped an arm around the CD player.
"Wake me when we get there," she mumbled, eyes drifting shut.