Where did the time go again. -_-'
17: I'm sorry it took this loooong! xP But glad you liked the previous chapter. ^^
Guardinthena: I'm super happy you get so much out of these chapters. :D Of course you're a talented writer yourself, so you notice things differently than many others might. Anyway, I love reading your comments, thanks for taking the time to write them with so much thought.
Mermaid12: Thank you, and I know, the earlier fics about Dawn are a mess, written just for fun. :D This story should explain pretty much everything and give her a solid personality and a background I'm going to use from now on.
Anonyi: Thank you! xD I hope you like this chapter as well.
And now, time for a little chat with Megatron. o_o
Dawn gasped quick, shallow breaths under the huge arm that was squeezing her against the living room wall. The attack had come out of the blue, cornering her physically as well as mentally. The dark aura radiating from the powerful man's touch filled every fiber of her being with fear and repulsion.
"Do you know who I am?" raspy voice asked from above her head.
Dawn tilted her face reluctantly up to look at the large, white-haired man. "Megatron..."
She couldn't keep her voice from shaking, a fact that brought a quick smirk on the holoform's jagged features. "Correct. Optimus has undoubtedly been quick to fill your head with all kinds of misconceptions."
Misconceptions? Dawn met the purple eyes in open disbelief.
Megatron shook his head, gaining a condescending look. "You have heard merely one side of the story and think you have an understanding of a war that has lasted for eons? Believe me, there resides no innocence or heroism in such an endless epoch of pain and killing, not even among the Autobots. Or did you think my Decepticons are solely to blame for this war continuing and spreading to other planets?"
Dawn's confusion kept growing, and she found herself listening intently despite her discomfort.
"You have been misguided", the robust, white-shirted man announced regretfully. "Though I don't blame you. Optimus is very good at gathering compassionate followers. I've seen it too many times before. They cannot help but fall under his charm and follow him to a bitter end. As you said yourself, you want to trust him."
Dawn's eyes widened as she realized the Decepticon leader had heard their discussion. How?! What had she missed?! There had been no robots or glowing cars around.
She lowered her head and closed her eyes, sweeping their surroundings yet again. To her surprise, she didn't see Megatron's real form anywhere, only Optimus still parked in the same spot as before. There was nothing eye-catching, except for something small that…
Dawn's eyes flew open and her head snapped back up to peer past the musclebound holoform. Behind the window, where the building's fire escape zigzagged downwards. There had definitely been something small with a telltale white glow attached to the metal railing.
Stupid! She should've been more thorough!
"You can detect metal."
The gruff statement startled Dawn. Her eyes darted instantly back to the purple ones, her fearful astonishment only serving to verify that the observant man was on the track of something.
"Just now, you looked straight at where the surveillance device is, even though you can't possibly see it from this perspective", the holoform's brows knitted together over the large, beak-like nose as the Decepticon leader pondered with an analyzing tone. "You have control over metal. But metal only, isn't that so? Nothing else has suffered from your violent attacks so far. It would be logical you can also detect only metal."
The certainty in the imposing avatar's monologue gave Dawn chills. There was no use in trying to deny anything. He was reading her like an open book and it only added to her terror. For the first time she wished Optimus had been there.
"Also..." Megatron's holoform raised his hand to grasp her chin. Dawn winced at the rough contact, feeling the unexplained fear intensify almost unbearably.
"… for some reason you seem to be strongly disturbed by my touch."
"Don't..." she uttered faintly, too overwhelmed to think clearly. All she wanted was to get away, to distance herself from the horrifying presence, but her squirming proved futile against the considerable power keeping her pinned.
Megatron held her gaze, studying her unhurriedly with the same calculating look. "Optimus was right, for once. It is suspicious how well you are able to use these skills for someone who just recently gained them. But it doesn't matter. However destructive your skills are, right now your life rests in my hands."
Dawn's breathing quickened even further as she realized he was right. She had already felt how strong those holoforms were. The large hand cupping her chin needed only a little adjustment to turn its grip deadly.
"Y-you don't need her then..." a fearful sentence left her mouth without her thinking.
Megatron raised a brow.
Dawn felt she would surely die in the next minutes and the only thing she could do now was to make sure no one else suffered from the cruel joke fate had played on her. "Let Nadia go."
Megatron seemed amused by her combination of fear and resilience and released her chin with a crooked smile. "Still keen on that, I see. How convenient then, that I happen to have use for you."
Dawn didn't like the sound of that, but a chance to make it out alive made her listen very closely.
The white-haired giant of a man looked like he was about to say something, when his sharp eyes suddenly turned away from her. "Optimus will soon be done rebooting his systems."
The purple gaze returned to Dawn, any light amusement wiped away. "Listen well. I won't repeat myself."
Dawn held her breath as the large man lowered himself face to face with her, growling. "You will not tell Optimus I was here. Instead, you will take with you a hidden transmitter. Once you have gained access to the Autobot base, you will go outside and activate it. After that, your friend is free to leave."
Dawn's thoughts raced disorderly, Megatron's cold voice continuing before she could even try to utter them.
"This is a one time offer to save yourself and your friend. Refusal assures a slow, agonizing death for her."
Dawn's mouth hung half-open as her mind and heart tried to process the ultimatum.
"Your answer. Now."
"Don't!" Dawn breathed in desperation. "Don't hurt Nadia."
"Then we have an understanding", the large holoform straightened himself, removing the forearm and pressure from Dawn's chest, as well as from her psyche. "The transmitter has been placed outside, into your mailbox. One push of a button will activate it."
All this time Dawn had wondered why no one was coming after her. They had been setting everything up from the get-go. But how?
"How…?" she panted, still supporting herself against the wall. "You couldn't have known Optimus would get hurt."
Having gotten her cooperation, the Decepticon leader seemed more benevolent again. "Initially, I did have other plans, but it is always good to prepare for unexpected twists, such as this."
The thought horrified Dawn. Were these the kind of games they had played for millions of years? How many innocents had already suffered because of them?
"You have three hours to activate the transmitter."
Dawn's eyes widened, but before she could protest, the colossal holoform had vanished, leaving behind a heavy silence.
With the imminent threat gone, Dawn succumbed to the sudden fit of weakness that overtook her and let herself fall to her hands and knees. Her pulse didn't show any signs of slowing down, beating just as rapidly as if the Decepticon leader was still towering above her.
Three hours! Then Nadia would die.
"Dawn?"
Dawn cringed at the sound of the deep, alarmed voice that had appeared a moment too late. Now she couldn't tell Optimus anything of what had just happened.
"Are you alright?"
Dawn pushed her head down as the red and blue Autobot rushed to her side. Why was he concerned for her? She had been the one to attack him! She would be the one betraying him...
A nauseating feeling churned within her. Megatron was still listening in on them. There was nothing she could do, except play along with the task that was given to her.
"I'm sorry…" she raised her head feebly, voice cracking miserably as she continued. "Please… help me."
It had been too easy, Dawn thought gloomily as she packed Bigwig's things. She had gotten what Megatron had wanted. Optimus had been more worried for her than for himself, comforting her and assuring that what had happened hadn't been her fault. Dawn had hated every consoling word and the calming feel of the large metal hand that had offered her support. She didn't deserve any of it.
Optimus had again strongly recommended her to come with him to their base, where she would be safer, and this time Dawn had hesitated only for a second before saying yes. The Autobot leader had been visibly relieved, urging her to collect whatever things she thought she needed with her. Dawn had wanted to scream at him. How naive could someone with millions of years of experience be? You don't take people you've only just met into your secret base!
Dawn bent down in front of the living room desk to coax Bigwig out of its lair. The poor thing had been just as startled by Megatron's sudden intrusion. When she had gone to check up on it, Bigwig had been sitting beneath the desk with its hairs standing on end and a feral gaze in its green eyes.
"Yeah, I know, furbutt. Today's not our day..." Dawn murmured, showing the cat the open pet carrier she had by her side. "Come now, You can't stay here alone. Who knows what you'll stuff down your throat next time."
Dawn didn't know if she was going to be gone for long. She had a sinking feeling Megatron wasn't going to just let her walk away after sending the signal, though she stuck to the hope that her intuition was wrong. All she could do now was take one step at a time, and the next step was getting Bigwig to come along just in case.
"Is this all?"
Dawn glanced back at Optimus who had again taken the form of the checker-shirted cowboy, picking up the bag of clothes and necessities she had hastily thrown together.
"Yeah, thanks..." she muttered quietly, grooming Bigwig's disheveled hair with her fingers.
The holoform didn't leave yet, instead standing in silence for a moment before spilling the Autobot leader's thoughts. "I am glad you changed your mind and chose to come with us. Megatron has been too silent for too long, and such behavior never bodes well. He is planning something, and I fear leaving you alone to face his evil would've not ended well."
Dawn gave some vague agreeing noise and cleared her throat. "Go on ahead. I'll just get Bigwig and come right after."
"Very well. I am waiting around the corner."
Soon Dawn descended the stairs with Bigwig's carrier, hugging it against the soft fabric of the blue cardigan sweater she had worn for additional warmth. The mailboxes waited seemingly innocently by the hedge, and for a moment Dawn hoped there wouldn't be anything inside.
She closed her eyes, turning to her new sense, and saw the same dim white glow as outside her window. It looked like a slender watch or a bracelet. Had the Decepticons used a human avatar to put it there without drawing attention?
Reluctantly Dawn reached her hand towards the mailbox, making sure no one was watching, and forced the lock's latch open with little finesse. The inside delivered what she had already seen, something that looked like a plain digital watch with a small button on the side. Only the display alerted her to the fact that it wasn't what it seemed to be. It read two forty-five in crimson numbers.
Less than three hours already.
Latching the device around her wrist and covering it with the sleeve of her sweater, Dawn picked up Bigwig's carrier and headed for the street quickly. The large red and blue truck had tried to park inconspicuously next to a small alleyway behind the building, hardly succeeding with the glossy red just as eye-catching as the autumn leaves against the blue sky.
The tall cowboy waited next to the truck, and Dawn had to suppress the nauseating guilt that threatened to surface as she walked closer.
"Allow me", the holoform offered to take Bigwig and moved to hoist the carrier up on the floor of the passenger's side. Dawn stood hesitantly in place as the man turned and noticed she hadn't moved.
"Take a seat wherever you prefer. I will handle the driving nevertheless."
Dawn nodded tensely, surprised when the holoform suddenly vanished. Her first instinct compelled her to look around and make sure no one had seen it, though she realized the Autobot probably knew what he was doing. Then she looked back to the quietly looming vehicle. It was still hard to believe there was a giant robot hidden in there somewhere. Dawn approached the driver's side cautiously, hoping there would be no need for a holoform if she sat behind the wheel. She would rather not spend the whole ride avoiding the bearded cowboy's observing gaze.
As soon as her hand touched the metal side of the door, a burst of static electricity made her flinch.
"My apologies", the deep baritone came from somewhere inside the cabin now.
"No matter..." Dawn rubbed her fingers with her thumb, frowning at the strangely lingering sensation before convincing herself to climb into the alien truck.
"So Optimus thinks I have been too silent."
Megatron turned away from the station where one of the constantly working Vehicons had monitored the human woman's actions. He was content with the progress of their latest undertaking. The human had fooled Prime, and would soon gain access to their base. She wouldn't fail him, he was sure. She had known the Autobots only briefly and her loyalty towards her friend had become more than evident.
Optimus had treated her softly, but Megatron knew the Autobot leader would keep a close optic on her once they arrived, being apparently the only one not affected by the human's metal controlling. It would mean she needed to get creative to escape Optimus' watch. And she would, if she wanted to save her friend.
"Knock Out", Megatron activated his comm. link. "Is the prisoner still alive?"
A moment later the red-plated medic's smug voice chimed. "She's not only alive, my lord, but comfortable even. It's a win-win. I've extended my knowledge on human physique, and she's resting nice and quietly."
"Good. Keep it that way for now."
If something went wrong and the human, Dawn, ended up on the Autobot side after all, it was best to hold on to their leverage. Megatron didn't believe Optimus' declaration of not intending to use the human's abilities as a weapon. The Autobots were too outnumbered and outsourced to afford wasting an opportunity like that, even if it weighed on Prime's conscience.
Of course Megatron had no intention of releasing his prisoner, even if things did go accordingly. The human in the medical bay would play her part in trapping her abnormal friend. Once the Autobot base would be destroyed, it would remain to be seen whether he had any use for either of them.
He had learned some intriguing bits of information from Optimus and the human. The reason to her sudden rushing out from the human establishment had been explained, though the explanation had only raised more questions. She had sensed something from both him and Prime, but not from any of the other Autobots or Decepticons she had come across or in physical contact with.
Megatron was keen to use the obvious advantage something in his presence gave over the human, but he still would've wanted to know exactly what caused such a reaction. Also, he had been just as curious as Prime as to why the human hadn't been affected by such prolonged exposure to energon. Topics for further studying perhaps. Should the human prove more worth alive than dead.
In the meantime, he might as well ease Optimus' suspicions and send a ground team to hasten their journey.
"Lord Megatron."
The Decepticon leader glanced impassively to the side where one of the Vehicons had spoken. "What is it?"
"We have picked up signs of Autobot activity in energon mine 2-38."
"Really?" Megatron grew interested. "Are you certain?"
"Yes, my lord. The proximity alarms were triggered by two Autobots identified as Wheeljack and Cliffjumper."
"Tell the troops to stay back and let them advance."
"Sir?" the Vehicon questioned, realizing his mistake quickly and turning to relay the order to the miners. Megatron bared his sharp teeth in a grin.
They couldn't have come at a better time.
Optimus could feel the small human fidgeting on the seat as they drove, fingers or feet tapping constantly something in her restlessness. It kept distracting him from his thinking so he gave up on it and settled on trying to initiate conversation.
"Your world has impressive seasonal changes."
"Hmm?" Dawn sounded surprised, glancing out the window and at the passing trees that lined the sidewalk. "Oh, the autumn colors. Yeah, they're pretty this time of the year."
Not much luck. Fingers still tapped on the door where the woman's hand rested.
"Is the temperature suitable for you?"
"A bit on the cool side, but it's fine."
Optimus turned the heating up accordingly, digging his memory unit for their earlier conversation to find more suitable topics. "You mentioned your work earlier. What is animal handling like?"
The fingers stopped tapping and a hint of amusement crept into Dawn's voice. "Dirty. Mud, excrements, hard labor, bruises… I wouldn't trade it for anything."
"I see..." Optimus wasn't sure he did, but he sensed the genuine feeling of fondness the woman felt, and it reminded him of someone. "You sound like Ratchet when he had started his medical practice."
"Well, I'm not a veterinarian..." Dawn continued more eagerly. "… but I have seen and participated in my share of medical procedures. Not that I have much interest in pursuing that road. Just caring for different kinds of animals, domesticated or wild, is gratifying, seeing how their instincts guide their behavior, what they can learn and what we can learn from them. They're simpler than humans… or other intelligent species. Yet complicated in a different way. There's much we don't understand about them."
This must've been the human curiosity agent Fowler had once referred to, Optimus reminisced. Knowing something simply for the sake of knowing. It was a trait he appreciated.
"That reminds me", Dawn muttered, the excitement dropping from her voice again and returning her to her gloomy anxiousness. She searched her clothing for something. "I have to call in sick."
"Of course", Optimus left the woman fiddling with her communicator and focused on assessing their route. They needed to get to a more remote location before he could call Ratchet for a groundbridge.
Soon the fidgeting continued again. Optimus sighed before realizing he was doing so. Fortunately the human didn't seem to notice. They continued in silence. Optimus knew they would have to think of a way to save the captured human. It was a heavy responsibility with their limited options. There would be no other way to draw Megatron and his prisoner out, but to use Dawn as bait. And that was far from an ideal way to handle the situation. Even if they made a holoform of her likeness...
"What was your planet like?"
Optimus was almost startled by the sudden question, so notably different from his current dilemma. He took a moment to reroute his thought processes.
"Cybertron... was, and is, a vastly different world from yours."
"Yeah, I kind of presumed..." Dawn sounded hesitant, as if she wasn't sure whether she should've continued. "Could you tell me about it? I... would like to get my mind on other things just for a while."
"If that is your wish", Optimus agreed with reserve, then took the opportunity to add. "Perhaps you should make yourself more comfortable. Our history is long, as I mentioned earlier."
Dawn leaned back on her seat, finally crossing her restless fingers in her lap.
And Optimus told her about Cybertron as it had been in its golden age, the great city of Iacon with its Celestial spires, the radiant hot spots of freshly born sparks, racing tracks with their fast and often dangerous competitions, and even about his old mentor, Alpha Trion.
Optimus was actually surprised to find how much he was willing to speak of to the quietly listening human, even feeling a bittersweet warmth from recounting their past. He wasn't one to share his private thoughts, always needed to be the leader, guiding and encouraging others onward on their bleak and other times seemingly hopeless path. In such circumstances, it was usually better to keep one's inner thoughts within oneself.
Only then Optimus noticed Dawn had fallen asleep.
He didn't feel offended, relieved rather. It had been a welcome change to think of home as he fondly remembered it in his spark. It might've been better like this anyway. Now he might as well drive around for a while to let the exhausted woman get some more rest. And continue preparing for the awaiting challenges in peace.
Something called to her.
A bright light glared through Dawn's closed eye lids, making her squint.
"Dawn", a deep voice insisted. "I do not mean to alarm you, but we are currently being chased."
Dawn turned her head and opened her eyes, momentarily confused as to when exactly had she fallen asleep. She felt rested, better than earlier. Much better actually. There had been no nightmares as far as she remembered.
Then the definitely alarming notification sank in and she bounced straight in her seat, checking the side mirror. They were speeding through a desolate forest road with at least half a dozen purple sports cars closing in on them.
"Decepticons", Optimus informed grimly. "They must've surveyed your building and seen us leave."
"And now that we're in the middle of nowhere, they decided it was a good time to attack", Dawn added, feeling a sudden bout of decisiveness as adrenaline kicked in. "Pull over."
"Pull over?" Optimus sounded taken aback. "Why?"
"So I can get out and stop them."
Dawn heard the sound of doors locking.
"I do not think that would be wise. Your small stature still makes you vulnerable, despite your formidable abilities."
Dawn realized to her annoyance that her powers didn't work on the Autobot leader, and that she wouldn't be able to force the doors open. Being locked up was exactly how she hadn't wanted to end up, and the fact that Optimus had asked her to trust him and was now dismissing her will only made her want to do things her way more.
"Fine", she turned her eyes ahead on the road just as two of the purple cars tried to overtake them. "Let's see what else I can do then."
She didn't need her metal vision to see the road signs that flashed by every once in a while or the metal fence that kept migrating animals away from the road. She raised her hand, focusing hard on an upcoming deer sign, and promptly tore it off the ground. Flying it like a javelin, she flung it in front of the pursuing Decepticons with force that pierced the concrete. The first sports car drove straight into the metal pole, which normally would've bent and broken under the force of the impact, but endured with Dawn's power reinforcing it. The pole didn't break, but the Decepticon vehicle did, coming to a full, crashing stop with its rear jumping in the air and the one behind colliding underneath it.
Dawn released her hold on the road sign and turned her attention to the cars that had veered around their damaged companions and still continued their pursuit.
Optimus kept driving, not having said a word about her interference. Dawn had no way to guess what the Autobot leader was thinking, but it was clear the Decepticons were faster than them and that something needed to be done.
Another one tried to speed past them and Dawn raised her hand towards it, losing her balance and falling back against her seat when the truck under her suddenly swerved into the smaller car, forcing it into a ditch by the side of the road.
"Hold on", Optimus grunted briefly, steering them back to the middle of the road.
"You hold on", Dawn argued, re-balancing herself and looking out the window. "I can't focus if you play bumper cars with them."
"Optimus to base", the Autobot was again dismissing her. "Ratchet, we have Decepticons tailing us. Ready the groundbridge. We will need a quick extraction as soon as the opportunity rises."
"Make sure you remain in one piece until then."
"I can take care of the opportunity!" Dawn promised just as a Decepticon bumped into Optimus' back tires on the other side, making the large truck sway dangerously. "Roll down your windows so I can see better!"
Optimus groaned a sigh, then the windows slid out of the way on both sides. "Be careful."
Dawn unbuckled her seat belt and scrambled onto the other seat, sticking her head out the window. A strong air current blew her hair wildly around her face, but she could still see the purple sports car hugging the back of the truck.
She reached her hand and lifted the car in the air almost as easily as she had done with the deer sign. Then she flipped it around and dropped it. A screeching sound carried into her ears as the car used up its momentum and came to a stop. The other cars slowed down too, transforming almost in unison into giant robots and raising their blasters.
Dawn pulled her head quickly back inside, hurrying to put her seat belt back on before something would hit them. A glance at the carrier by her feet revealed to her that Bigwig was very unhappy with the sudden swaying and the howling sound of the rushing wind. A furry face yowled miserably at her from behind the plastic cover.
"Sorry Biggie, hang in there", she gave a reflexive apology, eyes darting back to the side mirror to see what was happening.
The Decepticons weren't coming after them anymore.
Dawn stared closely at the mirror, but the distance kept growing. Bright flashes of light followed them and crackled in the trees near them, but even they died out soon. Optimus rolled up the windows again.
"They gave up", Dawn stated as much in disbelief as in relief.
"It would seem so", Optimus didn't sound convinced. "They might have realized continuing would have cost them too much. Now would be a good time, Ratchet."
"Stay on your current course."
Dawn felt almost used to seeing the bright swirls that emerged again from nowhere. They drove into the nauseating tunnel of light, coming soon out and arriving into the concrete structure Dawn had already visited once before.
"You managed well", Optimus rumbled flatly as they came to a stop. "But I'm afraid it only means Megatron will be more careful the next time he tries. For now, we will arrange suitable quarters for you, and I will inform agent Fowler that the road we were on is in need of maintenance."
Dawn's heart jumped, and the color drained from her face.
Nononono...
She had felt so good after resting and so focused on the attack she had forgotten what she had come to do. Why had the Decepticons even attacked them?! Megatron wanted her to go to the Autobot base, didn't he? Wait! How long had she slept?!
Barely controlling her panic, Dawn pulled her sleeve up to reveal the device on her wrist. Her gaze flew up to the waiting Autobots that had gathered to welcome Optimus back.
All of which she would have to betray within fifty-five minutes.