Author's Notes: Yep, this story is back. It took three years, but I finally got back to writing this one. I guess that means there's hope for any of my stories on this site. LOL! Thank you to anyone who is left to read this thing :)
Chapter 6
Hot
Mikaela shivered in the passenger's seat of Swindle's alt mode as they arrived in Boston. To a native of Massachusetts this weather would not have been so cold, merely a jacket-worthy 56 degrees. To Mikaela however, a southern California native wearing nothing but a tank top and shorts, it was utterly frigid. She was getting tired of all the cold weather areas Swindle had forced her to go to, but she would endure it if warmth meant facing Megatron in Africa. The thought terrified her even now, and she could practically feel time ticking away from her.
"Okay flesh bag, before we continue with the next phase of my plan, do you need food or a toilet?" Swindle inquired, "I only ask because I don't need you complainin' durin' the mission."
"What do you even want with Mudflap and Skids?" Mikaela asked harshly, still not on board with helping Swindle with anything.
"Onslaught ordered two dead Autobots, and I'm nothin' if not a people pleaser," Swindle quipped smoothly, "Two dead frames, 500 creds each. That's a hundred more than what I got for Brawl, and 600 more than I got for him total."
"What about me?" Mikaela asked warily, "How much am I...worth? To Megatron I mean?"
"Ten times what Brawl was worth," Swindle replied as if he were giving Mikaela a compliment, "Honestly if you were any other fleshie I would think Megatron was an idiot to offer me that much, but after gettin' to know you I'm tempted to ask for more. You are after all a femme worthy of the title Decepticon."
"Hey, take that back!" Mikaela snapped defensively, "I'm nothing like you and the rest of your Decepti-creeps!"
"Well you sure ain't an Autobot," Swindle chuckled, "Otherwise they'd be trippin' over themselves to save you. And of course let's not forget your vindictive streak. Yeah, I'm still a little sore about you messin' up my alt mode before, but even I have to admit it was a beautifully underhanded trick. If you weren't so expensive, then I'd keep you for myself."
"I won't help you kill Mudflap and Skids," Mikaela stated again, "You might as well just take me to Megatron, because I won't help you find them."
"I don't need your help," Swindle scoffed, "They're not the brightest bulbs in the headlights. I'm already close enough to track them."
Mikaela scrunched up tighter in the seat, feeling dirty despite her lack of cooperation. If Swindle killed the twins right in front of her eyes and she did nothing to stop it she would never forgive herself. Still, she wasn't exactly sure how to stop him. Maybe if she could just stall him until the Autobots figured out he was in the area...
"Actually Swindle, I am hungry. Can we stop and get something to eat?" Mikaela abruptly asked.
"Again? You just ate yesterday!" Swindle griped, "Oh, alright. I'll turn in this, uh, what's that word?"
"Arby's," Mikaela replied dryly.
"Right," Swindle hissed, "I get so sick of human words that mean nothing. Okay then, you eat and then we go kill the Autobots. If you need a toilet after you eat, hold it. I ain't stoppin' unless it's important."
Mikaela moaned miserably at his barking tone. Despite trying to sound calm, Mikaela could tell Swindle was getting impatient and maybe even nervous. It was a two against one fight, so she could understand why. Maybe the twins would kill Swindle and then take her home. As soon as the wonderful thought entered her mind it was darkened by two things. One, she didn't actually want to see Swindle die despite how awful he was. Two...where was home? She had nowhere to go. She supposed dropping in on her aunt was her plan once again, but it wasn't a long term plan and it wasn't one she liked.
It didn't take long for Swindle to go through the drive thru and get Mikaela a sandwich and some soda, but when they got to the window to pick up their food and pay, they hit a major snag.
"Hey miss?" The employee addressed Mikaela, "This isn't a real 20 dollar bill."
"Excuse me?" Mikaela asked innocently.
"It's a fake. Counterfeit. We can't take this," The cashier replied, "Just hand me a different bill or your credit card to pay for this."
Mikaela of course didn't have a credit card. She had never had credit good enough to apply for one successfully. What was worse, all the money Swindle had on him was fake, so there was no way to get the food.
"That's the only money I have," Mikaela confessed, "Sorry."
"I'm afraid it won't do. It's a phony bill," The cashier replied apologetically.
Disappointed, Mikaela hung her head as Swindle drove away from the restaurant. Once they were back on the road, Swindle opened his glove compartment to reveal the rest of the counterfeit money.
"Don't worry, babe. I'm sure one of these will work," Swindle said reassuringly, "So, which place should we try next?"
"No! If I try this and fail again people around here will know I'm doing it on purpose," Mikaela protested, "Counterfeiting money is a federal offense."
"Your society will be dead in a few years anyway thanks to me and my fellow 'Cons. You might as well live a little," Swindle argued, "Come on. I'll drive ya to a fancier place if you like."
"No. I don't want to use fake money and get in trouble. I'm not giving up on my future just because everyone else has," Mikaela replied firmly.
"Future? Kid, you're Megatron chow," Swindle reminded her, "If you really want a future then the only skill you need is learnin' how to lick Decepticon pedes. Figuratively, of course."
"I won't join the Decepticons, and I will find a way to get away from you, or even Megatron if I have to," Mikaela said resolutely.
"I love it when you talk like that," Swindle replied in a patronizing tone, "It's so cute when you think you're tough."
Mikaela growled under her breath, and Swindle just laughed at her impotence. Mikaela replied to his belittling attitude by kicking the floor boards as hard as she could, which didn't do damage but kind of hurt. Swindle howled in pain, and then put on his brakes.
"Babe, you're tryin' my patience..." Swindle warned her in a low tone, "Don't make me put you back in the trunk for the next three or four days."
Mikaela crossed her arms and let out a sharp breath, but otherwise made no move to argue with Swindle. She still didn't want an angry Decepticon to deal with, but his smug demeanor was almost too much for her to bear. It reminded Mikaela too much of previous boyfriends and even her dad on occasion.
"The Autobot twins are hidin' out in a storage locker facility," Swindle informed his hostage, "When we get there, then I'll enact my plan to ambush them."
"They won't fall for your schemes," Mikaela contended.
"Sure they will. I did my research on these guys. They're idiots," Swindle chuckled, "Didn't go to school. Don't know how to read their own language. Assumed gold was a good substitute for dental mesh despite its soft density. As Decepticons they woulda been cannon fodder, but I guess the Autobots were desperate."
"Or maybe the Autobots care more about individual lives than Decepticons do," Mikaela pointed out.
"You say it so judgmental like," Swindle said in a smirking tone, "What? You think caring about people is gonna make a difference? I looked out for myself, fragged everyone else, and look where I am now!"
"Yeah, you're alone on an alien planet alternating between numb and miserable," Mikaela retorted, "Did you ever stop to consider that maybe I'm judging you because you're a bad mech?"
"Speakin' of bad," Swindle abruptly changed the subject, "I thought of a way we could get some money for your food and whatnot."
"What? You gonna rob a bank?" Mikaela asked sarcastically.
"Nah, nothing so dramatic," Swindle replied easily, "I did some research on the area, and I found a social club where femmes get paid to dance. It's called 'The Vegas Strip'. I think they serve food in the joint too, so win/win."
"You idiot! That's a strip club!" Mikaela shouted; mortified.
"Yeah? And?" Swindle prodded.
"I'm not a stripper!" Mikaela shouted furiously.
"Okay, okay! I didn't know you needed a license! Frag!" Swindle shouted back.
"Man, you are just like the girls at my old high school!" Mikaela snapped as she dug herself further into the seat, "They were always starting rumors about me. Calling me names like slut and easy. Just because guys like being around me doesn't mean I'm a bad person. They were just jealous."
"So you're considered sexually attractive to others of your species?" Swindle asked curiously.
"Sadly Ratchet asked me the same question once," Mikaela sighed, "And yeah, I guess I am. I know it's not modest to say so, but yeah, I'm hot. It doesn't mean I'll climb into bed with every guy I meet though. I don't know why everyone assumes that about me."
"Well at the very least you shouldn't give it away for free," Swindle replied nonchalantly, "I saw so many femmes make that mistake. They didn't make that mistake when they worked for me though. I taught many femmes the value of credits. I guess I've always been a nice guy."
Mikaela wanted to laugh at that last assessment about Swindle, but what he said gave her pause.
"Wait...are you saying you used to be a pimp?" Mikaela asked incredulously.
"Uh, let me look up the term..." A moment later Swindle replied with, "...Okay, I looked it up, and yeah, I guess I was a pimp. Though to be fair I didn't just employ pleasure bots. I also sold several femmes for slave labor. A few mechs too, but femmes were easier to capture. They were so gullible before the war. Promise 'em love and a place to call home and they would believe every word until the trap was set. Ah, good times..."
"You're a monster," Mikaela said softly, disgusted by what she was hearing, "How could you take advantage of someone who cares about you like that?"
"It's actually pretty easy," Swindle replied matter-of-factly, "I would get another Combaticon to beat her up or something, and then come along and patch up her wounds. Sometimes I would listen while she went on about her life and her problems, and I would pretend like I had some tragic backstory for her to latch onto. Femmes eat that slag up."
"Why are you telling me this?" Mikaela asked crossly.
"I dunno. Guess because I'm bored," Swindle reckoned, "Don't worry though, we're almost to the meeting site. Hope you like sunshine, rope, and concrete."
When they got to the storage facility Mikaela figured out what Swindle meant by that. No sooner did they get there Swindle opened the door for Mikaela to get out, and even though she knew it was likely a trap she was desperate to stretch her legs. She tentatively stepped out of the Jeep, and Swindle transformed immediately.
Mikaela looked around, hoping to see Mudflap and Skids so she could warn them of the danger. After taking a few steps however, Swindle picked her up between his fingers and lifted her to his optic level. Mikaela looked at him with an angry expression, not appreciating the violation of privacy.
"Hey! Put me down!" Mikaela demanded.
"In a moment..." Swindle assured her.
Then, out of nowhere, Swindle pulled a rope out of his subspace and began to tie up Mikaela! Mikaela struggled, and it took Swindle a few minutes because his large digits weren't accustomed to working with such delicate work, but finally he managed to tie up his hostage. Mikaela struggled and growled like a trapped animal, but it was no use. She was trapped.
Swindle then placed Mikaela in the middle of the lot and ran over to a storage building to hide himself.
"Alright, babe. Just scream, and they'll come looking for you," Swindle instructed.
"No!" Mikaela barked, "I'm not helping you!"
"Hey Skids, did you hear that?" A voice shouted from the other side of the lot.
"Oh, yes you are..." Swindle answered Mikaela's challenge.
Swindle waited for the twins to find Mikaela, but the girl kept her mouth shut and the two Autobots decided they were just hearing things. Swindle looked at Mikaela with a sour expression, and Mikaela stuck her tongue out at him. If her hands hadn't been behind her back she probably would have flipped him off. Swindle, not one yo give up easily, stalked over to Mikaela to enact Plan B.
Swindle picked up the helpless girl and then squeezed Mikaela's sides, not enough to crush her but enough to make her feel like she would be. She tried to hold her tongue, knowing Swindle was trying to make her scream, but the pain was too intense. She keened and groaned in agony, and Swindle applied slightly more pressure, knowing it would produce the desired result. Feeling like she couldn't breathe, Mikaela screamed with what breath she had left.
"Hey, that sounds like Mikaela!" The voice of Skids could be heard in the distance.
"Well don't that beat all?" Mudflap replied obliviously.
"I mean it is Mikaela, you dope!" Skids snapped and slapped his brother on the back of the head, "Somethin's wrong!"
Seeing that his tactic worked, Swindle placed Mikaela next to one of the storage locker doors. Mikaela tried to gulp down breaths of air, but it wasn't easy with how tightly Swindle tied the ropes binding her.
The cold concrete bit through her legs and the ropes rubbed against her skin; irritating her arms and ankles. Mikaela was sweating despite the weather and her stomach felt queasy. More than that though, she was hating herself for becoming Swindle's unwilling pawn. She had to figure out a way to escape while Swindle and the twins were busy fighting.
Swindle meanwhile had opened fire the moment Mudflap and Skids came into view. They had shown up in their ice cream truck alt mode, so shooting first was easy for the Decepticon. When he fired however it didn't incapacitate the Autobots but rather just made them mad. They transformed immediately and started firing weapons of their own. Soon the storage facility was a makeshift battlefield.
Swindle fired his plasma cannons in their direction, and Mudflap dodged out of the way. Unfortunately Skids wasn't quick enough and the shot got him in the ankle joint; severing his pede.
"AAAAAGH! Fraggin' Decepticon slagger!" Skids swore as he held his leaking leg close to his chassis.
"Trapped like a turbo rat," Swindle purred when he looked down at his victim, "You know you're worth a lot of credits. Even my own combiner brother Brawl couldn't claim that."
"Oh yeah? How much are we talkin'?" Skids asked curiously.
Before Swindle could answer however Mudflap showed up and used both fists to knock him upside the head! Swindle staggered into a garage door and caved it in as he fell into it. Mudflap tried to help his twin off the ground, but with only one foot that was easier said than done.
"Forget about me," Skids ordered, "Trash that fraggin' Decepticon!"
"He already is trash!" Mudflap laughed.
The twins continued to roar in laughter at their own joke, while Swindle managed to pick himself up off the ground. He cocked his gun and aimed at Mudflap's helm, ready to wipe that smug grin off his faceplate.
"Hey wait a minute," Skids suddenly said, "Where's Mikaela?"
Mudflap turned his head to look for her just as Swindle fired his gun, making the shot miss the Autobot completely and land on a beat up pick-up truck. The truck exploded, and both Autobots moaned in frustration.
"Aww!" Mudflap whined, "I liked that truck!"
"Yeah, it really brought the place together," Skids added.
"Do you Autobots ever shut up!?" Swindle groused, "You're as bad as the girl. I don't think I've had to listen to this much chatter since Vortex first learned how to use our combiner spark bond."
"What is it with you Decepticons and silence?" Skids asked, "I swear, every time I talk to one of you it's always 'Shut up, Autobots!', 'You talk too much', 'Silence!', blah, blah, blah. Did you ever stop to think conversation is a lost art?"
This only served to annoy Swindle further, who wanted these guys dead rather than chatty and in his face. If he was going to get his big payday, then he needed two dead Autobots and one living human femme. This should have been easy, but for some reason his aim was really off that day. He silently decided to blame it on the human tampering with him a few days prior.
Meanwhile as the fight raged on Mikaela managed to stand up. That was only half the battle however, as she couldn't figure out how to untie herself. There was nothing sharp nearby and she couldn't reach her ankles with her arms tied behind her back. With no other options left, she decided to try to hop to safety.
She managed one step, then two, but the third one caused her to fall down again and scrape her leg. Now her leg was bleeding, she felt like she was going to pass out from hunger and thirst, and she couldn't get back up. All the while blaster fire shot off all around her. The noise was disorienting and she could almost feel the heat of the plasma even from such a distance.
For a brief moment Mikaela wondered if it would be better to die here. Megatron would likely torture her for days if not weeks before delivering the killing blow. If someone here accidentally stepped on her or shot her at least it would be quick. That thought quickly left her mind however. She wanted to live. The Decepticons didn't have the right to take her life. She would keep fighting as long as she could, even if she didn't have much left to fight with.
Unable to stand, Mikaela began to scoot herself with her legs. The gravel beneath her scratched her and the blood from her leg left a trail. She couldn't do anything about that though. Her first priority was getting off the battlefield.
Suddenly a shadow fell over Mikaela as she tried to make her escape. She could feel the tears welling up, knowing she would be carted off by Swindle and taken to Megatron. He would probably stuff her in the trunk and let her bleed and suffocate in there until dehydration finally killed her. She wanted to say something snarky to him, but she just didn't have anything left.
"Wowee, girl! You look like slag."
Mikaela managed to open her eyes and look up, and staring down at her was the orange and grey face of Mudflap. She could see Skids was hanging on to his brother's neck with both arms, unable to stand up on his own.
"The Decepticon's out cold. Now's our chance to get away!" Mudflap declared.
Mikaela smiled before passing out, relieved that finally someone was able to save her from Swindle. Why they didn't kill Swindle she didn't know, and at that point she didn't care. She allowed her mind to drag her into the bliss of darkness and sleep. She just hoped when she woke up she would see the friendly faces of Autobots instead of the smirking visage of Swindle.