In which Alison has a nap, attends a debriefing, and promises to reveal her secrets.
The both of us were jolted awake by Optimus running over an obscenely large pothole, Mikaela's head jerking up to smack me in the mouth. I leaned back and put a hand over my mouth, making a small grunt of pain.
"Sorry," Mikaela said, rubbing her head where she hit me. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," I said, pulling my hand away. There was a small bit of blood on my palm, and running my tongue over my teeth I could taste it. Nothing seemed jarred loose though, so I just sucked it up. "Bleeding gums, I'll be fine in a minute."
"Apologies," Optimus said, his voice coming in through the radio. "Some of your Earth roads are in desperate need of repair."
"You can say that again," Mikaela said, rubbing her eyes. "How long were we asleep?"
"About forty minutes. I was about to wake you, we're ten minutes out from the rendezvous."
"I hope the pothole wasn't the plan," I muttered, wiping my hand on my pants. "Anything about who we're all meeting?"
"It seems to just be those of you who were taken to see the AllSpark at the Dam, and potentially a general from your Pentagon."
I nodded. "Hopefully, Keller will have brought them mostly up to speed by the time we get there."
As Optimus had said, ten minutes later, we pulled up to the gates of Nellis Air Force Base, with us being waved in relatively easily. A soldier from the gatehouse joined the lead car and led us to a hangar off the runway.
Inside, the hangar was divided into two halves by a U-shaped table. One one side, a group of medics and what looked like S7 soldiers from the Dam waited with some cots and tables. This was where the soldiers pulled up with their jeeps. The other side was empty, and the ends of the U pointed into it, so it seemed like it was meant for the Autobots.
At the table, Keller sat a seat from the end of one side of the U, with an older man in an Army uniform on his left, and Banachek, Simmons, Glen and Maggie and, to my utter surprise, my parents filling out most of the rest of the U. The 'Bots pulled in and Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet transformed once the doors were shut behind us. Optimus waited until Mikaela and I hopped out, then transformed, careful not to jar the trailer too much.
Mom and Dad rushed over, Mom wrapping me in a hug before I could take more than two steps. "Oh, sweetie, we were so worried about you!"
"Mom!" I said, holding her tight. Dad wrapped his arms around both of us, and I started tearing up a bit. Intellectually, I knew they would be fine, but my emotions were still resetting from… well, everything.
When they stepped back, Mom held my arms, looked me over and gasped. "Oh, sweetheart, what happened? Your hair's a mess! And your eyes!" She ran a hand over the top of my head, smoothing back a few crazy hairs, even as her other pulled off my sunglasses for a better look at my new heterochromia.
"It's a bit of a long story," I said, wiping at my eyes and taking back the sunglasses. "How much do you guys know?"
"They explained about Grandpa Archibald, your car, and that you were in the city and that's about it," Dad said. "I'm just glad you're okay, but don't let yourself be drawn into a warzone like that again, alright?"
"No promises."
"If you're quite done here?" I heard Simmons say, and Mom stepped aside, moving her arm to go over my shoulders. She, Mikaela, Dad and I walked to the table, where Will and Epps were already starting to sit. I could now see that the Army man at the table was none other than General Moreshower. Well, that would explain his involvement later. I wonder if Lennox and Epps were doing alright seeing him, considering Sharp and Moreshower shared an actor. Optimus knelt at the open end of the U as we sat down, and a noise and glance back showed me Ironhide and Jazz were pulling Coppertone from the trailer
Keller stood and started the introductions. "May I assume you are Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader?"
Optimus nodded. "I am."
"My name is John Keller. I am the American Secretary of Defense." He motioned over to Moreshower. "General Moreshower, one of my trusted advisors." A motion to his opposite side towards Banachek, Simmons, Maggie and Glen. "Director Thomas Banachek of Sector Seven." Banachek had a very put out expression, as if he'd been told something he didn't want to hear. "Agent Seymour Simmons of the same."
"We're acquainted," Simmons cut in, shooting Optimus a suspicious look, as I felt Optimus's EM field shift to slight annoyance, though I don't know if anyone else noticed.
"While we were only acting in defense of our own, your humiliation last night was unwarranted," Optimus said. "I apologize on behalf of my soldier."
"Thank you," Simmons said, though from the look in his eye, I wasn't sure if he believed him.
"Miss Maggie Madsen of the NSA, and Mr Glen Whitman," Keller finished introducing. Maggie gave a small wave, while Glen just looked like his head was gonna explode.
"And you know my parents, Ron and Judy," I added, catching Mom's puzzled look out the corner of my eye.
"It is good to meet you all," Optimus said, straightening and turning slightly to motion to the Bots, who had gotten Bee and Coppertone settled so they were propped up against the side of the trailer facing the table. "My first lieutenant, Jazz." The Soleste gave a small salute, much more respectful than being introduced to Mikaela and I. "My medical officer, Ratchet." Ratchet waved a hand briefly before focusing on scanning Bumblebee's legs. "My weapons specialist, Ironhide." Ironhide crossed his arms and shifted his weight. "My scout and Alison's Guardian, Bumblebee." Bumblebee waved. "Our last team member is our frontline specialist Coppertone, but she is currently in a healing stasis."
"She is, but he isn't?" Glen asked, staring between the two. "What happened to him?"
"He took a missile to the legs in the first attack," I said. "He'd already be repaired, but they were too badly damaged to recover. She had worse injuries, but they were taken care of in the field."
"But we're getting ahead of ourselves," Will said, nodding to Keller. "Permission to begin the debrief, sir?"
"Let's make sure everyone's starting on the same page," Keller said. "A brief summary of how we all came together, before moving on to the battle."
And so we did, Will and Epps giving a brief summary of their trip from SOCCNET to Hoover, Maggie and Glen more or less tacking their story onto Keller's, then everyone looked to the Autobots, Mikaela and I.
"On Thursday I went to buy my first car, and Bumblebee ensured I picked him by destroying the windows of every other car in the lot," I said. "I figured out something was up fairly quickly, and he was able to give me a vague idea of what he was and why he was here. Friday night he sent off a signal to Optimus to land, but had to leave to avoid being impounded as he technically has the plates of a stolen car. I saw him yesterday while having lunch with Mikaela, we investigated, and ended up in a car chase with a Decepticon in the form of a cop car. After Bee fought and beat him, he took us to meet Optimus and the others, where they told me about my grandpa's legacy and the other stuff I mentioned to you earlier. We went back to my house to look for the glasses while the 'Bots waited outside."
"Oh! That's what was going on," Mom said. "I'm even more sorry I embarrassed you, sweetie."
"That explains the yard," Dad half-muttered, looking back up at Optimus.
"My sincerest apologies, Mr. Witwicky, but time was of the essence," Optimus said.
"In any case," I interrupted to continue my tale. "The 'Bots left just before Simmons and his team arrived and took us all into custody. The 'Bots did stage a rescue for myself and Mikaela, but S7 caught up with us and caught Mikaela, Bee and I. We enjoyed their hospitality for the night, and met up with all you at the Dam."
Keller nodded, and looked to Will. "Tell us what happened after you left the Dam."
"Sir, we encountered the Autobots about five miles from the Dam, and they joined our convoy. Ratchet moved to the front as we reached the highway, turning on his lights and siren to try and clear our way. Two miles from the city, we encountered Decepticons tailing us; a construction vehicle, a tank, and a police car. The construction vehicle started attacking cars on the highway and transformed. Optimus dropped back to fight it, and that was the last we saw him until the end of the battle.
"We advanced into the city, got radios, and started to vector in a F-17 who we thought was a pilot from here. It turned out to be a Decepticon called Starscream, as Ironhide figured out. He and Bumblebee shielded us from Starscream's attack with a trailer, but Bumblebee was injured from it. Right after, the tank started firing at us. Our combined efforts with the Autobots managed to knock the tank down, but Megatron arrived with the helicopter from the SOCCNET attack and we fell back, during which time the tank got back up. Coppertone and Jazz engaged Megatron to give us time, and we retreated to where Alison and Mikaela were hooking Bumblebee to a tow truck to get him out of the battle zone. I instructed Alison to get the AllSpark to the Blackhawks and Mikaela to get Bumblebee out of there before we reengaged the tank. Ratchet and Ironhide went with Alison to guard her.
"I will admit, we were losing to the tank for a good while. It had us pinned down in a pawn shop when it was attacked from behind by Mikaela and Bumblebee. His firepower combined with ours enabled us to kill the Decepticon, and after instructing Mikaela to stay put until it was over, we moved to assist Optimus, who was fighting Megatron. The helicopter attempted to assist Megatron, but our team was able to bring it down before it could. For the rest of it, I'll turn it over to the Autobots and Alison."
"Let Jazz and Optimus go first," I said before anyone could question why I was being called on. "My telling's probably gonna fry some brains."
Optimus and Jazz exchanged a look, their EM fields rippling to some effect, then Jazz stepped up and knelt.
"Coppertone and I engaged Megatron to keep him off your soldiers while they engaged Brawl - the tank 'Con - and it was a pretty one-sided fight, to be honest. Optimus is really the only one of us here able to go 'toe to toe' with Megatron. Megatron figured pretty quick we were just a distraction and transformed to try and get away from us, but we both managed to jump and cling on as he flew. When he transformed again and landed on a building, Copper got tossed onto the next building's roof, while Megs grabbed ahold of me. He tried to rip me apart, but Copper got a good shot on his servo - that's hand for you guys - and his grip shifted so instead of losing both legs, I just lost one. He dropped me and went after Copper. I didn't have a good view from the street, but I could see when Megatron got her. Tore her chestplates right off and might have done worse, but Optimus showed up then, so Megatron tossed her into the street to go fight him. Ratchet and Ironhide got to us a couple minutes later and we sat out the rest of the fight while Ratchet did his best to save Copper." Jazz looked to Optimus, who nodded and took up his own narrative.
"As Captain Lennox said, I dropped back from the convoy to fight against the Decepticon Bonecrusher and managed to defeat him. I attempted to also engage Barricade, the police vehicle, but he managed to evade me, so I made my way into the city. I did battle with Megatron, until he managed to temporarily incapacitate me with one of his more powerful weapons. Once I recovered, I pursued him and managed to reach him and Alison in time to save her from falling to her death. I ordered her to stay behind me as I fought Megatron again, with some assistance from your pilots, while your soldiers brought down Blackout. For how that fight ended, I'll hand the floor over to Alison." He nodded towards me.
I looked at him, then at everyone at the table, before standing up and taking a deep breath "As Lennox said, I was given the task to get the AllSpark into military hands. Lennox scouted a building and told me where to go. Ratchet and Ironhide gave me cover for most of the run against Blackout, but Starscream came down and attacked, incapacitating both of them temporarily. They told me to keep running, which I did even as Megatron started coming after me. He managed to break into the lower floors of the building after I ran in, but trying to fight and climb his way through gave me the time to get to the roof and set off the flare. One of the Blackhawks came to take the AllSpark, but Starscream launched a missile and they crashed. I hid along the side of the rooftop as Megatron broke through and came after me." I grimaced a little. "He even made the 'offer' of letting me live as his pet if I gave him the AllSpark. I refused, and he used something to make the part of the roof I was on break away. Optimus caught me and managed to get us safely to the ground, then he ordered me to get behind him."
I took a deep breath. "Here's where it gets… unusual, to say the least. All throughout the mission, the AllSpark was communicating with me. Don't-" I put up a hand to stall any questions "- ask me how She could, She just did, as well as constantly changing shape into basically a long stake. While I was hiding from Optimus and Megatron's fight, She gave me three images, three options, basically. One was to push the AllSpark into Megatron's spark, killing him and destroying Her. Another was shoving the AllSpark into Optimus's spark, as he had asked me to do if he couldn't defeat Megatron. The last option involved me, and was the one I chose. I returned to the battlefield, ending up right where the image showed me, and I stabbed the AllSpark into my chest." I took my sunglasses off, letting everyone see my new eyes, and took off my hoodie to show the white patches on my chest and arms. "The AllSpark's energy bound itself to my body, and healed me of injury, while the AllSpark's consciousness entered my brain. She is a part of me now."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then the hubbub started.
"Oh, sweetie!" Mom said, standing and pulling me into a tight hug.
"You stabbed yourself!?" was Glen's amazed question.
"How did the AllSpark bind to you? And what do you mean by 'she'?" came from Maggie.
"You're lying!" was Simmons accusation. "There's no way that story can be true!"
Banachek, Keller and Moreshower were quiet, but looking very thoughtful.
Suddenly, all sound was cut off by a loud bang off to the side, and we all jumped. Ironhide stepped away from the trailer, giving his servo a shake before saying, "Let Alison finish."
I smiled and gently pushed Mom away from me. "I know it sounds fantastical, but anyone at Mission City can confirm it. Me bonding with the AllSpark more or less made everyone stop in their tracks, including Megatron and Optimus. After the Bonding was complete, the AllSpark - for lack of a better term - possessed me. I was still aware of what was happening, and could exert some control, but the AllSpark was in charge. She used Her power to create a cube of energon for Megatron to take, and sent him to care for the hatchlings he found before crashing here on Earth. He took off, and the AllSpark tasked Optimus with teaching me about Cybertron and its history, as well as how to be a leader. Then She healed Coppertone and Jazz of their injuries and restored Bumblebee's voice, as well as appointed him my official Guardian, before letting me have my body back. After that, it was just clean up and now we're here."
"All of what she said is true, Mr. Secretary," Lennox spoke up. "I wouldn't believe it either, but I saw it with my own eyes. Whatever the AllSpark is, it's more than just a power source."
Ironhide scoffed. "You think we'd come all this way just for a battery?"
"The AllSpark is one of our most sacred artifacts," Optimus said. "Our legends and history state She is the Consort of our creator Primus, and the source of all life on our world. When I sent Her away to keep Her from Megatron, our planet began dying, so we set out to find Her."
"You keep saying 'Her'," Banachek said. "Are you saying the Cube was a sapient being?"
I felt a pressure behind my eyes, and then I was pulled a step back again as the AllSpark came forward. "~I am, Thomas Banachek,~" she said, a hint of cold fury in her tone. "~I, and every one of my children you had me create and then killed. If not for my Bearer and her Guardian, I would not have hesitated to let Megatron destroy you. Make such mistakes again, and I won't be so lenient.~"
That got all the 'Bots' attentions. "Hatchlings!?" Ratchet roared, surging to his pedes as his EM field flared with anger "You killed hatchlings!?"
"Ratchet, calm yourself," Optimus said, though his and the other 'Bots' fields also rippled with anger.
"The first Non-Biological Extraterrestrial Products were created when the Cube was discovered," Simmons started explaining. "A NBE showed up and tried to take the Cube, and it transformed four objects into creatures that attacked. Three were destroyed that day, but a car got away and wasn't caught 'til Bonnie and Clyde were killed. Once we figured out how to channel the Cube's energy, we created more, but they were too dangerous to keep alive long."
The 'Bots' EM fields flooded with rage so fast I actually rocked away from them, as Ironhide turned to Optimus, optics flaring bright. "This is what you would have us defending!?" he demanded. "Hatchlings, cut down like scraplets! Barely stepping out of the Well before being sent right back!"
Optimus stood to his full height, his EM field shifting from hot rage to a simmer as he stared down his subordinate. "The actions of a few do not define the many, as you should well know, Ironhide. This was a terrible crime, but if the AllSpark Herself will show leniency, what can we do if not the same?"
"~Wise words, Optimus,~" the AllSpark said, turning me back to Banachek and Simmons. "~This will not be forgotten, nor will it be forgiven. But now is not the time to hold grudges. We must move forward if my remaining children are to live.~"
"And you have an idea for that... My lady?" Keller asked, hesitating slightly on the title.
"~Cybertron is too far from Earth, and the journey itself too dangerous for a human to undertake. Until we have acquired the resources to return timely and safely, the Autobots will need sanctuary, here.~"
"And if humanity refused this sanctuary?" Moreshower asked, speaking for the first time.
"Then we would likely revert to hiding as Bumblebee has the past four years, until we are able to leave Earth again," Optimus answered, kneeling down again. "We would not reveal ourselves unless absolutely necessary, even if we were attacked. We would also ask Alison to accompany us."
"Why would she need to go with you?" Dad asked,
"In part, for her protection. While Megatron retreated, I have little doubt he will return - likely with other Decepticons behind him - and one of his goals will likely be to capture Alison and force her to use the AllSpark's abilities for his own purpose."
"~And even I can not guaranteed my Bearer's safety if we fall into his hands,~" the AllSpark said. ~Megatron has taken a dark path, and I can not force him from it.~
"Aren't you like a demigoddess or something?" Glen asked. "Can't you just order him to do it or smite him with holy power?"
"~Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, including the freedom to choose.~" The AllSpark fixed a look on Glen. "~To take Megatron's choice from him is to be no better than the ones who have already imprisoned him.~"
"In any case, we also have no idea what affects the AllSpark's bonding to Alison could have done to her body," Ratchet pointed out. "She could be granted a longer life and better health than the average of your species, or her genetic structure could be compromised and her body will fail her in a matter of weeks or days. It would be better for her to be around someone who can detect any problems and correct them before too late."
Mom had gasped and looked two seconds from wrapping me in a hug again, when Banachek opened his big mouth. "If the problem is Alison's bonding with the AllSpark, then the solution seems to be giving her over to our custody to separate her from it."
Dad started to rise, like he was about to go off on Banachek, when we heard the sound of a weapon transformation. I turned and saw Bee had transformed his servo into his blaster, which had the S7 soldiers lifting their weapons in response.
"You'll take Alison again over my dead body!" He growled, glaring at Banachek so hard it was surprising he didn't burst into flame.
"Bee, stop!" I told him, pushing the AllSpark aside for a moment. "Drawing weapons is not going to help convince them into an alliance."
Bee was abashed enough to look chastised for a moment, then put his blaster away, though he still kept his death glare at Banachek.
"I'm afraid there is no way to separate Alison and the AllSpark," Optimus said. "Even if the AllSpark had bonded to myself or one of my team, it would be impossible."
"How do you know that?" Maggie asked.
"It is in our histories. The first Bearer of the AllSpark did so for very similar reasons as Alison, and when she tried to separate herself from the AllSpark, she nearly died from it, as the wounds she'd sustained came back unhealed."
I couldn't help a small shudder. "I'd be dead instantly."
Mom couldn't take it any more and wrapped me up in a hug. I let her hold me, it helped me hide how I was shaking as the reality of the day started crashing down. I nearly died. I would be dead if the AllSpark hadn't picked me. I was so close to never being able to speak here, or try and win Mikaela, or see the War end. I-
The AllSpark took back over, like she was giving me a chance to calm down. "~Alison's destiny is irreversibly tied to that of my children. While I would wish for her to keep as much of her old life as possible, she can not just return to it as if nothing's happened. None of you can.~"
There was a moment of silence as everyone took in that bit of news, then Moreshower spoke. "Suppose we did grant sanctuary for the Autobots, what would you expect to be given."
"In the least, we would ask for a place we can call home for our time here, as well as leave to defend Earth from any Decepticons who remain or return. Bumblebee would remain with Alison, as per his duty as her Guardian. We would wish to one day be known to your world, but for now whatever measures could be used to hide us would be accepted."
"Getting us the supplies required for our repairs would be a good sign of faith," Ratchet added.
Keller looked like he was thinking over the offer, when Epps suddenly yawned. "Sorry,' he said. "Been a long seventy-two hours."
He set off a chain reaction, as not a second later, Maggie suddenly yawned, then Dad, then Banachek.
"Perhaps it's best we adjourn for now," Keller said, just before yawning himself. "We have rooms provided for us in the east barracks." He looked to the Autobots. "If you would remain here for the night, we will return tomorrow to continue discussion."
Optimus nodded. "We wish you all a good rest." He stood and stepped away from the table, motioning for Ironhide and Jazz to join him around the trailer.
"Good night, Optimus," I said with a wave as the AllSpark retreated fully. I could feel the days exhaustion return to me, as if any energy my cat nap in Optimus had given me just got drained out.
The rest of us stood up from the table and went to the jeeps, hopping in and letting the drivers take us to the barracks. Our rooms were all on the second floor, and they doubled us up, except for Keller and Moreshower. Before we drifted off to the rooms, one of the escorting soldiers told us someone would be bringing food around at eight.
Mikaela and I were sharing, while my parents were across the hall from us. Mom was very reluctant to let me go, but I convinced her that it'd be better if she slept, then she could smother me with mothering after we woke up.
Before we went inside, Maggie gave both Mikaela and I our purses. "Someone found this on top the dam and handed it off," she explained as Mikaela took her bag. "And I kept yours safe, though it's a bit dirty."
I smiled at her. "Don't worry, a bit of dirt never hurt anyone. Thanks Maggie."
"No problem." She yawned and waved at us. "See you later."
Mikaela and I waved her off before heading into our room. Once we closed the door, I was about to just flop on the bed when Mikaela put a hand on my arm. "We need to talk," she said when I turned to her, and sat us on one of the beds, moving her hold to my hands. "You promised to tell me about that vision of yours the first time you could."
I blinked, then remembered what had happened the night before. "Oh, right!" I took a deep breath. "I want to tell you, honestly I do, but I want to also tell Bee, without the 'Bots overhearing."
"Why? You said your vision went from Thursday afternoon to tonight, so everything in it had happened, right?"
"No, actually. Things changed, and the vision part is over, but… that's not the only part of the future I know."
"So, what, you're some kind of psychic? You know what's going to happen tomorrow? Or next year?"
"No, not tomorrow's events, cause like I said, things changed. It's… it's hard to explain, and like I said, I want to tell Bee too. What I know can drastically affect the future, and I want to make sure it doesn't change it negatively."
"Was your kiss one of the things that changed?" She quirked a brow at me.
"Oh, well, yeah." I felt my cheeks heat up in a blush. "It didn't happen in the vision, but, well, I still didn't know if I was going to survive the day or not. I figured I'd rather die having shown you how I felt." I glanced down at our joined hands as I mumbled, "Not exactly how I imagined my first kiss, but, you know."
"That was your first kiss?" Mikaela asked, actually looking a little surprised.
"I'm a lesbian, the school loser, and I've had a crush on you since first grade," I said flatly. "Kinda hard to get a kiss with that situation."
"Oh." Now Mikaela started blushing. "You've held a torch for me that long?"
"Yes… and no." I reached up to run a hand through my hair. "Like I said, it's hard to explain, and you'll honestly probably think I'm crazy when I say it."
"That why you don't want to tell Optimus?"
"Partly, but mostly because if he knows some things, he could potentially ruin everything."
"It's that serious?"
This time it wasn't me who answered, but the AllSpark. "~The knowledge Alison holds is enough to decide the fate of both Earth and Cybertron, even if the only ones who know are Autobots. It can not be shared carelessly.~"
I pushed the AllSpark back and took back the conversation. "I promise, the first chance we get to talk to Bee privately, I'll tell you both. Can you trust me until then?"
Mikaela was quiet for a minute, chewing her lip a bit in thought, but she eventually nodded. "Alright, I'll trust you. But first opportunity, got it?"
"Yes ma'am," I said, then yawned. I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw it was a little after five. "I think I'm gonna take a nap until food gets here. It's been a long day."
"Tell me about it." Mikaela fell back on the bed, folding her arms over her eyes. "Think we should set an alarm?"
Considering Frenzy had been her phone, and mine was still MIA, I didn't think that was possible. "I think someone will come around to wake us up," I said, standing and heading to the other bed. "If nothing else, my mom will."
"Hmm. Night, Alison." Mikaela pushed her purse to the foot of the bed and slipped under the blanket, and I think she was asleep the second her head touched the pillow. I smiled at the sight, then mimicked her, only taking two seconds to cover my face with the hoodie hood before I was out.
AN: New chapter, and here we go into my least favorite writing topic; politics!. I'll see you all next week, (hopefully) same Bot Time, same Bot Channel!
