Chapter 17 – Secret's Out!
The saying ''time flies when you're having fun'' essentially summed up life. In the blink of an eye I found myself entering my eighteenth month living on Diego Garcia with the Autobots and Lennox and his team.
N.E.S.T had expanded with the arrival of more Autobots who had followed Prime's signal to earth. Sideswipe, a sleek but tough, wise crack who enjoyed pulling a prank almost as much as he loved smashing Decepticons. Apparently, he had a twin brother, Sunstreaker, similar to him in most ways, ''except not as good looking'' according to ''Sides as he was known to many of his team. He was waiting for him to arrive. Despite the trash talk he gave about ''Sunny'' I got the feeling he was missing his bro deeply and that if these two ever got reunited, life on the base would become – interesting.
We also had some female back up arrive in the form of Autobot femme Arcee. A tough, skilled fighter capable of holding her own against the ''Cons. She was ninja fast and, despite her delicate frame, tough as nails. Kind of like the poster girl for ''girl power.'' It was nice to have another ''woman'' around, there was so much testosterone sometimes. There were only a few females stationed on the base or working within N.E.S.T. Nice to see one more added to the list.
As Autobot liaison it was my task, once they had been cleared by Rachet, Prime and Lennox, to help introduce them to Earthen culture and transition to life on our planet. Both 'Sides and Arcee adapted quickly, picking up most things immediately. Then again, when your ''brain'' can access Google and download information almost immediately, you would be hard pressed to stuff up royally.
The Autobots and N.E.S.T had been involved in an increasing number of skirmishes with Decepticons, some over before they began and others, kept Rachet busy for a few days. It felt like all this activity was building towards something but what – was anyone's guess. As long as my little family remained safe, I didn't care.
Life was going well. So, naturally, something bad was bound to happen to screw that up. One ordinary afternoon during a routine day on base, that something happened. Life would never be the same again.
I had been in the training hanger with the Autobots, Lennox and Epps. Ironhide and Jazz had wanted to put the ''new recruits'' through some training to assess how they were adapting to fighting alongside humans. Epps and Lennox were standing in as the N.E.S.T agents in the field. Ironhide was to play the role of a ''Con and Sideswipe, Arcee were to work alongside Lennox and Epps to bring the ''Con'' down efficiently and effectively.
Jazz was there to observe and offer feedback. Rachet was busy in the med bay and Prime, on a rare break from meetings and field work, had stopped by to watch how his team were getting on and just to ''hang out''. I was there to observe too and to just hang out as I had nothing else to do and nowhere else to be at that point in time.
The training room had a large area in the middle reserved for hand to hand combat manoeuvres, kind of like a large boxing ring but without the rings. There were various stations around the room and there were all sorts of nasty and lethal looking Cybertronian weapons adoring the walls and some sort of obstacle course designed for agility and speed. Target practice was usually conducted elsewhere on the island under strict supervision. The large floor in the middle of the room was where all of our eyes and optics' focus was now held as Ironhide prepared to fight ''Sides, Arcee and the humans. Live and full power ammo was strictly forbidden in here.
On Jazz's signal, the ''battle'' unfolded. Ironhide lunged with a speed that defied his hulking size as he tried to take out Arcee, but she had already deftly flipped out of the way landing to the side of Hide, managing to get in a quick kick to the back of one of Hide's legs.
In a fluid motion, Hide went down to that knee and using his other arm to support him and did low sweeping kick that knocked Arcee onto her back. Continuing in his momentum, Hide rose and gave Sides a right hook in the face as he came in to attack, the force of which sent Sides stumbling back a few paces. /Go Ironhide! Guess you don't live for over 9 million years, most of which is spent fighting a war and NOT learn a trick or two!/.
Both Arcee and Sides were no quitters and they recovered almost immediately and were back to attack Ironhide. In the meantime, Epps and Lennox had their guns trained on Ironhide and were shooting paint pellet ammo to indicate ''kill shots''. The Mission City battle, as well as discussions with the Autobots, had helped determine where ''weak spots' were in Decepticon armour.
Lennox and Epps were moving around the edge of the battle from ''cover to cover,'' though I noticed with a little concern, Lennox was getting rather close. I began to tense up and pay very close attention. Prime had also noticed this and had stood a little straighter, his servos clenched by his side and his optics firmly fixed on the scene before him.
Ironhide, consumed in the battle, went for Sideswipe with a barrage of punches to try and maneuverer Sides between him and the human contingent thus preventing their kill shots getting through. It appeared to be working until – Lennox chose that moment to run to a new ''cover'' to the left of Ironhide. At the exact same time Ironhide connected an almighty punch with Sideswipe's jaw that sent him flying through the air - towards Lennox.
What happened next changed everything.
I was vaguely aware of some screaming,'' LOOK OUT! LENNOX!'' I recall Ironhide's faceplates moving from fierce determination to horror in a split second, Prime began to run in an effort to somehow stop the tragedy unfolding but he would never have made it. The next thing I know I am on my feet, hands outstretched, and I am holding Sideswipe in the air, frozen in place, unable to continue his lethal trajectory.
Lennox, who had almost instantly realised his mistake and crouched down out of instinct, holding his hand out in front of him as if it could protect him, had realised the lethal crushing impact had not come. Several tonnes of Transformer did not come hurtling onto him. He slowly stood up, transfixed by the suspended Autobot.
Everyone simply froze, in shock as to how or what or who had caused this. At that point, as I walked slowly towards the scene arms still outstretched, concentration etched onto my face, I was aware of every set of eyes, except Sideswipe's, resting on me.
''What the? Frag it.. What's going on? Put me down!" Sideswipe's pleas seemed incongruous to the otherwise silent scene. Focusing my attention and harnessing my gift, I gently lowered Sideswipe to the ground, so he was standing on his feet. Once he was down safe, and Lennox was safe. I lowered my arms and then - my head. /Oh you've done it now/.
The silence stretched out forever as everyone struggled to take in what they had just witnessed. Lennox simply took turns in looking from me to Sideswipe and back again, while normally very astute, he was struggling to process what had just happened. Some of the others actually took a step ''away'' from me. I wrapped my arms around myself, forcing me to hold it together.
It was Prime's deep voice that shattered the moment, allowing time to continue, ''How long OC? How long have you been able to do that?''
I looked up at him /Not a question of why can you do that? or what was that? But How long? Had Prime known about my ''gift''?/.
Before I could answer I heard Jazz's voice cut in, ''I would say at least since the Battle of Mission City,'' his head was tilted to the side as he took me in, thinking. ''It was you wasn't it lil' lady? It was YOU who saved me from Megatron that day. YOU were the one who sent him staggering backwards before he grabbed me, allowing me to get away.'' Comprehension and the gravity of this slowly dawning on his face.
I turned to look at him and gathered myself up to my full height. /Why should I be ashamed, I had saved him, Lennox too/. I swallowed once to ensure my voice would be steady and strong when I spoke, though I could do nothing to stop my body trembling. ''Yes Jazz. That was me.'' Jazz said nothing just stared at me, a small smile on his faceplates.
I then turned to Prime to confirm what he already suspected. ''Yes Prime, that awful night under the bridge with Mikaela and Sam, that was me too. I held her and Sam for as long as I could to give Bee time to arrive and save them. Before Sam plunged the Allpsark into Megatron's chest, it was me that sent Megatron sprawling to the side when you tripped him Prime and then me who pulled Sam out of the way at the same time. It was me who used the last of ''gift' to try and drag Megatron away from Sam and the Allspark - and you.'' My jaw set firmly, my hands down by my sides, fists clenched I could feel my heart racing trying to escape my chest, my chest rising and falling as I tried to contain a myriad of emotions from escaping me.
Prime closed his optics slowly, as if replaying every detail of those moments to indeed confirm what I had just announced. When he opened his optics again there was no judgement there, no anger or disgust, no fear. These were the emotions I had always seen in people's eyes, the few times my ''gift'' made itself known. Instead, I found myself gazing into two azure optics that held nothing but kindness, compassion, care and wonder. As I stood there trying to adjust to this newfound reaction, the others must have snapped out of their shock and began to speak.
''OC,'' Lennox, had begun to walk towards me slowly, slightly shaking his head in disbelief. ''You, you just saved my life. I don't know how you did that, but I am so thankful,'' when he reached where I was standing he grabbed me into a huge bear hug, holding me tight. ''Thank you''. All I could do was hug him back just as tightly as he hugged me. I didn't trust myself to speak knowing what nearly happened.
''That is some freaky ass shit Aussie, what the hell did you just do?!'' Epps had managed to process what he had seen and was now torn between fear and amazement.
''Yeah, I'm with you Epps, how the slagging pit did you do that?' 'Sideswipe chorused.
''Well,'' Arcee walked up to Sideswipe and pushed him in the shoulder, ''freaky or not, lucky for YOU and Lennox she DID do it, or we would have lost two team members today – Lennox and you Sideswipe! Lennox would have been a human pancake and Sarah would have ensured YOU Sideswipe would have been robot shish kebab,'' she looked over to me and gave me a wink. I smiled at her. /Gotta love the Sisterhood/.
Jazz walked over to me and knelt before me. Lennox had since released me from the hug and stepped aside. Jazz looked earnestly and seriously into my eyes, ''Girl, you and I have always got on like a house on fire, I knew you was special but now,' he shook his head in amazement, ''girl, you in a league of your own! Thank you OC, for savin' my life. For savin' so many of our lives, quietly from the sideline.'' He then tilted his head to the side and scoffed, ''Ta think, all this time I thought we was protectin' you,'' Jazz chuckled, ''who knew it was the other way around!'' and he lent down and scooped me up into his arms for a hug.
It took me a moment to return the hug until I worked out where to place my arms and hands. A part of me thought how surreal this was to be embracing a giant sentient robot like this, the other part of me thought how nice it was to be embraced. ''You're welcome Jazz, just glad you don't hate me.''
''Hate you?'' he said in disbelief, as he placed me back on the ground. ''Why on earth would I hate you for saving my life and the lives of my friends?'' He looked incredulous.
I gave a derisive chuckle, ''Oh you'd be surprised the number of times people have looked at me with disgust, fear and hate when I have used my gift in some way,'' a shadow of pain and anguish flittered over my face and my voice trailed away as memories buried deep began to kick and scream their way to the surface.
I turned the corner of my mouth up in wry contempt, ''People tend to fear that which they do not understand or know. YOU Autobots should know that by now – why do you think you need to disguise yourselves? Most people would not cope well knowing you walked among us. Same goes for me. If most people knew about my ''ability," I shrugged.
Ironhide spoke for the first time then, ''They would have to get through ME before they could do anything to you OC,'' and to prove a point he walked up and stood protectively by my side.
I patted him on the leg and looked up into his face, ''Thanks Hide, that means a lot tough guy.''
Prime, who had remained strangely quiet, as though he had been gauging reactions and processing everything, from every angle, walked towards me, knelt and finally spoke again. ''OC, while you have had to hide who you truly are from the world for so long, please do not ever think that you have to do so from us.''
Tears began to spill from my eyes as a weight I had been carrying nearly my whole life was suddenly picked up and dropped from my shoulders. ''While you may have been made to feel ashamed and angry about what makes you different, with us, know that we celebrate you for who you are, all of you. Your ''gift'' is part of what makes YOU special.'' He gently reached out a digit to touch my face, as if trying to wipe my eyes, ''OC, why try to fit in, when you were born to stand out?''
At this the dam burst yet again and years of silent tears and pain, held at bay, cascaded down my cheeks. I grabbed hold of Prime's digit, afraid that if I didn't, I would fall to my knees. I buried my face and held on for dear life, sobbing my pain, my fear, my happiness and my relief. Prime gently scoped me up into his servo and held me against his massive chassis, above where his spark thrummed. He simply held me while I cried, offering silent support.
Arcee and Sideswipe looked momentarily shocked to see their Prime hold a human like this. At Ironhide and Jazz's stern expression, they quickly schooled their face plates into a more neutral appearance. Afterall, they were not aware of the deepening bond Prime and I shared. After a few minutes I felt myself able to gather some semblance of calm and I smiled up at Optimus, patting his chassis. Prime smiled back and lowered me to the ground.
''That's right OC,'' Lennox spoke up again, having recovered from his near-death experience and moved towards me placing a protective arm around my shoulder. ''You are family to me, to all of us, and ANYONE who has a problem with you automatically inherits a problem from ME - from US. Am I right?'' At this he looked around at every person and Autobot standing in the room – daring them to say different.
Every one of them either yelled out, ''That's right'', ''Yeah,'' or nodded their approval at Lennox's words. Even Epps had gotten over his initial concern and nodded his approval.
I felt such a sense of warmth, of love and acceptance that I had not felt since that fateful day back when I had basically begged to be adopted by the Autobots and Lennox. Maybe everything would be okay after all?
Then a strident voice yelled out from the hanger doorway, ''Orianna Connors! You need to come with us please.''
/Okay, so Murphy IS an asshole and clearly nothing would be ok/ I thought mockingly.
It was the Military Police, and they were barrelling their way towards me, guns held at the ready. ''We have just been informed of certain activities you have performed, and you are required for immediate interrogation and review by the JCS as to whether you are a threat to our National Security.''
My heart stopped. /Definitely going to need a pacemaker/.
Lennox and Prime made to stand in front of me as did Ironhide. ''Under whose orders?'' Lennox demanded. /Oh God - he's going to count to three again!/.
''General Morshower himself,'' one the of the men looked smugly at Lennox. He made to grab me and was nearly decked by Lennox.
''NO!'' I shouted. Lennox stopped. ''It's ok. I'll be ok guys. Just don't do anything to get yourselves in trouble on my account, it's not worth it.'' I stepped forward, hands out willingly to be cuffed. I was NOT going to be the cause of my family falling apart over heated and hot-headed actions.
''Taking her is a big mistake, she has done nothing wrong. Rest assured I will be following this up with General Morshower personally, this will NOT be tolerated,'' Prime's tone had an icy edge to it that made the MPs hesitate momentarily.
I gave a weak smile to Prime and the others,''S'Okay guys, getting arrested by Military Police was on my bucket list of things to do, so you know, CHECK!'' They started to haul me away. ''I'll be okay,'' was all I could manage before they pulled me away from my family and out towards a waiting black SUV.
I could feel the palpable anger radiating from Prime and Lennox as they immediately stalked towards Hanger 1 ready for a video conference with General Morshower that I absentmindedly thought, /I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall for that/.