2. Lost Girl
On the outside of the room, two guards were walking down the hall. They didn't pay any attention until the door was thrown out of its place and slammed them into the other wall. Four blurs ran past them in a hurry.
"All units in action," a voice over the speakers rang out. "Four of the subjects have just escaped!"
Red emitted from one of the escapee's hand and using it, blasted a hole in a wall. Brick and plaster flew and fell wherever it was taken to. A blaring siren screamed, alerting them that they had escaped.
The moon cast an eerie glow as they jumped through the hole and ran until they stopped at the edge of a cliff. They looked down, then back as they heard voices and saw beams from flashlights in the forest.
One of the two boys stood in center, keeping his gaze down at the distance below them. He held the youngest girl close to him.
"Let's do this."
Within a heartbeat, they took the last few remaining steps and jumped over the edge. The agents that had all ready made it out stopped and gasped. The head of the organization pushed through them to see the runaways fall. He couldn't believe that they committed their own deaths.
"Sir, they fell over," one of them whispered.
"Thank you for the worthless info," he growled, right after he punched him. "Everyone back to the compound. There's nothing left to savor."
He didn't know that one of them used her secret—and favorite—ability to save themselves from death as they clung to the side of the cliff.
Nighttime had fallen over the small ranch. However, Jack was restless, and he didn't want to fall asleep. Peeking out of his room, the young boy opened up his window and climbed down. He slid down the roof, landing on the ground before he took off to the barn. Jack never liked to miss a minute with the Autobots. No, he liked to hang around with them, listen to their stories of the Great War back on Cybertron, and he loved it when they would kid around. Well, not Optimus and Ratchet, who stood along the sidelines. Arcee only got into one of the play fights once, but that was because Cliffjumper hassled her. It was pretty hilarious how it ended, with Arcee holding him in some kind of a headlock.
"Jack?"
The boy skidded in his tracks, almost tripping over his feet. He whipped around and felt his face heat up. "Busted," he whispered.
Steve shook his head. "You have that right," he spoke as he stood up from his seat. "What are you doing out of bed? You have school tomorrow."
Jack pouted. "I just wanted to hang out with the Autobots a little longer."
Steve grinned. "Jack, they're not going anywhere. They'll be right here when you need them. Besides," he added as he picked up his son, "you need your eight hours of sleep. Otherwise you'll miss out on all the things life can offer you. And we don't want your mom to find out you've been out here, do we?"
"No," Jack exclaimed, his eyes wide open. He remembered what happened the last time he sneaked out to spend more time with the Autobots. His mom had threatened to ground him from them for a week, and Jack was already up the stairs.
"No is right," Steve laughed. "Come on, let's get you back to—" He stopped suddenly in his steps. Jack noticed the change in his mood and followed his gaze to the front porch of their house.
Four kids were gathered by the steps that led into the house. One of the boys was kneeling down in front of a little girl close to Jack's age as the other two stood on the steps. The little girl was trying hard not to cry as she nodded and embraced him. He returned the favor before getting up and leaving her there and the older kids were gone.
Steve didn't know why he hadn't said anything. He didn't understand why he didn't do anything. For all he, he could have scared him off. Maybe it was because he was paranoid again, fearing that these kids were sent by special forces to see who lived there. So, why wasn't anything happening?
Jack stared at the girl. She was just sitting there on the steps. He wiggled out of Steve's embrace, causing the older man to gasp, and rushed across the yard to meet her. He pushed his teddy bear towards her. She was startled at his sudden presence and stared at it.
"Take it."
She just continued to stare at it.
"Go on."
With unsteady fingers she reached out and took the bear. She quickly pulled it back to her and cuddled up with it, not taking her gaze off of him.
"It's okay," Jack coaxed. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know if you're okay."
The girl just stared at him. Jack got an idea. He stuck out his tongue and made all of the stupid faces he could think of while adding a silly dance to it. The girl giggled.
"You're not bad."
"You're not bad yourself." Jack stretched out his hand. "I'm Jack."
She grabbed his hand and shook it. "Miko." She looked around. "Is this where you live?"
"Yeah," Jack said. "Who were those people? Were they your brothers and sister? How come they left you here? We can take you inside and—"
"I don't want to be here," Miko piped. "I just want my daddy."
"Who is he?" Jack asked.
"I don't know," Miko sighed. "All I know is that he's a mutant and he can pull out claws from his hands."
Steve was suddenly alert about this. He knew instantly what she was talking about. He quickly strolled over to them as Jack asked, "Where's your mom?"
Miko looked sad. "I don't have one."
Jack immediately felt bad. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, tell that to the people I'm going to get back at for killing her," Miko growled. She looked up at the sound of footfalls and gasped. She scooted away from the approaching man.
"Hey, it's okay," Steve said, raising his hands up. "It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you. Let's just take you inside. Is there someone that we can call?"
Miko's eyes widened. Her face turned red and she turned away. Steve knew right there that something was wrong.
"Steve, is Jack out there again?" June's voice called from inside. Footsteps echoed before the door opened. "I swear, if that boy keeps running out of this house during the night again—" She stopped and halted in her tracks when she noticed Miko sitting on the porch. "Oh, hello there. Boys, who is this?"
"June, I'll explain when we get inside," Steve said as he got the kids up. "Right now, someone needs their sleep for school tomorrow. Isn't that right, Jack?"
The young boy cringed. He hated it when his father used that tone of voice. It was his "Listen or I'll give you a lecture on the Ten Commandments" tone. "Yes, sir."
"Do I have to go to bed?" Miko spoke. She was answered by a look from June.
"You're a young lady. And even young ladies need their sleep. I'll have a room set up for you for the night. We'll find where your parents are in the morning. Do you know where they are?"
Miko lowered her head down. "I don't know have any."
June looked up Steve with a worried look. When he returned it, she ushered the kids inside the house and up the stairs. Jack scrambled into his room and underneath his covers. He pulled them over his head in an attempt to drown out the voices that he could suddenly hear from downstairs. For almost a moment, he just wanted to forget and just sleep it off. Maybe if he woke up the very next time, he would forget the frightened look on his parents' faces.
There was a soft click and the door creaked open. Jack quickly sat up to see who trespassed and saw the girl peeking at him through the crack. "Miko?"
"What's going on?" Miko quietly spoke. "What do you think is going to happen? I'm scared. I want my family. Those three that promised to come back when I'm older."
Jack crawled out of his bed, ignoring the fact he was pulling his sheets with him. Fumbling to get out of them, he waddled over to her and opened the door more to wrap an arm around her. "It's okay," he cooed. "Things happen for a reason. My mom and dad will help you find your dad, just you wait and see."
They stayed silent for a moment.
"Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Promise not to tell anyone what I can do?"
"Of course. Who would believe me?"
"And, will you always be my friend no matter what?"
Jack smiled as he guided her back to her room. "Yeah, I would."
By the time June dropped Jack off from school and pulled up in the driveway, she could hear a shrill scream split the air. Steve glanced up from the garden towards the makeshift base. June gasped, knowing that it was Miko. And it was filled with pain.
"Miko!"
Cliffjumper quickly transformed and held her back. "June, wait! Anyone could be in there!"
"In the base?" June felt skeptical. In the last four years they have lived there, no one had ever found their location. It was a fortress with six metal giants from another world to guard them, two smaller ones who kept watch in case of intruders. But, that didn't mean it couldn't happen. Could it?
Steve pulled out the pocket knife he stored in his boot and, together they sneaked over to the building. Heavy footsteps resonated against the ground as Cliffjumper followed them. Both of June's hands enveloped with lilac colored energy. As they approached the doorway, June could hear Miko whimpering and Arcee comforting her. She heard no sign of trouble, but they had to always be careful. Steve gave her a nod and they both whipped around the corner, ready to attack. Cliffjumper whipped out his arm blades, prepared to fight whatever it was they were about to face.
"Whoa! Watch what you do with those things," Bulkhead started.
June looked around. There was no one in the building except for the Autobots and Miko. She let out a sigh of relief, but Steve stuck his knife in the doorway and rushed for the girl's side.
"Miko? Miko, what happened?" he whispered, pulling her into his arms to inspect her.
"She's fine," Arcee said. "She just tripped and fell against this." She held up a small object between her fingers. She held it close for Steve to see. Sure enough, it was a small splint of wood. There was a small bit of blood on it. It made both adults wince.
"Come on now," June crooned as she took Miko from Steve. "Let's get it cleaned up." She turned and left the barn, Miko still sobbing in her arms.
"Is she going to be okay?" Bulkhead asked.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Steve whispered. Even though he said that, he still felt worried. Seeing the girl get hurt and him not being there to prevent it troubled him. Now he would have to imagine the possibilities of what could happen should trouble come and neither of them were there to protect her, or Jack.
"Steven, everything will be fine," Optimus assured him.
"It's not that," Steve said. "It's what could happen when Jack grows up, living in a world unlike our own."
"You mean you're afraid you won't be there if he gets into trouble," the Autobot leader said.
"How—"
"Please," Ratchet rolled his optics. "It doesn't take a mind reader to figure that out."
Steve breathed in through his nose before letting it out. "It's like I won't be there one day and they'll find them—find you guys—and they'll take all of you away while June and I…" He looked up at them. "I'm not trying to be mean or make it sound like I'll ruin his life, but I want him and June to be okay. They both mean a lot to me right now, and I mean it."
June carefully tended to Miko's wounds, not wanting them to get infected. After applying ointment, she wrapped it up and kissed Miko on the forehead. "Feel better, sweetheart?"
"Yes," Miko smiled.
June laughed. She carefully picked up Miko and set her down. "And since you've been such a good girl, I can give you a piece of candy."
Miko beamed up at her. "Thank you. Did your parents do that whenever you got hurt?"
The smile on June's face vanished. Miko knew that those memories of her childhood didn't seem to pleasant, but not bad enough to even forget who she was.
"No. Not really. They were…busy." She got up and put the medical kit away. Miko blinked up at her before she reached into the candy bowl and took out a piece.
"Miko?" June stopped as soon as those whiskey colored eyes peeked up at her. The woman hesitated, trying to get the question out without having to hurt the girl. Taking a deep breath she asked, "Do you have an idea as to where your parents are at?"
For a moment, the little girl was silent. Defeat settled heavily upon her tiny shoulders. She had always that, perhaps if she stayed silent about it, by not telling anyone the issue, she might be able to find the answers on her own. Having to travel for heaven knows how long with three others like her always made her cautious about who to trust and what her next move would be. But, these people she could trust if she was left here, couldn't she?
"My mom is dead. I don't know what happened to my dad," she said softly.
June's face fell at the news. As she closed the cupboard door, she knelt down in front the of the young girl, taking her hands into her own. "Miko, I'm so sorry to hear that."
Miko gave her a weak smile. "It's okay," she said.
June bit her lip in an attempt not to cry. She just wanted to reach out and hug the girl. The door opened and Steve came in.
"Is she okay?" he asked.
Miko nodded and gave her a small smile. June gave her hands a careful squeeze. "Why don't you run along now to the playroom?"
"Can I go see the Autobots again?" Miko requested.
Steve looked up at June. She nodded and Miko rushed out of the house, eager to once more meet the metal titans that also resided on the farm.
"I don't know what it is, but something about her just amazes me," June said.
Steve nodded with a sad smile. "Where are her parents?"
June looked sad. "She doesn't have any right now. I don't know who her dad is and her mother was killed."
Steve exhaled through his nose. "I have a good guess as to who her father is."
June looked up at him.
"Last night when she showed up, there were three other kids with her. They left her here. I don't know who they were, but one of them looked familiar. She was interested in Jack since he walked up to her and they started talking. One of them was about her father."
"What did she say?"
"She didn't say much, except that he can retracts claws from the knuckles of his hands."
"You're kidding…"
"In all honesty, not even she knows what happened," Steve explained. "Investigation on her mother's death could be underway. As for why and how, well…"
"Okay, let's stop right there," June said as she stood up. "I have to be at my shift in half an hour anyways; we can maybe discuss about this later?"
Steve looked into her eyes and saw that she wasn't enthusiastic about the topic. Whenever they brought one person from the team up, the entire mood they were in was dampened. He knew how much the Avengers meant to her. One day, when he was putting away his clothes, he found every paraphernalia she had during the years and the letters from Janet, back when she was still alive. But, it had been so long since they actually saw anyone they knew, and almost four years since he saw Hank in town that he wondered if anyone forgot about them. He realized the only way they could ever have a reunion or unite once more was if something brought them together.
"Okay, have fun at work."
June smirked before walked up and placing a kiss on his lips. "I love you," she whispered.
Her breath was hot in his face and it sent chills down his spine. He looked down at her and smiled. They could figure things out tonight, in the morning if they were still stuck in a tight spot. He suddenly felt tired and the sight of June heading for their room to change was unforgiving.
"You know, it's not the end of the world," he said in a teasing voice.
She turned back to him. At first, he thought she would throw one of her witty comebacks at him. He was instead met with a look of sadness he hadn't seen in years.
"Yes, it is."
In the dark of the night, a lone dark van drove down the deserted road in the country. The soldiers of MECH had simple orders—grab the girl and leave; the other residents were expendable. They'd all be asleep by now and even with the parents awake, they would be easy to subdue.
The moment the van pulled up into the yard, the leader knew something was off. Something about the farmyard didn't seem to add up. He could hear a faint humming in the air. Shaking his head, he motioned for his men towards the house.
They quietly entered the house, one man in the van as the getaway driver and one in guard of the door. The other three quickly searched the downstairs to see where their target was at. The humming had softened, so it must have come from the outside in one of the other buildings. He would investigate on that later.
The air suddenly felt cold, like a stale breath. He knew from horror movies that it was unwise to look behind you, but instincts told him to ignore that. So the moment he turned around, he knew it was his worst mistake. He felt a fist connect with his jaw, then a knee to his stomach.
The other soldiers turned around, just as a small figure leaped out of the shadows to tackle one of them. The guard outside came rushing in to see what was wrong, just as one of them was thrown at him, knocking him down.
Upstairs, Jack was awakened by the loud noises that suddenly echoed in the household. His eyes shot opened and he sat up. Someone was in the house! He threw the covers off and jumped out of the bed. Opening the door, he saw nobody in the hall, so the noises were coming from downstairs. Miko's room burst opened and she came rushing out as well.
"What was that?" she gasped. "Was that you?"
Jack gave her a funny look. They heard something crash from downstairs and a brilliant light emitting from downstairs, followed by an agonized scream. They gasped in fear. Jack slowly crept forward to see what was going on. He peeked down the stairwell, but he saw nothing.
"What's going on?" Miko hissed. "Can you see anything?"
"No," Jack responded. Gently he called out, "Mom?"
Steve held one of the men in a headlock when he heard Jack's voice. Fear and trepidation flooded his mind. He glanced over at June, who held one man in a leg-lock and the other one in her own arms. She manged to knock out the one in her legs and punch the other one, dazing him as she scrambled to her feet. Steve kept an eye on them as she appeared in their sights, including the one she blinded.
"Mom, what's going on down there?" Jack asked in a hushed voice.
June climbed up the steps and gently brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "Hush now, it's just a few pests we're trying to get rid of. Go back to sleep now," she said, kissing his forehead gently.
Jack didn't seem convinced, but he knew he had to choice. He nodded before taking Miko's hand and leading her back down to their rooms. Contented that they were back in their rooms, June descended down the steps to help get rid of the problem.
Steve had one of the men over his shoulder and a second in his hand. June picked up the other two and they threw them out of the house. The other man in the van got out, but June pulled out a gun.
"If you want to live, I suggest you get back in," she ordered. The look in his eyes told her that he was wise to listen and in no time he was back in the vehicle.
The other men were coming to as Steve squatted down next to them, his blue eyes blazing with anger. The soldier closest to him trembled in his place.
"I don't know who you men are, but if I ever see you around here again, I will hunt you down," Steve threatened. "Do I make myself clear?"
The leader nodded vigorously, eyes wide. All four of them quickly dashed off to the van, each one tripping over the other in order to get inside. The van zoomed out of the yard and peeled down the road. Ratchet had rushed into view once they were gone.
"What happened?" he said, glaring at the couple.
"I don't know, and I really don't care right now," Steve answered. He draped an arm around June and they both headed back into the house, leaving the medic questioning what had transpired.
Two weeks. It had been two weeks since Miko had turned up at their residence. June had learned from Social Services and the local hospital that they would put Miko into a foster home. She was against it, after hearing some pretty bad things. When suggesting a group home, June had had enough with the nonsense. She began to voice her concerns about the girl, getting to know her pretty well. She was wild, but June had managed to handle kids like that growing up herself. Her older sister was like that.
That night, as the kids watched a movie with the Autobots, Steve and June sat at the table and discussed what they were going to do with the girl. Steve didn't want to contact Logan, fearing what would happen if they tried to and succeeded. Ever since those men entered the premises, he couldn't sleep or remain focused, listening to each car pass by, waiting to see which one would pull in. To come and take away his family from him. His calm facade was slowly crumbling with each sentence that they spoke. What was there to hide now?
June made a suggestion: why not adopt her? Steve almost went against it, but stopped and thought it over for a moment. Due to her nature and the background of her parents, she would need some special care. Her mutation could expose itself anytime now, and they would need to help her adjust to it once the revelation came into full fruition.
So, when they approached the farm, they could hear some of the Autobots arguing. At first they thought it was because of some recon mission, only by putting bits of it together that it was about the movie. Steve groaned; June just smirked and rolled her eyes. They stepped foot into the base, watching all but Ratchet and Optimus bicker among themselves. The medic glanced over at their leader in annoyance. The red and blue titan just shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
"Man, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Wheelie grumbled.
"Obvious the one that Bill Clinton had never occupied," Brains murmured.
Miko never looked so confused, amused, and terrified all at the same time. She clung onto Jack as he wrapped an arm around her. He just watched the fight as if it were normal for him. Of course it was, he grew up around them for the last four years! No child would just not be used to the things they knew without having to watch it happen over and over again.
"Okay," Steve said as he came forward. "Come on, Jackie, time for bed." He picked up his son. "You have a big day tomorrow."
"Do I have to go to bed this early?" Jack whined. He shrank in his place when his father gave him that look.
"Jack, do I have to make you owe me a quarter every time you ask that?"
Jack's eyes widened and furiously shook his head.
"Alright then," Steve nodded as they went out of the base. Miko jumped to her feet and followed the boys.
"Miko?" June said as soon as they were out of the Autobots' earshot.
The girl stopped and turned to June.
"We need to talk about something," June said, kneeling in front of Miko, giving her enough space as not to make her uncomfortable.
"I met with one of the social workers today," she said. "She said that we need to figure out what to do. She suggested a group home, but trust me, you don't want that. Or you can go into a foster home, if you want to."
Miko turned away.
"Or…we were thinking about adopting you, since we don't know where your dad is."
Miko looked back up to June, a shocked look in her eyes.
"You mean it?" Miko asked. "I could live with you guys!"
June smiled. "Yes, you can."
The girl wrapped her arms around June's neck, pulling her in for a too-tight hug.
"I love you, June! I wanna stay here forever."
