A Leap of Faith
Chapter 3
A fine mist cloaked the hidden military along with the tall pine trees and huge mountains. Her emerald eyes gazed at the clouded sky, the sun unable to shine through and bask the area with its warmth. She turned against the cement wall; her hands pressed flat against the cold stone. Her arms went straight as she straightened her back and pressed with her legs, stretching her body. Callie thought about what the Autobot leader told her the previous night along with what Lennox was offering her.
Leaning forward with her elbows bent, allowing her arms to rest against the cold stone, the young woman dropped her head between. She stood within a navy-blue hoody and black running shorts. Her white sneakers graced her feet as the woman prepared for her early morning run. She wanted to forget what had happen to her, what she witnessed in the cold, dark dungeon. She wanted to move forward with a chance of using this strange ability as something useful, but this young woman didn't know how. Six years of her life was taken away, and now, she was being told to ignore it.
Callie slammed her hands against the building before turning and pushing off. She used her muscles to take out her frustration, to clear her mind when her thoughts were not her own. Flashes of red, blue, and metal kept dancing across her face. She wanted to forget it. She wanted this all to be a nightmare. However, as she stopped at the edge of the road and watched as the waves rolled into the beach below, Callie knew that none of this was a dream.
Turning away from the sea, Callie took the paved road back to the base. Men and women dressed in military were starting to make their rounds. Some were out running along the perimeter. Callie picked up speed, her breath coming in pants as she pushed with all her strength. She ran between the collapsed buildings, the bare trees, rusted vehicles, and collapse fences. She used each obstacle as a chance to improve herself, to strengthen herself, and to keep reminding herself that she was still alive even when all hope seemed to be lost.
BOOM!
Callie waved her hands out as the earth rumbled, rocks rolling and parts of the earth beginning to split. Autobots and humans ran out watching as the harsh movements and sounds startled everyone.
"Was that an earthquake?" asked Lieutenant Kane. Emma and Major Lennox stepped out of the main communication hangar along with a few of the Autobots including Ironhide and Optimus.
Lennox shook his head, "No. That was something else."
"Bumblebee, head out down the coast and see if anything has happened," called out the Autobot commander. The yellow scout quickly transformed and drove out. "If anything has happened, Bee will let us know.
Callie watched as the yellow sports car disappeared down the black highway. In the horizon, the sea seemed calm. The birds still flew out towards the coast. Clouds still moved across the sky. And the cool mist of the morning still hung heavy in the air.
It wasn't long before the Camaro came racing back, transforming before he came to a stop. The scout used different sounds to explain what he had saw causing Prime's blue optics to widen as he turned to stare out towards the black highway. Callie eventually jogged over to Emma and stood at her side.
"Does anyone even understand him?" asked Callie as she heard the strange sounds.
Emma shrugged, "Sam Witwicky once held conversations with him, especially when Bee was talking through the radio. Since Sam decided to separate from the Autobots, Bee went back to using Cybertronian."
"Sam?"
Emma gasped softly, "Oh, I forgot you weren't here when the Bots first met Sam. Yeah, it was quite some time ago. It caused some complications especially when Prime had to go after the Matrix of Leadership."
"The matrix of leadership," questioned Callie once more.
Emma raised her hand and waved it, "Another complicated story and the reason why we are hiding at this base with the Autobots."
"Thank you, Bumblebee," spoke the deep baritone of the Autobot commander. Callie watched as the red and blue mech turned to address everyone else as the small scout transformed and disappeared into the Autobot's hanger. "It was an explosion of some sort. It destroyed over half of the town that is close by. Bee wasn't sure what caused the explosion, only that the town is mostly destroyed."
"Should we send help," asked Emma as she glanced around the area. Some of the military people lived in the small town. It was their escape from the old base. Now, it seemed like there was no home to head back to.
Lennox shook his head, "We are a hidden group. The only time we head out is if the General or the President needs us."
"That isn't right!" yelled Callie. She heard what was being said, and finally decided that she needed to voice her opinion. "There could be people hurt or even trapped that are waiting for help. If you guys are the famous Autobots who stopped the Decepticons, where is that famous motto on helping people."
"Callie, it isn't that easy," retorted Lennox. He stood with his hands upon his hips, a narrowed look within his eyes. "You have no idea what has happened. We cannot just venture out like we used to."
Callie glanced up at the Autobot commander. Prime's optics were narrowed as he listened to the conversation. Callie scoffed before turning away. "You guys are just cowards." She didn't wait for anything else before she ran towards the vehicle hangar and jumped into the old Jeep.
Callie revved the engine and pulled out. Lennox and Prime quickly approached, but she didn't stop. Callie quickly switched gears and pressed down upon the peddle before driving out of the base at top speed. Lennox's voice calling out towards her.
"Leave her be. I will retrieve her," spoke the Autobot commander. He watched carefully as the young woman drove out of the base and disappeared behind the tree border that hid the location.
While it was probably reckless for her to leave, Optimus understood where Callie was coming from. This young woman was trapped with the Decepticons, knowing that the Autobots could have done something to stop what had happened to her. Part of it makes Prime feel guilty for this war and all the blood and energon that has been spilt, something that he holds heavy upon his spark.
.%.
Callie pulled a stop outside the small town. It was known as Riverrock, famous for the Riverrock creek that ran through the middle, flowing out to the cliffs and disappearing into the ocean below. It was a small town consisting around forty-five hundred people making it a perfect destination for soldiers to live away from the hidden military base and the remaining Autobots.
Callie stepped out of the old Jeep. Burnt wood and twisted medal littered the grounds. Echo of screams could be heard in the distance while broken glass littered most of the sidewalks and roads. Callie slowly glanced left and right witnessing the destruction the explosion had caused. The town looked like a warzone, images from a small screen flashed through her mind as she recalled seeing similar images when she laid within the cold laboratory, strapped upon the cold slab of metal with injections stuck into her skin, a mix of blue and silver disappearing into her skin.
Following carefully, Callie walked over parts of broken buildings. Glass and stone littered the ground as water shot up from broken pipes. She kept her body close to the shadows, eyeing everything for anything that might seem unsafe. Each building looked as if a bomb had destroyed causing all windows to shatter, wood to break, and buildings to tumble within.
Noises ahead forced the young woman to stop. She watched as humans ran, some crying and pulling at their bodies. Callie's eyes widen, fear racing through her emerald eyes. Humans that had survived were crawling upon the ground, blood spilling from their body as something fell from them. Looking carefully, Callie gasped. It was their skin. It was a mixture of skin, bones, and hair falling off the humans before patches of their body dissolved and crumbled.
Callie couldn't take it anymore. She turned and ran, tripping over a bent piece of metal. She slid across the ground, her pants ripping along with the skin upon her hands. Callie pushed up, tears burning within her eyes. She didn't stop even at the old Jeep. She continued running watching as a familiar red and blue semi approached her.
Skidding to a stop, she slammed her body against the grille of the Peterbilt, the warm air hissing across her small form. Her body ached and her stomach turned. Turning away, she dropped and retched everything. She heard as Prime transformed and dropped beside her.
"Callie, what has happened?" Optimus asked it in such a calm tone. It forced sobs to escape Callie's lips as she shook her head, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"That was no explosion," she whispered. Collapsing to her knees, the woman pulled her legs to her chest, fear shaking her small form. She heard as Prime dropped down even farther, a metal servo wrapping around her. "That was Shockwave's experiment," she continued, placing her face into her knees as her body continued to shake.
Prime looked over towards the direction of the destroyed city. He watched in the far distance as two huge metallic objects disappeared into the sky. If Shockwave was present, he would have drove out just as the two Decepticons that flew to the sky.
Turning his attention to the woman, he stared at her shaking frame. When she first arrived during that one battle, Callie acted just the same. Lennox helped Ratchet move Callie to his vehicular mode. It was a night that Prime wanted to forget.
"Callie, what did you see?" questioned Prime. He was cautious upon forcing her to recall the scene. He didn't want to traumatize the woman, but at the same time, if this was caused by the Decepticons, he needed to know.
Callie shook her head, "It was a horror scene. Skin falling off bones. Blood seeping with what looked like muscle dissolving. I couldn't remain. The women that were with me from before, they died the same way. Their bodies decaying from within while they were still alive."
Callie rolled her face, laying her cheek upon her knees. She clenched her eyes shut as tears ran down and splashed against the solid ground. Memories of the women screaming in the cells near her ran rapid through her thoughts. She wanted to forget.
The black servo belonging to Prime cupped her gently before rising. Callie's eyes widen as she grabbed against one of his digits. He pulled her towards his chest before turning away from the small town. No words were said as he walked back to base. Callie remained curled up, her mind replaying the nightmares of those horrible years that she was trapped.
.%.
Major Lennox paced before the Main Hangar. Prime had left over forty-five minutes ago to retrieve Callie. While he understood the anger the young woman had towards the military and the Autobots, she wasn't around when everything changed. Humans have turned against the Autobots. They had lost some good soldiers both Bots and humans. Lennox couldn't risk it, not with what has happened.
The young man looked towards the black highway before glancing towards Ironhide and Lieutenant Kane. Both shrugged forcing Lennox to groan and drag his hands through his hair. Two years ago, his wife decided to split from him and take their only child. He truly didn't want it to happen, but at the same time, he understood. His life was with the Autobots, especially when the humans who associated with the metallic giants were hunted also.
Loud metallic thundering sound caused everyone to turn towards the empty highway. Optimus walked back onto the base; his black servo held before his chest. Callie sat curled with her knees to her chest within the middle of his hand. Prime's optics were focused forward as he marched towards the human's living quarters. He lowered gently to the ground allowing Callie to slip off. She turned to look at him and nodded before disappearing through the double glass doors.
Lennox ran over to the Autobot commander. Prime returned to his full height before staring down at the young man. "What did you find out," asked the Major.
Prime narrowed his optics before walking around the human. He disappeared into the Autobot's hangar, going farther through the hidden doors. Lennox waited with hands upon his hips as Prime returned with a cube of High Grade, a purple liquid splashing around within the container, and the Autobot medic at his side.
"Bumblebee was right. It was no earthquake but a bomb. The Decepticons have succeeded in creating something. Callie described the place as similar to when she was held captive." Prime's voice was a deep, dark baritone. He stared into the cube, his servo clenching the container tightly.
"Megatron created something similar to what Callie witnessed?" asked Lennox as he looked up at the Autobot leader. Optimus nodded. "How do we stop him now?"
"Unless there is a cure, I don't know how. Callie explained to me that she saw decaying bodies that were still alive." Prime turned away, leaning his helm against the metal building. Of all things, he never expected Megatron to go this far. "We will stop at nothing to prevent this from destroying human kind, but when I do find Megatron, I will make sure to extinguish his Spark."
.%.
Callie sat upon the bed, her legs to her chest. Her head rested against her knees as tears escaped her eyes and dripped upon the bedding. She wanted to forget about the images that kept playing across her mind. The horrors of the city reminded her too much of the six years that she was held captive, the screams of the four women as each perished in same matter.
Callie wasn't sure how long she stayed in her room, but the sun had drifted shadows through the small window as it appeared in the sky. Eventually, she removed herself from the bed and walked out of the room. Soldiers were walking through the hallway, some glancing in her directions while others continued on their path.
Lieutenant Kane and Major Lennox stood beside the double glass door. Lennox had his arms crossed while Emma held her head down. Both heard as Callie approached looking in her direction.
"How are you doing?" asked Lennox. He held the door open watching as Callie stepped out. The ruin military base was in full action. Soldiers that were not inside were running across the broken tarmac working on drills. Even the Autobots were out.
Callie walked over to the edge of the tarmac to watch the Autobots. Optimus stood in the middle, his battle mask in place. Ironhide was throwing punches towards the commander which Prime would roll and dodge. Ironhide signaled something and a few more of the Autobots took a chance at the commander. Optimus rolled away once more, grabbing one of the small Autobots and bringing him down to the tarmac. A loud crashed echoed throughout the base causing everyone to stop and watch.
Callie watched amazed by the pure power the Autobot leader showed with each movement he did. She watched as his body made of pure metal moved and turned, cables stretching, pistons pushing, engines growling. It amazed her, but it also scared her at the same time. These titans were capable of so much. One flick and they could kill a human. Three or four could take out a small town. A large group could rule the world.
Optimus's loud baritone voice forced Callie to look straight at him. He looked around the area, eyeing each of his soldiers before landing upon her. Callie gasped, her hands moving behind her. She felt the pressure and the strange sensation run through her hands. Turning around, Callie stumbled backwards, her foot catching and her body collapsing to the ground. The metal rod she leaned against was no longer round but completely flat and a deep silver-gray color.
Emma and Lennox ran over to her, Emma helping Callie to her feet. Loud thundering steps caused the young woman to look behind her. Optimus had approached, dropping to one knee. His large black metal digits traced over the huge piece of the sheet metal before picking it up and curling it up within his large servo.
Optimus didn't say a word as he stood to his full height. He turned from the humans and walked towards where Callie could see the Autobot medic standing, talking with Ironhide. Optimus opened his hand and leaned down. Callie could see the metal lips upon Prime's face as he whispered something to the medic. Ratchet nodded before taking the piece from Optimus and disappearing back into the Autobot's hangar. Prime nodded to Ironhide before having his battle mask return and pulling out one of his Energon blades.
Callie watched as a smaller Autobot had two blades, his silver form racing across the tarmac upon two wheels. She learned from Lennox about Sideswipe and his twin, Sunstreaker. Both of mechs loved to cause trouble and mischief but where one of the best frontliners Prime had within his team.
Sideswipe raced towards Optimus. Prime braced himself watching as the smaller Bot turned before jumping. Prime grabbed his leg and spun. The release sent Sideswipe scraping down the tarmac before Prime was seen running towards him. Ironhide jumped in, his cannot ready forcing Prime to slow and move. A blast fired from the cannon and straight into the air. Lennox finally had enough and ran out towards the commander and his weapon specialist.
"Prime, what the hell is going on?" yelled the Major as he stopped before the towering blue and red mech. Prime slowly sheathed his sword and removed his battle mask.
"We are only training, Major," replied the Autobot commander. His whole stand changed from going from the aggressive attacker to the calm leader.
"Training?" questioned Lennox as he placed his hands upon his hips. "That didn't look like any training that you usually do especially with Sideswipes?"
Optimus walked over to the Major and dropped down to one knee. Callie watched carefully as the blue optics burned brightly before returning back to their normal blue. "Major, everything was under controlled. You have nothing to worry about."
Prime returned to his normal height and turned from the Major. Callie watched as he transformed down into his vehicular mode, a custom Peterbilt semi, before driving out of the small hidden military base.