Man, aren't I awful. I at least hope that my slightly improved writing skills can make up for my writer's block and lack of updating. Except for Mix and Co, I don't own them one bit. The first two parts might seem a little different from the rest of the story, writing-wise. I wrote them at different times, so it might seem that the ending is better written than the beginning.
I thank Skins Thunderbomb, The Crab and my pal The Collector for pointing out a few details to help it sound better.
A Girl Transformed
Chapter sixteen
Cobalt sat there, leaning up against the side of the control panel. "They're all gone..." Cobalt said into the empty metal walls of the base.
Hours passed as a slow stream of tears ran down her cheeks. Exhaustion eventually gave way to serene sleep, leaving Co to dream of better days from the past.
000
The soft hum of the base main computer roused Cobalt from her dreams. "Err...what time?" She gazed sleepily at her watch's digital display. "Two in the morning?" She jumped to her feet, "Maybe Jetfire's a..." she remembered, "wake..." Loneliness filled her spirit once again as Cobalt stared at the floor.
Cobalt walked down to the target range, her tears leaving a subtle trail of sorrow behind her. Looking upon the giant red and white targets, Co remembered happy days when Jetfire and the others would help her with her shooting accuracy. But now that the Autobots were gone, those days were over.
"I always knew that they planned to leave for Cybertron, Optimus and the others talked about it sometimes," she sat down against the metal wall and pulled her legs close, "I just didn't imagine that I'd never even get to say goodbye."
Her face buried in her knees, Co's heart ached as even more watery droplets of sadness fell and dampened her navy hued jeans. After an hour spent in lamentation, sleep welcomed her back again to its subconscious freedom.
000
Weeks passed and not a shred of information concerning Cybertron reached Cobalt's ears. Returning to her former residency before her stay with the Autobots, life went back to normal for her, as normal as it could be. Cobalt missed all of them terribly, especially Jetfire; she missed him most of all. If sleep wouldn't come, she would like awake, reflecting on past memories. The memories were staring to grow more distant and fade away. No, of all things, she didn't want that to happen. Cobalt didn't want those incredible missions and adventures to become nothing but a hazy dream. She was even beginning to forget what Jetfire sounded like with each passing day. No! Of all things, not that.
Cobalt sat up from her rest, clutching one of her throw pillows to cry into. What had happened to make them leave so suddenly without a single goodbye? She grabbed at the pendant on the necklace around her neck and looked at it. A small, silver shuttle about a couple of inches in length hung from a silver metal cord around her neck. Almost unnoticeable, the Autobot insignia was engraved on its nose.
Cobalt didn't really know whom it was intended to belong to. The day she repacked, she found it lying on Jetfire's desk, the only thing left. When the Autobots returned, if they did, Cobalt promised herself that she would ask or find out whom it belonged to and give it back to them. For now, the necklace and pendant would be safest with her, as well as to serve as a reminder that the events of the past months was no dream.
If they returned, Cobalt lamented.
Though still tired, sleep refused to take her again. Getting up, she was soon ready to face whatever the day might bring. What it was bringing was the beginning of a series of class trips to the local nuclear reactor to learn about its function and Chemistry in general. Cobalt was excited to go, to say the least. Chemistry, atoms, and elements had always been a favorite subject of hers; mostly the very reason behind her name of Cobalt. The best she could hope for is that the trip would take her mind off the Autobots and cheer up.
"Cobalt, you're here!" an excited voice called out from the building as she pulled up. The owner of the voice appeared as her friend as she ran to greet Cobalt. "So, you ready to go?"
"Yep, let's find the others."
000
As they unloaded off of the bus, the class took in the size of the second reactor. The thing's taller than Tidalwave, Cobalt thought with amusement; an image of the Decepticon battleship yelling expletives at it for the mere fact that it was taller formed in her mind. Cobalt's thoughts were interrupted by their instructor giving them directions and rules to follow.
"...All of you will stay in groups of three at all times. This place is not a playground, it is a nuclear reactor; messing with stuff you do not understand yet can and will prove for grave results that will also include disciplinary action!" he explained to them in a loud tone. Most of the class already knew about such things that could go wrong, his speech was nothing new to them. As soon as he was finished, they were off to the main doors of the complex.
The day consisted of learning about the elements, radioactive decay of the Uranium to create the power for the plant, and the basic workings and operations of it. They returned to the school very happily, eagerly awaiting their trip the next day.
"Wow! That was so cool!" Cobalt's friend bounced off the bus and ran around, reminding Cobalt faintly of Mixmaster.
"All of you are dismissed for the day," her instructor announced as the last of them exited the bus. The remaining students that hadn't already left, went without delay.
Cobalt sat at the edge of the cliff that was blasted at that one day. She sat there, staring into space across the valley before her. Not much else but the Autobots in mind, Cobalt watched the events from the valley long ago play in her mind. Nothing was out there except for green grass waving softly in the wind.
So bored, nothing much to do, she thought aimlessly. There's nothing at all to do.
Lying back, Cobalt watched the clouds float over. The slight sense of deja vu over came her for a second, and she remembered why. It was a day like today just before that virus of a transformer took control of Cobalt. Because of his actions, she lost the friendship of Mixmaster and had never gained it back. It weighed heavily on her mind.
"I could have been late to class for once, just once to apologize...why did I have to be so selfish?" she mused. "I miss all of you a lot."
000
The night before one of the last days of the tour came and went, leaving Cobalt to wake up from one of the most interesting and calming dreams she probably ever had. Though a dream, it seemed and felt as real as life. As she made herself presentable for the day, Cobalt reflected on the dream.
She had found herself in the dream realm without really knowing where she was, dressed in her daily attire and surrounded by a violet, watery setting. It struck her as odd that she was actually conscious of this. Most dreams had nothing more than fleeting thoughts to them, usually commenting on something incorrect that would not or should not happen. Walking around, the depth of the place seemed unknown, and was distracted enough that she didn't even notice a familiar red Autobot had appeared until she nearly walked right into him. Beginning to apologize, sounds could be made, but dialogue was difficult and she was unable to say a word.
They looked at each other in slight confusion as Cobalt continued to try and speak as Jetfire wondered where he was.
Jetfire noticed the sudden look of sadness on the girl's face, and concern glowed in his optics. He didn't like to see people sad, he just couldn't handle it. That was why he was Jetfire, trying to comfort his depressed friends and comrades with the bubbly, cheerful attitude of his because he couldn't take the sadness.
Thoughts returning to the present, he tried to console her by rubbing her cheek gently. Jetfire noticed her hair coloring then. No longer was it the bright primary colors he remembered, but a dark navy and black took their place. He noted her with a questioning look; with the colors and a less than happy demeanor, what had happened to the once happy girl he knew?
Cobalt eventually broke down from the loneliness she had been compressing for the past weeks, crying into Jetfire's chest. She knew that she missed him, but didn't know it was this much. Suddenly wanting to be closer to him, she moved her body to snuggle her head into his shoulder.
Jetfire watched Cobalt cry into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling the girl into a sympathetic embrace. It pained him a lot to see someone he cared for in such a state. There had to be something he could do. Stroking her back softly, Jetfire began to think.
As he tried to get ideas to come, Jetfire gazed at the sobbing girl in his arms. He did indeed think she was quite pretty, her figure not that different from the femmes back on Cybertron. Realizing then, about the only thing that separated the human females from the robotic femmes was physical anatomy in terms of metal, flesh, and sometimes size. Though her emotions had lessened to a degree, Cobalt was still clung to him tightly, tears trickling softly down his armor. Contact with him must have some calming effect, he thought, but it doesn't seem to be quite enough, why?
Jetfire did not know why, but an idea did form just then, as it fit would have been an obvious thing to do. Obvious for a human I suppose, he thought wryly. It wouldn't hurt to try.
Cobalt shivered and cuddled closer to Jetfire as his hand ran up her back and up off of her head. She smiled lightly at the soft touch. His hand returned to rest on her head, stroking it lightly, though she could tell that there was something in it from the position it was in.
She looked up at him, tears still lingered on her cheeks but she no longer appeared sad. Jetfire smiled, his face visible and no longer covered by his mask, as he gently dried her cheeks with his fingers. In the process, he lifted Cobalt's chin slightly while leaning down, their faces now mere centimeters apart.
The girl looked at him with mild surprise and anticipation, finally realizing what was probably going to happen. Cobalt closed her eyes slowly, only for her to open them again as Jetfire ran his tongue across her lips. She blushed and giggled as he blue air softly into her face, winked and grinned. Jetfire leaned in again and kissed her on her lips.
Cobalt would have fallen if Jetfire wasn't still holding her, for the sensations from his tongue now feeling around the inside of her mouth felt unbelievable, and Cobalt kissed back.
Their kissing lasted several minutes longer before the broke off from each other slowly. They breathed heavily for a few moments as Cobalt rested her head, nuzzling under his chin very contentedly, still a little flushed. She sighed softly as he rubbed her back. Moving to rub her shoulders and around her neck, he noticed a silver, metallic chain around her neck.
She felt him fingering the necklace and looked up. Cobalt felt her voice return suddenly and asked, "Who's it meant for? I've been wearing it to keep it safe."
Jetfire smiled back, "Well, I'm glad you've been keeping it safe; it was meant for you. I care for you very much."
Cobalt blushed even more, "Awwww, Jet, thank you so much," and snuggled with him.
The dream began to fade away as Cobalt awoke to the sun shining in her eyes. Truly a nice dream she reflected on as she rolled out on her bike to the school, wondering if it was real.
000
"Ohmigod! Can you believe it? We're almost finished and then it's the weekend!" Sarah squeed as she, Cobalt and the rest of the class rode out on their final trip to the reactor.
"You are veeeeeery hyper this morning," Cobalt stated as she continued to think about her dream. She fiddled lightly with her necklace.
Sarah looked over, "Ooooh, that's such a pretty necklace, it's so shiny!" she commented.
"Thanks," the older girl replied, a big smile plastered to her face.
"And what's making you so happy?"
Cobalt thought about her answer carefully. She couldn't tell the exact truth, as she wasn't allowed to, nor did she want to lie either. "Attention," Cobalt replied with partial truth.
Sarah was silent for a while as the bus stopped at the plant and unloaded. It wasn't until they were nearly inside that she spoke again. "Cobalt, you have been holding that pendant and blushing ever since you got here this morning," she stated. "Therefore, this leads me to one question."
"And what might that be?" Cobalt countered without turning to face her.
"Who is he?" she questioned.
Cobalt came close to tripping, but caught herself. This time she faced her friend. "What?"
Sarah had the most mischievous smirk on her face as the two entered the building. Both of them entirely missed the frantic rustling in the bushes as they passed. "All of your actions up to now prove my assumptions to be correct, now who is he?" she inquired.
"Uh oh," Cobalt thought. She knew full well how good the younger girl was at extracting information from people. "Okay, you got me, it is a guy."
Sarah looked at her in slight shock; a sudden answer was not what she was expecting to hear. "So you want to play it that way."
"But if you want to know more, it's twenty questions," she interrupted.
"Awww...you're on!" They both smiled at each other.
000
Sarah still had only a foggy idea of who Cobalt's mystery guy was, even after loosing the game. "Dang, this guy just can't be from this world!" Cobalt snickered lightly. They were now heading down to one of the radiation-safe observation decks.
"Until recently, it has not been possible to view the reactors at this distance safely," the guide explained to them as they watched the people below them load and unload Uranium rods with the aid of robotic arms. "Even now, these are only live feeds on the other side of solid lead and steel wall." Both girls leaned forward for a better look. Both of them jumped back along with everyone else as a sudden explosion rocked the floors and started to engulf the reactor in flames.
Everyone made a dash for the exits, except for Cobalt. Finding her self restrained by metal hands and arms, she tried to scream and break free, but her captor clamped a hand down over her mouth and nose, dragging her backwards. The leaking radiation in the reactor room was starting to make her dizzy, and in a last attempt to escape, Cobalt engaged her powers.
Startling her, Mixmaster's voice purred in her ear: "Sideways awaits your arrival," as the lab exploded into an inferno of heat and flames of incredible magnitude.
Outside, realization struck Sarah as she looked from face to face of those in the crowd around her. The explosion from inside was now seen outside as flames and smoke began to cover the sky. "Oh, god," she uttered, dropping to the ground in tears.
End Story
