Rafael took a deep breath of the stale air in the Autobot base. He hadn't realised Miko's food made the air lighter. A lot of her food was heavily scented and made up the space where the rock and metal made the base smell… Industrial. He hadn't realised a lot of things about her, not until she had left.
How she would fill the silence with music, or just talking. He shifted as he finished his homework. Jack was still doing his, he had some extra pieces. Raf stood and walked to the edge of the platform, Bumblebee and Optimus were there. Watching Ratchet ramble away.
"It's small, but it is there. The reasoning behind it could only be a few things, some more likely than others. They could have stuck a tracker on her. It'd be dangerous to bring her back anyway." He finished his explanation. Raf tilted his head and looked at Optimus, the Prime pursed his lips. He hadn't been the usual-self in a while, nor had Bulkhead. Not since the rain last week. It had rained a lot last week, so the Autobot's had driven them to school…
That's when she appeared, inside the mad Decepticon doctor. She had to collect some work for her to do at home. Bumblebee had gone back to report it… And it all seemed to go downhill from there.
He shook his head, and continued to watch and listen. Trying to concentrate as best as he could.
"The Decepticons' new found interest in Miko should be considered a danger to her, and our own safety. Ratchet, contact Bulkhead and have him return to base." The Prime, once his order was given. He turned to Rafael and Jack.
"Children, may I ask you something?" Jack looked up, Rafael nodded as Prime cleared his throat, "Has Miko been acting any different at your school or when you meet her around Jasper?" Jack paused.
"Don't know, I haven't seen her in ages." He said it rather curtly. Optimus nodded and looked at Rafael. Raf found himself not speaking, he couldn't. It felt odd to admit he still spoke to her, there was nothing wrong with it, so why did it feel that way?
"Y-Yeah! Erm, Miko sometimes talks to me when I go shopping with my mom." He admitted. Prime nodded.
"And how was she?"
"Well… Er- Her arms are still badly damaged, she was saying that her hair dye was fading because she couldn't properly redo it with her arms like that, she's behind in her school work because of it so their given-" He started to ramble, but Optimus held up his hand and corrected Raf calmly, "Has she been acting any different?" Raf paused, he realised what Optimus meant.
"I visited her the other day… She's become… Sad," He admitted, Ratchet paused and turned to listen, "She hadn't actually eaten that day, just had been drinking en-energy drinks. She… She had been talking to the Decepticon's, and it seemed that was helping her." He admitted. Optimus stood back, he seemed to be thinking for a moment. Jack looked up, he frowned as he watched Rafael with a grimace.
Miko had punched him in the jaw, ran off with Megatron and now had just stopped talking to the Autobots and hanging around with the 'Cons? Why did everyone care so much about her? It was stupid…
The Groundbridge swirled to life and Bulkhead drove through. He transformed and huffed, he marched past Optimus, but was stopped by the Prime. His hand gently rested on the Wrecker's shoulder. Bulk turned.
"Bulkhead, are you okay?" He asked it so calmly, anger was so hard to keep around it. Bulkhead looked away, he choked on his word but answered, "Miko… She was dropped off by Breakdown at her house. I drove past them… She tried to hide from me." He admitted, he shrugged off Optimus's hand, "Whatever those Cons have told her! But we've got to get her back here!" Optimus looked down at him, he nodded.
"I know, and we will Bulkhead. We will bring her home."
Raf looked at Bumblebee, the rest unknowing about their plan.
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"A month and five Earthen weeks! It has been nine weeks since that Fleshbag has squirmed its way to our Master's side! And it has not told us where the Autobot base is!" The seeker screeched in anger. The red medic frowned as he watched, "Why does he insist on keeping it around? Does he like playing Autobot with it? Does it play catch!?" His wings raised and lowered as he crossed his arms. Knockout tutted.
"Listen, Starscream, Commander, darling," Starscream grunted and turned at the last name, Knockout continued, "I was skeptical of the human, but Miko… She's nice, ya know? She's squishy, sure. But she's making Breakdown really happy and morale is up with her running around." He shrugged with his arms still crossed. Starscream turned to face him fully. A look of disgust crossed his faceplate.
"You insufferable wretch! Listen to you, you're not better than those Autobots! You have gone soft dear Doctor" He jabbed his claw into Knockout's chest, who grunted. "We should squash that bug! Torture it till it tells us where the Autobot's base is, and then Megatron can play pet and master to his sparks content." Starscream purred at the idea… Making the human scream.
Chain her up like he did with the larger one, have those little flesh arms cut and aching from dangling there alone… How weak they were. Then, perhaps! Perhaps he could use his electro-energon prod, watch it jerk and convulse and rip its own vocal cords apart.
Then, it would be he! Not those stinking grounders, or that ever silent Soundwave to get the Autobot base location. Then he could store the tortured human in a small prison and parade it around as the Autobots are forced to surrender or they perish. Then, execute them, slowly and one by one as the human begs and screams. Then, his pure genius and intellect would be realised by all! Megatron could continue to play pet and master with the squishy fleshbag… Though it'd probably be a brain dead doll by then… He snickered at the image. Knockout snickered too, he stopped his daydreaming and turned.
"What are you laughing at!?" He shouted. Knockout simply pointed behind Starscream. The Seeker turned and stared at the grey and purple chest. His wings fell almost vertically downwards as his head raised up. Megatron stared down at him, optics held pure fury. Starscream scrambled for words, he paused.
"L-Lord Megatron! How kind of you to join us!?" He smiled as he clasped his claws together. Megatron swung his left arm, the back of his palm made contact with his faceplate. He cried out as he went spinning around and crashed against the wall.
"Right when you claimed I had gone soft, dear Starscream." Knockout answered for Megatron. Starscream's optics seem to shrink impossibly small as he added, "And when you were daydreaming out loud." Starscream tried to stand, but his chest was stomped into the wall. He was half sitting and half standing as he was pinned against the wall. He shook his head as he looked at Megatron.
"Please sir! I can explain!" He screeched, Megatron twisted his foot left to right, Starscream hissed in pain.
"Will you shut our insolent mouth for once!" Megatron roared. Starscream nodded, his wings quivering against him.
"Miko is here because so far, she has proven her loyalty is far greater than the likes of you." He snarled as he moved away from Starscream, "I found Miko in a fragile state. Yet here she is, as strong as ever and working away despite her injuries. While you fold and break from the slightest scratch!" He roared. Knockout's plating shuddered as he moved back. Starscream whimpered as he closed his optics. He finally spoke, "Please! Forgive me master! I did not mean it, I mean no harm to the human!" He nodded, looking at Knockout for support. Megatron lifted his foot, and slammed it back down before fully removing it.
"I'd hope you are not that idiotic Starscream," Megatron smirked, "Or perhaps I shall even replace you with her." He folded his arms behind his back. Starscream swallowed, grimacing.
"I understand, Lord Megatron." He rubbed his chest. Megatron nodded, he turned to Knockout, clearing his throat, "Now! Doctor, where is your assistant? I sent him to collect Miko an hour ago." Knockout paused, his optics widened slightly. He adjusted how he stood as he turned to the console.
"Oh. I did not realise, no sir, no word from Breakdown." He turned to his console and started to type away. He frowned as he examined his messages and checked to see if Breakdown's coordinates could be found. Megatron stood over, observing him. Starscream stood, shaking as his wings were quivering from pain. He swallowed as he looked back at the door, his back had been to it this entire time.
How could he have been so foolish? He wanted to tut, but found it better just to shut up and wait for Megatron to dismiss him.
"Breakdown? Breakdown come in." Knockout called, a static sound came from the computer. Megatron frowned and titled his head as he waited. The static subsided and Breakdown cleared his throat, his voice in no better quality then the former sound, "Yeah doc?" Knockout smiled and turned.
"There we go my lord!" He puffed his chest and turned back, "Where are you? Are you with the human?"
"Yep! We're right outside Jasper, just had to pick up a few things," There was a moment of silence, "Miko says hi."
Knockout tutted and Megatron chortled to himself.
"Fine, just get back quickly."
"Gotcha." And with that, the comn link was cut. Knockout stood back and wiped his claws off. Megatron nodded, "Thank you doctor." He turned back, snarling at Starscream as he left. The seeker frowned and clenched his fists. He turned to Knockout who just smiled, innocently away at him.
"You could have told me our Master was right behind me!" He roared as he marched to the smaller mech, his wing's raised high and tense.
"I could, but where is the fun in that!? Anyway, you were talking to passionately about the electro torture!" Knockout sneered, Starscream raised his claws. Knockout fell back, "Not the paint!" Starscream tutted, satisfied, he lowered his arm.
"Mh, your cowardice is enough when it comes to your own hind." He turned to the door and marched out. Knockout just grunted and went back to his work. Starscream was unsure about his trust in the Doctor anymore, a pain really, but not one that would nag him. Still, there was a pain that was going to nag him, he was sure of that, he just needed to figure out how to get rid of it before it became a real problem.
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He was the biggest piece of scrap Megatron had ever met, the goliath towered over all who walked past. He turned to the door that revealed the Groundbridge dock. A fifty metre by twenty metre platform, in length and width respectively, allowed soldiers to be dispatched in the dozens. Right now, it was quiet, the four drones working it were typing away on their own consoles. He frowned, arms crossed behind his back. Starscream was now a threat to his plan.
He snarled to himself, Starscream's fantasies could be easily done if the Seeker sought out hard enough. He knew the mech for a thousand years, he knew how crafty he could be.
Megatron perked up as the portal came to life, it ripped open to a vortex. Blue and green swirled together, it reflected off of his grey armour, making him the colour of seaweed. He stood a little straighter, his arms crossed behind his back and his shoulders level. He was a warlord, the tyrant of the Decepticon army. He needed to look proud and proper. He kept his faceplate neutral. He had done it a million times, and he'd do it a thousand times again. He was Megatron, lord of the Decepticons, he was an iron goliath and would not bend.
Music came from the portal, Breakdown came to a halt as the door swung open. Miko hopped out, carrying a backpack unusually bulging for her normal school bags and then there was the guitar case and speaker to go with the instrument.. Then a rolling suitcase fell out of Breakdown's back door as he transformed. He stood to attention to Megatron, pausing as his leader had all of his attention on the human. Miko huffed, her arms already wobbling as she struggled.
"Now what is this?" The Warlord knelt down and nudged one of the bags with his index claw. Miko smiled.
"Hello to you too, erm, I was wondering if I could do this intsy little thing!" She pinched her index and thumb together. Then almost immediately hissed in pain as she lowered that arm. It was the one that had glass in it, the bandages would be taken off in about a week. She lowered the bag and placed it beside the suitcase. Megatron raised an eyebrow, he looked at Breakdown, "You're dismissed." The jeep saluted and left. Miko watched, waving bye. She hissed again and lowered the arm.
"Got to stop doing that."
"Miko, what are you planning?" Megatron growled. Miko shivered and turned. She smiled up at him, she was eager as ever and had a look of determination.
"I was wondering! Since you've got your huge ship, I figured there would be room.. For me?" She grinned. The warlord's optics widened slightly as he put together what she meant. He rubbed his claws against his chin and cheek. Miko swallowed and continued, "And I… I figured you'd want me here as often as you can get, and I don't think…" She frowned as she looked at the ground, "My host parents will care." She blurted. She shrugged, and looked at her shoes. Her toes tapped against each other. Megatron scooped her up and her bags, she yelped as she sat back.
"You are suggesting you take up residence amongst my ranks?" He hummed as they walked. Miko hummed as she listened to the stomping, the clanking of the steel against steel was steady and in a constant rhythm. She looked at him, "Yeah! Why not?" She tilted her head, her hair falling to the side.
"I have no doubt this news would reach the Autobots. They won't take you back if you go through this." He reasoned, Miko nodded and sighed, "Yet I personally shall not argue against it." He smirked at her. Miko's eyes widened. She beamed. She sat back as she considered what he said. He was right, if she just disappeared the Autobots would ask questions. They probably don't like her already, she just skipped town and now was sitting on the enemy's shoulder. She held her head in her palm as she tapped her index against her cheek bone.
"Idea! I spend the weekends here and see how it goes!?" She smiles. Megatron frowned, he thought for a moment. Miko felt a knot wrap around her stomach.
"I shall allow it." He nodded, Miko whooped and fist bumped. She fell back, giggling. Megatron nodded and took a detour, he watched her as she leaned back. He'd never guess getting her to convert would be so easy, perhaps it was a bit too easy. He looked back at the bags, her eagerness to move in had an odd feeling to it. She had mentioned her host parents would not care much, did humans just abandon their offspring with other adults? Still. He looked at the hall ahead. He understood the feeling, in his youth before he got his apartment, he would move from house to shelter to park bench and vice versa. Not everyone who welcomed you to their home meant it for your benefit and not every relative is family. He had to learn it the hard way.
He frowned, closing his optics for a moment he remembered the plan. Nodding, he looked at her.
"Why do you wish to escape human life so badly?" He hummed as they walked. Miko frowned and looked at him.
She looked at him, his helmet was kind of bucket shaped. It had two, tusk-like ends that reached out towards his face. His face was covered in scars, the deepest were near his lips. Which was funny, because it looked like the scars were his lips. His scarlet red eyes had two, snow white rings for pupils. His shoulders were covered in spiked shoulderplates. One arm had a massive cannon attached with a blade that seathed outwards, it was super cool! He didn't need to transform his hand! He could shoot, stab and punch you all at the same time! Miko wondered how many cool battle stories he had to tell. If he had any stories to tell, he did. That was what made him cool, it was what made all of them cool!
She sighed, her head lowering.
"To be honest? Life back home sucked, it was all routine, all perfect and normal. It was sssooo boring!" She threw her hands up and fell back, Megatron looked at her with a smirk as she continued, "And, like, we talked about it yesterday! What are the chances we met!? Super, super, super, super slim! And yet we did! And that's so cool! And I feel like, I could be soo cool if I just stuck around!" She ranted. Megatron chuckled as he tapped his index knuckle against his chin. He considered what she said, "You feel inadequate in any kind of life bar this kind?" He guessed. Miko paused and nodded.
"I feel like a waste, but not with the Autobots, not with you. I feel like I'm worth something, if the chances are that slim, but I still met you guys… I'm here, so I have to be something? Right?" She gestured around. Megatron nodded. He turned to a door and entered a set of numbers on the keypad. It beeped and the door hissed, and slid open. Miko looked in and couldn't see much.
"Fate will make something out of all. Do you believe this is your fate?" He turned on the light. They entered an office. There were two terminals, a trophy stand, a desk and what seemed to be a chair. The trophy stand was right across from the door, there were some swords, horns and other sorts of battle trophies from his young days. Beside it was the door to another room. The desk was on the left side, it had a small terminal and the chair sat beside it. The terminal was on the right side, they were huge. Under the trophy cupboard, was an energon storage one. It looked like it was a fridge of some kind. There was nothing much, though plenty of room for it. There were no shelves, no decorations, no nothing.
Miko paused as she was dropped on the desk. The keypad was only one third of the desk, the other two thirds were together and were just a flat metal platform. Miko was set on that, Megatron falling into his seat with huff. He placed his hands on his stomach, claws intertwined. The door closed and looking behind them, Miko started to unpack, she had her clothes folded already and set them out in their respective piles. She looked up at him, and then remembered her present. The warlord watched as Miko undid a bag and then presented a small box, with two flat squares on top. He leaned forward, and frowned.
"And this is?" Miko smiled as she undid the box, showing a record player inside. She showed him the two record covers. Slash Monkey, bloody rich, the cover was of a pile of money in a bag that had blood dripping out the bottom. The other was Little Sims, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, the cover was of a woman of colour, sitting in a yellow room leaning towards the viewer.
"I, er, got them as a gift… Your gift." She explained, Megatron looked at her.
"You got me a gift?" He examined the records, Miko smiled and flipped them, showing Megatron the songs on the back.
"Yeah- Well! You got me a gift, and have been pretty cool. So, I had a discount code for it and that… Do you not like it?" She frowned as their eyes met. She realised how dumb her question was when she looked up at him. His optics were wide, they were in disbelief. He smiled at her, chuckling. He shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
"I like it. I like it very much, I have never been given a gift like this." He tilted his head. He was grinning to himself. Miko smiled, she picked up one of the plugs for the record.
"Do you have a plug?" She held it up, the Warlord paused. He reached and scooped up the player, carefully he examined the power cord. He nodded.
"Not as of now, but I can easily have Soundwave install some. I thank you, Miko," He sat up straight, setting the record player down, "It is quite thoughtful."
Miko giggled as she shook her head, "Have you seriously never been given a gift before?" She grunted as she moved the now empty suitcase out of the way. She smiled as she undid the guitar case.
"Here we go!" She strummed the strings, frowning as she had to adjust some of the tightness. Megatron was examining the desk away, it touched two walls. Adjustments would have to be made. Perhaps a second metal slab to act as a ceiling, or a second floor is she desired. Nothing major was necessary, he nodded. He turned to the computer, sending a message out to Soundwave. Collect supplies and make blueprints for her new living area. Miko laid out a blanket and beamed. A pillow and blanket, that was her bed for the night.
"We have all the Easter break together!" She smiled, Megatron paused and frowned.
"What is an Easter break?" He stood and marched to his energon storage. Miko smiled as she ran along the desk to get as close as she could.
"It's a break in school! I'll be here for two whole weeks!" She flicked open her phone and showed the calendar, March 27- April 10. He looked at her, "You are planning to stay here for two weeks with just a blanket and pillow?" Megatron chortled. Miko paused, her eyes widened as she looked at the blanket.
"... Perhaps." She set the bags down and looked at the blankets and looked back to Megatron. He huffed, shaking his head. Miko sat on the edge as he sat back down with his energon cube. He sipped at his cube as he also added sleeping supplies to Soundwave's shopping list.
Miko sat on the edge, her legs dangling, kicking in the air.
"So! What's on the agenda for the next couple of weeks!?" She beamed. He sighed and sat back, examining the contents of the desk. Humans, so messy. So small, yet such large messes.
"Your bandages are to be removed… In two days, correct?" He guessed, Miko nodded, "Good, tomorrow I have no plans, just review some energon mine reports." He sipped his energon again. Miko smiled, "So! You can work here and I can decorate!" Megatron grunted and looked at his desk. It was tidy and barren, he could just imagine how it'd look after this event. He huffed as he pondered about his predicament, the human would be more permanent than he first realised. It was more predictable when the arrangement was her ust visiting for how many hours in a day and then returning home. Her separation from the Autobots made it easy for her to be reliant on him, yet still independent enough. He could leave her without contact for days if it suited, and she'd come running back because there was nowhere else to go. Yet now, she was more and more dependent on him. Now she expected to be able to co-live with him to an extent he had not first considered or wanted.
It was an annoyance really.
He looked back at her, and looked at the gifts too. Yet, she did bring gifts and pleasantries. A trade perhaps? They were offerings to him, or did she truly mean it? That they were just gifts of friendship? Companionship? How easy would it be for him just to crush her? Very, actually. Yet she did not fear him, instead she sought out his companionship and to be his equal. The choice was up to him anyway, he could decide what to do with her ultimately. So what was it? He tapped his claws against the armrest, Miko looked up at him. She tilted her head, she had a look of fear as she waited for his response. He realised she knew what he was thinking, she knew the risks. He sat up.
"You understand the risks of this? And that they'll be rules you'll have to obey." He finally spoke, his voice was neutral and calm. Miko nodded, swallowing her fear.
"Yeah! I do!" She nodded, she swallowed, "I'm ready to do whatever." He chortled and looked at her gifts.
"And these gifts? Are they a part of this plan? To do anything it takes?" He gestured. Miko paused, she frowned as she stood.
"What!? No! I… I got it for you… Because of the crystal and… To just thank you for the time…" She just stared at the floor, her eyes were getting wet as she rubbed the tears away, "And to thank you for the time at the cliff, and just being… Cool I guess, you've just been cool." The time at the cliff, it always freaked her out to remember. That she got that close to… Doing that. It also freaked her out to think it was the enemy leader who saved her, when her supposed friends were busy bitching about her.
She closed her eyes, sniffling. Her eyes snapped open when a metal claw pressed itself against her cheek.
Megatron held her cheek in his index pad, she smiled slightly, "See? You're cool. You deserve the gifts." She patted his claw, he sighed and a smirk crossed his face. Perhaps he was right when he shouted at Starscream, her loyalty was greater than the seekers, and it could be proven. He sighed, his index was now a captive of the small human.
"You are 'cool' too, Miko." He smiled as she patted her with his finger.
He nodded and sat back, a message came through the computer. It was from Soundwave.
The supplies were on their way.
He nodded, Soundwave, ever skillful and diligent. Miko smiled as she held his finger, he chuckled and lifted up the finger. She laughed as she dangled there, he set her down after a second.
She was laughing, louder as he did it again. He chuckled and set her down, "This should be quite entertaining." He hummed.
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Jack cried out as he slammed his fist against the lunatic, his mother didn't deserve this. Arcee didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve this. Silas just arched an eyebrow, "You alien lovers are certainly something…" He pushed Jack away, he sighed and watched the boy. Arachnid's speech on family rang in his ears, the soldier's watched from the background.
"Yet both you and the girl have very weak punches." Silas wiped his chest off, Jack swallowed.
"Miko?" He stared. He swallowed as he stood, Arachnid moved back, intrigue clear on her faceplate.
"Oh? And who is this lovely girl we are speaking of?" She hummed, the spider smiled as she tapped her feet against the ground. Jack stood, shaking his head. He eyed Arachnid and turned back to Silas.
"I know what you did! You broke her arm or something…" He clenched his fists, he was smart enough to see there was no coincidence. Miko ran off to save Breakdown from M.E.C.H, and then she showed up with a shoulder popped out of the socket and a few bruised ribs for school show and tell. Arachnid hummed as she watched, taking a few steps back.
"The girl? Mh, popping her shoulder was my goodbye, I couldn't do much else before her back-up arrived." Silas crossed his arms, he huffed and tilted his head. He watched Jack who frowned, "I don't care. She's not my friend." Arachnid suddenly burst into fits of cackling. She clapped her hands as she looked at the two.
"Oh! Megatron's new human pet!? Ooooohhh~ The Decepticon communications have been abuzz about her!" Jack turned, he stared. So Miko really had fallen in with the 'Cons? Jack was ready to keep his mouth shut. Yet… The Bots had become so obsessed with finding her, and trying to figure out what happened to her. He took a deep breath.
"W-What are they saying?" He clenched his fists, his skin was pale and his palms felt sweaty. The ex-military turned to face the robot. She hummed, knowing she had a captive audience. She tapped her claw against her bottom lip, which soon stretched into a wicked grin.
"Well! The story goes that your precious Autobots abandoned her in a dire state and she was picked up by Megatron… When she returned to the Autobots, she soon, as you know, turned back and tried to save Breakdown…" Her words floated off as she thought, recounting the many variations of the tales she had heard.
"Which got her a broken arm, and my men had to run… She contacted the one you call, 'Megatron'..." Silas huffed. Arachnid nodded and continued, "Since then! She's been perched on his shoulder like a little birdy! Apparently he's even giving gifts to her!" She laughed at the last part. To think, Lord Megatron was going soft! Jack grunted, he growled.
"She really did betray us." He choked. Silas and Arachnid glanced at each other. Jack shook his head, "Doesn't matter… Where is my mother!?" He shouted, Arachnid snickered.
"Somewhere… As I said, you have till midnight and you've already spent the last few minutes gossiping!" Jack barely let her finish the sentence before he was in a sprint. Arcee was left to lie there, bound but still aware. She had to fake it, she had to give Jack time. Her mind though… It was sent spinning by what Arachnid said, she had obviously known parts of it.
She had seen the groundbridge that Megatron burst through, with Starscream and Knockout. Optimus looked so panicked, and she hadn't understood then… Now she did, she did when they shot at Megatron and instead of fighting. He cupped his claws together and ran, Miko was in his hands. Was it all over the conversation she had overheard? Was she that spiteful? She grunted, over the radio she could hear Jack screaming over the radio. She wanted to help him, she wanted to help him so badly. She just had to wait for the right moment.
She could hear the humans chatter away, "Go straight for the heart." That caught her audio receptor. She could hear a drill start, grimacing as she felt it tug at the webbing. She tried to keep her breathing calm. She needed to keep her breath low, to look like she's asleep. Arcee almost cried out as she felt the edge of the drill against her armour. She batted the drill away, the humans cried out. They weren't her concern, she was quick to transform and was quick to get to Jack. She growled as she saw the spiderbot lurk around June and Jack. She growled, jumping up onto the steel bars. She tackled the spider, who cried out in surprise. She heard June scream. Arachnid screamed and tried to block as Arcee tried to pummell her, a claw was her response. Arcee fell to the side, trying to ignore the pain in her cheek.
Arcee again punched Arachnid as the spiderbot tackled her down. Arcee cried out, she bit her tongue. Grimacing, she kicked the other away. Arcee raced away from her while she was down, jumping up. She landed on the platform next to Jack.
"Arcee!"
"Let's get you two out of here." June was still screaming.
Arcee screamed as she was thrown back, Arachnid snarled.
"You've grown weak Arcee! I swear, you're just trying to get rid of your human pets!" Her back legs unfurled as she pounced. A bullet hit her head, and then another. She screamed as a helicopter flew ahead. She stared, humans were piloting them. She snarled as Arcee smiled.
"Nah, I like to think we've gotten more and more behind our back." Arcee punched Arachnid in the back of the head. The spiderbot snarled as she jumped back. Arachnid shot beams from her eyes. Arcee cried out, "No!"
She reached out, but it was too late. Arachnid transformed and flew off. Arcee growled. She turned back, scooping up June who was close to faint.
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June was curled into a ball with her blanket. Jack was rubbing her back, Arcee sighed. Holding herself as she walked over.
"Mum, this is Arcee. My friend, Autobot, partner… Protector." Jack smiled. June tried her best to smile, just to be polite.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Arcee." She nodded to her, Arcee knelt down and smiled, "Same to you, good to meet the woman who raised just a good man." She gestured to Jack, who grunted. His cheeks going red as June smiled, "He is, he really is." He turned away. June and Arcee laughed.
"So, are you the only one who knows?" June asked as they started to walk. Arcee shook her head, Jack swallowed.
"No, a friend of mine knows too, his name is Rafael. There's also Miko…" His voice trailed off. June frowned, she just nodded as she talked, "And this Rafael friend, does he have his own Autobot?"
"Huh! Yeah! Bumblebee, he's the black and yellow muscle car that drives around town." He explained, his mother paused, and then realised what he meant. She nodded.
"Right." She just nodded.
Jack paused, he stepped in front of his mother and smiled.
"How about I take you for that drive I promised!" He beamed, she paused. Looking at said Autobot, who was the vehicle… This would be weird for her.
"Are you okay with it?"
Arcee nodded, "Yeah. It's not weird, don't worry."
The woman smiled and nodded. She looked at the two of them.
"Right! Let's go then!" She paused, "... Tomorrow, let's go tomorrow. I need a nap, and dinner…" Arcee nodded and transformed, oh… This would be interesting, and weird…
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.
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Soundwave's work had been done. The power cords were finished. The second floor was finished, Miko had been given a… Well, she couldn't decide. It was somewhere between a ladder and a set of stairs. The bottom was where her guitar was, her bags, clothes and the art stuff she'd eventually get. The upstairs was just for the bed, a floor mattress. She had been given plenty of pillows and blankets. There were two sliding doors, to give her the illusion of privacy. Yet Miko knew that Megatron could just lean over and see her that way. Right now, she sat on the edge of her mattress. Megatron was examining work on his computer. The bandages come off in less than half a day away. Breakdown would be coming soon to pick her up and take her to the hospital. Miko was rocking herself, Megatron glanced over.
"You're still nervous." He turned to face her. Miko nodded, she swallowed.
"Of course I am! What if I look bad with these! What if I can't go near any dirt or paint or dye because of it!?"
"You worry about what could be too much… Miko, the scars will need to be sanitised while still fresh, if they are the same as Cybertronian scars." He cocked his head to the side and remembered his younger day.
"Does it hurt if you don't?"
"Badly, it hurts very bad."
She sat up a little and nodded. He went back to work, stopping and rereading a line. He frowned, humming to himself. Miko dropped down, and walked over. He watched her, and then went back to reading, Miko grunted.
"Can't you guys type in a language I understand!?" She whined, crossing her arms. Megatron paused and looked down at her with a frown.
"The Autobots never taught you Cybertronian?" And here he thought keeping the human out of the know was an original idea from him. Miko shook her head, "Nope! Eerm, Raf knows how to read in the Cybertronian. They never bothered with me." She shrugged.
"Why? Surely they'd want you to understand them?" He gestured to the text, it wasn't anything interesting. A report on the human organisation, their supplies had been spotted near Jasper, Soundwave and he had found it somewhat concerning after the incident in Russia. But it seems they were not there for Miko, something else entirely. Soundwave had entered the Jasper police force's database and found a report on them.
"I don't know, I don't know if I'd find it hard or not."
"Are you not bilingual?"
"I am."
"So you can read, write, speak and understand those languages?"
"I can! Yeah!"
"And these languages are of two different alphabets?"
"... Yeah?"
He looked at her, huffed and shook his head, "If you wish I can have Soundwave teach you how to read and write Cybertronian?" He smirked as he watched her bounce with excitement.
"That'd be so cool!" She smiled. Megatron looked at the record player, he pursed his lips and was ready to speak. A knock on the door interrupted, Megatron stood and opened the door. Breakdown bowed before him, "My lord. I'm here to collect the kid." The warlord nodded, he held out his hand. Miko jumped up onto it, he smiled as he brought her over to Breakdown.
"Thank you, I'll take care of her." Breakdown smiled as he set her on his shoulders. Miko waved goodbye.
"See ya Megatron!" She shouted as the jeep walked away. Megatron waved back as she looked back at him.
He sighed and turned back inside of his room. He looked at the record player. He sat down, gently he took the record out of its sleeve. He groaned and shook his head, he had to be so careful and tedious with the small plates. He placed it on the player and poked the needle onto it, he sat back as the music started. A Slash Monkey song, he frowned as screaming greeted him. He shrugged, after the scream, the music started. He had to admit, there was a certain charm about it.
A smile crossed his faceplate. Not a smirk… How odd. He was genuinely happy and smiled.
Gifts, huh. Funny little things.