Chapter 38 - Convoy
(RPOV)
"Hey Ratchet?" a mildly worried voice called out in the pre-dawn light.
Ratchet onlined his optics quickly.
"Have you seen Mikaela?" Epps asked as he walked over, frowning.
"She is asleep," Optimus rumbled softly, driving forward a foot or so.
"But she's not in her tent!" Epps protested.
"She was cold last night," Ratchet replied mildly, transforming and moving toward the work area, "Prime noticed and convinced her to sleep in his bunk."
"Hammock now, it is a lot easier to move about without waking her when she's suspended like that." Prime interjected mildly.
"I'm awake!" her voice called out groggily. Mikaela climbed down from Optimus' cab, he transformed a moment later as she walked toward Ratchet, yawning. "Hey Bobby, is the coffee on?" she asked curiously.
"Yeah, we were hoping you'd let us use your tent as a mess out the sun," Epps grinned, throwing a teasing arm across her shoulders.
"Go for it, lemme get my clothes," Mikaela grinned, ducking into the canvas tent.
(MPOV)
I quickly untied my hammock and rolled it up with the mosquito netting, making plenty of room for my sleeping quarters to become the Mess Tent. I threw back the coffee Epps handed me and ducked out of the tent again, carrying my clothes over an arm. Destination: the mildly concealed spot near my workbench to change. The twins chose that moment to throw each other against it, collapsing the shade sheet and promptly getting tangled in it.
"You scrapping glitches!" I shouted indignantly, dropping my clothes and moving to untangle their servos before they managed to damage them, again. "You made it all the way though yesterday without fighting, fine, but I swear to Primus if you damage those arms again I'm going to re-attach them someplace else entirely!"
"Where?" Mudflap asked curiously, holding his hand toward me to let me disentangle him from the last of the netting.
"Either your forehead or your arse, I haven't decided yet," I grumbled, fighting a grin.
Ratchet burst out laughing, garnering a silent glare from Skids. The twins, once freed, drove off quickly to avoid the usual Ratchet scolding.
I stood with my hands on my hips.
"Well, there goes my screen for getting changed, dammit." I grumbled, and picked up my clothes again.
Optimus chuckled and cupped his hands around me. I shot him a grateful smile and changed into the fresh clothing, I glanced upward and caught Optimus' speculative gaze.
Denims zipped and tank top on I bundled up the rest of my clothes and stuffed them into a bag, leaving it on the ground for a moment. I climbed quickly up Optimus' hand and scampered barefoot up his arm to his shoulder.
"What?" I murmured softly.
∂Just as I suspected∂ Optimus stated calmly in common.
∂What?∂ I repeated myself with a small smile.
∂Your armour does not do you justice, you are beautiful, my Kae,∂ Optimus rumbled gently, reaching up and running a gentle finger down my arm. I blushed and smiled at him.
∂Flatterer∂ I said with gentle reproach, running my hand up his finger to indicate I didn't really mean it, before settling into his hand. He set me gently down on the sand beside the bag while Ratchet watched us with a broad smirk.
"Oi you, go eat something!" Ratchet commanded me as I made my way toward the partially dismantled servo on my workbench.
"What?" I looked up at him in consternation.
"Food, eat, I don't care if you're... currently chock full of energon, you still need food." Ratchet frowned down at me. I didn't have to look to feel Optimus' eyes fall on me, I knew he'd be scanning as well.
"You're a bully Ratch," I rolled my eyes and made my way toward the mess tent, one earbud already quietly playing music in my ear. I waved at the few soldiers already in the tent and quickly packed my clothes into the duffle Chance had brought me, shoving it into the corner.
::. Ratchet, she was fully drained last night!.:: Optimus' voice growled in my ear suddenly, making me jump.
::. I know, I scanned her when you returned.:: Ratchet replied in a worried tone. ::. She slept soundly, it's almost like she entered a full recharge cycle...::
On sudden inspiration I touched my iPod and felt a tiny surge of energon escape my fingertips into the machine.
::. You know I can still hear you both right?.:: I thought silently, reaching for Optimus.
Outside the tent, Ironhide burst out laughing.
"Hah! Hoisted by your own petard Ratch!" he guffawed, I picked up one of the nutrient supplement packs and a bottle of water, winking at Epps as I ducked out of the tent again. I walked toward the group of mechs with an apologetic look on my face. Optimus immediately offered me a hand, depositing me easily on his shoulder. I felt my soul, carried on a current of energon, reach toward him. His spark touched mine gently in greeting.
You two interfaced? About scrapping time!∂ Chromia stated with a grin.
And bonded by the look of that flare∂ Arcee added, looking up at me with a broad smile as I blushed. ∂Welcome to the family, Kae.∂
My little sister is all grown up and... and bonded to a Prime!Sideswipe gave a huge, fake sniffle and burst out into a hearty laugh.
∂If you can find it in your sparks to stop ribbing my spark-mate we do have work to do∂ Optimus chided the group gently.
That, is so cute∂ Ironhide murmured the quiet aside to Chromia, who giggled. The group of soldiers walked toward us.
"Right you guys, we just got the call, the Dagger's tip is the old name for the gulf of Agaba," Lennox called out. "Once we get there, we set up for the dawn and try to figure out who or what the three kings are."
Most of the squad scattered to hide the base camp, Optimus set me down to transform as Ratchet's holo handed me the pack.
"Don't turn it on unless absolutely necessary," he ordered me sternly, helping me tighten the various straps.
"Okay Doc," I smiled, fitting the glove to my hand and adjusting the connections.
"So what does this lot chat about anyway?" Graham piped up, clapping a hand on my shoulder with a grin.
"Hmn?" I looked up at him curiously, tightening a last couple of straps on my arm as Ratchet's holo winked out.
"You speak Cybertronian now don't you?" Epps grinned, "you were sitting on the big guy's shoulder, what does this lot talk about while we're doing the morning pep-talk?"
"Same thing, sort of," I laughed, glancing at Optimus as he revved up a bit.
"Like what?" Chance bugged me.
Bumblebee rolled past us, his speakers turning on to blare the Barenaked Ladies' "Lovers in a dangerous time!"
"Bee!" I laughed, fighting to sound indignant and lightly thwacking his fender.
"=Optimus-and-Kae-sitting-in-a-tree, i-n-t-e-r-f-a-c-i-n-g=," Bee added gleefully.
"=Oh! Now-I'm-gonna-get-you!=" I replied in scout, taking a couple of quick steps toward him.
"=Gotta-catch-me-first!=" Bee sang as he roared off, another love song blaring over his speakers.
"Whoa what?" Epps looked at me with raised eyebrows.
"He's bugging me about spending so much time with Optimus," I laughed, fighting the temptation to switch on the pack and flick a little ball of energon at him.
"But you two go off to talk about All-Spark stuff don't you?"
"For the most part," I nodded, "But seeing as this lot doesn't need any more pep, it's more of a morning ribbing," I chuckled, walking toward Optimus as he crept a couple of feet toward me.
"C'mon! You gotta at least give us something!" Epps called after me, already headed toward his jeep.
"Doesn't really translate!" I shouted from the top step of the cab, ducking in easily.
"This lot does pretty good translating for us," Epps' voice called over the radio, I could hear him grinning.
"Yeah, but I'm not as smart as they are," I retorted, "Think of a language, Vietnamese maybe, but a thousand times more complex, where not only tone, but the speed saying it completely changes the meaning. The same word for friend, could mean comrade in arms, sibling, lover. I honestly wish you lot could hear it," I sat back in Optimus' seat as he shot forward, "It's truly one of those incredible 'you had to have been there' things. Three words could vary from a declaration of eternal love to an oath of hatred."
"Well damn," Graham interjected, "There's no blackmail material in that!"
"Nope," I laughed, stroking the smooth leather of the seat.
"Right, radio silence boys and girls," Lennox piped up,
"Kae, you should probably drive," Optimus murmured, "It would look strange to have you in the passenger seat like that."
"Alright," I smiled, sliding from passenger to driver's seat. "You want me to sit and look like I'm driving or actually drive?"
"If you drive I can keep an eye on the sky."
I promptly set my foot on the gas, one hand lightly resting on the stick shift. The gas pedal increased it's resistance, indicating he'd handed over control. I continued to follow the jeep driving in front of us.
"Kae," Optimus murmured.
"Optimus?" I asked softly.
"If we come under attack..." he trailed off.
"I'll be fighting with you," I said gently, running my hand lightly over the insignia stamped in the middle of the steering wheel. Optimus sighed.
"Please keep yourself safe," he rumbled quietly, "if you can, stay with me, or ride with Arcee. I cannot lose you now."
"My love is with you, in life and death," I whispered, caressing the seat delicately. "I will not sit idly by to lose you, you know that right? Don't let yourself be distracted by me in the field, I have no need for my life without my soul."
The jeep ahead of us slowed slightly, with precision I revved up and took Optimus down a couple of gears.
"Optimus, I thought you were letting Mikaela drive," Ironhide's voice came over the speakers quietly.
"She is," Optimus rumbled.
I didn't see anyone watching, my left thigh came up to steady the steering wheel as I tied my hair back quickly.
"Now you are just showing off, my Kae," Optimus murmured with a low chuckle. I began laughing as the window rolled down. We drove in comfortable silence for a few hours, I listened to the occasional comment and report as they filtered over to Optimus. We finally stopped to rest during the mid-day sun.
"Deserts, I hate friggin deserts!" Epps complained, jumping out of the jeep in front of us and making a beeline for the watering station. A whiff of a breeze touched my face. Something smelled off. Familiar.
"Epps!" I shouted, scrambling out of the cab.
"What?" he froze, his hand halfway to the water spigot.
"Doesn't anyone else smell that?" I asked in a deathly quiet tone, turning my head back and forth to catch the scent again.
"Smell what?" Lennox asked quietly, coming to stand beside me with a gun cradled carefully across his chest.
"Death," I murmured softly, "death and something chemical."
"I don't smell anything," Lennox looked around. I walked around the well and caught an all-too familiar smell. I walked toward it, zigzagging for a second to follow the breeze then ran, following the faint scent. A hundred feet and I found it. Symbols danced in front of my eyes for a second before I looked away.
"Will," I called, looking at the soldiers as they jogged toward me. "Human male, he's pretty badly chewed up." I cautioned them.
"Right, get the pictures and then build a cairn over him," Will commanded quickly. Graham held up a camera and gestured me to stay still, he took a picture of my position before nodding. I walked back to the well and grabbed a dipper, leaving the professionals to their duty. I took a sample of the water and brought it to Ratchet, shaking my head at the reddened, rusty colour of it. Will followed, close to my shoulder.
"This water has been poisoned," the Medi-bot rumbled, creeping forward a couple of feet. His holo flickered and got out of his vehicle form.
"Damn it! We need water," Lennox growled softly.
"Kae, turn that pack on and see if you can make a filtration unit." Ratchet commanded calmly, still scanning the water.
"Alright," I nodded, pressing the button at my wrist.
"Wow that's freaky," Epps walked over, looking at my back.
"What?" I looked at him curiously, feeling the creeping feeling across my back again. I relaxed my muscles as the mosquito bite feeling came back.
"You can actually see where it's goin' under your skin," Epps shook his head.
"Mikaela, you will want to configure it to only allow Di-hydrogen oxide through a net," Ratchet coaxed me, his holoform touched my shoulder gently.
I frowned in concentration, visualizing the molecular makeup as the glove on my hand expanded, curling my fingers in. A micro-screen of energon extended through my cupped fingers. I offered it up for Ratchet's inspection. He nodded approval.
"We got water?" Lennox looked at me with raised eyebrows. I nodded, no longer trusting myself to speak as memories flashed past my eyes.
"You okay Mikaela?" Epps looked at me worriedly. Startled, I looked up quickly, clearing my throat.
"Sorry, yeah, bad memories, let's get some canteens filled," I said quietly.
"You wanna talk?" Epps asked calmly, grabbing a load of containers and following me.
"Maybe later, but thanks Bobby," I looked up at him with a weak smile, holding my hand beneath the spigot. "Ready?" I asked, powering up the filter.
"Set I guess," Epps shrugged, holding a canteen under my hand. I opened the tap and watched with a small smile as clear water poured out from beneath my hand.
"Damn that's cool!" Graham commented, coming up with another load of canteens.
"And cold," I added, shutting the spigot off as the fifth canteen reached the top. I deposited the collected debris into a metal tin and shook my hand, flexing my fingers for a second before powering up the filter again.
"I'm a bit worried you're not freaking out," Lennox stated calmly.
"I'll freak out later, in private," I shrugged as Epps handed him a canteen. A better memory touched me, I laughed. "Uncle Sho always called it my delayed girly response."
"What?" Lennox laughed.
"It's a long story," I gave him a weak smile, "Needless to say there isn't time for hysterics when you're hotwiring a car to escape the people with guns after you." I looked down and shut off the spigot again. "How many more should we fill up?" I asked calmly, shaking my hand idly to warm it again.
"Five more will do it," Chance called out, "We can do without 'em if..."
"Nah, it's good," I interrupted him with a small smile, powering up again.
"What the hell is in that water? That guy was damn near melted," Jacobs called out, walking away from the new cairn.
"Sulphuric acid," I replied noncommittally. "Basically old-school battery acid."
"That is correct," Ratchet nodded a second later, scanning the debris I'd put in the tin.
"Okay now you need to tell the story," Epps frowned at me.
"You guys were around when Sam had Sector Seven clear my record?" I looked up at Lennox, he nodded.
"They put me in Juvie for six months, I got out in four for good behaviour. Mostly because I wound up fixing the van that was taking us to the hall on the way there," I snorted.
"Then how..."
"There were two murders when I was in there," I said quietly, straightening and looking into the distance to keep my eyes dry. "One kid got stabbed by gang order, one was poisoned in the cell next to mine. I could hear her gasping for air, choking on her own blood. She couldn't scream because the acid had eaten away her vocal chords almost immediately. I could smell the acid, the blood as she burned." I shuddered and viciously composed myself. "It's not a smell you forget, no matter how faint," I stated coldly, watching the last canteen fill with sparkling, clean water.
"What happened after that?" Epps looked at me with a frown.
"I screamed the house down," I shrugged, turning off the spigot and powering down the pack. "It's the wrong thing to do in prison, you're supposed to keep to yourself. Her name was Jennifer. She'd been in for three years already, manslaughter. She was a good person though, killed the man trying to beat her gran, never got to say goodbye to her grandparents." I took a quick swig of the water, shook my head and walked back toward Optimus.
"Mikaela, what happened to you?" Epps called out, catching up to me. I turned around and faced him, pulling up the hem of my tank top; showing a long-healed scar across my ribs.
"They caught the girl who killed her, when she tried to kill me for interfering," I shrugged, tucking the shirt back down again. "They let me out not long after that."
"Jesus Mary and Joseph," Chance whispered, looking at me in horror.
"We've all got our stories," I shrugged again, forcing myself to give them a small smile. "Sometimes you just have to make sure that they don't define you." I ran my hand lightly over Optimus' fender as he revved up slightly, climbing up into the cab and buckling in.
"Are you alright?" Optimus rumbled as I adjusted the seat slightly.
"I'm okay," I replied in a calmer tone. "That was a long time ago."
"I meant the dead body you found," Optimus chided me gently as I depressed the clutch, getting into gear to follow the jeep.
"I'll set aside some time to go into shock and have a fit of hysteria later," I grinned in spite of myself, "Right now I'm surrounded by friends and colleagues, I hate crying in public."
I got back into neutral again as I watched Chance feverishly digging in the packs. He grinned as he held something up for Lennox to see before jogging toward Optimus, he climbed up to look at me through the open window, offering me the bag. I looked at the assortment of hard-candies and began laughing.
"Chance you're a dear, dear soul, you know that right?" I smiled at him, accepting a small handful of sugar.
"You can have the whole bag if you want," he looked at me earnestly.
"And deny the rest of you your sugar fix?" I grinned at him, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder in thanks. "No, I'm alright Chance, you know me, perpetually cheerful no matter what. But thank you."
"No worries," he finally grinned at me, jumping down to trot back to the jeep, he received a few high fives as the convoy rolled out.
"Lumps of sugar?" Optimus asked curiously.
"It's impossible to cry when sucking on a hard candy," I chuckled, tossing the candies into a small bag and setting them in the cup holder.
We took off again, driving carefully along the deserted roads until we came to a checkstop.
"Passport!"
I stayed behind the wheel in Optimus' cab, idling in neutral until Will waved me over.
"What do I do about the pack?" I murmured.
"Lie if you have to, but keep it on." Optimus rumbled softly as I got out of the cab.
"What is?" the official asked angrily, gesturing toward me. I thought for a second then groaned, diving back into Optimus' cab.
"Can't think of a lie?" Optimus murmured with a soft laugh.
"They're Jordanians, I'm supposed to be covering my head," I murmured, fishing out the long strip of linen that would serve as a headscarf. I carefully covered my hair and climbed out of the truck. The guards looked a bit more at ease, one of them gesturing apologetically to cover my face as well, I obeyed with a small nod.
The head guard gestured me forward again.
"I apologize for giving offence," I said quietly, looking at him with the apology in my eyes. He nodded with a small smile, hesitantly patting my shoulder.
"You are quick," he said slowly. "What brings?"
I glanced over my shoulder to Lennox, he walked toward us with a respectful nod.
"She is with us, I apologize that I forgot to warn her to cover herself," Lennox said immediately.
"No harm," the man waved his hand airily, obviously still more comfortable talking to Will, I stepped back slightly as Will made his reports.
"Kae?" Will looked back at me.
"Sir?" I looked at him calmly.
"Do you still have the solids from the water?"
"And a liquid sample," I nodded.
"Could you get them?"
"Yes sir," I nodded and hurried toward Ratchet, collecting the samples and bringing them back to the grouped men.
One of the guards spoke in rapid Arabic, looking at the water with a deep frown. He accepted the jar and unscrewed it, making to take a drink. My hand flashed out to cover the mouth of the jar.
"Poison," I said urgently, pointing at the jar and crossing a finger across my neck. I gently took the jar from the stunned guard and carefully poured a drop onto my hand, holding it out for the men to see. In moments the skin began to redden then blister as the acid burned it's way into my skin.
The man took one look at the acid burn and ran into the hut, returning with a box and sprinkling the powder over my hand. Baking soda fizzed over the blisters, neutralizing the acid. I nodded my thanks.
"We will take care of," the head guard nodded firmly, looking at Lennox.
"Thank you," the Major nodded, handing the guard a memory chip from the camera as I climbed back up into Optimus' cab.
The gate opened and I got into gear, following the lead jeep.
"Mikaela?" Will's voice came over the radio.
"Major Lennox?" I asked curiously.
"Remind me to throw a commendation for fast thinking," Will stated, I could hear his grin. "How's the hand doing?"
"Feels like I got stung by a bee, that'll go away," I replied with a small laugh. "At least it's not friggen shrapnel." I shifted gears and winced as it pulled at the abused skin. I shifted my hand slightly on the gearshift and felt the slight vibration of Optimus repressing a shudder.
I bit back a smile and tried to minimize my movements.
"Now who's the tease?" he rumbled softly.
"I am trying to not distract you," I murmured, fighting back the threatening grin.
"You are failing admirably," Optimus rumbled, I could hear the grin he was fighting.
"So long as it's admirably," I finally laughed, relaxing into the seat.
"If you do not stop that, I will be having my way with you tonight," Optimus rumbled threateningly.
"Promise?" I murmured, giving the gear shift a gentle squeeze.
Optimus chuckled darkly, the seat giving my rear a gentle caress before his attention moved back to scanning the area.
I plugged my iPod into one ear and tucked it into the strap around my chest.
Four hours of driving and a small village materialized in front of us. The pyramids loomed on the horizon behind them. I gripped the steering wheel as a memory insinuated itself into my mind. Rig.
"Mikaela?" Optimus rumbled worriedly.
"I'm okay," I murmured, taking a few deep, calming breaths and forcing myself to concentrate on driving as the sun set quickly behind us.
"You are becoming upset."
"Just... just memories," I murmured, running light fingers over the steering wheel.
We drove in silence for several minutes.
"That's not going to work, you know," Optimus rumbled idly.
"What's not going to work?" I asked curiously.
"Distracting me from asking," Optimus teased me gently.
"I'm still not allowed to tell you," I murmured with a small smile.
"What's on the chips?" he asked suddenly.
"Salt and vinegar?" I replied automatically, raising my eyebrows. Optimus' holoform flickered to life beside me with a frown.
"You've been hiding them for a long time," he said calmly. "That response was completely automatic."
I sighed and looked at him sadly.
"You've come across the phrase 'that's just the tip of the iceberg?'" I asked calmly. Optimus nodded thoughtfully. "I'm not a criminal," I said softly, looking back at the road, "not really, but loyalty sometimes means making sacrifices to keep people alive. Safe." my hands gripped the steering wheel before I forced them to relax again. "The hardest ones to make are the ones that mean keeping that sacrifice a complete secret, even from the ones you trust the most." I looked at him again, "I know it makes me look like a cold, unfeeling criminal. I hate that part, sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Optimus asked curiously.
"There are times when being a 'bad-ass criminal' comes in handy," I grinned, the brake lights on the jeep in front of me lit up in the dark, I geared down quickly and came to a smooth halt, my hand hovering over the activation of my pack; just in case.
"Alright people, let's set up camp!" Lennox called out, walking along the convoy. I climbed out of Optimus' cab immediately, his holoform following suit.
"Hey Mikaela?" Chance called out curiously.
"What's up Chance?" I called back.
"I don't suppose there's any chance you know how to cook?" he shot me a pleading look, puppy dog eyes straight out of a movie.
I glared at him for a second before rolling my eyes.
"Fine but I'm not doing the dishes!" I called back. He whooped and left me in charge of the little camp kitchen. I frowned at the ingredients available and shrugged. Stew then.
"Mikaela, how'd you learn that?" Will asked curiously as I set a pot of water on to boil.
"Boil water? Water pot heat," I shrugged, looking up at him with a grin.
He snorted and crossed his arms, "No, I mean how did you figure out how to turn that bloody stove on." he grinned.
"It is just new enough that it is not only similar to the stove I grew up with, but the instructions are still on a sticker on the panel underneath." I grinned, throwing the chunks of mystery red meat Chance said needed to be used into a hot dry pot with a bit of oil. I sniffed at the immediate steam.
"What do you think Major, goat?" I asked calmly.
"Yep," Lennox gave me a long look before sitting down on the tailgate. Optimus' holo winked into being beside him. "How old are you again?"
"Lennox!" I stated mildly, "it's impolite to ask a lady her age," I shot a wink at him before I began to toss the frying meat with some seasonings.
"Sorry, how old are you again?" Lennox laughed this time.
"Eighteen, or... hang on, what day is it today?" I asked curiously.
"Um, November first, we missed Halloween," Will frowned.
"Huh, I'm nineteen now," I pursed my lips then shrugged.