Chapter 48 - Parade Day
(MPOV)
I opened my eyes to the soft light of morning pouring through the open hangar doors.
"Morning," Optimus whispered, the threads of the hammock drawing tightly around me for a moment before carefully releasing me.
I smiled and ran my hands over the neural fibres before looking at my clothing laying on the floor.
Shredded.
"Okay, NOW I see why you insisted on buying my clothing if you're constantly shredding them for me." I murmured with a low laugh.
"I did?" Optimus chuckled, sending the familiar thrill through my nerves.
"Yes you did," I laughed softly. Optimus onlined his holoform and pulled me into a tight hug, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
"Why does your kind bother with them," he rumbled with a deep, amused sigh, running a gentle hand over our combined mark on my chest.
I hummed a low sigh of contentment before shaking myself lightly.
"Right, I've got cars to service," I murmured. "Is the coast clear?"
"Kae, you are coming with us today," Optimus rumbled. I turned to look at him incredulously. His holoform was frowning at the middle distance. "The order just came in, Will is coming to wake you up."
I looked at my shredded clothes again. Optimus laughed and handed me his shirt.
I grinned at him and pulled it on.
"How'd you manage cotton?" I asked with a low laugh as the holoform quickly helped me out of the cab. I made a mad dash to my tent and the holoform offlined, taking his shirt with him as I pulled out my usual day wear.
"Mikaela! You decent?" Will called out.
"Almost! I can't say about my personality though!" I called back with a laugh, pulling on an oversized T for efficiency sake and walking out of the tent.
(WPOV)
Will peeked carefully into the hangar and jogged to Kae's tent.
"Mikaela? You decent?" he called out.
"Almost! I can't say about my personality though!" Kae called back with a laugh. She walked out of the tent a moment later, smiling at him. There was a look about her now, different from yesterday. A deep seated serenity that rather reminded him of his Sarah.
"Right, well, anyway, do you have a dress or anything?" Will asked worriedly, jogging himself back to the task at hand.
"Um, sort of?" Mikaela frowned.
"Thank god," Will sighed, "I need you to get dressed to the nines, we've had a change in marching orders, you're supposed to show up so that a bunch of stuffed shirts can apologize for trying to hunt you down to give you to the Decepticons. Although on the plus side, the two pilots you stabilized while they struggled with their canopy want to come shake your hand too. They'll be there."
Mikaela opened her mouth and closed it. Will thought of their conversation, the one that hadn't happened and couldn't help but guess her thoughts.
"My movements have been plotted already?" Kae whispered.
"Uh, yeah," Will stated quietly, watching her with a worried frown.
"Fuck?" Kae whispered. "Can I wear Kevlar? Doesn't matter, doesn't do much," she babbled in a very, very soft tone. The next second, Optimus' holoform was standing close in front of her, gripping her wrist and holding her palm to his chest. His free hand reached out and laid flat on hers, right over where his mark was.
"Nothing." Optimus rumbled in a cold tone.
Will watched, absolutely fascinated as Kae calmed instantly, visibly pulling steel into her spine and standing straight, her free hand reaching up to cover his.
"If they decide to play with Sabots I will kill them myself," she growled in an icy tone.
Pure intense.
(MPOV)
We stared at each other grimly for a second before Optimus purposely shot an impish grin at me.
"Parade day," he grinned. "Who knows, perhaps I can convince them to respect my human – auto-bot ambassador today."
"Oh now you are asking for trouble," I laughed, turning and dragging his holoform into my tent. I dug out the red dress and blue-strapped heels, turning to Lennox.
"What do you think?" I asked with a half smile, "too whorish?"
"Where's it land?" Lennox asked curiously, staring at the dress.
"Just above my knees." I laughed, holding it to my chest.
"Then it's perfect," Lennox grinned, he turned and looked at the parked Auto-bots. "Hay Chromia! What would you demand for in payment if I begged you to make Mikaela look like a fifty million dollar woman?"
"Hold her down!" Chromia's holoform grinned the next second, striding into my tent with Arcee and Flareup close behind.
"Don't even have to," I laughed, digging out the multitude of cosmetics Arcee and Flare had picked out for me. I looked at them and frowned. "Crap, I'm ivory now. Wait!" I shot up straight and looked at Chromia. "I need to look like an ambassador, not a whore, Military doesn't wear makeup. Make it subtle, like I just happened to look extra gorgeous today."
Chromia immediately swooped in on me with a broad grin. I looked at Will.
"Might want to turn around," I laughed, touching the hem of my shirt.
"Take your word for it." Will laughed, closing the canvas behind him.
I pulled my shirt off and let the girls have their way with me, standing patiently still and starkers at their command and occasionally directing the nanites to their bidding.
"Down," Arcee murmured, lightly pressing my shoulders. "I need to tend to your helm."
I looked up at her curiously, even as I sat on the cot.
"If you are to be Ambassador," Arcee stated calmly, lightly facing me forward and beginning to brush my hair. "Then we allow you our custom. Your face must be visible."
I smiled, closing my eyes and relaxing. I loved having my hair brushed, the gentle tugs of it being braided. I could hear the smile in her voice, feel Optimus' smile as she gently told me the positions and duties of a Cybertronian Ambassador.
"Time check!" Flare called out.
"Ten minutes, so you have fifteen before you absolutely need to come out!" Epps shouted back, I could hear him grinning.
Arcee promptly helped me into my dress and Optimus' holoform winked out with a broad grin.
"Told you so," Chromia sang with a grin, handing me the gorgeous overcoat she'd insisted on.
"You did, you were right, and you are awesome," I laughed. "I'll wear it there though, it's too warm here." Chromia nodded gleefully and draped it over her arm.
I wound the straps of my shoes up my calves and strutted out with the girls nodding enthusiastically.
"Major!" I called out, and struck an intimidating pose, radiating pride. "Pass inspection?"
Will looked up along with most of the other soldiers and stared.
"That." he said in a shocked tone.
"Is exactly the sort of thing that men and women would gladly go to war to protect." Jacobs stated firmly.
I laughed and looked at Optimus as his holoform climbed back out of his alt form again. Several people watched curiously as he approached me with a formal step, every auto-bot's holoform flashing online to form a phalanx behind him.
"A Cybertronian ambassador traditionally wears a piece of the leader they are representing," he stated formally, he held up a beautifully intricate chain with a small glowing gem set in the same metal.
Instinctively, I lowered my head and crossed my ankles lightly, dropping gracefully into a low curtsey, almost sitting on my heels with my hands resting on my thighs.
"Rise," he commanded in a quiet tone, I stood and turned my back to him with a small smile. The orb entered my vision again and settled at the hollow of my throat. A gentle, comforting weight. "This star diamond, one of the last formed by the Centurion belongs by right to Mikaela Archangel Banes, Ambassador to Earth's people on behalf of Optimus Prime." Optimus barked out in the voice of Command.
I straightened and turned on my heel proudly, threading my left arm through Prime's, pulling back strongly as the Auto-bots each offered their left arm in salute. As I took one, I took all, the strength of my arm increased slightly, pulling back harder.
"We attend together, you will remain on my right at all times." Optimus ordered firmly, turning and offering me his right arm. I laid my palm on his forearm delicately and turned to see a line of soldiers standing at attention, saluting Prime.
"The director and General have not yet arrived," Optimus murmured.
"They're saluting you," I murmured back, my expression not changing. "If you wish to respond in kind, bring your right foot up slightly and stomp it down perfectly parallel with your left foot while snapping your right arm into a salute, left arm rigidly down shoulders back. Hold for four seconds, drop your hand, look at Lennox and say 'at ease Major,' with a smile if you want."
I lightly took my hand from his arm as he shifted his balance slightly, executing a perfect salute.
"At ease, Major," Optimus turned to the man with a grin, "Seriously, we have fought side by side for over two years, what are you saluting me for?"
Lennox let loose a quick bark of laughter.
"What, only the Auto-bots get to play formal?" Lennox grinned as the soldiers around him relaxed with wolfish grins. "Where'd you find out how to salute?"
Optimus turned to look at me with a smirk.
"You coached him how to respond that fast!?" Lennox stared at me in shock. "Why didn't you just take Galloway's job in the first place!? Whope, Present Arms!"
"At ease, Galloway will be here in ten," General Moreshower stated comfortably before anyone could get an arm up, walking forward and offering Optimus his hand. Optimus shook it with every appearance of it being automatic this time. "Please, this sounded like an interesting conversation."
"I'm nineteen Major, General," I replied calmly, smiling at the General with a nod and shaking his hand. "I was seventeen in Mission City."
"She's got a point," Chance mused. "Seventeen is a bit young to begin as an ambassador to an alien race. Nineteen is squeaking it still."
"But she's saved the world twice now," Epps frowned.
"I helped, I didn't do it alone," I stated calmly.
"She's got my vote," Moreshower grinned.
"You get a vote?" Will asked with a grin.
"I get to put her forward as a candidate, that's a vote I'd think," Moreshower chuckled, he turned to look at me with raised eyebrows. "She even looks better than Galloway. We need to work out a protection detail for you asap."
"She will be standing at my right as my ambassador at all times," Optimus rumbled calmly. "Ironhide will be at my left and Ratchet on her right."
"That's pretty damned safe, how far can you walk in those things?" the General asked sternly, looking at my four inch heels, Will glanced down at them and grinned.
"Hey, aren't those the same shoes you were wearing when you wound up in Egypt?" he laughed.
"And fought in, Chance brought my clothes, but he forgot my boots." I chuckled, standing on one foot and looking at them fondly. "I have to admit, these things have some serious milage capabilities. They didn't even scuff!"
Moreshower snorted his amusement as Galloway scuttled toward the group with an officious looking man jogging behind him.
"Miss Banes?" the officious man said immediately, looking at me hopefully.
"Yes," I said calmly.
"Oh thank god," the man sighed, "Director Galloway had me worried that we'd find you in coveralls and covered in grease. I'm Colter Westfield."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Westfield," I said calmly, shaking his hand and finding a fairly decent man.
"Cole here is the protocol man, writes the President's speeches and coaches people who are about to meet him and all of that stuff," Will added offhandedly.
"I took the liberty of writing you an acceptance speech," Cole said earnestly, "Director Galloway here gave me a few pointers for what you should probably be saying."
"Thank you, Cole," I said in a deathly calm voice. I turned to General Moreshower. "Thanks for the heads up on the speech," I added wryly.
"This is the first you've heard of it!?" Cole said desperately, "please, please tell me you're okay with public speaking!"
"I don't stutter," I stated wryly, "I'd imagine they want to load us on the planes right away, is there any chance you're going to ride with us so we can go over it?"
Cole sagged in relief again, reaching out and grasping my hand firmly.
"You, I can definitely work with," he sighed happily, he looked at the Auto-bots driving themselves slowly out of the hangar toward the planes as Galloway skittered off to interfere with things. "Um, I think I need to talk to the leader as well, Optimus Prime?"
"He's the Peterbilt over there," I supplied gently, then gestured to Optimus' holoform as he continued to stand casually at my side. "This is his holoform. An avatar, if you will."
Cole began nervously reaching up to shake Optimus' hand then pulled back as though afraid to give offence. I took pity on the man and took a step forward.
"The traditional greeting is to offer your left arm vertically, palm toward your face with the knuckles of your fingers bent like this." I told him calmly, demonstrating it. He quickly copied me. "Your opposite will then thread their own left arm like this, the amount of strength that you use to pull their arm toward yourself is indicative of the amount of trust you have that they will not straighten their arm to fire upon you. The holoforms don't have weapons." I added quickly as the man jumped. "And if you forget yourself and offer one of the holoforms a handshake I promise they won't take offence."
I didn't have to look to know that Optimus was standing with his arms crossed, smiling as he watched me play ambassador.
"I really, really wish I'd met you three hours ago," Cole fretted, pulling my arm strongly toward himself.
"You're doing just fine," I soothed him automatically. "Colter Westfield may I present you to Optimus Prime." Cole nodded shakily and held his arm up to Optimus.
The holoform gave the man a gentle smile and threaded his arm slowly, so as to not startle the man.
"We don't bite," Optimus rumbled with a wry grin.
Cole stared at him for a second before bursting out into a full laugh.
"I'm sorry... um..."
"Optimus is familiar, calling him Prime is like calling Moreshower over there 'General'," I murmured in the man's ear. He shot me another grateful look.
"Let's load up boys bots and Femmes!" Will shouted from the hangar doors.
"'Mon Mr. Westfield," I grinned, "we can continue chit chatting on the plane, it's a good few hours ride."
Optimus offered me his right arm, and I laid my hand lightly over his forearm again, letting him lead me to the plane as Cole walked on my right.
"Alright, so yes! Galloway is taking the chopper," Cole murmured, he dug out an iPad and turned the screen on, pulling up a rather long text document.
"Okay, so you're going to be meeting President Obama, President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Steven Harper, Ban Ki Moon-"
"General Secretary of the United Nations," I murmured.
"Navanathem Pillay and António Guterres." Cole finished with a grin, sitting down as Optimus settled me into a seat. He backed off a couple of paces and leaned against his truck form.
"UNHCHR and UNHCR," I said calmly, "an impressive lineup you've got going there."
"One does one's best," Cole said with a lightly mocking tone. "I however, have absolutely no idea how to write a speech for an auto-bot. Or a human – auto-bot ambassador. I thought that was Galloway's job."
"Galloway was assigned to us," Optimus rumbled in an irritated tone. "Mikaela is my own choice of an ambassador."
Cole grinned and handed me his iPad. I began quickly running through the speeches as Optimus loaded them.
"I can't read this," I looked up with a frown. "Your language is good, but your wording makes it sound as though I'm speaking about the auto-bots under protest, and wish for them to be denied further asylum. Galloway wrote that part, didn't he?"
Cole promptly took the pad and called up a keyboard, looking at me.
"Galloway going to allow that?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Galloway isn't the ambassador," Cole said loftily, "He is the President's liaison. I am the protocol officer."
"Okay but I'm still going to want a hardcopy of that," I smiled. "I don't do teleprompters, and my dad never said anything of the sort..."
-0-
"Coat!" Chromia trilled with a bright smile, handing me my jacket. I grinned at her and lightly wrapped it around my shoulders, straightening the lines and grinning as everyone walked or rolled out of the plane.
"Climb in," Optimus rumbled with a small smile, opening his door for me, Cole ran toward me and touched my shoulder, we both looked at him.
He offered me a cellphone and earpiece.
"I know you're in the parade, but I figure you're the best one to talk to for protocol questions, d'you mind?"
"Not at all," I smiled at him, lightly clipping the microphone over my ear as Cole beamed at me. He glanced over his shoulder.
"If I get vetoed," Cole said in a low voice, glancing at Galloway as the man walked toward us. "Don't be afraid to do the same speech we worked on together, you've got good instincts, and speak directly to me from the podium if you want. Break a leg. I might come walk with you guys if it's okay, you're a damn good ambassador. It was an honour to meet you, Prime." he added, looking at Optimus' truck form.
He patted my shoulder and jogged over to Galloway, getting into the car alongside the man. They took off for the white house.
I climbed up into Optimus' cab and sat straight, assuming a posture of calm, patient pride, Epps climbed into the sleeper and Lennox sat in the driver's seat, sitting back comfortably and grinning.
"Alright, we get to the start of the parade and everybody lines up," Lennox called out with a grin. "Kae you're either going to ride with Optimus or walk beside him," the man grinned at me. "The rest of us are walking formation. Optimus, you lot can decide whether or not you want to bother with the holoforms."
"Just for the speeches," Optimus rumbled calmly, accelerating slowly behind the lead car. "We will decide what you are to do later Kae." he added with a low chuckle.
I lightly stroked his seat and relaxed, crossing my ankles delicately and listening to the lighthearted banter over the radios, idly going over the speech in my head. Will answered his phone and listened to it for a long second.
"We've got your back, Kae," Will said suddenly, looking at me with a grim expression. "Moreshower's asked us to keep watch over you now, too. There's been radio chatter that you might be a target for someone else as well."
"Thanks Will," I said in a quiet tone.
"You're not surprised," Epps stated calmly.
"Nope," I murmured.
"Um, why aren't you surprised?" Will asked curiously.
"You know that niggling little feeling you get between the shoulder blades?" I murmured quietly, narrowing my eyes and scanning the rooftops as we entered the city. "Rule forty. If it seems someone is out to get you, they are. Sniper on the skyline five hundred block."
Epps crept forward and held a radio to his lips, eyeing the figure on the skyline.
"Boys, confirm visual, we have a potential sniper, roof in the five hundred."
"One of ours," the radio confirmed quietly.
"Nice spotting Kae," Lennox said wryly, looking at me curiously.
"mmn," I nodded still scanning rooftops.
"Kae?" Optimus rumbled worriedly.
"Optimus," I murmured, still watching the skies with a wary eye. I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax into my seat, fighting to not watch the skylines.
"You know who's after you," Will said in a forcedly cheerful tone.
"The number of mechanics for hire? I've got the best job in the world." I stated in a bright tone, "absolutely no idea."
"Then why you so bloody jumpy?" Epps grinned.
"Because I -" I began before my phone buzzed, I answered it patiently.
"Hey, Mikaela," Cole began. Optimus lightly nudged my leg.
"Kae," I stated calmly, "On speaker, what's the poop Cole?"
"I don't know what to do about the speeches!" he stated in a horrified tone. "My seating arrangement is completely-"
"Is there enough space to the side of the seating area for the bots to park?" I asked patiently.
"Yeah, but what about the group shots! All of the dignitaries are supposed to be seen together!" he stated in an upset tone.
"Optimus, are you worried about being represented by your holoform at the human level shots?" I asked calmly.
"No, but I would appreciate having four seats together, for you, Ratchet, Ironhide and myself." Optimus rumbled calmly.
"Kae, lifesaver, that's what you are," Cole sighed. "You got it, see you in a bit." the line clicked out as I smiled.
"Jeeze, five minutes and you're putting out fires," Lennox snorted, giving me a light shove as I laughed.
"Okay, jumpy, why," Epps picked up again.
"Because I don't have my knife," I laughed as we pulled into the parade grounds. "I absolutely hate not having my knife. Radio chatter probably picked up some religious fanatics who hate the fact that Optimus is definitively older than they can bring themselves to believe the earth is."
"Hey that's true isn't it!" Epps laughed.
"I was a widower for a thousand of your years before your supposed Adam and Eve were created," Optimus rumbled musingly, turning into a parking space at a flagman's directions.
"And that is a conversation for when we get back to base," Lennox announced, "You don't get to drop a bomb like that and not expect us to ask a million questions after."
"Out you three get," Optimus rumbled in amusement.
I laughed and hopped out of his cab, lightly running my hand along his fender as I followed Epps to the group of soldiers lounging around and waiting for orders.
"People! We have a problem!" Cole shouted, running toward us.
"Cole what's happening?" Lennox asked worriedly.
"We've got a potential riot on our hands!" the man stated, fidgeting agitatedly. "Mikaela, you're dressed to impress, I need you really really visible."
"That, is a really bad idea," Lennox stated with a deep frown, "we have radio chatter saying she's been targeted for some reason."
∂It's the chips, isn't it?∂ Optimus murmured very softly in my ear.
∂I really, really hope not. I have to behave as though it is though,∂ I murmured back, surreptitiously scanning the skyline. I caught sight of a scope, came to a snap decision and straightened my shoulders. ∂We're being watched.∂ What's the order of the parade?" I asked firmly.
"A front escort of police officers, the Femmes, myself, Ironhide, Ratchet-" Optimus started.
"I'll ride on your hood," I interrupted him calmly.
"Way too open!" Lennox shouted.
"Perfect!" Cole said at the same time.
"Major," I said firmly, "If I were walking in front of Optimus, how much less open is it? Or to his side? He doesn't have bullet proof glass either. I will ride on his hood. We all know that there will be nothing stopping a headshot." I shut my mouth and narrowed my eyes. "Not that they'd aim for my head." I muttered, rubbing my left shoulder as though it were an idle movement. An old injury, an old ache.
Optimus onlined his holoform with a frown, reaching out and cupping a warm hand over my shoulder, I purposely winced.
"Mikaela?" Optimus asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about it," I said aloud in a patient voice. I twitched my left hand and caught his eye, signalling him in silent. 'let me take the shot.' "What time do we start?" I asked in a purposefully cheerful voice, rubbing my shoulder and flexing my left hand as Optimus read my signals.
"I want you in Kevlar at least," Will stated in a sharp tone.
"Aw Will," I said in a gentle voice, "Kevlar won't do anything more than invoke a panic. We're showing peacefulness, not battle readiness." I walked to him and pulled him into a gentle hug, burying my face in his neck. "Don't show surprise, hug me back for a moment, we're being watched. If they are who I think they are they'll hit my left shoulder. For Primus sake stay out of the line of fire." I muttered almost sub-vocally into his neck.
Will rubbed my back for a second before I pulled away with a bright smile.
"C'mon you guys! Parade day! You get to walk around conquering heros!" I bubbled cheerfully.
"Rolling out in five!" one of the men shouted from the corner. Optimus' holoform led me back to him and helped me up onto his hood. I squirmed back to rest against his windshield, arranging myself to sit on my hip straight backed, proud and smiling. General Moreshower pelted toward me.
"What the hell are you doing up there!?" he whispered furiously.
"Riding in a parade and keeping the peace, you don't bring women and children into a prospective battle ground." I shrugged, smiling down at him.
"Do you have a death wish or something?" he demanded.
"Oh who's going to shoot me in the middle of a parade!?" I demanded in a bright, cheerful tone. Moreshower finally took the hint, glaring at me before shaking his head and going to stand beside Lennox.
"Are you alright Kae?" Optimus asked again, slowly accelerating after the girls.
"Just fine," I smiled, lightly twining my fingers into a crevice in his armour. Three blocks and we began to encounter crowds, some pulling back, some pressing forward a bit more. I smiled and waved at a few excited, squealing children. "How many miles are we going?" I asked with a bright smile.
"Seven to the White House," Optimus rumbled calmly.
"Oh that's not too bad. Hi!" I grinned at a little boy who stared at us from his mother's arms. His mum caught his hand and waved back at me.
"What's with all this paper stuff?" Ironhide drawled quietly behind Optimus.
"You have a signal?" I asked with a smile, waving at people.
"We do," Optimus rumbled curiously.
"Look up ticker tape parade," I smiled, shifting to sit a bit more delicately. I kept my left arm somewhat awkward as I waved. As though the movement were slightly obstructed.
Ironhide rumbled a low laugh a few minutes later.
"Bizarrely appropriate," he snorted. "However, we are not in New York."
"Bumblebee says to say 'Look Kae, I'm on TV." Optimus snorted.
"Getting vain aren't you little brothe-" I laughed before I felt it, a force throwing my left against the windshield.
It burned.
In moments the world darkened around me.
"EVERYBODY DOWN! RATCHET!" Optimus roared.
I clutched at my shoulder and found blood. My other giving the familiar twinge that said everything was in place.
(WPOV)
"Oh who's going to shoot me in the middle of a parade!?" Mikaela demanded in a bright, cheerful tone, settling herself comfortably on Optimus' hood. Will couldn't help but stare at her, he surreptitiously scanned the skyline and saw an almost perfectly hidden scope.
Fuck.
She knew exactly who.
The girl was setting herself up to be a target. Lennox gritted his teeth as Optimus' voice came over the midge in his ear.
::. Let her take the shot.:: Optimus rumbled in a worried tone. ::. Say nothing aloud. There is an eye on us, and a heavy microphone. She is insisting that we let whatever happens, happen.::
"She could be killed," Lennox growled softly, for good measure he added a: "what happens if you make a sudden stop and she slides off the front of your hood?"
::. I will be watching.::
General Moreshower shook his head irritably at the girl and marched to stand beside Will, standing to attention and frowning before falling into step beside him.
"I don't like it, what the hell is she thinking sitting in the open like that?" the General growled at Lennox, "did nobody tell her about the radio-chatter?"
"She says it's probably some religious nuts who are having issues with precisely how long lived the auto-bots are," Lennox shrugged. "And the word is the crowds are restless, they want her visibly showing trust."
"God I hope this is a false alarm," Moreshower growled. Ratchet let off a piercing shriek of his siren, flashing his lights.
Will marched with his men. Seven miles wasn't bad, they'd done far worse.
The White House finally came into view. Two more miles then. Will began to breathe a sigh of relief.
People began throwing confetti onto the parade route. Will watched with amusement as Ironhide occasionally flexed a bit, trying to get the dangling paper off of his exhaust pipe. A little child ran toward him and climbed up his step as he screeched to a rapid stop.
"Mistah you got stuff on you!" the child stated gleefully, tugging the confetti from his pipe. The child's mother ran toward Ironhide, scooping up her child and apologizing profusely. Ironhide rumbled a low laugh.
There was a crack. An un-silenced rifle.
Optimus transformed in seconds, spinning around in a crouch with his hands cradled against his chest. His stance was unmistakeable, the entirety of his torso was in the way of any more bullets. Ironhide was transformed and behind mother and child, cupping his hands and covering them. Ratchet was the only bot facing forward, arms spread and providing cover for the soldiers clustered behind him.
"EVERYBODY DOWN! RATCHET!" Optimus roared as a bullet tinged off of his shoulder.
Will clutched at a gun that wasn't there and snarled.
"Take it down a notch, Major," Mikaela grunted in his ear, five hundred feet away he could see her pulling herself to look through Optimus' fingers.
Cradling her left arm.