Chapter 54 - Headlines

(MPOV)

I woke up immediately. The dim light of the shop didn't betray the time. I stretched and silently rose, lightly touching my shoulder and finding it knit. I carefully peeled away the bandages to find the barest outline of a scar. I pocketed the dressings and lightly slipped out of Optimus' cab, padding on silent, bare feet through the main area into my kitchen.

In minutes I had my griddle fired up and heating before I walked into the refrigerator and pulled out the bacon and sausages that had thawed overnight. But first things first, the first percolator got plugged in and began brewing the coffee. Out of old habit I scrutinized the surveillance cameras, looking for intruders.

Everything was clear, I smiled and began cooking breakfast for an army.

Optimus' holoform was sitting at the table, smiling at me as I came out of the refrigerator. I offered him a silent smile in greeting and began slapping bacon onto the griddle alongside a few ropes of sausages.

"What can I do?" Optimus rumbled softly.

"If you could make up the juice in that big container over there I'd appreciate it," I murmured, smiling at him over my shoulder.

He grinned and got down to work, opening several frozen cans and pouring the concentrate into the vessel. I was scraping the griddle off in preparation of eggs and pancakes when the soldiers began wandering toward the smell of food.

Breakfast was a cheerful affair for all that it was somewhat muted.

I kept the kitchen clean as I worked. Sitting beside my father in silence for an hour.

We didn't need to speak, we already knew what the other would say.

I hugged him close before we left, we clung to each other for a long time. Eventually, we pulled back, and he looked down at me with a grin.

"You've got good people around you Mikaela, that Optimus is a damned good example of the good sort," he said quietly, we looked seriously at each other for a long moment. Saying the things we could never say aloud.

I hugged him tightly again and shot him a bright smile. We clasped hands tightly, our forearms pressed together, he leaned down, our foreheads pressed against our combined fists.

"Simul sunt nos fortis, tenetur amoris, fortis aeternum, celeri tacita mortis. Semper Fi." we murmured together. Together are we strong, bound by love, strong forever. Swift, silent, deadly. Always faithful.

"Until we see each other again," dad stated calmly, "I love you."

"I love you, dad," I smiled at him. Optimus' holoform stood back from us until dad caught his eye.

"Take care of my girl," dad commanded calmly.

"With everything that I am," Optimus rumbled firmly, offering his left arm.

Dad hooked his own through the holoform's and I could see them both pull back strongly. I smiled gently and turned, climbing into Optimus' cab.

I sat patiently, watching with a small smile as the men grinned at each other, shaking hands, bumping fists and promising to return e-mails.

Motorcycles roared as Wolf's crew rolled out.

"Aren't you gonna say goodbye to your dad?" Lennox asked curiously, climbing into the cab behind Epps.

"Already did, we're not much for long goodbyes," I laughed softly as we rolled out.

"I, am so glad we did that," Jacobs' voice called over the radio.

"Your sire is incredible, Kae," Ironhide rumbled. "You should be proud of a man like that." there was a quiet chorus of astonished agreement.

"I am," I smiled, "I am blessed for what I have been given, and he's one of the best."

Chris Moreshower turned to look at me seriously.

I returned the look calmly, he nodded.

Lennox looked at him curiously.

"Good man, Cal," Chris said vaguely. "I should have recognized Mikaela. She has a lot of that man in her. A lot of her mother, too."

"If that was your father, what was your mom like?" Epps asked curiously.

"I don't really know," I replied calmly. "I can't really remember her anymore, just that she had a soft voice, and that whatever she said, she sang."

"I'll be running interference," Chris stated suddenly in an incredibly firm tone. He turned to look at me seriously. "Galloway is going to be after your blood if we don't tread carefully."

"I will take your advice and recommendations seriously," I stated just as firmly.

Chris nodded.

I yawned and Optimus onlined his holoform with a smile.

"Catch a nap, Kae," he rumbled gently. "You have had an eventful two days."

I laughed softly and for once, curled up and dropped off.

(WPOV)

Will sat back, riding with Optimus happily. He, Optimus, Chris and Epps kept their conversation muted, God only knew Kae deserved the nap she was taking in Optimus' sleeper. He thought of the night they'd just spent, shaking his head at the multitude of surprises he'd received in the past twenty-four.

"So Cal won't tell his stories, but will you?" Epps asked Chris curiously.

"Welp, Cal knows why he isn't sharing his stories, I probably can tell you my stories of dealing with that devil's spawn though," Chris snorted. "You see... oh! Optimus could you stop for a moment? Newspaper!"

Will grinned as Optimus obligingly slowed and stopped beside a newspaper stand. There were a few people eyeing him curiously as General Moreshower got out of the cab and bought a few papers, he climbed back in again.

"Good?" Optimus rumbled in an amused tone.

"Good," Chris grinned, he held up the paper for Will to see. "However I seem to owe Cole twenty bucks. He got the headline right."

"Did Kae achieve her goal?" Optimus rumbled curiously.

"What goal?" Will asked curiously.

"She wished to make the story more interesting than the headline," Optimus snorted. Kae opened one eye and rolled onto her side.

"Did I win?" she mumbled.

"Cole got the headline right," Chris snorted, handing her the paper. Will watched her eyes rove the paper quickly before she snorted.

"Will," she grinned, handing him the paper. "I need an impartial judge, did I win?" Will cheerfully sat back and began reading. He was completely tempted to read the story a second time. Perhaps a third.

"Kae." he stated calmly. He looked up and around the cab. "For the win." he grinned.

"What does it say?" Optimus rumbled.

"I'm gonna make Kae read it to you," Will snorted, handing the young woman the paper. She laughed and sat up slightly.

"We got the front page, love," she started with a low laugh. "Headline, Alien Ambassador shot during Parade. Yesterday, November third, marks a day in our history that few will likely forget. During the parade leading to the introduction and welcoming conference for the Auto-bots, Ambassador Mikaela Banes, -already made infamous for having been hunted down by her planet- was shot in the shoulder by a sniper during the parade. The sniper's name and affiliations have not been released, although it is reported that several groups have attempted to claim responsibility.' by the way?" she added calmly. "Don't stress yourselves out trying to find the guy, his group is not going to claim responsibility. I'm going to be a terrible person, because for your own safety I'm not allowed to name them."

"You're right, you are a terrible person," Will grumbled.

"Hush," Kae murmured. "I'm not just doing it to keep you safe, Will, I'm doing it to keep your ladies out of danger. We're talking that kind of organization."

Will promptly stared at her in shock.

"Mikaela Leanne Banes," General Moreshower stated sternly.

"You know the mission types dad was given, Chris," she stated firmly. "With all due respect that is the end of that discussion."

The present men watched in shock as Chris Moreshower heaved an irritable sigh and nodded.

"General?" Epps asked, wide eyed.

"Classified above my pay-grade and so deeply wrapped in red tape it's a nightmare," Chris groaned. "Keep reading, then, Kae."

Mikaela smiled slightly.

"However, despite being wounded, Ambassador Banes-"

"Ambassador Banes!" Jacobs chuckled over the radio. "Ambassador at nineteen, I call dibbs on your first autograph when we get back!"

"Maybe!" Mikaela laughed. "So I'm 'reported to have been the one to insist on continuing on, even going so far as to override a four star General-"

"Which you're only going to get away with because it's you," Chris added mildly.

"That is so very kind of you, General," Mikaela beamed at him while soldiers and auto-bots snorted in amusement.

(OPOV)

Optimus watched with mild astonishment as his Kae immediately returned to her routine on base, waking, working, laughing with men and auto-bot's both. The only difference now: she received the occasional missive from dignitaries, often reading them while still sitting at her workbench.

"Kae! Letter!" Chance shouted, waving an envelope at her. She straightened from the jeep she was servicing and wiped her hands.

"Why thank you Chance," she grinned at him, slitting the envelope open and quickly reading the letter. Her face slowly sank into a frown.

"Who's it from this time?" Will asked curiously.

"Chris," she murmured, "He says Galloway is upset that I've taken his job," she stated with a deep frown. "Which makes no sense, he's still the liaison." she rubbed her forehead irritably, leaving a streak of black grease and leaning against the wall. "Fuck." she stated grimly. She sighed and tucked the letter back in it's envelope.

"Fuck what?" Will asked in a worried tone.

"Chris says that Galloway is trying to get rid of me," she frowned, "which means I need to watch my p's and q's. Here's hoping that Galloway realizes that I can't take his job, I can't even leave base."

"We can go wherever you want," Optimus rumbled immediately, onlining his holoform. Mikaela looked up at him with startled eyes and laughed softly.

"I'm not complaining," she said with a smile, "but the point stands, liaison between you and the president, what's the point of me being liaison if you go with me?"

Will snorted back a laugh, Optimus couldn't help the low chuckle that escaped him.

"True," Chance grinned. "So now what?"

"Now," Mikaela stated patiently, "I top up the oil on this jeep and log it."

"No, politics wise," Will snorted.

"Just do the same thing I've already been doing," Mikaela chuckled. "Work for Ratchet. Write back to the people who send me letters."

"How's that work?" Will frowned. Mikaela laughed.

"They already know that I'm in hiding, and they're respecting it, too," she pulled out her small stack of letters and pointed to the closing lines from the President. "Every missive finishes with a well worded 'drop by for dinner if you're in the area and not hiding the fact that you're in the area.'" she tucked the letters away and proceeded to finish servicing the Jeep.

Optimus stared at his Kae as she patiently closed the hood and moved to the next vehicle for servicing.

"Optimus," Will stated urbanely, reaching up and clapping an easy hand on the holoform's shoulder. "Your femme is way the hell too easy going. And as such, you're a bastard." Mikaela stuck her tongue out at him as Optimus laughed.