Well, this got written long after I had the chapters set up. So... insert!
(Non) Chapter I - Falling Angels
(RPOV)
Ratchet couldn't find the slagging ah... no... there it was. He picked up the tiny cuff and threaded it over the bolt. He glanced up at his assistant, she was glaring at an engine.
He scanned it idly. Gearbox swap.
He could do that in a second, but then he'd be back working on this damned...
Hmmm...
Anytime he started growling at servo work. He hated servo work, Kae would offer a swap. And she had her exo...
Smirking... no... no smirk. Grumble. Growl. Servo work. He hated-
"You know if you want a swap out you don't have to spend that much time processing the idea of how to get me to offer a swap, you can just as easily say it at the same time." Mikaela stated blandly, not even looking at him.
"Swap?" Ratchet grinned at his assistant.
"Thank Primus," Mikaela groaned. "For a moment I thought I'd have to ask you for the swap!"
"What-!? Oh!" Ratchet sputtered for a half second before he stared at his assistant.
She was smirking at him.
Ratchet promptly fell off of his bench.
Howling.
Ironhide and Bumblebee were there the next second, staring at him.
Slag it. That was scrapping funny.
"What!?" Bee demanded.
Ratchet couldn't stop laughing.
So slag it, send them the scrapping log.
Right onto the Primary.
Ratchet could feel the attention of his unit and joined together, he gladly shared his joy.
Ironhide was howling right beside him.
Mikaela was smiling, leaning against his workbench as she always did.
"So can I have my pack or not?" she asked with a smirk.
Ratchet snorted and handed it to her, in moments she was running, strapping it on.
He glanced over at her new body and nodded to himself. He'd return to the Cybertronian Orn for a little while. He wanted her body finished. In minutes, Kae jogged lightly back into the bay and looked down at him in amusement before delicately levitating the servo off of his workbench and onto her own.
Hmn, workbench... he'd have to get a new workbench for his assistant, absolutely.
Well, he was already on the ground, he stretched out and idly extended his binder cables to the engine, gearbox off, new gearbox on. Done.
"Showoff," Kae muttered. Ratchet snorted and stood up, he glanced around and pulled down his next project.
Fix the cannon.
"Hey Hide, give me a hand?" he asked innocently.
That had been, at one time, their favourite hobby.
Arguing over the best way to rebuild a cannon. He glanced up when Director Matteer walked in, idly scanning him.
He jumped slightly, the man was showing every detrimental sign of stress. There was also a recent puncture... scrap.
::. Optimus, I think we're going to need you in the med-bay.:: he sent immediately, best to get that rolling quickly. Mikaela was already out of her exo and holding onto Barry.
"Get him on the table!" Ratchet barked out.
"Yes Sir," Mikaela barked back, immediately dragging Barry onto the human's berth and helping him sit down. Ratchet immediately onlined his holoform, scanning the Director. Kae looked at him in silence. Waiting. Ready. The perfect nurse.
"Saline," he stated immediately. And she was off, her iPod in her ear listening to every one of his commands as he did his assessment on the Director. "Good evening Director, did you by chance catch a look at the man who injected you with Cobra venom?"
"Yeah, Ling, Kae, where's Kae, need to warn her..." Barry reeled off, trying to sit up.
"Kae is right here," Ratchet barked out, using the man's forward momentum to drag his coat off. "Now stay still and let me get the venom out for Primus sake."
"If you want to die, fake it," Mikaela snapped, rolling a tray toward him and carrying everything. In moments, the anti-venin and a syringe were in his holoform's hands, moments more and Kae had a clean spot on the man's bared chest.
Ratchet stuck the needle in precisely the correct place, squeezed the serum in and pulled back out, his heart beat again and the serum flooded his body.
"What the FUCK!" Barry shouted.
"Increase of natural production of adrenaline will increase the beat of your heart, which in turn will send the anti-venin through your systems that much faster. An excellent strategy," Ratchet nodded musingly.
"No, he means why the fuck did you stab him with a syringe," Mikaela snorted.
"Well, I had to get the anti-venin in," Ratchet shrugged.
"Have a cookie," Mikaela added, pressing one into Barry's hand.
"Buh..." Barry shook his head, stared at the cookie for a second and stared at Kae.
"Angel," he husked.
"I am no Angel," Mikaela stated automatically.
"Ling," he choked. Mikaela frowned, looked around the med-bay for a moment before looking back at the man.
"I'm going to need a favour, Barry," she stated coldly.
"I already owe you another one," he groaned, leaning back on the berth.
"What?" Ratchet asked in shock.
(MPOV)
"If you want to die, fake it," I snapped, rolling a tray toward Ratchet. Everything he needed. In moments, the anti-venin and a syringe were in his holoform's hands, he began pulling the anti-venin as I pulled Barry's shirt off and running alcohol over his heart.
Ratchet stuck the needle in precisely the correct place, squeezed the serum in and pulled back out, connected to the pack, I could hear his heart beat again. Slick.
"What the FUCK!" Barry shouted.
"Increase of natural production of adrenaline will increase the beat of your heart, which in turn will send the anti-venin through your systems that much faster. An excellent strategy," Ratchet nodded musingly.
"No, he means why the fuck did you stab him with a syringe," I snorted, turning toward the table. I grabbed down a jar, unscrewed the lid and unpacked the emergency kit.
Alcohol, cookies.
"Well, I had to get the anti-venin in," Ratchet shrugged.
"Have a cookie," I added, pressing one into Barry's hand.
"Buh..." Barry shook his head, stared at the cookie for a second and stared at me.
"Angel," he husked. Shit.
"I am no Angel," I stated automatically. The response.
"Ling," he choked.
Ling. Fuck.
Mia's protege. Ling.
"I'm going to need a favour, Barry," I stated coldly, Ling had to die. If she was here, if she was good enough to get Barry.
She needed to die.
But if she died...
"I already owe you another one," he groaned, leaning back on the berth.
"What?" Ratchet asked in shock. I looked at him cautiously.
"I need to die," I stated flatly, looking at Barry again.
"No, Angel needs to die. Kae needs to live." Barry grunted.
"Yeah yeah, I've already got that covered," I snorted. "How many fake lives have I used up anyway?"
"Pff. One." Barry snorted. "Kae..." he started and trailed off.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Before Angel dies..." he murmured thoughtfully. I rolled my eyes.
"How many?" I demanded.
"Four?"
I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"Alright, who," I sighed.
"Briefcase," he murmured guiltily. I snorted and fetched his case, lightly plopping it into his lap. He opened it and handed me four files.
I sat and frowned, memorizing the names, the locations, the movements, pausing only to glance at Optimus as he strode in.
"Optimus," Barry nodded calmly to him.
"Director, Ratchet, Kae?" Optimus rumbled immediately, looking around himself.
"Barry was injected with cobra venom, that's about all I know so far," Ratchet reported immediately.
"Optimus, I need to run," I stated calmly, I held up my wrist. "I'm keeping this, but you need to be very sure to ignore anything they say about a motorcycle wreck or a female looking much like me being dead."
Optimus sat down on the bench and stared at me.
"I'm coming with you," he rumbled calmly.
"Not if you plan on publicly marrying me," I stated just as calmly, still reading. "I'm faking a death, my beloved. If you're there with me then it's going to be Mikaela Banes who is dead. Not Angel. I'm killing Angel, not Mikaela."
"I'm still confused," Ratchet stated flatly.
"Barry will explain it," I stated perfunctorily. "And five, Barry, not four." I disconnected from my pack and handed it to Ratchet. "Leave me that servo, I'll do it when I get back," I added. "I'm leaving through the blind spots, so if you could kindly state that I've been with you the entire time I've been gone I'd appreciate it. You!" I continued, looking at my Optimus.
He was watching me in shock.
"Holoform you lugnut," I snorted.
Optimus obediently onlined his holoform in front of me. I grabbed him and laid a full and proper kiss to his lips.
"I love you, and I'll be home soon," I told him firmly, I kissed him again and began striding toward my leathers.
"Kae!" Barry called out quickly, I turned, zipping in as I did. "There's an untraceable in the usual place."
I nodded and strode out.
There were murders to commit this night. Ironhide was in front of me the next moment.
"I'll take you," he rumbled sternly.
"I need to fake my own death," I told him flatly. "On a motorcycle it's easy, however you are not going to be my escort, because you are not to die this night."
Ironhide stared at me.
"Well, I'll take you to your untraceable?" he rumbled unsurely.
I smiled at him.
"If you're sure you don't mind," I stated gently. He snorted and transformed, opening his door for me.
"Kae! Wait up!" Will shouted the next second, climbing into the cab beside me.
"Will?" I asked curiously.
"Handler, remember," Will snorted. "So who we gonna kill?"
I rolled my eyes at him.
"Will, this is a full, assassin's black op," I stated firmly. "For your own safety and the safety of your ladies you should stay behind."
"Staying," Will shrugged. I sighed and Ironhide rolled out, headed toward the CIA.
"Alright, fine," I sighed. "We have five people to kill and one death to fake. Angel is dying tonight, for the next few months at any rate."
"What!?" Will half-shouted.
"Mikaela Banes is going to live, and she's going to be back here, with the airtight alibi of having been working in the medical bay with Auto-bot Ratchet for the past several hours. Barry is going to back him up to that effect, he's staying in the med-bay for Ratchet to continue to observe his condition." I stated patiently. I thought of something and grinned. "If you really want to help, do the circles, meet me at the co-ordinates I tell you. This is my stop."
Ironhide patiently pulled over and opened his door for me.
::. Still hear me alright?.:: I sent to him patiently.
::. Yes Ma'am.:: he rumbled back silently, sternly.
I immediately took off walking, idly scanning the area and spying the motorcycle. I hot-wired it and took off.
First stop, Ling.
If she'd taken Barry out, she was waiting for me. A short drive and I was standing in the warehouse district. I opened my phone and called Barry.
"Angel," a female voice purred behind me.
"Ling," I stated calmly as the phone began ringing, in her pocket. "That's really quite sloppy, Mai would beat you for less."
"Mai's dead," Ling snarled gleefully. "My only regret, I did not get to kill her myself. But then, when I kill you..." she trailed off with a smirk.
"Sister," I stated with a snort, turning around and inspecting her casually. "You should have brought a gun."
"Where's the sport?" Ling sneered at me.
"Indeed," I smirked. "Let's see if Mai taught you properly."
We began circling each other, sizing each other up.
She darted in toward me, holding a syringe.
I punched her, hard, turned the force around and snapped her neck.
She dropped. I rolled my eyes.
"They seriously don't make them like they used to," I sighed to myself, calmly taking her weapons; she had several syringes full of venom.
That was an idea.
I smirked and lightly tucked the vials of venom into my pack.
::. Ironhide.:: I sent calmly.
::. You alright?.:: he sent back immediately.
::. Could you come pick up my replacement?.:: I asked him cheerfully.
::. What...?.::
::. My replacement.:: I repeated myself with a snort ::. Can't die without a dead body after all. In this case her name is Ling, one of Mai's proteges. I have to move fast, if I'm going to pin the next several murders on her I need to set her up properly.::
I could feel Ironhide snort as I got onto my motorcycle again, taking off.
Serendipity was your replacement already wearing the right clothes.
I had a straight line. Ice flowed through my veins as I traversed that line, injecting Barry's targets with Ling's venom. I would have nightmares about this, I knew it, but at the same point some people simply needed to die. Five people, three hours.
::. How's it going Ironhide?.:: I sent to him worriedly.
::. Your replacement has leaked lubricants in my box.:: he rumbled irritably.
::. Ugh, sorry.:: I sent back with a grimace ::. I'm ready for her now, though, promise I'll detail you so well when we get back it'll be like this night never happened.::
Ironhide was snorting in amusement as he caught up to me.
Will was looking rather pale.
"Kae..." he choked.
"Friends help you move, real friends help you move bodies," I stated blandly. "Does it do anything to tell you that Ling was Mai's protege and a sociopath? Primus only knows her kill count."
Will seemed to think about that for a second before nodding his acceptance. I casually levitated Ling from Ironhide's box, lightly shoved the syringes back into her chest pocket and manipulated her to sit behind me on the bike.
"Right," I stated with a nod. "I need to go publicly kill Angel, meet you back at HQ?"
"Uh..." Will started.
"Nah, I'll parallel you," Ironhide rumbled patiently. "We go back together."
I nodded and took off.
::. How are we supposed to follow her?.:: Will demanded.
::. Because we're still communicating.:: Ironhide snorted. I laughed softly, despite having a dead body slung across my back. I pursed my lips and began riding around at high speed, racing, searching.
Finally, finally I found what I was looking for.
Semi pulling out. I had a red light, behind me, cops had finally started trying to stop me.
Perfect. I threw on an extra little burst of speed and began wiggling the handlebars, looking like I was getting out of control.
Finally, drop left, left leg curled onto seat, whack Ling's body upright.
Free of her limbs, I skidded under the semi's trailer. In moments I was scrambling off of the bike. I got out from under the trailer as it struggled to stop and took off running, head half down, helmet still on, I never once looked at the cameras. I ducked into the alleyway and stripped out of the leathers and helmet.
Wrap leather around helmet, extend straps, hook over arm.
I strode casually out the other end of the alleyway, glanced around to get my bearings and began walking calmly toward our headquarters.
Never once looking at the cameras, of course. Ironhide pulled up beside me, and I calmly slipped into his cab.
The three of us remained completely silent as Ironhide drove back to headquarters. I took a deep breath as he parked, setting my leathers down and walking toward the wash bay.
He followed me patiently.
"I got this, Will," he rumbled quietly. Will looked between the two of us curiously for a moment before nodding, he walked to the med-bay. "Look at me, niece," Ironhide rumbled gently, onlining his holoform beside me.
I took a deep breath and looked into his holoform's eyes.
"Did they really need killing?" he asked softly.
"Simply because they needed to be killed, doesn't negate me being a murderer," I replied sadly. Ironhide nodded and wound his holoform's arms around me.
"You mentioned a detail?" he rumbled after a moment.
I began laughing softly and led him into the wash-bay proper.
::. Where are you Kae?.:: Ratchet sent worriedly.
::. Detailing Ironhide, what's wrong?.:: I sent back immediately.
::. Oh, nothing, just explaining your absence.:: Ratchet shrugged ::. Director Stilson has just arrived.
::. Stilson?.:: I asked curiously.
::. Galloway's replacement.::
::. Ah.:: I nodded, calmly beginning to wash, rinse, dry and wax Ironhide from stacks to treads. He transformed when I'd finished, idly leaning down and scooping me into his hand.
I laughed as he carried me back into the med-bay.
"How long does a detailing take!?" Ratchet demanded of me. I could see him battling down a smirk, not that even Barry would be able to tell.
"It takes as long as it takes," Ironhide snorted. "I thought you appreciated your assistant's thoroughness in her work."
"Hmnph," Ratchet shrugged. "Now are you finally going to help me with this scrapping cannon?"
"Hah, try'n stop me," Ironhide snorted, lightly setting me down on Optimus' shoulder before plopping down beside Ratchet.
I smiled at my Optimus.
∂I am grateful that you have returned,∂ he rumbled softly.
∂Nothing can keep me from you, beloved,∂ I replied gently. ∂Sit rep?∂
∂Director Stilson does not like me,∂ my Optimus rumbled irritably.
"Excuse me!" Stilson shouted. "I do not appreciate-"
"Me speaking to my fiancee in his native tongue?" I stated calmly. "My apologies, Director, how are you today?"