Chapter 146 – The Other Shoe

(MPOV)

"Forgive me, I have rarely found a femme willing to share her mate," Sentinel stated quietly, looking around himself.

"Mm," I hummed in amusement. "Optimus, if you run off with Sentinel and abandon me we're going to have words. I know where you are," I teased my bot gently, tapping his chest-plates with a gentle finger.

Optimus looked at me with laughter in his optics. We both knew he would never do such a thing.

Sentinel looked at me indignantly regardless.

"Optimus would never-!" he started angrily.

He broke himself off as he looked between the two of us.

"You are his teacher, his mentor, his friend," I stated gently, patting his shoulder. "I am his mate, the mate of a Prime. It's a fools errand to be jealous that he cares for all of the bots around him. Particularly when that is one of the first things that attracted me to him."

Sentinel beamed at me and turned to the Optimus.

"You always did have excellent taste in the bots you kept around you," he stated with a smile, laying a hand on Optimus' shoulder.

"Will you at least come tuck us in?" Optimus rumbled teasingly, looking at me.

"Oh be off with you!" I laughed, giving them both a gentle shove toward the doors. I turned and sat at my workbench, continuing to work on the beacons as Optimus led his old friend from the medical bay.

"Kaaeee!" Arcee immediately stated indignantly, the second the doors closed.

"Ceeee!" I replied with a laugh.

"Go tuck them in!" she commanded with a snort. "You have two valves! Use them!"

"She what!?" Ironhide demanded incredulously.

"Human femmes have two valves, one for reproduction, one for waste expulsion." Ratchet snorted. "There are several vestiges of Kae's human form left over in her new frame, even if they're technically redundant now her spark dictated where her frame would be the most comfortable for it."

"She should go have fun with them." Arcee stated flatly. "If you have it, you use it!

I began laughing, looking at her fondly.

"Next round," I chuckled. "The two of them have a great deal of catching up to do, I'm not going to get between them for that, figuratively or literally."

Arcee looked at me calculatingly for a moment.

"Alright, that's true," she conceded grudgingly. I laughed at her and turned back to my work. I glanced at my energon levels and rose for a moment, collecting a cube of energon and tossing one to each of the bots in the room.

"You're going to have to replenish this, soon," Ratchet stated with a small frown.

"Are we running low again?" I asked worriedly.

"Mmm, somewhat," he nodded. "More, if there's going to be a battle, we're going to need a great deal more stockpiled for first aid."

"True," I stated musingly, lightly sipping at my own energon, I couldn't help but make a face. Drinking the energon I produced always struck me the wrong way, somehow.

Ratchet noticed and hummed sympathetically.

"One more orn," I sighed, settling back down at my workstation and continuing my work.

"Why not eat a bit of human food?" Arcee asked gently.

"Not really in the mood for it," I shrugged tiredly.

"Would you like me to heat some energon for you?" Ironhide asked me gently. I looked up at him curiously. "I know it's not the same as when Optimus does it, but you're always better focused after you've produced." he stated far more gently than was the weapons master's habit.

I laughed ruefully.

"That's because after Optimus and I produce together I pass out for a while. Power nap, literally." I giggled.

Arcee laughed softly, reaching up and touching my side gently.

"I appreciate you, Kae," she stated gently. I looked down at her in surprise. "Very few femmes are willing to share their mates with another," Arcee stated calmly.

"Optimus considers it one of his more pleasant duties," I shrugged calmly, turning back to my work.

"Regardless, Kae," Ratchet stated firmly. "Elita was a remarkably jealous femme, your patience is a virtue we should all practice."

I vented a deep breath, syncing my processors.

"You're pretending to have that patience, aren't you?" Arcee asked firmly.

I looked down at her wryly.

"Baby steps, I have it within my spark," I stated quietly. "My Optimus will not abandon me, however he is one of the first picks for a first guide, I find it best to ease myself into such things. Besides," I shrugged patiently. "I know he will show the same courtesy to me, should the situation demand it."

Ironhide snorted. I looked up at him for a moment.

"Well, yes, he will," Ratchet stated in amusement. "That doesn't mean he's going to like it very much."

I shook my head ruefully at that.

"Well, at any rate a good wife has patience for her husband. Baby steps," I stated calmly. "Now hush will you? I'm trying not to think of my mate in the arms of another."

"We need to go dancing," Arcee stated cheerfully.

"I'm also trying to get some work done, my dear sister," I snorted.

"All work and no play," Arcee stated with a pout.

"Is the burden of the Primes," I stated airily. "Mostly so that those whom we protect have the freedom to play."

"That. Is playing dirty," Arcee told me sternly.

"Uh huh," I nodded agreeably.

"Ratchet!" Arcee turned to her lover irritably.

"What am I supposed to kick her out for?" Ratchet asked innocently.

"For her sister's sanity," Arcee stated firmly.

"Admit it, you just want to lure her into the femme quarters and see if you can get her into her recharge," Ratchet snorted.

"So sue me," Arcee grumbled. I straightened and turned, picking Arcee up.

"I appreciate it, my sister," I murmured gently, cuddling her. "I really do, but right now my protective circuits are still buzzing. I'm waiting for the worst to happen, the other shoe is going to drop. I feel it."

Arcee, Ironhide and Ratchet looked at me seriously.

I glanced at the doors to med-bay and sagged into myself, letting the senior officers and my beloved older sister see my weariness, and my wariness.

"It never ends," I whispered, burying my face in my hands. I automatically straightened as the doors opened.

Jolt was hovering at the med-bay doors, looking terrified.

"Jolt?" I asked immediately, rising and striding toward him.

"Archangel I..." he stated softly, trailing off.

"What is it, Jolt?" I asked worriedly.

"I uh... the uh..." the bot began stammering. I looked at him patiently, he kept stammering. I reached out and gently cupped his shoulders.

"Sync your processors, Jolt," I stated calmly. He looked at me gratefully and obeyed.

"There are a bunch of people banging on the door, I don't know how..." Jolt stammered. "The soldiers don't want to wake Will up, but there's almost a riot outside..."

I frowned and nodded.

"Have we been made?" I asked firmly.

"No, we don't know why they're out there," Jolt stated worriedly. I nodded and strode from the med-bay to the entrance. The soldiers looked up at me with relief as I onlined my holoform and looked at it critically. I made myself somewhat taller, my eyes brown, and my hair receded to my shoulders, tied back in a ponytail. I put glasses on the holoform and leaned against the wall.

On the human level, I took off running, out the secret exit and circling around. I looked around casually the second I made it to the sidewalk, putting on the appearance of being a curious bystander, I walked to the edge of the crowd.

I stood in silence for a long moment, listening to the shouting. I looked around and noted each face before going to stand beside one of the people.

"So, uh..." I started calmly, looking around the crowd curiously. The person looked down at me. "What's happening here?" I asked curiously.

"You see that building!?" the man demanded, pointing to our headquarters.

"Uh huh?" I asked curiously, looking at the building.

"It's a secret laboratory for biological agents and animal testing!" the man stated furiously. I bit down a snort of laughter.

"Is it now?" I asked calmly. "Well, that's weird." I walked over to another person. "So what's going on?"

"Animal testing!" the woman shouted furiously.

"Wow, did you guys check the address before you set up?" I asked in amusement. "The animal testing facility is nine blocks that way, and the biological agents research facility isn't even in this city."

The crowd promptly turned to stare at me. I promptly turned and pointed to the research facility, a towering building nine blocks away.

"That's the animal research facility over there," I stated innocently.

"Then why is this building so heavily guarded?" a woman shouted at me.

"Because the Director of the NSA is paranoid," I snorted. "Doesn't matter that the populace of the rest of the United States gets their toilet paper from the grocery store, his has to be under lock and key at human health and services. Now, you guys mind if I get through? Mob in front of the building or not, I'm not supposed to show up late for work."

"Hey!" the woman shouted at me, I turned around again, looking at her. "What about the biological agents then!?"

I purposely snorted in derision.

"Lady, human health and services," I laughed. "About all I know about the ebola and smallpox shit is that the facility isn't in the city. I don't know if it's in the state or not, but it sure as hell isn't here. I mean, come on, do I look like a scientist to you?" I demanded with a laugh.

The crowd stared at me as I slowly made my way through to the gates.

"Hey Danny, how's it hanging Jack?" I asked with a broad grin as the crowd milled uncertainly around me.

"Long and loose," Jack replied with a grin. "How you doing Kae?"

"Interesting night tonight," Danny snorted.

"No kidding right?" I asked with a laugh, looking back at the mob.

"All over our little corner of the world, no wonder they hired us, eh?" Jack snorted, grinning at Danny.

"Nothing to do with what's inside, they just wanna protect themselves from the shit going on down the street," Danny stated, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, at least you guys got some people for your watching tonight right?" I laughed.

"And if we're really lucky, you're gonna join us in the mess," Jack grinned at me. "Something pretty for us to look at for once."

I laughed at them and walked through the doors as they resumed their posts.

The second the doors closed I was striding quickly to communications central, my holoform winking out.

"Get me the security feeds," I barked quickly, striding into communications.

The techs looked at me in alarm and nodded quickly, bringing up the security feeds on the main screens.

"Back three hours, fast forward," I commanded calmly.

I began scanning the screens. A flicker on one caught my optic.

"Replay section alpha five," I commanded calmly.

The techs obeyed automatically.

"Oh fuck," Jerry groaned as they caught the flicker. Jacobs walked the corridor a second time.

"Intruder alert," I groaned. "Initiate full building scan, Jolt."

Jolt nodded quickly and piped the feed directly to me as I stood with my arms crossed, optics dimming as I read each bio-sign. One unfamiliar one.

"Security feed, section Echo three," I stated firmly. A stranger was riffling through Ratchet's storage bay for parts. "Anyone recognize him?"

A chorus of negatives and several shaking heads.

"Keep me apprised if he moves," I growled, striding out of communications as Jolt barked out a 'yes Prime!'

I strode to Ratchet's storage bay and began scanning the area, locating the intruder and walking directly toward him.

I stopped as the man tried to hide himself away.

"The PETA distraction was novel," I told him calmly, crossing my arms and looking directly at him. "The question now, is are you going to claim sole responsibility, which I doubt is true, or are you going to co-operate? Needless to say you have not yet found what you're looking for. I would suggest you come out now, before I come get you."

The man stayed frozen.

"Come now," I purred. "It will hurt far less for you to come out now, surely your superiors told you what happens to people found trespassing?"

The man stayed frozen, evidently thinking I was bluffing.

I was already annoyed. I snapped a levitation field around him and pulled him from the shelf he was hiding in.

Which immediately had him shouting and struggling.

I idly summoned his weapons and strode out of the bay.

"All yours," I grumbled, lightly placing him in the custody of the soldiers.

"You alright Kae?" Chance asked worriedly.

"Tired, annoyed, I'll live," I shrugged. "For the first time I'm actually wishing I were human again so I could clock him. Give me a report later?"

"You got it Kae," Chance stated gently, patting my ankle. I smiled somewhat at him and strode carefully back to the Med-bay.

::. Jolt, do a further scan?.:: I sent to him on the Primary.

::. Yes Ma'am.:: he nodded firmly.

I sat down on my bench in the empty med-bay and buried my face in my hands.

Even with his beloved spark so close to my own, somehow, somehow I felt alone again. I vented a sigh, synced my processors and got back to work.

I couldn't concentrate. I shoved back the unwanted jealousy trying to rear it's ugly head in my processors as I finished the final beacon. Worried that my lack of concentration would cause me to make an error, I went back and scanned each beacon. Then again for safe measure.

The were fine.

Tired, my energon levels were still high enough for me to make do, but for some reason, the energon I produced then shunted through the systems never really powered me properly. Worried, I rose and began checking the med-bay status. No doubt Ratchet would be back soon, he was probably off interfacing Arcee during their 'coffee break.'

My thoughts were swimming, extra processors doing nothing to straighten them. I stopped and looked down. I was pacing, I hadn't even realized it.

I frowned at myself and shook my head. I was being ridiculous, time to embrace a bit of my human heritage again. I strode to the med-bay doors and glanced up and down the corridors. I strode to the Central and looked around. Empty.

That was to be expected, Jolt was in communications, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe out on patrol, the wreckers at NASA. The twins were somewhere, I pursed my lip plates and checked on them, they were in their quarters. Que was pottering about. Ironhide deep in recharge with Chromia, Flare... in the rec-room with Jazz. I couldn't help the small smile at that. Jazz was rather busily chasing her.

I synced my processors again and began moving in the stances uncle Sho had taught me. I couldn't help but think of my family tonight, inwardly kicking myself for not having heeded Tinny's words more literally.

But Bumblebee was taking care of that now.

I still felt like I was missing something. Bee was taking care of the conspiracies, Director Mearing the money trail. I offlined my optics, there was no one around me, I let my senses reach around myself, slowly reminding my body, my servos, my hydraulics of the motions of fighting.

I was missing something, I could feel it.

It was going to drive me insane.

I went back.

Chernobyl had been destroyed by a badly controlled engine part from the Ark.

Sentinel was here, if there was any treachery left in his spark, my Optimus would find it. He was not the type to be fooled twice.

I released a slow vent.

Bumblebee, Sam, Wheelie and Brains were looking into the conspiracies. No doubt Simmons would be called in at both Sam and Wheelie's insistence.

Director Mearing would be looking into the money trail.

Actually.

::. Jolt.:: I sent calmly.

::. Yes Ma'am?.:: he replied instantly.

::. Would you be so kind as to e-mail Director Mearing requesting whatever information she may have dug up on the money trail as yet?.:: I sent patiently.

::. It's only been six hours, it's oh three hundred for the humans.:: Jolt replied in amusement, but I could still feel him processing the message.

::. Call it a gentle hinting nudge for her to actually do it.:: I sent back with a small smirk.

::. Gotcha.:: Jolt chuckled.

In silence, I continued to move slowly through my stances.

I still felt like I was missing something. Oh.

::. Jolt.:: I sent calmly.

::. Yes Ma'am?.::

::. Quit calling me ma'am.:: I told him, letting him feel my amusement.

::. Alright Prime.::

I rolled my optics but let it be.

The beacons were built. They were in full working order and fully powered with dormant cells. Ready and waiting.

Chance and the soldiers under him were questioning the intruder.

The doors hissed open.

"Kae?" Chance called up. Think of the devil.

"Chance," I stated calmly.

"So you scared the shit out of the guy, literally, ew, he's been spilling his guts. Works for MECH, that militant group that's constantly trying to get the jump on every piece of technology they can get their grubby hands on." Chance reported quickly.

"Crony then?" I asked calmly, carefully shifting my weight into another stance.

"If that, he checks out as a dishonourably discharged," Chance stated with a shrug. "Working for a security firm. Looks like this was a side job for him."

"Electrical knowledge?" I asked calmly.

"Old school, he cross circuited the box," Chance stated calmly. "We're already re-routing the box into a more secure location. Que's helping out with that, keeping him reigned in though, he keeps going on about booby trapping the box." the man snorted.

I chuckled softly.

"We will still need access to it," I stated calmly.

"That's what I said," Chance laughed. "But anyway, looks like this was an isolated occurrence, hopefully the fact that the guy was caught and shit himself in the process will deter MECH somewhat."

"Regardless," I stated calmly. "That vent going into Sector five has become far too popular for my liking. If you're headed back to the box, tell Que to booby trap it, nothing fatal to humans, mind." I stated calmly.

"Hah! He's gonna love it." Chance grinned. He looked around. "Right, I'm off shift, I'll go pass the message to Que and header. Night Kae."

"Night Chance," I stated calmly.

The door closed and there was silence again.

I still felt like I was missing something.