A bit of a short one folks, but I'm pretty excited about the next few chapters. We got shenanigans coming. Just you wait.
The atmosphere in the room had changed to something I couldn't quite place. Even Perceptor and Brainstorm had looked up as I told Ratchet about the cube.
"You're certain?" Ratchet asked.
"Word for word," I nodded, "I swear that's exactly what he told me."
"Anything else?"
"That was it," I said, "It was all classified. I wasn't even supposed to know about this 'cube' at all. I was told by chance."
Ratchet composed himself quickly, "Normally I'd call this a coincidence. But, I don't think that's what this is. This is very serious, we need to tell Optimus—in person, we can't risk sending a report, not after what Ravage did."
"There could be more Decepticons?" I asked.
"Who knows," Ratchet brushed off, "Frankly, I don't care; the Medbay's been searched and sealed off. We need to get this news to Optimus."
"Is this bad?" I looked between them; Misdirect was avoiding eye contact. "I thought this was what you're looking for?"
"Kathrine," Ratchet said, "You need to understand that the Decepticons are also searching for the Allspark. They will stop at nothing to get their hands on it, regardless of who's in the way. Megatron has gone through civilizations."
"It's true," Misdirect said quietly.
"We need to go, now. Misdirect, with me, you know the most about the humans." He then called across the room, "Brainstorm, Perceptor?"
Perceptor looked up, even Brainstorm paused. They were the only ones who looked excited. Something told me they hadn't been awfully surprised by the news.
"Make sure the squishy doesn't offline itself, got it," Brainstorm said.
Ratchet frowned but didn't protest. He dragged Misdirect by the arm towards the door.
I dashed to the edge of my table. "Wait! I want to go!"
"Not now," Ratchet said.
"I know the most about humans," I pleaded, "It's my planet. Please!"
"I know, Kathrine." His look was apologetic, "Your health is already in poor condition, I don't want to risk it deteriorating further."
He unfortunately had a point. How many times had I nearly died? Three or four times now?
"You'll know everything we discuss." He said.
"You promise?" I stood at the very edge of the table, teetering on my toes. "Are things going to be ok?"
Ratchet didn't answer right away. He looked like he didn't know what to say. "We'll be back." He pushed Misdirect out the doors.
One word. Just one word had changed everything. What had I done? I wasn't even sure what emotions I was feeling. Despair, disbelief, horror? Honestly, I felt cold, like my insides had frozen themselves. Megatron has gone through civilizations. Except we weren't just in his way, we were holding the victory prize. If Megatron found out about this, it would be because of me. I would be responsible for the destruction of Earth.
I tried to breathe. No one said Earth was getting destroyed, Megatron didn't know yet, and Optimus would have a plan, I was sure. He had handled the whole Ravage incident, easy.
But, what about Optimus? Were the Autobots any better than their rivals? It was a question I had been avoiding. Would Optimus protect us, or would he also chase after their cube? Would he lead the Decepticons right to us?
Doubting the Autobots felt wrong, they had been kind to me, but what did I really know about their war? Entertaining a lost organic on their ship was one thing, but what happened if that organic was the key to their success? I was dragging an alien invasion back with me, I was leading them to my home, and I didn't even know if the 'good guys' were actually good.
I felt like I had turned a drip into a crashing tsunami. Whatever control over the situation I had before, as little as that might have been, was gone now. In minutes Optimus would know we had their cube, and nothing could stop him from doing whatever he liked. I could have just doomed every single person on Earth.
I dropped onto the cot, I just wanted to go home. I felt my face tremble at the start of a sob, but I clamped my hand over my mouth to hold it in. A few moments ago I was worried about my phone being gone, missing my dad and brother, and the possibility I would never get home. That felt huge. I felt like I was ready to crumble under just those worries.
I reached in my pocket and pulled out Melody's badge, her smiling face beamed at me. Nothing stayed simple. Did my dad know about this, that they had an alien cube? Did he know about the Cybertronians, their war, and just how dangerous and important the cube was? Did they know about all these dangers and went ahead anyway? That was ridiculous. How would he have known?
No. It wasn't ridiculous. He lied about their 'prototype' to me, how it worked. He did it so easily I hadn't doubted him. Had he put me in danger too? Did he lie about how safe it was going to be? I looked down at Melody's badge again. Did Melody know about the danger? Had she chosen to take this risk, or was she sent to her death? Her family had no idea she was even dead yet. My hands were trembling and I tried again to focus on my breathing. It didn't matter if dad lied. I was here right now, mourning a woman I didn't even know, and waiting to see if we were doomed. No one knew I had just put them all in danger. It was my fault. I had to do something. I needed to warn everyone. But, what would I even say? Trust Optimus? Follow him blindly just like me, and pray he doesn't wipe us out? And what if we resisted? What did the Autobots do to their prisoners of war?
Were the Decepticons really that horrible, would they agree with the name the Autobots had given them? I mean, really, who would purposefully call themselves "Decepticons?" Every war had propaganda, every side thought they were doing what was best.
I had been an idiot this whole time. I thought I could just get zapped home and everything would go back to normal. But this whole time I was leading them to my planet. The cube hadn't changed any of this. I would have just scampered home, meanwhile, a faction of warring robots would have my home's coordinates in their hands.
I had a horrible idea: because if anyone on this ship wasn't going to sugar-coat the Autobots or Optimus Prime, it was the one Decepticon: Ravage.
I bit my nails. My stomach pinched from hunger. And what would everyone else think If I asked to chat with their enemy? What would they think if they found out I was doubting them? Was this treason? And, if I did ask, and they were treating Ravage horribly, would they patch Ravage back together and force him to lie to me? Anything the Autobots were willing to let me know or see, I couldn't trust.
I wanted so badly to trust Misdirect, but I was on my own here. I had to do this alone. This wasn't just about me anymore. There were people whose lives depended on what I chose to do. I squeezed Melody's badge. This was my responsibility now.
Unfortunately, right now might be my only shot. Ratchet would never let me out of his sight if he were here. How would I slip out and get to the brig? I needed to see a map of their ship somehow. Or I needed directions. And what happened if I got there and their stupid stripy sci-fi doors were locked, and what if the cells they kept people in weren't accessible to me? I was jumping in with no clue as to where I was falling. I needed more information.
My attention drifted to Brainstorm. This was an equally stupid idea. But, it wasn't like he'd take me seriously. He was probably the only one who wouldn't read into things. I could ask a few questions and then make a plan. Time was ticking.
"Brainstorm?" My voice was met with silence. I was losing my nerve, I collected myself. I opened my mouth to call again, but he cut me off.
"Yeah, I heard you. What is it?"
"Where's the brig? Misdirect mentioned it," I asked.
He gave me a long look.
"I know you're busy, but I was just wondering. Is it far from here?" I asked. "Brainstorm?"
"Is this important?"
"Just curious," I said. Brainstorm turned back to his work and I found myself being ignored.
"At least give me a general direction. I'm not asking for much," I said. "I know you can hear me."
"I'm turning off my audio sensors." He said.
"Hold on," I said quickly. I had no idea what he was threatening to do, but if I had to guess, it probably meant ignoring me more. "You guys have maps for the ship, right? Schematics? Just pull one up, then I can see for myself, no more questions, I promise."
In the silence, I felt myself deflate. I guess I was jumping in head-first on this one.
To my surprise though, Brainstorm actually spoke up again: "Scared of our Decepticon friend? Worried he's gonna sneak out and pounce?"
I blinked. He was actually paying attention to me?
"No?" He asked. "So, what? You need a map so you can give him a visit? Is that it?"
"No," I said quickly.
"Right, of course not," he looked at me, "So, why do you wanna go? Vengeance? Revenge? Are you trying to finish off Ravage yourself?" He said it like he thought it was the funniest thing in the world. "I can build you a gun, it's my specialty, you know."
I didn't know what to even say. Had I just blown everything for myself? Why was Brainstorm actually paying attention to me?
"Oh, so now she decides to not speak. Your vocal processor broken? shall I call Ratchet?"
"I just want to talk to Ravage, that's all." My heart picked up.
"Oh, how noble of you, I'm sure he'll love the company." He said.
"Are you going to tell Ratchet?" I asked.
"Depends, are you going to keep bothering me with stupid questions?" He returned back to his work. "So, squishy," he teased, "You want a map or a ride there?"
"Look, just forget it. I'll be quiet." I trudged back to the cot.
He laughed. "Squishy, I don't make offers lightly. You in or not?"
"I don't have time for jokes," I said.
"Oh, you'd know if I was joking."
What was he on about? When I turned to look, it looked like he was building something now. Was he being serious?
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Getting you to the brig, isn't that what you wanted?"
"You're serious?" I asked.
"Please. Have I ever not been serious?"
"Are you going to tell anyone?"
"Are you trying to hide something?" He retorted.
I avoided the comment. "Why would you help me?"
"Listen squishy," he said, "I'm no one's babysitter. The least I can do is help you get into some mischief."
"How long will we be gone?" I asked.
"We?" He asked innocently. In his hand was the tube with caps placed on either end, very similar to the one Misdirect had used to send my protein bar to Ratchet. It looked modified, the caps were bulkier.
"Don't tell me that's your plan. Brainstorm?" I took a step back, "Brainstorm! You're going to get me killed!"
"Oh relax, you'll survive. Probably." He approached swiftly with the capsule in hand and I jumped back several steps.
"I'm going to crack my head open and die," I said.
"Don't be silly, I put in a stasis field." He said it like it explained everything. The tube was set on the table and the sides slid open with a twisting motion from the cap, creating a tall opening I could step into. Like some sort of glass elevator from hell. This might be my only shot though. I had to remember why I was doing this.
"How long will I be gone?" I asked.
"How long are you planning to take?"
"And how do I get back?"
"I'll rig something up, don't worry about it. Just step back inside when you're done galavanting."
"And you won't tell anyone?" I glanced over at Perceptor. He either had not noticed what was happening or was deliberately choosing to stay out of it.
"Organics are so skittish," Brainstorm tutted to himself. "I can respect a secret. But, don't think Ratchet won't find out eventually, he usually does."
"Seriously, why are you helping me?" I asked.
"Other than preserving my dignity as a scientist and not a babysitter?" He cocked his head, "Well, I have work to do and you are very annoying."
I crossed my arms and grumbled, "Could've fooled me."
"Can you blame me? This is hilarious, just imagine what Ratchet will think." He said, "You getting in or what?"
I again squeezed Melody's badge in my pocket. I was doing this. I had to. Carefully I stepped into the tube, it was barely big enough and I had to scrunch my shoulders to fit. The second I got myself inside, the capsule snapped shut, and despite the surprise, I didn't flinch. No. That wasn't right. I couldn't flinch. I had been frozen in place; It felt like the air in the capsule had turned solid. What was happening? I could barely breathe. Energy hummed through the glass around me, and my stomach did backflips as my surroundings tipped and moved. I couldn't budge an inch. Brainstorm held the tube to eye level.
"Stasis field!" He said.
My view of the Medbay continued to rock and sway as he walked to the wall. This was absurdly not fun. As if the tube wasn't claustrophobic enough, I couldn't even twitch a finger, I had no idea why I was even able to breathe still. Sparks of panic were firing off in my chest, and I tried my best to breathe and relax. If I tried to struggle I'd probably end up hurting myself or going mad in the process. This was important, I had to remind myself, I was trying to save my planet.
Things swayed one last time and then I heard a loud click. Darkness was on either side of me, and I realized I must have been clicked into some wall compartment, like the one in Misdirect's room. The panel was still open and Brainstorm squinted cheerfully in front of me. There was no backing out now.
"Don't hurry back!" He said. "Seriously." The panel snapped shut.
For a very long second, I was completely alone and frozen in the pitch black. And, with a very loud hiss of air, I was alone, frozen in the dark, and moving upwards very, very fast.