Twenty-Nine
...
Mira's heart stopped, she swore it.
The three of them were quiet as Lockdown's rang off the walls of his ship, shooting through her chest like cannon fodder. Every part of her body began to burn, until she thought she'd faint. Lockdown just looked at her as if he'd won the lottery of all lotteries, and she despised him in that moment. Terribly and utterly hated his very being.
There was a thought, though, that came to her. One she couldn't resist from asking, so she asked it carefully, as if it were a snake going to bite her: "If you wanted to kill Optimus, then you'd have nothing to give to your creators, would you?"
This encompassed silence in its wake. So much so that Lockdown approached her podium-type prison. He placed his hands on either side of her and sneered, now optic-to-eye with her. She stood strong, unwilling to relent to his horrible optics. "Mira." Optimus spoke behind her, with force. She, perhaps for the first time, ignored him.
"Watch what you say human. You don't have to speak with what I have planned for you." The threat was icy, and she narrowed her optics at him. Then, curling his lip, he abruptly turned and surprisingly began to powerdown unto his Lamborghini mode. Mira peered over the edge and spoke her next sentiment.
"You know the others will be coming for us," she stated matter-of-factly, "and yet you still insist that your brilliant plan will work." Crossing her arms over her chest, she snorted, "You have no idea who you're messing with."
"Autobots are like sparklings," the voice came from behind her now, though he was still parked before her on the ground of the ship. Mira whipped around, reached into her waist-band for her gun and pulled it instinctively. She lowered it instantly when she saw a human across the podium, hands at his sides, starting at her with a mixture of hatred, curiosity, and exploration. Mira did not at all like those three adjectives, which were what came to mind. He continued, the voice of Lockdown was still clear and loud; "if you are careful enough, you can predict their movements. It is not difficult to read the mind of a child."
Mira, terrified and greatly confused, while knowing she couldn't really harm a holoform, put some insurance (or at least what she thought would be insurance at the time) between them by taking aim right between his eyes. She could hardly see through her smudgy glasses, but she managed carefully, "Where'd you get the holoform?"
He chuckled, "You assume because your Autobots have been on this planet before the rest of my kind and have interacted with humans puts them at a cultural advantage," he stepped towards her, stalking like a predator, "you would assume wrong. I have my allegiances, and have made trades. I too have my resources." He stopped before her, "Courtesy of your friends memory banks."
This sent Optimus raging, "You have no right, Lockdown! Ratchet was a student of science-it is not your right to take from him what is his knowledge. You will pay for such an action!" His words were strong, and Mira's hand began to tremble slightly as she thought about Ratchet, and his death-at this man's hands. Rage purged through her.
Be wise as a serpent, and gentle as a dove.
It came quietly, out of the recesses of her mind. The thought stirred her soul, and she swallowed thickly. How could she be wise? Lockdown was two steps ahead of them at every turn. Gentility had never been her strong point either-she was a tomboy, and tomboys were not inherently gentle. And she was a soldier, on top of that. She, keeping distance between them still with the gun pointed at his face, had to hold the weapon with both hands now to keep steady. The context of her situation was beginning to cement within her: she was a prisoner, in hell, essentially.
In a swift movement, Lockdown grabbed her wrist in an iron fist. He squeezed to the point where Mira protested, and she sank to her knees as the pain began not only ringing throughout her entire body, but began literally coursing up her veins. She felt something inject into the veins of her wrist, and watched as he retracted some type of probe. In an instant the pain was gone and he pulled her up, to where she stood before him. Then, raising his arm, he pulled her to him, Mira staggering forward and losing her balance. She now was entirely suspended by her arm, which he was still brutally holding, almost hanging. They locked eyes again, him looking down at her with the intensity of hatred itself. She could hear his spark whirring through his holographic chest. A lock of fallen curl fell into her face.
"Release her! Release her now, Lockdown!" Optimus bellered behind them. Both ignored him. Mira, utterly terrified now, ignored too the pain beginning to pierce her shoulder muscles. Lockdown's holoform did not seem phased in the slightest.
"You are my property, human. I own you." He lowered his face farther into hers and sneers, "and as such, I am free to do whatever explorations I desire. Of any kind."
Her eyes widened. Appalled by his implication, she spoke"You have no soul," it was a growled statement. Her face contorted into what she assumed to be a rageful mess. Surprised, he raised a brow slightly-ever so slightly. "And I despise you." With that, she spat in his face; a nice thick line of saliva traced across his face. He, mortified, squawked and roughly released her-sending her flying a good three feet in the air and across the podium.
"MIRA!" Optimus was rattling his prison now, like a rageful bull awaiting release. Pain flared up her arm and into her shoulder as she felt something pop upon impact with the hard metal, but she relished watching him wipe the human slime from his face. "You know nothing of human women, and I do not fear you." She rolled over onto her side and glared at him.
"Do not be so sure. I have done my research on your kind. Your gender is not as complex as you would think. All things can be configured-with the right kind of exploration."
"You're bluffing," she breathed.
He then stalked towards her. With a rough kick, he overturned her onto her back. Swinging a leg over her body, he crouched over her, and chuckled manically. Lockdown took his holographic hand and seized her jaw roughly, and shook his head, "Trust me, femme; I do not bluff. I am fully calibrated for any type of research you or I could imagine." A sly half smile came onto his face and his eyes flashed wickedly, "It will be quite a ride, metaphorically speaking." He released her face with a light toss of his hand, and she rolled onto her side away from him as he stood beside her now, no longer straddling her. Forcing herself up, she rubbed her jawline and glared daggers at him.
"You make me sick." She almost gagged.
He chuckled. "You will learn otherwise."
The holoform left them, and Lockdown roared away from them, clearing the gap of the Terminus, before revving his engine and disappearing into the inner workings of the vessel. She heard the engines flare to life, and shot a look to Optimus, who was watching her as if his life depended on it. She searched his optics for any type of reassurance.
"Everything will be alright, Miriam," he used a soft tone with her real name.
At that moment, her knees hit the floor with a clang, and pain spiked up her spinal column and rested in the base of her neck. She didn't care though, but instead threw her head back stared at the ceiling of this awful ship, and felt her stomach drop.
She screamed, too.
...
Merrick had looked at the ship inside.
It was scary big-the type of big that made Merrick feel like a mouse. It had to be a trillion-at least-feet tall, and almost a trillion feet wide. He'd never seen anything so huge! He'd been in some pretty big buildings in Dallas, Texas. But never this big!
And man was it cool! It was all metal and mechanical looking, like the Autobots. There were pod-looking things, and lifts, and walkways, and little machines milling around working hard. It looked like something straight out of Star Wars, or some sci-fi movies, and Merrick couldn't get enough of it! It was as cool-maybe, MAYBE cooler-than watching the Autobots transform, or going really fast with Drift of Bumblebee, or even the fact that his Mom was best friends with Optimus Prime—a leader!
This all felt like a dream. Merrick pinched himself on the top of the hand to make sure he was awake—yep, he was awake. No way! It was unbelievable, all of this…and his mother was here, with Optimus, as a prisoner. He didn't like that, and he was still scared about her. He wanted her back. With Dad gone, what would he do if Mom…if Mom died? The thought scared him.
"Come here, buddy," Cade said. He and Uncle Bryce had made it down the steep ramp they'd been sliding down slowly into the ship from the surface. Bumblebee had found the entrance and had been the first to scout out down there, and he had given them the all clear. The Autobots had insisted the humans go first, and Cade and Uncle Bryce had made it down successfully, as had Tessa. Merrick was the only one struggling, since he had short legs. Cade had his arms extended for Merrick to continue. "I'll getchya, buddy."
It was touch—the metal wasn't really metal at all. The ramp was a mixture of cords and tubes and wires. Everything was hugely hard for a six year boy like himself to maneuver, and his boots were not making any traction. He was sliding faster than he could control himself, and finally a big hand came up behind him and scooped him up. Surprised, Merrick looked beside him to see Hound inching down the ramp, him now in hand. "Havin' some trouble there, younglin'?" He gave Merrick a tough smile and a wink, and his big feet hit the ground beside Cade and the others. Drift leapt swiftly off the ramp about halfway down and managed to make an almost silent fall, like ninja's did in the movies, and Crosshairs was the last one of them down, protesting the entire way that this was a bad idea.
Hound set him down next to Cade, and Bryce outstretched his hand to Merrick. Wrapping his hand in his uncle's, he looked around, backpack over his shoulder still. His neck was craned back to stare at the ceiling, so high above them all.
"Well this is new," Hound sighed, "Lockdown's ship has to have a cargo hold…sine he, ya know," He cocked his gun and slammed a round of oversized ammo into the chamber, "I'd say they're at the bridge, or the cargo hold."
"Yeah, because those are just right next to each other," Crosshairs rolled his optics sarcastically, "Thanks much for the though, Detective Hound. But we have to fraggin' get off this thing—it's going to leave with us still on it, and then we're friggin' screwed out the aft." Bumblebee gave him a glare, Drift was still taking in their surroundings.
"Crosshairs is right," Drift said casually, "we have roughly nine minutes before the deep matter drives are at full capacity. They are filling up now." Merrick could hear a deep thrumming sound, kind of like helicopter blades—but only bigger.
"Can't we just comm them?" Cade interjected. Everyone look at him and he shrugged, "I mean, they'll respond and tell us where they are, right?"
"In theory, yes," Hound interjected with a snort, "But that EMP on Optimus probably scrambled 'im until he reboots his comm. And Mira, I'm not sure. I ain't getting' nutthin' from anyone—so we're goin' solo on this one, femmes and mechs." He sound less than pleased. "Oughta be fun, I've been waitin' to kill somethin'."
Drift gave a frustrated sigh and stroked one of his fingers alone the blade of one of his swords, "We have the element of surprise," he scanned the area, "let us use violence as a last resort."
Merrick would have agreed that being quiet was the best idea. But, there was a sudden gurgling scream, and a huge tentacle of some type of monster-like creature suddenly appeared form the wall behind them. It was huge, and pink, and wriggling in a slimy mess of danger. It flailed out of its apparent prison, straight towards he and Bryce. Cade had dived to the left, and Bryce had ducked and rolled out of the way. Tessa ran the opposite direction, screaming, taking cover around the corner. Merrick had no time to think as it began frantically flailing towards him.
"MERRICK!" Bryce screamed, popping to his feet. Cade did as well, and they both pulled their guns. Before they could aim, there was a screaming warrior cry, and frantic stabbing and sparks going into the wall-like enclosure. Drift was rampaging an attack deep into the wall with his blade, screaming like a warrior at war, until the tentacle retracted, hissed and whined, finally retreating. Drift, now breathing heavily, gave his staring comrades a slight look over his shoulder.
"It isn't alive anymore," he then turned to face them, and took a knee before Merrick, setting his sword beside him and taking the tip of his index finger to plant it under Merrick's chin, graciously. "You are alright?" He asked kindly.
Merrick nodded rapidly, all smiles. This guy was awesome! "Yep. Thanks for killing that thing and saving my life."
Drift chuckled and winked at him, "My pleasure, young Merrick."
Crosshairs had facepalmed and was shaking his head, "Alright, ladies; what's the plan here? We got what—eight minutes to find Optimus and get the pit out of here?" He sounded irritated, and Merrick glared at him.
"They might be in the same place," Hound interjected roughly, "But I doubt Lockdown is that stupid."
"But you've been wrong before," The radio crackled to life beside the group. Bryce and Bumblebee were standing side by side before Bryce was the next to speak, gun still cocked and ready to fire to life.
"We aren't leavin' without the both of them," he said, angrily shooting a look to Crosshairs, "You had better not be asking me to leave my sister here, otherwise you'll fraggin' wish you were never born."
Crosshairs raised an optic ridge. "Ooooo, touchy are we?" He shook his head and then bent to stare at Bryce, "Well, I'm all for getting' Optimus back. But if he ain't with Mira, well, you're on your own. You humans ain't done anything for me, and I am not about to do anything for yo—"
Within seconds the group came to life. Bumblebee, Hound, and Drift all stepped towards him, cornering him against the ramp they'd descended just moments before. Drift's blade leveled at his chest, Hound's blaster rubbed up against his chin, and Bumblebee focused his solar cannon straight in the back of his head. Instantly, Crosshairs frowned at all them, face turned against Hound's blaster, and put up his hands in surrender, "Primus, guys…use words for pit sake!"
"We're getting the girl back, and the boss," Hound grumbled, his "cigar" wagging in his mouth lazily. "Capeesh?"
"The girl comes with me," Bumblebee quickly switched frequencies, "Any questions, class?" Crosshairs glared at him, and Bryce stepped forward into this standoff, gun leveled at Crosshairs head. Cade's was as well, and they looked like some type of duo—like Riggs and Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon—ready to pop the bad guy. Merrick watched from behind them all, trembling. Tears pooled at his eyes—Crosshairs didn't want to save his mom.
"Say one more word, and I'll blow out your optics," Bryce snarled, "After all my sister's done for you; you ungrateful sonnuva—"
"—stop!" Merrick suddenly burst. He jetted into the circle, crying now, and pointed up at Crosshairs, "Listen here, you big green snotrod!" The entire group whipped a look to him and he frowned, entirely serious, "We're getting' Momma back, and Uncle Optimus," he gave Cade and Uncle Bryce a look, "Otherwise, Lockdown's gunna kill them, and then what? It's just like GI Joes—you have to rescue the good guys to win the war." He crossed his arms, "And I'm not leaving anyone behind," he shot a look to Crosshairs again. "—especially Ma."
Crosshairs looked to the group and finally nodded his understanding. All the weapons came down and he gave Merrick a disgusted look, "Fine. The weapons have it. I'm in—but I ain't happy about it."
"Good job, kid," Cade slapped a hand on his shoulder. Tessa had reappeared from her place around the corner, still trembling after the entire monster instant. She rubbed her arm as Cade wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder and squeezed. Cade winked Merrick and pointed towards the left, down the walkway with the gun. "I'd say let's roll."
"Lockdown probably has the both of them somewhere where he can keep his optics on them," Hound suggested, "I'd say start at the cockpit, but I'm no expert in rescue missions."
"The cockpit it is then," Bryce said firmly, "Let's not waste anymore time." He took a few steps forward, slowly, gun pointed slightly in front—in a low, ready position. Cade gestured with his head for Tessa and Merrick to step between them. They began walking, and Tessa looked down at him and smiled softly.
"You ok?" He asked her quietly. She shrugged a shoulder and tucked some hair behind her ear.
"I'd like to say that I am, but I'd be lying. I'm scared crapless," she wrapped her arms around her middle, "but everyone is so brave. I just don't want to be the girl of the entire situation."
"You are a girl," Merrick said matter-of-factly, "you can be scared. It's okay."
Tessa shook her head, "Your mom's a girl and she's not afraid of anything."
This made Merrick think. Sure, his mom was afraid of stuff; she just never really showed it much. He could imagine she'd be scared right now, like he was; wondering if he'd ever see her again—alive. The thought made his stomach hurt. Tessa really did look scared and she was skitterish. So, Merrick reached up with his little hand and patted the top of her, then she unfisted it. Her interlaced her fingers and strolled beside her as if they were in Central Park and not an enemy ship. "Mom's scared of lots of stuff—snakes, mostly. But she says we really never have anything to be scared of, because Jesus is with us. He's with us right now, and He won't let nothin' happen to us if He don't want it to happen." He shrugged a shoulder as if it were simple logic. "Don't be scared Tessa—I'm here, and I'm not scared."
She looked at him and cracked a half smile, then tousled his hair with her free hand. "You're a pretty awesome kid, you know that?" She winked at him, "Thanks, cutie. That helps."
He beamed at her, and Crosshairs was to her left, shooting them a look of disapproval. "Quiet up there, munchkins. Shh." This earned him a glare by both kids, and he rolled his eyes and looked away, gun still raised in a low-ready position. "Sparklings."
.Men," Tessa countered, sticking her tongue out. He did the same, and this disturbed both of them to the point of recoil. He chuckled.
"A glossa—our version of a tongue," Drift said suddenly, appearing at Merrick right. Merrick smiled at him and Drift gave him a friendly wink, then gave a stern look at Crosshairs. "Watch what you say, Crosshairs. You are not from the actings of a child yourself."
"Would you ladies hush it?" Hound muttered ahead of them, "And pick it up, humans! You're laggin'!"
Tessa gave Merrick another look. "You think they're always this finicky?"
Merrick shrugged. "Mom said they're all just big kids—besides Optimus."
"Your mother would say that," Crosshairs uttered.
…
She'd cried herself into what seemed like a coma.
Mira just sat there, staring at the exit which led to the rest of the ship, where Lockdown had left. Every inch of her felt numb, and hopeless.
So, this is where NEST had led her. Hell, basically, and Lockdown was the Devil. She was captured; separated from her son (which she no idea if he'd even survived this far). She had no job, her house was probably under observation, and she officially had no life in the system—she was dead to the United States, handed over by her own kind, and now she was going into outer space, where she was going die. Die, that was, if Lockdown allowed her to die. He would keep her alive long enough to break her strength and resilience and resolve. He'd keep her alive to keep Optimus alive—and he'd kill her soul in the process. The threat of being an experiment, a slave, an explorative prostitute for an alien bounty hunter, and being suspended into the air on a podium to be put on display by her other fellow prisoners during the process; would've broken a lesser woman.
Mira was determined, however, that she would not be a lesser woman. At least not yet.
"Mira," Optimus said, again. He'd been trying to talk to her after her screaming fit, but she'd ignored him. She just sat, now, legs crossed and watching the entrance with hatred and a shred of hope less than the size of the smallest atom science had ever known. She bowed her head, having tied her hair into a loose side braid, and closed her eyes.
Oh Lord, what am I going to do? I'm…I'm basically in hell. What's going on? Where are You? Jesus, I need you now more than ever—get me and Optimus out of here, watch over Merrick and Bryce. Forgive me for dragging Cade and his sweet girl Tessa into this…help me forgive her. I…I just don't know what to do….
Her prayer was like a run on sentence; fueled by a fire that would never die. Her heart was hammering inside her chest cavity like an earthquake rattling within her. She felt as if she'd vomit her very being onto the podium in front of her.
Optimus tried again, "Miriam. Do not lose hope," he stated quietly. She turned her head to look at him, a stony cold expression on her face, "we will get out of this. The Autobots will not let Lockdown leave without a fight—we have overcome much more than this."
She looked away. "I—I lost Merrick. I failed," she whispered, hardly audible. She pulled the comm from her ear and fingered it, then reached up for the Shield, "and I have let the Shield fall into enemy hands. I…I have failed everyone."
He sounded hurt, "Do not say that, Mira. You have not failed. You've stumbled, but you can be picked back up." She turned to face him full on now, and unlooped the Shield from around her neck. "If anyone has failed today, it is I. I was unable to protect you from Lockdown, or from any of this," he looked away from her, still upside down, "And the Shield is still in your possession, so do not consider it a failure. Until it falls away from you, it is not at danger. It is in Autobot hands."
This made her heart swell. Tears began to pool in her eyes, and she pushed her glasses up on top of her head. Swiping at her eyes, she released a shaky breath, unwilling to sob in front of Prime again. She did her best to speak, "You…you still see me as an Autobot?"
"What a ludicrous question," Optimus chastised, "If you are not an Autobot, than I am not Prime. You are more of an Autobot than most of my kind could ever be, Mira. Do not doubt your worth—it infuriates me that you would even ask such a question!" His voice was strong, filled with chastising venom that stung the open wounds of her emotions.
There was a gruff snort behind her, and she stood, looking over her shoulder at it. The glowing red eyes, still amazingly frightening, seemed softer now, confused. Mira studied them, and found an imprisoned and hurt sorrow there that broke her very heart for the creature. Obviously Cybertronian by the features of his face, she bit her lower lip and looked over her shoulder. Optimus watched her, and she swallowed thickly. Locking eyes with the being, she blinked once.
"You will be free. So long as I am the Keeper of the Matrix of Leadership, you will be free."
The being just stared, and snorted.
