Finally, another MECH encounter for Zelda ;)

This chapter spans over the course of three episodes but two of which aren't all that forces on as Zelda is in neither of them, which, ironically, were both MECH episodes, lmao.

Chapter 10:

Encounter with Silas

(S1, EP 16,17&18)

Sneaking through air ducts was a familiar pass time for me. I had almost missed it! But geared up in my old D.A.A equipment felt strange. It had been a bit more than two years since I had worn this. It was…odd, to be wearing it again.

Still, I crawled onwards, Logan had called for my assistance on something old school for us. True that the D.A.A had shut down but that didn't mean we weren't for hire I suppose.

Behind me, Capricorn kept close.

I turned left when the directions Virgo had uploaded said to.

=This is both the highlight of missions while simultaneously the worst part,= I grumbled.

Capricorn snorted, =The hard bit always comes after.=

=Hear hear,= I sniggered and Virgo sighed on the other side of the commlink.

The vent opened up into a large compartment, and the metal turned to grating. I looked up then down below to see the two large spinning fans. Honestly, I had no idea how air conditioning worked on such large scales, but this seemed overkill for a corporate building. Although, I suppose since they have three entire basement levels it must relate to that somehow.

I sat back as Capricorn followed my example and crawled from the duct. We took a moment to originate ourselves before scaling down the ladder that skimmed unsettling close to the lower fan. We needed to get into sub-level three.

=That was precariously close,= Capricorn muttered, =I did not like that.=

=Ditto.=

We crawled into another vent once we reached the bottom of the room, this time with Capricorn in the lead.

Eventually, after crawling as far as we could in the vents, we reached the point it was impossible to go any further. So with only the night mode lights illuminating the concrete hallways, we slipped from the vents.

It was eerily silent with only the buzzing from the lights above us. Once again Capricorn took lead and I followed, we were looking for a door labelled IT Suite. If the tip that we received was correct, the real good stuff was hidden behind a wall in that room. The jackpot so to speak. It had all the information we needed to collect.

We picked the lock and slipped into the room. It was cold, as to be expected with the number of computers running in here. The blue lights set the mode.

=I can't help but feel like movie a character sometimes,= I noted as we searched for the switch to open that hidden door.

Capricorn choked on a laugh, shaking his head, =Honestly, Scorpio. Your life is a movie plot.=

I pouted but, =I suppose your right…=

=I mean, everything to do with the D.A.A, then aliens of all things. It's every person's fantasy, isn't it? To be that chosen one.=

I groaned, shuddering, =Don't fragging call me that.=

Capricorn barked out a laugh again, =But it's the truth, no?=

=That only makes it sound more cringy.=

=Oh chosen one, can you hurry it the fuck up?= Virgo drawled and Capricorn burst into more laughter.

=Virgo!=

I tapped my index on the yellow railing back at home as I listened to Optimus recount what had happened within the last week. That Breakdown had been in danger, Arcee and Jack—that Jack's mum had been targeted, that M.E.C.H was involved with both…

Unable to stop the breath of relief, I slumped over, forehead knocking on the railing.

"You are—mostly calm," Optimus observed, and I couldn't help the bitter laugh, feeling a swell of emotion inside my chest. Annoyance, anger, defeat—M.E.C.H just had to stick their noses in, didn't they? It was the worst possible outcome with the organisation learning about Cybertronians.

"I'm," honestly, I'm not sure what I was feeling. It was a bundle of nerves and the fright of the could-have-been, "okay, I think. I'm sure it'll hit me later but Logan, uh, Logan gave me some perspective the other week so I'm trying to wheel that anger in a bit."

"But you are reasonably worried about Breakdown and Arcee."

With a quirk of the lips, I huffed out a laugh, "Hard not to be."

Optimus hummed and offered a servo, "Perhaps a visit to the roof?"

What's better than some cuddle time with Optimus?

We ended up someplace humid, it was still America I believe but Primus, was it a sticky heat. I had to immediately shrug my hoodie off and tie it around my waist.

The reason we were out here scouting was to find the strange beacon that looked to be of Cybertronian origin, but, as always, we proceeded with caution at the unfamiliar signal. With everything that had happened recently, I wasn't surprised at the wary approach Optimus wanted us to take.

I was expecting at least one Decepticon to appear. Maybe Knockout? But we'd probably hear him from a mile away from how he'd be complaining about all the dirt and humidity effecting his paint job.

I stifled a grin at the thought, Knockout being obsessed with his appearance was just so point for his character that not hearing him make a single complaint about earth was weird.

As we walked, eventually the forest thinned out a bit and revealed a mountain valley pass. A river cut through but there was enough embankment for Optimus was comfortably walk on. There wasn't much of a worn path, being so far from any sort of civilizations, but with Optimus and Bumblebee in front, it was easy for me to navigate.

"Despite how humans are positively ruining the world, you can't deny the beauty," I remarked, enjoying the view. The sun's rays were reflecting off of the water and the trees were rustling in the wind, the distant sound of birds and other animals filled the air.

Bumblebee laughed; I like it, but I don't think I like the mud.

Optimus turned with a smile, "There is no denying the beauty your planet has."

We carried on walking. There was a cliff not to far now, the river tumbling over the side in rushing motions, it's sound soothing to the ears.

Then, rocks tumbled, and guns were fired.

Bumblebee went down, electricity sparking along his frame.

Shocked, I instinctively ran for him, but the ground exploded, and I went flying while Optimus went tumbling over the edge of the cliff.

"Fuck!" I hit the ground rolling, sharp rocks and debris digging into my skin.

Movement had me scrambling. Agony, my muscles locked up and I crashed back on, shaking.

"Well, well, well," came a recognisable voice.

I gasped for breath, lungs spasming as the tase wore off. Bitch. I glared at Silas as I pushed myself up.

"Not what I was expecting but I suppose I should have," he purred, leering as he approached, "The little experiment, here with her aliens buddies."

Spitting at him, I counted the MECH soldiers that crowded Bumblebee, who was still out from the shock to his system. I was, admittedly—as much as I hated to acknowledge it—out numbered.

"I'm going to kill you like I did Aven," I told him calmly.

"I'm sure you will," Silas smiled, fiddling with the taser gun he was holding, "But you see, you're not in control here."

Fingers curling into tight fists, my charm around my neck tremored, feeling my desire to summon it.

I could tell Silas had only a handgun on him which was strapped to his thigh and the tase gun in his hand. He likely had a blade somewhere hidden.

The other MECH soldiers looked to have a mix of tase and bullet guns.

Do I risk it?

Bullets would do little to Bumblebee, nothing more than dent his armour which was easily fixed. But I was vulnerable to bullets. One wrong move and I would be dead.

"What's your goal here, exactly?" I questioned, "What are you trying to achieve?"

"Achieve?" Silas smiled, "You already know this, a new world order and I'm going to use your friends to do so."

"A new world order?" I scoffed, "A world where a meglomaniac rules over the masses inflicting pain on those that don't conform? Yeah right."

My head snapped round, cheek pulsing from the punch. Ow.

I laughed, couldn't help it! "Think I can't take a punch?"

Silas swung again and I stumbled back, spitting the blood from my bitten tongue. C'mon Optimus, any day now.

"It's pretty pathetic honestly," I giggled, "MECH wants to take over the world but in the thirty odd years you've been around, just how far have you gotten?"

"Shut up!" He backhanded me with the gun, my head rang as I got a mouthful of dirt, yuck.

I spat the dirt out, chuckling still. I rolled over, grinning, "I mean, it's—"

He stomped on my stomach, and I wheezed as he ground his heel in, "You're nothing but an escaped lab rat. You have nothing left. MECH killed your entire family."

Fuck. No. Screw this.

I latched onto his foot with my robotic hand and squeezed, feeling the bone give way as Silas screamed. Guns turned in our direction, but I had already called on my armour. I flared my wings, sweeping them into a shield in front me as I returned the stomach stomp to Silas. I kicked his head just for funsies.

I snatched the handgun from Silas's leg and began firing.

Bumblebee's bond flared to life once more and he swat at the MECH soldiers, what the frag happened?!

"Explanation later! Just deal with these guys first!" I yelled and launched myself into the air, avoiding gunfire and swiftly took refuge behind Bumblebee's leg as he fired his blaster. Earth flew into the air; MECH soldiers went flying and it didn't take long for them to flee.

Half of me wanted to rush after them, the other listened to Logan's words.

Everything fell silent once more.

MECH again? Bumblebee groaned.

"Unfortunately," I folded my wings away and rushed to the cliff edge, peering over to seeing Optimus climbing up. Relieved that he was not still unconscious, I chucked the handgun aside. No MECH soldiers had died, so all that was left was upturned earth and a few stray guns that had been dropped—beside the one I just threw anyway.

"My guess is they made that beacon to lure us or even a Decepticon out," I remarked as Optimus pulled himself over. Bumblebee helped Optimus over that last bit, and I watched as his cycled air through his vents, entire frame heaving from the climb, "Are you okay Optimus?"

"As well as I can be," he soothed, "What about you, Bumblebee?"

Bumblebee rolled his shoulders, looking down at his servos, I feel kinda tingly? That was some serious voltage they hit me with.

"Best let Ratchet check you out, huh?" I smiled, adrenaline beginning to drop.

As Bumblebee explained what happened to the other Autobots, Ratchet gave him a check-up. June had initially fretted when she saw the state I was in, applying some medical treatment to my bruises.

"Aw! I missed the action again!" Miko huffed as Bumblebee finished retelling his side of events.

"May I ask why you went with them in the first place?" June asked, which—I am an adult?

I bat at June's hands absently, amused by her worry, "Don't worry Ms Derby, I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."

She began patting my messy hair down. June was really mollycoddling, and I would like to state again that I am an adult.

"Please, don't be so formal Zelda, call me June," said woman smiled.

"Oookay," I agreed, hoping that would settle her down from her coddling. Nope. So I did the next best thing—flee to Ratchet's side, silently begging him to let me onto his shoulder and get away from June. He cocked an optical ridge at me but humoured my awkwardness.

Thank God.

I get a text from Soundwave half an hour later once the kids and June had gone home and I'd retired to my room to freshen up.

'Why exactly was Airachnid magnetised to Breakdown's back?'

I snorted with laughter, 'Seriously? C and Bulk didn't tell us there! The device was a polarity gauntlet, metal attracts metal ;)' I then added: 'C and Bulk fought them while stuck to each other.'

He sent an eye roll emoji, which was promptly followed with: 'Breakdown wouldn't stop cracking puns and it really pissed Airachnid off.'

'So spider lady joined up with you lot? '

'I trust her as far as I can throw her,' a beat, 'Which is probably quite far now that I think about it…?'

I giggled, 'You sure you're not out of practice? You hardly leave the Nemesis for work-related things.'

'I'm overworked :(. Megatron works me down to the bone, as humans would say, of which I do not have.'

'Down to your protoform? Cables?' I threw out, humouring that line of dialogue, 'How often do you even recharge?'

'Lazerbeak does not think I recharge enough, so probably not a healthy amount. I still go on Cybertronian solar cycles rather than earth ones. Makes getting my jobs done easier.'

I frowned, that didn't sound healthy, 'Maybe you should change that? At least recharge every other earth day?'

Cybertronians didn't require sleep as humans did. They could, in human terms, go days without sleep. But the Autobots personally had adjusted their recharge patterns since arriving to be somewhat more in line with earth, a few joors a day was easy enough to do. True they could last for three Cybertronian days without recharge as a standard, but that didn't mean it was advised. I had a feeling Soundwave went beyond that. Idiot. Honestly.

'Your words and worry are appreciated. I shall, approach this with Megatron?' I could hear the hesitance and snorted.

'You're his favourite, when has Megsy ever said no to you?'

'True,' I felt the smugness radiating from that text alone, 'So how was your day?'

I groaned, 'Oh you would not BELIEVE what happened—'