Chapter 3:

Intel

"It's a really clear sky tonight., He murmured.

"Yeah." She breathed, their eyes trained to the night sky that was littered with stars and the moon with the bare minimum of those white fluffy clouds, "It's surprisingly cold too."

The brunet male snorted, head falling forward as he laughed.

The ginger hissed, reaching out and whacking his arm, "Don't laugh, Adan! Seriously, it's gotta be like five Fahrenheit, Nevada don't get anything lower than ten on average!"

Adan just continued to laugh, falling back onto the sandy ground and Zelda groaned.

I woke with a sharp inhale, but continued to lay there, eyes closed. It was quiet and peaceful and warm.

I hated it.

I loathed it.

It was too damn quiet.

Which was strange because I loved the silence. Just seemed today just wasn't a day I did.

I sat up with a sharp hissy exhale, slipping from my hammock and wandered to my kitchenette to get myself a pint of water. A glance at the clock said it was half five. That was normal, it was a rare occasion I slept past five.

Once I'd made my glass of water, I pulled out my medication again, setting the bottle on the breakfast bar as I sat on a stall.

It was always a battle of whether I should take one or not.

More often than not I didn't, leaving them for more emergency situations but it properly led to more breakdowns because I wasn't taking the prescription.

I… was scared taking them.

There have been a few things I've feared over my life, most I've managed to overcome, some not as well. Howbeit, medication is the one I feared the most after everything.

Ironically enough, it's my newest fear or maybe it wasn't the tablets themselves that I feared. Maybe it was the chance I'd allow myself to fall back onto dependency, fall back onto my ways of taking them and taking them.

It hadn't started out bad—I hadn't even realised I've been taking more than I should've until I ran out of my monthly prescription too early—way too early. I kept my mouth shut but found myself becoming jittery with withdrawal.

I began to relapse to who I'd been after Ophiuchus, the paranoid and prone to violent outbursts Zelda.

The apathetic and psychopathic weapon created by MECH.

I tried my damn best to act as if nothing had been wrong but being that person was a stark contrast to what I'd slowly been becoming again during my recovery.

Aria caught onto the fact before long.

I can remember that look of disappointment on her face at the lack of trust and felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest.

I remember… I remember a lot of things that I wish I could forget.

But I can't, I swallowed a pill, and this time did so with my water.

I felt as the pill slid down my throat and grimaced, loathing it but I knew that I should take them to be on the safe side. My attitude yesterday had been unlike myself but… maybe that was just really me.

I smiled bitterly.

PTSD was a bitch.

I don't believe in God, nor do I believe in heaven or hell but not for the first time I wished there was a hell so that I could suffer for what I'd done after I die.

A distraction was necessary, so I started my morning workout routine. I'd been able to return to it last week after Aria's all clear. My shoulder was completely healed with only light scarring left behind.

I got an ache if I strained myself, but I could mostly ignore it, I'd had far worse injuries I've needed to recover from.

I swung myself up from the lower bar, spinning twice before releasing and swinging myself to the taller bar. I spun again but this into a handstand where I did the splits, turned around and fell the way I'd come up from.

The Uneven Bars were one of my favourites when it came to my excises. It helps me retain my upper body strength, a skill needed a lot more than you'd think; the D.A.A needed you physically fit for all types of jobs—even the guys did them occasionally but as far as I'm aware, I'm the only one that does it as part of my every morning routine.

There was a knock at my door. I blinked and shouted just loud enough: "It's unlocked!"

The door opened and Sides' peeked his head in just as I pulled myself into a handstand and turned to face the door.

He stared at me in surprise, just lingering in the doorway for a moment until I heard Sunstreaker question why he wasn't moving. Sunstreaker peered in himself a moment later, his response was a more controlled look of surprise.

"Morning?" I offered, raising a brow at the odd reaction.

Sideswipe stumbled in, grinning, "Awesome. I'd been wondering what they were for!"

I snorted.

"It looks like it takes a lot of upper body strength," Sunstreaker noted.

I nodded and spun, releasing the bar and stuck the landing. I raised my arms up and took a deep breath, then lowered them as I exhaled.

Sideswipe whistled and I grinned, wiggling my brows at him, he sniggered.

"What's up?" I finally asked; it was only… I snagged a glance at the wall clock. Oh, it was half seven.

"We came to see if you were up yet. Ratchet asked us to come get you, said he had something to talk to you about regarding the All-Spark," Sunstreaker answered.

"Right this second?"

"No," A shake of the head, "But it seemed important."

I nodded, "Let me take a shower first and I'll head on over."

I got affirmatives from them both and made a quick dash for the bathroom.

Honestly, they should stop being surprised by Zelda, the femme just kept whipping out new things about her and at this rate they'd never not be surprised.

Sideswipe grinned all the same because something about that constant surprise left him wanting to know more about her. It was like… there was a human phase, he was sure, something about an onion and as you peel it, there's just another layer there.

He wasn't quite sure, but he could understand the general gist of what it was meant to mean.

His brother approaching a desk of photo frames drew his attention. He sent a questioning pulse; he received a tug in return. Sideswipe did as he'd been silently asked and followed until he stood beside his brother.

The majority of photos consisted of team members, a few of an older pair with a young Zelda and Aria which clued them into the fact it was likely their creator and carrier. Another of a few other adults with them, likely teachers. But there was a darker-skinned boy, that from the looks of it was the D.A.A member's age but they'd never seen him.

He wasn't the only one they didn't recognise—there was a brunet boy, often in pictures with either Zelda or all of them.

It wasn't hard to see it was someone Zelda cared deeply about… but who was it? The photos made it easy to see they were close, possibly even more than friends.

Was… was this Adan? It clicked in unison. An odd feeling settled in the twin's chassises at the thought because Zelda looked at Adan with this adoration, like he was one of the only people that kept her afloat—that gave her purpose.

But it didn't actually answer the question of whether it was Adan or not.

~Who knows, Sides~ Sunstreaker murmured across their bond.

~The D.A.A members~ Sideswipe pointed out, ~We could ask Zelda when she gets out~

Sunstreaker sighed, ~I don't know if that's a good idea, Sides~

Sideswipe tilted his helm in confusion, ~Why don't you think so?~

~Remember her reaction to her nightmare? And the day following?~

Oh.

~Yeah, oh~ his brother responded dryly.

~Still~ he argued.

Sunstreaker vented heavily, ~Then it'll be your fault, got it? If we get scolded for putting her in another bad mood, I'll be snitching exactly why to Optimus~

Sideswipe grimaced. Optimus had approached them the last Earth night-cycle, after Zelda had retreated to her room, about her reaction and if she was—not exactly hostile, more snappish—at them for asking.

Sunstreaker hadn't missed the way Zelda had been avoiding Aria, the shorter twin often sending her sister worried and empathetic looks when Zelda wasn;t looking. It was obvious they'd missed something happening between them.

It was likely Zelda didn't even share her chargefight with Aria. It was…

(His processor had picked up the slight redness in Zelda's eyes when they'd found her in the kitchen that morning. It was obvious she'd been crying)

Sunstreaker wasn't sure what to think because humans, despite their similarities to Cybertronians in some ways, were vastly different too. It was odd for him to think that human twins didn't share bonds like he and his brother did or any bonds at all.

That Aria didn't know what Zelda was going through and that Zelda wouldn't share…

But from what they'd heard and seen, why? Why didn't Zelda share—she held Aria in such high regard, like a lifeline in some ways that it confused them why she didn't want to share what she'd seen in her chargefright.

~There could be plenty of reasons, Sunny~ Sideswipe offered.

Yeah, that might be true but…

~Something doesn't seem right, okay?~ he answered, ~They're pretty attuned to each other, so why?~

The door of the bathroom opening snapped them out of their bond speak and Sideswipe didn't answer, he wasn't sure how to answer truthfully.

As Zelda stepped out of the bathroom, she was drying her hair still but was completely dressed in some loose black jogging bottoms and a white tank top, which gave them the entire view of her cybernetic arm. It was fascinating to look at, especially since humans hadn't supposedly gotten that far along with prosthetics yet—so how did Zelda have one?

She rolled her right shoulder, and their optics were drawn to the meeting of skin and metal where there was scar tissue. It wasn't unsightly, but it definitely wasn't pretty.

Zelda sighed softly, a healthy red flush coated her cheeks as she pottered over to her cupboard, pulling out a pair of socks.

She finished towelling her hair and pulled on the socks she'd taken out, slipping on a pair of shoes.

"Hey, Zelda?" Sideswipe voiced; she paused her motion of picking up her hairbrush to turn to him.

"Yeah?"

Sideswipe licked his lips, "Who's this in the photo." He pointed at one of the photos of just Zelda and Adan.

Zelda frowned in mild confusion, picking up the brush as she came over. Sideswipe picked the frame up and held it out for her. Zelda stopped as soon as her eyes landed on it; she stared at the photo with the same wistful look as before, but only this time it was full of pain and guilt.

"Name's Adan, he's dead."

That was it. That was all she said before tearing her gaze away and got on with brushing her hair.

They resisted the urge to wince, the blunt way she responded and clamped down proved Sunstreaker right.

~Whoops~ Sideswipe bit his lip.

~Whoops indeed~ Sunstreaker growled, shoving his brother over the bond roughly.

"Hey Ratchet," I greeted as I trailed Sideswipe and Sunstreaker into Ratchet's temporary Med-Bay.

His holoform turned to greet us in return with a nod of his head, "Good… morning."

It seemed he was slowly getting used to Earthen greetings.

"Sides and Sunstreaker said you needed me?" I glanced at the twins when I mentioned them.

"Yes," Ratchet grumbled and waved me over; I did so. I was acutely aware of the twins following shortly behind, "I've been blueprinting a device that will hide your new All-Spark signature."

I pursed my lips, "How come I've not been discovered already if so?"

"Your signal is not strong enough yet," Sunstreaker explained, I turned to him, "You absorbed the All-Spark a month and a half ago—barely any time, really. Your body has also been recovering, and even so the smallest amount would be covered by our life signatures and ultimately blocked because we can't risk revealing our location to just anyone."

I tilted my head, noting that Ratchet had nodded at Sunstreaker's explanation. Curious, "You guys can hide your signatures?"

"Yes," Ratchet crossed his holoform's arms, "It's something we're all created with but only once we reach a certain…. age can we learn to use it. Mostly so that Sparklings and Younglings can be found in cases of emergency."

Interesting.

"If only humans had such a thing."

The number of missing children would be near non-existent. Though, that just opened up a whole other bunch of questions I wanted to ask.

"Hey Ratch'? Would you have a problem with me asking questions about your biology?"

Ratchet turned me, mirth in his optics, "I have no problem at all, your curiosity makes me happy in all honesty."

I blinked owlishly. "Happy?"

"Yes," he confirmed but elaborated no further, "But, back to the topic at servo. While your signal is weak enough to be hidden by ours for a while at most, it may eventually become too strong which is why I'm bringing this discussion up."

"I'm all good with this," I nodded, "Especially with my line of work."

Soma failed to fight off the yawn that escaped as he stretched, his spine popping at the motion. He groaned at the feelings but cracked his fingers next as he continued to scan surveillance of the MECH base he'd discovered. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of the main bases, just a storage warehouse but it was just as good. If they shut this one down, they'd be losing the contents of whatever was inside the facility.

Brown orbs flickered to the notice that popped up in the right corner informing Soma that he'd received an email.

Gemini, AKA Michel.

Soma grinned, opening his emails—he had to see this.

Michel never emailed unless it was with information, so this had to be good news, or bad, depending on what it could mean. The email opened and Soma's eyes flickered back and forth across the screen as he read. His smile slowly drooped as he continued to read.

I managed to get a hold of two locations that MECH are targeting, but not the third.

Mexico for the fusion cannon blueprints. Japan for sonic laser blueprints. 21st.

Third unknown, not high enough clearance but it seems important enough to keep from prying ears?

Soma's breath hitched as he stood, his chair rolling backwards as he quickly opened the email with his tablet, rushing out of his room. He had to tell Logan. Now.

After the mini-meeting with Ratchet, I'd bumped onto Eden on the way to the kitchen, to which he asked me to spar with him. Of course, I'd said yes, I had to get my mind off the fact Sideswipe had asked about Adan somehow.

I rolled my shoulders as I removed my shirt, Eden did the same.

Since I'd done my morning routine, I didn't need to bother with any sort of real warm-up, just did some shoulder and ankle rolls.

Eden did slightly more but it seemed he'd done his own morning routine too. He joined me on the mat, cracking his neck.

I twitched as I heard Logan approaching with the Autobots. I pursed my lips as I managed to catch a part of their conversation.

"—How comes Zelda heals a lot faster than you guys?" Ironhide asked curiously. I'd obviously missed part of the conversation.

There was a short pause before Logan spoke, "Ratchet is already aware, but Zelda is… well, she has these enhancements. Because of them her body can take more and heal quicker. It's a lot more complicated than that but that's the gist of it."

Ratchet made a sound of agreement.

"But I'd rather not give any more details. It's for Zelda to share herself," Logan stated. I was thankful, "I'm sure she'll tell you in time, I mean you managed to gain her trust in the short time you've known her. I was amazed by that, considering—" He cut himself off from saying anything else, likely because he knew I would be able to hear him.

But he was right, I did trust them. I'd trusted them a lot quicker than others.

(I shouldn't though, and they should not be trusting me. But I trusted them either way, stupidly enough—I just can't not.)

It was strange, I'd known my sister and the others all my life but after Ophiuchus, it took me time to open up with Aria once more, to tell her everything they'd done and made me do.

I exhaled.

"Considering?" Sunstreaker echoed. I could picture him raising his holoform's brow.

"Considering everything she's gone through. As I said, in time Zelda might willingly give the details up, but until then just try not to push her," Logan murmured, "Last person that tried to do that got a broken sternum, we stopped her from doing worst."

I pursed my lips at the topic, it wasn't something I wanted to think about, let alone speak of. Everything in the D.A.A, and related, referred to it as Ophiuchus both formally and non-formally because that had been one of my designated names during that period.

"Zelda," I glanced at Eden and saw his own gaze on me with a silent question in them.

"Fine."

He nodded.

I let out a deep breath, I wasn't that person—not anymore. I shook my head, letting out another deep breath as I decided to distract myself a little longer by doing some more stretches while I waited for Logan, Aria and the Autobot's holoforms to arrive.

But still, telling Sideswipe and Sunstreaker or Ratchet didn't seem too out of this world for me. While I trust Optimus, Ironhide, and Jazz too, I'd not had enough interaction with them yet. But I'm sure that will change in the future.

Aria was last to arrive, carrying a notepad and pen. I greeted her by quickly running over and pecking her cheek. I murmured a quiet sorry to which she bumped her forehead against mine.

It's fine, was silently said. I smiled in relief.

"Alright, it's up to you guys how far you take this," Logan voiced, crossing his arms. Eden and I looked to one another, agreeing without the need for words. We knew each other's limits.

"You know the basics, no injuries that could put someone out of commission, etcetera," Logan started again, we gazed back to him, "Loser will state mercy when beaten."

We nodded.

Eden and I got in place, a nice distance between us. Logan counted down, we circled around, I lightly dragged my feet as I did, tensing my muscles and loosening them as I acutely watched Eden as he did me.

"Aw come on, guys!" Mia whined after we spent a full minute doing that. She was baiting us, and we all knew it, but that was just how Mia worked, "You're just gonna keep circling or what?"

It was a split-second decision for both of us, we moved forward in unison. I feinted left, then right before actually going left. It got Eden, I used the opening to harshly jab into his side, spinning to knee his back.

Eden stumbled from the attack but quickly got his balance, turning to face me. He was swift with his assault, going for a straight-on attack. My breath hitched as I barely managed to back away in time to avoid a fist to the stomach, but he advanced, using my stumble to land a punch.

I hissed sharply as I caught his third punch before he could get me again, tugging him forwards roughly, using that opening to land my own punch. Grabbing his trousers at his hips, with a strong tug, I flip him over my shoulder; he hit the ground jarringly.

He rolled from his back to his front, I used the opening as he lifted himself to kick his torso. It was a dirty trick, but everything counted. He hissed out a cry, falling to his side; quickly rolling away from me several times to swiftly get to his feet. I backed away while standing on the ball of my feet.

As he stumbled to find balanced, I ran at him. I watched Eden's eyes widened as I leapt into the air and double kicked him on the chest, he went flying backwards. I hit the ground but flipped myself to my feet, pausing to catch my breath.

I ignored as the Autobots lowly spoke to each other with curiosity in their tones.

Eden came at me; I moved my head in time to miss getting punched. I backed away as he continued with a series of punches, barely missing by a hair width, I even felt his knuckle scrap against my cheek. I find myself stumbling again, he used that to kick my feet out. I grunted as I hit the mat, I yelped as he grabbed my hair and forcibly tugged me up.

The next moment I found my back against his chest, his arms around my armpits and hands linked behind my neck, locking my arms in an awkward angle above me, I grunted and hissed wordlessly as I tried to use my feet to kick out but as I do that, my fingers brush against Eden's wild hair and I smirked.

My fingers sunk into the strands and pull. Harshly, so harshly I'm sure I pulled some out. Whoops. It worked though, Eden cried out a "Fuck!" at the unexpected attack, his lock slacking just enough for me to slip out. I used this to my advantage and head-butted his nose.

As he stumbled backwards, clutching his nose, I kicked his feet from under him as he'd done to me. He hit the floor, I kicked his side again and he rolled onto his front. I dropped down, wrapping my right arm around his neck and pulled him backwards, a knee just right of his spine. I heard it crack at the angle.

Eden tried to get out but unlike me, he couldn't reach any part of me that would be enough to get me to let go. He goes still before hitting the mat, "Mercy."

I released him; he groaned as I stand. I grimaced as Eden rolled onto his back, his own grimace on his face.

"Sorry," I held out a hand and Eden grasped it so I could pull him up, "Sometimes I forget my own strength."

Eden waved me off as he rubbed his back, "S'fine." I laugh as Eden groaned.,"Fuck, I forgot about that power hold of yours."

I snorted out a short laugh and abandoned the mat to walk to Sunstreaker, who had picked up my shirt. I smiled in thanks as I tugged it back on. Doing the same for my socks and shoes, hopping on one foot to do so.

It got Sides laughing as I stumbled about; I yelped, nearing falling and Sunstreaker offered me an arm to hold while I put my other one on. I grinned sheepishly.

"Thanks."

Sunstreaker rolled his optics.

Soma chose that moment to come rushing, the grim look his face said it was serious. All amusement was gone from my face as the atmosphere in the room became tense. "Logan."

"Soma?" Logan questioned.

"We've got a bit of a problem."

"Two locations means two each for the teams," Logan murmured, "Mia and I'll take Mexico. You and Zelda be up for Tokyo?"

Eden nodded. "Yeah. Takes eleven hours give or take, we leave tomorrow morning, we can be there by late tomorrow night. It'd give us enough time for Soma to phone ahead and let us set something up."

Logan pulled out the Tokyo facility's blueprint, laying it out on the lightbox table. "The only few weaknesses on the sheet shows the front door, which would be too obvious, or the sewer system. It'll lead them right into the building, unfortunately."

"Why do these buildings have such stupid openings?" Eden groaned.

"It's an escape route but those tend to work both ways in cases of emergency," The blond male offered, raising both hands in an 'I surrender' pose. Eden rolled his eyes.