Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, only Kate.

Transmissions are in bold/italic.

Transmissions + speech are in "bold/italic."


Chapter 3: Daring Escape


Kate was grateful for the time spent with Optimus, even if Cade was hovering. But what did she really expect? Her sparkmate needed to be repaired so she'd just have to wait, patiently, for that alone time they so desperately missed.

Really, it amazed her that Cade had gone a good twenty-four hours without sleep; now bordering on forty-eight. Even on her best days, she ended up being a grumpy mess. Cade had offered her his couch on the other side of the barn—"Some nights I sleep on that thing more than my bed: old faithful. Never have had a bad dream on that couch," he had declared with a wink. After sharing a glance with Optimus—and his affirmative nod—Kate had gratefully snuggled under the moth-eaten blanket and passed out. Though, every now and then, her ears perked up, catching snippets of their conversations.

"Took a hell of a hit, you know," Cade had said. "The missile just missed your power source."

"We call it a Spark. It contains our life force and our memories."

"Yeah, well we call it a soul."

Know it alls. She had snickered to herself before sleep took her.

"Cade, why are you willing to help me? To help us?" The sound of her love's voice had stirred her again: with a leap of her heart, her memories flooded through her, reminding her that he was alive, moving, and being repaired.

"I guess, maybe, because you trust me to." The mechanic had responded.

And, again, she had fallen into unconsciousness; her heart lighter and full of hope.

Kate had no sense of how much time had passed when she heard the commotion outside the barn's walls. Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself in darkness; it took all her strength not to scream.

"Shh, Kate," the steady whisper of Optimus's voice certainly helped ease her nerves.

"Where—?"

The arm cradling her body shook her, gently warning her not to move—not even to breathe. Kate found her eyes searching the darkness, someplace above her, for Optimus's blue optics. When she found them, the tightness in her throat eased. Yet, her ears grew more sensitized; they picked up raised voices nearby. A wooden board creaked above them, presumably from a footstep, and all the pieces clicked together: trouble. The people—and Cybertronian—hunting them had discovered their location.

My money's on the sleaze-ball assistant. Kate rolled her eyes. Her hands ran down Optimus's forearm, gripping his steel plates, focusing on something tangible to touch so her anxiety didn't spiral out of control. She hated enclosed spaces. She hated the government. She hated they were after the love of her life. Why can't they just leave us alone? Couldn't she sign an affidavit or something that swore they would go into hiding and never been seen again?

"You're gonna shoot my little girl?"

Kate's ears picked up Cade's distress—Tessa's scared screams. Without thinking, she let go of Optimus's arm, sitting up and putting her ear against the oil pit shield. Lowlife scum! On second thought, maybe it was anger that she was holding back.

"Look, I don't know. I told you everything that I know! He's gone. He left. He was in the barn, I swear to God! Just let her go!"

Her heart went out to Cade: he was trying his best to protect them, but he wouldn't keep up the charade with his daughter at risk. Kate wouldn't let that happen.

"I'm telling you the truth! He was in there!"

"Dad!"

Once again, she locked eyes with Optimus.

"Tell him to get away from my little girl, now!"

"Dad!"

They knew what needed to be done.

"You touch her and I'll kill you!"

Optimus moved with a forceful speed and elegant grace, bursting out of the oil pit, setting Kate on the ground, and unfurling his weapons, all in record time. He shattered the barn door, drawing attention to him. "Here I am!" he bellowed as he let off several bullets, shooting in the direction of where, presumably, Cade, Tessa, and Lucas were.

Kate emerged quickly from the barn, confirming her suspicions in the chaos: Cade and Tessa took cover at the base of a tree, screaming as weapons volleyed back and forth from Optimus to the government team. She couldn't see where Lucas had gone, though she assumed he was close. Several men noticed her, racing in her direction, shouting out that she had been spotted. Kate let the anger that she had been suppressing moments before grow; its heat fanning the flames of her rage. She reached back inside the barn, picking up the nearest object her fingers wrapped around: a metal bat. Without remorse, she swung it at the first man, knocking him unconscious and causing him to drop his weapon. Picking it up, she opened fire.

Optimus's voice echoing across the property brought her out of her red haze. "Cade! They're going to kill you! Get out of here!" he shouted. Kate spotted the family a few yards ahead of her, down the driveway, running as quickly as they could from the commotion. She dropped another man, tucked the gun into her chest, and followed them.

The telltale whistle of missiles being launched made her throat tighten. She sprinted faster, but still was miles behind the group. Shit, shit, shit! she cursed, knowing she wasn't safely out of the missiles' ranges.

"Kate! Crouch!"

Quickly, she did as she was told, curling herself around the weapon and into a ball, taking extra care to tuck her head. Her hair whipped as she closed her eyes and held her breath. I hate this. Metal whirred around her, shifting and clicking in rapid succession as Optimus shielded her, transforming into the Peterbilt. Her feet left the ground, and, for a moment, she was airborne before being firmly dropped into his passenger seat.

"You know I hate that anymore," she grimaced, rubbing the back of her neck and fighting off the bout of nausea that had suddenly flared in her stomach.

Optimus chuckled, speeding to catch up with Cade, Tessa, and Lucas.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm getting too old for this shit," she quipped, her voice thick with sarcasm.