As always, I don't own this. I wish I did, because Beast would be mine. He's a cutie! This is a tag for the episode S1 E20 · Apocalypse Maybe. It always struck me as amusing, in the moment where Erica got out of Attack Beast yelling "I'm not that kind of girl" that Beast drove off and then Duke came in so quickly from the other side once she got in the shack. Meaning, in my mind at least that Duke wasn't in Beast. So the one she was yelling at, was in fact Beast. It entertained me for a moment and then it came up to this.

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The desert went on for miles… Broken only by a mountain range of rock, but beyond that? More desert. It was beautiful and painfully dull, all at the same time.

Erica gave out a deep sigh as she let her head drop back against the headrest, one foot propped up on the dashboard as she watched an Armadillo amble its way across the dirt, stopping to dig here and there. They had been there so long, the critter was now ignoring them in favor of finding something more interesting than a truck that was otherwise ignoring its existence.

"This is taking forever," Erica complained, yet another sigh given out, a soft chuckle sounding out around her.

"It's only been fifteen minutes. Give the man a chance to get into position," the truck pointed out, causing Erica to smirk.

"You're not usually the patient type, Beast… Who are you and what have you done with our truck?"

The massive, black truck paused for a moment before he answered. He seemed to actually be calculating exactly how he wanted to answer and what he wanted to say.

"Well there are worse places to be. I don't mind sitting out here with a pretty lady," the truck drew out and Erica rolled her eyes a bit.

"Oh cut through the bull, Beast…" Erica scolded, drawing out a chuckle from the truck.

"And where exactly was the lie?" Beast pointed out, causing Erica to smirk and shake her head a bit, relaxing once more into his passenger seat.

They were just outside of Vegas… On the trail of an Earthquake machine of all things and their resident genius had gone and done something so stupid that it left all of them scrambling to back him up. Not that none of them had ever gone off on their own before. Erica would have liked to have thought that Trek would be a little smarter than that, though…

Erica couldn't comment too much on it though. When the realization came in, of just what Trek had done and their latest scans had narrowed the location of the machine down to Vegas she had instantly seen images of slot machines and poker tables in her head. She had dressed for the mission with the thought of charming some poker player out of his winnings, not crawling around through the desert.

Duke assured her that they would put it to good use, which was what led her here… Sitting in Beast while he got into position. She would cause a scene and get attention off of Duke who was trying to get in through the back. Give herself a reason to be out there. Not a good reason, but certainly a believable one.

It would take a while for them to be ready though. In the meantime she idly, watched the world go by in the safety of Attack Beast. It was an odd feeling to be so secure. Trust someone so entirely but when it came down to it, Beast was a whole lot of truck and she felt safer in his front seat, out in the Desert than most places she had ever been. The only one she felt safer with, was her own partner and she would never admit that to the motorcycle…

She glanced back to Beast's monitor, watching for a moment as the 3D image of the truck slowly circled. It was a sign he was attentive and listening, even though she wasn't saying anything. The monitors really, only ever went dark when they were focused on something internally and not paying attention to the outside world, or they had shut down to 'sleep' so to speak. At least that was what Trek compared it to. He explained that they needed to defragment their CPUs, store information in archives and otherwise just organize their systems in a way that they could manage it without a whole lot of lag. So they reset their CPUs and recharged on a fairly regular basis. At night when everyone else was asleep was a perfect time to do that. So it was as close to sleeping as the vehicles came.

Beast, had a tendency to put it off for a while, but as of late it had been worse. He also, wasn't normally this quiet. He hadn't even tried to force his taste in music upon Erica, letting the two sit in a companionable silence instead.

"You've been quiet lately," Erica put in, causing the spinning image of Beast to pause for a moment. A sign she had caught him off guard. She prided herself in being an expert of reading people and when she was partnered up with Kat, she made it a point to learn all of the tics of their computerized partners as well. Despite her comments, despite how much they threw her off in the beginning… She made it a point to know them.

"I haven't had much to say," Beast shot back, sounding a little put off on that. He was suspicious maybe. Either way, he didn't like being questioned and he certainly didn't like talking about his 'nonexistent' feelings.

"Sure you haven't," Erica mused, watching that Armadillo as it dug around in the sand. "Funny, you haven't had much to say since that incident with Jenny… And that assassin. You know when you went-"

"I know where we went," Beast snapped, cutting her off. That wasn't like him. He didn't swoon over her as he did Jenny but he was always polite to her. He tended to be a bit more polite and mellow when it came to women. He didn't snap at her the same way he did with Duke, Kyle or Trek. If she didn't know any better, she would swear he just didn't like men.

Still, with that she silently glanced to the monitor, giving the truck a knowing look as she shrugged a bit. "I know, you know. You were there. So was I."

She turned her attention to the outside again, once more scanning the ground for the Armadillo but it seemed to have scampered off somewhere. A shame. It had been something interesting out there for a moment. She drew her gaze back to the monitor before she went on. "Did I ever tell you how scared we were? Me and Trek?" She asked, for a moment reveling in the fact that she was with a vehicle who wouldn't correct her English.

"We thought we had lost you and Duke. I can't imagine how it must have been down in the mine. I'm not too great with closed in spaces like that." She paused for a moment, dropping her head back against the seat before going on. "You always reminded me of someone, you know. Your… I don't give a shit, attitude and your ladies' man approach to life. You and Duke are more alike than you think and you're both easy to like. Easy to get along with. Even if you have your attitude days." She mused, a smirk shot at the monitor.

Beast had the good sense, not to comment on that as he listened.

"When that building blew up and we thought you and Duke were in it… I was scared… And sad… It was like losing that person I use to know all over again. Don't tell Trek I told you this but he cried a little." Erica added in, a pause given before she sighed softly. "So did I. A lot actually. Then we got our heads together and started looking. Started to realize that there would still be traces of you at least. There should have been truck parts everywhere and there just wasn't. That gave us hope."

She sighed softly, silently resting her head against the headrest again and closed her eyes. When closing her eyes like that it was easy to think that the truck wasn't a truck. That he was sitting in the driver's seat, listening. If she used that image in her head she could almost see him. She always imagined Beast would be tall… If he matched that voice, he would likely be super model levels of hot… Dark hair, dark eyes… Maybe he would look a lot like Duke because of the personality scan. She could almost see his thoughtful expression, as fingers tapped the steering wheel as if he just needed something to do with his hands… That wasn't from Duke, she realized. She hadn't been lying when she said that he reminded her of someone… That image in her head slowly shifted. The dark hair and dark eyes stayed… But the image in her head had a strong jaw and a serious expression. As if the world had beaten him down and he had picked himself back up enough times that it just wasn't fair he should have to drag himself out of the gutter so often.

The image in her head didn't look at her. He stared out of the window like he always did when he was thinking. A lot of people said that they looked alike but they both knew that they didn't… Neither one of them looked like their mother… And they had different fathers…

Erica instantly opened her eyes again, the image replaced by the empty driver's seat. Her gaze swept back down to the monitor and she could almost feel Beast watching her.

"My own mortality was not something I had ever considered before…" Beast finally admitted, and after a moment he gave out a sound that almost sounded like a sigh. She quirked a smile at that, somehow amused that the truck was starting to pick up on the habits of his human teammates. "I was worried more about Duke's mortality…"

The admission was quiet… So quiet that Erica almost missed it but she still nodded quietly. "He is a little more… Squishable than you are."

Beast made a sound of agreement, the two falling quiet for a moment, silently appreciating the honesty in that. There was no room for assurance that, that could never happen. They all put their lives on the line, every time they went out on a mission. They could very well lose one of their own, one day.

"You know if anything ever did happen to Duke… We would take care of you, right?" Erica offered after a time, causing Beast to make a soft, almost amused sound.

"Erica, I'm not designed to be without my driver. I'm not entirely sure you could." He pointed out and Erica nodded slowly, not for the first time wondering what would happen to their vehicles… What would happen to them when they were obsolete or it was time to retire the TKR project? What would happen to them when their drivers were older? When newer and younger models replaced them?

She supposed there was only one man that could answer that and the foundation rarely spoke of him…

She shook her head, pushing those morbid thoughts from her mind as she rest her head back again and closed her eyes, letting the topic drop. After a moment, Beast's voice broke through her thoughts, causing her to glance up with a questioning look. "What?"

"I said, who was he?" Beast repeated, then clarified. "The one I remind you of."

Erica gave a slow nod in understanding before she once more glanced out of the window. She looked out the window because she knew if she looked at the empty driver's seat… She would see his face again. Staring back at her.

"His name was Jackson. We called him Sonny which he hated…" Erica quirked a smile at the memory.

"Your brother," Beast clarified, gaining a surprised look from Erica. "Don't look so shocked Erica. We vehicles generally have an open reference to your files. At least basic information like family. I won't mention it to anyone else though."

"Thank you," Erica offered, a smile given as she gave out a soft sigh and nodded. "Yes, my Brother. How much does my file say about him?"

"Not much. Just that he was in the military and died several years ago," Beast offered, keeping his voice soft as Erica gave a nod.

"He was… Headstrong. Like you." Erica mused with a smile. "He also felt like he had to watch out for everybody. He was older than me so he was used to watching out for everybody… He use to make sure I was up and out the door for school. Sometimes he would be late for his own classes because he walked me to my school first. But we lived in a rough neighborhood and he didn't want me walking alone… And he didn't want me on the bus. He use to make sure that I always had food in my lunch box, even if it meant he didn't… He made sure I had breakfast and dinner… Even though sometimes he didn't… He use to get mom cleaned up when she came home from the bar… And when she brought men home and told us that this was our new Stepdad… There was… Five of those I think… He would protect me because they weren't always nice men. He knew Mom wouldn't protect me… So he did."

For the moment, Beast was silent as he took that in, the vehicle obviously thinking it over. She could tell by the way the spinning truck on his monitor slowed down.

"He turned eighteen on a Saturday. That Monday he tried to file for custody of me. They told him there was no way in hell they were going to take a kid away from her mother, no matter how bad it is there… And give her to a half-grown boy without a job and without a future. He asked them what it would take and they told him he needed a career. He needed to be stable. In his mind the fastest way to be stable was the military… He heard they put people through college. So he walked from that office, to the local recruitment center and signed up." Erica smiled softly though it slowly fell as she gave out a sigh.

"He was a good soldier. He did everything by the books. He even was able to send home enough money that there was some left over for food after Mom drank her way through most of it. He told her that he would keep paying for her alcohol… If I could go with him when he was able to settle down. She agreed… It was… Good ya know? Things were good. Things were hopeful… My Stepfather at the time was too scared to come near me because my brother wasn't afraid to pick up the phone from where he was stationed overseas and call CPS or a military contact… I wasn't going to be there much longer anyway… Things were good."

Erica blinked as something tapped against her hand, for a moment, blinking at the little wet spot with confusion before bringing her hand up to her face. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. She hadn't even known.

"I'm… Sorry Erica." Beast offered softly. "I shouldn't have asked. I didn't know it would upset you."

Erica forced a smile and shrugged it off as she quickly brought up a hand and swiped at her eyes. "It's alright Beast. It's not you." She offered softly as the truck abruptly popped open his glove compartment. Duke apparently kept it stocked for emergencies. A small, first aid kit, a bottle of Tylenol and a travel sized pack of tissue. She gratefully picked up the pack, tearing it open and reached up to flip down the mirror so that she could clean her face without smearing to much of her makeup.

Once she had herself put together again she sighed softly and glanced back to the monitor. Beast hadn't said another word, but she knew he was still listening if she wanted to talk. "Two people in dress uniform showed up at our door. We got a bag of his belongings, a folded up flag and a we're sorry about your brother. There was a lot of other BS about his sacrifice for his country and all that, but… I just wanted him. I didn't have a whole lot of options in life so I started watching people. Watching people so I knew how to manipulate them."

"I'm sorry." Beast offered again, causing Erica to reach out and pat his dashboard.

"I'm sorry I unloaded on you. I'm sure you didn't want to know about my whole life when you asked." Erica offered though surprisingly Beast was quiet for a moment.

"I don't mind. If you wanted to talk. I know you don't tend to talk too much about that part of your life but… If you want to talk I'm here." Erica smiled and nodded, a soft chuckle let out.

"And that's why you remind me of him. You watch out for us. All of us. The other vehicles… Kat and Plato at least… And I think Domino and Dante too… They kinda look up to you, ya know? They trust you to watch their backs and that's big brother territory you're getting into, my friend."

Beast considered that for a moment and when he spoke, his voice was soft again. "Thank you, Erica"

Erica smiled and nodded a bit, before glancing back out the window, in the direction Duke had gone.

"Duke's in position," Beast reported, cranking his engine as Erica nodded and sat back. "He says we should hang back just a moment, then move. Something about the big boss coming in. We have a chance to catch everyone in the same place."

"Just be ready then," Erica offered softly, glancing in the direction of their target, worry eating at her. What was happening in there? Was Trek alright?

"Erica?" Beast broke in, causing Erica to glance back to Beast with a questioning look.

"Yeah?"

"I'm still not entirely sure I understand the plan… You look nice, but how is this going to help us in the desert?"

"We want to cause a distraction and a reason for me to be there, without calling attention to us. The only reason someone would be out here is if they are looking for an armadillo… Or they're trying to get away from someone." She explained though Beast didn't sound any more certain when he spoke.

"Away from me?"

"That's part of the ruse Beast. I know you wouldn't hurt me." She assured, as Beast slowly started rolling into a position that they could get to the road easily.

"So exactly, what is the plan?"

"I'm gonna play the damsel in distress so to speak. So it's going to look like me and… Well the driver I suppose, were in an argument and he let me out, out here." Erica explained, and for a moment, Beast was quiet again. A quiet Beast usually meant he was thinking things through. A rarity from the 'shoot from the hip' type vehicle.

"Why would someone drop you off, way out here?"

Erica blinked for a moment, glancing down to the monitor as she tried to decide how to answer that. She forgot that the vehicles weren't that old… Sometimes the more obvious answers went past them when it came to humans in society.

They were sheltered.

"I'm sure you have access to crime reports, Beast… I know FLAG encourages you to study them. A man would bring a woman out here so that she feels she doesn't have a choice. Because upon taking her out, he expects certain things. When faced between put out or get out… Miles away from anything… A woman might make a choice that swings in his favor."

"She would feel she did not have a choice because she can't possibly walk home from here…" Beast clarified and Erica nodded.

"Yeah… Most human guys are jerks Beast. Don't ever be like that." Erica warned and Beast, for his credit, seemed to take that to heart.

"I would never." Beast offered after a time.

Erica smirked a bit, the suggestion that he also, would never have some strange woman in his cab and be logistically able to tell her to put out or get out didn't seem to cross the CPU of the truck.

"Have you ever…" Beast faded off in his question, not seeming to know how to ask it though Erica picked up on what he wanted to say pretty easily.

"I'm not really the one to ask on that Beast. There was a time I would give it up for a hamburger and some chicken nuggets…" Erica offered, a shrug given. "It didn't matter to me. It made no difference because the worst had already happened so, might as well get a meal and a ride out of it. It was a way to control men and… I was a con artist. Sex only helped me, so why not use it?"

Again, Beast was quiet and Erica sighed softly, before a nod was given. "Sometimes… I said no… And it happened anyway. Sometimes, I fought back and the man I was with hurt me. Sometimes… It was my stepfather. That… That, was a long time ago. I can't change what's in the past. No matter how much I want to, none of us can. I didn't have much of a family growing up but I changed that now. I have a new family. I think my brother would be happy with that. I couldn't fight back when I was growing up… Now I can. That's why, when I first came here to work the first thing that I did was have Jenny teach me some self-defense. I can't change what happened to me before, but I can take charge of my life from here on out." She pointed out.

"I suppose…" Beast offered softly and gave a huff. "It doesn't mean I can't shoot a missile at the next bastard who tries…"

Erica smirked and shook her head, an amused look crossing her expression. "And that's why you remind me of Jackson."

"And your stepfather?" Beast ventured and Erica shot him a sad smile.

"In the past… I had five. Some of them were strict… Some of them acted like they were my friend but they were really creeps… Some of them didn't even try and pretend they liked me. I don't want to talk about it, ok?"

Beast seemed to respect that though he was obviously deep in thought. He almost missed it when his communication board lit up, causing the truck to curse as he started moving.

"Alright, Duke says move." Beast announced and Erica nodded. They drove in silence up to the shack, using what constituted as a road to get up there.

As they topped the hill, Beast rolled to a stop and offered a soft "Good Luck" which caused Erica to smile before she carefully schooled her expression and opened the passenger side door.

She stepped out of the truck, her heels sinking into the desert sand as she looked back and in the direction that the driver would be. For a moment she blinked. That face was staring back at her again. It was in her head, but still, that easy smile and the way he slouched back into the driver's seat. A ghost of her brother, driving the one person who reminded her of him the most.

Erica blinked and the image was gone but still it hung with her a bit as she took a deep breath and yelled into the empty cab, "I don't care what you thought! I'm not that kinda girl!"

She slammed Beast's door shut and turned on her heel, marching away from him. She didn't look back but she could hear his tires crunching the rocky terrain and the powerful growl of his engine as he drove away. Circling back to get into position himself.

Time to go to work… The past was pushed down as far as she could push it down and it was time to get to work…