Ch. 63

Miko had her arms crossed and her face in a frown as Bumblebee walked in, the yellow mech beeping to ask what was going on.

"Miko's been asking Starscream for a jet ride," Raf shrugged, "and he's not saying 'yes' or 'no'."

Jack chuckled, "It's actually kind of funny how mad she is."

The girl growled, "Well what's the point of having wings if you're not going to fly around with them?!"

Starscream smirked, "Patience, little Miko," he purred, "perhaps one day you'll get to ride in a jet. But I highly doubt you'll be commandeering my seat and controlling my gauges. Sorry."

Miko glared, "You're not sorry."

Bumblebee whirled softly to her, letting Raf translate, "Now's not the right time to think about that," the boy told her, "We should wait for Agent Fowler to come back and tell us that it's safe for Starscream to go anywhere."

Breakdown hummed, "Is that where we're at?"

"For now," the seeker shrugged.

A loud truck honk down the tunnel made everyone turn and Miko gasped, smiling, "It's Optimus! He'll give me the green light!"

The girl ran to meet the Prime as he entered the room, the mech transforming as she waved, "Optimus, Optimus!"

Optimus cycled his optics slowly, "Yes, Miko? Is something wrong?"

Miko smiled wider, "I just wanted to see if Starscream was clear for take off! I want him to give me a bird's-eye view of Neveda from, like, thirty thousand feet."

The seeker rolled his optics as the Prime smiled gently, "Yes, Miko, Starscream has been cleared by General Bryce due to reports from myself and Agent Fowler. He is given permission to go for a flight."

The girl cheered and ran back to the silver mech, "So, how are we going to do this?! Do you want to transform up top and I'll climb in? Or maybe you can toss me in the air and transform around me? That would be sweet!"

Starscream groaned, "Where's Bulkhead when you really need him?"

Bumblebee beeped, saying Bulkhead was stock taking with Arcee deeper in the base; Breakdown chuckled, "Stock taking? Or taking stock of what he's broken?"

The yellow mech shrugged, beeping to indicate both.

Starscream sighed, "Alright, well... how did the talks go over? You said I've been cleared. Is there anything else?"

Miko glared up at the seeker, "Hey! Don't try to get out of this! I saw some flight suits down in the storage area, give me five minutes and we're going to show gravity who's boss!"

The girl ran off, leaving Starscream to shudder, "I will hide from her..."

Optimus shook his helm softly, "There is very little for you to be concerned about, Starscream. General Bryce, though cautious, was glad to hear that those within Decepticon ranks are forfeiting their positions to join the Autobot cause. He has only asked that we maintain our 'robots in disguise' status and think very carefully about how to begin and end battles, especially when concerning human lives."

The seeker hummed, "So... neither of you mentioned my bit of... pre-knowledge?"

The Prime smiled, "Agent Fowler and I decided before the meeting that General Bryce may have a hard time accepting your ability. We... omitted the information for your benefit."

Starscream grumbled, hiding his faceplates as he muttered a quiet 'thank you'.

Optimus nodded lightly, "You are welcome. And do not worry about Miko. If you would prefer to go for a flight without her, you may make your exit through the lift to the roof. I will talk to her."

The seeker glanced at Breakdown and shrugged, "You know, I'm not really in the mood. And if she continues to persist..."

The blue mech laughed, "Wow, really?"

Starscream crossed his arms, "She does seem to think I can circle the state in under twenty minutes. I happen to like her praises. But I would need to get over the fact that there would be a..."

Breakdown chuckled, "Small."

The seeker nodded, "Yes, a small..."

Bumblebee whirled, adding the word 'excited'.

Starscream shuddered, "Excited..."

Raf cringed, "Screaming."

The silver mech's wings dropped, "She would be screaming..."

Jack smirked, "Human."

Starscream clacked his claws together and shook his helm, "Well, this has been a grand insight. I think I'll be taking my leave now."

Miko ran into the room, fitting her arm down the sleeve of a flight suit and adjusting the fit, "See? I knew we had one! C'mon, Screamy! Let's break the sound barrier twice over!"

The seeker's optics widened and he whimpered. It was in moments like these he wished his life saving hiccup could displace him elsewhere.