Crossing the River
Kindling
"So why are you going by Whisper? What happened to you Iren?" Majory asked as we walked to the lunch room.
"Maj' now is not the time, alright? We're in public and I'd rather not talk about it right now," I said, sighing.
"Iren, please… don't you trust me any more? What happened to us spilling are guts to each other?"
"Maj' not here…"
"then where?"
"I don't fucking know alright! Now let it god-damn go already Airstrike!"
"I see how it is now."
"No! You don't! if you want to here it than your going to have to wait! This isent the Burns Unit and I AM NOT THE GIRL I USED TO BE, I have changed and the Iren you knew is dead. She died on the ranch, and I wish, oh god how I wish, that I could go back to who I was, that I could be that nieve little girl again. But I can't and i… The Whisper… Iren Flames… Whisper… what ever you want to call me… am not as… open as Iren Firestone was… i… I have a lot of secrets, and I truly trust only two people… my self and one of the allies… and… just, don't expext every thing to go back to the way it was okay? And call me Whisper, 'cause that's who I am right now,"
"'right now'?"
"tell ya later okay?" I said as we walked into the lunch room.
"whos the newbie?" epps asked as we sat down.
"wheres lennox? How'd it go?" Fig asked.
"guys, meet Majory Reaves. Maj' meet the hellions, Epps and Fig. Guys, this is Majory," I said.
"nice to meet you," was said in tandum. Everyone staired at each other for a few seconds be for we all started laughing.
"Man, that was funny!" Epps said.
"agreed," Maj', Fig, and I said at the same time. Inciteing yet another bout of laughter followed.
"what are we? Quadruplets?" Epps asked.
"possibly," Maj' and I said.
"Maybe we are just destend to be good friends," Fig said.
"Going by the pa- damn," Maj' Epps and I said.
"ill say it. Going by the past few minuets, I think you may be onto something," I said.
"the bonds of destiny-" Maj' said.
"-span miles. Aunt Mary said that right?" I asked.
"yep."
"interesting saying," Epps said.
"we know, are Aunt Mary is like that," we said.
"your Aunt Mary? Are you cousins or something?" Epps asked.
"no, we just grew up together at the ranch," Majory said. I made the sign for stop where I knew she could see it but they coulden't.
"'the ranch'?" Fig asked.
"yeah, the members of the Burns Unit and there familys all live on the ranch to avoid problems with hostage situations and stuff. Therefore we grew up together," she said.
"Airstrike, we need to talk. Now." I said. She stood up and followed me out of the cafeteria to the tarmack. I walked up to Lennox, who was talking to a mechanic about something.
"Major, I need to barrow a Humvee," I said. He looked at me, noting my aggravated pousture and Airstrike standing behind me.
"what's wrong?" he asked.
"Can't tell you. I only plan on being gone for about an hour," I said.
"alright, but I want the full story later," he said.
"I'll tell you what I can," I said.
"that's all I ask," he said.
I nodded and went over to one of the Humvees, Which had the key in the glove box.
"Get in," I said. Driving off when she jumped in the back. I drove to the other side of the island and stopped on the beach.
"out," I said.
"what's wrong? What did I do?" Airstrike asked.
"Rule eight of the Haymaker code, what is it?" I asked.
"What happens at the ranch stays at the ranch. Why?" she asked. I gave her a look.
"wait…oh, I get it."
"Airstrike, you know this stuff! You've been taught this sence you were three! I know you saw my hand signal to stop, and you still disrespected one of the key rules of the unit! I should be reporting you to Mix right now! "
"ShadowShot i-I I diden-"
"bull shit. I may not have been around for five years, but I still know you Airstrike. You knew exactly what you were doing, and disregarded my orders, non-verbal or not. Those are grounds for a court marshal and suspension from your mission, and you know it. I'm letting it go this time because I have no secure way of contacting Mix, but I will tell him when he shows up. now get back in the Humvee, we need to go back to base so I can do damage control. Thankfully I trust those two and Lennox and they know something of my past, or you would be screwed," I said. We got in the Humvee and I started driving back towords base.
"Shad-"
"Whisper. When we go back to base, you will call me Whisper. Not Iren, not ShadowShot, Whisper, is that clear?"
"Yes commander,"
"good, now go get some sleep, your up at 0400 tomarrow for training,"
"yes commander," she said. We got out and she walked in the direction of the barracks while I headed to the Autobot hanger.
"Whisper!" Lennox called.
"Yes Major Lennox Sir?" I said, walking over to him. His head snapped up at the soldier like response and he searched my face.
"come with me," he said, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward Ironhide.
"where are we going sir?" I asked.
"Ironhide, open up," he said. Ironhide opened the passenger side door and Lennox shoved me in and got in the other side as Ironhide closed my door.
"you know sir, I am perfectly capable of getting in myself," I said. Ironhide started to drive and Lennox turned in his seat to face me.
"stop that,"
"stop what sir?"
"Acting like a soldier," Ironhide grunted.
"what do you mean sir?" I asked.
"one, stop calling me 'sir'. Two, whats going on between you and Majory?" Lennox asked.
"Did the guys tell you?" I asked.
"they said that Majory was talking about the Unit and you got mad and dragged her off," he said.
"She was talking about the ranch, which is a major breech of rules. Tecnicaly she should be suspended from her scouting mission indefinitely and court marshaled. Fortunately for her I have no way of reaching her- our- superior officer so shes off the hook for now," I said.
"The ranch?" he asked.
"Cant tell you, ask the guys," I said.
"okay. So what was with the soldier act just then?" he asked.
"wasen't acting. My mindset just changed from Whisper to ShadowShot, that's all,"
"umm…okay…"
"I know, wierd but true, any way yeah, just took me a second to snap out of it,"
"okay, so you personaly are alright?"
"yeah, fine,"
"okay, cause when we get back to base Optimus has something big to ask you, I mean really big,"
"okay,"
"can I go back now?" Ironhide asked.
"Yep, thanks Ironhide," Lennox said.
"your welcome," he said as he turned around back in the direction of base.
"So haw long have you known Majory?" asked Lennox as we got out.
"my entire life, we grew up together," I said as we walked to the big communication platform setup used to talk to the Autobots. I climbed up the stairs and turned to Lennox.
"cool, anybody seen the Big Guy?" he asked one of the technicians.
"No sir," the techie said.
"okay, thanks," Lennox said.
"he's out with Bumblebee, talking," Jazz said.
"Jazz!" I said,flipping over the railing and landing on his shoulder.
"Hi Whisp, what I miss?"
"Maj' got here, tomarrows the first day of combat training, want to come and help?"
"sure,"
"yes!"
"that's enthuseasatic,"
"you've been gone for a week,"
"you missed me," he said. I don't know if it was just me but he seemed a little surprised.
"of corse I did, your my friend and the only person who knows it all," I lowered my voice to a berly adible whisper, "the only one I trust,"
"why me?"
Lets take a quick walk, okay?"
"sure," Jazz said, transforming around me and driving out of the hanger.
"okay, now we can talk," I said, sinking into the seat.
"why me? Why do you trust me?" he asked.
"because you saved my life, because you understand me, because your my friend, because you dident try to shield me, you just accepted who I was andworked with it, because you can understand my qurks and my weakneses and not think less of me, because I can tell you my secrets and know they'll be safe, because your not human and that for some reason makes it that much easyer, because you're an Autobot, and because you're the closest thing ive had to an older brother in years Jazzy," I said.
"you mean that?"
"with all my heart,"
"awesome,"
"yeah, now we should probably go back, Optimus wants to talk to me,"
"okay," Jazz said, turning around.
"hey, thanks," I said.
"for what?"he asked
"saveing my ass and becoming my friend," I said.
"Your welcome," he said, pulling into the hanger. Optimus was there and so was 'Bee. Jazz transformed around me again and put me on the plat form.
"sorry, we were over due for a talk," I said to Optimus.
"it is all right," Optimus said.
"so what is this all about?" I asked.
"we wanted to ask a question," Lennox said.
"well?" I asked.
"we don't have a laison for the Autobots yet," Lennox said.
"Everyone agreed that you were the best for the job," Optimus said.
"on what grounds? What about me makes you want me in a political situation?" I asked.
"your past," someone said from behind me. Someone very familiar. I turned around. Standing there was a man with brown hair and green eyes.
"M-Mix?" I asked, hopeing my eyes wernt decieveing me and my unkle was actualy satnding there.
"yes its me Iren," he said, walking forward and giving me a hug.
"how did you get here? how did you find me?" I asked.
"The Major gave me a call, said he knew where you were, and that he needed help," Mix said.
"thank you Will," I said.
"your welcome, now do you accept?" Lennox asked.
"do I get to keep training the recruets?" I asked.
"if that is what you want," Optimus said.
"yes, it is,"
"well?" lennox asked.
"the answer is yes,"