When a Grease-monkey and a Bad Cop Fall in Love:
Part 2. Hybrids and Hell to Pay.
A/N:
~Pursuit Spoiler Heavy.
~64 drabbles. Mikaela and Barricade-centeric. Events that have, and will happen in my Pursuit-verse. The storyistoldin a non-linear, out of sequence fashion.
~Original 64 from: 64damn-prompts. livejournal. com /profile
~Warnings: Probable mentions of...holo!sex and/or nanites, hybrids, religion, andmentions of violence...nothing major. If sparklings or children scare you run far away fromthis fic.
~As usual, I own nothing.3
1. consent
"Well?"
"Well what?" Mikaela hissed under her breath.
"Do you-"
"You ask me now? Little late, sweetie. But for the record, yes." she laughed squirming under his holoform.
2. profession
Mikaela looked at her youngest, Coraline, who sat on the medical table, sniffling. Her skinned knee leaked pink fluid. Mikaela cleaned the wound, and finally put a static wrap around the injured knee. "Sweetie, you need to be more careful."
"Hinder pushed me."
"Aw, I will have his father speak with him then."
Coraline groaned, "Don't tell Dad. He'll make us write out lines of code."
Mikaela laughed, "I'm sure he will, and worse."
3. lake
The "lake" outside what Cade deemed their "summer home" was still. Still at the moment. It was only a matter of time before the children where shrieking and splashing about. She might even join them this time. She had forgotten how unbearable the earth summers were. It made her sad to return home. It was never a long stay any longer. It was simply too dangerous.
She never expected them to win the war and still be in terrible danger. Cybertron was being rebuilt. The colonies were thriving, and yet it was unsafe for her and her children to say on earth for any length of time. The crazies always found them, eventually. Sadly, humans did not deal well with change. Hybrids were beyond that. Beyond the bounds of their religious fervor. Granted, there were now more than a few human followers of Primus, which she found amusing. She smiled at the thought, and enjoyed the lakeside view whilst she could.
4. bionics
Mikaela looked through the microscope at the nanites, and frowned. It was delicate work to say the least. Delicate, but interesting. She had been taking nanite samples from each of the children for years now. They were healthy, but she worried, and Ratchet had thought it would be a good idea. Hybrids were not common. And human hybrids even less so.
So she studied, and complied her results, and hoped that if it did not help her own children, it would help someone else's. As Prime said often enough, their species were bound together. There were more children from the two races than she had ever expected there to be.
Besides her own five brats, Ironhide and Sarah had three. Skywarp and Alexis had two. She shook her head at the thought. Two little Skywarps running around was more than enough to horrify any sane person... or bot. It was even more curious that they inherited their progenitors warping ability, but not their mothers afinity for datamancy. What the nanites passed from one generation to the next was always remarkable.
5. assurance
Mikaela looked at the ship doubtfully. "So...that is Valiant?"
Cade chuckled, "It is."
"And we are...ah...going to be living in it?"
"It won't be so bad."
She gave him a doubtful look. "With the children?"
"It's not a small ship."
"No. But I've never...you know."
"I know." He laughed.
6. matriculate
"So...you went to that Academy thing?"
"In Iacon. Yes, I did. So did Bee."
"Mmm...I cannot imagine. I never thought I would go to college."
"Perhaps in another lifetime." He offered. "Apprenticeship suited you better anyway."
"Mmmm...yes, it did." Mikaela barked a laugh. "Ratchet was a hard teacher. I almost feel for Annabelle."
7. situation
Mikaela narrowed her eyes, looking from Cade, to the sparkings, and then to the mess that was their living area. "I thought you said you had the situation under control."
"I do." he said in a placating tone, or at least what he hoped was one.
"THIS is NOT under control, Cade. This is a wreck."
"We'll clean it up, Aunt Kaela." Screwdriver grinned.
"Why does that make me worry even more?" she grumbled.
8. overload
The feedback bounced across the bond, sending Mikaela keening. For once she did not lose her hold on consciousness, and watched Cade find his own release after hers. It was beautiful in her eyes, the electricity dancing across his frame, and finally he off-lined as it reached a crescendo.
"So beautiful." she murmured, and grinned at him when he finally came back on-line.
9. increment
Their numbers had grown incrementally with more and more arrivals in the resent months. Mikaela have not yet met all of the new bots on earth. She wasn't sure what to think of them. They looked at Cade suspiciously, and her equally so.
10. popularity
Barricade glared at the crowd in the center of the quad. His cousin at the center. His optics narrowed as he watched the yellow bot. He hated academy, but he hated his cousin more. Everyone seemed to fawn over the yellow mech. It was enough to make him grit his dental plates.
11. brilliant
The eldest of the two sets of twins looked up at their progenitor with watery pleading eyes. They were alarmingly, bright blue, and pitiful looking. It was all an act. Clearly. An act bent on manipulating his emotions. Unfortunately, it was working. They looked far too much like their mother's.
"Fine, go swimming." he glared at his creations, as they ran off to grab their swimming gear.
"You...are the biggest softy ever." Mikaela smirked.
"Like you are any better."
"What is the rush?" Mikaela blinked up as Skywarp, and wondered why the mech was in her living room.
"Alexis. Infirmary. Ratchet needs you now." He practically flailed about.
Mikaela could only sigh inside. The seeker had been in thousands of battles. Killed mechs, and seen mechs die. Mikaela could only raise a brow that he would panic over this. "Let me get dressed. It will-"
She didn't have time to get it all up before he snatched her up and teleported them to the med-bay.
"Hi, Ratch."
The red and white mech looked at her in alarm. "We have time. You could have at least gotten dressed." He took in her purple and white pajamas in.
"I'm well aware." she gave Skywarp the evil-eye. "You would think Alexis was the first person on the face of the earth to give birth."
Warp glared right back.
13. therapy
Mikaela frowned, hiding her head underneath the covers. Even though it was muffled she could still hear her parents screaming at each other. She shivered hugging herself tightly. She hated when they fought. Hated the yelling, and even more hated when it escalated from there.
Morning came early, too early. Mikaela opened her eyes cautiously, then closed them quickly, the new days sunlight nearly painful. She pulled the covers over her head, and tried to drift back off. She was not, nor ever would be a morning person. As luck would have it, neither was Barricade.
15. pink
Mikaela bent down, looking at the little femme and sighed, there was no use, the paint wasn't coming off. She looked from Lucifer to SD and back again. "What possessed you guys to paint Bliss pink? You do realize that Starscream is gonna kill you, and if he doesn't Sam might."
Lucifer squirmed under her gaze, looking sheepish. "Sorry, Kaela." He ducked his little helm.
16. sharp
Mikaela touched one of the long, clawed digits on Barricade's servo. She slid a finger across it: careful not to cut herself on the sharp surface. He was all sharp planes and angles. It made him all the more interesting to her.
17. pinch
She thought it was an accident at first. But then he did it again. His holoform gave her a little mischievous grin, and pinched her. He laughed when she shrieked with indignation, swatting at him. "Cade, you brat, cut it out!"
"Whatever, fleshling," and pinched her again, grinning and laughing.
18. sea
The crashing waves had a purple hue unlike Earth's oceans. "Wait until you see the mercury seas of Cybertron. They have nothing on this. I promise you."
Mikaela smiled faintly, just glad to be by his side. "I'm sure. I cannot wait, my love."
19. kind
"Shhh...don't cry." Mikaela said helping the little bot to his feet. She offered him a rust stick, and soon, his tears cleared up.
"Kaela?" he blinked up at her, his red optics large in his little face.
"Yes, Lucifer?"
"I want my mommy."
"I know, sweetie, I know."
20. life
Cade watched Mikaela sleep, She slept more and more these days, The children growing inside her sapping at her strength. Ratchet assured him that both mother and child were well enough. They were thriving, even for hybrids. Which in truth, tended to be heartier than their Cybertonian brethren.
His own nanites gave him the data; they were doing well. They were all healthy, and yet, he was still terrified they would do something wrong. Even with his confident exterior, had his own progenitor felt like this?
21. settling
Mikaela looked around the suite, pleasantly surprised. She had been rather doubtful when Barricade suggested they join the crew of one of the patrol vessels. The offer of CMO had been enough to finally sway her. The other options had not been as charming.
Either way,, they needed to leave planet-side. She looked frozen in time, and it was getting harder to explain away. The children were another matter. She ran her hand through her already mussed hair.
Hard to explain, and getting to be dangerous. She was always a worried some one would kidnap one of the kids in an attempt to crack open the secret of just what they were.
As if summoned by her thoughts, the youngest twins came running in yelling at the top of their lungs. Mikaela could only smile despite the worry.
22. alignment
Mikaela sat in front of the shiny new laptop Cade bought her. She frowned, not impressed with Azeroth in the least. She wasn't sure how Cade, Bee, and Sam could be so addicted to a game, but she was willing to humor them for the time being. She glanced up at Barricade, "I will give it a try, but I would think Halo is more in your alignment."
"I can multi-task."
"Oh...right." Mikaela rolled her eyes.
23. time
Barricade checked his chronometer. He was late. Had he not been in his alt-form, he would have gnashed his dental plates together. Very, very late in fact. He cursed, it was the most important concert of the season. He was sure his family was already there, the musicians warming up. So very, very late.
24. code
Mikaela watched her oldest working diligently on the data-pad. "Got it."
"Maybe. It..." Cadence scowled at it. "Maybe. I'm not very good at writing out code. Why do we even need to learn?"
Mikaela smiled, always so many questions. "It is a useful thing to know."
"It is boring."
"Only because you make it boring."
25. priority
"I think your priorities are a bit skewed."
"Says the bot who just bought a cartload of games. Can't you just download those?"
"Where is the fun in that?"
"I don't know. All I am saying is clothes are important." Mikaela rolled her eyes. "Seriously. Do you want me to run around the base naked?"
"No, not really," he said in a sulky tone.
"That's what I thought."
26. box
Mikaela smiled looking at the package curiously. "So, what is it?" she asked, looking curious.
"Clearly, a birthing day present." Cade smirked.
Mikaela rolled her eyes, "Smart-aft."
"Well, open it."
"I am, I am." she said, peeling away the paper. She opened up the box and looked at it, puzzled. "Is that..."
"Your own plasma gun."
"Ah-wow-just what I always wanted."
27. chest
Mikaela curled against the warm metal. She smiled sleepily, her eyes half-lidded as she fought to stay awake. Barricade's engine purred in his chest lulling her further towards sleep. He chuckled silently finally feeling her drop off into recharge.
28. fear
Barricade looked up at the sky. Unicron was coming. They all knew that now. Despair was rampant. Fear was a palatable thing. Despite it they had gained allies in unusual places. They had made it through stickier situations, and they would make it through this.
He hoped.
29. fold
Mikaela folded up the remaining clean polishing cloths, and admired her work before throwing the cloths she has used in the hamper. "You look-good."
"By good I take it you mean shiny."
"Yes, that too. Good and Shiny."
"Good is not a word in my vocabulary."
"Whatever, Hellraiser." she smirked at the Autobot symbol emblazoned on his chest. "I'm getting you a dictionary application for your birthing day."
"Like you know when that is."
"As if I would have a hard time finding out."
30. headline
Mikaela looked at the headline to the newspaper as she checked out at the register. It was hard not to roll her eyes at the head-line. "California Lake Monster" indeed. She was sure Midori and Sam would both get an earful about that one. They never did learn.
31. independent
Barricade watched his younger sibling playing with the other two sparklings in Mikaela's care. Screwdriver at least was going to be very independent. She already was. It made him smile that his sibling was such a precocious creature, it served Prime right.
The little-spark was clumsy still, always falling and scraping her knee joints, but she never cried, never ran to her protector to sooth the pain. She just picked herself up and continued on.
He could respect that.
32. relation
She wasn't sure why he continued to write her. She never replied. He had tried to come to the base to see her, but she had made sure he was turned away. She knew how it would go. He would try to convince her to leave. She had no desire too.
She also knew it would be impossible to hide her relationship with Barricade even if she wanted to. She didn't, far from it. Her father wouldn't understand. She could hear the accusations he'd spew. It wasn't something she could deal with.
33. afternoon
It was a beautiful afternoons. Mikaela looked up as the sky and watched a trine of seekers wing through the air. "It's beautiful."
"Seeker mating dances always are." Barricade replied, watching the jets bank and spiral into what looked like an impossible turn.
"I'm sure." Her eyes turned to the girl, Alexis, whose eyes were fixed on the purple and black jet. "I'm sure they are."
34. compassion
He did what he could in the battles, snuffing their sparks quickly. It was the only compassion he could manage. The only compassion he could afford under Megatron's rule. A swift death was far more kind that the lingering death most of the Decepticons gave their Autobot prisoners. Still, Barricade knew in his own spark he would go to the Pit for his part in this never ending war.
35. exotic
"I like it." Mikaela said. "Gonna take some getting used to." she finally added looking at the changes in his frame.
"Glad you do." he replied gruffly. He was pleased with the changes himself. More than pleased. He found he was enjoying their time in New Vos as well. "We should stay here for a time."
"If you wish."
Ratchet watched his newest apprentice intently. She had the talent, the patience. He was proud of how fast she was picking upon things (not that he would admit that to her.) Her small limbs were an advantage when dealing with tiniest parts. There would be vorns before her training was complete, but they had the vorns. More than enough, he hoped. Provided Barricade didn't get himself slagged making the the girl off-lined.
Stupid Boy.
37. Beg
"Please."
Barricade watched his mate writhe, and smiled. "Not yet, sweet-spark."
He laughed, loving the way her breath hitched in her chest. She was always beautiful, but he loved it when she begged for it.
"Please. Cade."
"Not yet." he chuckled at her impatience. And he dragged it out as long as he possibly could, savoring each note of her pleasure.
38. join
Barricade glared at the SIC across Prowl's desk. "Are you sure?"
"How long have I been helping your cause now?"
"I just figured you would stay a neutral."
"Right." he bit out. "I figure you guys could always use another scout. And...your cause is Mikaela's."
39. interior
The bunker was slowly becoming more of a home than just a place to rest their heads and recharge. Slowly personal items began to take up space. Pictures, paintings, data-pads, and books made the place look more lived in than not.
40. domain
Barricade watched Mikaela work in the lab. She hummed as she worked, and took notes as she went along. She murmured to herself occasionally. Whatever she was working on this vorn was far from his domain of knowledge, but he still liked to watch her work.
41. councilor
Ratchet and Mikaela had grown close over the vorns that they knew each other. She trusted his council, his advice. He had helped mold her into the woman that she had become more than her birth parents ever had. To the point she considered both him and Optimus her real parents. They made her want to be the best person that she could be, not just for the cause, but because it made them both proud.
42. knapsack
Mikaela hitched the backpack higher on her shoulders, redistributing the weight. They had been walking for what seemed like forever.
"I don't see the point of this." Barricade groused.
"It's a nature walk, stop complaining... You might actually enjoy it. Besides, everyone should go camping at least once in their life. Humor me, love?" She smiled, giving him a pouting look that never failed on him.
"When do I not?" he grumbled back.
43. purple
Mikaela looked at the two children looking back at her from the gurney. The fact that they were sitting; and not running around the room, getting into things was astounding. They were hyper children, like their progenitor. They both had the biggest violet colored eyes she had ever seen. Vivid in a way that it was clear they were not entirely human. They were quiet as she took the blood and skin samples, not flinching back from the pain. No doubt their mother had drilled it int their heads that it was necessary.
44. dark
The bunker was dark by the time Mikaela made her way across the base. Crickets chirped, and an owl called out somewhere in the darkness. Mikaela ignored it as she finally stepped into her home. She was exhausted, more in mind than in body. Ratchet was a hard task master, but for once in her life she felt as though she really belongs. She felt like she was making a difference. That it was not with her own kind, she simply took it in stride. Sometimes, there was just no helping them, anyway.
45. repayment
There were times when Barricade wondered, however briefly, what he had done to deserve such a chance. He wondered what repayment he would have to pay in the after life for the chance he was given. He never doubted for a moment that it was worth it, whatever the cost. And sometimes he prayed to whatever gods where listening, be it Primus or one of the humans Gods, that it would be a very long time before he would have to pay such a price.
46. discipline
Barricade watched Mikaela fidget. These days she did not take down time very well. As she said, she had much to do, and much more to learn. He made sure that she took time off. If he didn't take care of her, no one would. She was growing just as bad as Ratchet.
47. frequenter
Barricade glared at the child in front of him. "You are lucky you did not break your neck this time."
"But..."
"Hinder. You are not a seeker. You cannot fly."
"But..."
"I don't care what nonsense Bliss has been feeding you. Stop it. You are making your mother worry, and you are making Ratchet cross..."
He considered it, "Well, more cross than usual."
The child huffed, it couldn't be called anything less, and glared at his progenitor.
48. typing
Mikaela's fingers flew across the keyboard of her laptop as she entered the notes she had taken over the course of the day. It was times like these she envied the bots internal processors. If she was able to make such files herself without going to this trouble it would save a lot of trouble. If she were honest she even envied the datamancers, like Alexis, to change a code with a thought.
Perhaps, one day!
After all, upgrades could be made.
49. outcry
When the truth of the Autobots came to the light of the populous, it changed things for everyone. Mikaela and most of the humans involved with the bots did their best to stay out of the public eye. It didn't work as well as it should have despite their best efforts. Word got out, and there was an outcry, and worse still disgust.
It hurt Mikaela soul deeply that strangers would judge her for her love. The religious zealots were the worst, sending death threats. It was frightening. More than that, she worried for her family and the other humans in her position. when Barricade proposed it, it made it so much easier to just leave the rock and go off planet.
50. damned
Mikaela scowled at the note she held out before Optimus. She had thrown the stupid thing in a bag, and had not touched it. She was becoming as paranoid as Prowl or Redalert. She couldn't care about that now.
She was tired of receiving death-threats and notes from crazies that went on ad nauseam about how she and all of her cursed offspring were damned.
51. pullout
The pullout of the Decepticon forces was not a surprise at this point. Things were not going well, even Barricade could see that. They had suffered too many defeats the past few vorns, and it worried Barricade more than anything. He worried for the cause and just as equally for Megatron's state of processor.
52. stir
Mikaela chased the children through the crowded recreation room. They yelled and screamed, whooping loudly as they avoided her. The fact that it did not cause a stir said more than anything. It was a common occurrence, and by the time she caught him they were all laughing. "Brats." she admonished them.
53. shrewdness
One had to have a certain amount of shrewdness to have survived in the Decepticon ranks as long as Barricade had. Shrewdness or sheer-dumb-luck as some would have it. Barricade was just glad he hadn't been slagged by any of the Autobots, yet. He couldn't say that they had not tried. He supposed that was where the luck came in.
54. workplace
Mikaela looked over the med-bay of the Valiant, checking drawers, cupboards and shelving units trying to familiarize herself with what they had, and what supplies she would need to procure. She took out a data-pad and sighed as she began to make her list.
55. nest
Mikaela had Barricade re-arrange the furniture for what seemed like the millionth time. He didn't complain, much to the surprise of Bumblebee. "What is wrong with her?"
"Just nesting, I guess." Sam shrugged.
"What? Oh, never mind. I don't even want to know."
56. blank
Mikaela gave Barricade a blank look. "What?"
He scowled a her and grumbled, "I didn't think it was a bad idea. I mean...I really don't think it would be a bad idea."
"Think it all you want, I don't want to...have a formal ceremony. Don't you think what we have is enough? We are on paper already, and I don't need that. I love you and what we have."
"But I took away your-"
"Hush. I wouldn't have it any other way."
57. darkness
Mikaela walked across the base towards the bunker she called home. It was never truly dark in Autobot City, and she was thankful for it. She had never liked the dark, and liked it even less walking home in it. Still, she couldn't help but look up.
The stars were barely visible beyond the faint glow of the cities lights.
58. strictness
Optimus had never been a good disciplinarian to his eldest child, and said eldest child was clearly the same. He was, as Mikaela put it, a pushover, without an ounce of strictness. He meant well. He even usually meant to make the children mind, but it really got past the "meant to" stage. They had only to look at him with big sad eyes and his resolve crumbled every time.
59. move
They reached a compromise, summers away from the base. The children, oddly enough, took the seasonal move in stride, as if they were going on a prolonged sleep over. They seemed to enjoy it. Nearly as much as they enjoyed the trips aboard Valiant.
60. hazard
She supposed it was a hazard that came with the territory-the never ending fear of accidentally being stepped on. It wasn't something they would have done on purpose, but she always worried a little bit about it. Especially around some of the former Cons, Barricade aside. She could not entirely trust them. Certainly not to be careful enough where humans were concerned.
61. optic
Barricade frowned as he made his way to the infirmary, the paint on his one optic blocking out a good portion of his vision. He was sure he was going to catch hell from Ratchet. Sometimes he wondered how Mikaela could stand working with the Mech.
62. sanction
None of them were happy with the human government's sanctions. None more so than Barricade. He was already making plans to get his family off this mud-ball. He refused to be controlled by the fleshlings, but more importantly the death-threats were scaring Mikaela.
63. newborn
Orion held the little gray sparkling in his arms, he was so very small. Elita was already in recharge, and Orion knew he would join her soon. But for now he rocked his first born. He had so much hope.
64. prodigal
Optimus watched his eldest and sighed, air hissing through his vent. Somethings never changed. Barricade was still the prodigal child he remembered. Reckless...even with his love. He lavished gifts on the girl, which Prime knew was unneeded.
Mikaela loved him regardless.