Title: When a Grease-monkey and a Bad Cop Fall in Love:
Part 3. The Decisions We Make
Verse: AU with Elements of Bayverse and G1.
Series: Pursuit
Rating: M
Warnings: Xeno. Sparklings and mentions there-of. Mentions of nanite sex. _
Pairings: Mikaela/Barricade
Summary: Love is not always easy. Especially not this.
Note: This is essentially a retelling of Barricade and Mikaela's story in Pursuit. It is told in a non-linear fashion (i.e. not in chronological order) and in the form of drabble. 64 in each part. There are a lot of spoilers for Pursuit, so beware. 3
Transformers does not belong to me. :D I just like to play with other people's toys.
When a Grease-monkey and a Bad Cop Fall in Love:
Part 3. The Decisions We Make
1. clash
While the Decepticon threat had left the planet for the time being, There was still threats to everyone's safety in the form of a more human threat. Mikaela could not help but worry about each new clash they faced. Each new threat held the danger of loss, they could not be too careful. They could not afford to be.
2. denominator
They had many things in common, love of music and speed, love for each other. It smoothed out the rough bits of their relationship, and brought them closer together if anything. They marveled in the sameness as much as they did their differences.
3. solid
The warm metal was solid beneath her. Warm. She could feel the faint hum of his spark-beat as she drifted somewhere between awake and asleep. Just drifting. She was content to do so for now. Morning was too far off. She was warm, safe, and ill-inclined to move at the moment.
Instead she curled up in the warmth and considered her present situation. It was not one that she thought she would be in. As inauspicious as it had started though, she would not change things. She did her best not to think of the things she would miss out on. It could always have been worse, she figured. She could be Sam.
4. disaster
Mikaela, though she was loathed to admit it, knew a disaster when she was one. Or more accurately when she was a part of one. Rain dripped down the back of her neck. Her hair was plastered to her head. "We should have checked the weather." she grumbled, as she tried to decide if she should get in or not.
"Just get in, I don't want you to get pneumonia again."
She ducked in, still dripping wet. "What, you don't like babying me when I'm ill?"
"I love you, but you are crankier than a turbofox when you are sick." the voice came from the speaker, just as he cranked the heat up full-blast.
"Ah, no more hikes then, not without checking the weather first. Far be it from me to be crankier than a turbofox."
5. skip
Mikaela didn't look up from the data-pad she was reading as Barricade walked into the bunker. "Ratchet's been looking for you. He said if you keep skipping your check-up he's going to-oh,how did he put it...knock you upside the head with a wrench, drag you to the med-bay, and weld your aft to an exam table. Might be in your best interest to head over there." she said dryly. "Pretty sure he meant it."
He only grunted.
She smiled when she heard him stomp right back out the door. "That's what I thought." she murmured, and wisely held back a chuckle until he was well out of hearing distance.
6. ready
"Okay, I'm ready to go." Mikaela chirped.
Barricade glared at her. "You aren't going."
"Of course I am, you guys might need a field medic. Besides, TC will keep me safe."
Barricade grunted. "You-"
"Already going, see you there."she said dashing out the door.
7. muscle
Mikaela glared, "Stop acting like I am on my death-bed. It's just a pulled muscle."
"I can feel your pain, Primus, how can you even stand it. It hurts." he said mournfully.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, seriously. It's not that bad."
"Well, don't do it again."
"Wasn't planning on it the first time, sweetie."
8. strain
Her eyes were beginning to feel the strain of looking through the microscope all day. Perceptor tutted at her, and stated, as he often did that she never took very good care of herself. She had said the same thing to him on no few occasions.
"Oh, Perce, you worry too much." she winked at him, more amused than any thing.
He gave her a little smile, "One of us has to. I fear your mate's bravado has worn off on you."
"You do know.-Those are fighting words."
9. cozy
Their room on the Valiant was small, according to Barricade. Mikaela found it to be a nice size. It was cozy, and she had everything that she needed. Granted, it was not as big as their homes in Autobot City, or in Los Angeles. It was all the same to her. The children had their own suite, which was even better.
10. somebody
Sometimes, even after all of the months they had been together, she still found it off that the somebody was him. It was not quite what she imagined it to be. She had thought for the smallest time it might be Trent, but he proved to be the biggest of jerks. Then Sam to say that didn't work. He proved to be a far better friend than love interest. Much to his protests to the contrary, she still firmly believed he was more interested in boys than her, or maybe it was just bots. It was hard to tell as far as that went. Still, she loved him for all that she was not IN love with him.
Then it happened. Something that should have been horrible. Kidnapped. Dragged god knows where across the desert. It could have been, should have been disastrous.
It wasn't. Slowly they got to know one another and something just opened between them. It wasn't just the bond. He had formed that with the worse intentions. She had taken control of it with the best. A small park of her, that she would never voice aloud simply KNEW that they were just meant to be together. It was just what was supposed to be, and oddly she was content with that. He was just that somebody, and Mikaela at least could live with that.
11. maze
The Rat Maze, as Mikaela, like most of the other citizens of Autobot City called it seemed to stretch out endlessly. She knew them well enough at this point to navigate them blindfolded. The Rat Maze encompassed the underground parts of the Autobot city. Bunkers and tunnels, generally the places the claustrophobic seekers avoided. They had their own towers that now loomed high above the ground level city.
12. observer
To the casual observer Autobot City was vast. It stretched out across the dessert behind high walls. The large administration building took up a great deal of the skyline, as well as the towers rising about it. They were painted in brown, dusty yellows, and the rusty, muted reds of the desert around it. It looked vast, but the casual observer would not see the tunnels and bunkers far underneath the ground, although the entrance leading down into the bunkers that provided the living space to most of the bots and humans cohabiting together hinted at it. Most of those were hidden by hangers and other buildings that seemed to pop up overnight. Mikaela Cade was not a casual observer. She was well aware of the city underneath that stretched out for miles.
13. dialog
Her own mate was quiet. They did not have to have a constant dialog to know what was going on, and to know what she needed to do. She knew their wants, needs, and even their plans on an intrinsic level. At most, she was used to their affectionate banter, and his witty repertoire. They had the same dry humor. It was why they meshed together so well.
It came as no surprise, to Barricade at least, that pairing her up with Bluestreak was, perhaps, not the best of ideas. He could tell already that she would be strangling him had he been an organic and not an rather large mech. He didn't agree with sending her out at all, but he was confident Bluestreak would keep her safe. Never mind that the pair they would have normally sent out, Warp and Alexis, were Primus knows where, doing the Pitt knew what. He didn't care either way, provided Mikaela came back in one piece. Either way she was eager to test something that she, Wheeljack and Alexis were working on. Something about modified nanites. He didn't understand it, or even exactly what the technopath could do. They had explained it often enough, but he didn't care enough to listen that hard. All he knew was that Alexis could make the nanites listen to her and act accordingly. Mikaela had said something about invisibility, something about Mirage, and something else about field studies. As he pointed out to her numerous times, 'Mikaela, I'm a scout not a scientist.' It never quite stuck in that brain of hers, so he generally settled himself and just listened. He always loved the sound of her voice either way, so it was a win-win sort of situation.
14. selection
Mikaela skimmed through the selection. Finally holding up two cases. "Action or horror?"
Sam plucked one of the cases from her hand, and popped it into the DVD player. "Duh, horror."
Mikaela raised a brow, and finally made herself comfortable against Barricade.
15. acceptance
He had his moods. Sometimes he was cranky, and surprisingly enough not a morning kind of bot. He didn't come right out of charge like Bee did. He was slow to wake and not one to be hurried. Mikaela was much the same.
She was not herself until after breakfast. It was useless to talk to her before that. More likely than not you would only receive a snapping reply, if that. There was a certain amount of acceptance between them. They both had their flaws and they understood this emphatically and moved on from there.
16. opinion
Mikaela glared at the mech before her. "Don't you dare try to present your opinion as fact."
"You aren't safe." He said in a hard tone.
"Nothing has happened."
"Yet. Nothing has happened yet."
Mikaela leveled a glare at him. "Security is tight."
"And it would only take a small lapse before something dangerous did slip in. I would think the hate mail would be enough. Be reasonable." Barricade sighed.
"These people...bots-whatever-are my family. I'm not going to run off just because a few stupid people are trying to scare me away."
He sighed, she wouldn't listen now. He could only hope she would before it was too late.
17. weakness
Mikaela sighed, sometimes she did not know what to do with him. They were still getting used to one another. Still learning each others habits. Still trying to understand just what they were to each other. Sometimes he was so unreachable, and so angry. "I don't care what he told you."
He looked up from the data-pad he had been reading. "What?"
"I don't care what Megatron drilled into your head. Love isn't a weakness. Emotions aren't weak. Please...stop being like this."
He watched her for a moment, his gaze steady. "I know. I-it is hard for me."
She snorted, "Do you think this is any easier for me?"
He smiled. It was lop-sided, which she found endearing. "I cannot imagine that it is."
She nodded, "I will make you a deal. I will try harder, if you will too."
He nodded, it was an easy decision.
18. planning
"What are you doing?" Mikaela asked.
Cade gave a nonchalant shrug. "I did not think you would be adverse to getting away from...this. Maybe a week at the loft?"
Her eyes widened for a moment, surprised by the suggestion. "Could we, really?" She flushed, it had been months since they had been to the home he had created for her. "Seriously."
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I thought otherwise."
19. appeal
Mikaela watched Alexis scuttle about, full of nervous energy. In the months they had known each other they had grown close. She worried for the other woman. Alexis took far, far too many risks. "You should be more careful." Mikaela finally said.
"Mmm...I don't know about that." Alexis shrugged, "Warp will protect me."
"He can't be there all the time. Just...just be careful."
20. feel
She still wasn't sure how she felt about it. She had never expected to have a child, much less lose one. She had not been that far along, granted. However,when she took a moment to examine her feelings on the matter, it hurt none the less. She sighed, finally feeling the holoform's arms around her, Barricade pulled her tight against his chest. His own mind joined hers, echoing the same sorrow.
21. moderation
Mikaela's eyes ached from staring at data-pads all day. Working from home was deemed necessary, what with the virus effecting the nanites of anyone foolish to come in contact with one of the affected. She had been working with their medical staff, as well as the resident technopath, for a cure. They were close, so close, and by some miracle they had not lost anyone as of yet.
"I realize it is a matter of grave importance, fleshling," Barricade said as he plucked the data-pad from her hands. "But killing yourself with sleep exhaustion will not help anyone. Moderation, my love. Recharge."
He made it sound more like an order than a request. She glared, but for once did not protest. He was right after all.
22. puzzle
Mikaela always had liked a good puzzle. She was more than passing fond of them. Normally. This puzzle, not so much. She could not, for the life of her, understand how the love of her life, one of the Decepticons most feared warriors, and the son of a Prime be such a...prude. Perhaps he was not by human standards. But from what she had seen of Cybertronian...she wondered about him sometimes.
He was possessive-which she found in turns annoying and endearing. It was not a normal trait of his people. Not when trines, and retinues such as Sam's. The retinues especially interested her; at least, on an intellectual level. The complex relationships that was often made up of trines and other individuals. She couldn't quite imagine being tied to so many people, or Cybertronians, as was the case.
Thundercracker, at least, had told her it was more common in Vos and Praxus. Large groups often raised seekerlets between them. His own trine was raised that way, although, oddly enough none of the Praxian's she knew were.
Cybertronian dating practices, she didn't even want to touch that, although seeing Barricade's and Optimus's horrified expression at Prowl's antics had been more than a little amusing. It did, however, make her sincerely happy she had ended up with someone from Iacon. They were staid by comparison, they didn't go into heat like the Praxian's and Vosian's. Although, sadly, they were not above kidnapping their mates to be as she could attest to.
23. restaurant
Oddly enough The Olive Garden had became a staple of "date night." Mikaela was not even entirely sure why. Their food was okay, nothing spectacular. It did seem to amuse Barricade though.
The local restaurant had also become an impromptu place for meetings, provided, of course it did not involve any 'trine business.' Sadly, it was just too difficult to hide a trio of raptors. Not surprisingly this was something that Skywarp had a difficult time getting through his thick circuits. Mikaela only sighed in exasperation as she explained for what seemed like the two millionth time, "Yes, Alexis is invited. No, you cannot come with us." But that applied to a lot of things.
"No, you can't buzz over the interstate. It causes wrecks."
"No, you can't go to the mall with us. Do you see a runway there?"
"No...pretty sure the park would be a bad idea."
Sometimes she felt like wringing Alexis' neck. The girl made herself scarce whenever the word 'no' should have been coming out of her mouth. Mikaela hated being the bad guy.
24. writer
Some people collected trains-which Mikaela found bizarre. Some people practiced ornithology. Some people collected stamps or coins. Barricade had two big hobbies-aside from his musical endeavors-the first being on-line gaming, the second ghost writing.
25. literal
"Oh. Great we are going to hell in a hand-basket for this."
"I do not believe I would fit in one."
"Fit in what, Cade?"
"A hand-basket? Pretty sure it would be too small for me, and in all honesty for you as well."
"No, I really don't mean in the literal sense. It's a saying. Like...things are FUBAR." Mikaela blinked at him.
"When aren't they?"
"Got me." She smiled, despite the debacle was turning out today. "Still, I don't think Optimus would approve."
"You care that much for his approval?"
"I respect his opinion, not his dictation in our lives."
"We are family."
"Well...yes." Mikaela frowned.
"He is the head of said family."
"Cade." Mikaela said in warning.
"I'm just saying."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm still going to ask. We need to be away from here for a bit. I need to be away. Everyone is driving me crazy." Mikaela sighed. Even a camping trip would be welcome at this point. A break from her studies. Just a break.
26. disadvantage
Mikaela craned her head up, her eyes wide. Her height was always a disadvantage in such matters, but she did not let it faze her. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you say?"
Had he been human he would have blanched, "Oh...well...never-mind, I'm sure you will be safe,"
"That's what I thought." Mikaela's scowl turned into a smile. "You could come with me, you know. A trip into town is just what we both need, don't you think?"
"Possibly." He agreed.
"Just because it isn't safe doesn't mean we shouldn't do things off base. We can't let them dictate our lives. They just...they win if we do."
"No, fear is never the way to live." Barricade agreed.
27. romantic
Mikaela walked into the bunker, and for one disorienting moment she thought that she might have walked into the wrong bunker. The lights were off, the only illumination was candles. A lot of candles, leaving the room in a soft glow.
"Cade?"
"In here." he called, clearly in the dining area.
She walked in, and found the table set, his holoform grinning at her. The food smelled wonderful. "You cooked?" she asked warily, remembering what happened last time he did. Food poisoning.
He laughed, "Actually, no, Sarah helped me."
Her lips curled into an amused smile.
28. enquiry
Mikaela skimmed through the data-pad she was reading. It was slow going as she had to work out each character in her mind. "Will this ever get any easier?" she groaned.
"In time." he chuckled, a low rumble. "have a bit of patients."
29. cooking
Mikaela puttered around in the kitchen. It was not her native environment, but she managed to survive it, mostly-barring a few disastrous incidents. Still, Cade watched in morbid fascination as she made something she deemed 'Spa-Get-E.' To him, at least, it looked like a disgusting mess of red mushy material, and what looked a great deal like worms.
She stopped, and glared. "Stop thinking about it so hard. Worms-it doesn't look like worms. You are ruining my appetite."
He pushed down his disgust. She needed to refuel. Human food, though, was not something he ever wanted to experience for himself. He often wondered how she could stand the stuff. It boggled his processor.
30. slice
Mikaela looked down at the half-eaten slice of pizza. It was delicious. Double cheese. Extra sauce. No meat. It wasn't really her thing these days. Still, she couldn't miss Cade staring. "A picture lasts longer." she smiled, knowing he wouldn't get the reference. The long pause telling her he was searching the web for it's meaning. Her smile grew. "So, what is the recent obsession with what I'm eating?" Although when she thought about it he had always been a bit obsessed. When they were on the run he had always been more than a bit concerned with her nutrition. It was endearing.
"That...is not good for your body."
"Well, no, but it tastes good." She laughed.
"I don't see how."
"Just take my word for it, sweetie."
31. genetics
Mikaela went through her notes, humming to herself. Perceptor looked over her shoulder, curious.
"Find anything interesting?" he asked.
"Nothing conclusive, precisely. I was just thinking about what Sam has told me. What the All-spark told him, rather. It would stand to reason your holoforms are projections of would you would have looked like had you been born,well...human. The originals that is. Cade even said it is what he is most comfortable in. You can make holoforms of other species, but it is like an ill fitting suit."
Perceptor nodded, "It would stand to reason, all things considered."
She smiled faintly, "And by extension the nanites contain the genetic coding."
"An interesting theory."
"Now, I just need to get a hold of some of those nanites."
"Oh, Primus."
"Oh, Primus indeed." Mikaela laughed.
32. amusement
Mikaela watched her bond-mate flip through the stations, grumbling. "How do you humans watch this drivel?"
Mikaela blinked at the screen and laughed, "No one has ever claimed daytime television is good."
He grumbled, still flipping through.
She couldn't help but smile in amusement. He suffered a lot to be with her. She chuckled silently at the thought.
33. receiving
They were rarely on the receiving end of their father's ire. Cadence and Hinder both bucked their dark heads, not daring to meet the red optics. Barricade huffed, his temper failing him. They were worse tricksters than Rumble and Frenzy ever dreamed of being.
"Just go to your room." he said in exasperation.
The twins ran as fast as their legs could carry them, their door slamming behind them.
"Why is the kitchen covered in-grape jelly?" Mikaela asked as she walked in, looking exasperated.
"Primus only knows." Barricade sighed.
34. driving
Mikaela sat at the wheel of her rental car perplexed. It had been so long since she had driven it was a wonder she had not forgotten. Cade had nearly insisted on going with her, but she had sighed and waived him off, maybe next time. She sat in front of the house, frowning and battling with herself. After several minutes she finally got up the nerve, got out and walked down the beaten-up sidewalk. She rapped on the door, and waited. Waited some more. The door finally opened, and it was all she could do not to cringe. "Hi, daddy."
35. psychology
Psychology, reverse or otherwise never seemed to work on her children. They were, as Mikaela's father would put it, heathens. Prone to trouble and pranks. That was not to say they were not good children, or that they could not behave. They were very good, when they wanted to be. Sadly those times were few and far between. More often than not they left a trail of destruction behind them.
36. governed
Autobot City was, essentially, it's own nation, after a fashion. It was not governed by the state that it was in, or really even by the federal government so much. They tried to be self-sufficient as possible, and for the most part it worked. Mikaela found life their interesting, she even found Hound's green houses interesting. They helped keep her fed, after all.
37. acquaintance
Upon meeting her, Mikaela was not too sure about Skywarps 'girl.' She was everything that Mikaela was not. Neat, quiet, bookish. She seemed nice enough, but she also seemed like a very odd match for Warp, who possessed none of those qualities. It was all very, very odd.
38. right
"You do realize that you are not always right." Mikaela
"Perhaps, but in this case I am. I really, really think you should see your family. Do it before it's too late. Otherwise you shall be regretting it, sweet-spark."
Mikaela huffed, glaring before finally giving in. "Fine. Whatever."
He smiled in amusement. After all, he was always right.
39. duration
She was quiet for the duration of the trip to Los Angeles. Quiet as they raced across the desert. She curled up in the seat, in a tight ball, flinching at any out of place sound. She braced herself as if expecting jet fire to break the night. Surprisingly it did not. They made it into town after their break-neck race. Still she did not feel safe. Couldn't feel safe. "They are going to kill us, aren't they?" She said in the silence.
He did not break it for a very long time. "It is a very big possibility. I am sorry."
40. sarcasm
"Oh, that is going to go over Really well." Mikaela said, sarcasm making her voice snap.
Barricade made a sound that sounded suspiciously like a snort. "Right."
"I'm serious. Do you realize how irked Ratchet will be with me if I just take off for a-a-mini vacation?"
It was clear he was laughing this time. "I think he will live."
"Yes, but will I?"
"Not like he's going to start throwing wrenches at you." He smiled in amusement.
41. deal
They all sat around the poker table. Mikaela winked at Cade's Holo, and then grinned still more when Sam started to deal the cards. Sam had the worse poker face, and for that matter so did Bee. Midori was worse. he squealed when he looked at his cards.
42. obsession
Spending time with him was possibly the best obsession that she could imagine. She smiled in the dark. Her life was nothing like she had ever imagined that it would be. She wasn't going to complain. Far from it. It was...amazing.
They sat on the roof of the bunker together, looking up at the stars. The night was quite for once. A rarity. "It's beautiful." Mikaela said, squinting up at the stars.
"For a mud-ball, it does have a nice view."
Her lips quirked up, "For a mud-ball."
44. crossing
They met Bee and Sam at the crossing as planned. Sam looked exhausted.
"I take it your scouting mission didn't go well?" Mikaela asked, looking them both over.
"It went as well as it could." Sam offered. "We didn't get caught."
"We didn't get what we went for either." Bee said, annoyance plain in his voice. "Mech's security is tight, we did get Intel on that."
"Good enough." Barricade sighed, it was a relief that they wouldn't be fighting their way home or breaking into the compound to rescue the pair.
45. pay
"Everything costs something." he hedged.
"Not everything." Mikaela frowned.
"Even love, the only difference is how you pay."
"Oh, that is a horrible thing to say, Cade."
"How is it horrible?" he laughed.
"It's cynical."
"I happen to like paying you in adoration and devotion. It is not a bad payment plan."
She rolled her eyes, and threw up her hands, "I-I don't even."
46. thirst
Mikaela had an endless thirst for knowledge these days, and found it surprising herself. She spent more and more time in the med-bay with Ratchet, learning his trade. She picked it up with surprising ease for the most part.
47. weather
One of the few things that Barricade truly appreciated about his new home world, aside from his mate, was the weather. There was something truly gratifying about being about to move about in a Terran rainstorm without the fear of melting. The weather on Cybertron had rarely been so forgiving.
48. danger
"Shh..." Mikaela shivered, hugging the children tight against her as they hid in the panic room. They had gotten in too easily. The alarms had not been tripped. They could, at least, not get in where they were hidden. Hinder whimpered and Mikaela hugged him closer to her. "Be brave, sweet-spark." she whispered. Barricade was already on his way back to the warehouse, with reinforcements.
49. stress
"You need to relax." Barricade said, watching her. "Stressing out is not going to help matters."
"I know." she stopped pacing. "I-just never really thought about it..."
"Space travel?"
"It's a bit scary."
"Yes, The first time is."
50. professional
Mikaela frowned, looking at the woman in front of her. She was the fourth Mikaela had interviewed on this round. The woman had a professional demeanor, and her credentials were good. Mikaela smiled, at her. "Well, Jenny, we will be getting back with you." Her lips curled into a genuine smile. They had hoped to hire at least three such teachers. As much as she loved that all of the bots were helping educate the children so far, she knew, and Alexis agreed, that they needed at least some formal learning. It was just going to be difficult finding a teacher that could understand their children's idiosyncrasies.
51. god
Mikaela had never been particularly religious. Things changed. Dealing with Sam had shown her that there was indeed something else. Someone listening. Even to them. It brought her some measure of comfort. Perhaps it was not all for nothing.
52. fan
His cooling fans kicked on, double-time. Mikaela chuckled to herself noting his exasperation with her. "All hot an bothered?" She smirked.
He did not smile, but instead watched her steadily, growling. "Tease."
"And you love me for it." she declared.
53. urge
There were certain urges she had these days. Sam called it nesting, Barricade called it annoying-although he said it was endearing none-the-less. Mikaela just wanted it to be over. It was awkward to walk, to sit, and worse still to get up. She put a hand on her stomach, and felt the flutter of movement. It was all worth it. Even the odd cravings. All of it.
54. peace
There was an odd sort of peace on Christmas night at the base. Everything was so quiet and still. Hot, yes, and it made her long for cooler weather and snow, but this would do for now. She walked back into the bunker, smiling at those who had gathered there, and the tree that towered of them, the humans at least. These beings, they were her family, and she found not a small measure of peace in that.
55. telescope
Mikaela looked through the telescope. "Oh, it's beautiful," She said softly.
"Yes, it is." Perceptor chuckled. "Alpha Centauri is beautiful, yes."
"Cybertron is there?""
"Yes, and we are searching for a suitable system to move it to."
"Why not move it here?" Mikaela asked, perplexed.
"Planetary orbits are a delicate thing. Moving it too close could rip earth apart."
Her eyes widened. "Oh."
56. hunting
He was made for this. Hunting, scouting, it was in his very makeup. Barricade picked up the signal easily. ::Got'em. Sending coordinates now.::
::ETA in twenty kliks.:: Came Optimus' reply. ::Any idea who it is?::
::Negative, I thought it best not to approach.:: The last thing they needed was a disorientated Autobot starting a fire-fight.
57. workstation
Mikaela's workstation in the lab was neat in contrast to Wheeljack's. She was not entirely sure how he found anything in that mess. He said it was organized to his specifications. What those specifications were, well no one really knew. Not eve Perce.
58. outer
Mikaela curled up in the seat as he drove down the perimeter road. It wasn't often that he had outer perimeter duty. It wasn't often that she accompanied him. 'I've missed you.' was all she had had to say though before he agreed. They didn't talk. They didn't need to. Just being together was enough. Her presence a comfort as he scanned the area for hostiles.
59. abandon
Mikaela looked through the files of the project that Ratchet and Starscream had long since abandoned. Their Twin Project was interesting. "There is something here, she said at last. Maybe you were just using the wrong test subjects. What about a Prime? Or Prime-kin, actually. I bet Lyra and Stardrift would be more than willing to help."
Starscream snorted, "Right."
Mikaela rolled her eyes, he was so difficult some times. "I'm serious, and keep your snark to yourself, Scree."
It was time to leave again. Mikaela looked wistfully about the California landscape and sighed. She'd miss this place,but they would be back, eventually. They always came back.
61. welcoming
They tore down the road, desert on either side of them, and Autobot city rising up before them. She could not remember a more welcoming sight. It was not as beautiful as the airy heights of Vos, or the crystal and silver towers of Iacon that she often saw in Barricade's memories, but it was home.
62. teenager
Mikaela was not prepared for teenagers, much less teenage girls. Titania and Miranda were nearing adulthood, seventeen for just a few more months. They made her want to pull out her hair in truth. They were too young for bonding, but as Barricade pointed out to her whenever he had the chance the girls were not much older than her when her when they bonded. She could only glare at him when he brought it up. The girls were her babies after all.
She also questioned their choices. Titania's choice of Ultrawave made sense. They were of age, the boy was smart dashing and pretty easy on the eye. He was as Cybertronian as Titania had been raised...as much as they could be considering their hybrid status. Miranda's choice though, boggled her mind. When Perceptor had approached her and Cade asking permission to court her she had assumed nothing would come of it. She was...decidedly wrong.
It made her brain feel as though it would implode.
63. gentleman
The door swung open letting her out before she could reach for it, and he was there offering the crook of his arm. She looked Cade's holoform up and down. "You look good in a suit," she murmured, smiling in amusement.
64. demand
"I could be wrong, but I don't think you are in a position to make demands." Mikaela said smugly, blackmail in hand.
"You cheat." Barricade said in a petulant tone.
"Do not!"
"What do you call this then?"
"A clever way to negotiate?" Mikaela said smugly. "You know Prowl's been trying to find out for weeks who rigged that bucket over his door."
"You are going to get Bee in trouble too."
"Collateral damage."
"Mikaela."
"What?:"
"You sound like a Con."
Mikaela huffed, "Sometimes one has to be devious to get what one wants."
"Oh? I see."
He plucked the list from her hands. "Fine. I will get you what you want." The list was not unreasonable, in truth. Still he was not sure he should feed this new obsession to WoW. Even if she was proving to be an asset to the guild. "Just...put the pictures away."