It was the first time since she ended up on the Nemesis that she took her time to watch herself in a mirror closely.
If not for the reflection following her movements, Fave wouldn't recognize herself. She looked healthy, not so much emaciated as she has been before getting her first infusion of energon even though she had to recover from the aftereffects of the cybertronian plague. The bite marks from the Scraplet invasion have vanished as well due to the unexpected quality of medical care around her. Knockout was dealing well with what he called the awful human biology even when he was complaining whenever it came to treat her. Her arm was healing quickly as well, as forecasted by the red mech.
She shook her head, messing up her almost hip-long hazelnut brown and lightly curled thick hair that way. Her reflection looked back at her in astonishment with those bright blue eyes, but it showed a little smirk as well when she transformed into her alternate form, accompanied by that very specific sound which was emanating from the others as well whenever they change into their alt mode. That was what the mechs called it: transforming, and she truly felt the transformation in every single cell of her. Her outward appearance however changed only little. Her brown hair simply turned brightly silver and her claws became as sharp as razorblades. But there were not only visible changes that came along with the transformation. She also gained access to a pulsing power located deep within her chest. She felt her spark swell as she made a harsh move in excitement and unintentionally fired a blast of energy through sick bay. The energy bounced off the walls several times, making a mess and startling Knockout when she hit one of his tools. The medic scowled at her.
"Fave! I needed that!"
"Sorry, Doc!" She looked down from the imbedded shelf she called her own corner from now on and acted as feeling very guilty, but she wasn't able to hold back a smirk which rather turned into a choke when she saw something from behind her own small berth Breakdown has constructed for her peeking out. She shooed her little secret back to his hiding place and turned back to Knockout, pretending everything was fine, when he piped up again.
"I really don't understand why you wouldn't want to have your own quarters", he rumbled, "I mean, this is my lab! If you do not stop distracting me from my work, I will banish you!"
"Sure, you would", she answered with a small chuckle, "If you were working at all!"
Knockout couldn't come up with a proper answer as Starscream entered the lab. After learning that the 'pathetic little human' hasn't left his side when he was sick until she has set out to find the cure that saved his life and that of the others, the seeker has been there whenever she has woken up, checking on her and asking if she felt up to a flight lesson. But for some reason she was stalling from that particular lesson on purpose under the pretense of not feeling well enough due to her still healing arm. Knockout and Breakdown have been covering her excuses so far, but she was sure at least the medic knew her arm was more than ok by now. Maybe she should behave better in the red mech's lab if she didn't want to be exposed.
"How are we feeling today, little brat?", Starscream purred.
Fave took a deep breath and sighed dramatically but Knockout answered the commander on her behalf. "She is fine, says her medic. Her arm is completely fit for duty, so you can take her for a nice looong flight." She glared daggers at him for the back-stabbing, but he only sneered in return. She wouldn't behave at all!
"Actually, I'm here because Soundwave has summoned her. And since he is not a patient mech and she cannot fly yet…" He seized her from her shelter before she could hide, … "I will have to drag her to him."
"You have to stop doing this!" Even if she huffed in disapproval, Fave was glad for another lesson from Soundwave as it had become clear quickly, to her surprise, that he was a thorough and patient although challenging teacher. Her broken arm has hindered her from fighting or flying lessons, but not from just standing beside the silent mech on his console while he was doing both: attending to his duties and teaching her the meaning of having the ability to access cybersystems and she on the other hand has pleased the mech for being a quick study. The first thing he taught her was to communicate with him mutely, so they wouldn't bother anyone around.
"So, why are we avoiding our first flight?"
The question took her off guard. One, because she has already started to recall her previous lessons with Soundwave and two, because she hasn't expected the silver seeker to know about her little… charade.
"You… Why didn't you just…, well, drag me out of sick bay and forced me into flight lessons if you knew?"
"I have my reasons", he made her bounce ridiculously on his servo on purpose while he approached the science lab of their own ship where Soundwave was working whenever not being on the bridge. "You didn't answer my question."
"You didn't tell me about your, or better now, Knockout's so called 'theory'."
"That is different", Starscream shuddered for some reason and averted her attention back on the matter at hand, "Now, answer your commanding officer!"
Fave sighed. "Honestly?... I don't know", she admitted after some hesitation. She tried to explain further but she couldn't come up with a good explanation, so she remained silent.
Starscream nodded unnoticeably. His hunch has been right then. "I will have you know, you will not be spared for much longer. Lord Megatron wants you to master at least the basics of flying before you can even think about combat training with him."
"You mean, before I get beaten by him? I somehow doubt lord Megatron has forgotten about punishing me for returning to the other vessel regardless of his orders… or the outcome. Surly he will conceal my… demise as a miscarried first training session."
"I don't know anything about our master's intentions", Starscream said, but sneered, "though I guess there may be some truth in your assumptions."
"Geez, thanks. Now that is a comfort."
"I wasn't intending to comfort, but I am glad to be of service", he bowed lightly with a grin, but it was much different from the obviously offending tone from before he has gotten sick.
"With you as my mentor, I don't think I will survive my first flight, so we will spare our master the mess of killing me", she mused.
"On the contrary", the seeker answered, completely serious, "I assure you that you miss quite an experience. I know what I am talking about."
They entered the science lab where Soundwave was working already.
'Are you ever not working?', she greeted the silent mech, hopping off Starscream's servo and asking if he will come for her after lessons as well.
"No. You will have to go back on your own tiny peds. Flying would be so much easier and faster of course."
She made a grimace. "Point taken."
The seeker left them, but not without providing her with a very telling gaze.
oooooooooooooooooooo
She finally reached sick bay after what felt like a very long hike. She could swear the science lab had been chosen as the most distant location from sick bay on purpose only to prove to her how much more beneficial it would be to fly from one point to another. She huffed and made the doors open before her but only to jump out of the way with a shriek, when a tool or whatever it was almost hit her on the spot. She got up quickly, observed the scene inside sick bay, and almost burst into laughter.
Knockout and Breakdown were lashing out wildly, shrieking and making a mess out of the lab. She knew what has caused the panic right away when she spotted her 'no longer a secret' swirling around the mechs gracefully. She hissed, when Breakdown raised his hammer, aiming at the little Scraplet but hit Knockout in the chest plates instead, crashing the poor mech against the closest wall.
"SPARKS! Come here, right now!", Fave cried out before the place could turn into a scrap heap.
The Scraplet turned his attention to her immediately and rushed to her side, happily snuggling to her leg and blinking with his still scratched eye innocently.
"WHAT?" Knockout hollered, clenching his servo tightly to his chest while Breakdown now aimed his hammer in her direction, both mechs with scared and at the same time furious optics.
"You got seconds to explain!", Breakdown groaned breathless although menacing, "And I better like the explanation or so help me…"
She tried to remain calm in order to show them everything was fine. "Relax, guys. He didn't attack you, did he?" She looked down to her little appendage with a scolding expression. "I told him to stay hidden, but I guess he became hungry after all…"
What a mistake in choosing those words, she thought when Knockout almost exploded. "HUNGRY?! Fave, what has gotten into you? I thought your own experience taught you better judgement than bringing a SCRAPLET to this ship!"
"I did nothing of the sort!", the woman defended herself, "I found him in sick bay, here, on this ship already, only hours after I returned to the Nemesis myself. He was weak and because he sort of helped me back on the other ship I decided to patch him up a bit. I told him very unambiguously not to attack any mech around here and so far, he didn't."
"You got to be kidding us, girl!", Breakdown snarled but transformed his hammer away, "You know, I got to like you for saving… our comrades, but this?! I agree with Knockout, you should have known better."
"And what`s with that name? Sparks! Really?", Knockout never left the parasite out of his sight but his question and his more relaxed frame was reassuring her a bit.
"I named him after a character from a video game I was playing when I was a child", she explained, "there was a dragon who always has been followed by a little golden dragonfly named Sparks and because this one", she looked down at her own little 'dragonfly' with a frown, "has been following me around since he first spotted me. Granted, he first thought about how to devour me, but that's not the point…" She made a pause before she piped up again with a sheepish voice, "Can I keep him?"
The medic and his assistant would have shown her how much she was NOT to keep him, when a COMM from Megatron reached sick bay.
"Fave, report to the bridge, at once. You will accompany me to a little field trip."
"I'm on my way." She answered quickly, then glanced at the mechs with hopeful eyes. There was no way to explain why Knockout didn't squish the Scraplet right away but took a small glass cube instead and trapped her so called dragonfly inside it. The tiny creature looked scared but allowed the treatment without attacking the red mech and Fave knew that was the best thing that could have happened at the moment.
"Thank you!" she said with relief in her optics and left sick bay again in order to rush to the bridge.
"She is twisting us around her tiny little digit already", Breakdown stated, looking to Knockout with a grin, "I don't doubt your theory anymore, Doc, even if it seems to be too far-fetched to be believable. But it has been quite a while since I had to deal with something like her."
"No one had to since Cybertron went dark", the red medic replied with the glass container still in his servo. "But now we all have to and, you know, from my point of view? That's just asking for trouble."
oooooooooooooooooooo
Fave felt awkward to return to earth after she almost died there by human hands but for whatever reason the warlord's presence was soothing her effectively. On the Nemesis, he was ignoring her most of the time but whenever he showed up, she felt her spark trembling happily. It was ridiculous, considering who he was, but she couldn't help herself. Well, she wouldn't tell anyone about it either!
She looked around the energon mine which was making quite an impression on her. It has been a mine like this where she has met Megatron for the first time, but it has been abandoned and depleted, nothing like this deposit where there were huge raw energon crystals everywhere! It was amazing!
She followed the warlord while he was inspecting the workers and the mining progress personally, but she had to run in order to keep up. "My lord, this is awesome! Does every energon mine look like this one?"
"No", Megatron answered, turning his attention to the human, "but it is the one showing the most typical characteristics of an energon mine."
Fave came to a stop in front of him, astonished. "So, you want me to see what a typical mine look like? In order to…", she thought about it for a moment, "in order to identify one in the field!"
"Indeed. I told you that I would provide you with guidance and I meant it. I take the view that it is best to learn by participating. Learning by doing, isn't that a human concept as well?" She looked a little puzzled but nodded nevertheless so the hulking mech continued.
"You will be assigned to surveillance duty along with Soundwave and under his supervision of course for he informed me, that you do quite well handling the cybersystems of my ship. That is a high praise coming from someone like him. But that will only be a part of your duties. I want you to do far more and thus learning faster."
She looked up at him expectantly, so he waved his servo vaguely around the cave.
"You do understand what energon means to us?"
She followed his gesture and nodded. "Since it flows through my own veins now, yes, my lord. It means quite everything. Our energon resources are limited. That's why we have to scout for new deposits on a regular basis."
"Good", the warlord nodded his assent, "you will learn how to scout for energon together with the best energon seeker I know. I am reluctant to admit it, but Starscream is quite good at discovering new deposits and I want you to learn from the best. That would require improving your flying skills, though." Megatron looked down at her, making Fave shrink under his glance of disapproval, "something I heard you are avoiding."
Although she felt ashamed, she managed to deter herself from looking to the ground, locking eyes to optics with the warlord instead. "I can't tell you more than I have told Starscream already. I don't know why I…"
"AUTOBOTS!"
The sound of blaster fire echoed in the cave, startling her, making the miners stop in their work and Megatron turn around to the tunnel through which they have entered the mine. The blaster fire ceased abruptly after there have been a few punching noises. Then, one of the Vehicon guards was thrown out of the tunnel and hit the ground at the peds of the warlord, missing the human barely who had to jump out of the way for the second time today.
Fave has expected one of the Autobots she has encountered in the desert already but this one was unknown to her. He was red and white, and his eyes were glowing brightly green. Though, this one obviously lacked any common sense by storming the Decepticon mine all by himself. Nevertheless, this unexpected proceeding took them all off guard, especially when the mech rushed directly at Megatron, hollering and punching him hard in the faceplates. The warlord was thrown away quite a distance.
"My, my, what have we here?" the red mech chuckled, "so much raw energon. It would be unpolite not to share it, don't you think, Megatron? On the other hand, it seems that I have found a much better energy source." He waved his servos challengingly as if preparing to fight them all on his own.
If the crazy mech would have attacked the warlord again, and he obviously intended to do so, he would have been torn to pieces by Megatron who jumped to his peds immediately, growling deeply at his enemy. "So be it!"
But the red mech got distracted. He stared down at a human, a young woman, standing closely to him with shock written on her face. Bright blue optics! That must be the human his team has seen in the desert while investigating Megatron's distorted life signal. But what have they done to her!? She must be scared out of her mind, the red mech thought and thus got to his senses enough to change his tactic. It took only a blink of an eye: He lashed forward, grabbed the human who cried out in surprise and reached to his COMM all at once. "Ratchet to base. Open an emergency ground bridge to my coordinates, NOW!"
Fave squealed loudly for the red mech squeezed her in his servo as if not being able to control his own strength. She saw Megatron storming forward, roaring enraged and shouting at the Vehicons to finish the Autobot, when a ground bridge opened behind her captor. The Autobot, finally realizing the superiority he was facing, didn't waste any more time, jumped back and disappeared together with the human only a second before Megatron could get his servos on him.
oooooooooooooooooooo
"We have been looking all over for you!", Arcee scolded their medic angrily, "what have you been thinking, Ratchet? Thought, you could just sneak in an active energon mine filled with Decepticons and, on top of that, snuff Megatron's spark all on your own?"
Ratchet looked to the side, avoiding the gazes of his friends but couldn't come up with an answer when Optimus rumbled deeply.
"Ratchet, we all understand your actions were based upon the use of unstable synthetic energon which obviously is not ready to be used as an alternate energy source on ourselves, so I don't see the point of blaming you for more than your scientific ambitions. We all know you only wanted to help us, to help the cause but you almost ended up making us loose our medic and most trusted friend." Optimus placed a servo on the doctor's shoulder plating. "I am glad you retreated in time so that you have not been hurt, old friend."
"I was a fool", Ratchet admitted without hesitation, "clearly the synthetic energon requires further research. But, fortunately, the situation has also offered an unexpected opportunity."
All of them followed the medic's gaze to the human on top of their working station where the kids often watch TV. She was pacing back and forth in front of the monitors of the Autobot base with her back turned on them, so they couldn't see her glowing eyes while trying to investigate their systems on the surface quickly. It has been the first thing on her mind after recovering from the tight grip Ratchet has been transporting her in through the ground bridge. Her body was still aching a bit, making her walk with a slight stoop and with one hand pressed on her ribs. She cut off the cyberlink immediately though, when she heard the whole lot of the Autobots approach her, the medic first in line.
"I want to apologize," he murmured, "I should have controlled myself rather than squeeze you the way I did. Especially as a medic, I don't know what has gotten into me. I could have killed you if not for your remarkable resilience. I… Are you feeling better now?"
She looked them all over, trying to assess their intentions, her surroundings and what she should do next. Her options were quite limited though and the Bots didn't look like ready to hurt her for any reason.
"I'm fine", she said cautiously, trying to straighten herself, "I am tougher than I look. Well, as of late."
Optimus hummed lightly. "Obviously you have been through a lot while you have been held hostage by the Decepticons. Would it be possible for you to tell us what exactly happened to you?"
She stared at him with confusion but not because of his question. It has been clear to her right away that they believed her to be a victim of some cruel experiments or torture on the side of the Decepticons. No, it was this one Bot in particular who suddenly triggered the appearance of pictures in her mind, memories long past and ambivalent feelings. She shook her head, confused.
"You are different from the others", she dared to state with a frown. The Autobots looked at each other with telling gazes but the huge red mech only nodded. "I am surprised you noticed but on the other hand I shouldn't be maybe. We still don't know what happened to you, but I can assure you this: you are safe here with us. No one will harm you in any way."
She had to prevent herself from turning her gaze to Ratchet accusingly but frowned at the red mech with mistrust nevertheless. "What do you want from me?"
"Only to keep you safe", the obvious leader answered right away, "and information, if you are willing to share them with us. You have been captured by our enemies, by Decepticons, who try to conquer and enslave your world. We are here to prevent that from happening."
He looked to his comrades and shut his optics for a moment before he onlined them again. "But maybe we should have started this conversation another way." He looked over to the no-longer-such-a-crazy mech, "you already got to know Ratchet, our medic. He never meant to inflict any pain on you but under the influence of broken synthetic energon, he simply wasn't able to control his strength. That won't happen again." After the red mech introduced the doctor, he gestured to the other Autobots in order. "You may remember Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead as well. They were there in the desert the first time we spotted you in the hands of Megatron, the Decepticon leader who took you to his ship. As for me, I am Optimus Prime."
A shiver ran down her spine. The name sounded powerful on its own even without the intimidating appearance and aura of the red mech. Fave had to focus greatly in order to avoid a flood of new memories and emotions. She relaxed nevertheless for the expression on the Prime's faceplates was convincingly genuine and reassuring. She blinked once then took a deep breath. "I am Fave. But, as for your questions" … she looked to the ground as if trying to think about something thoroughly, "I… cannot tell you anything about my captivity."
"Why not?", the medic asked confused, "you surly must remember anything!"
She looked around with an unhappy and unsecure face, trying to look miserable and lost. It worked.
"Maybe we should just give her some time to rest and to gather herself", Arcee proposed, "after all, she has been a hostage on the Nemesis for quite some time. Let her calm down and get used to us. The kids may help her to feel safe as well." The blue femme peeked over her shoulder, "It's not like Miko isn't ears dropping on us the whole time already."
"Urgh, how did you know! Anyway! We couldn't stay away forever you know!?" The voice of a girl echoed through the main room of the base. She appeared from around a corner, two boys in tow. The girl was the first to jump up the stairs and reach the new human in base who backed away from the tornado of questions while the girl started to circle her like a lion its prey. "Wow! Your eyes! They're amazing! I'm Miko by the way! Do you have any superpower? Can you run faster than any human? Do you see energon as food? Do you…"
Fave stared at her dumbfounded, while the other boys reached their place in a much calmer fashion. If she didn't believe she was safe with the Autobots before, she surly believed it now.
"You… sure have a lot of questions." Fave frowned at the children. One of the boys, a taller one tried to shove Miko away to offer Fave a little space. "Didn't you heard what Arcee just said, Miko? She shall rest, not be interrogated. I'm sorry. I'm Jack."
"And I'm Raf!", the youngest boy piped up. Fave looked at him a little closer for a few moments, then asked out of the blue, almost whispering: "How old are you, Raf?"
Rafael was surprised by the question, but answered her proudly. "Twelve. And a half!"
Twelve. Her little sister would have been nine or ten, if she was still alive, almost as old as Raf. The thought triggered a sad feeling inside her chest.
She must have expressed her memories on her face as well because the yellow mech, Bumblebee, whirled and asked if she has any family they could contact on her behalf. The youngest boy prepared to translate but the woman answered right away. "No. Thanks for the offer. But I am alone."
The atmosphere turned heavy. The young woman obviously was terribly depressed for some reasons, so no one bothered to wonder how it was possible for her to understand Bumblebee. Instead, Raf took her hand and smiled up at her. "Well, you are not anymore! The Autobots are the good guys and we aren't as bad as Miko might make you suggest."
"Hey!" the girl wanted to complain but even she knew when to act a little more sensitive. "Ok. Raf is right, you will be just fine. Maybe you can even have your own Bot like we do! Well, I think Optimus is out of the question, but Ratchet is still free!"
"I… don't understand", Fave only managed a puzzled face while the medic in question huffed.
oooooooooooooooooooo
Fave felt similar to when she has been left behind by Megatron in the abandoned energon mine the first time. It felt wrong not to be close to the warlord, as crazy as it might sound. Were they looking for her? What if they actually found her and the Autobot base?
All of the Autobots were very kind toward her, as well were the children. She learned about their relations to their Bots, their guardians, their friends. She has been told everything the kids knew about their cybertronian comrades, about their history, how they got to know them, their fight against the Decepticons. Fave, on the other hand, didn't tell them anything about herself except for her name but no one pushed her to do so anyway.
For now.
Whenever she deemed it to be safe, she accessed their systems but though they were less complicated than those of the Nemesis, because they were based on human technology, she didn't have enough training yet to gain any advantage by using them, yet alone to infiltrate them. The only thing she could see clearly was the ground bridge control. She would be able to leave the base whenever she wanted but this opportunity was too important for her to just let it pass. The Decepticons never hid their intentions regarding earth or humanity but to see the conflict between the two cybertronian factions from another perspective…
The Autobots truly differed from the Decepticons, both in their credo and their manner. There have not been many occasions yet, of course, but Megatron never hid her from danger or handled her with kid gloves. No one on the Nemesis actually bothered to watch his steps or to carry her around if not necessary. The Autobots on the other hand always watched their human counterparts whom they considered their friends, family even.
"What do you mean, Bumblebee?", Raf asked his guardian while working on something that looked like a volcano of sort, "you just told me a whole bunch of your adventures and I have seen you in action myself! You're awesome! How is it, that you are still a scout and not a warrior?"
The yellow mech wanted to answer the boy but it was Optimus who did so instead. "Bumblebee is the best scout we ever had. However, in our terms, he is still a very young Autobot who still needs a lot of field experience and guidance." The Prime put a servo on the young mechs shoulder plating. "But he is on the right track of becoming a remarkable warrior."
Shortly after, the Prime left with Bumblebee for a mission. The ground bridge barely closed behind them, when Arcee piped up amused. "Well, Bumblebee will stay a youngling much longer than any of us."
"What do you mean by that?", Miko stopped in her work on what appeared to be a model of the earth's solar system.
Arcee frowned. "Optimus tries to treat him like anyone of us and he does so quite well, mostly, but that is not easy considering his special relationship with Bumblebee."
"I don't understand", Raf piped up, "Bumblebee never told me anything about it."
Bulkhead joined the conversation with a smirk. "Ha! Because he doesn't want to be treated differently. Sometimes though, on rare occasions, it becomes quite obvious that he is the sparkling of Optimus Prime."
In that moment, Fave pricked up her ears and turned away from what Ratchet was doing on the base's working station, as did the medic.
"WHAT!" came the simultaneous reaction from all the children and it was Jack who asked for further explanation. "Do you actually mean that Optimus is sort of Bumblebees dad? I thought, you guys do not have parents like we do. Didn't you once tell me you have… eh… what was it again?"
"Primus is our creator," Ratchet explained, "he is… was the only one able to bear new life back on Cybertron. However, there was one other way but it took Primus's approval nevertheless. Sometimes, one of our kind wished for a sparkling, as in an own sparkling. Therefore, the one who sought to take that kind of responsibility needed to share, to split off a part of his own spark on the Well of Allsparks. If Primus agreed, a new Cybertronian was … born, to put it in your words. That was a great honor. Not everyone's wish for a sparkling has been granted but there were not many of us who wished for one to begin with. It is, after all, a great responsibility. Optimus however, seeing the end of our home world coming, did asked Primus for one last sparkling as a symbol of hope, before our planet's core shut down. Bumblebee was the last one being created like this since Cybertron went dark eventually."
Fave's head was spinning. She has seen her own spark readings in the Nemesis's sick bay while being treated by Knockout. The bare thought was crazy!
"Why aren't your systems displaying Optimus's life signal twice then?", Fave asked cautiously. "Obviously Bumblebee has a signal of his own."
"Because Bumblebee is not a clone!", Ratchet retorted, "He is an autonomous being like everyone else here. The life signals would be doubled only at the beginning, but it doesn't take much time to separate into two different signatures."
"I see."
oooooooooooooooooooo
Fave has been a guest to the Autobots for a few days when a situation arose suddenly in form of a distress call from Bumblebee. The Bots gathered immediately in front of the main station of operation, alongside Ratchet and the children.
"Bumblebee, what happened?" the Prime asked his scout with a concerned voice but the yellow mech only was able to spit one word, MECH, before he didn't answer anymore.
"Ratchet! Open a ground bridge to Bumblebee's coordinates and prepare sick bay. Autobots! Transform and roll out!"
They were gone in a blink of an eye, leaving behind the children concerned and Fave confused. "MECH? What is that? What is going on?"
"MECH is the human equivalent to our Decepticons", Ratchet informed her, clenching his servos, "they are obsessed with getting their hands on the best and most advanced technology, but I never expected them to attack us this directly, this boldly and this soon! The last time we encountered them, they almost made a sensitive devise detonate which would have caused many casualties, including the lives of Miko and Jack. They are most reckless, and I don't want to imagine what they could have done to Bumblebee."
"They actually tried to kill Miko and Jack? But, they are only children!" The 'children' huffed angrily, but they were ignored by both, Bot and human alike.
"In cold blood, yes, if Optimus wouldn't have succeeded to rescue them in the nick of time. Wait!... What?!"
The ground bridge activated as if by magic and Fave didn't hesitate to run through it, leaving the medic and the children dumbfounded. "Do we have another Miko around here all of the sudden! Rafael! Don't tell me you opened that ground bridge for her?!"
"No!" the boy answered startled, "it wasn't me!"
"Nor us", Jack clarified before Ratchet could shout at them as well.
The medic turned to his working station, checking the systems over. "I don't understand. The ground bridge clearly has been activated from inside the base, yet I cannot find out from where exactly." He blinked several times. "What is going on?"
oooooooooooooooooooo
The same moment Fave left the ground bridge, she found herself in crossfire between the Autobots and what appeared to be those MECH guys, surrounding them in a multitude of vehicles, both grounded and airborne. She did not know what exactly has triggered the rage that has made her run after the Autobots without second thoughts and she didn't have time to think about it now while looking for cover. She was not aware that she had been spotted right after she has appeared on the scenery.
"What was that?" Silas asked the pilot of the helicopter with utmost curiosity. "That swirl… and who is that? Magnify!"
The pilot did what he has been asked and zoomed in on a woman with glowing blue eyes. "Well, if this is not interesting..." Silas grabbed the helicopter's COMM, "Soldiers! Regroup! You have a new target…"
"Fave! What are you doing here?" Optimus looked everything but pleased due to her appearance. "Get back to base, now!"
Their enemies stopped their assault only to start another one on the woman on sight. Fave was not able to flee but Bumblebee, who seemed to be ok, got to her in time, covering her frame in his servos.
"Retreat!" Optimus ordered with a frown due to MECH's new strategy. "Ratchet, open the ground bridge!"
"NO!", Fave shouted angrily but no one was paying attention to her. She felt how Bumblebee moved through the ground bridge and the next second, she was back at base.
"What happened?" Ratchet and the children have been waiting right in front of the ground bridge for them, already looking them over for injuries, Bumblebee first in line after the yellow mech has let Fave slip to the ground.
"MECH was about to steal Bumblebee's t-cog", the Prime answered with narrowed optics while removing his mask and allowing the growling medic to examine him on the surface. "We came just in time to prevent MECH from succeeding in their attempt."
"But you left at the worst time possible!", Fave shouted at the hulking mech suddenly, "you let them escape! Now, they can prepare another assault against you! Against everyone! How could you just let them get away with this!"
They were all taken aback by her sudden outburst, but Optimus remained calm as always. "We do not inflict harm on humans until it becomes absolutely necessary, Fave", Optimus answered without raising his voice. "That is what differs us from the Decepticons as you should know. Have you already forgotten what Megatron did to your people back in the desert?"
"MY people!" she now hollered, paling and wondering when she became enraged to this state. "You do not know ANYTHING about those so-called PEOPLE! They were of the worst kind! Criminals! Torturers! Murderers! They were just SCUM and I am happy they are DEAD finally!"
She trembled out of shock and surprise over her own cruel words. She didn't recognize herself in this moment, but she couldn't hold back the fury. "Let me go! I want to leave right now!"
"I am afraid we cannot allow you to leave in your condition", the Prime stated with a sad expression on his faceplates by witnessing so much pain and suffering, "you are wrong to think we do not know about those human's loathsome crimes."
Fave simply couldn't listen anymore so she grabbed Miko, who has been standing right next to her, reaching out a hand and firing an energon blast into the space as a warning before placing her hand over the girl's chest.
They all but froze. No one dared to move and Fave was already regretting her rash move. Now, the element of surprise was gone! She had to leave, now, or maybe she wouldn't be able to do so any time soon. "Open a ground bridge, I don't care to what location, I simply want to leave!"
"Let her go, and we will talk about it in a civilized way", Bulkhead said, obviously worrying out of his mind, when seeing how much Miko was struggling in the woman's tight grip.
"If we open a ground bridge, would you let Miko go unharmed?", the Prime asked in an attempt to deescalate the situation. When Fave nodded firmly, the red mech turned to his medic with a telling gaze. "Do it."
Fave was not stupid though. When the green swirl appeared behind her, she accessed the ground bridge controls and changed the coordinates of the destination point, placing a simple virtual scrambling node at the same time that would delete the coordinates after she has been gone.
"Her eyes!" Arcee cried out but they didn't know what to make of it as Fave whispered a "sorry" and pushed Miko away from her hard, making the girl dashing to the ground. She then all but rushed through the ground bridge, noticing that the Autobots tried to follow her but she destabilized the swirl quickly enough to escape their reach without harming them at the same time.
She was gone.
oooooooooooooooooooo
She looked around and found herself standing on a high rock formation, surrounded by impressive canyons, panting heavily. Wherever she looked, there was a deep canyon in any direction! Great! She always wanted to see the Grand Canyon but by choosing those particular coordinates, she has trapped herself effectively. She wouldn't be able to climb down these formations. They were too steep and too deep to risk a fall even with her newfound abilities.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to calm herself down. What she just did was foolish, and she couldn't even explain what has provoked these actions. She didn't want to think about it. She only wished to get back to the Nemesis, so she focused, trying to reach Soundwave but she didn't know how to do so. While she has been in the Autobot base, something has been scrambling every signal she has tried to send through the old silo but right now she should have had a clear reception. Could they be too far away for her to reach them?
It was Soundwave though who found her instead suddenly, making her cheer because of the mech's presence. 'Soundwave! I have just left the Autobot base! Where are you guys?'
The silent mech didn't answer but established a COMM to their ship's bridge. She waited patiently for Megatron to question her.
"Fave. Report!", the warlord simply ordered.
"My lord, I just left the Autobot's base", she repeated what she has told Soundwave already, "I must confess though, that I put myself into a somewhat difficult situation. I'm surrounded by canyons which I cannot pass."
"Are there any Autobots with you?"
"No. I scrambled the coordinates I used so they wouldn't be able to follow me."
The warlord hummed lightly. "I am impressed. Have you been able to locate their base as well?"
A very long pause followed but in the end, Fave couldn't refused to answer any longer. "No, my lord. I am sorry, but I couldn't find out anything about their location. My abilities aren't this advanced yet."
"I see…"
After there has been another long silence, Fave piped up again. "I could really use that ground bridge right now."
"Of course,", Megatron answered but only seconds later, Fave winced when hearing a smashing sound through the COMM. "What was that?!" Fave asked with her hands covering her ringing ears.
"Well, it seems there is something wrong with our ground bridge systems", the warlord answered her with a so much obvious sneer, that it didn't take long for Fave to understand what truly happened.
"You crushed ground bridge controls!?", she cried out, "On purpose?!"
The warlord ignored her angry comment and pretended to be concerned. "How unfortunate! It seems like it would take some time to fix the problem. Soundwave will work on it immediately. You, however, will have to return to the ship on your own. We will have an open COMM to you so that you can find us."
"What? Wait! How am I supposed to reach you!" she shouted angrily, "is the ship grounded as of late?"
"No", was the simple, amused answer, "it is not. I am awaiting you." The warlord intended to deactivate his personal COMM but before he could do so, the woman's voice pierced through.
"Aaaaarg! Megatron! YOU BASTARD!"
The mechs on the bridge besides Megatron froze, pretending nothing happened of course, while the holler echoed in their audials. They were expecting an outburst of rage though, but the warlord surprised them all with a deep and amused chuckle.
"Yes. Hm hm hm. That's the spirit!"
oooooooooooooooooooo
Fave was pacing back and forth again and raising dust that way for over an hour now. She missed the warm and fuzzy treatment of the Autobots already! They never would have left her in the middle of nowhere to teach her a lesson! And what lesson! The warlord's patience obviously has run low. He wasn't angry for her not having been able to locate the Autobot's base, that much she knew! He wanted her to fly already! No pickups, no waiting for her to appear, no carrying her around. He wanted her to fly and he wanted her to do so now!
She kicked a stone hard and furiously and watched it roll over the ledge. A long fall followed. How was she supposed to even overcome the canyons, yet alone to speed off to the sky!? She would kill herself!
"I didn't have a single flight lesson, yet!" she growled, her body shaking in anger. She didn't know why she was so angry in the first place. For being left alone again? Was she truly angry at all? Or was it something else completely?
She let herself sink to the ground, her arms crossed and her eyes closed tightly. What was making her feel so disturbed? So angry? So out of place? So confused? She breathed loudly to stay calm. Whenever she has been in a situation like this, her parents always gave her their best advice, but she couldn't ask them for advice any longer. Sure, one could think that she has managed five years without them, surviving worse than hell. It was different though. The prospect of reunite with them one day has always been comforting her, making the ordeal bearable. Now, she knew she was alone. She couldn't go back to the life she knew. Has she been wishing to return home so badly, even after discovering the fate of her family?
Fave stood, feeling a light breeze messing up her hair. She stared into the distance, the unknown future, then turned around as if her past lay there somewhere. She never considered herself to be afraid of changes, of making decisions but right now, she felt insecurity rise within her. Who wouldn't be insecure? Not only has she been abducted for more than five years, which changed her deeply, but her body has been altered by alien intruders which changed her physically as well. She has been revived with a spark, lost her family, lost any stability in her life.
She wasn't afraid of flying, she realized suddenly. It was just the occasion that gave her fears space. In her life, whenever there have been changes, she never has been alone. She could always count on her small family's support. She has known where she belonged. She has known where to turn if trouble arose.
She walked to the ledge of the canyon and looked into the depths. She missed them. She missed them so much that it hurt right now more than during the past few days. She has been busy with Soundwave's lessons, with getting used to the Decepticons around her, with infiltrating an alien vessel and with trying to understand what has happened to her, so she has repressed the grief. She felt tears welling up in her eyes.
She closed her eyes again, feeling another cold breeze coming from deep down the canyon and drying the tears on her cheeks. If they were here, what would they do? That would they say? She knew them good enough, she should know. Fave remembered many occasions where she has found comfort and guidance due to her parent's advice. She could almost see her father's reassuring grin and her mother's encouraging smile. She knew, they would tell her to simply move on, to not be afraid, to take things as they came. She didn't know what was to come and the situation was everything but easy, but she knew that, if she wanted to move on, she had to let go of the grief and the sorrow. She wouldn't be able to free herself of the guilt she felt for their deaths any time soon, but she knew she had to make the first step. The first step without them. The first step on her own.
She took a deep breath again, as she always did before doing something that scared her. She spread her arms, transformed and allowed herself to fall off the ledge.
She could see the ground coming closer alarmingly fast and let her instincts take over. She felt a powerful sparkbeat, a burst of energy inside her chest which provided her with the means to slow down her descend. This way, she should be able to land unharmed but as she intended to do so, already proud to manage that much, a silver shape passed her in a flash. It was Starscream in his jet mode. He must have been waiting close by the whole time!
"Give it a shot, Fave! You can do more than just slow down the fall. Thrust! Come on! That's an order!"
She nodded and closed her eyes. Yes, she knew how to do it! Before she could hit the ground, she felt moving in a sharp angle and speeding off to the sky, faster than before. She left the canyon together with Starscream and rose higher and higher when a sudden cry of joy pierced through the air.
"Funny. That was my first reaction, too, after I finally decided to jump at long last." Starscream chuckled but Fave could barely hear him. She threw all caution to the winds, literally! Nothing could describe the sensation of joy she felt right now! She let go of her grieve for the time being and she let go of the anger as well. She felt like leaving everything that scared and bothered her in any way on the ground! She felt free!
She performed a loop and allowed herself to fall again, Starscream in pursuit. "Don't get cocky!" the seeker cried but his tone was betraying his order. Fave laughed out loud from the bottom of her spark which was a sound the Decepticon heard from her for the very first time. He followed the human back through the canyons, where she rushed through the rock formations in an attempt to throw off the seeker.
"Nice try", he mused and increased speed, "but you can't really believe you can hide from me! I am the fastest flyer among the Deceptic…! Hey! Watch out!" He caught up with her just in time, shoving her out of the way hard before she could crush into a rock wall. Fave stopped midair and looked a little shocked but grinned shortly after nevertheless, speeding off to the sky again. Starscream recalled his own first flight so long ago and would have shook his head if being in his robot mode in disbelief. He never thought that he would once be in his mentor's place but, surprisingly, he was enjoying the fact that Fave was behaving like a real youngling for the first time.
"Try to catch up if you can", he challenged her, eliciting another cheerful shout from the human. He pushed his thrusters only a little more, not even close to his whole potential of course, but enough to take the lead. Fave followed as fast as she could, enjoying the wind on her face and the height and the view it offered regardless of her trembling shape. It was getting quite cold and it got even worse when they rushed through a bunch of clouds, but she didn't care. Nothing could spoil the moment right now!
Right after they left the clouds the Nemesis came in sight. "You have been waiting here all the time after locating me?" she tried to say in disbelief, but her teeth were chattering too much, thus the seeker couldn't understand her. When they reached the Nemesis right above the flight deck, Starscream transformed midair, performing a flip, and landed on the ship gracefully with a loud impact. Fave, intending to imitate the landing, transformed as well but a suddenly rising wind blew her off course and she landed on her front side very ungracefully. She heard the seeker laugh.
"We will have to work on that", he chuckled, "none of my students shall make a fool of himself, not on my watch!"
"Sure thing", she managed to say though her body was trembling violently now. She couldn't think of a situation where she has ever been colder than right now. Regardless, she felt overwhelmed and the feeling only multiplied when she spotted Megatron at the end of the flight deck. She pushed herself up and would have run to the warlord, truly making a fool of herself, if not for a small creature bumping into her first and throwing her off her feet again. It was a little golden ball with bright purple eyes, without any signs of a scratch on his face.
"Sparks?" she laughed out loud, "Knockout actually looked up the origin of your name! Did he paint you? I can't believe it!"
"Neither did I, when I spotted the parasite in sick bay", Megatron addressed her with a dark stare, not even mentioning her first flight or the superb crash landing in any way, "You should be grateful to Knockout because he convinced me that having a Scraplet to use as a lab rat if necessary could prove to be an advantage. I strongly advise you to watch the little pest closely, though. One single bite, and he will be scrapped, and you will have to answer me personally for any damage it might have caused until then. Is that understood?"
She nodded, holding her 'dragonfly' close to her spark, and following the Decepticon leader and his second inside the ship but not without turning around to take a peek at the limitless sky.
Could she allow herself…, could she dare to believe, that she wasn't alone after all?