Hey there! Sorry about not updating for awhile! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters relating to Transformers, even though I own the DVDs. I only own my OCs that are in the story.
TTTTTTTTTTT change in the scene (if there is one)
Name: change of the pov
Italics telepathy, "italics" talking on a phone
The next few days for me were really a drag. Not only having to recover from my ordeal with the Decepticons and the lake waters. But also from the constant hovering that both Tara and Jen were giving me. They had decided to stay at my house until they were convinced that I was alright. I kept telling them that I was but they didn't believe me as usual.
Basically I was forced to stay in my room with one of them standing constant guard outside my door to make sure I didn't try to sneak out. The one thing that I was glad of was that they still let me continue to get some writing done on my laptop. Copying what I had written before from my notebooks. I was what some called a 'freelance author'. Meaning that I can write and finish a book without having to worry about any deadlines. That worked for me considering what I was going through now more than ever.
I set my laptop aside and got up slowly. I walked over to my windows stretching my legs. Opening one of them I stepped outside and sat in one of my deck chairs. A soft breeze blew in from the lake. I tightened the blanket I had around my shoulders. I don't think I was going to swim in the lake for awhile, all things considered.
The Decepticons hadn't come back after the incident. At least for the time being. I had seen the Autobots Prowl and Jazz heading down the hill towards town on separate occasions to patrol. Though the question that Optimus Prime had said the other day still loomed in my mind. Did Laserbeak mistake me for Carly or was a grabbed on purpose? And what about the power plant, had that been just a distraction to get me?
Those I think were the million dollar questions that everyone seemed to be asking. I heard a knock on my door and leaving the glass window/door open to let some air in I went back over to my bed crawling under the blanket and then grabbing my laptop. The door opened and Tara, the current guard, poked her head in.
"Hey. Feeling better?"
I looked at her. My eyes clearly showing that I was bored. "What do you think…why exactly do you ask?" I said tilting my head to one side.
Tara stepped into the room. Following her was Jennifer with some food on a tray. Then came Carly.
Surprise must have hit my face because she held her hands up. "Don't worry. They know where I am. I just came to see how you were recovering after what happened."
"You sure?" I asked.
She shifted back and forth on her feet. "… Well not exactly everyone. The one who does know is here with me."
I looked at her questioningly and then looked up at the door. There, trying to slightly hide behind the door, was Ratchet. I could see him glaring at Carly for telling me. I don't think he expected her to.
"Ratch? What are you doing here? I thought you weren't going to tell anybody?" I asked barraging him with questions. He stepped out from behind the door and walked over to sit on my right side of the bed.
He at least had the decencency to look sheepish. "Sorry but I was sort of pressured." He said glancing at Carly.
"I didn't pressure you!" Carly shot back. "You were just basically pacing back and forth in the med bay like a robot chicken with its head cut off since you were so worried about her!"
"Carly…" Ratch growled.
I laughed causing both of them to give me weird looks. "Sorry! But I didn't think I could ever picture you like that Ratch!" I gasped, grabbing my sides from laughing so hard.
Ratchet smiled, playfully batting me over the head. "Well excuse me. But really are you trying to give me a heart attack from worry? I thought something bad had happened to you."
"I know, I'm sorry. But there wasn't any other way that I could get out of Laserbeak's grip. Besides checking on me, what did you come here to tell me about?" I asked.
That got me shocked looks out of them. They hadn't said they wanted to talk to me about something but I guess I'm just that good at reading people.
Carly and Ratchet exchanged a glance and she motioned for him to go ahead and explain. Ratchet looked back at me.
"We haven't picked up anything about another attack. But we have been getting readings from something in the city that spikes on the energy chart. We believe that this energy might just be the cause of all this chaos." Ratchet explained.
Carly stopped him for a second. "Problem is though. None of us, not even Teletran can get a fix on this source so…"
"If the Decepticons have picked up this signal they'll be back again. But what's that got to do with me?" I finished. Tara and Jen came over and stood on either side of me against the wall. Both were just as curious as I was.
Ratchet paused for a second before continuing. "Optimus had Wheeljack watching the chart while we fought the Cons at the power plant. But he only noticed a spike in the energy right when you had gotten picked up by Laserbeak."
"WHAT?!" Tara, Jen and I exclaimed at the same time.
"What is that supposed to mean? That Angel somehow possesses this energy source?" Jennifer asked.
Carly shrugged. "We don't know. But before we left I heard Optimus telling Prowl that he wanted him to watch you just for the reason that either you possess the source or you know where it is."
I exchanged a glance with my friends. "He's not out there right now is he?"
Ratchet shook his head. "No, Prowl begins the surveillance tonight after dark. But he'll be watching you from now on. So…"
"You can't see me like before can you?" I said.
He sighed. "No. That would let Prime know that I knew you before this. I'm still unsure about letting him know that I broke orders."
I smiled. "I know. But if you don't tell him he's going to find out sooner or later. Possibly during another attack or some other dire situation. Then how will you explain it to him?"
He shrugged. "Let me worry about that when it happens. And to answer your question from before only Carly knows about that situation. She won't tell them."
I looked over at Carly. She nodded her head at me confirming that. I could tell in my gut that I could trust her when I needed to. She was truly worried about what had happened to me. But now I had the answers to my questions about what happened with Laserbeak.
The Decepticons had used the plant as a distraction to grab me if they thought I knew where this energy was. But even I was totally confused on that fact. I didn't really know about any large source of powerful energy except from the power plant and the fuel that the ships used.
"Is there anything else I should know about this energy in case I do find it before either side does?" I asked.
Ratch nodded. "Yes. On the sensors the energy reads like it is from Cybertron itself. Yes Cybertron." He said as surprised looks crossed all of our faces. "It's powerful. About as strong as the energy that the crystal inside the Matrix of Leadership that Optimus holds possesses. In legend on our home world there are three ancient items that possess that sort of power. The Matrix, of course, another is called the Prism of Ancients." He stopped.
"Go on Ratch, what's the last one?" I prodded. Excitement burning inside me. I had heard of the Matrix but to find that there were two other items just as powerful if not more so was amazing.
"The last one was lost shortly before we left for Earth. It was called the Cyber Crystal. A powerful item said to have been made from a small sliver of the Matrix's crystal itself. The power of that item was so great that for many years no one could possess it." Ratchet explained.
"The only way that the crystal could be used by anyone was after a special competition was held to see who had the skills in order to use the crystal correctly. That person was to be named the Ul tou-el Kystel, the Guardian of the Cyber Crystal because to hold that power was both an honor and a curse. The Ul tou-el was the right hand advisor to the Autobot's leader but was constantly in battle fighting off people who wanted to steal the crystal from them."
The four of us girls were silent for a few minutes. I didn't know that there was that kind of turmoil even before the Great War had even started. Talk about having a hard but honorable life if you were the one who possessed the Crystal.
"So you guys think that this crystal is somewhere here in Duluth?" Tara asked.
"That or somewhere close. That's about all we can tell at this time."
Oh great, I thought. I swear if I have to take any more swan dives into the lake before the Autobots find this thing, I'm gonna go crazy.
I did want to help Ratch but I don't think I could without causing worry for him and my friends.
"You said it was destroyed. But if that was the case, why is it here on Earth?" Jen asked.
Ratchet shrugged. "We don't understand this very well either. From the energy readings it looks like the real thing but there is also the possibility that it is just a cheap imitation or another source of energy entirely that is just giving off the same readings."
"Wheeljack thinks that it is just a different source doesn't he?" I asked slowly.
Carly nodded. "Optimus does too. But I think they are still holding onto the hope that it could be the actual crystal."
That ended the conversation right there as Ratchet's communicator chirped to life as one of the other Autobots asked him where he was. He got up and answered, motioning Carly to follow him.
Ratchet and Carly were glad to see that I was feeling better and surprisingly Tara let me escort them to the front door before they left. I told them that I would keep an eye out for this "Crystal" that was possibly here somewhere in the city.
"Hey, I have a suggestion." Jen said suddenly.
The three of us stopped at the door and turned back to face my friends. Jen had an impish little grin on her face. Uh oh.
"Since we have some quiet now. Why don't you guys come to the concert tonight? Just to relax."
"Concert?" Carly and Ratchet chorused.
"Yeah down at the fairgrounds on the southeast part of the city. There's a large open field there with the outdoor stage already set up. Everyone in town is going to be there! And guess what, cause I know that she's up to it, Angel is singing there tonight." Jen finished.
"Jennifer!" I hissed. I hated when she told people about my singing. I only sang at the charity concert's that Duluth held a couple time a year, usually during the changing of seasons. I had forgotten all about it until this morning when the director had contacted me. I had told him that I would still be there, my voice was fine, it was just my body that needed to recover. I told him that I had had a slight 'accident' with a hang glider that Tara owned.
Carly glanced at me. "You sing?"
"Uh…" I stuttered.
"Yes she does! Her voice is to die for!" Tara added.
I glared daggers at the two of them. Both T and Jen knew what they were doing but I guess they had overheard my conversation that morning.
"Really, well it would give us a chance to relax." Ratchet said smiling.
I glared at him. "All right but I won't tell you which one I am in the list, there a three other people. You'll just have to guess which one I am. Deal?"
Carly and Ratch smiled. "Deal!" they said.
"Alright then, we'll see you guys later. Carly why don't you and Spike meet Tara and Jen at the top of the center bleachers, they are the best seats in the house and once everyone's gone you and the other's Ratch can transform to see over the bleachers. It would be kind of boring just listening to the music on the ground." I said.
They both nodded and then left. I turned back towards Tara and Jen mock glaring at them and then went upstairs to choose and outfit for later. Majority of the people in town didn't know that the person in the concerts was me because I went under a different name. My stage name was Lady Star, don't ask my mom came up with it but it stuck and people liked the name so I kept it.
As I pulled out the jeans, shirt, and jacket I would wear tonight, Tara came in and handed me my waist length fire-red wig that I wore when singing. I took it thanking her but let her know that I would kill both her and Jen if they pulled a stunt like that again. She just smiled and then went to grab her own kit of make-up. Singing was the only time that I wore the stuff cause as my mom told me I was one of the few people in the world that didn't really need to wear it to look pretty.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Ratchet
We drove through what was basically deserted streets. Angel's friend Jennifer had been right, everyone in the city was going to the concert. Carly, Spike, and Bumblebee had gone on ahead of us. When Carly and I had gotten back to the base she had told Spike about the concert. Prowl agreed that it would give us a chance to relax and Prime even agreed! Jazz, obviously, jumped at the chance to listen to some music in a concert setting and actually being there instead of having Blaster record and play it later.
Though I knew while there we would be serving two purposes. We would be there to relax but just in case the Decepticons tried something while the concert was going on we'd be ready for them. I was worried about Angel being there if the Cons did attack but in my gut I didn't think they would try it. We had hurt many of them pretty badly during their last attack on the city. But those thoughts were banished from my mind when we started to come up on the outdoor concert area.
Carly
Spike and I walked through the crowds of the concert. It was packed, good thing we had told Bumblebee to wait until we found Tara and Jennifer before climbing up the stands to sit with us. I had been to concert's before with Spike back in Oregon but this had to have been the most packed one I had ever seen.
People were going this way and that. Some already finding spots on the permanently built silver bleachers. The while area was built like a stadium except it had no walls or roof. It was a nice night to have it too. There was no haze from the bright lights as the sky had no clouds and you could see the stars very clearly.
I followed Spike as we climbed the stairs that went between the left and center sections of bleachers. Tara had called me shortly before the concert started telling us to come later on for the last two performances. She didn't say which one was Angel that would be calling off the deal. I looked around over people's heads trying to find them.
"Hey Carly!" a voice called. I turned and looked up above me. Tara was standing on the very top bleacher waving at us. Jennifer was sitting next to her on her right with a bag of popcorn. I waved back and climbed up to meet them. I sat down next to Tara with Spike on my left.
"Sorry. We couldn't see you with all the people."
Jen leaned forward. "We told you it would be packed. There were less people before. Most everyone just comes to see the last two performances they don't even bother with the first two but there was enough people not to make the first two made."
"Where are the others?" Tara asked, just as Bumblebee came over the back railing. "Hey! Be careful!"
He sat down next to Spike. "Well excuse me. How else was I going to get up here without people noticing?"
Tara just shrugged. "The others coming?"
I looked back at her, "Yeah. They'll be here soon." I said just as the curtains started to pull back to clear the stage for the singer.
Angel
I looked out from the side of the stage listening to the performance. I saw T and Jen where they said they'd be. Along with Carly, Spike and then Bumblebee.
Oh great, I thought. Did Tara do that on purpose? She knew that the song I usually opened up with was titled that. I laughed silently, I would have given anything to see the look on Bumblebee's face when I started singing.
The song that my predecessor was singing finished. She took a bow and then left the stage as the curtain closed. People scrambled around moving the props in order to make the platforms for my songs. I saw the other two singers from before look over and gave me a thumbs up to wish me good luck. I nodded back and then took my place on the center of the three staircases. I turned my back to the crowd and made sure that my ear microphone was on. Then took on my starting position as the music started and the curtain opened.
Jazz
We arrived at the concert shortly after the second to last singer had started performing. The bleachers were high enough in the air so that we could look over without being noticed. But then again everyone was focused on the singer dancing around in the bright lights.
I stood behind where I could see Bumblebee and two of our human friends sitting with the girls from the other day. The singer on now was pretty good, though in my opinion the song could have been performed a little better than that. She had written a fast-paced song that she couldn't keep up with that well. That was surprising. After the song was finished she left the stage and the curtain closed.
Everyone sat back in their seats to wait until the stage personnel were ready for the next singer to start performing. I looked to either side of me and could tell that everyone else was enjoying this music. So was I of course. I wanted to dance but I was afraid I'd accidentally knock something over or step on a car and that would not be good.
"And now ladies and gentlemen! The one you've all been waiting for! May I proudly introduce, Lady Star!" the announcer cried over the loudspeakers.
The people in the crowd went up in a roar of cheers. She must be good to get the crowd to do this, I thought. Some of them started chanting as the curtain slowly opened. Then the lights came on and landed on the singer. She had red hair tied back in a pony-tail and was wearing a light-blue jacket with a red, silver, and blue star on the back. Her jeans covered the boots that she wore on her feet. Then she started to sing and the crowd quieted a little as the music started.
"Ohhhhhhhhh," she started. Her voice went to different pitches as she turned around and did the same lyric again. The beat picked up speed as she walked down the stairs and then she jumped the last five before the song really started. The next thing that we all heard was, "Sweet little Bumblebee…"
Jennifer
I put my popcorn next to my feet before Angel started to sing to whistle like some of the crowd were doing. Tara glared at me and covered her right ear with her hand, playfully punching me in the arm. She hated when I whistled. Then the song started.
I looked over at Carly and Spike. Spike's foot was taping to the beat and Carly's head was going up and down in a nodding motion. Both of them had heard this song before.
The I looked over at Bumblebee and just started laughing my head off. Tara gave me a look like, 'what's the matter with you?' before she too leaned forward to look and started laughing too.
The little golden robot had a face that I can only describe in one word…PRICELESS! What I wouldn't have given to have brought a camera with me. I looked behind me at the other Autobots. They had looks just as good. I would have to tell Carly to explain to them about the song. Though I could see that at least two of them were enjoying the song. One of them was Jazz from the other day. The other one was a little taller than him. His red and black coloring standing out from the others. He was doing a little dance along with Jazz.
I smiled and then turned back to watch as Angel finished the song. Then the music started to play again.
"Let's sing a song for the brokenhearted…"
Prowl
I looked over a Jazz as another song started. I had to smile as I saw him try to contain himself from breaking out into a dance. He just looked over at me and gave a thumbs up. He really liked this singer, better than the last one. And I did have to admit that she was. Her voice hit every note right on key during the songs.
She was the best singer I had ever heard. I was confused about the first song for a bit but I believe that Spike or Carly would tell us about it later. I looked over a Ratchet. He was watching the singer with interest. He had said that he was trying to guess which one of the singer's was a friend of Carly's.
I leaned over to him. "So do you know which one yet?"
He shook his head. "No idea. I'll just ask her later." He replied before turning back to the song. The singer before her had done three songs that was the limit for the concert. I was curious to see which song she would choose.
The music stopped again ending the second song and then starting the third.
"I've been searching for a man, all across the land…"
Angel
"Where's my Samurai!"
I stopped to catch my breath in the dance pose I had ended in. the crowd went into a very loud standing ovation. I smiled and bowed to them. Waving I saw my friends and the Autobots in and behind the center section. Tara was cheering, clapping really hard. Only to stop and punch Jen in the arm when she whistled.
I waved and bowed again and then walked off the stage. I heard the announcer telling everyone that that concluded the concert and thanking everyone for coming out this evening. Walking through the crowd in the back I made my way over to the back door to get to my motorcycle. I gave my microphone to the tech guy first then walked out.
I climbed onto my bike, put on my helmet and then took some back roads to get to my house before Tara and Jennifer got there. I knew they'd be awhile with the crowd so that would give me a chance to get changed out of these clothes and get the wig and make-up off. As I drove past the parking lot I saw that the Autobots had already changed back to their alternate modes and were waiting for some of the crowd to disperse before leaving. Maybe I should have let Carly warn them about the crowd, whoops.
Pulling into the driveway I put my bike back into the garage. Then closed the door and entered my house though the side door. I went upstairs and threw the wig onto the bed and then took off my jacket throwing it in the same place.
I went into the bathroom and washed all the make-up off of my face. I was glad Tara hadn't pressured me to put on eyeliner. I hated that stuff beyond all reason and only wore it when it was absolutely necessary. I put on one of my baggy shirts and some sweatpants and headed downstairs with my singing clothes and wig to put them back into the closet behind the case of china.
I had just finished when I heard the lock turning on my door and my friends' voices shortly afterwards. Going into the living room I dodged Jen as she ran at me to hug me leaning up against the back of the couch. But I couldn't dodge Tara who came charging at me after she closed the door. She grabbed me around the waist and sent us over the back of the couch and onto the cushions with her laughing and me gasping for breath after having the wind knocked out of me.
"You were awesome!" Tara cried. "That has got to be one of your best performances! You totally had the crowd tonight!"
"Yeah!" Jen added coming to sit by us.
"Thanks you two. Are Carly and Spike with you or…" I asked.
Tara shook her head. "No, they went back with the Autobots. You should have seen Bumblebee's face with that first song you sang! But Carly said she would explain it to him later."
"I could see that Jazz really liked it too. But I don't think Ratchet or Carly could figure out which of the last two performers was you." Jen said.
I laughed. "Alright. Go get something to drink and you can tell me about the rest okay?"
Both of them nodded getting up and heading for the kitchen. I laid there on the couch for a few more minutes with my legs draped over the back from where I had landed when Tara pounced on me. Sighing I flipped over and started to head towards the kitchen when a knock rang out from the door.
I stopped and walked over. Seeing no one out of the little peep-hole I had installed I opened the door. Some leaves blew by with the wind but no one was standing there. I turned to go back in when a flash of white and red on my front step caught my eye. I knelt down and picked the letter and rose up looking back and forth again for the person who might have left it.
Leaning against the doorjamb I turned the letter over. It said my name…well my singing name on it. I turned it over again and seeing nothing really suspicious on it at all I opened it. The letter came out easily. I unfolded it from the three-fold that it was in and flipped it over to start to read thinking it was a fan letter.
"Dear Lady Star,
You sang like an angel tonight. I am very proud to hear how far your voice has progressed since the last time I was able to see you. I hope that I will be able to see you some time while I am in town looking to complete a mission that I have been on for several years. I'll see you when I can my little bijou.
Forever yours, David."
My heart went into my mouth. David was here?! Oh no…
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please R&R! ALL the rights to the actual three songs used in this chapter rightfully belong to DDR for 'Bumble Bee' and 'Butterfly' and to Bon Jovi for 'It's my life'. Oh and bijou means 'jewel' in French. Will update soon! Ja ne!