Okay so I'd like to do shout outs to all my readers, reviewers, followers and those that Favorited this story! you guys are all awesome! Remember what I said a few chapters back about traits and characteristics that you like in the characters. Tell me so I don't modify them to the point the change completely. And remember if I have details wrong, tell me asap so I can get them fixed! Thank you everyone and I hope you enjoy this chapter, there's a new twist.
Legend:
::Com link::
Cybortronian
Thoughts/Dreams
~Time, Place and POV~
~Base, Briefing, Ironhide~
That femme was something else entirely, still trying to work out WHY I kissed her! I mean sure, she's beautiful, strong willed and a force to reckon with, but I only met her yesterday!
Ironhide! Ratchet yelled my name.
What? I'm right here no need to yell. Ratchet scoffed and gestured to Prime.
You were out of it for a bit there. Are you alright my friend? Prime asked me concerned.
I'm fine, just got a few things on my processor right now. That caused Prime to look even more concerned.
They're not going to get in the way of you fighting are they? I need you out there. I sighed and folded my arms.
I'm fine to go into battle, they won't get in the way. So where's this Decepti-freak anyways? I asked quickly before anyone else had ideas to start questioning me.
It's been located in Shanghai, China at one of the major city docks at a construction site. We believe it's Bonecrusher. Ah frag. Bonecrusher a pain in the aft of a con.
When do we leave? I asked simply.
This afternoon, we need to get there by nightfall if we want to get back by tomorrow morning. I want this done as quickly and as effectively as possible. The Autobots going are Bumblebee, Ironhide, Skids, Mudflaps, Ratchet and myself. Prime then went on to tell us that the location was a dense location with humans all over the place. Apparently the human government there was trying to evacuate the area before our arrival but even I knew that not everyone goes.
We all made our way over to the cargo plane and loaded up. Hopefully everything goes smoothly.
~ Secondhand Car Dealership, 1500 hrs, Aqua~
I was simply walking around looking at the cars to see if any in particular caught my eye. One did, a classic 80's model ZX series. Red, they're always faster if they're red. I asked about the car and was told that no one has ever really shown interest in the car so it's used as something to catch peoples attention. Well it certainly did the job. I also found out that it was a 1983 Nissan Datsun 280 ZX, original condition. So after a bit of bantering I paid the dealer $3000 with the promise of a ride after I got it tuned up a bit. Smiling I drove towards the reality to pick up my keys to my house. After I got there they were kind of unimpressed that I hadn't come to pick them up. Sam, the woman I spoke with about the house, said that she'd been waiting for me for hours, thinking I had gotten lost.
"No Sam I didn't get lost, I actually got a job with the military and they needed to sort out all the clearance and security. I'm sorry that I couldn't call to tell you I wouldn't make it, a lot of things happened and when I was left alone I was falling asleep." I tried to apologize to her and thankfully I was forgiven. If I promised to make her a batch of ANZAC cookies.
So it was off with my car and the keys to my house to the docks to pick up some of the gear there. I spoke to the manager about where my gear was and he lead me to it. "Your stuff is all here. You sure you're gonna fit it all in that little car of yours?" He was skeptical.
"Nope, I know I won't which is why in about two-four days time I'm going to come by with a ute and pick the rest of it up then." I grinned as he gained the familiar look of confusion. I laughed and started to grab some of the smaller boxes and the ones I knew contained my swords, numb-chucks and staff. Filling my car as much as I dared I got back in after thanking the manager and was on my merry way.
After driving for about an hour I came up to my turn off and drove for another 20 minuets. I pulled into the driveway of my new home and looked at it, feeling a little home sick. I missed the heat of Australia. The feel of the desert air blowing onto my back. The massive thunderstorms that were natures most beautiful light show, the mountain range far off in the distance. I looked back at the house and looked at it, it was almost built like a Queenslander. It has stairs lead of two ways and met in the middle to form one going up to the door. There was a veranda out the front but it didn't follow all the way around. Hmm sounds like a project for me. I jumped out and grabbed some gear and made my way up, unlocking the door. I stepped in and stopped short, the place was clean after I was told it would be filthy. I put my stuff down on the table and heard a knock on the front door. Going over I opened it a small portion and saw a woman, about mid 30's honeycomb hair and bright blue eyes. "Can I help you at all Ma'am?" I asked her. She smiled at me lifting a child up onto her hips.
"Hi I'm Sarah Lennox, I'm your neighbor. I heard that someone young was moving in and I still had the spare key from the last person so I cleaned the place up and stocked your kitchen." Lennox? Really, I was now going to be Will Lennox's freaking neighbor? Opening the door and letting her and her child through I go into the kitchen and see that she did in fact stock it.
"Would you like a drink?" I asked politely pulling out lemonade, pineapple juice, ice and apple juice.
"Sure, you don't need all of those dear, water will be fine for me." She replied politely.
"Oh no I'm making myself a non-alcoholic drink. Would you like one with me?" I asked smiling.
"Um sure, what are you making?"
"It's a rather sweet drink I make in the summer, I call it the Queenslander." I was grinning, I came up with this drink about 3 years ago when I was screwing around with vodka. "By the way, you wouldn't happen to be related to a William Lennox would you?"
She smiled as I said the name and what I heard next stunned me. "He's my husband why, do you know him?"
"Know him? I work with him. He gave me a job before I even landed here." I almost exasperated to her as I shook the mixing jar up and down. Sarah looked surprised by this.
"So does that mean you know about THEM?" She emphasized the 'them' I looked at her confused then it clicked. The Autobots.
"You mean the Autobots. Then yes I know about them and I know Ironhide is Will's guardian. I'm guessing that's why people got scared off from this place. They apparently had reports of loud shooting noises but there was never any evidence." I smirked "I gather that was Ironhide when he was staying with you guys." Sarah's eyes bugged and looked at me shocked.
"Yeah, apparently he was afraid he'd loose his touch with aiming." she confessed shortly after her daughter came up to her and asked for the bathroom. "It's down the hall to the left sweetie."
"She's a sweet little girl. I'm sorry Sarah, I never introduced myself before. I'm Aquarius Grant, Aqua is what I usually go by." I told her after realizing that I had never told her my name.
"That's okay Aqua. Such a unique name, your hair fits your namesake." We shared a laugh at that as her daughter came back. "Annabelle this is Aqua, Miss Grant to you. She's our new neighbor and she knows all about Ironhide so she'll be able to visit."
"That's alright Sarah, she's fine to call me Aqua." I spoke softly. Looking at the clock on the kitchen wall I saw it was coming up for 1800 hrs. "Well I best get the rest of my stuff I have with me out before it gets any darker." I got up and went to the door, Sarah following.
"Alright, don't be afraid to come over and ask for anything you need. Also here." She handed me a piece of paper, her phone number. "Call me if you need anything or a contact number for Will." I thanked her and went to my car and unloaded it. When I put the last box on the veranda my phone buzzed.
'Taking off now, should be back in the next two days. Stay safe. I' I smiled at the text he was such a sweetie.
'Good timing then, the car I got can't hold most of my stuff from the docks T . T So would be okay with giving me a hand? Don't mind if you can't just wanted to ask. And don't worry about me, I'm busy settling into my new home.' I texted him back with a cheek splitting grin on my face and a giggle or two escaping.
'Sure I'll give you a hand. What car did you get?' I grinned and switched to the open communications line.
Aqua: A 1983 Nissan Datsun 280 ZX, red. It was like a chat site.
Skids: Wha? Hey yo anyone know how Aqua managed to contact us? And what the hell is a Nissan Datsun 280 Z...
Bumblebee: That's an 80's classic! Nice pick girl!
Aqua: Thank you Bee. As for your question Skids, Ironhide gave me this number to keep in touch with you guys.
Optimus: I agree with Bee, that is a very regal looking car you have acquired.
Aqua: Thank you Optimus.
Sideswipe: Sunny I think she just found your new alt mode!
Sunstreaker: Don't call me Sunny frag it! And I'll be damned if I'm seen in that monstrosity!
Aqua: It's better than being called Streaker.
Sunstreaker: What do you mean squishie?
Aqua: Well in our language a streaker is someone who runs over stadiums or fields nude. Not sure you want to be called one of those.
Sunstreaker: What the pit! Why the frag would humans do that!? That's disgusting and I'll be scrap before people call me that!
Aqua: That's a good question Sunstreaker, just hold on a moment while I go and find a streaker and then ask them why they do it.
I tossed my phone away and went to the boxes containing my weapons and their stands. Pulling them out I strategically place them around the room. The staff leaned against the far wall beside the back door in the lounge room. The numb-chucks were placed around a shield on the wall in the kitchen. The swords were placed crisscross on the wall in the hallway. My guns would live in my room along with my daggers and katana.
As I went back out to the kitchen I had another thought/idea go through my head. Running over to my phone just as it rang I picked it up. Private number, not good.
"Hello this is Aquarius' Home Resort how may I be of service to you?" I asked as politely as possible with out panicking.
"Ah yes, I'm looking for a Aquarius Stephanie Grant. Would she be available? I have a message for her." The man on the other side asked. Fear was starting to bubble and rise in me. Who is this man?
"I'm sorry she's not available right now. Can I take a message for you and ask her to call you back when she's able to?" I played the innocent Administrator well. It was part of my defense.
"Yes you can. Tell her that a Derik Turner is looking for her and to call him back on 0428129868 as soon as possible. She'll know who I am." (AN: I have no idea if this is someones actual number so if you live in Australia, please don't call it!) With that he ended the call. The phone dropped to the ground with a loud clatter, fear shook my whole body. He's meant to be dead, not walking around!
Suddenly I jump into action and pick my phone up once more and dialed the open com link to the Autobots.
"Aqua, why are you calling us? Where almost at our destination." Ironhide seemed surprised.
"I know for a fact that you are about two hours away from your location. Look is anyone who's on base free tonight?" I asked peeking out of windows and slamming them shut. Panic and fear almost taking over me.
"Of course, why what is wrong? Are you not well? Your voice has changed." Ratchet responded next his medical training kicking into gear.
"No, my demons have just sprung up from the dead and started to haunt me." I explained as quickly as I could.
"What do you mean by that Aqua?" Optimus rumbled soothingly to me.
"Not even five minuets ago I received a call from someone I've believed to be dead for the last 10 years! It should of been impossible for him to live, he was in the epicenter of the explosion." I knew I was starting to ramble and ratchet made short work of that.
"FEMME!" He yelled quickly gaining my full attention. "Right take a deep breath and calm down." I followed his instruction and slowly felt myself calm. Ten minuets later I was calm enough to speak but the fear was still racing through me.
"He's back. He's alive, somehow he managed to stay alive." I stated.
"Who?" He demanded.
"Derik Turner. The man responsible for killing my father." I stated coldly. I heard everyone suck in their breath.
"You said he should of died, in the explosion. You said that they didn't find anyone in the epicenter. So how is it he could have called you?" Sunstreaker demanded.
"I don't know there shouldn't be any possible way he could survive..." I trailed off as some things clicked.
"Theoretically speaking yes there shouldn't be. But then you are..." I cut whatever Ratchet was about to say.
"Unless he's like me. Unless he's got some form of power." I hit the wall in the hallway I'd just walked down. I'd managed to put my fist through it. "I'm going to call him back but I'm going to let you guys listen in. Please stay quiet while I speak with him."
"I do not think this wise Aqua." Optimus voiced concern.
"It doesn't have to be wise, I need to find out if it's really him and if it is, how the hell he survived." I spoke quickly. "Please just stay quiet and listen. Let me do the talking and once he's gone we'll work things out from there." I pleaded, pulling my phone away I called this so called 'Derik Turner'.
"Hello Aquarius, long time no see. How have you been?" The semi familiar voice from earlier spoke through.
"I heard you wanted to speak to me Mr. Turner. I'm a very busy woman." I supplied coolly.
"Oh I completely understand. You see I wanted to ask you do you remember what happened 10 years ago at a Uranium Power Plant I ran? Your father was the head technician and even then he couldn't do his job. do you remember how it felt when I stabbed you?" His voice turning darker as each word past through his lips and into the intently listening ears in my own head. To say it was easy to play the cool and unnerved person, wasn't easy.
"I'm sorry Mr. Turner I don't know what you're talking about. Yes my father was the head technician, at a mining company in Western Australia. But I asure you he's never been to a Uranium Power Plant. As for my stab wound, I don't know how you know of it, but I was mugged outside a club two years ago." I was struggling to remain cool headed as I used one of many aliases I set up back when I was 17.
"Oh then my deepest apologies, you had the exact same name as someone I'm looking for." He sounded surprised that he'd been wrong.
"That's fine, though I should report you for stabbing whoever it is you're looking for. Can't because I live in the States so this will be a very expensive call for the both of us. If you tell me what she looks like, I might be able to keep an eye out for her. For all you know she could have fled to another country." I tried to make myself an unsuspecting as possible, this was the most dangerous question to ask anyone like him.
"Ah that would be rather helpful. She'd be about 5'6, brown shoulder length hair. Her eyes are also brown. She'd have an Australian accent, like ourselves, and she's tanned, from the Northern Territory. Usually goes by the name Aqua." He supplied unknowingly helping me confirm my fears. He was looking for me.
"I'll keep my eyes peeled for her Mr. Turner." I ended the call and collapsed. It really was him. I felt an arm around me and saw Sideswipe's holoform.
"I'm with her Prime, she's alright, just in shock. Aqua is what he said what you were looking for." He asked me gently, as if asking a fearful child. I most likely was a fearful child.
"Am I connected with the others still?" I asked hoarsely.
"Yes." He nodded a firm nod and handed me my phone. I hit the speaker button and spoke.
"You heard everything?" I confirmed.
"Yes we heard, did he say what you needed to hear?" Optimus almost snarled. I looked down at my phone weirdly.
"Yes it's him. It's Derik Turner. Only he'd know that I was stabbed before the explosion." I growled out.
"Sideswipe you're guarding her. Anything odd, report it immediately." Optimus ordered.
"Yes sir. Hey Aqua is that the Lennox house I see?" He was at the window looking to the west, the direction of the Lennox house.
"Yup, they're my neighbors. Right if we have nothing else that needs be direly addressed, I'm going to make myself a drink. And do not say it can't be alcoholic ratchet or so help me, I'll find a way to turn you into a toaster, waffle machine, curling iron and make a new pair of swords for myself before you can say pit!" I threatened him as he started to speak.
"Very well then Aqua, we will discuss this more when we return." Optimus played peacekeeper and promptly hung-up.
"So Sideswipe. Want to join me in a drink?" I asked as I walked out of my room towards the other various boxes I was sorting through turns our I had grabbed my various drinking glasses and also all the mixing spirits and what not. I was going to make ones that fit exactly as I feel.
"Sure what are you making or are you just going to be boring?" I could hear that he was trying to lighten my mood so I entertained the idea.
"Phss, please! When have I ever been boring on base?" I asked mock hurt. I pulled out an 285mL hi-Ball Glass, Vodka, Southern Comfort, Sloe Gin, Galliano and OJ.
"Um you do know that if Ratchet sees any one of those he's going to destroy them. Right?" Sideswipe looked at my collection of booze in awe.
"Trust me, he'll be impressed when he finds out that half of those are about 15 years old and haven't been open, yet." I carried the glass, vodka, Southern Comfort and Sloe Gin to the bench and went back for the Galliano and OJ. Once back at the bench I started mixing.
"So what are you making?" Sides had taken a seat in front of me and watched me mix.
"I'm making A Long Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against A Wall." I told him.
"A what up against a what? Did I hear that right? You're making a drink called A Long Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against A Wall? How do you humans come up with these names!?" He was astounded at our ability to name things?
"Alright then, I'll make you a drink. I won't tell you the name of it until you finish it." I could have fun with that. Derik might be alive and I don't know if he's here in America but I'll be damned if I die without a fight. I poured my drink and got started on Sides. I went back to the boxes. Pulling out a Tall Dutch Cordial, Kahlua and Baileys Irish Cream. Going back over I put everything down and measure the glass marking about 2/3 of the way up the glass, then I poured the Kahlua to the line and then the Baileys. Grinning I pushed the glass to Sides. "To drink this you have to take it like a shot. You've taken shots right!?" At his nod he took the glass and shot it down, his face was actually quite funny.
"God, that's one of the better shots I've taken but that's still horrible! Ugh!what was it I just took?" He mock glared at me as I got my Cheshire cat grin.
"You, Sideswip, just had a Blow Job." I announced proudly, his jaw dropped open and I took a mouthful of my delightful drink. He growled at me and waltzed over to me and pinned me to a wall. "Damn Sides, I said I was drinking A Long Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against A Wall, didn't mean I really wanted to be screwed! I certainly feel like I've been screwed over." My joking side had vanished by the end of that little sentence. Sighing I banged my head against his shoulder. Life would either work itself out or I'd be dead in the next couple of months. "How'd you find me before Sides? I hadn't told anyone that I lived net door to the Lennox's." I should probably find that bit out before I get myself smashed.
"You security card, it's got a chip of Cybertronian making that allows us to track you guys. So you ever get captured, we'll find you." He told me without moving. Him saying the work tracking had me tensing.
"Is it possible for a human to track?" I asked, nothing could be left open for Derik, nothing.
"No and I know you're thinking about that Derik guy, he'll never be able to track it. I swear on my spark." He pronounced with passion. I shook my head at him.
"Sides nothing can be left open for him, give him the opening he needs and he'll bloody take it! If my hunch is right and he's like me, I don't have any idea on what his power could be. It could be time travel, telekinesis, control over electronics or something that could aid him in finding me." Hysteria was starting to take me and I felt Sides move so I was now curled into him. A protective hold.
"And he'll have the whole Autobot Army waiting for him. He will never get you. In the last 24 hrs, you've grown on us quicker than any other human, particularly with Sunny. we won't let anything happen to you. I know that you've know also got to tip toe around Galloway but remember that we'll be here to help you. You're as alien as we are." He told me firmly, I suddenly out of the blue came up with a nickname for Galloway, god it was brilliant. I started to snicker. Sides looked at me oddly. "That's not funny femme, I'm here to help keep you safe and calm and I'm doing just that and you laugh at me!" He pouted at me.
"No, nononononono. Sides I literally just came up with a nickname for Galloway!" I started to snicker again.
"Please don't say it's 'Gallon bay'!" I almost shrieked at that one, it was also just as brilliant as mine.
"Nope it's 'Give some Balls Away' Cause he sure as hell doesn't have them." The two of us were bent over each other laughing. I eventually fell asleep along with Sides, each of us curled into one another. Little did we both know that my issues were about to become global, extremely dangerous and have the potential to give a hope I lost long ago.