Chapter 5
Time wore on like normal. Night Stalker kept her eye on the Youngling and found that he was becoming decisively more ruthless. Pyro and Nightwing noticed too. They agreed to help Night Stalker. All they were to do was keep an optic on Grand Slam and report any suspicious actions or words to her. She stored them in her memory and continued her work. Knock Out had returned to his duties, but had to take it easy so he could get used to only having one optic. He had heard about Night Stalker's outburst and went to her.
"Don't bother. You don't believe me either. What a surprise."
Bitterness was in her voice. She kept thinking of the last time she told someone of her feelings and look where it ended up. Night Stalker didn't want another incident like what had happened to her parents. Knock Out shook his head.
"Quite the opposite in fact, I believe you. There is every chance that Pyro, Midnight Chaser, and Nightwing could change for the worse just the same as Grand Slam. Soundwave and I were Decepticons for EONS before we met you. It's still a little hard for us to actually be Autobots. I'll help keep an eye on Grand Slam, but do be prepared in case your feelings are wrong."
Night Stalker looked at Knock Out with trembling lips. She felt his arms around her body. He murmured shhhes into her audio sensors to help her calm down. Not one person had ever believed her about her feelings. Night Stalker just wanted her feelings to be believed. She got that she could be wrong, but being told that she wasn't believed was a hard blow.
Just then a ruckus could be heard outside their berth. Knock Out and Night Stalker looked out to see what it was. Pyro and Grand Slam were fighting.
"Hey! Stop it at once, both of you!"
Night Stalker grabbed Pyro and Knock Out snagged Grand Slam.
"Then stop having him follow me!"
"Grand Slam he's just watching you. There is nothing wrong with that."
"I know you don't trust me. Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do."
"Grand Slam you almost releasing Starscream and then not caring what happens concerns me. Have I ever done ANYTHING negative to you? I helped raise you! By the All Spark!"
"You're, you're nothing but a Transformer wannabe and pretending to something you're not."
Night Stalker narrowed her eyes, but the next bit hit her to the core.
"YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A SLAGGING FEMME WITH NO LOVE FOR KNOCK OUT! YOU'RE A WHORE!"
Night Stalker dropped Pyro in shock. The Youngling wasn't mad at her, but at his brother. Night Stalker shook her head and turned to run from the base.
"Grand Slam! How dare you?! NIGHT STALKER WAIT!"
Arcee was rounding the corner to find out what the commotion was when Night Stalker ran by her and shoved past her. Arcee was confused. She hurried after Night Stalker just in time to see her transform and furiously drive away from the base.
Night Stalker get back to base now!
No response.
Night Stalker!
"Leave me alone. I want nothing more to do with any of you. I was better off as a human."
Arcee was crushed. Where had this come from? She called in to the other Autobots.
Night Stalker just left in a big hurry. She seemed pretty upset… something about being better off as a human?
The Autobots returned to base in time to see Knock Out and Pyro furiously shouting at Grand Slam. Optimus stepped forward.
"Easy! What happened?"
Knock Out rounded on Optimus and Soundwave. "Your precious little Grand Slam insulted Night Stalker in front of me and Pyro, as well as her."
"What happened?" Optimus asked again with a warning tone.
"Oh I don't know. Maybe saying that Night Stalker didn't love me and then proceeded to call her a whore?!"
June gasped, "Night Stalker was right."
"She was spying on me!"
"Not once did she ever insult you or make any threats to you. She wanted to be proven wrong about her feelings. However, I'm beginning to think she was right. You're heading down a dark path where none can follow."
Knock Out stormed off leaving a furious Soundwave to clean up the mess.
"What is with you?! Night Stalker is a valued member? She came to Optimus and myself fearing that you were changing. We didn't believe her and yet you accuse her of not loving Knock Out? She gave her life blood to him in order to keep him alive!"
"SHE'S NOT ONE OF US! SHE'S A WANNABE WHO JUST WANTS TO FIT IN!"
"Enough!" Optimus was getting a processor ache.
"No! I will not live in a base where a fake Transformer lives. She's stupid and dumb. I want nothing to do with her! I HATE HER!"
Arcee was shocked, "Such language! Where did this come from?"
"None of your slagging business!"
Meanwhile, Knock Out opened communications to the Nemesis. Megatron answered.
"Grand Slam has just… You're Youngling is a pain in the processor."
What are you talking about, Knock Out?
"He called Night Stalker a whore and said she didn't love me. Pretty much insinuating that she was using me."
He what?! Where is she?
"Gone. She's deactivated her comm. systems I cannot find her anywhere. Not at the place where we first "met" or on the streets."
Standby.
Knock Out continued driving while Megatron looked for her.
I do not read any lone Autobot signals except for yours. Either she's masking her signal or…
"She offlined herself."
That last bit was not something that Knock Out wanted to hear. He just HAD to find Night Stalker. Why had Grand Slam lost it like that? Night Stalker had given up her energon for him. If that wasn't love then what was? Knock Out was extremely worried. His comm. systems opened up once more.
Knock Out. It's Fowler. Prime filled me in. Have you found her?
"No! Not even Megatron could find her. She's either masking her signal or s-she killed herself."
Knock Out's breath came out in a hitch at that last little bit.
Calm down. I'm sure that Night Stalker didn't kill herself. She's too strong for that. She survived her parents' car accident; she can survive Grand Slam's cruel words.
"Then why can't I find her Agent Fowler?"
I do not know, Knock Out. We're all out looking for her. She's a Tron Audi r8 right?
"Yes."
Just making sure. It will help us find her. I'm putting a bolo out on her.
"And reveal her?!"
No. I'm letting the police know to keep me informed of any silver Tron Audi r8's running around ANYWHERE. This way we can keep tabs on her, so you can find her.
Knock Out was relieved. It was a good plan. He drove around for a long time. He was beginning to give up when a flash of silver caught his eye. Turning he found himself looking at Night Stalker's rear. He had left Nevada behind several hours before. He pulled up beside Night Stalker and saw what she was staring at. They were in a graveyard and in front of them were two gravestones. On one it said Thomas Sanderson, beloved husband and father. On the other; Laura Sanderson, wonderful woman and loving mother.
"Night Stalker… I'm sorry."
She ignored him. Mom. Dad. What do I do? I chose my path, do I leave it now? I'm so lost and confused!
"Leave me alone, Knock Out. I don't love you remember?"
"Grand Slam is wrong and you and I both know it."
"I said leave me alone. Please?"
Knock Out was hurt, but he did as she asked. He left the graveyard and called for a Ground Bridge. Returning to base he explained where Night Stalker was at. The gravesite of her parents was obviously a tender place for the femme. Knock Out had said what she asked and the Autobots decided to leave Night Stalker be for the moment.
The femme left the graveyard and drove to a secluded place in a nearby forest. She powered down and fell into recharge mode. Her processor wandered restlessly. Suddenly two voices called out to her. Thomas and Laura appeared before their daughter, but they were looking up at her.
"Brittany. Our dear daughter. We did not believe when you warned us about your feelings and look where it got us."
"Mother, father." Night Stalker croaked out.
"However, we can see now why we ignored your feelings. Yes, it caused us to die, but if we hadn't you wouldn't have met the man you love and chose to be with. He makes you happy; you have two wonderful children, our grandchildren. Brittany do not stray from the life you have chosen. Our deaths gave way to the life you were meant to have. Had we lived you would not have become who you are now."
"Are you really here or is the Matrix using your images to come to me?"
"Both. Brittany you may have become an alien being, but you're still our daughter, dead or alive. Knock Out is the one you were meant to be with. Do not throw away your life because of what one frustrated child says. Your love for Knock Out is stronger than anything a vicious child can come up with."
Night Stalker watched as her parents slowly faded into nothing. When she woke from her recharge, it was daylight. The femme spent the next couple of hours pondering what she had dreamt. The Matrix had chosen them to come to her, but it was also them themselves. What they had said made sense. If they had stayed behind then she would have never found Knock Out or the others and never lead the life she did. She did love Knock Out and she never wanted to leave him. While she was thinking, a certain Youngling was being cocky back at the base.
"Look who isn't here. What did I say? Night Stalker is nothing but a fake."
"It's no thanks to you that she's gone. None of us had a problem with her until you decided to throw your temper tantrum. Yes, her spying on you was wrong, but having come to us with concerns about your future she wanted to see if she would be proved right or wrong. If she was wrong we know she would have apologized. Now you've driven her away with your rude antics."
Grand Slam shrugged, "She means nothing to me. I won't apologize either. I meant what I said and won't take it back."
Around noon, Night Stalker decided to head back to the base. Her parents were right. Knock Out was who she was meant to be with. The death of her parents only paved the way to her joining the Autobots. A jet droned overhead. Moments later, Starscream transformed and landed in front of her.
"I heard what happened. Everyone is worried about you."
"Go away Starscream. Don't make me hurt you."
"For what it's worth… I don't believe Grand Slam." With that the Decepticon transformed once more and took off.
Night Stalker watched before she took off. She wanted to drive back. Suddenly a police force surrounded her. What in all things Transformers? What was going on?
"Pull over!"
Night Stalker was confused. What was happening? Suddenly the police began opening fire. Night Stalker swerved dangerously and careened off an embankment and into a ditch. Terror clutched Night Stalker's spark. She reopened her comm. systems.
"Autobots help!"
Oh now you talk to us. Why should we help?
"Humans demanded I pull over and then shot at me! I can't reveal what I am!"
Stay where you are. Agent Fowler and I are on our way!
Five minutes later Optimus and Agent Fowler appeared. Fowler got out of Optimus and flashed his badge. He began talking with the police force.
"Why are you shooting that car?"
"The driver was resisting arrest. We were only doing our duty."
"Since when was "pull over" arresting someone? And since when is shooting them something that police do? I'll be sure that the president hears about this. I'm sure by this evening you'll all be working as janitors or something in some school. That car is coming with me."
He grabbed some tow line and tied one end to Optimus and the other to Night Stalker. Fowler got in and closed the door. Once the door was shut, Optimus made his move. He gently drove forwards and pulled Night Stalker from the ditch. Just then there was a massive surge causing Optimus and Night Stalker to lose consciousness. Fowler managed to get a communiqué to Ratchet before he was pulled from the truck cab and knocked unconscious. This wasn't the police… it was M.E.C.H.