Author's Note:There is still a lot of set-up going on this chapter. So bear with me. :-)
Hopefully, everyone read my notes at the beginning of the first chapter, but just in case: I am using ideas from both the 2007 movie and the G1 cartoon. So don't get too hung up on the movie details when you read this. Jazz is not dead, and his alternate mode is the same as in the G1 cartoon. I like it a lot better than the Solstice. Ratchet is red and white, just like in G1, but his alternate mode is the movie's Hummer 2 instead of the cartoon's "soccer mom" van.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters but Crystal and a few minor OCs.
Chapter 3 – Reassignment
"Crystal. Crystal, wake up. We're almost there."
She awoke to the sound of a gravelly, but soothing, male voice calling her name. Who was that? She slowly and painfully opened her eyes. She was laying on a smooth, black leather surface…inside a vehicle of some kind. She groaned and propped herself up on one elbow to look out the passenger side window. She didn't recognize the passing landscape. She turned her head toward the driver's seat and panicked when she saw that only her feet rested there. She shot upright and made the mistake of drawing in too sharp of a breath. She coughed harshly several times, gasping between each one, as her body tried in vain to dislodge the dusty coating that was still inside her lungs. She looked around wildly before spotting the two people sitting in the yellow car ahead of her. Sam had turned his head and was now waving at her. She furrowed her brow and managed a weak wave back at him.
"Crystal, are you alright?"
Ratchet. Now she remembered. "Yea." Her voice was hoarse and her mouth was dry. She ran a hand through her dirty hair only to have it get caught halfway down in a mess of dried blood and whatever else she had gotten all over her. She carefully untangled her fingers and willed her mind to wake up with the rest of her body. Everything was slowly coming back to her…the weekend leave, the alien robots, the battle over the Allspark. She suddenly realized she had never asked what exactly took place in the final moments of the battle. She had been fully concerned with getting the wounded men out alive and taking care of Sam and Mikaela's injuries. Will had told her that the Decepticon leader had been killed and his followers had either fled or been destroyed, but that was the extent of her knowledge.
"Ratchet?"
"Hmm?"
"What happened back there? With the Allspark and..." she paused as her groggy mind worked to recall the name, "…Megatron?"
"No one told you?"
"No." She yawned. "Actually, I didn't even ask. I was a little preoccupied."
"I understand." He paused. "Megatron was very close to getting the Allspark away from Sam. Optimus wanted him to destroy the cube by shoving it into Prime's own chest cavity, but Sam decided to force it into Megatron's instead. The immense energy contained within the cube was ignited by Megatron's spark, killing him almost instantly."
"What's a spark?" She asked slowly.
"In short, it's the vital mechanism in our bodies that powers all of our systems and contains our entire life force."
"So, if Sam had done as Optimus had asked...Optimus would be dead?"
"Yes."
Crystal couldn't believe it. A human had been the one to end the battle. Sam's ingenuity and courage had saved them all, including the Autobot commander. He was one hell of a soldier, even if not a member of the military.
"So, with the Allspark gone…what will happen to Cybertron?" She remembered Optimus explaining to them that the object was critical for restoring life on their home world.
Ratchet let out a low rumble of a sigh. "The rebuilding process will take much longer. Prime was able to recover a fragment of the cube from Megatron's chest, but it only contains a small fraction of the Allspark's power. Most of the rebuilding will have to be done manually now. That is, if we ever take back control of the planet." His voice had grown heavy, and she regretted asking him about Cybertron.
They drove on in silence for several minutes before Ratchet announced their arrival at the rendezvous point. The convoy slowed behind Optimus, turning to follow him onto a narrow dirt road that led into the woods. They stayed on the road for about a mile until they reached a clearing that overlooked the vast valley below. Two green military jeeps were already parked off to one side and the Autobots formed a semi-circle facing them. Crystal opened Ratchet's driver side door and eased her tired body down to the ground. She closed his door and stretched her tired limbs. The air in the clearing was cool and refreshing and she was glad to finally be able to take a couple of deep breaths with only a minimum amount of coughing. The trees that encircled them were filled with the happy chirps and warbles of birds oblivious to the destruction that had nearly befallen the planet. She slid her hands into her pockets and walked over to where Sam and Mikaela were exiting Bumblebee. Sam stretched and Mikaela rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"You guys doin' ok?"
"Of course." Sam grinned, and the three of them turned as the now familiar sound of a transforming Autobot filled the clearing. Optimus had transformed and was kneeling in front of the jeeps, the doors of which were now opening. Crystal's jaw dropped and she frowned as she recognized one of the men exiting the military vehicles. General Clifton Schaefer had been her father's closest friend. When her father passed away, he had become her guardian. He helped put her through college and med-school, and had been the one who encouraged her to join the military. She hadn't seen him for a few months. Why was he here? She shook her head and began to walk over to him.
His eyes were fixed on the Autobot commander, and his hand clutched the top of the jeep door for support. Crystal approached him and softly placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head, and the blank stare he wore on his deeply lined face slowly turned into a weary smile at the site of the doctor. "Giant alien robots." He shook his head. "It's a good thing they briefed me on this before I came up here." He let go of the jeep and embraced her, patting her firmly on the back with one hand. "You're a mess, Crys. You ok?"
"I'm fine." Letting a slight frown come across her features, she added, "What are you doing here?"
He didn't answer her. Instead, he took a deep breath, slung an arm around her shoulders, and led her to where the other four men he had come with were gathered in front of Optimus Prime. They were doing a terrible job of hiding their fear of the massive mech, with the exception of Defense Secretary John Keller who had already "met" the aliens. He was talking with Optimus, introducing the trusted (and terrified) officers he had brought with him. He turned to face Crystal and the General as they approached.
"Secretary Keller, this is Captain Crystal Greene," Schaefer introduced her and she firmly shook the SecDef's hand.
"Ah, yes. We were never properly introduced. The General has told me much about you, Doctor Greene. It's a pleasure to meet you." He exchanged a brief glance with Schaefer that Crystal couldn't interpret before turning and motioning for Sam and Mikaela to join them. The pair hesitated for a moment before walking over and standing next to the doctor. Keller then addressed all of the humans present. "Optimus Prime has expressed the Autobots' desire to remain on our planet." He looked up at Optimus who shuttered his optics as he slowly nodded once.
"We believe Earth may still be in grave danger." Prime's voice was a low rumble as he spoke to the humans. "Even with both the Allspark and Megatron destroyed, the remaining Decepticons pose a serious threat. Earth's resources will prove to be a tempting source of energy for our dying home world. I have no doubts that the Decepticons will return with more troops to take Earth's energy by force." The birds had ceased their chirping, and an eerie silence now filled the clearing.
Keller visibly tensed. Each of the humans held their breath as they stared expectantly at the Secretary. His sharp eyes remained focused on Prime's own optics, almost as if he were having a silent conversation with the large red and blue mech. He drew in a short breath before nodding curtly. "Earth is forever in your debt, Mr. Prime. If the Autobots are willing to stay and protect our planet, then you are welcome to call our country your home."
"Thank you, Mr. Keller."
"I assume your, uh, base will be well hidden?" Keller continued to stare intently at the Autobot commander.
"Of course. You will be informed of its location."
Keller nodded before again facing the group of humans in front of him. "These aliens do. not. exist. Am I understood?" The military officials all nodded, followed by a shaky chorus of 'Yes, Sir's.
He focused his intense gaze on Sam and Mikaela. A nervous expression began to spread across Sam's face and he glanced back at Bumblebee. "No. No, wait. You can't expect us to just forget this ever happened. You see that yellow Camero over there?" He pointed at the young 'bot. "That's my buddy. My guardian. He saved my life. I'm not ok with pretending he doesn't exist." He stood a little straighter, and so did Mikaela. Crystal grinned at the kid's boldness.
Keller just stared at him, incredulous. "You mean to tell me…you're friends with these aliens now?" He raised an eyebrow.
Sam nodded and began to say something else, but Keller shook his head and held up his hands, silencing the young man. "Let me finish what I was saying." He looked pointedly at each human present. "I expect every one of you to keep quiet about all of this." The SecDef waited for them to nod in acknowledgement before continuing. "A special division of the military will be formed to aid the Autobots and respond to any enemy alien attacks." He looked up at Optimus. "I will want them to occasionally train with the Autobots, of course. Will that be a problem?"
Optimus was silent for a moment. Crystal wondered if he was talking it over with his Autobots via their internal com-links. After several seconds he spoke. "No, Mr. Keller. If that is a condition of us staying on this planet, we will meet it."
Keller nodded and turned his attention back to the other humans. "These special forces will also be non-existent." His gaze fell on Crystal. "This is where you come in, Doctor Greene."
Crystal was startled, "I'm not sure I follow you, Sir."
"Battling with giant robots will no doubt cause injuries that will be very difficult to explain at a hospital, not to mention hard to treat." He seemed slightly annoyed by her confusion. "You will be the chief medical officer of our non-existent special forces. Though where we'll set up shop I have no idea…" His voice trailed as he lifted a hand to massage his temples.
Crystal stared at him for several seconds. "Sir…I…"
She was interrupted by Optimus. "Mr. Keller, we have adequate space to house a small human medical facility. My CMO can aid Doctor Greene in treating your soldiers."
Keller was silent. He shared another brief look with Schaefer before he shifted his gaze to the ground, deep in thought. After a moment he nodded to himself, clearly pleased with the outcome of whatever silent debate had taken place in his head. "Very good, Mr. Prime. Thank you."
Crystal spoke up, "Mr. Secretary, I'm due back at my unit in seventy-two hours, otherwise I'm AWOL."
She flinched as his piercing gaze met hers. "As of right now your orders have changed, Doctor Greene. Your CO will be notified." Crystal nodded. Though her military training allowed her to keep her face expressionless, her stomach was performing a nauseating feat of acrobatics that made her head spin. How could she possibly live with the aliens? How could she live and work in close quarters with beings that could squish her into nonexistence without even noticing?
Schaefer glanced at the young doctor and immediately recognized her blank expression as a sign of much stronger feelings brewing beneath her passive exterior. He tightened his arm around her shoulders. Sam and Mikaela moved closer to her and Keller now spoke to the two of them.
"You two seem to be fond of the idea of remaining in contact with your new friends. I can't believe I'm saying this..." He shook his head as he took a deep breath. "I'll allow it. But do not, under any circumstances, compromise the secrecy of this highly classified situation." He lowered his voice. "Do I make myself clear?"
The teens nodded and Mikaela spoke up. "We're not going to do anything that could put them in danger."
"Very good." He paused and surveyed everyone present, Autobot and human alike, before again speaking to Optimus. "We'll be going now, Mr. Prime. I will be in contact with you after I have briefed the President on what we have discussed at this meeting."
"Very well, Mr. Keller. Thank you."
Keller turned on his heel and motioned for his men to follow him back to the jeeps. General Schaefer turned to face Crystal. She eyed him suspiciously.
"Why do I feel like you had something to do with this?" Why he would suggest to Keller that she be stationed with the aliens, she had no clue, but she couldn't shake the feeling that that's just what had happened. He simply smiled and shook his head.
"What would give you an idea like that? It makes perfect sense for him to select you for the job. You're a highly qualified military surgeon and you're already familiar with the aliens. I had nothing to do with his decision." He smiled. "Take care of yourself, Sweetheart."
"Yes, Sir."
"I'll check in on you soon." He tapped a finger on the tip of her nose, and then turned and walked toward the jeeps. She frowned and crossed her arms. Nothing to do with it, my ass. He was a terrible liar.
The men climbed into their vehicles and pulled out of the clearing, kicking up loose gravel and leaving large clouds of dust in their wake. Sam put one arm around Mikaela's waist and the three humans slowly turned and made their way over to Bumblebee, where they then stood talking in hushed voices.
Optimus rose to his feet and turned to look at the horizon. He stepped closer to the edge of the outcrop that overlooked the sprawling countryside. The sun had begun to set, casting vibrant purple and orange hues over the valley below. The intense color display lit up his armor, causing him to take on a Herculean glow. He activated his long range communications system and sent up a beacon.
"What's he doing?" Mikaela whispered.
Bumblebee answered her quietly, "He's calling the other Autobots."
Crystal found herself, once again, sitting inside the interior of an Autobot soldier as he sped down an increasingly flat and deserted highway. Only this time she was actually awake and not covered in dried blood and filth. And this time she was riding with Jazz. Optimus had ordered Ironhide to take Sam and Mikaela home until the base was ready to house humans. Bumblebee was to return to the base so Ratchet could mend his legs properly. Sam had asked, for the hundredth time, what the hell they meant when they said they already had a base. Optimus told him that Ironhide would explain it to him on their way home and Crystal had been amused by the inadvertent run-around the 'bots had been giving him on that subject.
She had wanted to return to Mission City to attempt to retrieve her belongings from the hotel. However, Optimus didn't think it was a good idea and Ratchet had insisted that the sooner they got to work on the human portion of "his medbay" the better. She had then insisted that if she didn't get a shower and some clean clothes first, she would not make a particularly cheerful coworker. Jazz had been assigned to take her into a small town that was on their way so she could get cleaned up. It was very late by the time they passed the sign for Little Creek, Arizona and she had been relieved to find a twenty-four hour discount store in the small town. The employees had curiously eyed the grungy young woman as she walked through the store, but surprisingly no one said a word to her about her appearance. It made her wonder just what kind of a town this was. After buying enough clothes, food, and other basic necessities to last her a few days, she had showered at a truck stop. That had certainly been an adventure and a half.
"You're bein' awful quiet, Crystal." The black and white Porsche spoke for the first time since they left the truck stop.
She was gazing out his window, taking in the beauty of the countless stars in the clear night sky and trying to ignore the fear that currently had a death grip on her insides. "Sorry, Jazz. I'm just…thinking about everything."
"Wanna listen to some music? Might help ya relax." He turned on his radio and she chuckled when he found a hip-hop station playing "Sexy Back". Apparently Jazz was already a fan of Earth's pop culture.
"Actually, I'd really like to know where we're going."
"Ah. Of course ya do. Sorry." He turned the volume on his radio down. "It's called the Ark."
"What is?"
"The base we've all been talkin' about. Actually, it's really our space cruiser."
She raised an eyebrow. "Space cruiser?"
"Mmhm. The five of us came to Earth in our protoforms 'cause it was faster. The crew we left aboard the Ark just arrived a few hours ago. They've been workin' on landin' in a remote location. Don't wanna be too close to any of your towns or cities."
"Wow." She hadn't been expecting that. She thought maybe they had scouted out an abandoned warehouse or something, but a spaceship? "How many more of you are there?"
"Aboard the Ark? Seven more. We don't know how many of us are actually scattered throughout the universe. A lot of 'bots went into hidin'."
"Oh." She really shouldn't have been surprised after everything she'd seen in the past two days. "How far away is the Ark?"
"We'll be there in about an hour."
She sighed. It wasn't enough time to sleep. She had hoped to get another nap in on the way to the base, but sleeping for an hour now would only make her more tired when they arrived. She could at least use this time to talk to Jazz. She'd be living with the Autobots now, might as well get to know them.
"I hope Ratchet isn't going to want me to jump right into setting up an entire medical facility tonight. I need to get some sleep. I'm running on about three hours."
Jazz chuckled. "I'm runnin' on about thirty minutes."
"Oh." She bit her lip. "Sorry." She hadn't thought about it before, but apparently robots needed rest too.
"Heh. It's ok, Crystal. I'm sure we'll all be able to rest up a little when we get there. Even the Hatchet has to recharge sometime."
She grinned. "The Hatchet?"
"That's our little nickname for our beloved CMO."
Crystal giggled softly. "How did he earn that title?"
Now Jazz laughed. "Ya mean to tell me ya don't know? After ridin' with him for four an' a half hours today?"
"Well, I was a little intimidated by him at first…but he seems harmless."
He laughed even harder. "Let's see if ya still think so after livin' with us for a few days."
"Oh, come on, Jazz. What's so bad about him? He seems like a very capable medic."
"Aw, he is. He's one of the best medical minds in the history of Cybertron. He's developed hundreds of life savin' procedures and saved countless 'bots. Very smart and very capable. And he's a good friend." He chuckled. "But he's also got a temper that'd make a Decepticon run for cover." She laughed and laid her head back against his seat.
They talked the rest of the way to the Ark. She asked him questions about their culture and customs, and enjoyed hearing him talk about Cybertron. He told her stories about the other Autobots that she was sure they would not want him sharing, and she had laughed so hard her sides ached. Jazz had managed to loosen her up, and she was beginning to feel a little less apprehensive about her new assignment.
The hour passed by quickly and Crystal was sure that they were now officially in the middle of nowhere. Jazz had cut his headlights a few miles back when he had turned off the road. Bright moonlight lit up the landscape, revealing nothing but some scrubby-looking trees and a few tall mountains rising up in front of them. Jazz slowed down and stopped at the base of one of the mountains. Large boulders encircled the gigantic geologic structure. He popped open his driver's side door. "Here we are, m'lady."
Crystal frowned and slowly crawled out of his front seat, dragging her bag of supplies with her. What did he mean they were there? She wrapped her arms around herself against the cold desert night as she stepped away from the Autobot. He transformed and reached down to her. She looked at the wall of rock in front of them and then eyed him suspiciously.
"C'mon, Crystal. Trust me?"
Did she have a choice? Out at the edge of a desert in the middle of the night was not exactly the best place or time to argue with a twenty foot alien robot. She sat down gingerly in the palm of his hand, clinging to his thumb, and he lifted her up and walked toward the mountain.
"Jazz, what are you doing?" He didn't answer her, and she cringed and braced herself for impact. It never came. She opened her eyes and immediately squinted against the bright light that now surrounded them. Was she dead? Jazz laughed.
"Ya ok, Crystal? You're awful pale."
"What the hell was that?"
He grinned. "We have to disguise the entrance. Don't want any unwelcome guests wanderin' in."
"Oh, jeez. For a minute there I thought maybe you had lost your mind." She rested her forehead in her hand and began to giggle.
His grin grew wider. "I'm not that tired." Her giggling turned into a fit of laughter and he joined her. They were both way too exhausted. Jazz caught his breath. "Let's get ya into the medbay. Ratchet's probably wonderin' where we've been." He carried her through the Ark, taking a series of turns through the maze-like corridors, before stopping in front of a heavy looking set of doors. He pushed a button on the wall and the doors slid apart with a soft "whoosh". No sooner had he stepped through the doorway than a blur of red and white was suddenly upon them.
"What the pit took you so long?" Ratchet looked incredibly irritated.
"Hey, ya wanted her here in one piece didn't ya?" Jazz smirked at him.
Ratchet sighed, and his expression softened as he noticed the startled look on Crystal's face. "Yes. Thank you, Jazz. Now, get your aft outta here and go get some recharge." He pointed a finger at the second in command. "But I want you back here first thing before your shift. I need to work on your armor and run a check on your fuel lines."
"Ok, Ratch." He gently set Crystal down. "G'night, Crystal."
"Goodnight." She watched him exit. The heavy metal doors whooshed closed behind him, leaving her alone with Ratchet. She looked up at the massive mech standing over her.
"You need to get some rest, Crystal. I'll show you to your temporary sleeping quarters. Follow me."
So, there you have it. Please review! No flames, please, but I welcome and appreciate constructive criticism. If I don't know I'm doing something wrong, I can't fix it!
Just in case some people don't know: AWOL - "Absent Without Leave", CO - "Commanding Officer"
Also, I have no idea if there is a Little Creek, Arizona. I completely made it up. I needed something that sounded like a small town and I figured it was safer to make one up than try and write about a town I have never been to. And I picture the discount store being like a 24hour Walmart (do not own).
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed chapters one and two! I really appreciate it, you have no idea!
Stay tuned for chapter four!
