Chapter 2
"Because I love you too much to let you go."
Prowl's words rang in my head over and over again until I was muttering them under my breath. What did he mean? Now what do I do? I can't just go and start being all gooey-affectionate with him; then what would everyone else think? Questions flew through my mind like swallows around a tree; swooping in and out and then back in again. I wandered through the house in a daze, my mind continually pondering his words. Sam and Judy and even Ron commented on my detached state, asking me what was wrong and how I should be feeling, in Ron's case. "If these big metal bucketheads can't figure out their feelings for my girl, then they need to get the heck away from her! Relia, you can't just let them drag you around and fight over you like this! You need to show them you're independent, you're strong! And that they're just a bunch of rusty tinfoil toys…" this last sentence was muttered softly, yet still received a smack across the back of his head from Judy.
Sam stepped in at this point and told me that I was being asked to come to Autobot base. He took my hand and carefully led me out of the house to my car, an Audi R8 that I'd bought with my savings after college had been paid off. We slid into the interior, me into the driver's seat and Sam into the shotgun seat. I started the car, eased out onto the street, and began to drive us to Mission City, where the new base had been built after the whole fiasco with Sentinel and the 'Cons in Chicago three years ago. It was only an hour long drive, and Sam sat quietly in his seat, staring out the window. I turned on the radio and let it play for a moment, then changed it when I realized it was tuned to the Autobot frequency. As Rascal Flatts sang out 'Changed', I pulled up to the main gate, nodded to Epps, who was standing guard, and drove further into the base. I moved further into the base, arriving outside the main hangar. I parked the Audi and Sam got out. I followed suit and for a moment, felt like I was being watched. I turned slightly and caught a glimpse of yellow paint, but then saw nothing. "Relia, what's wrong? Did you see something?" Sam questioned. I shook my head, and he shrugged. "Okay, then. Follow me." He led me around the back of the building and stopped at a smaller building behind it. I followed him inside and paused at the entrance. Bumblebee crouched silently in his biped mode, watching me from the other side of the room. I ignored him and heard the slightest of keens from his radio. Sam looked from me to him and back again, then shrugged and continued to lead me onward. He opened a small door on the wall of the hangar, and revealed a steep stairway that twisted around to the right. Alongside it was a smooth slide, large enough to fit a tall, full-grown man. He motioned me forward and I sat on the top of the platform slide gingerly. He sat behind me and wrapped his arms around me tightly. "Ready?" He asked, suddenly grinning cheekily. "Uhhh….Sam, how long is this thing?" I asked nervously. "I'll take that as a yes!" He said happily, inching forward slowly. "Uh, Sam. Sam? Saaaaaammm!" I screamed, squeezing my eyes tightly. Suddenly, we shot forward and started to gain speed, twisting and turning. "Woo-hooo!" He yelled. I screamed again. I heard someone call my name faintly, but then ignored it and focused on keeping my eyes closed. I suddenly felt the slide even out and we started to slow down. Finally we came to a stop and Sam jumped out. He turned and lifted me out, holding me upright as my legs threatened to give out under me. When I steadied myself, he took my hand and led me onward, through a short tunnel. Finally, we arrived on the main bay floor of Autobot base, which was thrumming with activity. I waved to Wheeljack, who waved in return, what would be a large grin crossing his faceplates for a moment. Prowl, who was helping Optimus transfer new supplies, gave me a quick glance, then returned to his task. The leader of the Autobots noticed his SIC's momentary hesitation and turned, looking at me for a moment. He broke into a smile and waved quickly. I waved meekly in return and glanced back at Sam. He was waiting patiently, watching me. I nodded to Bluestreak, smiling softly. He was like me; he knew what the war could do to a person. He understood what it was like to be used over and over again, for dark purposes. Blue, who normally grinned and chirruped some silly phrase at me, glanced gloomily over my head. On either side of him were the Lamborghini twins, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. Ratchet gave me a look that clearly said, stay back. He's bad today. I returned my eyes to Blue. He sometimes had meltdowns-short circuits-during the day, and some of them would be mild, where he would glitch for a moment; others would be more severe, and he would be in med-bay for a few days. Today's episode seemed like a more severe moment. As I looked closer, I could see that Blue's entire frame was shaking. Quickly I ran over to him. "Bluestreak?" I whispered. I had a very close relationship with Blue. I trusted him with my life as much as I trusted his brother, Prowl. So I ignored Ratchet's glared warning and touched Blue's servo. The silver-blue sniper bot shuddered and his gaze locked on me. His optics were dilated and a dark blue, indicating that he was struggling to focus. "Blue?" I asked again. He shuddered once more, then his optics returned to their normal pale tint and were directed at me. "Relia." His voice was almost inaudible. "Blue, are you okay?" I asked softly, my voice just as quiet as his. My friend shook his helm slightly. Suddenly I felt a gentle servo scoop me up off the ground. Looking around quickly, I saw that the bot who lifted me up was Ironhide. I relaxed for a moment. "Ironhide, escort Relia out. Now." Came Optimus's deep rumble. I looked to the giant leader. "Prime?" I said, stiffening again. "Why are you-" I never finished my sentence. I was flung high into the air and up through an open hatch onto the ground above the subterranean base. Two heavy thumps resounded on either side of me. Looking up from the ground, where I'd landed heavily, I found myself face-to-face with Sunstreaker. We both recoiled instinctively, and he rolled to his pedes. Turning my head the other way, I saw Sideswipe gathering himself from the ground. "Dumb old Ironhide, shoving me into the dirt and messing up my paint…I'll get him back someday…" I giggled, but something in my back suddenly burned with pain. I gasped in pain and curled into my side. I faintly heard Sunstreaker yelling at his twin to get help. My vision wavered and went dark, but not before I felt gentle, warm hands lift me up into the air and cradle me gently to a thrumming chassis. I let myself slip into unconsciousness after this.