Chapter Twelve
That night Ironhide kept Rae with him when they went into recharge. There were more questions he wanted to ask the youngling in his care, and with Prime no where near his room, he figured she might open up a bit more than she had earlier. Ironhide was stretched out on his recharge berth, Rae curled up on the weapon specialist's chest. One massive hand covered her like a blanket, providing the warmth her body needed. "Rae," he asked quietly, "how did they train you? You don't have the protective covering that most younglings have."
Rae shook her head. "Nah. It was a game, really. I learned how to throw really high and where to aim. Where to hide. I didn't realize until the attack that all those games I played with Bracket and the others were training." She sighed and relaxed against his chest, her eyes fluttering closed. Still, she didn't fall asleep. "You know, even Barricade did this. I thought it was just something Harbinger came up with."
Ironhide chuckled. "Hardly. It's one of the few areas that Decepticons and Autobots agree on – the best way to get a youngling into recharge is to put it where its warmest. Usually on another mech's chest." Rae chuckled. "Tell me more about your family. I have a feeling we're going to encounter them before its all over, and I rather not do anything that's going to get you hurt."
The girl stiffened. "I'd be more worried about getting yourself hurt." she warned quietly. "I wasn't kidding when I said that Harbinger could kill Prime. He's loyal to Veris, and he'll protect all of us no matter the cost – especially me. Bracket may be small, but he's deadly when he wants to be. Sheol and Greystreak may never stop fighting, but at least they'll be fighting side-by-side when the time calls for it. Pit, even Silver has more than a few tricks up his armor. Case is the worst of them all, though. He's got connections to both the Autobots and the Decepticons, and he'll kill anyone who tries to hurt his brothers. Even if it means protecting them from themselves."
Ironhide frowned. "How is that possible?"
"You know that Prime and Megatron were Neutrals once, right?" The mech nodded. "Well, Case was one of three Neutrals. The other two chose sides – one Autobot, one Decepticon. Case stayed as he was and tried to protect the others. In the end, it meant him leaving Cybertron." Rae shrugged as best she could under her massive 'blanket'. "It seemed that no matter how many Neutrals the AllSpark created, they all chose sides. Except Case."
It explained a lot, but left a lot of questions at the same time. Now he knew why she was so comfortable with a trigger-happy mech like him, but couldn't stand being around Prime for too long. She had come to associate Optimus and Megatron with her friends' dark pasts, maybe even with her own to a degree. It was to be expected, just like every Autobot youngling grew up thinking of Megatron as the ultimate evil.
It didn't answer why Megatron would want her to work the AllSpark, not when he had access to another Neutral. There was something he was missing, maybe something about the artifact itself that might explain why a human would be a better candidate than a mech to operate it. He didn't even bring the question up. It was likely Rae didn't even know herself. She had just been trying to stay out of Megatron's way.
Sudden noise drew their attention. "What the pit is that?" Rae murmured. She slid from her perch on Ironhide's chest and peeked out the doorway
Jazz, Sunny, and Sides were dancing down the hall, in a rather odd fashion, and drawing the attention of every mech in the base. It was odd seeing what was obviously supposed to be a sexy dance coming from a robot that stood taller than some trees, and it was all Rae could do to hold her laughter in. Until she heard the song.
Then she lost it.
"Dirty babe / you see these shackles / baby I'm your slave / I'll let you whip me if I misbehave / its just that no one makes me feel this way!"
Rae exploded into laughter, falling to the floor in an effort to reign in her mirth. Ironhide simply pinched his nose plate in a display of exasperation.
It was going to be a long night.
/---/
It was an odd convoy that left the woods and worked its way through the vast city that night. A Pontiac GTO led the group, followed by a monster truck, a silver Ford Ranger pickup, a Chevy Trailblazer, and a Jeep. Up above them, a small experimental aircraft made wide loops around the group, keeping an eye on them and carrying a spider like mech in his cockpit.
So it wasn't surprising when a police cruiser and three F-22s joined the little group, but it was unexpected. Veris immediately opened up communications with the leader of the new band of Transformers. "What's wrong, Starscream? You shouldn't be with us."
"I know." the Seeker replied. "But things are getting desperate. Megatron has ordered us to move out in the morning. We've located the AllSpark, and now the Autobots know. No doubt they'll meet us there."
"And they'll bring Rae with them." Bracket pointed out from Case's cockpit. "But Bracket doubts she'll be without protection. Prime is not in the habit of needlessly sacrificing younglings."
"That's if he recognizes Rae as a youngling." Barricade pointed out.
"In either case," Skywarp said a little cheekily, "we've come to lend a hand. We've gotten rather fond of the little youngling girl. Thought we might like to keep her around a little longer."
"What about the others in your little following?" Silver asked.
"They'll be meeting us there." Thundercracker said. "They'll keep an eye out for her and try to keep the battle away from her."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Veris said decisively. "Let's just get there so we can get her and get out."
The rest of the trip was made in silence.
/---/
AN: Would more people please review this? I want at least three reviews before I'll update again, but five would make me update even faster.
