Casualty
The rough pattern of the scars along his left palm stood out in the combination of moonlight and artificial glare from the two beings behind him. Jace Hunt had gotten those scars in Mission City. They'd barely had time to heal.
There were low murmurs between the large figure that had just arrived, and the one that had seen the whole thing. Ironhide and Ratchet.
If he'd tried, Jace could have listened in, figured out what they were talking about. However, right now, he was using everything just to remain upright. Adrenaline had worn away, leaving him shaking.
He closed the scarred hand into a fist to stop the unsteady twitching.
"Who else would you be?" Epps was approaching with caution. Jace didn't blame him– he probably should be wary. "You steady, man? That arm's gotta hurt."
"Fine." Jace shook his head, trying to keep the fake casual look as he turned to face the other man. "I just know... since I woke up, I haven't felt like I really belonged in my own body. This body."
"You got hurt..." Epps said slowly, "Sometimes it takes a while to get back on your feet. And electrocution– that's some heavy stuff."
"I thought the dreams were just symptoms of an overactive imagination– something that Jason Hunt certainly had as a writer. Lots of space ships, alien languages, strange new worlds." He sighed, feeling gravity start to tug mercilessly. He could just lie down now. "The thing is... right now– I'm thinking in that language."
"Huh?" The big man's face held a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?
There was silence from the tallest figures. They had broken off their rapid conversation to listen to him.
"Didn't really realize it until a few minutes ago. That's why I can understand it."
"Most curious." Ratchet murmured in English. "Would you permit me to scan you?"
"Since when have you started asking permission?" Ironhide grumbled.
"I thought you had already." Jace tilted his head up to speak to the taller robot. "You detected an energy signature. The same one that these guys did."
"Cursory scan, " explained Ratchet, "Detection of energy signatures and life signs is a peripheral scan. This would be more in depth, and perhaps provide a few more answers."
"Is here really appropriate for such a thing, Ratchet?" Ironhide asked with a scowl. One cannoned hand gestured towards the bodies strewn along the side of the road. "Someone will most likely come looking for them at any time, and I doubt they will be in a forgiving mood. Not to mention Barricade may have re-enforcements to call upon."
"And I need to get in contact with my base. Captain Lennox might have a clue what to do to get these guys off your case." Epps said, "At the least, he might be able to get in contact with someone who can."
A snort from the ground next to the car made Jace turn his head too fast, and almost fell over. He'd missed Simmons in the whirl of violence.
"Your captain won't be able to do anything." Simmons said, leaning back against the side of the vehicle. "Not this time. You see, Mr. Hunt– or should I say-- "
"Enough." The gruff voice came from behind and above. "We have questions for you as well, Agent Simmons. Would you prefer to answer them now, or with Mr. Banachek?"
"I can't go with you," Simmons shrugged, picking himself up with a shake. "I'm not authorized to– but I may as well answer them now. If I can. It's not like we could keep this a secret from you forever. Actually–" The slightly wild look returned for a moment, "Banachek is trying to hammer the idea that we should be talking to you about this case to some higher ups who're still stuck in the old ways of doing things."
"Why do you pursue this young man then?" Jace listened closely, trying to divide his attention between standing, and learning. His legs were still a little shaky.
"Before Mission City, Jason Hunt was an ordinary average citizen. After– well, you just saw what he did to our guys." Simmons gestured to the bodies strewn along the side of the road, as though delivering a lecture. "Danielle Hunt's eyewitness account left a lot more questions than answers, especially when it came to her brother. Of all the casualties, yours, Mr. Hunt, were the only ones that could not be backed up by physical evidence."
Jace frowned. Danni had lied to everyone then.
"Ms. Hunt said it was a crash and a powerline. However, her vehicle wasn't involved. The only things we found in the area where she claimed it happened were residue from some kind of machine, the rads that were a hallmark of the passage of one of the NBEs– your folks," Simmons tossed at Ratchet and Ironhide. "And some sort of shield- type weapon that belonged to one of your people."
His weapon's grip slipped from his hand, as he was slung around far above the street. Relays had already started their inevitable shutdown to conserve power to vital areas. He couldn't spare the thought of worrying who it might hit when it landed– the agony of systems that had been torn apart was almost unbearable. He'd been too slow, too weak to be effective against this creature.
The growl of an engine in the distance told him that he'd done his job. It was almost over.
With a snarl of rage, the monster threw himin vaguely the same direction as his shield–
"Jace!" His head throbbed, heart feeling as though it were about to leap out of his chest and beat him to death. "Damn, I didn't think the shoulder wound was that bad."
"We have studies about prolonged contact with NBEs. Most of the techs who worked with NBE-1 were monitored for exposure and radiation contact." Simmons was still talking, even though it seemed like no one was listening, "Nothing like this had ever been found."
"His heart rate nearly doubled. Nervous system is showing similar signs of severe shock to the last incident." Warm, soft hands were supporting him, keeping him from hitting the ground again. Not metal. Where was Ratchet? And Ironhide– "Sergeant Epps, can you get him inside? We need to leave."
"We wanted to confirm that there was something to talk about before–" Jace heard Simmons say, through the spreading waves of dizziness.
"Before you offered us an 'olive branch', that is the expression you are looking for, I believe." Ironhide said, over the sound of a transformation. "If what you were implying is what I think you are–"
"Mistakes were made." Simmons sounded desperate, "No one wanted to give you a false hope, and destroy two lives in the process."
"I believe you." Jace heard Ratchet say quietly, as the sound of doors slamming ushered in a calm silence that was only disturbed by the soft hum of machinery.