Montana
Her honey eyes glumly stared out at building behind her window, and traveled further down the broad empty alley. Here she had nothing but an empty bed and cold pillow, with a small cheap rug slung across an old wooden floor that could use replacing. She hated how it creaked whenever her weight shifted, and she hated how the draft would come in through her window and give her chills at night.
"Montana dear, the other children are all out playing in the park, don't you want to join them?" The woman in charge of all the orphans walked in.
"They don't like me." She mumbled, refusing to take her gaze off her bare window.
"And what gave you that idea?" The lady demanded.
Montana finally reluctantly turned her black haired head, only to stare at the woman with a dull lifelessness. Her hair was an entangled mess, covering much of her face and gleaming from a lack of washing. The child had just turned nine years old the day before, but she didn't even seem happy about her birthday. She just complained that her brother hadn't cared to look after her up until now.
"They have an even number, and told me they don't want me to mess it up." She replied to the woman.
"Oh Montana, they're not going to have an even number forever."
"I know…kids get adopted at least once every other weak. It doesn't matter though, because I know that they're lying about their even numbers. They just don't want the girl with asthma to slow them down, and I'd rather not have an asthma attack anyways." The girl spoke like she was wizened beyond her years.
"Oh child, look how pale you're getting. If you won't go out to play, at least go out and get some sun and fresh air." The woman tried again.
"It's the middle of January and cold out. I don't like the cold." Montana reasoned again, and returned her dull gaze to the plain window.
"Nonsense dear, now come, I won't have you rotting away just because you're upset. You did this last year to, and I will not have another depressed little girl in this household."
"Household? This is not my home." Montana stood up anyways, and trotted past the lady without a second thought. She heard the woman sigh as she turned out of view.
Grabbing her coat, Montana left the orphanage, and plotted along down the sidewalk at a moderate pace. The cool wind forced the girl to zip up her coat to the very top of her collar, much to her displeasure.
She bypassed the park where the other children were playing, silently glaring at their happiness. Jealously burned through her mind, but it wasn't jealously of the other kids happiness. It was jealousy of their ignorance to the full gravity of their situation. Many still believed that their parents were out there and others still had to realize they would one day be separated from all their friends.
As long as Montana stayed away from them, she wouldn't have to worry about losing anyone important to her ever again. She didn't want to be hurt again, not like before when her brother had abandoned her.
She continued on further down the road, not entirely certain of where she was even going. Montana knew she couldn't get lost in this section of the city, but she probably would worry the workers at the orphanage. They all knew that when Montana didn't wan to be found, she wouldn't be.
She continued walking until she reached the outskirts of the city, and the scenery broke away into well watered suburbs. The child frowned, remembering the days she had spent in the very neighborhood she overlooked now. Her parents had been hard workers that had strived to make both her and her brother comfortable and happy, but in the end they had failed. Montana sighed and resumed her walking, traveling through the thinnest section of the neighborhood to reach the sparse forest around it.
An old trail wove its way through the woodwork, and Montana quickly began to travel down it, knowing the old path well. It took her deep into the forest where the older trees stood, with trunks thick and sturdy. As she had anticipated though, the trees suddenly ended at a wide gulley, spanning several miles. Montana didn't know what had caused the indention, but she could tell it was more recent than the surrounding trees, or else vegetation would have sprung up in it.
She could let her imagination run wild on how the crater was formed. There was no sign of what caused the mark, so Montana knew it couldn't have been a meteor. A mark of this size caused by a meteor would have surely captured more attention from NASA or something of the like. She skidded down into the fresher dirt and rock, picking up shaken stone that resembled organic shapes. Montana of course discarded all of these once she found them, but always threw them in the same pile, no matter how far she had strayed from it.
She had found this place less than a month ago when she had been feeling outcasted and insignificant. Now she at least had a spot to vent through her own quiet play.
As it grew later into the day, Montana grew tired of her excavating and climbed back up out of the crater. Dusting off her hands, a glimmer suddenly caught her eyes. Curious of whatever the shiny object was, Montana crept over to it. Stopping short, Montana bent down and picked up a small slab of metal, dull and eroded on one side, bright and shiny silver on the other. The dull side almost looked like it had been damaged by heat.
Weird. I wonder what this belonged to? Her honey eyes flashed about when they suddenly locked onto another, larger, piece of metal.
Montana walked over and scooped it up as well. Much to her surprise the weight wasn't great despite its size, and the metal was almost flexible enough for her to bend.
Why didn't I see this before? She wondered, but knew the answer as soon as she thought the question. I guess I was too distracted in the crater.
Montana looked around to see if there was anymore metal, but couldn't find any. She frowned, disappointed by her results. Tucking the metal chunks beneath her coat, Montana turned and headed for 'home' with her head down in thought.
So whatever made that ditch was probably metal. She assumed, tightening her grip on her find as she walked.
The head smiled at her as she entered the building and Montana decided to barely return it. She didn't want anyone getting suspicious of what she had been doing.
For the next few days Montana continued to go out to the impact site, spreading her search wider and wider to find more of the mysterious metal. Her collecting led her gradually deeper into the thickest parts of the forest where the scrap metal was surprisingly abundant, though tiny, most no larger than her thumb.
Montana had stopped picking them up at this point and instead just started following the seemingly huge trail they left.
It looks like it all leads to somewhere. She may not have known much about tracking, but she knew enough that a concentration of a foreign metal following a straight path would eventually take her somewhere.
Before Montana knew it, the sky had grown dim and the already cold air had plummeted to well below freezing. She shivered violently and stopped, knowing she had to turn back.
Montana froze as she turned; in shock. Her trail of metal was gone. Not in the physical sense, but gone for the night. It was too dark for her to see in the thickness of the forest, and with no light meant the metal was no longer gleaming. It blended perfectly in with the ground and kept her trapped where she stood.
I…I don't know where I am! Was I even walking in a straight line? Montana tugged at her unkempt hair, her mind racing. Great, now I'm going to freeze to death.
Without her consent tears began pooling from her eyes. They ran down her cheeks slowly, providing temporary warmth on her face where their trails ran. She sniffled, hating how easily she broke down.
I should probably just wait here until morning. She figured out the smart thing to do, but at the same time realized its downside. I wonder if I can last that long out here?
With the temperature so low, she probably only had a half an hour to find someplace warm before she began shutting down from the cold. That of course meant wandering blindly looking for shelter, and possibly separating her from her trail home. What could she do?
Montana's gaze then settled on a hollowed out tree, but the interior was black from the dimming light so it was impossible to tell if any animals lurked inside. She scrambled over to it anyways and kicked at it, hoping the noise would drive out anything unpleasant. A growl rang out making Montana squeal in alarm. Immediately she turned tail and ran, trying to get as far from whatever animal that had been. Before she realized it, she was far from her trail out in the middle of no where.
"Oh no….no, no, no." More tears streaked down her face.
She hunched over from the cold and felt a wave of exhaustion washing over her. Now the sky above was pure black, decorated with stars and a full moon. However the pale moon's light offered little comfort in the black of the forest.
How did I let this happen? Montana was normally very careful about where she went thanks to her brother's teachings. Even after he had left her, she still heeded his words like a religion.
Now completely lost, Montana assumed she could just start walking since it didn't really matter how much more lost she got anymore. A few minutes passed and Montana was beginning to lose feeling in her feet.
"I shouldn't have followed that stupid trail. It was only a bunch of scrap metal." She grumbled through her chattering teeth.
Suddenly a light ahead caught her eye, and her heart immediately swelled with hope. Sprinting forward, Montana had to skid to stop when she came out onto an old dirt road and the abrupt end of the forest. Drier scrub land stretched out on the other side of the road, winding slowly towards some cliffs in the distance.
Initially distracted by the change in scenery, Montana finally noticed what had made the light. It was an emergency vehicle of some sort and she quickly read the brand Volvo on its back. The headlights were blaring into the night, but as Montana came around to its side, she saw there was no one within the white, red, and blue vehicle.
She touched its hood carefully, and it felt lukewarm, not hot from a running engine. That either meant it had just been turned on, or something else was at work that Montana wasn't aware of. Her honey gaze fell to the interior of the vehicle and lingered on the warm fabric seats and heater's controls on the dash.
I wonder if it's locked? She glanced around looking for any sign of human life. There was none.
"Well they do drive an emergency vehicle. I'm sure they won't mind if I try to get in." She assured herself out loud.
Hesitantly Montana reached out and grabbed the door's handle, pausing after one last thought of doubt. She then tugged on it sharply and much to her surprise the door came right open.
"Oh, whoa," the girl was amazed by her luck.
Now grinning, Montana wiped away the remainder of her tears that still sat on her face and crawled inside, sealing the door shut behind her. She then looked over the dashboard and cranked up the heat.
Looking around the inside of the large Volvo, Montana saw it was bare of everything but the basics, almost like it was a new car straight off the lot. However it lacked the new car smell. In fact, the vehicle smelled more like an odd mixture of heated metal and something else, but it was not a scent Montana could identify. The only way could describe it was like someone had mixed some sort of bitter-sweet alcohol with kerosene. She couldn't help but wrinkle her nose.
The car heated up surprisingly fast and Montana slowly began to relax, growing groggy after her long trek through the woods.
The Volvo seemed to hum with life, lulling her to sleep even faster.
Montana cracked her eyes open to warm sunlight and quickly sat up, blinking in momentary confusion. She was still in the car, and it was still running. However the heat had somehow turned down so she wasn't boiling hot.
That's strange. She thought while furrowing her brow. She glanced around outside, but just like the night before, saw no human being that could have owned this vehicle.
I wonder if someone abandoned it? She stared at the steering wheel, and much to her surprise the keys were missing.
She leaned in to get a closer look and saw there was no key hole, but a button, like the brand new vehicles that needed codes punched into their doors from the outside. That meant this was a very new, very nice vehicle.
"Who would leave a car like this out in the middle of no where? It's even got a full tank!" Montana exclaimed loudly to herself.
Then an idea lit up in her head. She may not have known where she was, but she knew she was on a road that would eventually lead to somewhere, and she was in an advanced Volvo with a full tank. She tilted her head in thought.
My brother did let me drive his car once through the neighborhood. She bit her lip before making a split second decision.
Grabbing the steering wheel Montana shifted the car out of park. Then after lifting up the parking break, the car suddenly honked.
"Ah!" she shrieked in alarm.
It took a moment for her heart to settle again.
That was really weird. She shook herself, trying to calm her now frazzled nerves.
After double checking to see that the car was in drive and readjusting the rearview mirror multiple times, Montana slowly eased onto the gas, and then was off. She didn't press too hard, and her other foot always zoomed to the break whenever she drifted to the other side of the road. She at least didn't have to worry about hitting another car, because the road looked completely abandoned and out of shape.
"They really need to fill in the potholes around here." She murmured to herself as she navigated around a particularly nasty hole that would have surely trapped her new Volvo; even with its four wheel drive.
Suddenly two giant potholes came into her field of vision and Montana let out a shriek of surprise. She had finally gotten up to speed and wasn't thinking clearly. The thought never occurred to her to step on the brakes.
The Volvo however suddenly skidded to a halt, leaving a wide eyed and panting Montana staring out in shock at the two massive potholes that she almost drove into.
"W-What?" she stuttered.
She stared down at the brake pedal, only to see it flat against the floor by its own free will. She wheezed slightly in shock, her stress starting to trigger an asthma attack. Montana slumped back, sucking in breath quickly but deeply, hoping to keep an attack at bay. She hadn't taken her inhaler with her after all, and she didn't have her morning dose of medicine.
Just keep calm Montana, you can get through this. Breathe in, and back out, in, out, in, out. She instructed internally.
Her golden honey eyes flashed back out of the car, which had the headlights on despite it being bright outside. She cocked a brow as she gasped for breath, confused by what was happening.
Does this car have built in safety features or something? It was the only logical thought the girl could come up with, but even then she wasn't convinced.
The brake popped back up making the girl narrow her eyes suspiciously. With a careful foot she pressed on the gas, headed straight for the pot holes once more. Just as Montana had predicted, the car slammed to a halt again, jarring her a bit.
Her frantic breathing returned and her chest felt tight. She could feel her neck tighten around her throat, making her gasp even more frantically, but without getting any more air.
No, I can't have an attack here! I…can't…it's too…dangerous… Panic overwhelmed her mind and she failed to calm down. She wasn't even sure why she was panicking so badly. Nothing was making sense anymore, which only fed her panic.
The car's engine revved suddenly, once again behaving oddly. Montana however was too distracted by her sudden asthma attack to notice. She shook with her violent coughs and wheezing and suddenly felt a lurch. She winced a single eye open and saw scenery flying by the window. Montana stared out in shock amidst her struggling.
Then suddenly dots danced across her vision and she blacked out.
"Why'd you bring her here? If she wakes up and sees us, she'll start screaming or something." A smooth unfamiliar voice's snarl echoed through Montana's ears as she slowly came to.
She felt dizzy and slightly sick, but she assumed it was from passing out after having an asthma attack. Her chest felt sore and her throat scratchy, but that was only the lingering affects from all her coughing.
Slowly Montana attempted to open her eyes but bright fluorescent lights blinded her making her squeeze them back shut tightly. A groan slipped past her lips.
"Ah, she woke up!" A different, more excited voice exclaimed. It was definitely masculine, but it sounded younger than the first voice.
She winced at the noise, still not opening her eyes to spare her sensitive eyes.
"Well now she is, no thanks to you two." The next voice that spoke was far more mature sounding than the first two, but did not sound old either. Montana almost wanted to call it experienced, but the word didn't seem to suite the voice either.
"Excuse me, but who brought her here in the first place!?!" The very first voice demanded.
"She was having an asthma attack, I couldn't just abandon her, its against my morals." The mature voice countered.
"Since when did you have morals Pulse?" the younger voice chuckled.
A loud metallic crack rang out followed by the younger voice's cry of pain.
"As an Autobot I am obligated to help those weaker than myself." The voice that Montana now identified as Pulse snarled.
Pulse…what a weird name. She tried to crack her eyes open again.
"Ouch, you didn't have to hit me!" The youngest voice whined.
"Breakshift, you brought it on yourself." This time a feminine voice laughed.
Montana managed to open her eyes and after blinking in confusion momentarily, looked up at four giant mechanical beings. Her mouth dropped open in amazement.
"Ah, she's up, she's up!" Breakshift exclaimed while pointing at her with a huge metal finger.
Montana just stared at it, confused but not quite frightened. It seemed they had saved her after all.
"Pulse, what are we going to tell Aero? He'll give us to Clawfist for target practice!" Breakshift whined.
Montana cocked her head, unable to follow their conversation. She assumed Clawfist was another robot like these four, and that their leader or some figure of power's name was Aero.
She examined each 'bot more closely. Breakshift was surprisingly young looking, which was a strange concept for the girl. His body was mostly red, with some silver and white gleaming beneath his heaviest plating. Bright blue light panels that Montana assumed were some form of eyes or optical sensors gleamed brightly. As she studied his armor further, she saw in almost configured into a car like shape at some points, which she found strange.
Her eyes turned to the next robot that she had a gut feeling was Pulse. He was a bit taller than the other robots, and was blue, white, and red. A V shaped crest swung up just above the bridge of his nose, and his optical sensors emitted a calming glow despite the frustrated expression he wore. She quickly recognized the shape his armor made.
"You're that car!" She exclaimed, interrupting the other three panicking robots.
They all fell silent and looked down at her. Montana cocked a brow, not at all frightened.
"Uh…hi?" she felt less sure of her outburst.
A perplexed expression fell across Pulse's face, which Montana found to be both amusing and strange.
These guys are pretty neat. They must be some super advanced robotic race or something…or maybe they're from the future?
"You are the one that saved me right?" She grinned in earnest.
Pulse hesitated before giving the girl a small nod. This made her giggle.
"Well thank you very much. My name's Montana." She dared to extend her hand.
"Pulse," he stated simply.
Slowly he reached a single finger out and barely touched Montana's palm. She quickly wrapped her fingers around it and tried to shake up and down despite it being impossible. Instead Pulse shook for her.
"You're not frightened?"
Montana bit her lip apprehensively. "Should I be?"
The four robots exchanged looks before the feminine one spoke up.
"No dear, you've got nothing to fear from us." She smiled at her, which carried all the way up to her pink glowing optical sensors.
"Then what are you guys?" She glanced at the only remaining 'bot that had yet to speak up since she had started talking.
"Oh Aero Prime will love this." The bot she gazed at sarcastically remarked.
"Hush Spincycle." The feminine bot elbowed him in his side.
Spincycle was taller than both Breakshift and the feminine robot, but Pulse still had him by a couple inches. Instead of optical sensors he had a visor that strangely reminded Montana of a Star Wars Scout Trooper despite being slightly different. His arms were crossed in displeasure, covering his mostly red chest and accentuating his bright silver abdomen and black markings.
"You know we're going to get caught Dawncatcher. And if it's not because of Clawfist it'll be Chain." Spincycle retorted.
The feminine robot Montana now registered as Dawncatcher frowned and turned her pink gaze up to a camera mounted in the ceiling, blocked by a dark cloth temporarily. She was far thinner than the other robots in the room and was mostly white. She seemed almost delicate to Montana.
The one thing the young girl noticed was present on every robot was a red symbol, similar to a face only it looked unhappy.
"Um, do you want me to leave and pretend like this never happened?" Montana suggested.
"What? Seriously?" Breakshift cocked an optic ridge.
Montana let her gaze fall to the ground. "Well no one ever offers that choice in the movies…so I thought it would be realistic."
"Movies? What are…oh, what humans view on flat screens for entertainment benefits." Pulse rambled to himself.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Montana raised a brow.
"Nah, we're Transformers from the planet Cybertron!" Breakshift bragged loudly.
"Breakshift!" Spincycle snarled.
"Ah slaggit, how do you wipe a human's memory?" Breakshift griped.
Pulse shook his head and face palmed himself in a very human like manner. It almost made Montana giggle.
"You don't Breakshift. Organics can't lose memory without being harmed." Pulse explained.
Montana decided to jump back into the conversation.
"Transformers huh; from the planet Cybertron. Does that make you aliens?" She smirked at their alarmed faces.
"Frag we are so getting dismissed for this." Spincycle slumped forward in defeat.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone…under one condition." Montana felt an idea surfacing.
How many kids get to meet alien robots? Plus I'm not even sure if any of this is even real so…I might as well roll with it. She wasn't normally such a conniving person, but it had been so long since something interesting had occurred in her life that hadn't been bad, she wanted to take every advantage of it she possibly could.
"C-Condition? Well that's just great!" Breakshift whined.
"Just what do you have in mind human child?" Pulse narrowed his optics.
"First of all, my name is Montana, and it is very nice to meet you Pulse." She giggled at his baffled expression. "All I want is to know a bit more about you guys. It's not everyday a girl like me meets giant robots from outer space. If you want me to keep this whole thing a secret from your…superior, then you'll have to explain yourselves."
The four exchanged uncertain glances before Dawncatcher refocused on her.
"And just what do you want to know, Montana?" she asked kindly.
She grinned sincerely up at the female robot.
"Oh, just why you're here on Earth, who you are exactly, what an Autobot is; stuff like that."
There was a moment's hesitation before slowly the robots, or transformers Montana corrected, began to explain to her about their mission on her planet. They told her of great battles against the evil Decepticons, the leader of all the Autobots Optimus Prime, how they came to be chosen as a team to protect Earth from a newer threat that called himself Ultracon, and much more.
Montana felt overwhelmed by it all, but also fascinated.
"You guys have no idea how awesome this all is!" Montana laughed excitedly.
Pulse looked at her worriedly.
"Awesome? I don't believe that is the adjective I'd use for our war." He grimaced.
"No, no, no, not your war. I mean just your existence, and your history. Finally there's something bigger than this planet! I mean, now there's something real that I can think about, instead of my normal…well…yeah." She drew back, her thoughts returning to her long gone brother who she doubted she'd ever see again.
"You don't spend much time running around do you? Your pale complexion and attentive disposition is evident of that. Any normal child your age would be fidgeting and tired after such a long explanation like the one we gave you." Pulse concluded quickly.
She looked guiltily up at who she now identified as the Autobot medic.
"I can't exert myself like other children. If I do, I could have an asthma attack and even if I don't…it's not like I have any friends, or any that'll stay with me anyways." She sighed.
Dawncatcher drew her brow together sympathetically. She threw a pleading look in Pulse's direction, but the logical medic wasn't going to meet it.
"Your human caretaker is probably growing anxious about your overnight disappearance by now. It would be best if I took you back now." Pulse remained formal and insensitive.
Montana's gaze dropped to the floor as she weakly nodded. She had gotten her end of the bargain after all.
"It's not like it's the first time I've gone missing though. They'll probably wait until dinner time before they contact anyone to look for me. They know I know the streets better than them."
"You've got quite the history yourself, don't you Montana?" Dawncatcher murmured gently.
She glanced up at the femme and gave another nod before Pulse suddenly extended his palm.
"Get on, I'm taking you there now."
To think I met a sentient alien race just outside my home town. Even if I had anyone to tell this about they wouldn't believe me. I guess that's always just my luck; and these Autobots want nothing to do with me. Back to gloomy average life here I come. She breathed a sigh and climbed on his outstretched palm.
He lifted her up smoothly, but Montana seated herself anyways, fearing that her own poor balance would result in her fall.
"You sure you should take her? Aero or Clawfist might be curious when they discover your absence, you know, being our only medic." Spincycle drawled, not actually sounding like he cared.
"My alt is a vehicle trusted by humans. Her people will understand why she would be with me. You however are a highly expensive car, and correct if I'm wrong but, the most expensive car they've ever created."
"Wait, you mean you turn into a Bugatti Veyron!?!" Montana's eyes lit up. Her brother had known his cars well, and the knowledge had rubbed off on Montana more or less.
"Yes." Spincycle snuffed.
Montana's grin only grew. "This is just too awesome. You guys must be the coolest alien race ever!"
For a moment Montana could have sworn Spincycle almost grinned at her compliment. Breakshift though was beaming from audio to audio.
"I like this human, can't we keep her?" He pleaded.
Pulse just shot him a stiff look that obviously read no.
"It shouldn't take long. I doubt my absence will be noticed as we've seen no action in the past five hundred four Earth hours." Pulse stated blandly, and then walked out of the room with Montana.
She looked about, but only saw hallways. Pulse seemed pretty bent on keeping her hidden within his hand, tucking her in whenever they rounded a corner. Before she knew it they were outside in broad daylight.
Squinting to see, Pulse set her down and then transformed before her very eyes. Montana could only stare in awe as his body reconfigured itself, condensing in size to a familiar Volvo shape. A strange sound rang out as he did this, but Montana couldn't think of any word that accurately described it.
"Get in." The door nearest Montana suddenly swung open, startling the girl.
"You can still talk?" She asked while obeying his order.
"Of course I can still speak. Unlike you humans that require lips and a tongue to speak, we need only our vocalizers to communicate. Granted those of us with dental plates tend to move our mouths when speaking but, not all of the time." Pulse explained as they began driving along.
"Huh, that would look really weird." The young passenger snorted.
Pulse jostled slightly at this, like her comment upset him.
"How would that be strange?"
Montana laughed, leaning back in her seat after fastening her seatbelt, though she doubted she'd need it when her chaperone was the car.
"Everything has to move their mouths in some way to make proper noise on this planet; that's organic anyways. It just wouldn't look right if you kept your mouth shut and words were flowing out."
"Your statement lacks logic." Pulse's voice was riddled in confusion.
"Don't fret about it. You'll learn that half the things we humans say are best left ignored or forgotten."
Pulse somehow snorted at that. "I doubt we'll be here long enough for that familiarity to set in."
Just how long does he think he'll be here? From what they said about Ultracon, he's one powerful dude. I don't think they'll beat him very easily… She couldn't help but fret about their situation.
In wars people died, it was common knowledge, but when a small unit was on its own and completely dependent upon themselves for help, the survival rate looked bleak at best. Montana turned to look out the window, watching the scrubland flash by.
"Ahem," Pulse snagged the girl's attention once more. "is there something wrong?"
Montana shrugged, not really knowing if he could see the movement or not. His next statement told her he did.
"You just quieted quite suddenly."
She sighed, "yeah well, I'm mature for my age. That's what the Head lady is always saying anyways. I just started thinking about how hard it must be to be fighting against the Decepticons all the time. Always wondering what their next move is, if you're the next one to go…" She stopped, depressing herself with her own words.
"That's why I decided to be an Autobot medic. I can save a few that may just turn the tide of our war, not that it's as bad as it used to be when Megatron was in control."
Montana nodded, only to return to her listless gazing outside of Pulse's window. Just before her city came into view though, something else caught her eye. At first she couldn't identify what it was, but as it drew nearer recognition keyed in.
Strange, what would a Lockheed Martin F-35 and a Blue Angel Jet be doing flying together?
"Pulse, didn't you say something about Decepticons being able to fly?"
Pulse accelerated slightly at the sudden conversation.
"Yes, most Decepticons prefer aerial capable alts. Why?"
"Because the last time I checked F-35s and Blue Angels don't fly together, especially out in the middle of nowhere." She tapped on the glass with her pointer finger towards the two jets she saw.
"Ah…that would be Silenthowl and Heavyhitter."
"Decepticons?" Montana bit her lip worriedly.
"Unfortunately."
"Do they know who you are?"
Pulse let a long pause fall after Montana's question, uncertain on the best way of answering the girl.
"They are acquainted with the fact I am the only medic on this team. Therefore I am a high priority target."
Montana sunk lower in her seat, like crouching would make the both of them disappear. Pulse began accelerating a few moments later, and the sound of jet engines grew dangerously close.
"Pulse?" Montana dared to peek her head up long enough to see the F-35 swoop right by the side window, its wing nearly taking off the side mirror.
"I've already sent out a distress signal." He managed to reply as his speed increased to levels that Montana was sure his vehicle should not have been capable of. "If Chain's paying attention like he always is, help should be here shortly."
"Hey Heavyhitter, I think somebot has a fleshy inside. Can we crack it open? It's not right keeping it all locked up in such a small space after all." The con who Montana assumed was Silenthowl asked his companion.
"Ultracon requested that the medic be taken alive." Heavyhitter's tone was dull and downright boring.
"He didn't say anything about a missing limb or two."
Montana's eyes widened and she clutched tightly to Pulse's seat, which seemed to fuel his need to escape, because they accelerated even further.
"I don't want to die." Montana whispered, panicky breaths beginning to trigger another asthma attack.
"Calm down, I won't let that happen." Pulse assured; his tone so consoling and at ease, Montana couldn't help but believe him. If he had told her to jump off a cliff right then, she'd probably listen without question.
Her breathing began to even back out, though her eyes flashed from one con to the other, still cowering down and trembling whenever they got too close.
"That's a girl. We'll get through this." Pulse soothed.
"Y-You seem a-awfully confident." She winced when a sonic boom rang out from Silenthowl when he suddenly accelerated to drop down ahead of them.
"It's just the vorns of experience talking. I won't pretend that I'm used to this, and I'm far from at ease. I just know what I'm doing." Pulse was almost chuckling at the end.
"You are not the best at comforting people, you know that?" Montana snorted, forgetting her fear momentarily.
"I have sufficiently distracted you." Pulse suddenly braked, wrenching Montana but otherwise causing little damage.
"True, until you did that!" She grabbed the seat with all her might.
He then went into reverse, going back from where they'd come, only now two angry Decepticons were in plain sight, chasing after them with far more gusto than before.
"Where do you think you're running off to Autobot? We haven't even started having fun with you yet!" Silenthowl laughed and suddenly open fired.
Montana screamed and ducked down, praying that Pulse wouldn't be hit. The medic swerved and went off road, shifting back into drive and gunning it out into the scrub land.
The two Decepticons followed, Silenthowl mocking his attempts to flee.
"You must realize the terrain will only slow you down. If you give up now, we'll see that you aren't too badly damaged when we deliver you to Lord Ultracon." Heavyhitter rumbled.
"For reasons I can't fathom I don't believe you." Pulse snapped.
"Let's just blast him to pieces then, Ultracon won't have to know." Silenthowl begged.
"No, orders are orders." Heavyhitter disagreed.
"Fragging goodie-goodie." Silenthowl huffed, but listened to his duller companion anyways.
They don't get along together very well. Montana stared at the flying pair in a mixture of both fright and curiosity. I wonder what they're like when they transform?
Pulse's speed made the seat Montana so strongly cling to shudder and pivot as the terrain grew even rougher. The medic plowed straight through scraggly bushes and ran over cacti, imbedding thousands of needles within his tires and undercarriage. Montana winced, wondering if they felt pain the way humans did.
"Are you okay Pulse?"
"I am at eighty-four percent and dropping." Pulse's voice came back like he was out of breath, confusing the girl.
Gritting her teeth Montana dared to look back up at the two pursuing Decepticons, only to watch in horror as they open fired again, only this time aiming more carefully. Montana couldn't help but shriek in alarm and duck down, feeling as Pulse swerved to avoid the strikes. They whipped around in a wide circle and were suddenly gunning it in a new direction.
"Are we going anywhere or are we just running for our lives?" Montana gasped.
"Are you inquiring if my flight has a predetermined path?" Pulse sounded confused by the child's wording.
"Yes, whatever, yeah!" Montana nodded vigorously.
"As of this moment, no." Pulse almost sounded like he was wincing.
"Spectacular." The little girl sighed.
Who'd a thought I'd only live to be nine years old? Not even a decade. Her thoughts were alarmingly calm, which she found confusing.
Silenthowl and Heavyhitter then dived down at them while unleashing deadly shots. Pulse amazingly sped even faster, making his frame shake terribly and jostling Montana up and down like she was a popcorn kernel stuck in its casing. She winced as she bit her tongue and got a mouthful of blood.
Silenthowl and Heavyhitter veered away, circling around to make another strike. Suddenly a new aerial vehicle joined them, but an Autobot insignia blazed on it proudly. Montana wanted to call the new transformer a UAV, but her knowledge failed her on what type it was.
"Our help has arrived." Pulse explained, still speeding away from the dangerous 'cons.
"Who is that?" Montana felt her jaw go slack as this new Autobot dueled with the two Decepticons in the air with a slight classiness.
"His designation is Plasmagrade. He is one of the younger soldiers in our unit, but his skills as a weapons specialist are exceptional." Pulse explained.
"Wow look at him go! He's wiping the floor with those guys!" Montana finally let herself smile in relief.
"Excuse me?"
Montana laughed at the medic's confusion. "It's a human saying Pulse. I'm just saying that those two are probably feeling very sorry about attacking us right now."
"Oh, I think I understand." Pulse still sounded questionable, but Montana believed he had gotten the basic idea.
"I definitely need to teach you Earth lingo." She teased fondly.
When Plasmagrade's battle was over and he victorious, Pulse turned around and drove back, only far slower than before. Montana wondered how he was doing, but didn't ask for fear of what the answer would be.
"You okay Pulse?" the UAV asked as he swooped down and transformed.
Montana peered out in awe of the green visored mech, taking note of his sleek helm and young faceplate. She would have ventured to say he was considered handsome amongst his kind, but she couldn't be certain of what transformers were attracted to, if they even had those types of feelings.
Plasmagrade was basically white with light gray and navy mixed in, making his green visor stand out all the better. Two long almost delicate wing blades jutted out from his back, and the first thought that entered Montana's mind was an angel despite the fact he looked nothing like one.
"I will be fine once I remove these blasted needles from my frame." Pulse smarted.
Plasmagrade chuckled, but his expression changed as he locked onto what was inside of Pulse.
"Don't tell me that's a little squishy." He visibly cringed.
"The correct term is a human being, and yes, she is currently seated within my alt. I saved her earlier and was in the process of taking her back to those with legal custody of her. Is that a problem?" Pulse snapped irritably.
Montana couldn't help but giggle at his foul mood, though understood why he was so unhappy considering the thousands of needles lodged inside of him.
"And don't you start." Pulse scolded the girl, which only made her giggling turn into laughter.
"She's taking giant talking alien robots awfully well…" Plasmagrade gaped at her in wonder.
"It's nice to meet you to Plasmagrade. My name's Montana." She leaned out from Pulse's window and waved up to him, realizing he towered over even Pulse in robot mode.
"And she knows my name…okay." Plasmagrade's lip plates twitched at the corners and he managed a nervous wave back. "Pulse, have you told Aero Prime about this yet?"
"Negative."
"I think you should."
"What is your reasoning?" Pulse seemed to tense, if that were possibly in his car mode.
"One, she knows about us; two, she knows about Decepticons; three, there's a transmitter floating behind you and recording all of this with Chain sitting at his desk and watching it all live, with Clawfist hovering over his shoulder."
"Slag." Pulse swore.
Montana snickered, some part glad that she had been discovered by the others. It meant she'd be able to hang with them for at least a little while longer.
"And you promise not to tell any of your people?" Aero Prime sat at his desk, with Montana standing on top of it and one disheveled Pulse behind her.
The girl had to admit she liked the Autobot leader, despite his intimidating stature. His optics were also gentle while at the same time strong, much like how a father's should have looked.
"Cross my heart and stick a needle in my eye!" She raised her fingers in boy-scout fashion, unable to recall the girl-scout sign.
"Then it's settled. You are permitted to visit us while we are presently at this base, as long as you have a willing chaperone or remain within sight at all times." Aero Prime seemed satisfied with the outcome for he leaned back casually.
"Yes! Thank you, thank you so much Aero Prime!" Montana jumped for joy and squealed in delight.
"This ought to be interesting." Clawfist mumbled from the corner of the room, the only mech Montana had met so far that didn't seem to like her.
"Come along Montana, once I clean myself up I'll take you back to your legal guardian. There we can determine an arrangement for your visits." Pulse extended his hand for the girl to climb on.
She took a seat and was immediately whisked away after Pulse threw his leader a grateful but tired smile. She cocked her head as a thought crossed her mind.
"Something troubling you?" Pulse may have been tired, but he was still perceptive.
"Yeah, wouldn't the 'cons just attack you if you leave again?"
Pulse chuckled like the idea was silly.
"Chain will be escorting us this time, and Decepticons rarely like fighting a veteran like Chain." He assured.
Montana grinned and relaxed, stretching herself out lazily in Pulse's palm. She was going to like it here, that much was certain already.