I'm moving into my college dorm in two days! I'm so nervous, but I'm excited at the same time for my first year of college. I want to try and update one more time before I have to leave. This chapter is rather short compared to the other ones, oh well.

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Transformers: The Eye of Icarus

Chapter Twelve: Barber and the Pit

-…

Evil, in its most basic form, is whatever threatens the views you hold.

"So, let's go over what you've told me so far." Alexei wiped his fingers with a napkin, breaking from his meal. Wrappers and empty hamburger boxes littered the table they sat at in a corner of McDonald's. She would have complained with how much he was eating, but she had promised him that she would treat him for fixing her car. Well, if she could even call it one with what she now knew. "The reason why we're sitting here is so your car can't see us, because it's alive. Not only that, but there are others just like him, but they're good guys working with the government. You met the leader too. But that's not all," he downed the rest of his soda, "you're working with them to try and find these ships that you've been having dreams about. Because that marble you found in Hawaii a few ago turns out to be a piece of alien tech that's now your eye that can show you the way to these chips. You're then sworn to secrecy by the jackass Donovan before he let you go earlier today. So the next logical thing you do is abduct me from my house, take me to McDonald's, and then tell me this whole crazy story from day one?"

"Yeah. That's about it." Gloria's own food was still in its wrapper. She was waiting to see how her friend would react.

"Well, here's what I think." He reached into the third bag of his and pulled out fries. "Either you're remarkably calm when you're high or you currently have the COOLEST life of anyone in the world. Minus the heart stopping and the radioactivity of course."

"Shh! Not so loud! He might hear." Looking out the windows, she made sure that her car hadn't come over to the other side to snoop on where they were.

"Definitely high. What would your family think if they knew about this?" He sarcastically remarked, going after his milkshake. She frowned, kicking his shin. "Not funny. I made you swear secrecy, remember?"

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed. Besides, I doubt anyone would believe this story. I mean: the Internet has evidence of them if you look in the right places, but governments all over the world keep denying they exist to the public. Of course, people like us-" he stabbed a few fries into honey mustard sauce "have been more or less fortunate to see them first hand." He ate in silence, each wrapped in their thoughts.

"Russia, huh?" Alexei mouthed out through a face stuffed with fries. Curiosity in his eyes. "Do you think they'll take you along?"

"I don't know. I'm just a civilian, so probably not. But it would be cool to go."

"Take a few pictures if you do, always wanted to go to my birth country."

"I'm sure they'll let me take pictures." Rolling her eyes, they made contact with the television and stopped when she saw what the news title was. The plastic blonde-haired news anchor looked up from her notes.

"We are reporting from the studio right now to keep you updated about the developing story in the United Arab Emirates. Now, as you might have heard, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Dubai at approximately 10:54 EST, 6:54 PM on their time. The government of the UAE is reporting minor damage to buildings and roads, but evacuations are taking place to get people out of buildings and away from downed power lines. There have been no reported deaths, but hundreds have been injured from fallen objects and broken glass from skyscrapers. In Dubai, we have reporter Kenneth Bruggeman with more on this tragedy. Kenneth-" The news anchor nodded. The scene cut to a grainy film of a middle-aged man standing in front of a cream tent. A large red cross had been painted onto the canvas.

"Thanks Julie. Now behind me is what is becoming a common site on the outskirts of city of Dubai: a makeshift hospital. Pitched not even an hour ago, doctors and nurses here are already being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of injured people who are fleeing the city seeking shelter and aid of any form. It's a site that few are prepared for." Alexei turned around to see what caught her eye. He watched for a moment before going back to his food. "Looks like they're still reporting on the earthquake. The government keeps insisting no one has been injured, but I personally find that hard to believe. Hey, are you going to even eat your food?" Blinking, her focus was brought back to her friend. "Uh, no. You can have it." She handed over her food to him before looking back up. The film quality looked a bit better as there was an aerial of the city. Smoke was rising from some of the streets.

"-civil engineers struggle to reach the main shut-off valve to turn gas lines off. Police are on foot trying to help in evacuating those who are lost and trying to help their loved ones get out of the mess. Fire crews and rescue vehicles can do nothing until glass and debris can be removed from the roads. A spokesman is reported to speak on this incident in seven minutes and what the government will be going to provide care for the large tourist center. Tourists are being encouraged to return to their home country if they are able, but all flights at the Dubai International Airport have been grounded as inspections on fuel equipment and the runway are being conducted. The airport has become a shelter for those who have survived the quake." They began to interview people, but Gloria had lost interest. Something didn't feel right with what was happening in Dubai, but she just couldn't figure out what it was exactly.

"Done." Alexei threw the wrapper into the pile before him. "Get me more food. Another double quarter pounder please. With a large fry."

"How are you even choking this stuff down?" Gloria asked, stuffing the wrappers in the bag, the table looked less like a waiting avalanche of empty containers and wrappers.

"I didn't eat at all today. Plus I'm a growing boy." He patted his stomach before stretching.

"Whatever. I'll get it, but this is the last of my money." She pulled out a ten-dollar bill and waved it at him.

"Wait! Get some burgers off the Dollar Menu then. I'll love you." He grinned at her when she stood up.

"That's because I have money and I'm feeding you."

…..

That night, she visited her mother in the hospital. Her mother seemed more responsive and in a better mood now the subclavian blood clot had been dealt with and was no longer a threat. The doctor on call informed her how her mother would need to stay in the hospital until the blood thinner warfarin was sufficient enough levels to let her head home. At most, he said, would be another two, possibly three days, meaning she would be able to get home Friday or Saturday. This meant Gloria would have to deal with the rest of her college break without her mother. It wasn't the first time she had gone through a college break and finding herself by her mother's bedside at the hospital by herself.

She wished she could scream at her mother for what she was doing to herself. The doctors that kept tabs on her were telling what could happen if she didn't continue the medications when she got home, but Gloria knew she would probably stop taking them after a few weeks and then would have to come back for the same procedure to keep the clot from dislodging and getting into her lungs and heart. It would only take a near-death experience to scare her into keeping on them regularly. She finally left, disgusted and depressed, after her mother began a drug-clouded argument with the on-call physician on how she saw no real need to even be in the hospital.

…..

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 01:03 UTC+04:00

All was dark in the city of Dubai. The civil engineers had cut the power only two hours when the quake hit the major city, a remarkable feat for the destruction that had been brought about to the power plant. The city was silent except for the distant wailing of rescue equipment that were making their way to help those trapped or injured by the debris. From the gulf, a stiff breeze softly brushed through the maze of skyscrapers above. It was from the gulf that they emerged from the black waters. Managing to avoid being spotted by any humans, they made their way into the city itself. They were racing against the clock: from hacked signals, they were almost ready to try and re-establish communications to the outside world. There were ten in all, figures enveloped in the darkness that the moonless night provided, taller than any man or humanoid machine Earth had ever built. They had a simple target to find: a building that was already programmed into their processors. The building was within sight after a few silent minutes of navigating the streets. Despite their size, they made their way into the building through the smashed glass front. What they were looking for was right before them: cars.

From the interactions between them, there was a strict pecking order that was to be followed. The largest of the group spoke; a low, threatening metallic screech that would have sent human ears on edge. Finished with the banter, he attacked a smaller mech beside him to run his point across to the others. Leaving the weaklign with minor damage, his red eyes examined his forces to see if any form of questioning were on their features. Satisfied, he slowly limped towards one of the cars that he seemed to have an interest in. With a flash of light, he scanned the vehicle. Done, he grabbed the luxury car with one hand and threw it out the window, loudly impacting against the concrete. Following his lead, the others did the same. When finished, some left to dispose of the vehicles permanently. The massive machine watched for some time before finally transforming, becoming the perfect duplicate of the original car that had been their shortly before. As far as he was concerned, the mission was complete.

All right! So now that I've introduced the antagonists of the story, I will work on the next chapter. Please rate and review because I love hearing from you guys! Thank you if you've added this story to your alerts/ subscriptions!

P.S.: Kudos to anyone if they can figure out the reference of the chapter title!