Chapter Eight
Needless to say that when they arrived at Hoover Dam base, Ratchet demanded a spot to set up a temporary med-bay. Dails upon stopping had quickly hid under the gurney again as the human lowered the boy from Ratchets alt-mode so that he could join discussions in his bi-pedal form.
Sector Seven had been kicked out before the Autobots had arrived, not wanting to bring up the issue of Bumblebee being tortured.
While Sam was sitting in Bee's hands as he was unloaded from the trailer he had been carted around for the drive when he remembered something important.
"Bee! Where's Dials?" he frantically began to check his pockets. Hoping that the little phonebot was recharging in one of them. In his grief over Ty he had failed to realize the little phonebot had disappeared.
I've lost the signal Captain, played Bumblebee. He too had forgotten the little phonebot in the midst of the aftermath of the battle.
Fresh tears began forming in Sam's eyes. "Bee," his voice cracking, "Ty, told me to look after the little guy."
"Sam, I'm sure he's around. Tyrell told him to stay with us" said Mikeala trying to comfort Sam. "Maybe one of the others have seen him, I go ask."
Bee lowered his hand allowing Mikeala to step off onto the ground. As she walked towards the group of mechs and humans, Mikeala wished with all her might that one of the other Autobots had seen the phonebot. She knew that Sam would never forgive himself if he had lost the last thing that his brother charged Sam to look after.
Prime was busy talking to Lennox about the arrangements for the Autobots and there prisoner. Ironhide was watching Barricades every move, the cuffs had again been put on him after he was told to transform. All of the soldiers were also watching the 'Con, others were glancing at the boy that Barricade had yet to remove his optics from. Ratchet had put his foot down when many tried to get near the boy, so unless you wanted to mess with a giant robot no one went close to the boy.
"Optimus?" Mikeala asked quietly catching the giant mechs attention.
Optimus looked down at the girl before excusing himself from the soldiers stepping in front of Mikeala offering his hand. She stepped on it and he raised her to optic level.
"What is it Mikeala" asked Optimus gently.
"Have you or any of the others see a little Autobot, a little bigger than my hand, named Dials?"
Optimus blinked his optics twice in surprise before answering her. "I am unaware of any Autobot with that destination. Who is he?"
"He was a cell phone that Tyrell saved from being barbequed by Simmons. Tyrell gave him to Sam and Bumblebee right after that jet's first assault. Told Sam to look after him, know they cant find him."
Optimus tried to process this, still confused. "Mikeala I think you better explain this from the beginning. So Mikeala explained to Optimus about how S-7 had used the power of the cube to bring small electronic things to life. How Tyrell saved the phone from being destroyed.
"It was weird, Tyrell's hand seemed to move like lightening. He grabbed Dials and placed his own phone in the box, faster than you could blink. I think only Sam and I were the only ones that saw it. While riding to Mission City, Dials said a voice told him it would send a guardian, and Dials said that Tyrell was his guardian."
Optimus stared down at Mikeala in shock. All the other Autobots that had been listening were also shocked. It made Ironhide want to abandon his post of watching Barricade and hunt down Sector Seven and end them like they ended so many sparks.
:Optimus: commed Ratchet. :Its possible this sparkling went to find its guardian. If we find him, we will probably find Tyrell's body:
:Yes, as soon as we can we'll send someone back to Mission City to look for him: Optimus commed back. Then he returned his attention back to Mikeala.
"No one has seen him Mikeala. But I promise you that at the next possible moment I will send one of my men back to the City to look for him. Please tell Sam it isn't his fault. It is possible that Dials left to find Tyrell for himself."
Mikeala nodded and Optimus lowered his hand so she could go back to Bumblebee. Optimus vented and turned back to the discussion with Lennox.
"What did Mikeala want?" asked Lennox as Optimus rejoined them.
"She informed me that we were one Autobot short. It appears that Tyrell saved a little phonebot from being destroyed by Sector 7. The little mech has disappeared."
Lennox and Epps looked at each other. They both had seen the phone turned robot get fried.
"Are you sure about that cause we were there and that phone got fried by Simmons" questioned Epps.
"Yes, Tyrell gave the little bot to Sam before the battle."
All the Autobots noticed the soldiers bowed their heads at the mention of Tyrell.
No one noticed when Barricade shifted his gaze, instead of looking at the boy, it was staring at the gurney where a pair of blue optics where staring at the group of Autobots and soldiers. Barricade softly clicked at the sparkling, drawing its attention to him. The click called the little Autobot over the Barricade. Barricade opened a com link to the little Autobot.
:Hello little one, seems like you are causing people to worry:
The little Autobot looked into Barricade's eyes. :Guardian hurt:
:Yes, but he's getting better, he'll be fine in a few days:
:You saved Guardian: stated Dials a look of gratitude in its little eyes. Barricade wondered how long Dials had been under the gurney, and how much he had heard.
:Yes:
:Why, you Decepticon. Decepticon's hate Guardian:
Barricade sighed softly, not wanting to bring attention to the little phonebot at his feet. :Little one, I felt it in my spark that I had to save him:
Dials accepted this answer before yawning. :Tired little one?:
Dials nodded, and before Barricade knew what was happening, Dials had climbed up on him and snuggled under a piece of armor near Barricade's spark.
The sound of Ratchet's angry voice distracted Barricade from Dials surprising relocation.
"I don't care, I need a place to work right know. I need to finish repairs on Jazz, and Bumblebee. Plus watch to make sure that no complications happen to the boy."
Optimus sighed. "Captain Lennox, can you help show Ratchet a suitable place to work as a med bay?"
"Okay Optimus, but I have to do something soon. I told Sam I would."
Optimus nodded and Lennox motioned Ratchet to follow him. Lennox took Ratchet to a series of rooms that had escaped the wrath of a loose Megatron. It wasn't till they examined the last one that Ratchet deemed it suitable for now.
"Thank-you Captain Lennox for showing me the rooms."
"You're welcome Ratchet, it has delayed a piece of business that I don't want to deal with right know."
"What's that" questioned Ratchet, as he began to set up a place to work.
"I told Sam that I would tell his parents about Tyrell's death."
Ratchet paused in his work to look at Lennox, Ratchet over the millenniums had to tell many Autobots and Decepticons alike that some of the love ones had died. It never got any easier.
Apparently Lennox need to get things off of his chest cause he kept talking. "I feel like it's my fault, I promised Tyrell after the attack at Qatar that I would get him home. But I failed, I'm the leader of my men and I couldn't even keep them safe." With that Will turned heel and marched out the door. Ratchet sighed, he had heard the same speech from dozens of mechs, most of all from their leader Optimus. Great leaders always blamed themselves when things happened that were out of there control.
Ratchet walked back to the main room, where he had left his patients. He was surprised to hear the sounds of argument bouncing off of the concrete walls.
He turned a corner and immediately saw the problem. Bumblebee had his cannons out trying to take aim at Barricade, Ironhide and even Optimus was wrestling with Bumblebee trying to be careful of the two teens still in Bumblebee's hand.
"Bumblebee, stand down, that's an order" roared Optimus, but Bee didn't listen, and struggling even harder.
Ratchet took stock of the whole situation and quickly reached into his subspace pocket and withdrew the largest wrench he had and threw it at Bumblebee's head. His aim was true and it hit Bumblebee with a large clang, stunning Bee. Ratchet ran forward while Bee was still confused and administered a sedative. The drug worked in seconds and Bumblebee slipped into recharge. Ratchet quickly scanned Sam and Mikeala and quickly determined that neither was injured, just scared, Ratchet left them in Bee's hand rounding onto the Weapon specialist and his leader. Ratchet looked at Ironhide and Optimus with a glare that even Megatron would run away from. "I take it that Bumblebee has noticed that Barricade was here."
Both 'bots grimaced and shook their heads. Ratchet grabbed his wrench and smacked each one upside the helm. The humans present were astonished at Ratchet's behavior towards his leader. They were even more amazed when neither 'bot did anything.
"Fools, you know Bumblebee's history with Barricade, why didn't you keep the two from seeing each other. Or at least warn Bumblebee that he was here as a prisoner." He turned back toward the two teens and set them down on the ground. He turned back towards the 'bots.
"Now help me move him, and Jazz to the med-bay." Ratchet turned to the gray Autobot who had stayed silent for the whole exchange and picked him up walking towards the med-bay. Optimus footsteps sounded behind him. Ratchet gently set Jazz down, and motioned to a place where Optimus could set down Bumblebee. Ratchet turned and went back to grab the boy, noticing that more humans were milling around the hallways. Ratchet made sure that he watched his feet so not to step on one. The boy hadn't move since he had been set down. Ratchet felt eyes on his back and turned around to see Barricade staring at him.
"Relax Barricade, I'm moving him to the med-bay."
Barricade's glare didn't lesion. Ratchet huff and grabbed the gurney the boy was on, walking away from Barricade. Ratchet didn't mess the low growl that followed him.
Let's just say that Barricade was fragged off that the medic took Tyrell, even though he had given the boy his word that he would stay with him. He glared at the floor, until a pair of feet appeared in the line of his vision. He looked up into the optics of Optimus Prime. He gave Prime the same glare that he gave Ratchet.
"Barricade, I know that you promised the human that you would stay with him, but with Bumblebee being injured and in the same room, I think I would be best if you stayed away."
Barricade just growled at Prime before returning his optics back to the ground. Though Prime wasn't done talking.
"With all the new humans coming in Ironhide is escorting you to a more secure room." With that Prime turned and walked away. As if that was the que Ironhide marched up a dragged Barricade roughly to his feet.
"One false move 'Con and I'll send you to deal with Megatron."
Barricade marched forward, not even thinking of escape. Where would he escape to? The Decepticon ranks were scattered, even if he hadn't forsaken his fraction he still would be at the wrong end of a gun barrel. He felt Dails under his chest armor, still in deep recharge, he wondered how the little mechling would react after he found out that they had been separated from Tyrell. He wondered how long it would take Autotards to figure out the soldier they were taking care off was Tyrell. No way in the Pit was he going to open his mouth. It was their fault he was nearly offlined in the first place. If they had protected Sam better, then Tyrell wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself.
Again Barricade wondered why he had saved the boy, he could have easily walked away, enjoying his freedom. But no his spark had him feeling things that he had thought he buried a long time ago. Before Mission City he could kill and not think twice about it anymore. But ever since he had landed on Earth he found himself acting more like himself before he had received his insignia. He remembered the youngling inside of him that wanted to do good and help end the war. He could even remember a time when he played with a certain yellow scout. His reminiscing was cut short when Ironhide shoved him through a doorway into an empty room.
"I'm right outside this door" Ironhide warned before closing the door behind him. Barricade sighed, twisting his hands in the cuffs around his wrists before settling down against a wall, allowing his head to rest against it and dropping off into recharge.
Lennox looked at the couple in front of him. It was hard to believe that these where Tyrell's parents. Ty's father was of normal height, slightly overweight, and balding black hair. His mother was a tall women, thin, with light brown hair and commanding eyes. Those eyes seemed to drill into him. The moment he was dreading was upon him. He was thankful that someone had already informed them about the Autobots, it made what he was about to tell them easier on him.
"Mr. & Mrs. Witwicky, my name in Captain William Lennox…"
"Wait a minute," demanded Mrs. Witwicky. "You're the man my son always wrote about, said that you were the father of his squad."
Lennox was taken aback from her words but pushed forward. "Yes, I am the leader of the squad Tyrell was in."
This time Mr. Witwicky interrupted him. "That means you were in Qatar with him, how did you survive and Tyrell didn't" Lennox could hear the bottled in angry and grief.
"Mr. Witwicky, Tyrell did escape the attack at Qatar. He managed to come home safely…" Lennox told the Witwicky's of the battle at Mission City, how Tyrell protected Sam when no others could.
"Tyrell died trying to protect Sam from Megatron. It was because of him Optimus reached Sam in time, allowed him to defeat Megatron. Your son is a hero, he saved thousands of lives." Lennox spared the Witwickys the detail of how Megatron got rid of Tyrell. Mrs. Witwicky was crying, shaking. Mr. Witwicky was trying to comfort her.
"Thank-you Capt. Lennox for telling us the truth. Do you know where Sam is?" asked Mrs. Witwicky.
"Here I am Mom," said Sam approaching the couple. Mrs. Witwicky launched herself at Sam, grabbing him in a hug. Sam broke down again and began to cry on her shoulder, Mr. Witwicky came up and joined the two.
"Shh Sam, its alright" soothed Mrs. Witwicky. "Its not your fault honey."
"Yes it is m-m-mom."
Mrs. Witwicky didn't say anything else, she just kept hugging Sam slightly rocking him back and forth.
Lennox walked away from the trio, giving them the privacy they deserved. He walked to the form of Optimus in his semi mode. The room was quickly emptying of people.
"Hey Optimus, why don't we give the Witwickys some privacy for a few moments."
"Alright Capt. Lennox" he opened his door, Will climbed in and Optimus drove out of the room.
Lennox sighed, leaning his head back against the seats. He wished that all this hadn't happened, that he could be home with his wife and daughter now. He was thankful that he would at least get to see them in the future.
"Is something wrong Capt. Lennox."
"No Optimus, I just want to go home and see my wife and daughter and please call me Will, or just Lennox."
"Alright Will, you probably will see your family soon."
"Thanks Optimus."
Ratchet had finished all the repairs needed on Jazz and Bumblebee, both were now in recharge. Ratchet turned to his human patient. Over the past few hours he had regained consciousness for a few moments before slipping back in unconsciousness. It was never enough time for Ratchet to find out who he was.
Ratchet just kept looking down at the young man, when something on one of his hands caught his attention. He carefully opened the half closed hand to stare at the glyph that was printed on his hand.
It was a kill on sight glyph, how on earth did this man get that. From the looks of it it was a couple of days old, the only people that Ratchet knew of that had been in contact with 'Cons was Lennox's squad.
:Optimus could you bring Lennox and Epps down to the med-bay. I think this young man is part of there squad:
There was a pause before Optimus answered. :I'm on my way Ratchet:
Epps was walking down the hallway when he heard the semi behind him. He turned around as the semi reached him, surprised to see Lennox in the front seat.
"Wats going on man?" questioned Epps.
"Don't know Epps, Optimus says that Ratchet wants us in the med-bay says that he thinks he has one of our squad in there."
Epps wasted no time climbing into Optimus. Optimus sped rest of the way to the med-bay. Lennox and Epps were anxious to find out if this was one of their buddies. As soon as Optimus stopped they both jumped out giving Optimus room to transform.
Ratchet appeared in front of them. "Thank-you for coming so fast, I hope you can help identify this man."
"What makes you think he's one of our men?" asked Lennox as he followed the medic into the room.
"While checking up on him, I noticed a glyph on his hand. Now this glyph was put on him by a Decepticon a few days ago. The only people I know of that has had contact with Decepticons in the last few days would be your squad."
"How would one get this glyph?" asked Epps.
"You would have had to touch a Decepticon that was still online and knew what was going on."
"But none of my squad touched a Decepticon except to strap down the piece of tail we salvaged from that scorpion one" commented Lennox, as they approached the table the man was on. Ratchet offered his hand to lift both of them up onto the table.
Lennox and Epps slowly approached the man. They could immediately see that he was still in bad shape. Lennox reached the young man first, staring into the face, Epps right behind him.
"No way," whispered Lennox backing up a few steps.
"It can't be" said Epps backing up with Lennox.
Both of the Autobot were confused at the soldiers actions.
"I take it that you know who he is?" said Ratchet.
Lennox swallowed hard before answered. "Yes, its Tyrell."
Well hoped you liked this chapter, I'll try to update soon. Thank-you for taking the time to read it. Please review! I saw TF3 a few weeks ago in 3D and it was amazing, I was one of those dorks that pretended to dodge pieces of flying glass much to my sister's annoyance. It was stupid to do but it was funny.
P.S did anyone else see Barricade in DoTM. I swear I saw him next to Shockwave when the human were attacking him. It was defiantly a police car, and it looked just like him. I guess it could have been one of the new Decepticons that scanned those police cars in Washington, but I swear it was him. Well I was just wondering.