Title: Shade of Life ~ Reaching You ~: Chapter 3
Genre: Romance, Drama, Humor, and Action.
Pairings: Optimus x Adelia (Main), _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Main. Will be revealed later on as the story progress.), Barricade x Melanie (Supportive), Sideswipe x Annalisa (Supportive)
Summary: Reaching You is the second part of the Shades of Life trilogy. Sequel to Meeting You, prequel to Holding You, and acts as a main focus of the three. The story involves around Adelia Campbell and her two best friends, Melanie Lee and Annalisa Snow. Their lives were changed forever the night five meteors fell from the sky, and then six giant alien robots showed up on Adelia's neighbor backyard. Somehow, three years later, they found her, claimed she's the All Spark, and told her she's the most important thing for their planet's, and Earth's, survival. She just had to stay away, and alive, from the Decepticons. Easy thing to do, right?
Warnings:
1) This story will be tied in with Dark of the Moon. So SPOILERS ALERT!
2) I'm LugiaTsuyu. I was from Thailand. So English is not my first language. That's why you will probably find a lot of grammar mistakes and not so smooth writing (such as repeated words and so on). And any comments, criticisms, corrections, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
3) I am writing this as I go, so yeah. LOL
4) Also, you will probably find a lot of OOCness because I've never watch the Transformers cartoon before, just the three films, so I will apologize about that in advance. So please bear with me and I hope you will like my story. (Even though I am turning an action-packed franchise into romantic drama one.)
Disclaimers: I do not own Transformers, just my original characters, as it belongs to Hasbro, Marvel, and Paramount.
Credit to: I have to give these authors credits. As they were the ones who inspired me to write this story. First to orphan mia, for her incredible 'Strange Creature/. Then to Elexies, for her awesome 'Gateway of the Mind' story. And last but not least, to Ray of Starlight, for her amazing 'The Ties that Bind' series. I really thank you all for giving me the courage to finally written down my imaginations for others to see.
~o~
~o~
Chapter 3:
Decepticons x Encounter
Autobots x A Talk with the AllSpark
~o~
Elizabeth Howell, twenty-six years old, five feet three inches tall, a natural redhead, with oval-shaped face, dry-lips and dry-skin from lack of proper caring, an all-in-all everyday kind of woman. The only notable thing about her was the expressive, unusual emerald-colored with hints of golden flakes eyes.
She'd ran away from home when she was fifteen and had never look back. At the age of nineteen, Beth went to a gallery show and found her passion, her peace of mind, in nature photography. She had worked her butt off cleaning people's houses—and got fired most of the time because of her clumsiness—before she could afford her first professional camera and pay for her photography classes at a decent college.
Now, an almost-well-known freelance photographer, Beth made enough money and bought a little apartment she liked to call her own 'den' back in the States. It's nothing glamorous, but it provided her with a sense of security, and a sense of relief she had fought hard to feel again since her mother remarried thirteen years ago.
Beth smiled sadly, and focused her camera's lens on a pride of African lions a few meters away. Trying her best to not disturb the magnificent creatures, she captured their wondrous activities; the king of the wild roaring into the open grass field, the females nurturing their youngs, and—her personal favorite—the miraculously innocent cubs playing with one another.
She loved the African wilderness. She had been to most of the countries around here, taking pictures of different types of animals, trees, and the skies. And her first time in Namibia's isolated, wildlife land was currently more than enjoyable.
It was, until she saw an odd looking M915 Line-Haul speeding toward her from the right.
Something warned her that this abnormal vehicle was dangerous, namely the instinctively, frightened roars of the lions and how they quickly moved themselves and their babies away from the scene.
Beth immediately thought, Hunters. And ran to her camouflage-painted Jeep, which she had parked ten feet behind her, and dug out her satellite radio phone from her travel bag to report a possible illegal hunting to the officers nearby.
Her fingers stopped short on the first number she had just punched in when the Line-Haul let out a animalistic growl. The last thing Beth expected to happen was exactly what happened. The vehicle just...transformed, becoming a thirty-feet enormous—extremely scary—robot. Half of its metallic head covered by a sand-dirtied cloak, it was staring at her with those sparkling, sinister, crimson optics.
Overcame by fear, Beth stood where she was, frozen, only to land rigidly on her behind when the giant closed in on her.
The corner of its...lips...curved into a cruel smirk. "Well, well, well. Have you lost your way, fleshling?" It spoke with a male, ominous voice. So, despite her terror, Beth assumed 'it' was more like a 'he'.
"Please." She whispered, but had no idea what she was begging him for.
The cruelty in his grin turned sadistic. "Very well."
Beth saw it before he even move. Her death.
In that moment, instead of a devastating horror, she found peace. She, deep down in her mind since that night thirteen years ago, had wanted to end her life countless times, but was too much of a coward and afraid to have done it herself before. It was her darkest, most valuable secret.
She slowly closed her eyes, and felt an unnatural-caused wind blowing, coming at her.
She was finally going to be free...
Then...oblivion.
~o~
That stupid female insect fainted, Megatron smirked.
Oh, he had meant very much to blow her head off. But what he saw sparked his rare interest, his curiosity. The human woman feared him, he knew. Who didn't? He was Megatron, the ruler and destroyer of the Universe. But the instant he pointed his gun at her, charging its power to maximum strength before he fire her useless existence into nothing, fear was no longer tainting her eyes, only acceptance and...disturbing elation.
So instead, he aimed his gun at the fleeing lions behind her, and blasted the male into pieces, half imagining Starscream in its place.
But the fleshling had fainted in the process.
Might as well, Megatron thought, putting his weapon away and walked toward the woman's body on the dirt ground. He paused for a second, then bent down to pick her small form between his sharp fingers, scratching her side a little.
This human female might proved to be an interesting pet.
~o~
~o~
"Is she going to be all right?" Optimus inquired worriedly. His gaze had never left her since the moment she'd collapsed and he gently placed her fragile figure on a military emergency bed. It was times like these that he silently wished he'd had some prior medical knowledge himself.
The medic 'bot knew exactly what he needed to do and immediately scanned the girl, expecting for any signs of illness or injury, but what he found had stunned him more than anything."Primus. I've never seen anything like this before in my millennia long existence." Ratchet said with awe, although there was a hint of wariness. His optics were bright while he re-scanned Adelia's body for the second time, and third, and fourth.
Always the impatience one, Dino pressed, "What is it?"
"The girl...something wrong...with her?" Bumblebee spoke through three radio stations. He stood behind the blonde, who's clinging onto Adelia's hand tightly...and was oddly quiet.
"I do not know if this can be defined as something is wrong with the girl. But," Ratchet lifted his optics from Adelia and looked over his shoulder at Optimus, "she's no longer entirely human."
"WHAT?" All the humans shouted, while the extraterrestrial beings were speechless.
"Can you explain, Ratchet?" The Autobot leader demanded softly, but with such gravity in his tone.
"Forty-eight point nine one three zero percent of her bones are no longer only consisted of calcium." The medic paused to organize his words carefully. "They are also containing carbon, lithium, chromium, manganese, and many more of what you humans called elements." He saw question marks on some of the soldiers' faces and sighed. "In other words, it means almost half of her bones are now-"
"Metal." Squeezing her best friend's hand even harder, Annalisa finished the sentence for him.
Ratchet eyed the blonde with surprise, "Yes," before he continued, "The process is slowing down...for now. But I suspect that by the end of earth month all of her bones will become metal"
"Why didn't you tell us about this before?" Sideswipe asked from a far end of the hangar, where he was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"Because it was not there three hours ago!" Ratchet threw his hands in the air, a gesture indicating he was starting to feel stressed. "The AllSpark inside of her must have been...hibernating all this time. Until something triggered it sixteen minutes ago."
Most of them focused their eyes and optics on the blonde, who had arrived twenty minutes before this incident occurred. Optimus was the only one whose attention remained unwavering from the brunette.
Sensing people's eyes on her, Annalisa screeched, "You think it's my fault?"
"Who else could it be? The brat was fine until you showed up." Ironhide replied.
Annalisa wanted to scream her lungs out. How dare they blamed her for what happened to Dee? She would never hurt her friends. Ever. All she had done for Mel and Dee was always for their own goods. "Fine? She was fine, you say? I'm not blind. You think I didn't notice that her arm was bandaged?" Her glare moved from one Autobot to another, and lastly landed on Optimus. "I hate you all! You stupid alien pieces of crap!"
"YOU LITTLE!" Ironhide roared, his arm transformed into a massive cannon. Dino and Sideswipe also had their weapons out—ready to support or to stop the black Autobot? No one knew but themselves.
"Enough!" It was no higher than Optimus's usual volume, and definitely less ears-piercing than the blonde's yells, but the authoritative tone in his voice made all of them stopped whatever they intended to do and turned their attention to the Autobot Leader instead.
"The most important priority right now is Dee's well being. If you want to argue, I suggest you do it elsewhere" He gave Ironhide a scolding look, but spoke to all of them. "Autobots, I have told you many times you are not to intentionally harm humans, do you understand?"
When they nodded their metallic heads, Optimus reverted his optics back to Adelia. "Is there anything we can do for her, Ratchet?"
"No." Deciding whether or not to inform his leader while the audio-receptor-crasher girl was still present, Ratchet figured he had rather deal with the blonde than Optimus's wrath—not that the large Autobot was easily angered. "And, Optimus, her organs are not functioning the way it supposed to. It's not harming her," he hurriedly clarified before any of them could say anything, "but I am not sure how this will affect her living habits. There is not a single change in her flesh, more than sixty percent of her body is still comprised with water. However, until she wakes up, we will never know what else has changed." And perhaps, even if the girl became conscious, they would never know the how and the why, either.
The only way they would be able to find the answers was if the AllSpark could communicate.
Even as his own thought, Ratchet had to shake his head at how ridiculous it sounded. The AllSpark? Conversing with them? There was never a possibility about it being alive, despite its energy and powers to create lives on Cybertron.
Just in case, perhaps he should examined his own main frame, too—making sure that he was still functioning properly.
~o~
~o~
Adelia felt herself floating. It was as if she's in space, where there's no gravity to restrain her to the ground. She wanted to open her eyes, but was afraid she might be all alone in a murky, unfamiliar place.
Is she dead?
She hoped not. She just got to finally spend time with Optimus. There's no way in Hell—if she wasn't already in one—she was going to let that opportunity slipped by.
She kind of distinctively remembered getting furious at Anna for 'stalking' her. Then, before everything went dark, she heard Optimus's voice. He had called out her nickname with...concern? Fear? Maybe a little bit of both. And despite a small guilt in her gut, she couldn't help but feel delighted that he cared for her.
"Open your eyes, young one." A soft, female voice registered in her head. It was a language unknown to her, but Adelia could understand it like it was spoken in English.
Whoa...freaky much? Maybe she was dead.
"You are not offline, young one. I merely wanted to speak with you."
Offline? Ooh, she got it now. The (friggin') AllSpa...
"My dear Ironhide was right, you are quite a clever one" A little chuckle.
Not only was it...she...talking to her, it...she...could read her mind.
"Your mind is also mine. It was definite that I should know what you are thinking. I am, after all, inside of you."
Am I going to, um, see something really pretty or something really creepy when I open my eyes? Adelia thought.
Another low laugh. "How can you see me when I am you? But to answer your rather humorous question, it is neither beautiful or terrifying, young one, but an empty dimension which had never been visited until this moment."
Adelia immediately lifted her eyelids. And the all spark was right, there was nothing in front of her, only the infinite white. She could barely see herself!
"You are right, it's not creepy or pretty. It's both!" She said out loud in English.
"You are an honest one, are you not?" Said with amusement.
"I try to be as much as possible." Adelia replied with a shrug. "So why am I in this super-white dimension?"
"I need to discuss things with you, young one"
"Okay, let's hear it." Adelia, still felt like she's floating, crossed her legs together.
"This will be my first, and my last, visitation to you." The voice held more seriousness now. "I may not be able to answer all of your questions, but I will try not to keep many things from you. You are, after all, my descendent "
"I'm your WHAT?"
A quiet chuckle. "Not literally, my young one, figuratively. In terms of power, the AllSpark power."
"Oh, whew. I was about to ask 'if I'm related to you, then how come I'm only five feet seven and not twenty-something feet.' Guess this makes more sense." She wiped an imaginary sweat off her brow.
A full feminine laughter echoed throughout. "I have chosen the right one. I am glad you are by my dear Optimus's side. He has always been one of my two favorite sons."
"Oh, right! You created—I don't like that word, let me rephrase it—you gave them their lives. I think I should thank you for, you know, giving me the chance to meet Optimus, too."
"You are very welcome, young one. I see that you fancy him?"
"Um, I don't know if my feelings for him are that strong yet, but I do have a major, Jupiter-size crush on him." She laughed, flushed a little. Then a question popped in her head. "You said two favorite sons, who's the other one?"
If the girl could see the AllSpark, and if it...she...had a human form, Adelia would have seen a sad smile on her lips. "It was, is, Megatron."
Mega-
"Wait, isn't he the bad guy? He wanted—and I think he still does—to use you to control the universe."
"You see, young one. That is why he trouble me so. He was once as kind as dear Optimus." At Adelia's disbelief gasp, she continued. "When they ruled Cybertron together, he was firm while Optimus was fair. But it is without question that both were just"
When the AllSpark spoke next, there was so much hatred in her soft voice. "But it was not long before Megatron came upon the Fallen, a dark, twisted being. Of all my children, I had most always feared him and Sentinel. The Fallen polluted Megatron's spark with a darkness called greed, and my dear child was never the same since."
"Whoa," was all Adelia could say. She hadn't hear about this from Sam or Optimus. So note to self: Don't forget to ask Optimus more about histories of Cybertron—but mostly about his past.
Able to read Adelia's mind, the AllSpark said, "It is unfortunate that knowledge cannot be transfer from one vessel to another. The Cube was there through all of Cybertron's existence. Since its birth to its glory and...its destruction. But from here now on, whichever directions my children and Cybertron are heading, it will be in your memories."
Something in that last sentence tickled Adelia's brain. "Err, you don't mean that I'll...live, um, as long as you and your old vessel, right?"
Adelia was absolutely, completely thunderstruck by the AllSpark's silent answer.
Quadruple the effect on the "Whoa."
"Please understand the reason I passed such a heavy burden onto you. In my former vessel, I was merely the Cube. I did not have the ability to communicate or defy any Cybertronian from using me for their own deceitful desires. But you are not entirely the same as me. You are also human, you have a mind of your own, you can choose."
"That's the problem! How do you know I'm not going to use this power you gave me to do evil things?" Adelia asked desperately, finally gotten over her shock—she figured millions of years with Optimus wasn't going to be bad at all, and it's a lot more awesome to spend forever with giant alien robots than vegetarian vampires. But people changed. She didn't care much for power now, but who knew what she would think in the future.
Affection filled the AllSpark's kind voice. "Just that you asked this question is enough for me to know you are not going to use it for your own gain. At least, not something malicious"
"You should know that I'm the most selfish person in the universe" Adelia was half-teasing, half- serious.
"That is best, young one. If you are too kind, like my dear Optimus, you would weary yourself out day after day." The AllSpark's concern for the Autobot leader was obvious.
"Don't worry, Ms. AllSpark. I'll make sure that Optimus has lots and lots of relaxing time from now on." Not only was it a promise to the AllSpark, but it was to herself also.
"Now, if only Megatron also has someone to humble him from his never-ending greed for power, I will be able to rest my long-troubled spark in peace." A signed escaped the AllSpark.
Adelia gave the AllSpark a few seconds to dwindle her concerns for Megatron before she said, "Can I ask you something?"
"Yes, young one."
Adelia grabbed her chin between her thumb and index finger. "You can give life, right? And then what else can you do?"
The AllSpark was more than pleased that the girl did not refer the powers she now possessed as hers, but rather still that of its former owner. "You can heal them. But, as you are still partly human, there are boundaries not to be crossed. Do not force your body to do things it cannot uphold, do you understand?"
"Okay...but...ah...three questions...for now. First, what do you mean 'still partly human'? Two, how do I use your powers then? And three, what else can you do?"
A soft chuckle again ringed in the air—if there was air in this dimension. "You also have the abilities to shield and reflect any harms falling upon you. To use the powers, it is only a matter of will. You may need some time to practice, but it is nothing convoluted. And I assumed you know the answer to your first question"
Okay, she got her there. Adelia teeny, tiny, kinda had an idea that she couldn't be 'just' human anymore if there's so much power inside of her body. But she was fine until Anna got her mad and...Wait. Now she's confused.
"Don't be, young one." Her tone now was grim. "I have to admit, It was never my intention to reside all the powers into you if I had another option. But five months ago in your human time, the last two pieces of my former self were used and destroyed. And you were my last resort"
"Oh, no wonder I got really sick five months ago when I'm usually healthy as a horse." Adelia said simply.
"My apologies, young one."
"God! Not you, too!" Adelia cried out, she palm-slapped her cheeks softly and slowly dragged her hands down her chin. "You Cybertronians people apologize waaaaay too much."
A laugh. "They are my children after all."
"So it all started from you?" Adelia sighed, shaking her head.
Then suddenly the AllSpark got serious. "I was still half-asleep, recovering, until you came into close contact with my dear ones. Then I knew it was time for me to awaken. However, it took me longer than I had hope."
"Eight hours and thirty-three minutes, to be precise." Adelia grinned. "And you managed to save Anna's life, too. I would have knocked her out and send her to an island where there's no electricity or cell phone signal. She would kill herself before three hours is up." And so would Adelia. But she might last a bit longer, maybe a week.
They both laughed in harmony.
A full minute had passed before Adelia tilted her head and spoke. "But, seriously, this is my last question. Why me?"
The AllSpark's voice was so kind Adelia felt her eyes stung. "Many reasons, young one. But you were within your mother when I first met you. Your tiny, human sparkbeats soothed me like nothing had ever did in a long time." She paused. "And I knew the day would come when my children would find and destroy me." Optimus was always the noble one, willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of others. However, "I did not want to fade away. Before your mother left to give you life on earth, I slowly relocated bits and bits of myself into you."
So her parents did work at Sector Seven. Adelia didn't know how to respond to that, as they had kept this a secret from her even in their last moments. But she soon realized there was no need to over-complicate things. They only did what they thought was best for their only daughter. She should be thankful for what they did for her all those seventeen years, they made sure she was well-loved and happy and had protected her with their lives.
"Thanks for telling me all this, Ms. AllSpark." Adelia whispered with a soft smile on her lips.
"Remember, young one." The voice seemed to be further and further away. "You are our only hope."
With that, Adelia felt herself falling and falling again.
Then...she slowly blinked her eyes open.
And what she saw brought a frown upon her face.
~o~
~o~
Author's Note: Okay! Here's Chapter 3! First things first, I know I probably have LOTS of grammar mistakes in this Chapter! (And I blame the way the AllSpark talks as much as my inability to improve.) But I hope you all will still continue to read Reaching You.
And how's this Chapter? Confusing? (I kinda am, too when I was writing it.) Because there are so many questions in need to be answered, so I kinda threw this job at the AllSpark, LOL. If it's too hard to understand or seemed out of place or just...dumb, I'll try to rewrite it in the future!
And here you have Megatron! I hope he's not too out of character!
Anyone want to kill Anna yet?
To kellviolinthebest: I'm sorry I couldn't squeeze in a Sideswipe x Anna scene. It will definitely be in the next Chapter!
Until Chapter 4! See you!