Disclaimer: Nothing has changed. I still don't own them.
A/N: Set after Sam finds about Mikaela repairing Bonecrusher. It's more serious than what I think the series has ever been, but it's set before all the funny crack starts happening.
One Chance to the Devil for the Sake of the Angels
"So you used the knowledge we gave to repair him?" - He asked. In that tone of voice that said he was disappointed in her.
"Can you honestly tell me that I would've done good by letting him die?" – She replied. Trying as hard as she could to not let her voice betray her emotions. She wasn't here for herself. She was here for Bonecrusher.
"You should have called us, Mikaela. We would have taken care of the situation." – He said and she noticed he avoided answering her question. Her blood ran cold at what that meant.
"You would've let him die?" – She asked, half horrified although she knew she shouldn't be. Her uncle had been a 'crazy' veteran whose stories had given her nightmares back when she was little.
"I cannot answer that question Mikaela for I do not have all the facts to arrive to a satisfactory way of action from my part. I can only tell you this. No Autobot enjoy the senseless killing of our brethren. Death is no part of the Autobot cause." – His voice was calm as he tried to calm her down. She couldn't do that, no matter how soothing his voice was. His words were not really calming her down.
"Like hell it isn't! Or did I imagined the death of the tank and the helicopter? Should I head out and tell Jazz that we had a collective hallucination about him being ripped in two? Don't tell me death has no part in what you believe in when I've already watched you kill each other for it." – She almost screamed at him. She watched him shift, and she could've sworn she was making him uncomfortable. Well, good for him. He deserved it.
"They are not truly dead." – He told her softly with a hint of guilt. – "Ratchet made sure they wouldn't die before they were contained in the Laurentian Abyss. They just had their motor functions and weapons disabled"
"Oh my God! You… you threw them there alive?" – She exclaimed trying to imagine what would happen to her if she was left in a dark and cold room without the ability to move. She would go insane, that's what she would do.
"Is something wrong?" – He asked, taking her away from her thoughts.
"Wrong? Oh, no. Nothing wrong here. I just learned that the guys I thought were dead are not really dead but rotting away paralyzed in the cold waters of some trench. I'm peachy." – She declared, hoping he would get her sarcasm. By the way he sighed and rubbed his forehead she guessed he got her sarcasm loud and clear.
"Mikaela. I understand this must be very difficult for you to understand. I could not give the order to kill them. Not if they could be saved. As I said earlier, death is not a part of the Autobot way. But, what was I supposed to do with them? Let them go to do as they pleased? They are Decepticons, Mikaela. They do not care for this planet or its inhabitants. We let them go and they will destroy it without a second thought. They had to be detained."
She looked at him. Really look at him Beyond the soothing voice and intimidating yet comforting presence. Beyond that sense of safety he seemed to exude unconsciously. She could see his discomfort… His dislike for what they'd done. Yet, she knew he didn't regret doing it. He was a soldier after all… No. He was their commander after all. Somehow she got the distinct impression that throwing a couple of Decepticons in a trench was not one of the most difficult decisions he ever had to make.
"Fine. I get it. Decepticons are bad and will not hesitate to kill us all." – She started, flicking a hair out of her face and looking up at him. – "But this is not my war and I could not watch him die. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it.
There was a silence as the two stared at each other. Mikaela was not surprised that it was her that looked away first. – "At least… At least give him a chance."
"A chance is all he needs to kill you, Mikaela." – He told her and she closed her eyes. She knew that. Every day she was reminded of it.
"I know that, but…" – She looked back up at him. – "I took that chance when I decided to fix him up."
"Let's hope, for your sake, that he continues his good behavior." – And she smiled at him while laughing inwardly at the words 'good behavior' been used while talking about Bonecrusher as she left the room feeling quite proud of herself. Sure she was still the human traitor that fixed Decepticons, but she would not see her Bonecrusher destroyed or thrown in with the rest of his buddies to the bottom of the sea. Not when she spent so many time putting him back together. Besides, she was already used to his presence around the house.
Optimus watched her go silently. She was still so young. He truly hoped that Bonecrusher didn't destroy the innocence she still carried. And maybe… just maybe… He wanted to believe that the Decepticons could change. That maybe... just maybe... They could all learn to live in harmony again. Because maybe… just maybe… He was tired of giving the orders to either kill or imprison them forever.