Enjoy~
We wandered through the city until day break, when a white car pulled up next to us. A few NEST agents stepped out and ushered us into the car. The ride there was silent, not a single person coughed, sneezed, or uttered a word to anyone. Once we arrived at some hangar, a plane parked on one end, computers and rows of workers on the other. The sun had risen for quite some time, the blue sky was an enormous contrast to what Sam and I were feeling inside. Once we pulled up closer to the hangar the N.E.S.T agents helped us out of the car and led us towards the one person we'd hope to avoid Mearing.
"We'll debrief the two of you in transit got it?" Mearing ordered as she glided farther into the hangar.
I frowned as Sam and I followed her around, Sam's watch going crazy around all of the technology.
"Mearing if I may, what on earth gives you the right to order us around? Weren't you the one who claimed that, 'we don't entrust the security of our nation to teenagers'?" I sneered.
Mearing let out a sharp exhale, snapping her folder shut, and turning to look at us.
"Look, you don't understand the amount of pressure I am under twenty-four seven because of this job. If you were in my position, would you trust a group of young teenagers that waltzed up out of the blue? No, I didn't think so. With that said, I have come to understand that I have underestimated both of you at every turn possible."
Sam and I's eyes bolted open, our posture straightened in shock – did she say what I think she –
"What?" Sam stared blankly back at her.
"You both warned us that they were using humans –" My heart dropped at the mention, and I tried to look as casual as possible, " – And you knew Sentinel was the key –"
"Director!" Someone called, interrupting our conversation.
We hurried to where he called,
"Oh, hey who are we ya know?" Sam nervously laughed.
"Y-yeah I mean we're just a couple of walking security ri—"
Numbing pain shot up my arm, halting my speech; so it's connected to my nervous system, forgot about that. I tensed in pain until it finally edged off. When my eyes focused I saw Sam on the other side of the rows of computers, mumbling something to one of the workers. As I approached him I heard the tail ends of their conversation,
"Get away from me." The worker glared, scooting his chair away from Sam.
Brow raised, I pulled Sam over to Mearing not bothering to ask what happened.
"Are you two alright – you seem off?" Mearing asked, suspiciously looking back and forth between us.
Sam's whole body tensed as he fought against the 'Con watch, I elbowed him roughly before smiling at Mearing.
"Yeah, we're fine."
"No, no you're not you're sweating!" Mearing pointed out.
Looking over at Sam, I could see the beads of sweat dripping down his forehead - what did he have to be such a moist guy?
"I'm fine I promise," Sam attempted to console Mearing, "I-I'm just a Twitter junkie ya know? I blog everything I see, and now I'm nervous because you've got me in here with loads of information at my finger tips –"
Mearing gasped, "Oh you wouldn't!"
"Director the pentagon is calling on line 15!" Her assistant called, causing Mearing to halt and turn to her.
Once she finished with the phone she twisted back to us – her face solemn and stressed.
"Come on, they're about to announce their decision."
Sam and I looked to each other in confusion, "What decision?"
"Walk with me," Mearing said, and we started towards the only door that led from the hangar, "The Decepticons announced that the only way they'd leave earth alone was for us to exile the Autobots, I unfortunately have no say in the decision so we're going to have to wait and see what Congress decides. I can only hope it's the right decision."
"What?!" I gasped, my hand slapped itself against my chest in an attempt to keep me from attacking Mearing.
She nodded, "Those were their conditions."
"T-They can't do that! If we send the Autobots away t-then we'll just be putting our entire planet at risk! This is a mistake! I – "
Sam placed a gentle hand upon my shoulder, a soft solemn smile on his lips.
"They haven't made a decision yet – let's wait and see what they're going to say."
As we entered a room plastered from wall to wall with television screens, all monitoring different events, one wall turned to CNN news.
"Just moments ago, Congress passed legislation that officially denounced our Alliance with the Autobots. Exiling the Autobots from American shores.
No.
~*~ Megatron ~*~
"Doctor, is everything ready to under go?" The silver behemoth glowered down at the barely two feet tall Decepticon.
The little Doctor jittered and jumped as he paced around, looking at some foreign technology. After a few moments, the Doctor cried out and began to hop up and down.
"It's ready! The body is finished, we're only missing the last two ingredients to make this body complete!" The Doctor cackled.
"Excellent," Megatron chuckled, itching the sore spot on his head. "And I know just how to get it here, and crush Prime all in one breath. Does she still have your technology on her wrist Doctor?"
"What kind of question is this? Of course she does, it will not release until I say so." The doctor proudly announced.
"Beautiful, I will begin plans to extract immediately." Megatron turned, and stomped out of the pitch black room, his heavy feet thundering with each step.
Once outside he transformed into his gigantic human helicopter, and shuttered away towards the Autobots. Prime, on this day you will fall.
~*~ Delyia ~*~
"What?" Sam gawked at the screen, re-reading the feed below in disbelief.
"T-they can't do that!" I wailed, covering my mouth to try to stop the relentless sobs.
Mearing's phone rang, she answered it as she ignored our protests.
"Please you can't –"
"Okay!" Mearing yelled, hanging up the phone, "It's official! It's go time people!"
"Mearing!" Sam yelled, catching her attention, "What are you doing? We can't exile them, we have an alliance with them – they're our friends!"
"Your friends, Samuel. And look where we are now, facing an enemy invasion who has the means to send countless more."
"Please no, please –" I cried from behind my hands, Sam wrapped his arms around me in an attempt to comfort me.
Nothing to satiate the storm of misery rumbling inside, Why did God hate me so? Why is this happening now? Of all times, why? I repeated these questions over and over in my mind as Sam led me to the plane, taking us to the end of the era of Autobot protection.
The end of everything.
I sat in the seat on the plane, senseless to the commotion going on around me. It was is a curtain had been drawn about me, keeping me from fully hearing or communicating with those around. Optimus has always found a way out of situations like this, I tried to create some solace in my gnawing heart. He'll figure something out, he'll stop the Decepticons, and free us all from their hold.
~*~Optimus ~*~
"Guys, I'm so sorry." Lennox had never seemed to exhausted to Optimus before.
The human he had worked so closely with made sure to go around and pat each of the Autobots, giving his condolences and making it known he did not want this.
With a heavy spark, Optimus sighed and thought back to his confrontation with Sentinel just last night.
"Sentinel! Why Sentinel!?" Optimus cried out, pinned underneath his former teacher's sword.
"You do not understand, without the Deceptions our race will perish. That is the goal of each sentient being, to ensure the survival of their race no matter the cost. We are not meant to hybrid with the species of this planet Optimus. The sooner you realize this, detach yourself from that pathetic human girl, and join me – the happier you will become." Sentinel removed his sword and began to walk away.
"Sentinel, how can you believe those words? After all you taught me, all you've seen! How can you do something like this?" Optimus didn't understand, Sentinel was a Prime.
"Someday soon you may understand young one," Sentinel half turned, looking back at his former student, "Maybe not within the next few vorns but soon. You will see that we cannot trust anyone but our race – not even that pet you have now. They will all turn on us, and all we will have left is ourselves."
Sentinel did not utter another word, but left Optimus in the dark of night, alone and rearing from the words he spoke.
Snapping out of his daze, he noticed all the Autobots lining up, ready and waiting to be transported to wherever they were going.
"Optimus," The thirty-two foot Autobot looked down to Lennox once more, "I am sorry, I can't imagine what this is going to do to you and Delyia. But, I can promise I will do everything I can to keep her safe. Hopefully they'll rethink this decision but I doubt it." Lennox laid a gentle hand on Optimus's foot, the only place he could reach.
Optimus nodded, "I do not believe your government will rethink their decision without first seeing the true face of the Decepticons. However, I fear that by the time they realize what has happened, it will be too late. But I thank you Lennox, you have been a good friend, and a great ally. I cannot express my thanks enough to you, may you all live the rest of your lives in peace." Optimus nodded, satisfied with his final words.
As he transformed, for the last time, into his Peterbilt truck form, Optimus wondered if he'd see Delyia one more time before he left. It might be better this way, Optimus inwardly sighed to himself, I do not know if I'd have the will to leave then.