Knight in Borrowed Armor 4
A Transformers Prime Fanfiction
"What in the name of the Allspark is going on," Ratchet demanded harshly. The medibot snatched June up and began to gently examine her. Optimus laid a warning hand on Nitor's shoulder.
"I'm not certain," June said as she blinked back to reality.
"You!" Ratchet demanded, glaring at the warrior. "What was that?"
The battered form opened his mouth as if to speak, only to be cut off by an alarm.
"Fowler," Ratchet muttered.
"Doctor, I'm fine," June said. "You can put me down now."
"Are you certain?" the Autobot asked.
"I'm sure," she reassured him. Some instinct kept her from elaborating on the sudden connection she felt with the new mech.
The elevator began to rattle its way downward. Fowler stepped through the doors and glanced searchingly around the base. He drew in his breath sharply.
"Prime?" he asked hesitantly, staring at the battered form of the mech he had known as Cliffjumper.
"Agent Fowler," the leader of the Autobots spoke reassuringly. "We require your assistance. This is…"
"Nitor," The mech spoke up. "My name is Nitor."
"Wait just a minute here," Ratchet demanded. "Not five minutes ago you were saying you had no name."
"Five minutes ago I did not," he explained calmly, not taking his eyes off June. "Now I have a name and a Lady again."
The medic deliberately moved to position himself between the woman and the stranger. There was danger in his voice when he spoke.
"And what exactly do you mean when you say you have a lady?"
Nitor was about to respond when Special Agent Fowler roared out, "Would somebot please explain to me what's going on?"
"You are the representative of the eagle?" The strange mech asked.
"What are you talking about?" Fowler demanded.
"Special Agent Fowler, this warrior has requested permission to contact your government," Optimus explained.
Fowler stood and listened to the Autobots explain what had happened. His scowl deepened with every passing moment. When they were finished he leaned against the railing, head down thinking hard.
"I have no idea who you would need to speak to," he said finally, "but I might know someone who does. Prime, I'll need access to a secure line."
The Autobot leader nodded and indicated one of the rooms off the main silo.
"The UK huh?" Fowler muttered, to himself as he strode up to the consol "so help me if leprechauns start showing up I'm retiring!"
He activated the computer up link and typed out a number by memory. The lines buzzed busily for a few moments until a middle-aged Caucasian male appeared scowling in the screen. Fowler glared back at him. It wasn't that the two men didn't like each other, but the nature of their respective jobs meant they only contacted each other when something was very, very wrong.
"What is it?" Johnson demanded. "I'm busy here."
"I think I have a situation here that's up your ally," Fowler replied. "You ever heard of a knight with no name?"
Johnson stiffened. His hand snapped out and the signal cut out for a moment. Just long enough to snap orders to someone off screen and switch to a more secure line Fowler mused. The screen flared back to life.
"Where is he?" Johnson demanded.
Fowler was far too experienced and professional to be offended by the brusqueness of the FBI agent's tone. It did however worry him. Something BIG was at stake here.
"He's safe at their base of operations," he responded.
Johnson visibly paled. He muttered something that made Fowler raise his eyebrows.
"One; you gotta be over reacting. From what I can see he's getting along fine with the bots. Not at all like that crazy one last time. They are warming up to him pretty fast as well. Two; Mammaw would wash your mouth out with lye soap if she heard you talking like that."
The FBI agent let out a sigh and shook his head.
"It's not like last time eagle. Your right, there's no reason to suspect their relationship would be anything but cordial. There are other dangers though. Listen the base is shielded right?"
"The best shielding on the planet," Fowler responded.
"Good, a transport will be arriving within the hour. There will be two people in addition to the pilot on board. They will have proper clearance to interact with your friends. They will explain everything that needs to be explained. Special recognition code?"
"Dam," Fowler responded.
"Understood," the fed on the other end paused and let out a long sigh. "Hey eagle?"
"What penguin?"
"I want to apologize in advance for all the trouble this is going to cause you. I can tell you now you won't be able to tell your friends everything. I just hope your relationship is strong enough to handle it."
Fowler stiffened. He could already hear the gag order coming. But he only sighed in return and smiled grimly at the screen.
"Thanks, I guess it helps that the big guy has a forgiveness bone that would make MLK Jr. proud."
Johnson looked at him a bit enviously before nodding and killing the transmission. Fowler stretched and walked back out into the silo.
!
Arcee had left a clear trail in the sand outside the base. Jack ran his eyes over several crisscrossed trails. The Nevada desert preserved such things for a long time. He made a mental note to get out here with rakes and brooms again. Erasing the tracks would leave clear signs that something had happened here, but at least no casual hiker would be able to tell what had been hidden. He followed the newest track to an overhang in the side of the butte. She was sitting on a boulder staring blankly off into the distance. Jack felt a shiver run down his spine when he saw the look in her optics. They were empty.
He walked over and climbed up beside her on the rusty orange rock. His mind was whirling with thing to say; empty platitudes and sincere speeches. With a herculean effort he kept his mouth shut. If there was one thing his experience with the bots had taught him it was the value of silent companionship when a friend was suffering, and Arcee was in pain. They sat in silence, the time gnawing away at the human, his eager young mind darting from one idea to the next. Patience was a hard won virtue.
Finally Arcee let out a long sorrowful sound; something like metal twisted by a gale in the middle of a dark night. She began to murmur in Cybertronian. Jack listened closely wishing he understood more. She was describing Cliffjumper, when she'd first met him. The human caught the words for pride, stupidity, and fast among others. Arcee let out another moan and looked at her partner for the first time. She gave a weak smile.
"I'm sorry Jack," the fem bot whispered. "Going on like this."
"It's fine Arcee," Jack replied, "Speak as much as you need to."
The Autobot let out a weak laugh and let her head drop. Jack stood up on the rock, wrapped his arms around her neck and laid his head on her chest plates. It was a stretch for him even slumped as she was. Arcee gently rested her head on his and carefully wrapped one arm around the human. They stayed that way for awhile, until the Cybertronian realized the human was struggling to keep his grip. She leaned back and looked at him with a sad smile. The human was clearly trying not to rub his arms from the strain. She decided it would be best for his pride to not apologize.
"Arcee. Let's go for a ride," Jack suddenly said.
"I don't think…" Arcee was about to protest.
"Look you said yourself. That's not Cliffjumper," Jack continued. "Whoever it is, the others can handle it. We're only a groundbridge away if they need you. Common."
Arcee looked out over the desert, deep in thought. Suddenly she transformed.
"Get on kid," she said wryly.
Jack smiled and climbed on. They tore off into the dust.
!
Bumblebee rolled into the base and transformed. The scout was alone. He had been given strict orders to leave Raf at the human's house and under no circumstances pick up Miko. He looked around frantically. Optimus was standing at the main consol monitoring the data feeds. The yellow mech let out a series of chirps. Optimus nodded in the direction of the lab. The scout whistled his thanks and walked eagerly towards the sounds of repair. He felt his spark twist as his optics fell on the scene. Mrs. Darby and Ratchet were working on Cliff's body. One look at the strange mech's face was enough to tell Bee that his friend was on longer inhabiting it.
"This is beyond unacceptable," Ratchet was saying in exasperation. "I don't know what was holding you together. Energon line ruptures in every quadrant of your body. If it wasn't impossible I'd say it was a good thing you didn't have any in your system."
The medibot had the main chest plates open and appeared to be re-welding the massive scar that ran across the red mech. June was working with a line welder. Carefully making repairs to circuitry exposed under lesser panels. She looked up as the young bot came in.
"Bumblebee, come in and meet Nitor," she said with a smile.
The battered mech turned his head to look at the yellow scout and gave a smile of greeting. Bee bit back his anguish and returned the smile.
*Welcome to Autobot base Omega,* he said.
"I am sorry," Nitor responded contritely, "but I cannot understand you."
"He said welcome to the base now stop moving," Ratchet growled.
"Thank you Bumblebee," the red mech said to Bee, after dutifully returning his head to its previous position.
Cliffjumper would have told Ratchet off, Bee thought sadly, and probably jumped across the room to start a wrestling match. He shook his head rapidly and a look of determination fixed on his faceplate. Cliff might be gone, but this new mech seemed nice enough, he had Optimus's approval so there was no reason to make him feel unwelcome.
*Can I help you with Nitor's repairs Ratchet?* he asked over the comm.
"Yes, yes," the medibot responded absently. "We have less than an hour before his contacts show up so you might as well make yourself useful. Get the other line welder and start on the energon lines on his left leg."
Bumblebee gave the prone warrior another warm smile and got to work.