One Secret Too Many
010
Miranda woke to Carly talking with Sam regarding him finding a job. The older woman slept on the couch within the old building that had been converted into their home. Miranda noticed that Wheelie, the Cybertronian that Mikaela had captured turned sides and was currently living with Sam and Carly along with another Autobot by the names of Brains. Unfortunately, neither Autobot had any word on when she might see Optimus once again.
"Fine. I have interviews today," mumbled the young man as he followed his girlfriend down the stairs.
Carly looked up at him, "Good. Also, be ready for this evening. My boss is holding a little gathering and you are invited."
Miranda heard Sam grumble as she walked over into the kitchen. She started the coffee machine before turning to lean against the counters. "Does Sam have something against your boss?"
Carly laughed as she stopped before the coffee machine, pouring herself a drink, "He actually doesn't know anything about my boss yet. He just likes to grumble. Doesn't like it that he isn't important anymore especially when he helped the Autobots."
Miranda and Carly continued to talk even as Sam joined them in the kitchen. Both women could tell that Sam wanted something important. He missed being with the Autobots. He felt like he wasn't important anymore.
Miranda continued to hang around the apartment as both Carly and Sam left to deal with both work and finding a position. Sam returned in the later part of the afternoon mumbling about having a job finally. The job had him delivering the mail, something he did not like to brag about for it felt degrading from what he done in the past. However, it was a step in the right way.
When Carly arrived back, she had a surprise for Miranda: a beautiful ballgown in deep red. Carly thought about the older woman and how she missed the Autobots, especially a specific leader. Taking the older woman out might help Miranda relax for a bit and not think too much about the Autobot leader and what him and his team might be doing, if it entailed anything about getting her back to Prime.
Miranda followed Carly and Sam into a huge mansion. Plenty of people stood around talking while an older man looking to be in upper forties or low fifties greeted Sam and Carly. Sam shook his hand as Carly introduced his name.
"Sam, this is Dylan Gould, my boss."
Dylan eyed Carly as he shook Sam's hand. "She is a good worker. You should be lucky to have her." Dylan saw Miranda standing near the back. "And who is this beautiful young woman."
"Miranda Taylor," replied Miranda as she stepped forward. She shook the older man's hand before stepping back and looking at the place. "Nice collection you have."
"Why thank you," commented Dylan. He smiled and turned to face the vehicles, but Miranda could see that the older man had a curious vibe about him as he kept looking back at Sam and Carly.
Miranda enjoyed the night, but there still felt some type of weird uneasiness regarding Carly's boss. When the night ended, the older woman quickly pulled Carly to a side and asked about Dylan Gould. Carly acted a bit surprised, but she didn't really have much information regarding the guy.
One week had passed with Sam heading off to work at his new job. Miranda started to get lonely one day when Carly arrived back with a two coffee cups in hand. "Something is happening downtown at Sam's new job."
"Any idea what?" asked the older woman as she took a cup of coffee. Carly only shook her head. "Maybe Sam will know when he gets back."
Two hours later, the young man walked in quickly looking frustrated and clearly panicked about something. Sam started pacing in the living room. Miranda watched him as he stopped before the side doors where Wheelie and Brain stood. He would stare at them for a few seconds before turning around and begin pacing once more.
"Sam, you need to sit down. You are giving me a headache," spoke Carly as she grabbed the young man's arm and forced him into a chair. "What has got you so bothered?"
"I was just acted by a Decepticon. One of guys at work, he talked to me about something regarding the dark side of the moon before he was killed. I don't know what is happening, but I need to see Lennox and Optimus."
Miranda looked at Sam with wide eyes, "Are you sure about this?"
Sam nodded, "Yeah. Why?"
Miranda looked at Carly before looking at Sam. She swallowed hard, and spoke, "I know where the Autobots are staying."
"If you knew, why are you here and not with them?"
Miranda sighed as she leaned her head back. "Director Mearing is in charged now and she is against me since I am not a soldier. Optimus and Lennox were supposed to figure some way to get me to return, but that has been some time now."
"Well, this Director isn't going to push me away. We need to see Lennox now especially with what has happened."
Miranda gave the direction to Sam as he drove down a few of the streets. Carly kept questioning him if this was a smart idea, but even Miranda had to agree with Sam. If Decepticons were harming humans, the Autobots needed to know. Eventually, Sam pulled to a stop at a gate with four military men guarding it. The building's sign read: "The Department of Health and Human Services."
"Can we help you, young man," asked one of the men in military. He shined his flashlight down into Sam's face before turning it on Carly.
"We need to get Lennox out here. I am reporting a Decepticon attack," demanded Sam as he slammed the steering wheel.
The man shined his flashlight towards the back of the car. Miranda waved at the man before he took a step back. "I am sorry, sir, but I believe you have the wrong building."
"What?" demanded Miranda. She leaned around the car seat to stare at the soldier. "I know for sure this is the building. Get Optimus out here. Tell him that we are needing to speak with him. He knows who I am."
The soldier looked over his shoulder. Miranda could see the men speaking before one man shook his head. "I am sorry, Ma'am, but this isn't the right building for whoever you are searching for. Please turn around and leave."
Sam gripped the steering wheel tightly. "I will not leave. I demand to see Lennox, now."
"Sir, if you don't remove your car, we will be forced to take action."
Sam stepped out of the vehicle, ignoring Carly's pleas as she grabbed Sam's hand. Miranda eventually caused Carly to drop Sam's hand as she crawled over the seat. Miranda watched as Carly, Wheelie, and Brains were forced out before Sam pulled a walkie from one of the soldiers and started screaming into it.
"Bumblebee, where are you? Bee."
Miranda took a step back to stand near Carly where she sat near Brains and Wheelie. Both women watched as a yellow Camaro drove forward before transforming. He began pointing his guns towards the men before he spotted Sam along with Carly and Miranda.
Miranda rolled her eyes as Sam called out that Bee was his car before she mumbled, "Finally."
"Come with me. Colonel Lennox wishes to speak with you," spoke another soldier. He stood holding a door open and led Miranda along with Sam and Carly inside.
Miranda stood to the side and watched as Colonel William Lennox raced down the hallway as Sam argued with a soldier while the soldier checked him over with a metal detector. Sam continued to run his mouth off just as Lennox stopped before them.
"You certainly took your sweet time trying to get me back, don't you think Lennox?" asked Miranda as she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Not exactly the place to talk about that," retorted Lennox with a sharp look within his eyes before he started walking away. Miranda rolled her eyes and watched as Sam ran towards him. She followed the men with Carly at her side.
"This Wang guy recognize me. He told me to warn you. He was talking about the dark side of the moon and then they killed him," recalled Sam as he followed Lennox into a huge bay.
"Wait a minute," spoke Lennox as he waved his hand. "He mentioned the moon?"
"Yeah, the dark side of the moon."
"It doesn't make sense. Why would Decepticons want to kill humans?" asked Carly. Miranda followed the woman and noticed two of the Autobots in alt mode: Ironhide and Ratchet. When they noticed Miranda, Ratchet tried rolling forward, but she noticed the look Lennox gave the Autobot. Something must have happened here when she had been sent away.
Miranda followed Lennox as he led them through a pair of doors and up some stairs. She saw him shaking his head. Something must have happened. The hangar had a strange feeling that even Miranda as she followed the men was unsure what everything meant. There had been no information sent her direction.
"Excuse me, Colonel Lennox," spoke an older woman. She was dressed in a sharp suit, wore thick black glasses, and had her blond hair pulled back. She didn't look the least bit happy. Miranda rolled her eyes for she knew exactly who this woman was.
"Director Mearing, this is Sam Witwicky."
"I know his name, Colonel. I wanna know who gave him clearance."
Miranda watched as Sam stepped forward and looked between Lennox and Mearing, "Who gave me clearance? How about Optimus Prime, when he touched down in a suburbia looking for my house?"
Lennox swallowed hard while Miranda laughed lightly. The Colonel pointed towards the woman and spoke calmly towards Sam, "This is the National Intelligence Director."
"Oh," responded Sam as he started to fidget a bit.
"And who are these… Oh, so you managed to find your way back." Mearing looked over her glasses and narrowed her eyes at Miranda.
Miranda crossed her arms and leaned upon one of her legs. "Not on purpose. I knew Sam, stayed with him, and then he was attacked. What do you expect? You thought sending us away or even having us avoid the Autobots would keep us safe? Don't you see the error in that?"
Mearing approached the woman and looked Miranda in the eye. She swallowed hard. "I do not care who you are or what relationship you had with the Autobots. This is not some playground. You are not a soldier. The Autobots are alien soldiers that work for the government. Civilians are strictly forbidden, no matter what the reason might be."
"I believe that will be enough, Director Mearing," spoke a deep baritone voice from behind Miranda. She gasped lightly as a human hand gently touched her shoulder as said person stopped at her side. "I agreed to follow your orders, but to rudely push off any information regarding the Decepticons or even try pushing away my intended once again is not something we agreed upon."
Mearing crossed her arms. Miranda saw the frustration in the woman's eyes. She glanced over at Lennox and saw him shaking his head. She looked over at saw Sam and Carly. Both were looking just as confused as the Director. No one knew who the man was that stood next to Miranda besides her and Lennox.
"I am sorry," started Mearing in angry tone. "But, what authorization do you have to speak with me like that. Are you even a soldier? Who allowed you in here?"
Miranda felt the man chuckle lightly, soft enough that she was the only one who heard. She tried her hardest to hold in a laugh, but she soon started laughing causing the man to raise an eyebrow in her direction.
"What is so funny?" asked Sam. Miranda tried waving a hand before her to stop laughing, but eventually even Lennox had started joining in before he walked over to stand beside Miranda.
"I would say, but it is best if he introduces himself," spoke Lennox as he pointed at the strange man. Miranda saw the smile on Lennox's face as she turned to face the man at her side. He smiled at Miranda before squeezing her shoulder gently, the only sign of affection he could give in public.
"I am glad to see you," he said softly before dropping his hands into his jean pockets and walking towards Mearing. "You asked what authorization I had. I believe that belongs to me for I am the commander of the Autobots."
"There are no humans that command the Autobots," spoke Mearing as she looked over the huge hangar. A certain red and blue Peterbilt sat nearby. A few of the Autobots had transformed and stood staring into the hallway the humans have gathered within. Miranda could see Prowl within the bunch shaking his helm with narrow optics.
"No," continued the man. "that is correct. There is only one Autobot that commands the team, and once again, that would be me."
Miranda raised her hand to her forehead and started shaking her head. Even if she knew this was some joke, it didn't make sense why he was pulling it along. She approached the man and stopped by his side. Mearing stood frustrated before her about ready to have another yelling match with the young man.
"Director Mearing, this Optimus Prime's human holoform. You are actually speaking to the leader of the Autobots."
Mearing turned upon Lennox. Her hands rose to form fists at her waist. "You never mentioned that the Autobots could use human programming to speak with us. Why has this never been said or used?"
Lennox shrugged, "Most of us didn't even know. Miranda met Prime through his holoform. Nothing else was needed to be said. He gave a valid reason."
Mearing shook her head. Miranda watched her carefully as she turned to face Prime's holoform. "We will discuss this later." She pointed at the holoform before rounding and pointing outside into the main level of the hangar, "Right now, you have more important things to do."
Optimus nodded before reaching for Miranda's hand, "Yes, I agree completely. Miranda, you will stand near Ironhide and Ratchet where I know you will be safe."
Lennox stepped forward and raised his hand, "Why don't you leave her with me? Having a human down on the main level might not be wise. You don't know what will happen."
Miranda was pushed behind Prime as he stood to step in front of her, "I will not allow humans to try and remove her. My Autobots will protect her and then she will be placed at my side at all times."
Miranda watched as Prime reached for her hand and started walking away. She looked behind her and saw the worried look upon Lennox's face, the confused look within Carly's and Sam's, and pissed off look that Director Mearing had. If both her and Prime were not careful, there might be another war besides the one between the Autobots and Decepticons. This one might happen between Director Mearing and Optimus Prime especially when said woman wanted to keep Miranda away from Prime.