A.N.: I would just like to say once again a huge thanks to those who have stuck by me since I started this story and the previous one of 'Roulette's Journey'. You guys are fantastic and I'm sorry if this chapter seems a little on the short side, but the action is gonna pick up somewhere around the next two - three chapters. Once again a mega thanks to Fourth Remnant who is a wonderful Beta and co-writer.
A.N.2: Just a note to say that all Odd chapters are from Roulette's POV and all Even Chapters are from Riley's. Aside for those notes enjoy and have a great Yule, Christmas or whatever else you guys celebrate.
Last Chapter:
'Alright, come on in to my humble abode here in the barracks and we'll talk shop for a while and sort out what needs to be done and catch up on the rest of the family, alright?' I asked as I removed the key from my jacket pocket and inserted it into the lock and opened the door, what happened next I don't think anyone expected.
And Now: Chapter 5
I blinked as the Femme that Lennox had called 'Hailstorm' opened the door to her quarters and a blur of fur and yowling streaked past her and started attacking 'Hides Holoform feet and then turned it's attention to Lennox himself and growled low before pouncing and landing on the Major's back digging in it's claws.
As I watched with a bemused expression on my faceplates, I wondered what could have caused the animal to attack like that. It was shortly after 'Hailstorm' had rescued Lennox from the animal attacking him, that the reason was given…. Her quarters were a complete mess, not the type of mess a normal person would create in their personal space but the type of mess that screamed that someone or something had been searching for something and hadn't found what they were looking for.
I looked towards Lennox and 'Hide who both nodded in agreement as they had thought the same thing - this was done by someone non-human, this was done by a Decepticon, maybe one of the pretenders or even Rumble who belonged to Soundwave. Now the question that was burning through my processors was; what were they looking for and why?
To answer this question thoroughly I had Lennox keep 'Hailstorm' out of the rooms whilst 'Hide and my self used the scanners on our vehicle modes from this distance to sweep through the debris as we made it look like we were actually moving stuff. What I picked up next surprised both myself and 'Hide….
A Cybertronian energy signature - the kind like the Allspark produced before it was lost, also the same kind as the Matrix of Leadership that Prime held onto after the battle in Egypt… it survived the Harvester being blown up and Prime decided to keep it safe.
This meant that we had to get her away from here and soon, as we headed back to the doorway and out to where Lennox and 'Hailstorm' were standing, we heard the conversation they were having;
'Will, get over the fact that Peppermint-Jazz attacked you and just be grateful that he protects me from anyone he has never met. He is a blessing when I found him abandoned as a kitten back in 2008, he is affectionate and loves music, and I wouldn't go anywhere for long without him, thus the reason I haven't visited you, Sarah and Annabelle since you got back in 2007 and you had the kafuffle in Mission City, I just couldn't bear to leave him behind.' she reasoned with him as we approached.
'Well just make sure he understands that we mean no harm to you and that he just made my two friends laugh whilst I was being attacked by an angry silver furred, blue eyed tabby cat.' said Lennox with a hint of a smile on his face, guess he really cares about this Femme as much as he does his mate and sparkling.
I was about to let them know that we needed to get away from here and why, except that 'Hide decided to jump in with both feet, so to speak.
'Lennox we need to leave here and the sooner the better, it seems as if someone is after something that your cousin here has and until we know what they are after, she will be in danger. We need to get her and the newest member to the NEST Base and soon.'
I decided that 'Hide stressing to Lennox the importance of the someone that was behind this was a discreet way of saying 'Decepticon's were here'.
'Well I guess you'll have no problem then, 'Hide since Riley, my cousin here is the newest member to our team by order of Secretary of Defense Keller.' said Lennox. I will say this now that I have never seen ol' 'Hide speechless like this unless he is recharging, guess it should have been a given since she mentioned the Mission City incident. Now that I think about it looking closer at the cat, where have I seen optics that shade of blue before, especially since it is not normal for any animal to have that shade for optics…. Just not natural.
'Well then, how's about we all head on back to the vehicles and get out of here? Unless you need to talk to the Commander of the base about anything?' asked Lennox to his, as I now realized, cousin.
'I've just gotta tell the Commander that I have a new posting and that I'll probably see the rest of the guys from here around sometime in the field. Other than that, I can't think of anything else. I can always get more clothing on our way back.' came her response, and the rest of us just nodded as she hugged her cat tighter to her frame as it purred in contentment.
A.N.: this is it for now, and I hope to have more ready after New Years. See ya's all in 2010!