Thank you for reading and enjoy!
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I had been sound asleep when I heard an alarm ringing outside the hall and the lights came on. I jumped from out of a dream, breathing heavily. I curled up into a ball and covered my head with my blanket. I had completely forgotten where I was when another ringing alarm drew me out of my ball and uncovered my head. I looked around the room before getting up and going into the bathroom. When I finished relieving myself and brushing my teeth, I sat down on the bed, staring at the door. I willed it to open, but it didn't. I wished I could just leave. I looked around the room again, looking for something, anything. I decided to get dressed and put my shoes on my feet. I stood in the middle of the room, looking for something. A vent! This place seemed over-sized and had to have some form of ventilation. I pretended I was looking for something I misplaced or thought I had on me. It also didn't help me any when I was getting hungry and no Cybertronian opened the door to give me something to eat. Did they expect me to sit and wait? Heck no! I wasn't. I was looking for a way to get out of there and quick! I found a huge vent under the bed and I smiled. Then a plan formed. Maybe these Cybertronians were stupid after all! I could manipulate them! I backed up from the bed and pretended I had found an earring. Then I stuffed it into my pocket. I turned around and jumped.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe stood there in the door frame. "What are you doing?" Sunstreaker asked, his optics narrowing.
"Oh! Um! I thought I heard something under my bed and went to investigate." I lied. "It had these small red beady eyes and sharp teeth! You know it kinda looked like an animal-a metallic animal."
"Sounds like a turbo rat." Sideswipe said. "I guess Ravage will hunt that down."
"Ravage?" I asked, feeling a bit nervous. "Under my bed? Ravage's going to hunt that thing under my bed?"
"No. In the vent, Fleshing."
"Good! As long as he's not sleeping with me!" These two were stupid, all right! Gullible!
"Primus no!" Sideswipe said.
"And she's a good liar." Sunstreaker said.
"I'm not lying!"
"You are and for one thing. Turbo rats do not come out during the day. They come out at night. You have nothing in your pocket! And you were underneath the bed for a long time. We both saw the video feed after Ironhide left. Now, either you are looking for trouble or you are looking for a way out. I have seen countless rebels pulling tricks off such as yours. Do not ever lie to any of one of us again. Do I make myself clear?"
"Sunny-" Sideswipe started to say.
"Don't call me that!" Sunstreaker glared at me and I backed away from them. I nodded.
"Good. Now, what are the rumors you've heard about us?"
"That Sideswipe's cool and his twin's an egotistical maniac." I said, hurriedly as I ran into the bathroom to hide. It was the only small enough place.
"Why I oughtta-" Sunstreaker began, cracking his knuckles.
"Sunstreaker." Sideswipe said, grabbing his servo. "Just a human youngling."
"I do not care whether or not she is a human youngling! She deserves a well rounded spanking!" Sunstreaker snarled.
"Sunstreaker. We both asked for the rumors. She gave us one." Sideswipe said calmly. "Come out, human youngling."
I poked my head out and said, "They also say you both like to show off your strength to the human rebels. Killing-"
"We have not killed any human. It is against the law to hurt a lower life form beneath us."
"But they said Sunstreaker does and you watch. They call you the twin terrors!"
"Only if you get a prank pulled on you."
"Slaggin' rebels." Sunstreaker said. "They are spreading rumors about us. What else?"
I looked scared as I looked at Sunstreaker. I knew he had a short temper and wouldn't hesitate to do terrible things. I have heard of his attitude toward humans. He hadn't been understanding. "You like to eat humans." I finally said. Sunstreaker looked angry and made a fist with his servo, but Sideswipe grabbed his arm. "What else!" he growled, tearing his arm out of Sideswipe's servo.
"I don't know anything else."
"What about Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Prowl?"
"They don't say anything about them."
"Yet they say things about us." Sunstreaker snarled. "You're lying again."
"Because we're all scared of you." I finally burst out on the verge of crying again. "We're scared that you'll kill us all! You told us Earth doesn't belong to us. It never did."
Both twins were silent as their optics turned dim. They were both conferring with Optimus or Prowl. I waited, but I was getting hungry and cold again. I looked under their pedes or legs. They weren't aware if they were comm'linking anyone. I half-ran under their legs, turned to see if they'd follow me and they weren't even aware of it. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.
"Slagit!" Sunstreaker cursed when he realized I was half-way down the hall.
I spun around and gasped when I saw him running to me. The metal on metal really grating on my nerves. They didn't exactly walk and run quietly. I didn't stay for long. I continued running despite how fast they could be. They were faster than me, I knew, but I couldn't stand being in that room. Suddenly, a large door open and a black and white Cybertronian walked in. I put on an extra burst of speed.
"Close the door!" Sunstreaker bellowed.
The Cybertronian looked at Sunstreaker first then to me. His optics glared red and I stopped in the middle of the room. "Where do you think you're going Fleshy?"
I screamed and ran the way I had come. I didn't stop until I ran into my room and hid under my bed, never noticing Sideswipe standing in my room. I was shaking. I knew that Cybertronian all too well. He was Barricade. Considered the torturer of humans. Considered to be the 'deathbringer' among all humans.
"Where is the fleshy?" The 'Deathbringer' asked.
"Under her bed. She didn't even notice me."
"Well-I was to bring her her breakfast and to question her."
My heart dropped to my feet as I huddled under my bed. Then my bed rose up and then disappeared. I looked fearfully at the 'Deathbringer' and Sideswipe. The 'Deathbringer' and Sideswipe gasped at my look of horror up at them both. "D-Don't h-hurt m-me, p-please. I-I d-didn't m-mean i-it."
"Do you want your food or not?" the 'Deathbringer' asked, a small bag held in his servos. I looked at the bag and reached out with a shaking hand. I grabbed the bag and then crawled to a corner.
"I wonder why the fleshing is so afraid of us."
"I intend to find out." the 'Deathbringer' said. "Eat, fleshy."
I opened the bag and saw to my surprise a small bowl of raisin bran cereal, an apple, orange juice box, and a container of milk. A plastic spoon and straw in a package. I removed the cereal, milk, and juice from the bag. I put aside or should I say I saved my apple for later. Under the careful optics of two Cybertronians, I ate despite being afraid. I knew I didn't eat something, I was going to get sick and probably see Ratchet. I didn't want to see him again. I drank all of my orange juice and remainder of milk. The apple, I hid. I was accustomed to hiding food in my room whenever my parents ran late from their jobs. I heard metal footsteps walking away and thinking maybe the 'Deathbringer' left, I turned to see him!
"So." the 'Deathbringer' began. "Your name is Joyce Miller. Daughter of Tamela and Robert Miller. I have questioned many fleshings before, but never a child. We rarely get children or human younglings involved in the rebellion."
"I-I'm n-not." I said, my voice sounding small and scared.
"We shall see." the 'Deathbringer' said, his voice calm. "You are 12-13 years old, am I correct?"
"T-thirteen." I said. "A-Are y-you g-gonna h-hurt m-me?"
"No. My designation is Barricade. If I had intended to hurt you, I would not have given you food, now would I?"
"N-No sir." I answered, trying to be respectful to the 'Deathbringer'.
"Then why are you afraid of me, hmm?" Barricade asked.
"B-Because e-everyone calls you the 'D-Deathbringer'."
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Wow. Barricade's reputation does precede him as that. Don't forget to review. :)