Dirty Little Secrets 2
Behavior
A Transformers Prime Fanfiction
:Warning: Violence and sexual content
"Yes Bulkhead I have noticed," Ratchet sighed as he fiddled with the groundbridge controls for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. "However I have no idea what the cause might be. My research with Nurse Darby indicates that humans of Miko's age, especially the females, are simply prone to such emotional swings at random intervals. It is a result of their processors entering the final stages of development before full maturity."
"What?" The ex-Wrecker demanded squinting his optics in confusion.
"It's perfectly normal," the medic summarized with a pained sigh.
"But she was bleeding! You can't tell me it's normal for human girls to leak internal fluids!"
"Actually," the medic started before the sound of the proximity alarms interrupted.
"What is Fowler doing here?" Bulkhead demanded with a frown.
"He said something about needing to file a special report," Ratchet explained dismissively returning to his work.
The elevator rumbled loudly, announcing its decent to the inhabitants of the base. The middle aged African American strode out of the shaft and Ratchet muted his audio receptors for the demanding shout that would surely follow. To the medic's surprise however the human silently walked over to the main computer and addressed the two Autobots in a subdued tone.
"Hey Doc Bot, Bulk, is Prime around?"
"He is Agent Fowler," Ratchet replied, retuning his hearing. "I believe he is currently checking the quality of the energon in storage bay five if you want to look for him."
"Nah, I'll just wait here," the human said as his brown eyes searched the base.
"I'll go get him for you," Bulkhead offered and moved off into the base.
"Hey Miko girl! How you doing?" the agent called out when he spotted her sitting on the couch.
The man walked towards her with a large smile. Ratchet frowned; momentarily distracted from his work. He had been learning from Nurse Darby how to read human facial expressions. Fowler's emotions were nearly always clearly written across his face; when he was angry, happy, or sad it was obvious so the woman had pointed him out as a good practice subject. But now his mouth was contorted into a grin that should indicate cheerfulness but the tautness of his eyes and forehead indicated anger and wariness. Was this some new emotion, the medic wondered, or did humans as well sometimes juggle conflicting emotions as Cybertronians did?
Fowler was now leaning over the slim Asian's shoulder trying to get the girl's attention. Miko's eyes were closed tightly and she was bouncing to whatever excuse for music was being pumped through the headphones clamped over her ears. The man let out a sigh through the tight grin and reached down to shake her shoulder. Faster than Ratchet had calculated possible for human movement the girl's hand came up; fingers arched like claws. With a snarl of rage she raked what was left of her fingernails across the older human's face.
The medic stiffened in surprise as he observed intently from the computer consol. The agent staggered back with a gasp clutching one hand to the side of his face. Almost before her fingers had left his skin the look of rage and fear on Miko's face had transformed into one of shock and shame.
"Gah! I am so sorry Fowler!" she gasped out. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to! I'm sorry."
"No, no, it's cool Miko. I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that," the man replied dismissively.
A deep frown creased Ratchets faceplates as he observed the two humans interacting and exchanging apologies. There was something up he mused. Fowler was not that readily forgiving usually, and while Miko had certainly caused personal injury before she had never attacked anyone like that. As Bulkhead had suspected something was up involving Miko. There was nothing odd about that, but coupled with Fowler's unusual visit and his odd behavior it did not bode well. The Medic shook his helm and turned away from the scene. This was perhaps none of his business; but he carefully isolated all the odd behaviors and filed them in his processor. As chief medical officer for the Autobots he was at least partly responsible for their allies' mental health. If something was wrong it would not do to be caught completely off guard.
O
O
Bumblebee was carefully carrying a large and awkward armful of supplies to the medbay for Ratchet. The devices were under the best of conditions fragile and had all been broken at least once already so the small scout was taking great care to not jostle the equipment. He increased the lubrication to his leg joints and set each ped down with the utmost care. He triggered the large walk-in cabinet where he was supposed to place them and slid into its confines. The storage area had been built with the medic's bulk in mind so he was easily able to maneuver around the interior. He had just finished and was examining the undamaged devices proudly when he heard voices from outside the cupboard.
"Seriously, I am so sorry!" Miko was saying.
Bumblebee frowned, his optics narrowing in concern. There was an odd desperation in her voice he had never heard before.
"And I seriously said not to think about it," Fowler's voice replied cheerfully. "I was an ARMY Ranger remember. This little scratch is nothing."
"I, I shouldn't have lost control like that," Miko whispered so quietly that Bumblebee had to turn up the sensitivity on his audio receptors to hear her. "I can't risk it."
Fowler let out a bark of laughter.
"Girl, we keep telling you. Nothing you do with the Autobots as Miko Nadakai matters to that. As long as you can keep it cool when it does matter you can do whatever you want here. Hey, want to make yourself useful? Go get me the alcohol swabs out of wherever Doc Bot hides them while I soap and water the damage. "
"That's not what I mean," the scout heard her rustling through the drawer as water ran out of the sink.
"Do you want to talk about it?" there was a sudden compassion in the agent's voice as the faucet ceased.
Silence filled the medbay fro several cliks.
"I like this life. I like the way Jack looks at me, the way Raf plays with me. I know it was only supposed to be temporary but, Agent Fowler, could I keep on being Miko after, after everything is over?" there was an odd catch in the girl's voice.
"I don't see any reason why not. You could probably even stay in Jasper if you wanted that; tell the Bot's your visa got extended another year and take it from there. When you come through as promised Uncle Sam is going to be very grateful. You will be able to request anything within reason as your reward."
"I don't need your rewards!" the girl's voice suddenly took on a venomous tone. "I am doing this because those gigil need to go down! I will watch them burn for what they did. I."
A choking sob escaped the child suddenly and Bumblebee heard Fowler let out a sigh.
"I know Miko, that's what makes you so perfect for this mission, but that doesn't mean you have to walk away empty handed. Look, you are getting tenser as the big day approaches why don't you and Bulkhead take a break, go have fun somewhere, get your mind off what's coming?"
"I don't want to do this," she whispered. "I know they deserve it for what they did but I don't know if I can betray them again."
"You didn't betray anyone then and you aren't going to now," Fowler countered firmly. "You are a human being with rights and responsibilities to your fellow humans. What you did, what you are going to do, is for the betterment of all mankind. Not just this nation, but your birth nation, heck even the Ruskies. As for them; you owe them nothing. They brought this on themselves are going to barbeque in a fire pit of their own making. All you need to do is give a report or three."
The sound of approaching pedfalls interrupted the conversation and the agent's tone immediately changed as he began playfully chewing the girl out for damaging his face. Miko responded in kind as Ratchet walked in to examine Fowler's injury. The scout waited until everyone had returned to the silo proper before leaving his unintentional hiding place. A confused frown creased his faceplates as he ran over what he had heard in his processor. This was odd to say the least. He would have to ask Prime about it but he didn't really want to admit that he'd, however accidently, been eavesdropping on their human allies. Still, there was no doubt from the tone of Miko's voice, whatever the man wanted her to do she was scared of it, and nothing scared Miko, except spiders of course. The scout straightened his door wings and started for the main silo. Optimus would know what to do.