Final Introductions
"Why are you making this so complicated!" The seeker shrilled. "Like I told you the other 20 times I'm not interested!" Phoenix had her back turned to him pouting. The mech was quickly losing his patience. "Look; ether you join me, or be stuck in there until you rust!" "Well then, looks like I'm going be here for a while." She mocked. Starscream's face turned an unusual shade of red, about to blow a circuit. "WELL YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND STAY THERE THEN!"
"FINE!"
"FINE!"
He mumbled under his breath. "No no wait," he thought; "just need to stay calm. She will have to give in eventually; I just need to use that old 'Starscream charm'." Taking deep breath; he turned back to her with a calm expression. "My apologies my dear, I really should not press such a large decision on you." Phoenix looked over her shoulder, puzzled. What was he trying to pull? "I was just thinking you would be a great asset to us with your amazing ability and your, may I say… beauty?" "I…suppose." Phoenix could tell he was trying to pull something but she could help but feel; slightly flattered. "Come now." "No" He grunted trying to keep his temper down. "If you do, we can take whatever we want. YOU can take anything you want. You're sparks desire, with nothing or no one stopping us!" She turned away from him facing the back of her cell. It would be nice to have Rosie back with no more hassles; it would be perfect, they would finally…no, she could'nt. It wouldn't be right. A pair of cold hands gently grabbed her shoulders; shivering at the touch she turned around to see that Starscream had snuck into her cell. Faceplates uncomfortably close to each other, "Now don't tell me that there isn't anything you have ever wanted." He whispered eerily. Phoenix looked down to the floor, saying nothing, trying to avoid the awkward glare. A small chuckle escaped him, "That's what I thought. Why not give in to the temptation hmmm?" He slipped a finger under her chin, lifting until they made eye contact. "Now I'll give you one last chance; join us and be a fellow decepticon. (With me as superior leader of course). Or stay in the dark to be forgotten."
A sudden feeling built up inside; something about those last words made her boil. It felt like pure energy pulsing through her circuits; lifting her arms, blue orbs of light came rushing out from her palms into Starscream's chest, "Naahhgg!" sending him flying backwards from the cell and into the wall. The semi-conscious mech moaned lying in the wall's rubble and broken wires. Realizing what she had done she bolted from the brig as fast as she could into the darkness of the ship.
~~~The sudden beeping awaked the sleeping Jetstorm, causing him to almost fall out from his seat. "Whoa! What!" A green blip was blinking among the screen at a fast rate. "Finally!" he turned on his com-link, "Sentinel Prime Sir! I haz found her! Signal showing!" "Where is the location?" the mech asked on the other side. Jetstorm dug further into the blip's coordinates and gasped at his result. "Sir, you are not going to be believing this..."
~~~The femme ran through the dark maze of the ship; running past numerous hallways and corridors. She was wondered if she was even still running straight. "Ohhh man! Where am I now?" Starscream was still nowhere in sight, but she knew he would catch up eventually. "Need a way out! Need a way out! Need a way out!" One more corridor left, it had to be it. Phoenix rushed down the darkened way, harshly turned the corner only to crash into something large and metallic; she looked up to an irritated Slipstream. "Where do you think you're going birdbot? And where's that fool Starscream?" "Don't know and I'm outta here!" Phoenix rushed forward with all her might ready to body check the femmejet out the way until Slipstream flashed her null ray and blasted Phoenix in the chest."Ahh!" "Such a pathetic attempt." She mocked. Phoenix rose to her feet, rubbing her stomach, "Come on then," the jet taunted "Let's see what you got." "Fine by me." Full speed she charged again. Slips lifted her ray waiting for the same attack, but as she was ready to fire Phoenix shifted and sliced the ray in half with her now extended fingers. They became long and sharp like claws. Slip growled as the remains of her weapon fell to the floor, "You little brat!" swiping her own claw like hands at Phoenix's face. Dodging the oncoming attacks Phoenix tried swiping back again, but Slip had also learned to avoid, swiftly turned and kicked Phoenix squarely in the gut, sending the birdbot to fall on her aft. As she landed something fell with a loud 'clang' from her lower back. She could not turn to see, as she was too busy staring up into the other femme's ray. "Game over runt." Without a second thought Phoenix swung her leg under Slipstream's causing her to fall on her back. Phoenix quickly got up but only to be knocked on her own back from Slipstream grabbing and pulling her ankle.
As her head smacked the floor she heard the fimilar 'clunk' by her ear, she looked over to see a sliver tube with a blue glowing button. She recognized it as the top of her 'tail.' Grabbing it she scrambled up again at the same time as the decepticon, who swung another kick. "Hold still, slag it!" "I don't think so!" she pressed the button and long glowing blue cable grew from the tube with a sharp metal tip. Slipstream just giggled "Really? Haha Do you even know how to use that thing?" Phoenix smirked, "Only one way to find out." Before the jet knew it Phoenix flicked the whip around her legs, pulled and fell to the floor with a loud CRASH! "I guess I do." With another hard flick the whip unwrapped itself from the fallen Slipstream's legs.
Down the dark hallway at its very end; there was an open door leading to the outside. So close! Gathering her new weapon, she jumped over the seeker and made way through the opening onto the moon's surface.
The smile on her face was only short lived as a hand came from nowhere, grabbing her by the neck and hoisting her into the air. "Haagghh!" An errie familiar laugh made her shiver as she faced Starscream once again. She dropped the whip as his grip tightened and throws her against the outside wall of the ship; legs helplessly flailing in the air. "All right, I've had just about enough of this. If you won't join me, then you won't join anyone!" The grip around her neck tightened even more, she clawed at his hand helplessly but could only feel herself becoming light-headed. "However, I wouldn't want you to go offline without a special little something" he smirked. Her vision began to fade, and her arms collapsed. As his face moved in closer she finally passed out. The seeker chuckled as he held the limp femme; leaning closer to her lips. Inches from his goal a blast shot his side, dropping the unconscious Phoenix to the ground. "Gahhhh! What the frag!"
"Step away from the femme!" Optimus shouted. Starscream held out his null rays ready for a fight, until Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Jady and the others appeared from behind the autobot leader. "Grrr slag this!" Knowing he was outnumbered the seeker jet transformed and flew off into the open space.
Optimus picked up the unconscious Phoenix, while Jady picked up the whip; retracting the cable back into its handle. "Is she ok?" Bulkhead looked down at the femme worryingly. "Just a few scratches but nothing serious. Nothing Ratchet can't fix, we'll take her back to the sick bay at the base." "Let's get out of here then, this place gives me the creeps." Bumblebee let out a shiver. With a majority vote the group left through the space bridge.
There was a loud CRASH, followed by the sounds of explosions everywhere but she could not see anything. She could only listen to the shouting through the darkness. "Get out now!" a deep voice cried, "Take her and go!" A femmes cry called back, "Not without you!" BOOM! The sound of crashing objects echoed in the black. "Go now!" Then there was nothing but silence. Suddenly an eerie dark voice filled the emptiness, "Time's up….." BANG!
Phoenix woke upwards with a jolt, panting and spark racing. What a nightmare. "Easy there now. It's alright." A scruffy voice explained. Something gently touched her arm which in panic she quickly pulled away and scuffled backwards on the berth. "Calm down, I'm not gonna hurt you." She looked over the surrounding room; there were bits, pieces and tools everywhere until she finally faced the scruffy med-bot. He slowly reaches for her again; she didn't back away this time as his hand very gently landed on her arm. "Believe me, you're safe now." Phoenix gently nodded, she believed him. He gave a small smile "The names Ratchet; I'm the medical bot here at the autobot base." "Autobot…base?" Her voice croaked. "Ohhh so you can talk?" he chuckled, "Good to know that your vocals are still working after you're….err, incident." "Incident?" It took but a moment for her memory to come back to her, "Oh, right." "Best not to think about it now." He reached over and took a blow torch looking tool and lifted her arm, "I just need to fix this last scratch here." Phoenix looked down to see the deep gash, with wires showing through. "Oh no it's all right," she gently pulled away calmly; "I can do it." Ratchet gave her an odd look. "Um, no offence missy but these tools really should be used be a…trained...professional…" his words trailed off as he witnessed Phoenix wiping her hand over the cut; sealing the slashed metal as it went across. "By the Allspark…" "Yes?" she looked up to the gobsmacked doc bot. "You… you can do it too?" "Too? Is there someone else who can do that?" "Well, yes but I think that is a discussion best left for later. Phoenix wasn't it?" She nodded as he turned his back to her and began rumbling through a pile of parts. "Um, Ratchet?" "Yes?" "Do you know why suddenly everyone is trying to find me?" He turned back to face her with wrench in hand. "To honest I thought you could tell me." "Oh…sorry." "Now what are you apologizing for? You didn't do anything!" He cried, Phoenix giggled while blushing. He smiled back.
"I don't care how you got there; I find it more interested in the fact how you did not contact me that you were leaving the planet!"A shout echoed through the building, startling Phoenix. Recognizing the voice she gasped, panicked, and then without thinking took off into the shadows of the building roof beams. "Phoenix! Wait!" Ratchet called after her just as Sentinel, Optimus and Jazz entered the med-bay, gasping as they saw a shadow fly above them. "Yo, was that…?" Jazz flinched his arms over his head. "Yes it was," Ratchet turned a glare at Sentinel, "she was all fine and calm until Captain Foghorn here started shouting!" "Watch your tone solider!" Sentinel called back but was careful not to be too close to the wrench welding bot. Optimus stepped in between them, "Now both of you just calm down…." "Uhhh boss bot, you might wanna get out here!" Bumblebee called from the other room, "There something on the roof!"
The four mechs ran into the other room, looked up into the shadowy corners of the roof and saw the faint shape of something hiding up against the far side of the wall. "Is that…? Bulkhead squinted, "Yup" Ratchet replied. Jetstorm's visor widened, smiling. "Phoenix? Is that being you? Tiz me Jetstorm!" "Jetstorm?" She kept her voice low so only she could hear it. There were so many looking at up at her it made her nervous. Oh not again. Ratchet pushed his way to the front of the group, "Phoenix, it's all right! Like I said; no one is going to hurt you! Please just come down." He turned toward the others, "All of you back up! Give the kid some space will ya?" They did as they were told until Sentinel beckoned the twins, "Where wasting enough time here, Jetfire! Jetstorm! Bring that fugitive down here!" "Fugitive! Now who said that she was a fugitive?" Ratchet bellowed. "If the council wants her captured that badly like that Wasp character then she must be." "You logic is nothing but a load of…!" "Ahem." The two mechs looked over to Jady innocently standing by. "If you don't mind sir's maybe…I can talk to her." The two mechs looked at each other. Then Ratchet sighed, "Alright Jady, it's up to you." "What? Are you serious? That's a possible criminal up there!"
"She's not a criminal sir! She doesn't look dangerous to me...please...I can handle this." Jady flew to Phoenix's hiding place. "Who-who are you?" Phoenix mumbled. "It's alright Phoenix. I won't hurt you; I'm a friend." She moved in closer to stroke the birdbot's wings gently. "I know how you feel." Phoenix looked away, "You're…just saying that." "No, I would never lie to anyone. I was afraid once when I got captured, but I realized that you're braver then you think." "It's true!" Bee called. "I-I guess" Phoenix took Jady's hand and they flew from the shadows onto the floor. "It's ok; you can trust me were all friends here." Phoenix looked around as Bulkhead, Bee, the twins and Jazz waved happily to her, she did the same with a nervous smile. "See? You can always trust us, but never a vile decepticon...apart from Skywarp, he's not that bad." "Sky who?" "Oh um, nevermind." Jady giggled. She led the nervous femme past the mechs and onto the stone couch where the others eventually joined them looking over the new arrival. Jetstorm made sure to sit close to her. Jady stood in front and introduced them all. "Now Mr. Ratchet is just gonna check you over ok?" Bumblebee sighed lovingly, he was so lucky to have married Jady. Phoenix looked over to Bee "Are you ok?" Jady laughed "Ooooh I love it when he has that look, he's my husband." "Oh how nice!" "Do you have a love?" "Well, no not really." Phoenix blushed; Jetstorm felt a small ting in his chest. "I know someone who has a thing for you." Jady winked. "Really?" Jetstorm could suddenly feel his faceplate burning. Ratchet cut in "Alright, enough with the lovey dovey stuff I still need to check her over. Now the rest of you move it." The blue jet groaned and moved out of his spot for Ratchet to sit. "Sorry ." Jady kissed Phoenix's forehead making her giggles, and went off cuddling with Bumblebee. As the doc-bot inspected one of her arms, the others went away and Sentinel ordered the twins to fly out. Jetstrom gave a wave and a weak smile to Phoenix and she gave one in return with her free hand.
When they were gone from sight Optimus crouched in front of Phoenix and Ratchet who was fixing one last scratch that he missed. "You gave us quite the chase." Phoenix looked down "I'm sorry, but lately after all the people I've met I've developed some…trust issues." He nodded "I understand, and there's a few things I need to ask you." "Of course." "One. Why are the Elite guard looking for you?" "I don't know sir. Honestly I'm confused myself; I don't know what is going on at all. All I remember is when I first crashed…" "Crashed?" both Optimus and Ratchet echoed. "When was this 'crash'?" "Now why don't we save the questions for later when she's had a full recharge Optimus?" Ratchet got up when finished his inspection. Optimus nodded and gave Phoenix a hand off the couch. "Alright, I guess you'll need a room then." "Well," Ratchet gave a low groan "The only other room available is…" Optimus understood "I'm sure it will be alright for now." Phoenix followed the firetruck bot down the hallway in slight confusion. What was so important about this room? Should she object to staying there?
He stopped and opened one of the garage doors; Phoenix was astounded by the room. It was very spacious, and had a cute poster of a puppy hanging from a branch with the ironic text 'Keep you chin up' It was so cute! What surprised her most was the large tree that sprouted from the floor all the way through the roof of the room. Beside it was a smaller tree but was with beautiful pink and white flowers instead of leaves. "This room is beautiful." She gazed up into the branches of the taller tree, Optimus kept a stern gaze at the pink tree. "Yes it is. He always did have a thing for nature." "Who did? The one who stays in here? I'm not intruding am I?" Optimus shook his head and gave a weak smile. "No not at all. This room just belonged to a…friend, but he's gone now." She could tell by his tone that she shouldn't ask any more questions. "Well, thank you. For everything and for putting up with my actions." "It's ok, you did the same thing any of us would have done. You were scared it's understandable." She smiled and he in return as he turned to leave the room. "Good-night" "Good-night" she waited until he was gone and the garage door shut. Gazing back at the tree she placed her hand on its trunk and smelled the flowers on the other. "Gorgeous." With a yawn she changed into her bird mode and flew up into the large trees branches, landing comfortably, tucking her beak under her wing like a bird. As her optics slowly closed she thought she saw a blurry vision of someone petting the flower tree with a blue glow surrounding them. Her optics finally closed and she slept peacefully at last through the night.
To Be Continued…