Hi everyone! Here's the second chapter I'm posting tonight. Hope you all enjoy! :D Just a few things before you read this chapter. I do not know how an interpretation exactly goes about so please forgive me if I'm not exactly correct in my description. Also, I do not know Cybertronian body part slang! I'm using my imagination on this, so please help me out and use yours. XD Thanks everyone for being so supportive! I have the best readers in the world! Pease review and tell me what you think!
As always, I own nothing!
~Mel

Alise's blood was flowing hotly through her veins. She was strumming her fingers on the wooden arm rests on the chair she was sitting at and tapping her foot on the floor restlessly. After a few more moments of this, she let out a breath of hot air.

She was finally going to interpret today.

Lennox had told her early that morning that she would be needed in the tech area at 1 o'clock sharp for her first interpretation. The man she would be interpreting for was a Russian diplomat named Lev Churchin who was going to be the Russian NEST correspondent they would be working with. The position was created when multiple Decepticon-related activities were reported by the Russian government and investigated by NEST. Lennox told her that 75% of the incidences they had investigated had happened in the large country, and that this was an extremely high and unusual amount. The conference call was being placed to Moscow, meaning that since it was 1 pm in Diego Garcia, it would be 11 am in the city.

Alise wasn't nervous about the interpretation in the slightest. Russian was the language she used most when she worked in Phoenix and she was just as comfortable with it as she would have been with English or Spanish. However, the reason she was so uneasy was because she was growing impatient. She was used to clients being a few minutes delayed to a meeting for a reasons like traffic or late mornings, but Churchin was two hours late. And to make matters even more irritable, no call was received as to why he was late or when he was going to be placing the call.

Lennox, Epps, and Alise were currently on the walkway in front of the large screen where the Russian was supposed to be transmitting into. The picture on the screen was currently black and in the top-left corner the words NO SIGNAL were flashing. The two soldiers were slowly pacing up and down the metal platform and Alise sitting in a chair facing the screen. It was gotten for her after the first hour. Figures, she thought to herself. When I actually get the chance to do my job, this happens!

"Should we call them?" Epps suggested to Lennox. "We have the transmission number. And it's been so long..."

Lennox shook his head. "They chose the time specially for whatever their reasons, even at an inconvenience to our tech crew. The least they could do is be on time." Lennox turned to Alise. "Has anyone you've worked with been this late before?"

She shook her head. "Once a conference I was at was delayed 45 minutes because the other company was having tech problems and couldn't get a call out. But even that wasn't 2 hours. That is probably the issue, though. They're probably just having tech problems."

"Either way, this is getting ridicu-"

A beep cut Lennox off. The three turned to see that the screen had turned blue, and in the corner words now were blinking PROCESSING. Alise stood up from her chair and walked to stand next to the two soldiers.

"Major," one of the tech men said to Lennox. "The incoming call is from Moscow. Shall we allow?"

"Finally," Lennox mumbled. Then he raised his voice for the tech crew. "Yeah, let them through."

The tech man turned for a moment, pressed a few buttons in front of him and then raised his hand for a countdown. 5...4...3...2...

The screen filled with picture, and the three on the platform stood in front of it. On the screen was a middle-aged, serious looking man with brown eyes and brown hair that was balding slightly at the top. He was sitting at a desk with nothing but a laptop on it in what looked like an office. He looked at the three before he spoke.

"Is the interpreter present?" he said to the three in Russian. Lennox and Epps had no idea what the man had said. Alise, however, knew every word.

"That would be me, sir," she replied, also in Russian. Lennox and Epps both immediately turned towards her looking stunned, but more so because they weren't prepared to her to be speaking fluent Russian. They were excepting it and knew she could, but it was still surprising to see little Alise belt out the language with a rough ascent. She gave them a little smirk that only they could see before continuing. "My name is Alise Brown. I'm going to be interpreting this call for the present parties. Have you worked with interpreters before?" The man nodded. "Excellent. Then please speak as you normally would with small breaks and I will interpret." She had already told Lennox and Epps of these instructions earlier so she didn't need to repeat them again to them.

The man nodded and turned his attention to the two soldiers. "I'm Lev Churchin. I apologize for the lengthy delay, but we were experiencing technical difficulties in our department and we have only been able to gain communications back now."

Alise repeated this word for word to Lennox and Epps in English. Lennox was the first to speak.

"No trouble, sir," Lennox lied. "My name is Major William Lennox and next to me is Master Sergeant Robert Epps. We are who will be speaking to during these meetings in the future. Today will just be going over NEST protocol if you have any other Decepticon attacks to report. We'll also go over the designations of some of the Decepticons we know to inhabit Earth currently."

Alise told this back to Churchin, and he nodded.

The rest of the meeting continued in the same fashion. Lennox and Epps were mostly the ones talking, informing Churchin on how they should proceed if any other Decepticon attacks or activities were to occur. They then went over the list of Decepticons they knew to be on Earth. They first named each of the 'cons and then brought up a picture of them on the screen. The first 'con they presented was Megatron. They explained his role as leader of the 'cons and his current state, which Alise didn't know about until now. Apparently he was at the bottom of the Laurentian Abyss off the coast of Canada.

As she interpreted, Alise learned the names of other 'cons they were showing Churchin. They showed eight different pictures, but made a special note to inform him that there was very possibly (and probably) more on the planet. For each of the pictures, they gave a short description of the specific 'con. The first of the eight was called Starscream, and Alise had paused for a moment, fear overcoming her for a split second. She recognized him as the monster who had chased her and the teenagers into the subway in Mission City. He was also the one who vowed her death after she injured his hand. Churchin didn't think into her pause too much, but the soldiers noticed her suddenly tense demeanor and shot her concerned looks. She simply gave them an 'I'll explain later' look and quickly continued with her job.

The others who she learned about were Sideways, Demolishor, Scorponok, Ravage, Mixmaster, and Long Haul, all their pictures and names burned into her mind. The last picture shown surprised her. It was of the police cruiser she had pissed off not once, but twice by throwing stones at him to help Bee. She learned that he was called Barricade, and along with the other 'cons, all of their locations were unknown at the time.

When Lennox and Epps were done presenting, no more than half an hour had pasted. Churchin didn't have much else to say, except stating that he understood the procedures and giving another apology for the delay. They then quickly wrapped up, and Churchin made a quick exit when he said goodbye and the screen turned black. It was then silent. After a moment, Alise smiled. Her first interpretation at NEST had, besides the little pause with Starscream, gone very smoothly. She was proud that she had done well.

"Well, he seemed like a peach," Epps commented with a laugh. Lennox and Lise agreed with chuckles of their own. They knew what he meant. Throughout the entire call, a frown never left Churchin's face and he didn't talk much. When he did, he sounded rough. He didn't seem very pleased to be there. Epps then turned to Lise and walked over to her saying, "Hey, you alright? What was that all about?" Lennox nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, sorry about that," she told them. "That was completely unprofessional. But the one 'con… Starscream..." She didn't continue for a moment. "I recognized him from Mission City."

"Well the way you looked, I'd say you more than recognized him," Epps said, crossing his arms. Alise sighed.

"Yeah, well... He chased me and some teenagers into a subway and we got stuck down there with about twenty other civilians. Damn scared us shitless. Wouldn't go away either until I..." She didn't continue.

"You, what?" Lennox asked with a pointed look.

"..."

"Alise," Epps said hardly. She took another breath.

"I kinda... stuck some bleach and a generator cord into his hand when he wasn't looking." The soldiers gave her horrified and disbelieving looks. "I think I blew something in his hand 'cause it wouldn't stop moving and he was carrying on something fierce. The civilians were able to get out then. Then he pulled out his cannon and started to aim it at me. Would've blown me to pieces if someone hadn't come and attacked him from behind. I don't know who it was, but it gave me the chance to book it."

Epps and Lennox didn't speak for a moment. They just continued to stare at her. Then suddenly, Epps broke out in laughter.

"You really did that?" he asked her. "Damn, Lise, I think you've done enough heroic acts this year! You should take some time off from playing Wonder Woman!" He laughed again. "I don't know whose reaction I want to see more when you tell them what you did! Bee's or 'Hide's! I take it you didn't tell them?" She shook her head. "Oh, 'Hide's gonna be so proud!" Alise giggled a little and placed her hand on her head. Then she looked over at Lennox, who hadn't said anything at all. He still had a serious look on his face.

"Alise," he said sternly. Epps then ceased his laughing abruptly. "What if he remembers you? Did you ever think of that? What if he ever sees you?"

Alise shrugged. "I don't know, Will. I mean, to him I'm just another fleshy, aren't I?"

"Not just any, Lise. One that's gotta leg up on him." He shook his head. "Please, please don't pull anything like that again. Leave the fighting to us. If you would've been killed..."

"Don't worry, Will," she said to him. "I don't except to be going into a warzone any time soon."

"Good to hear."

"Yeah, good to hear," Epps interjected. "For now, however," he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and started to lead her off the platform, "I want to see the look on 'Hide's face when you tell him you injured a 'con all by yourself. Maybe we won't tell Bee. He may go a little... well, you know."

"You hear that?"

"What?"

"Exactly."

Ironhide and Alise were at 'Hide's work bench, him standing and polishing a cannon and her sitting on the ledge. After a moment of quiet peace, Alise had placed her hand to her ear and asked 'Hide the first question.

"There's a disturbance in the force..."

"What in Primus's name are you going on about, girly?" 'Hide asked roughly.

"Listen! There's no yelling, no cries of anger..." She laughed. "Where's Sideswipe today? It's like he disappeared off base."

'Hide chuckled. "That is because he did. Sideswipe was given a mission in the states. He left on the cargo plane this morning."

"Oh."

Alise was confused at first, but then the transportation made sense. It was Wednesday, which meant that the Unity had taken off to the US to get supplies and would be back on Friday. It was also June 21... two days before her birthday. Even though she didn't tell anyone about the day, everyone on the base seemed to know. Alise credited this to Wash, who, because she didn't want anyone to know, made sure everyonedid.

"Where did he go?" she asked. 'Hide smirked.

"That's classified," he said smugly. Alise frowned. Even after all her time at the base, that was the first time that had been used on her. 'Hide then looked as if he was about to say something when suddenly, his eyes flashed. Ironhide then sprang into action.

"EVERYONE HIT THE DECK!" he yelled throughout the base. All the soldiers, trained to obey such sudden commands, did exactly that. 'Hide then grabbed Alise quickly, and she was cupped tightly in his hands, hidden from the outside as he knelt down with his back to the wall. Suddenly, there was a loud and large explosion.

The blast was close to the base, and the shockwave was enough to rock even Ironhide a little. Alise, even though she couldn't see the outside in 'Hide's hands, then knew why he grabbed her and set out a signal to the rest of the troops. If it was enough to make the Autobot tank shake, she could have easily been tossed into the air. She heard glass brake and large gusts of wind whip past them. She cringed in his hands. After a few more moments, the noises and the shockwave stopped.

Ironhide slowly opened his hands to release Alise, and kneeling on his palm, she lifted her head over his fingers. She looked at the base. There were broken windows and glass shattered everywhere, and soldiers were lying on the ground. A majority of them were bunched up in a pile on the other side of the building, the force of the blast actually pushing them back when they were on the ground. No once seemed to be seriously injured though. 'Hide looked down at Alise.

"Are you alright?" he asked her. She nodded.

"I'm fine. What was that?"

His face grew hard. "The twinsare here," he said angrily, and he lowered her to the ground. "They landed only a few hundred yards away from the base. That was why the shockwave was so forceful."

"Wouldn't they think of that?" Alise said angrily. Someone could have seriously gotten hurt.

"No, they wouldn't."

Not minute later, metallic footsteps and laughing were heard from the hangar doorway to the outside.

"Yea, I think we know how to make an entrance!" an annoying hick-like voice said.

"Yea, we know how to do!" a second replied, much like the first, but different by an octave or two. They both had very poor grammar and sounded like wannabe rap artists.

'Hide and Lise quickly walked over to where the voices were entering from. Stepping into the base hanger door were two short and boxy looking Autobots, almost completely identical in form except for different positionings in their headlights. They were both the same shape of black. The two looked around the base from where they stood for a moment.

"Yea, I think we can chill here for a bit," the one said. Then he addressed the soldiers who had come to see them. "Hey, y'all know where we can find an Autobot 'round here?"

"SKIDS! MUDFLAP!" Ironhide bellowed at the two. They both turned their heads.

"Hey, 'Hide!" they both said at the same time. They started to close the short space between them and he met them halfway. But before they knew what hit them, Ironhide had taken the two of them by their necks and banged them roughly together.

"OWW!" they both shouted.

"What the slag, 'Hide!"

"Yea, what was d'at fo'!"

"Shut it!" he yelled at them, still holding them by the necks. "You could have killed someone! I'm taking you fragheads straight to Optimus!"

"Oh, now you done it, Skids, you made 'Hide angry."

"Me! You the one who told me where to land, ugly!"

"We twins, stupid!"

The two then started to go after each other while still in 'Hide's grasp. He growled loudly and the two stopped.

"But of you SHUT UP!"

He then dropped the two roughly on the ground and they landed straight on their afts. As they both slowly stood up and mumbled, the one called Mudflap caught sight of Alise, standing and watching the scene. He smirked and elbowed Skids.

"Hey, Skids. Get a load of the valves on that one..."

"Oh, yea..."

Alise cringed, and blushed. She didn't know what part of her they were talking about, but she had an idea and she suddenly felt very self conscience. She crossed her arms and took a step back. Ironhide heard their little comments and growled, livid.

"I said GO!" he yelled, and then he started to kick the two roughly in the backsides. After more cries of pain and protest, they finally started to walk in the direction he wanted them to. He shot Alise an apologetic look and she nodded at him. He then proceeded to push them off to Optimus's quarters, yelling at them the entire time. Alise shook her head to herself. Oh, boy, she thought to herself. They're gonna be fun to have around.