Chapter Seven: Not Everything Is Fun
Dear Diary
Not much to say, getting kinda bored. There is only so much you can do on an island, in a military base. *Sigh* I wish something would happen. Nothing bad though, just something to perk me up. Maybe Aurorah and I can leave the base for a little while.
I should ask Optimus.
Ana
Jazz stood in the front of Optimus Prime's office looking at his little mate hiding behind his leg. Ana stood to the side waiting patiently for her friend to suck it up.
"B-but I can't!" Aurorah mumbled, her face buried in a gap between Jazz's armor. "Why don't you guys just ask without me?"
"Because you need clothes and stuff just as much as I do. Plus if he hears the both of us he might be more willing to let us go." Ana argued, folding her arms. Did Aurorah need to be so stubborn?
"I'm perfectly fine with what I'm wearing, and it's not like Jazz lets me sleep with clothes on anyway."
Ana blushed and Jazz her gave a crooked smile.
"Didn't need to know that loser! Anyways you're going in there whether you like it or not!"
"No! If I go in there, I'll get all awkward. Optimus's voice is like sex to my ears and you know it!" Aurorah squeaked out, feeling Jazz's amusement flow their link.
"Aw, don't worry bout' it Baby girl, OP's voice makes everyone hot and bothered, mechs and femmes alike and Ahm pretty sure it applies to da human femme's too. Their hormone levels go off the chart!" he laughed, picking the two girls up in his claws. "Plus, if ya get too riled up, Ah'll always be able ta fix it later."
Ana huffed with annoyance at the mech's lecherous grin and slapped his palm. "Alright you giant pervert, we should ask Optimus now before he leaves for his meeting." She said, watching her friends face lite brighter red with each second. She didn't want to even know what Jazz was telling her.
She saw Aurorah hide her face behind her hands and Jazz laugh before placing his unoccupied hand on a pad by the large door to Optimus's office. It wasn't even a second later before the door slid open and Jazz skipped in like a child.
"I was wondering when I would see you Jazz." Optimus said from his desk. Jazz grinned and placed the girls on the smooth surface.
"Sorry boss-bot, Ah ain't here alone. Got some lil'femmes with meh!" He explained. Optimus gave his lieutenant a stern look before opening a private comm.
:Jazz, you knew I wished to speak to you about resent events concerning you and Aurorah.:
:Ah know Optimus, but the girlies have somethin' they wish ta ask ya first. Afterwards, Ah promise.:
Optimus sighed and laced his fingers together.
:Alright.: He then turned to the two girls sitting on the couch.
"Aurorah, Ana, how have you two been?" he asked them.
"We've been good I suppose, right Rory?" Ana answered him and looked to her friend. Aurorah was staring wide-eyed at the huge bot.
"He said my name…" She whispered and grabbed Ana's shirt sleeve, "It sounded amazing…"
Ana took her friends hand and shook it to gain her attention. "Come on now, don't be like that. Optimus asked you a question."
"Oh, uh…I'm fine, yes fine." She muttered, wringing her hands together nervously.
Ana rolled her eyes. "Anyway, we were wondering if we, that is, Aurorah, Jazz, Knockout and I, can get a break off of the island to go shopping for essentials."
"Yeah like clothes and animal food because we can't feed Deidara and Missy human food all the time." Aurorah piped in.
"And the reason we asked to go in the first place is because if you were to ask for all these items from the government, they would totally ask questions, and I feel like you really wouldn't want that." Ana added.
Optimus looked at the girls. They had a point. If they wanted to even try to keep this from the government, adding pet food and civilians clothes to the list of things they required would raise red flags. But he was also weary of sending them off the island. He feared they would become targets to any Decepticons in the area. Already Ana had a run in with Barricade, though he had left her behind easily enough.
"Alright, I will allow you to go this once so gather everything you require from this trip. But you are to take Ratchet along with you in case anything goes wrong. If any Decepticon activity is spotted you are to leave immediately, is that clear." His voice was commanding and everyone in the room chorused with "Yes sir!" Optimus nodded to them.
"Good, then I wish you all a safe trip. Oh, and Jazz, stay. We need to talk before you leave." He said as Jazz let the girls down, watching as they left to get ready. He then turned to his commanding officer, his face a mask of calm.
"Of course."
"So…turns out this is turning into a harem fiction."
Ana froze in her changing and slowly turned to Aurorah. She was fidgeting where she stood, a hand behind her head and a look of sheepish guilt on her face.
"What?"
"…"
"Please tell me you're not saying what I think you're saying." Her eyes narrowed as she zipped up her jeans. Her friend laughed nervously and determinedly kept her eyes away from Ana's.
"Yeah, seems this energy stuff just bonds to whatever the hell it wants. Jazz had been upset this past couple of days and when he finally told me, he said I was supposed to bond with Sideswipe as well and don't give me that look." Aurorah said as she held her hands up in a peaceful gesture. Ana stood straighter as she took in what Aurorah told. She had to bond…with another bot.
"You've got to be shitting me?" She exclaimed loudly, causing Aurorah to flinch. She placed her head in her hands and drew a deep breath. What the hell.
"Alright, tell me what's going on." Ana asked, keeping her cool. She couldn't get mad at Aurorah again, it really wasn't her fault. It wasn't like she was asking to be bonded.
"Well, you know how Jazz has been acting aggressively towards Sideswipe lately?"
"Yes."
"Well, Sideswipe has been acting really nice to me-"
"And because you're an oblivious loser you didn't notice he was really just trying to get snuggly with you while Jazz wasn't looking."
Aurorah stood and stared at her friend, eyes squinted as she took in the words.
"Whatever. The point is, when Jazz talked to me yesterday about it, he told me the reason Sideswipe is so drawn to me is for the same reason he was. It's something called a spark call. When their sparks feel the presence of their intended nearby, their sparks start to call to the other. Whatever energy we have is similar to a Cybertronian's EM field, which can only be made if one has a spark. When I bonded to Jazz, I found I had something similar to a spark."
"So, Sideswipe's spark is calling to your…spark?"
"I guess," Aurorah scratched her head and sat down, "I can't really tell. I mean, yeah, once in the act of…you know, I felt strangely drawn which sounds really cliché, but before, I didn't really feel any different."
"So you didn't find it weird that Sideswipe was all super nice and stuff."
"….no."
Ana huffed and picked her bag up. "Like I said, you're a loser." And with that said, she walked out of the room, Aurorah following behind her with an "AM NOT!"
"Alright," Aurorah muttered, "I officially hate plane rides. They are long and boring and make me want to bang my head against something hard." She flopped across Jazz's front seats and smashed her cheek into the cool leather. She heard a sigh through the speakers and Ana's annoyed voice filtered in.
"How could you have been bored loser? You were asleep the entire time." She said. Aurorah groaned and rolled onto her back. Why did Ana have to be all smarty pants and point things out?
"Well, my sleep was boring."
"Then why didn't you stay awake?"
"Because being awake was boring too."
"Oh for Christ sake, you're ridiculous." Ana said and she could hear the click of disconnection.
Aurorah smiled. She could just imagine Ana throwing her hands in the air. She smiled and brought Deidara onto her chest. The calico hissed before stretching out in her favorite spot in-between her boobs. She looked over to Jazz's dashboard where his speakers were. She remembered he had spoken to Optimus earlier after they had left his office.
"Hey Jazz?" She asked softly, hoping it wasn't rude to ask of what he spoke of to his commander, although she had an idea what it was about. She felt the gentle rumble of acknowledgement from the solstice.
"Did everything go alright with Optimus?" She asked.
"Of course, why da ya ask Baby girl?"
"Well, you've just been very quiet since then." She said, biting her lip. She was worried about what Optimus had said to him. Did he disapprove?
"Ahm sorry babe, Ah didn't mean ta worry ya there." He apologized, a pulse of warmth and reassurance spreading through her chest. "Optimus was…surprised and disappointed with mah actions. When he told us ta get acquainted with the humans, Ah don't think interfacin' is what he had in mind and bondin'…well that's somethin' that shouldn't be possible."
Aurorah was silent when he finished speaking and let a hand wonder to stroke the leather seats underneath her. Her fingers found and dug into a seam and she was rewarded with a deep purr resounding though the cabin. She couldn't help but laugh when the heater turned on. Jazz was so easy to rile up.
"Aw, now why are ya gonna go and do that for? Tryin ta make meh crash?" he growled as she raked her nails into the smooth leather.
"No, but I'm boooorrreeeeddd! Entertain meeeeeee!" she whined pitifully. She was tempted to kick her legs for an added affect.
Jazz laughed. "But we were jus havin' a serious conversation." He said, watching as her nose scrunched and her cheeks puffed out.
"Seriousness pfft." She said, sounding a little off and it worried Jazz. She stroked down Deidara's fur and the cat purred; content despite the loudness around her. "I'm not that great at keeping up seriousness."
"Ya were doing good so far."
Aurorah shrugged and rolled over, Deidara leaving her spot and becoming a purring pillow for her. She laid her head on her stomach and buried her face into Jazz's leather seats with a sigh.
"What's really wrong Baby girl? You've been down since this morning'." He asked.
"I don't know. Everything seems wrong today." She started to trace patterns into the backrest. "Have you ever felt like something bad is going to happen?"
Jazz hummed. "Sometimes. I did when the Decepticons hit the companions club I worked at. I didn't think much of it at the time. Why do you ask?"
She paused in her invisible drawing, her mind going hectic in her paranoia. She felt the itch she got when someone was out to get her. Although she knew it was all in her head, this time it really felt like someone was coming, someone bad. She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed at her face. A soothing presence invaded her mind and pushed away the negativity.
~:Babe?:~ Jazz whispered, warmth prickling her skin.
~:It's…nothing serious.:~
~:Aurorah!:~
~:No, Really. I'm…Fine.:~
If Jazz had been in root mode he would have narrowed his optics at his stubborn mate. For now he settled on huffing and sending his displeasure at her invasiveness.
~:Ah'll let It go for now, but Ah'll be gettin' it outta ya tonight.:~ he told her seriously. She smile and smoothed her hand against the leather seat.
"I'm sure you'll try."
"Oh god, why does this have to happen to us?!"
Ana's breath came in ragged pants as she ran for her life, Aurorah running beside her, her cat in her arms. Why couldn't she leave Deidara at the base?
They had been shopping for clothes and other necessities when they had spotted a Subway. It was like God had given them a gift of awesomeness in the middle of a desert. You don't realize how much you're glad something still exists until you're faced with its possible…un-existence.
They had descended on that Subway like starving dogs. Ana's mind walked away from her train of thought at the thought of relating themselves to dogs and thus technically calling themselves bitches, even while they were running for their lives. A bemused and slightly disturbed look came onto her face. She had the ability to multitask, even now? What was wrong with her?
She snorted. Aurorah's crazy was rubbing off on her.
"What the hell are you laughing at, at a time like this?!"
Ana almost tripped; Aurorah had broken her out of her subconscious concentration on running and brought her focus back to the outside world. She could hear shouts and screams following in her wake, caused by the speeding Saleen mustang crashing and barreling after them.
She could just see the numbers in damages rising in her head.
"Sorry, brain had a 'wtf' moment, something to do with us and dogs and bitches." Ana replied, her voice scratchy and ragged. Her throat was starting to burn and her hearing was slowly getting closed off. This was why she hated P.E. in high school. Not being able to sweat was really a bummer when it came to physical exercise.
She let out a frustrated groan and followed after Aurorah as she turned a corner into the mall's Walmart, shoe slipping before she caught herself and barely dodging the screeching tire of the Saleen mustang.
They had been halfway through their sandwiches when a tremor had shaken the table they sat at. Aurorah had about had a fit when their Dr. Pepper had fallen to the ground. They hadn't even taken another bite when more tremors shook the Subway, screeching and screaming following right after. All it took was someone yelling about a police car going on a rampage in the mall for them to hightail it out of the food joint.
Unfortunately for them though, the moment they stepped foot outside of the Subway, Barricade came barreling around the corner, sights set on them. Thus where they were now, rushing up the Walmart's escalader stairs. Thankfully they had already packed their stuff into Ratchet. That would be a lot of money down the drain.
"You cannot escape me, little bugs!"
Ana's heart jumped into her throat at his threat and she wasted no time shoving people aside in her rush to get away. Aurorah was not far ahead of her doing much the same. They had just cleared the moving belt of stairs when they heard, and felt, Barricade blasting through the floor of Walmart's second level.
"Oh fuck me! Does he never give up?"
Aurorah scrambled up from her spot on the floor, the tremor stumbling her, and was quick to run towards the exit that led to the parking garage. Ana hesitated for just a second, her eyes catching the burning red of Barricade's own, before she too was running after Aurorah. There was something about those eyes that sent a chill down her spine; a chill that she wasn't sure was from fright.
Aurorah had really hoped that her paranoia had been just that, Paranoia. But the universe had different plans.
She heaved as she bent over her knees. They had somehow escaped Barricade for a time thanks to their detour through the Walmart, but she was sure he was close behind them. He did go through a wall after all. They had run to one of the parking lots, following the crowds of panicked people hoping to blend in. It had worked apparently.
~:Jazz…how far…away are you?!:~ Aurorah asked desperately through the bond.
Ana was standing beside her, breathing raggedly with eyes darting back and forth. She stumbled when someone ran past her screaming.
~:Almost there babe, hold on!:~ Jazz assured, sending a pulse of calm to his scared mate. Aurorah sighed in relief. Once he was here they would be safe; he'd beat Barricade to a pulp.
~:What about Ratchet…and Knockout?:~
~:Havin' some problems with the scatterin' people. They're a little stuck.:~
"Found you!"
She and Ana jumped at the sound of Barricade's voice and turned towards him. He was standing not far from them, an evil grin on his face, hands flexing and ready to grab them. She gulped. He barely took a step before a shot of energy hit close to his foot.
"Ah, warn ya Cade, not a step closer."
"Jazz!" Aurorah and Ana cried. He stood across from Barricade, on their other side, arms raised and guns thrumming in readiness. A vicious scowl was on his face.
~:Run Aurorah, you and Ana need ta get outta here why Ah distract him. Get ta Ratchet!:~ He told Aurorah as she and Ana ran past.
"Don't think I'll let you save the day, Autobot!" Barricade growled, watching as the two girls were getting closer to safety. Without further warning he reached down and grasped a human who had been running by around the waist. A shocked look came over Jazz's faceplate before the Decepticon grinned.
"Catch, Autoscum!"
A scream tore through the air as the poor, innocent human was slingshot through the sky. Jazz didn't even think before he reacted and raced to intercept it. He had just caught and set the human down when Barricade picked another up.
"Go long!"
This time the human was thrown like a football, aiming for distance rather than height. Jazz cursed as he was forced to chase after it.
"Oh my god, he's throwing humans!" Aurorah yelled when she looked behind her.
They heard Barricade laugh before he picked up a human in each hand and threw them as well. Jazz had barely put the second person down before he raced to catch the two who were flying.
"I really hope Jazz catches them in time." Ana said, worried for the innocent bystanders who were being used for Barricade's sick game of catch.
Jazz had just caught and set down the two scared humans when Barricade appeared behind him and drove a fist into his back. He grunted before rolling away from Barricade's next swing that grazed his visor. When had Barricade gotten so fast? Or was he just becoming slow.
Barricade gave him no room to breathe as he transformed the tire on his hand into a spinning wheel of spikes, charging him with the intent of ripping his face apart. Jazz used both hands to grab his wrist, stopping the spinning disk inches from his face. He didn't even have a second to think of his next move when he felt the cylinder of a gun on his midsection.
"Boom."
Shrapnel and energon burst from Jazz's midsection, the glowing of his spark chamber visible through the new hole. His hold on Barricade's wrist weakened and slowly slipped away. He tried to remain standing, but the energon was quickly draining out of him, the damage and pain assaulting his systems forcing him to shut down. He could do nothing as he heard the screams of Aurorah before his sight turned to static and he blacked out.
Ana felt like her heart had stopped beating when she saw Barricade shoot a hole through Jazz's midsection, right where he had been ripped in half by Megatron. It had then exploded inside her chest when she heard Aurorah's anguished screams. She saw her drop Deidara and collapse to the ground like a limp doll. She rushed over and knelt down next to her friend as she writhed in pain on the gravel parking lot.
"Aurorah! Aurorah, what's wrong?!"
"It hurts! Oh god it hurts!"
She was grabbing at her chest where her hearts was, eyes closed in anguish with tears and mixing with the black dirt on her face. Chocked cries came from her mouth and Ana was helpless to do anything as she sat there and watched. There wasn't any visible wound on her, nothing that could make her be in this much pain…unless…
She looked back towards Jazz and suddenly it clicked. The bond, it had to be the bond. Aurorah was feeling Jazz's pain.
Ana froze when a shadow fell over her. She had no doubt who it was.
"Don't make me hurt your little friend now."
She gulped and stared up into Barricade's eyes. There was such coldness in those red depths and yet she could still sense the fire lingering beneath. That cold fire that raged just out of her site. She tore her gaze away from his and stared back down at Aurorah; she had passed out from the pain and exhaustion. Ana couldn't help the tears as she heard him transform into his alt mode, tires creeping up alongside her.
"In. Now." He demanded and she heard the click of his back door open.
She didn't move from her spot on the ground. She was frozen. Was there nothing she could do? Wasn't this the time where she was supposed to be brave and figure out some witty plan to save Aurorah and herself?
A chill went through her body as a wire slid past her shoulder, hovering just above where Aurorah's heart was, metal claws closed into a point, waiting; poised and ready. A hiccup escaped her as more tears slid down her cheeks. She gathered her shaking arms and wrapped them under Aurorah's shoulders.
"Good girl."
She had just pulled Aurorah in behind her when the door slammed shut after them, Barricade's tires screeching as he drove off. Ana looked down at Aurorah's face in her lap and curled in on herself. She could only pray the Autobot's would rescue them in time.
"NO, YOU HAVE TO LET ME GO AFTER HIM!" Knockout yelled, the red plating of his new Aston Martin alt mode glistening in the late sun.
"Knockout, calm down. You know we can't go after them, we have to stabilize Jazz and get back to the base." Ratchet exclaimed, trying to calm the young medic. He grabbed the bots arm and dragged him over to the downed saboteur.
"Ratchet-"
"I know."
"Ratchet!"
"Slag you, you glitchhead, I know! But there is nothing we can do now. You may know some fighting skills but Barricade would destroy you. You wouldn't stand a chance and you'd help no one. Now stop complaining and help me." Ratchet barked angrily, but his anger wasn't meant to be directed towards Knockout, but towards his self, for being so weak and Barricade, for being such a slaggered as to use humans as meat shields, for being able to take out Jazz so easily. "Don't worry," he promised softly, "We'll get them back."
Dear Mind in Shock
I can't tell you how scared I am right now. I think I'm in shock, with how my heart is stuck in my throat and I can barely breathe.
I think the thing that scares me the most of os not knowing what Barricade will do to me. The look in his optic…the promised more than death…and I was scared of it, of him.
Please someone save us!
Save me…
Ana
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