Chapter 13- Questions
As the last helicopters were leaving, taking Bumblebee with them; Ratchet, Ironhide and Jazz had all returned to the bridge. As they quickly transformed in the shadows of the bridge, Jazz began to climb down, "Hang back, let me check it out". As he climbed down, Optimus slowly climbed down from under the bridge, and as he heard Jazz question him about helping Bumblebee, Optimus felt the heaviness in his spark increase as he slowly and sadly replied, "There is no way of helping Bumblebee without harming the humans". Ironhide then placed himself in front of Optimus, his blue eyes glowing fiercely, "The humans do not seem bothered about hurting Bumblebee. We can't just leave him Optimus, we have to help him". Optimus heard the unsaid plea in Ironhides deep voice, and he knew his decision to allow the humans to take the young 'bot would hurt the gruff weapons specialist the most, "We have to let the humans go, old friend. Bumblebee knew the risks when he chose to help Sam and Mikaela".
"So what that means we just let him get dragged away like a piece of scrap metal. It's not right, we have to help him". Optimus looked back at Ironhide, knowing that the large 'bot would not rest until he had the answer he wanted, "Easy Ironhide. We will track where they took Bumblebee, and work out a plan from there". Jazz looked over at Optimus and Ironhide, "But what about Sam and Mikaela? We can't leave them either". Optimus looked at Jazz, "We can only hope that the agents keep the sparklings with Bumblebee, which I think they will". Optimus then walked away from the others to where a small metal object was glinting in the reflection of his lights. Bending down he picked up what he realised were the all important glasses with gentle fingers; 'Sam must have dropped them when he fell', Optimus thought to himself as he held them up to the light. However as he looked at the glasses, that were so small yet so important, Optimus could only hope he and the other 'bots had protected the secrets they held, as that was the only reason the glasses would be worth the pain they had already caused to those lives that had become intertwined because of them.
oOoOo
On the drive to the government facility they had been transported to, the toll on their emotions and tired bodies, had finally proved too much for both Sam and Mikaela, both of them falling into an exhausted slumber; and when they awoke, dawn was breaking over a busy airfield. Mikaela instantly looked around as she climbed out of the SUV, wincing as her legs and other joints protested, as the aches and pains from the night before combined with the long car journey. She felt her heart sink though when her search showed no sign of Bumblebee, and once again she could hear his pain filled chirps ring through her head. Closing her eyes to try to fight back the tears, she felt Sam squeeze her hand, "We will find him Mikaela. Somehow. I'm not gonna let the only guy who has ever treated you the way you deserve to be treated get away that easily". Mikaela felt a small smile cross her lips as she saw the determined look in Sam's eyes, and squeezed his hand back gratefully, "Thanks Sam". As Sam pulled her into a hug, Mikaela leant back and looked at Sam questioningly, "So let me get this straight. Every normal guy I've ever dated, you've had a problem with, but I fall in love with a giant robot and that you're fine with?".
"They were all jerks. Bee isn't. Simple as that". In Sam's mind, it really was that simple. Okay it was slightly bizarre but Bumblebee was definitely several steps up the evolution ladder from the usual guys Mikaela dated, and even before Bee's heroics; Sam would have laid money on Bee protecting Mikaela to the last, which is what his best friend needed. Mikaela continued to gaze at Sam with a sense of wonderment as yet again her best friend continued to surprise her. Still holding hands, Sam and Mikaela warily followed the agent that was directing them towards a waiting helicopter, both feeling a very definite sense of mistrust as they listened to the agents reassurances that they would be safe. Sam climbed into the helicopter, followed by Mikaela; as they got seated and strapped in, Sam noticed the blonde haired girl sitting opposite them, whispering furiously to the guy sat beside her. Sam smiled as he saw the look on the guys face, it was the same shell-shocked expression Sam guessed he'd been wearing when he first saw Bumblebee for the first time. Sam turned to share this with Mikaela, but she was gazing out of the window quietly, thinking about Bee, wishing she'd tried harder to help him. As the helicopter began to lift up into the air, Mikaela felt her heart crack a bit more as she realised with a jolt, she still had no idea where Bee was, or even if he was okay. Her only saving grace was the small rational voice that kept quietly whispering to her that if the government had wanted rid of Bumblebee, they wouldn't have taken him away, and Mikaela was clinging to that thought with all her might.
Making an effort to steer her thoughts away from Bee and join in the conversation Sam was having with the other passengers, Mikaela asked the blonde girl how she'd ended up being involved. Maggie smiled at Mikaela, "Me? Normal day at work when I suddenly pick up some alien signal hacking the national network". Maggie tilted her head at a very unhappy looking Glen, "He kinda got involved by accident". Glen glared at Maggie unhappily, before he turned his attention to Sam, "So what did they get you for?". Sam shared a quick look with Mikaela before replying in a perfectly calm voice, "Cut a long story short. Bought a car, turns out it's a giant robot". Both Maggie and Glen whistled appreciatively, before Maggie turned to Mikaela, "What about you? How'd you get involved?".
Mikaela panicked over how to answer the simple question, and sensing her worry, Sam answered for her, "My car, the giant robot. Well turns out he had a giant crush on Mikaela here, and being the unconventional soul that she is, Mikaela had one back, so she's with the big guy. Any problems with that?". Maggie shook her head, "On a scale of strange and really bad things that have happened recently, I'm not gonna complain about anyone falling in love. What happened to the big fella?". As Sam relayed what had happened to Bumblebee to the other two teens; Mikaela switched off, she didn't need to hear it again, not when every time she closed her eyes the scene replayed over and over in her head.
oOoOo
It wasn't only Mikaela that was still thinking of Bumblebee's fate. It had played on Optimus's mind since he and the other Autobots had been forced to leave the young 'bot behind the previous night. Jazz and Ironhide had taken it particularly hard, and Ironhide was still quiet when Optimus climbed down from the roof of the abandoned building they had found to use as shelter. Optimus held up the battered glasses and gazed at them, before murmuring in a somber voice, "Please let this work", as he fired two concentrated beams of light from his optics through the scratched glass. Suddenly the scratches revealed a three-dimensional sphere that was an exact replica of Earth, and upon it a small pin prick of light glowed brightly. As Optimus saw the glowing light, he felt a weight lift from his spark as he realised he had found the location of the All-Spark, "The code on these glasses shows that the All-Spark is located two hundred and thirty miles from here". As he shut down the hologram, Ratchet looked over at Optimus, a troubled look in his optics, "I sense the Decepticons are getting ready to mobilise". Ironhide broke his silence, answering Ratchet in a gruff voice, "They must know it's here".
"But what about Bumblebee? We can't just leave him to die". Optimus raised his optics to look at Jazz, " We won't Jazz, do not fear. It appears Bumblebee is being held at the same site as the All-Spark. Bumblebee is a brave soldier, and should be able to cope until we can get to him". Jazz's optics brightened considerably as did Ironhide's as he gazed over at Optimus, "Let's hope so. Though why are we fighting so hard to save the humans? They are a primitive and violent race". Optimus gazed back at Ironhide through thoughtful optics, "Were we so different?. They are a young race Ironhide, and have much to learn, but I have seen real goodness in them, as has Bumblebee. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there is only one way to end this war, we must destroy the cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest to destroy it". Ratchet looked at Optimus with concerned optics, "But its suicide, the cube is raw power. It will destroy you both". Optimus looked back at Ratchet with resigned optics, "A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet. We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes". Optimus gazed out over the barren landscape, breathing heavily before gazing back at the Autobots who were his friends, and his family, with darkened optics, "It has been a pleasure serving with you. Now let us go find the cube, and Bumblebee. Autobots, roll out".
oOoOo
As he looked out of the windows and saw the Hoover Dam, Sam nudged a thoughtful looking Mikaela in the side as the helicopter began to descend, "Mikaela, hey. It's like some crazy school trip, remember to take notes". Mikaela smiled back at Sam, before whispering "Thank you", as she realised Sam was doing his best to raise her spirits, despite the fact that he too was desperately worried about Bumblebee. Sam could almost see Mikaela's thought process, and began to speak, "Look I'm just as worried about Bee as you are, really I am, but I just know he's gonna be okay". Mikaela looked at Sam through concerned and uncertain eyes, "How? How can you be so sure Sam? You saw what they did to him, how it was hurting him". Sam heard the wobble in Mikaela's voice, and he looked back at her calmly before answering her question, "Because he has you. That's why I know he'll be okay, he has you to fight for". Mikaela had to fight back the tears as she listened to Sams theory, and she hoped with all her heart that Sam was right, that Bumblebee would keep fighting for her.
A short while later they finally landed nearby the dam, and as the four teens climbed out of their helicopter, Mikaela became aware of the other helicopters landing around them. Several men in uniform exited the first one, followed by several important looking men in suits. Once again they were herded into a fleet of black SUV's and Mikaela couldn't help the shudder that ran down her spine as she fought back the previous nights memories, before climbing reluctantly into the car for the short drive onto the actual dam. Once they were on the dam the SUV's rolled to a stop, and Sam and Mikalea climbed out, stretching cramped muscles as they looked over the edge of the dam. As she watched the reflection of the sun on the water, thinking how much it looked like the light reflecting off of Bumblebees paintwork, Mikaela suddenly heard Sam's sharp intake of breath. Turning round, Mikaela narrowed her eyes threateningly as she saw Simmons walking towards them, along with another agent who neither she or Sam recognised. Simmons finally reached the two teenagers, and Mikaela fought the urge to just land a punch right on his smiling face, as he greeted Sam cheerily, "Hey kid. I think we got off to a bad start".
"No shit, Einstein". Mikaela couldn't help the sarcastic retort that escaped her lips at Simmons' attempt at friendliness, and he turned to face her, "You still here too?". Mikaela met Simmons' glare with one of her own, "Damn right I'm still here. I am going nowhere until I know what you've done with Bumblebee".
"What the pretty robot has a name?". Mikaela couldn't help the red mist that descended at Simmons' condescending tone, and she finally let the punch she'd been keeping in fly towards him. Sadly it didn't make contact as Sam caught hold of her hand, "He's not worth it Mikaela". Sam then turned his own determined gaze to a shocked looking Simmons, "Where's my car?". The other agent came forward and addressed both Sam and Mikaela, "Both of you, I need you to listen to me very carefully. People can die here, we need to know everything you both know and we need to know it now". Sam shared a look with Mikaela, before replying, "Yeah okay, but first we want to know what you're doing to my car, which yes has a name and a damn sight more personality than any of you stiffs. Then I want my parents, you may want to write all this down". Sam paused for breath, before tilting his head in Mikaela's direction, "Oh and her record, that's got to be gone. Like forever". Mikaela looked at Sam with a shocked expression, before she felt her face grinning in response as she heard the other agent agree to talk about it, but they needed to hurry. However as she began to walk, she froze, "Hey you still didn't answer our question about Bumblebee. Where is he?".
Simmons stopped and turned to look at Mikaela, and when he saw the determination in her eyes, he knew he was going to have to answer her question carefully as he had the distinct feeling that if he as much as hinted at the experiments that had been, and were still being carried out on the robot; every agent in the vicinity would be unable to stop the girls fury, so he answered in a flat voice, "He's here. That's all I can tell you". Mikaela felt her heart leap as she realised that her Bee was somewhere nearby, but she still felt that something was being hidden from her as she slowly followed Sam and the others into a deep chamber underground, her thoughts very much concentrated on her 'bot.
A/N: Back off my holidays :) This chapter has taken a few more days than usual as found it really hard to write for some reason! Hope you all enjoy though!
Oh and just a quick warning, I'm finally back at work as of Monday so will probably go to updating once a week, though will do my best to update quicker x