A/N- Hey guys! Just a warning, this chapter isn't my best work. I don't know why, but this episode in particular has always been a pain to right for me. So, basically, I wound up just trying to get it over with so I can get on to the more interesting part. I do not own transformers. Only Katie and the plot!
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The front tire hit the ground hard, jolting both Kate and Jack as they flew over the cracked pavement, the weathered restaurant disappearing from sight. Katie let out a high pitched cry, frozen as she clutched Jack's arm, electric blue eyes nearly glowing in alarm. Jack took a cautious glimpse back, but quickly diverted his anxious gaze as he caught sight of the two identical purple cars pursuing them, speed increasing with the second.
"Do not let go," a disembodied, female voice demanded, tone firm and unyielding yet panicked as the seemingly possessed motorcycle accelerated, putting as much distance as possible between them and the two speeding cars.
Jack wildly searched around them for the source of the voice, before finally deciding that it was, in fact, the 'cycle, though he could not find a rational explanation for what could be causing the occurrence. Kate yelped as they suddenly fell back, their two attackers pulling forward and closing the gap where they were a mere second ago, banging together with a loud 'clang' as orange sparks danced through the air.
The motorcycle swerved into a vacant alley, worn and beaten crates piled up against the weathered brick walls as soiled papers blew through with the slight breeze. Jack eagerly swept Kate into his arms and allowed himself to slide off, using the momentum to his advantage as he landed on his feet and took several faltering steps back. He put his free hand in the air, silently begging the seemingly haunted vehicle to stay back as he and Katie stared at it with wide, frightened eyes.
"What ARE you?" he demanded, voice hysterical as he clutched Kate against himself, tears brimming in her expressive eyes as she clutched his shirt in her small, tight fists. The 'thing' quickly circled around, headlights flickering on and blinding them as it rolled closer, engine revving threateningly.
"I don't exist," it growled, voice just above a raspy, tight and urgent whisper as it advanced and wheeled closer. "Tell anyone about me, and I will hunt you down." Torn between hatred and terror, Jack stumbled backwards, not allowing her out of his sight as he retreated. Finally wheeling around, he broke into a sprint as he proceeded down one of the many small, adjoining alleyways, taking swift, shaky glances behind himself as he went.
Katie breathed a sigh of relief, seeming to deflate as she saw the possessed 'cycle speed by, seemingly leaving them be, but froze as one of the same, hostile cars turned in after them, engine throaty and strong. Hearing, Jack picked up speed, avoiding the trash littering the concrete to the best of his ability as he ran. Legs burning and lungs tight from effort, he barely managed to keep a grasp on his sister as exhaustion set in, eyes watering as his footsteps echoed off of the stone walls.
"I don't even know her!" he angrily insisted, heart thudding painfully in his chest as the distance between them slowly closed. Katie hid her red face against him, tears welling in her eyes as she scrunched them close, a quick sob tearing from her throat as she released a shaky, cracking breath. Jack spared a quick glance down at her, and his features softened slightly. "It's gonna be okay, Kate," he assured her, shooting a dark, piercing glare at the shady car, windows tinted too much to tell who was driving. "I won't let them hurt you."
His expression of anger, dismay and fear quickly turned to one of confusion as a different, smaller, though equally as powerful, motor reached his ears, the soft growl quickly growing into a loud, ferocious roar. A loud 'bang' resounded from behind them, though he kept up his pace. Kate instantly grew alert, eyes brightening as she sharply inhaled.
Peeking out right as the scarily familiar blue motorcycle appeared beside them and matched their pace, she gasped, a tear streaking down her face as she screamed, her cry blood curdling. "Hop on!" the same voice demanded, her tone filled with panic and urgency as she latched her sensors onto the two humans. Seeing no better options, Jack reluctantly complied, swiftly reaching over with his free hand and forcefully grasping the handle before taking a blind leap and landing safely on the leather seat once more. He turned Kate around, sitting her properly on the seat as they merged onto the highway with ease, the other, normal vehicles oblivious.
Katie screeched in alarm as they swerved onto a different road, the motorcycle's side inches from the ground as they accelerated. Both riders panicked further, adrenaline coursing through their veins as numerous shots hit and cracked the sun-baked asphalt, leaving the stone charred and crumbling. Bullets barely missed their legs as they ricocheted off of the metal, sending hot sparks soaring.
"Why are those guys shooting at us?" the teen screamed out, the question turning into a cry of horror as they once again swerved.
"There's no us, kid, and they're no guys." She automatically replied, passing under a concrete bridge and, to her horror, appearing on an even more populated stretch of highway. She adjusted her mirrors to glance at the adjoining lane, and was relieved to see that backup had finally arrived as the familiar Autobot rolled into view, tires screeching.
Kate hesitantly turned her head, and immediately caught sight of the bright yellow sports car in the mirror. "Jack, look!" she demanded, frantically pointing in the direction of the vehicle as it rammed into the two purple ones, sending them swerving. Tires screeching as they attempted to slow, the yellow and black muscle car took the opportunity to catch up with the motorcycle, speeding ahead of the wrecking enemies.
Both humans watched in fear as the two cars regained control, one positioning itself in front of the other as they struggled, and failed, to get around the muscle car. Jack glanced down at the 'cycle in slight relief.
"Friend of yours?"
"Family,"
Accelerating, they soon came to the end of the road, the last stretch blocked with bright, neon signs warning of the sudden drop off ahead, and of the missing railing. "Jacky," Kate trailed off, fat tears rolling down her face and eyes growing in shock as they sped towards the side of the bridge. Jack didn't respond, mouth set in a grim line as he tightened his grip on both her and the handlebars.
They were in the air a matter of seconds, bursting over the side of the bridge and dropping like a stone. Both riders screamed in horror, expecting a crash and nearly falling off as they landed on a steep slope, front wheel off of the ground, only to be thrown into midair once again and landing at the bottom of the trench.
"Who ARE you?" Jack demanded as they swiveled to a stop, facing a shell-shocked boy whom Jack had seen numerous times at school.
"Call me Arcee," she replied, coming to a complete stop. The boy in front of them dropped his controller, mouth hanging open as his eyes widened in disbelief.
"You have no idea," Jack sighed, voice quivering from stress. Quickly gathering Kate into his arms, he looked down as the boy jogged over to them, standing beside Jack as he sat Katie down in between them. Grasping his sister's hand and raising an arm out to push the other boy back, he stared up in fear and amazement as the two cars followed the same path as they did. However, instead of simply landing, the three of them stared on in astonishment as the metal plating began to shift, clicking and grinding as it flipped, slid and twisted, some parts seeming to vanish completely as others appeared. By the time they hit the ground, where two ominous vehicles once would have been were two dark purple, menacing robots. They spun around in shock as the same noises resounded from behind them, and they were startled, though not surprised, to find the motorcycle doing the same, a light blue robot emerging from the flurry of metal.
Jack quickly shoved his two younger companions towards the wall as the two purple 'Cons unveiled identical cannons. Arcee lunged forward, side-stepping a blast before ramming into one of the two and knocking it to the ground. Ducking under the other one's fist, she unsheathed her own gun, rapidly firing and hitting him square in the chest. He stumbled back, but soon regained balance as his comrade rose to his feet.
Determined, and now angry, they showed no mercy as they charged their cannons and allowed them to fire. Dodging with surprising agility, the blue 'bot easily flipped over each shot, the heat barely grazing her armor as she looked for the opportunity to counter-attack.
"What are they?" the boy asked, pushing his glasses further up his nose as he stole a quick glance to Jack. The teen looked at him, barely able to tear his eyes away from the battle.
"Talking cars that turn into robots…. Or the other way around," he wearily replied, keeping a firm grasp on his sibling's hand.
"I'm Raf, by the way," the small boy introduced, smiling slightly.
"I'm Jack, and this is Katie," he replied, motioning first to himself and then to his sister. Their gazes immediately snapped back to the fight as they heard a loud clang and a familiar scream. They gasped as they found Arcee sprawled out on the concrete, still sliding from the momentum.
"'Cee!" Kate yelled out in her panic, and Jack barely had time to yank her into his arms before she burst onto the battlefield.
"She'll be fine, Kate. See, she's getting back up." Jack reassured her, watching in dismay as she struggled to regain footing.
"Guys, look!" Raf called out in excitement, pointing upwards. Both Jack and Katie glanced up in surprise, looking up soon enough to see a black and yellow robot, the same as the muscle car, they guessed, plummeting downwards, and landing with a 'bang'. It was then that one of the two drones glanced down, visor glinting in surprise as he caught sight of the three distressed humans. He looked to his comrade, who gave him a grim, stoic nod, and he moved towards them.
"This is when we run," the teen demanded, shoving Raf forward and sweeping Kate into his arms. "Go! Now! To the pipe!" He pointed to a large drain built into the wall, more than likely used to drain excess water that gathered in the canal.
"He's gaining on us, Jack!" Raf called out in dismay, sprinting to the tunnel.
"Keep going!" Jack reached the pipe first, quickly detaching Kate from him and shoving her forward before boosting Raf up as well. He scrambled in right as the drone arrived and knelt down, reaching a hand in after them.
"Faster!" Raf demanded, looking up in fear as a clawed hand hovered around them. Suddenly, it was yanked back, and all three skidded to a halt and turned. They were greeted with a much friendlier face, that of the black and yellow muscle car. He bleeped urgently, high-pitched buzzes echoing through the damp tunnel. Raf nodded, glasses sliding down his nose as he tightened his grip on his backpack.
"Thank you," he replied. The robot warbled, and then backed away.
"Let's go," Jack suggested, putting a hand on both of his companion's backs and urging all three forward.
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"…And if I hadn't have been distracted by the humans," Arcee spat, moodily crossing her slim arms across her chest as she glared darkly into the air, "The 'Cons would have been scrap metal!"
"Humans?" the tall, red and blue robot questioned, optics tearing away from the green screen of the monitor as he directed his full attention to the report. The black and yellow scout buzzed beside her, sounding oddly like a deflating balloon as he raised two fingers. "Two boys," he remarked, baritone voice laced with interest and concern, kind optics bright in distress.
"And a human sparkling, female," Arcee added with a sigh, uncrossing her arms as she frowned. Turning completely and squinting as he scrutinized the pair, he frowned deeply, mind clouded with fear.
"A sparkling?" he reiterated, voice neutral and appearance calm as he masked his worry and guilt.
"Looked to be, and the other two acted like she was." The femme replied, scowling. The Prime vented, optics brightening as he rapidly searched for a way around the inevitable. Finding none, no matter how hard he searched, he dreadfully came to his conclusion.
"Tomorrow," he began, voice grim. "You and Bumblebee must find them and bring them back to base. They are most familiar with you, and will recognize you, as well."
"Optimus, with all due respect, do you really think it's a good idea to bring them here? We'd be making them an active part of the war, and one of them can't be over two!" Arcee countered, optics bright in disbelief.
"I realize that, Arcee, and it pains me to do so. However, if we leave them be, they would be in even more peril. If the Decepticons are targeting us, anyone perceived as our ally will be at grave risk." He reasoned, optics glinting slightly. Bumblebee buzzed in dismay, optics dim and downcast.