Miko drew the thick fabric of her coat as the cold temperatures started to set in. She walked quietly down the pavement with her target in sight. She kept as far from Mr Barnaby as she could but still keep him in sight.
The streets were quiet with an occasional car driving past once every few minutes. She tracked him as he walked down one street, then turned down another and another. She relayed directions to Baines who was keeping track with a A to Z map of the town of Reading. Baines made guesses as to where Barnaby would go and dispatched the others to locations where they could pick up the target and take over following.
Bulkhead followed a street behind at the same speed the humans were walking at. He was concerned about Miko being on her own in the streets at night. His anxiety was worse now with the element of the Con's being thrown into the mix. He knew the young girl had a fearless attitude but he would never willingly let her into danger. He couldn't bare to think what would happen to her if the Decepticons should kidnap her. So he kept as close as possible without blowing the mission.
Barnaby walked down another street. Miko had been following now for ten minutes and was starting to get frustrated.
"He's turning left on..." She looked for the road sign "Kilnsea road"
"Kilnsea Road" Baines confirmed back through the shared communication link.
She continued down the street, keeping a good sight on Barnaby till it became clear where he was headed.
"Looks like he's going to the local store"
"Okay. Go inside and see what he does" Baines told her.
"Sure thing" She trotted off down towards the local shop.
Barnaby stepped inside the store with Miko closing in following seconds behind. She glanced quickly where he was and she immediately went somewhere else. The shop floor was rectangular with the four small aisles running the length of the floor. The door was to the left corner when coming in. Barnaby walked straight down the first one. Miko took the second. She spied through the shelves to see what he was doing. She observed as he went to the milk. She stopped parallel to him to see what his next move was.
She whispered into her mobile "Dude, his getting milk"
"Miko, never again on any circumstance must you call me dude" Baines relied with a slight hint of humour in his voice. Baines grinned and suppressed a giggle in his car.
Miko watched as Barnaby picked up a four pint bottle of semi-skimmed milk then walked back the way he came and swooped passed the end of the aisles to the till.
"I think that's all he came for. It looks like he's about to pay" Miko informed.
"Right okay. Everyone proceed to the nearest exit route from the shop. Miko I want you to head back to Bulkhead"
"What?! No way!" She protested in a whisper.
"I'm sorry what?" Baines said, amazed that someone would defy his orders.
"I need to stay here to see if he leaves or not. He could make a run out the back way" she countered.
Baines smacked himself on the forehead. He blamed his error of judgement on getting old "Sorry, you're right. When he leaves then come back to Bulkhead. Understood?"
"Okay" She manoeuvred down the aisle to get a view of Barnaby. He was at the till. The cashier scanned the milk, then Barnaby pointed to but a lottery scratch card. The cashier took one from the display and scanned that too. Barnaby handed over a ten pound note which the cashier accepted. Miko watched as the cashier sorted the change and gave that back to Barnaby. The two exchanged a pleasant smile and short chat the whole time. Miko guessed Barnaby came here often.
Barnaby left for the door. Miko made sure she wasn't spotted by turning her face at the right moment towards a shelf of sweets and chocolates. Barnaby didn't even register she was there.
Miko turned back again to see him leave. She had the mobile ready to say he was heading back, but Barnaby went through the door and carried on down the road.
"He's not going back. He's still going down the street" She told Baines.
"Get back to Bulkhead now" Baines instructed.
"Sorry need to see where he's going" Miko replied.
"Miko!"
Baines was annoyed. If she did something stupid, who knew what could happen.
"Jack, get there now"
"On it" Jack said back.
Jack was standing next to Arcee a few streets away getting cold.
"Hop on partner" Arcee instructed.
Jack climbed on and put on his helmet and the two took off towards Kilnsea road. Arcee raced down one street, then another at break neck speed. She understood the importance of getting there as fast as possible. They got to the end of Kilnsea road and Arcee pulled up at the junction.
"This is as far as I go. You'll have to walk it from here"
Jack removed his helmet and dismounted. And started to walk down Kilnsea road.
"Watch yourself" Arcee warned.
"Don't worry about me" Jack said back.
Jack kept to the shadows, trying to keep out of the light from the street lamps. The air was still cold as ever, the short burst of speed riding on Arcee only made him colder. But he fought through the cold. He could see the glare of a row of stores emitting light out into the orange glow. In front of the stores was a figure of a lone man. Clearly it had to be Barnaby.
Jack stopped where he was and hid behind a parked car. He crouched low enough to stay out of sight but not too much to see over the car roof. Barnaby got closer, he was approximately twenty yards away on the opposite side of the street. Barnaby walked past a fish and chip shop, then the closed post office and another unidentifiable store, maybe a charity shop Jack guessed. Then Barnaby stopped and stepped through the door of the next store.
Then he saw Miko appear from behind another parked car roughly the same distance from the other side of the store.
"Sir, he's gone into another store" Jack said to his mobile.
"Which one?" Baines asked.
Jack looked at the shop front, the name was fairly obvious as to what the shop sold.
"It's a liquor store by the look of it"
"Right okay. Best not go in, both of you. I don't think I should have to explain why. Just stay put and wait. I doubt he'll be long. I don't think he's an alcoholic" Baines joked which brought a wave of quiet giggles across the communication link.
The two stayed where they were. The night was still cold and showed no sign of getting warmer. The orange glow did nothing to remedy that so both were starting to freeze which caused both of them to start moving around on the spot in order to warm up. In these few minutes Baines instructed the others to move in close. Bulkhead had pulled onto the street and parked up close to Miko's position. Arcee stayed where she was and was joined by Baines parked up in his Jag. On the other end of the road Bumblebee was parked up carrying Raf and Fowler.
"Okay everyone. We're all getting cold now and I've had enough. When he comes out we'll strike" Baines commanded. Nobody disagreed.
Jack and Miko watched the door. Nobody else had gone in or out. Jack checked the time, Barnaby had been in there for five minutes. Must have been deciding what wine to get he presumed. Jack didn't know why, but would have imagined Barnaby as a wine drinker.
But he had to stop thinking as the door opened and out stepped Barnaby.
"He's leaving the liquor store now" Jack told everyone.
"Okay. Jack, Miko. Make him know we're here" Baines told them.
Jack and Miko stepped out from their hiding spots and crossed the street and towards their target. So far they hadn't been spotted. That was due to Barnaby checking his receipt. When he stuffed it in the plastic carrier looked back again and saw two kids standing in front of him, both seemed cross about something.
He recognized them but couldn't where from at first. The boy he seemed to ordinary and boring to be remembered, but the girl he certainly remembered. The black hair with pink highlights and pig tails were unmistakable. The it clicked the hotel, the tribunal. She had been sitting in the public gallery and kicked off having to be removed. All this went through his head in no more than two seconds. When under pressure the brain can sometimes work wonders. They were there for him and they weren't exactly looking for legal advice.
He lunged at them, pushing them aside. Both fell onto the floor and he made a run for it.
"Guy's he's running for it" Jack shouted knowing the others would hear through his phone.
It did. Everyone moved in. Bulkhead getting there first. Speeding down the street, mounting the pavement, blocking Barnaby's path. Barnaby dropped his bag, and glass smashed as it hit the paving slabs. He ran at Bulkhead and vaulted over the bonnet and continued sprinting.
"Scrap" Bulkhead cursed. Jack and Miko ran toward him hoping to catch up. Bulkhead opened his rear passenger door. "Get in" The two knew not to argue.
Arcee shot down the street with her hologram activated followed by the old Jaguar XJ MkIII. Arcee intercepted and did the same. Mounting the pavement. But she made a mistake. Barnaby dived between two parked cars and ran across the road.
Slam! Barnaby was struck by Baines' car. He rolled along the bonnet and up the windscreen and rolled back down again as Baines' slammed on the brakes. Barnaby rolled off and back on his feet and continued to leg it.
Baines cut the engine, took the keys out, got out of the car and made chase. Baines may have been getting on a bit but he wasn't slow on his feet either.
"STOP!" He commanded.
Arcee backed up and again shot down the street. Impressed with Baines' speed.
Bumblebee drove down the road from the other end and stopped short before having a head on collision with Arcee. Fowler jumped out and dived in front of Barnaby and tackled him to the floor. Both men struggled with Barnaby on top. Fowler tried to twist him round and put him to the floor but was met with an elbow to the face. Instinctively Fowler let go. No amount of training will change your bodies natural reaction. But before Barnaby could get up, Baines slammed into him and took him to the floor right next to Fowler. Fowler just got up and grabbed one of Barnaby's arms and locked it to the floor. This made it easier for Baines who did the same and the two quickly subdued the escaping man. Both of them had a knee on Barnaby's back with each hand holding down an arm and a leg. Then got their breaths back.
"Nice one Bill"
"You too"
Barnaby was hurling a mouth full of abuse at the two. Both ignore it.
Raf got out from Bumblebee holding a bag and a pair of hand cuffs. He handed them to Fowler one at a time. Fowler slapped the hand cuff to the left arm and forced the arm back and Baines brought the other closer to which Fowler slapped the other cuff on. They got the bag and lifted Barnaby's head by holding the jaw and put the bag on. Barnaby panicked when his sight was robbed from him. The two lifted Barnaby to his feet and dragged him over to Bulkhead who was ready to receive the prisoner. Miko got in the front seat with Fowler staying in the back with Barnaby. Jack and Raf returned to their guardians and Baines jogged back to his own car. When all were ready they all tore down the street towards their bridging location.
This had been a very horrible experience for Barnaby. Since that bag had been put over his head he had no idea what was going on. He was picked up and dragged over and shoved into a vehicle. Where it went afterwards he had no idea. He heard the the worst music to ever pass his ears while he was in the vehicle. He could guess it was the girls idea to play it. He had no idea where they were taking him or why. Nobody said anything in the vehicle for the time it was moving. But they didn't go far. He guessed they had driving to a place outside of Reading but no further than that. The vehicle stopped, where he had no idea. He was dragged out most likely by the dark skinned yank he guess. But then what he heard made no sense to him. He heard voices of others, but there voices sounded strange, he couldn't tell what it was that made it so, but it just sounded odd. But he could hear the sound completely alien to him. The sound of things moving, metal moving across metal or something similar. And metallic footsteps. He heard that sound before. He had a much better idea of what was going on. But he still had no idea of where he was.
He was dragged around to another place. The sound of his own steps told him he was inside a large place. He guessed in was an aircraft hanger but it was too warm inside. This only confused him more. Suddenly he was stopped and forced to sit on a chair to which he was tied to and was left there.
He was left alone for quite some time. He was starting to panic. Were they going to come back? What were they going to do if they did? His breathing became slightly erratic, a cold sweat came out and his heart pumped faster and harder. His body was preparing to fight whatever was coming. He had no idea how long he was left there. It could have five minutes or an hour.
Then he heard someone walking up towards him. Who? No idea. The person stopped right next to him and through the bag he could see a bright light was switched on. The bag was roughly removed and his eyes were blinded. He squinted but could only make out the shape of a person. Who? Still no idea.
"Where am I?" Barnaby demanded. "Why are you doing this?"
"I want the truth" Came Baines' voice.
"W-what?"
"You heard me. The truth"
Barnaby's sight slowly adjusted to the light and he saw Baines standing over him, then he stepped back and retrieved a chair that was close by. A simple metal chair usually seen outside cafés and restaurants.
Baines reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a cheap clear plastic lighter.
"You smoke?" Baines asked casually. Barnaby shook his head. Baines shrugged and lit a cigarette and started to smoke it.
"So tell me about who you work for. What sort of relationship do you share with them? Are you equal or are you an underling?"
"What? Who?" Barnaby's mind was all over the place.
"Who you work for. The ones that are making you do this"
"The- the Home Office?"
"No, not the Home Office. I'm talking about the Decepticons"
"What? What are you talking about?"
Baines took a long drag and breathed out slowly "So that's how you want to play it?"
Barnaby didn't reply. His mind was still frantic.
"MEGATRON!" Baines yelled "TELL ME ABOUT MEGATRON!"
"I don't know what you mean!" Barnaby shouted back. Both were starting to get angry.
"Look let's cut to the chase shall we? We know you are working for the Decepticons. Don't deny it any more. I want this whole matter over and done with as soon as possible. Because you know as well as I do that Michael has been put in prison because Megatron wanted it so, not for public safety"
Barnaby said nothing.
Baines asked many more questions but Barnaby refused to even speak.
"So, not saying anything now?" Baines asked, getting tired of asking.
Barnaby said nothing.
"We'll see about that" Baines finished his cigarette and stubbed it out on the floor and walked away into the darkness. Once again Barnaby was left by himself in the light. Where? No idea.
Barnaby was stuck to the chair. He tried to stand up and see if he could drag the chair and find a way out but the chair was a lot heavier than it first seemed so it hurt his wrists too much. He sat back down and did all he could do, wait.
A few minutes later, or so it seemed, Baines had returned but a sound of metal footsteps said he wasn't alone. The floor shook as a metal giant approached Barnaby. Both came into the light. Barnaby's attention was totally on the giant. He knew about Cybertronain's, Decepticons and Autobots. But he had no idea who the Cybertronian was standing before him was. From the impression Megatron had given he expected Autobots to be on the small side. The red and blue Autobot blew that idea out of the water.
"This is Optimus Prime. Leader of the Autobots. I believe you know all about him. I'm sure Megatron has filled you in?" Baines could see the utter shock on Barnaby's face.
"What is it? Never seen a Cybertronian before? Or were you expecting him to be smaller?"
Barnaby didn't hear what Baines said.
"Optimus, he's all yours" Baines stepped aside.
Optimus crouched down to see Barnaby more clearly. His optics were tight his mouth formed an angry frown. With tremendous force he punched the concrete floor forming a crater right in front of Barnaby, who yelped in fear. He was told how Autobots were never aggressive and were very passive. He was beginning to think if it was all a lie.
"Why?" Optimus asked, his voice was harsh and full of anger, but was tempered at the same time.
Barnaby trembled. His mouth was dried up and couldn't find his voice.
"Why?" Optimus asked again, his self control was dropping ever so slightly.
"Why, what?" Barnaby managed to speak.
"Why you have placed yourself with the Decepticons?" Optimus spat out the last word.
"I, I don't know what you-"
"WHY!?" Optimus bellowed. It terrified Barnaby who tried desperately breaking his cuffs. "WHY HAVE YOU PLACED YOURSELF WITH THE DECEPTICONS!?"
"Please-please you have to understand. I didn't want to. They made me"
Optimus transformed his right hand into a sword and pointed it very close to Barnaby's chest. All in one swift motion, as if he was going to do it anyway.
"Not good enough" Optimus said coldly.