What We Never Knew Chapter 3
A/N: Um hello everyone. I realized that the beginning of the next chapter actually fit better at the bottom of this chapter so here's the updated part. So Everyone Good Reading!
I had been right a week later my sluggish systems had cleaned up the bruising and there was only a little soreness left. I had a scar on my right temple from the building debris. Over the next month I packed up Kali's things and put them by the door; if she ever came back for them. Under my bed I found my old bag. It had a full easel strapped to the bottom of it and inside were a few broken sheading brushes. And to my luck the art supply store was having a sale on canvas and paint over the span of two weeks I bought what I needed.
Over this time span of I had heard stories of the robots I had seen. They were called Autobots. They were aliens stranded on earth. Their leader was Optimus Prime. I think this is where the facts stop and the rumors begin because I started hearing some wild stories; things like they had kidnapped Sari Sumdac and were forcing her father to repair their ship. Or that they drew energy from organic creatures and other crazy things. I dismissed them only because I had been face to face with the black and… with Prowl and I didn't get that reading off of him.
It was about early morning when I decided to head to the island outside of Detroit. I had been taking a few commissions and I was tired of people asking for Autobot paintings and me having to tell them that I don't have any. Which they would go either two ways one was to chew me out and leave while the other was making me paint their ugly dog. Don't get me wrong; I love dogs but these people had some ugly dogs. Yet with those commissions I was able to save some money to catch the ferry over.
Making my way to the docks on foot I heard people taking about that dinosaur educational thing or whatever it was. Something had happened, an accident. The three main robots had been nearly totaled. Rumors were that it was one of the Autobots' fault either the big green one; whose name was something from a ship or the little yellow one; with the name Hornet (I believe), depending on who you asked.
It was hard to get away from the talk of the Autobots. Everyone from the street performers during their rests to the grocery store clerks were talking about the strange robots. More and more people wanted to know about them, wanted photos of them wanted paintings and it was driving me nuts. I did commissions to pay rent but I hated it. Painting is something I had stumbled into years ago when I had been in New York. I wasn't tagged by the council yet.
I was being paid to be some guy's model, damn can't even remember his name. Yet the pay was good and all I had to do was hold a pose for an hour or so. Well he was prone to fits of rage and in one of them he threw the canvas my way. By the time I noticed it was when the paint side slacked me in the face. Well I broke the guy's nose.
So while he was passed out cold I prowled around his place looking for anything to take as compensation. I mean come on I had to dye my hair, again. Well he had nothing so I took his brushes; maybe that's why mine were stolen. Karma biting me in the ass. Strangely on my way out I turned back to a blank canvas leaning against the wall. It seemed to call to me and I went to town without a second thought. After some time the painting was done and I stalked out of the apartment with a cooler head. Painting always calmed me down but fuck did I ever hate taking orders from people.
Thinking about orders I needed to report in on the lack of evidence or a trail or anything to do with one of us being here. I hated doing this; tracking down new blood just to hand them to the Council. It made me feel dirty.
"Hey lady, you want somethin'?" A gruff voice broke through my thoughts and I was pulled back to the reality of the world. I looked up at a bald man. His pudgy face was twisted in annoyance behind the sheet of bullet proof glass. I scrubbed my face with my hand before glancing around. How in hell did I get to the docks that fast?
"Ah yeah I need a ferry ticket." I said pulling several crumpled bills from my pocket.
"Same day return?"
"Yeah." He typed lazily on the computer to his left and a blue ticket popped up on in front of him. Paying the grumpy man I took my ticket and went past him placing it in my pocket. The ferry was a really old boat that when even the lightest of person stepped on the wood would creek and moan from the weight. Its paint was a faded red and white paint that was peeling in places.
The ferry was pretty much empty as I stepped up to find a seat. There was a man and woman dressed in some strange clothing holding their son up to see over the railing. An older woman sat just in sight near the bow of the ferry. The gray haired captain gave me a smile and a nod as I passed. I returned the gesture. I settled down on one of the rail seats, where I could see the loading area and tucked my bag next to my hip. The boat bobbed in the water stationary for a few more minutes than the captain walked down the loading plank and off the ship.
He spoke to the man in the ticket booth for a moment that came back up closing the gate of the ferry and walked by me. As he passed I spotted another passenger across from me. What the hell? When did he get here? A ping of fear shot though me. Clearly it was a man but his face was hidden by a wide brimmed hat. I leaned back against the railing and glanced over the side as we cast off.
I could feel eyes watching me. It had to be the man; he wouldn't let me see his face. He had to be the one watching me. Looking back over at him I flinched as he adjusted the way he sat. Long legs stretched out in front of him as he placed his hands in his pockets. Ok so he was tall and looked to be built like a brick house. The only beings that would be looking for me like that were the Enforcers, the Council's guard dogs.
Enforcers were tall, very tall and didn't just look built like a brick house they were. They were stronger physically than anyone else I knew and they had the speed on their advantage too. Yet their faults were number; they didn't corner well or jump. They weren't all that smart either; which was great because none of these would help me on a small boat. One sure way to know it was one was to see his face. Their faces were scarred from training and they wore them as a badge of honor. Sure they would keep them hidden from humans but me? Enforcers normally were sent to drag you back to the Council.
We were nearly half way to the island when the man stood. I tensed as he stepped towards me. With each lumbering step he came closer and I started to focus. If he attacked I could at least use him as a spring board launching myself into the water. I wonder; can Enforcers swim? The man grunted as he dropped in the spot next to me. I could feel my focused power licking at my fingertips waiting to be released.
"Can I help you?" I tried to sound calm but my voice shook slightly.
"Yeah…um…" He paused making a sound. Did he just make a gagging noise? I tipped my head. "Do you…" He gagged again. Gods he's going to puke on me! Leaning away I searched my pockets I know I had some thing. My hand brushed across a bag and I produced a bag with several peppermint sticks.
Sticking one in my mouth I held one out for him. He nodded and took it. Sure it wasn't the best cure for sea sickness but it helped me. I suffered from it now and again but the worst thing was flying. I was the person locked in the bathroom for the whole flight losing my guts.
Tipping forward I looked at his face and flicked my right hand releasing my power from it. He was normal well at not sure about normal but he was human. I rose to my feet and walked to the front of the little boat passing the strangely dressed family. I pressed my back into my bag as it rested against the wall. Closing my eyes I took several breaths relaxing the tension in my system. I was calm for a second when dread washed over me.
I tried to move too late. A sleek arm was shoved under my chin pressing on my throat holding me in place. Opening my eyes I looked down at the old woman I had spotted before. Her image waved and began to fade.
"Fu…ck!" I snarled as the image began to clear.
The old woman that once stood before me straightened up towering over me by nearly a half foot. Damn I should have known it was her. They always sent her. Black hair done in a longer style pixie cut hid those black eyes that would be forever burned into my soul. A tongue slipped between her plump red lips and she licked my cheek.
"Hello Angela." Cold and daggers that's all that ever came out of her mouth.
I grunted. "Nadia."
Nadia had once been my partner. We worked hundreds of cases together. This twisted mind that stood before for me was my doing. It was my fault for not getting her out in time. Guilt flooded my systems removing the dread of my own demise. My eyes dropped to the ground. "I'm sorry Dia."
There was a long silent pause between us, then her arm moved. I dropped to the deck. It was wet and cold but I couldn't move. Guilt and shame held me to the spot. "You would let me kill you, wouldn't you?"
It would never make up for what I did. Still I nodded. There was a disgusted sigh and a hand in my face. Glancing up I locked eyes with empty black voids but there was something there. Nadia pulled me to my feet and jerked her hand away.
"Don't be a coward." Her voice was sharp as she snapped at me. She was ashamed of me. I know that but I could never raise a hand to her not after everything we went through and what I couldn't save her from. "I have an adjustment to your assignment." She said propping herself against the railing wrapping her arms into the metal.
Nadia's looks hadn't changed. While the rest of us tweaked our appearance so not to be noticed she refused too. She was built sleek and slim that was to deceive others of how strong she really was; which would be proved by the bruise I was going to have. I rubbed my neck and leaned next to her. Her flawless skin was nearly golden in the light. I glanced at my arm splatted with freckles. I looked out into the water suddenly feeling inferior.
"Adjustment?"
"More like an addition." She pulled an envelope out of her jeans and held out the crumpled item.
Inside I looked at five crisps one hundred dollar bills and a small vile of energy. "What the hell?" I snapped looking up at her. Nadia never flinched or looked at me.
"They saw your stunt, saving that little human." I was screwed. "They thought you might need a new one." They wanted to keep my mind fogged.
"Don't touch the stuff anymore." I held it out to her. "Take it back."
Nadia looked at me for a second. My hand was twitching to keep the vile. A half smile crossed her lips. "Wish I could but can't, it's a sample of the new stuff. They made it more potent. Less needed more of the charge. I will inform them that you're clean now."
"So this adjustment?" I said slipping the vile in my pocket.
"You are to keep an eye on the Autobots."
"An eye on them?" I tweaked a brow upwards. "As in infiltration? I'm awful at that shit. They should just send in Kali or Nile. They make friends fast, enough."
"NO!" Nadia snapped reminding me she wasn't my friend anymore. "You are just to observe them. You don't need to get involved with them; you don't need to help that kid at all." She unwrapped herself from the railing to stand over me. "You don't even need to speak to them. Just observe." I swallowed hard holding back a shiver at the cold look she gave me. They were viscous almost daring me to challenge her. "Watch them nothing more."
The boat jerked to a stop and swayed in the water. I looked away first. "Fine." I half growled. "I needed to get some paintings of the bots anyways." Walking away from Nadia I made my way past the other passengers and down the gangplank. As I stepped onto the dock I adjusted my bag and looked back to see she had followed me. The captain rose the plank back up after a minute and started back across the lake.
Nadia was leaning over the railing watching me. She was ripping something. Something blue. My hand dropped to my pocket. I checked my other, just as empty as the first. That was my ticket. Well it had been now it's confetti.
"Gods be damned." I snarled and trudged off into the forest.
A/N: Hi guys I will be adding the next chapter by Wednesday morning. Thanks Guys.