Of The Heart And Spark
Part 1
Chapter 2
The music was comforting at least. If not for the fact that Bumblebee was the one driving, Fera could have imagined herself back with her mother. It seemed like such a long time ago. But according to the clock on Bumblebee's dashboard, it was only 5:30. Only two hours ago. How far would that get them?
"Where are we?" Fera finally spoke up, not having said a word since Bates county. Bee buzzed and clicked, static filling the air as he searched. "Missouri...United States of America...planet Earth...the Milky Way Galaxy" he seemed so proud of his answer. As proud as you could sound over the radio. Fera sunk into the seat and patted the steering wheel. "No, no silly. I mean where in Missouri?" she gave a small chuckle and Bumblebee somehow emitted a hum. Abruptly, a light flashed before Fera. She gasped and sat up straight, startled.
Before her was a grid version holographic map of Missouri. They were halfway across the map, near the counties of Miller and Moniteau. Small blinking lights flashed all over the united states, four of them right where Fera and the others were. There were only less than 30 in total however, and Fera began to wonder what they were. There was a small cluster of these lights at Chicago, Washington D.C, and San Diego California.
Fera was curious about the map, so she lifted a hand to lightly touch the floating thing, happily finding that it reacted to her touch. She zoomed out the picture and saw a flat map of the rest of the continents, finding at least one blinking light on each continent. She zoomed in again and sat back. "Bee? Where are we going?" she asked, looking to the radio. The scan button was held down by some unseen force and the radio jostled and stumbled over itself.
"To our...base here...in Missouri to...meet." he said, giving up on the stations. He didn't play the music though, probably knowing Fera wasn't finished. "Who are we meeting with? Is it Optimus?" she wondered. Bumblebee gave one happy buzz and then let the noise die off. Who was this mysterious figure they kept mentioning? Maybe it's some secret man from the government, Fera thought. Dad dealt with them a lot. I wonder what they do with people who find out about these cars. Nervous ticks fluttered in her stomach as she thought of just what may happen.
Then her attention was suddenly grabbed by an old toy that hung off Bumblebee's rearview mirror. It was a flat, faded bumblebee shaped decoration with a small disco ball hanging beside it. Fera gave a short laugh and gently touched the decoration between her two fingers, wiping away the dusty film that was there. "That was...Sam's." Bumblebee noted over the radio waves. Sam? Fera released the small decoration and looked down at the dash with a knitted brow. "My father knew a boy named Sam. He said he was a brave kid. Who was he?" she asked, crossing her legs on the seat.
Bumblebee took a moment before he answered, and Fera repetitively kicked herself mentally to remind herself what she was really doing. A robot car. And she was talking to it. "Family." Bee said simply. It didn't sound like something from the radio. It was too clean-cut and clear. So he could speak. "I'm sorry if it bothers you to talk about him. It makes me sad to talk about my dad sometimes. He died when I started high school about four years ago. He was on a mission and he'd been injured not long into it. He was sent home and a few weeks later, he just...died." she felt her throat tightening up at the memory, visions of her father laying on the bed with his face as pale and listless as it had been squeezing her sore heart.
Bumblebee gave a long, comforting buzz as she dropped her eyes momentarily. Grabbing her necklace, Fera nodded, giving a smile and rubbing the building tears from her eyes. "It's ok. I was proud of him then and I'm proud of him now. He gave me this before he died." she opened up her palm and showed the air her necklace.
There was a high, appreciative whistle from the car that Fera couldn't help laughing at. "Ya, I know. I like it too." she looked up and saw the same symbol on Bumblebee's steering wheel that she'd noticed on Ratchet's side when she first witnessed him. She then glanced up and looked at the other cars, seeing the same emblem on each. "What's this symbol?" she laid her hand on the wheel and stroked her thumb across the indented metal. He searched the stations, but seemed to find nothing. There was a crude sound from Bumblebee's engine and then a roaring. Fera became confused and slightly concerned.
"It's the-" it was the same voice that had said "family" earlier. Bumblebee cut off again as a loud choking noise started up and the vehicle jumped, shaking Fera. Obviously, it was difficult for him to speak. "Bee, are you ok?" it was a completely different voice over the radio. It sounded like Ratchet. As if on cue, the greenish-yellow Hummer slowed its pace and drove beside the Camaro. Bumblebee responded by a click and a confident hum.
"Well don't strain your vocal processors. We don't want you to hurt yourself." he said with an edge of concern. Fera blinked. Concern? Was it even possible for robots to feel emotion? Fera had seen the smile on Bumblebee's face earlier, but she had though it was only just an illusion. "Fera, what had you asked of him?" Ratchet addressed her directly, causing the young woman to jump.
It was the first time she had ever been asked anything by a truck. And a live one at that.
Looking out the side window, she watched the Hummer as she answered, "Many things actually. The one he had tried to answer was about the symbol on his wheel. Like the one on your your side." she said as calmly as she could. The soaking wet hair that she had placed back into her hood now had bled through her shirt and she gave a shiver at the cold. The seat suddenly began to warm and Fera gave a soft "thanks". "That symbol is one of choice. It means freedom for all those who have the option of choosing so. For all sentient beings." Ratchet said, catching Fera's attention.
"It is a symbol we have protected for millenia and over, all for the sake of peace and justice and freedom. Do you understand?" he asked softly. Fera nodded and then realized he couldn't see her inside the cabin. "Yes. I do." she shifted and placed her feet back on the floor, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets and sitting back against Bumblebee's warm seats. "My dad had actually worn it as well around the house." Fera said, giving a small, sentimental chuckle.
"I'd ask him what it was and he'd tell me the same thing every time: peace. And when I'd tell him to teach me more he would just pat my head and tell me one day I'd know." the smile left her face and she studied the dashboard in silence. Neither Ratchet nor Bumblebee responded to Fera's memory. What could they say? It was a human matter. They shouldn't even care.
Fera settled in to Bumblebee's steering wheel and she wrapped her arms around her chin, allowing her heavy eyes to close and let her drift off into sleep. She could warily hear the conversation between the two robot cars before the darkness overcame her.
"Who do you figure her father may have been?" Ratchet murmured over the radio. Bumblebee whirred quietly and Ratchet huffed. "Well it couldn't be Sam and Carly. They had a son named Daniel. The other sergeant had four small daughter and a son, to which should all be older than this one by now." Ratchet seemed frustrated, somehow trying to pull down a process of elimination. "It must have been one of the soldiers on base at the time." he decided, evidently giving up on the matter. Bumblebee buzzed and gave a short click, not saying a word, radio or otherwise.
Ratchet, seemingly over the matter, didn't say anything and his fuzzy silhouette picked up pace. The darkness became heavier, muddling her thoughts and slowing both her heart and her breathing. Would this all be gone when she was asleep? Maybe it was all just a dream...
"This is Optimus to team, we are..." it was such a soothing voice. Fera smiled into her arms. Maybe it was all just a dream...
It was the revving of the engine that woke Fera. She was dreaming of the last time her father and her had been together, playing in the field in summer. The sun was warm on their faces and Fera laughed happily. Her father was grinning from ear to ear, his uniform like a second skin as he wore it once again before he left for the mission.
"Fera!" her eyes shot open and she threw up her body. It was dim around her, nothing but the dull lights on the outside of the car and the glowing lights of the dashboard clearing her head. The smell of wet concrete and sulfur met her nose and Fera knitted her eyebrows in confusion. Where am I? she wondered, looking out the windshield. Groggy, and not fully aware of what was happening around her, Fera squinted her eyes.
Four tall structures composed of differing plates of metal, wires, and bolts met her view. She blinked, studying them harder. There was a metal ball on the backs of one of their figures, spinning anytime the pole moved. There were also splayed bands of metal by the very bottom of the pieces, giving balance to whatever sit atop. Whatever sit atop...
Fera's eyes grew wider as she slowly peered up the pieces to the source. Those plates connected to other bands of metal, wires, and bolts or poles, getting larger until she met the face of an annoyed-looking robotic creature. So it hadn't been a dream. For some reason, she felt relieved by that realization.
Bumblebee was the one who had revved his engine, trying to wake Fera. "Thanks for not shocking me again." she mentioned, getting an excited whirr from the joyful creature. The door of the car opened, allowing Fera to step through. She stood up on the outside, immediately feeling the vastness of the space and the chilliness that came with it. It was a large, concrete room, at least 200 feet high with steel rafters supporting the roof Scaffolds hung either high, or low enough to be eye level with one of the robots.
Soldiers in uniform were walking the structures, strolling past the robots like they were a normal, everyday thing. Fera gaped up at the lights and sounds and just about everything that was where she was at. She found herself watching curiously as Ratchet went to go sit on a large steel box. Loud bangs and metallic clanks started up behind Fera and Bumblebee moved into view,walking towards Mirage. Sol, the supposedly newest on earth, was standing up against the wall, watching her. Was it interest, or derision in his features? Fera gave up and instead found Ratchet fiddling with something in his hands. He lifted a hand and it suddenly shifted, reasserting itself in a sort of blowtorch.
Fera couldn't believe anything that was going on around her. Random people walked by without paying her much attention, dodging the feet of the robots as they passed. A few of them even called a greeting to the arrivals.
The grey, still walls were somewhat lifeless and constricting. She felt closed it and small despite the large openness of the room. She rubbed her arms and looked between them all standing before her. "I don't understand how you all can stand this place." she said, taking another chance to look around. The ceiling was so far away that the lights that hung from it seemed to make up its surface.
"It's so...lifeless. And it is almost claustrophobic." she moved her arms and began to take off her jacket, promptly tieing it around her waist. Ratchet and Sol looked to her and then each other, a smirk on both their faces. Bumblebee was looking up, turning slowly in a circle as if he too had just arrived. Mirage was flipping the blades at his wrists in and out, seeming bored with the deadly weapons.
What were they all waiting for? It seemed like they were all just sitting here, idly wasting time. Where they all just cooped up here? All the time? Fera couldn't imagine. She gripped the charm around her neck again, finding comfort in its presence.
Strangely enough, she could never figure out exactly what the charm was, or what it meant. But she did know this: it had been very important to her father, so it is now very important to her. She looked down on it a moment, rolling the stone between her fingers. It was almost glass-like, with a diamond shape and four flat faces on each end of the wide middle. An octahedron- as it was accurately called. The sides of the shape were long and slim, with the bottom end set in an almost needle-like point.
It gave off a chilling sense, yet it was also beautiful. Fera didn't know why, but it was very familiar. It always had been, yet she couldn't sense why. Her dad had mentioned while giving it to her that it had come from a dear friend, lost to him in the war. He never talked much about it though. Fera was too young to remember it. Maybe. Just maybe she could recall something. But then it would only fade, leaving her frustrated and on edge to tears. The chain of the necklace gave a soft jingling sound as she clenched it.
"Yes, Ratchet here." Fera looked up from her solitary moment, seeing the greenish robot now standing on his feet, his hand by what Fera assumed was his ear. Sol looked up from his spot on the wall and Bumblebee and Mirage also looked over at him. "Confirmed." he paused, "Yes, the human girl is here with us." he looked up at Fera and she froze, charm in hand. "No, the Decepticon attack was just a rouse. Apparently our presence here was for nothing." he again fell silent, "She's planning something, I know it." Ratchet had gotten a hard tone to his voice, causing an uncomfortable sense to tighten in Fera's chest. "Affirmed. Out." Ratchet dropped his hand and jerked his head down a hallway cut off from the rest of the room. It looked to have a layered sheet attached to it, used as a door of some kind. Mirage pushed off the wall and followed Ratchet into the room, the steel door closing behind them.
Bumblebee, seeming bored already, moved across the room to get down close to Fera's level. He tapped the floor to get her attention and she jumped, locking her ankles together on accident and then falling hard once again to her bottom. A hearty laugh came from Sol at seeing the female fail at her coordination. She winced and then whipped around to glare at the robot, now completely sure he was some form of male. Bumblebee whirred and hummed in concern at seeing her fall and Fera waved a hand, shaking her head. "No, it's ok Bumblebee, you just scared me is all. I'm not a ballerina either, so that doesn't help." she began to stand and Bumblebee offered a finger. Fera's clumsiness left her abashed as she let him help her up. "Thanks. Again." she said, rubbing her backside. Bumblebee gave a series of clicks and then a smile before sitting.
His legs jutted out as they were unable to completely fold because of the uneven plating of his legs. He gave a few small noises, watching Fera expectantly. She rubbed the back of her neck, unsure what exactly to do.
"Um, Bee? I don't know what you want from me." she finally admitted.
Bumblebee gave a clear, prominent shrug, once again watching Fera. She let her hand fall back down and then looked back at Sol. He put up both hands, excluding him from help. "Hey, don't look at me, I've never had to entertain a cyberling before." he said, crossing his arms again. Fera rolled her eyes and looked back to Bee before doing a double-take. "Wait," she looked back at Sol, "what's a cyberling?" she questioned.
Sol look down at her with his teal blue eyes, not answering right away. "What is it you call your youth on this planet?" he inquired. Fera rubbed her hands together and then looked down at them. "Children. Or in my case, a teenager. It depends on the age." she looked up at Sol and found him paying only vague attention. He didn't really seem that curious.
"Well, in the stages of a Cybertronian's life, we go in this order:" he held up his hand, "Sparkling," he held up a mechanical finger, "youngling," another finger, "cyberling," another finger, "and then Cybertronian." he set his hand back on his arm and looked to Fera. She in turn glanced back to Bumblebee. "So you're almost a complete adult." she said, giving a smile. Bumblebee nodded, raising a hand.
Fera found herself reaching for it before she could even think, gently taking up one of his massive fingers. The rough scrapes and scratches that littered the surface were like the genetic codes on a person's finger. Fera came closer, no longer afraid, examining the piece closer. Surprisingly, it wasn't even cold. In fact, it was actually pleasantly warm...
"Sol?" she questioned absentmindedly, not taking her eyes off Bee's finger. "Hm?" he grunted. Fera took a finger and placed it on Bumblebee's palm, slowly dragging it up the digit until it strayed on the edge. "What's a Cybertronian?" she asked, now using her thumb to lightly press the tip of Bumblebee's finger. Sol didn't answer right away, so Fera looked up at Bee. He was looking down at Fera's hand, oblivious to the conversation.
Sol was not peering her way anymore. The silence was almost unbearable. She instead looked back at Bumblebee's hand, dropping the subject. It obviously was a touchy one, and she didn't want to push anything. Not after learning of these fascinating creatures and finding their human-like qualities.
Deep, heavy steps came from the same direction Ratchet and Mirage had left, and Fera didn't look up to know it was them. Sol didn't say a word. And neither did Bumblebee.
Then the steps stopped. A pulse of air hissed out of a pipe. Fera stopped tracing Bee's hand.
"A Cybertronian is an inhabitant from the planet Cybertron. Ourselves being included in this group, including all the others that dwell on Earth." that same voice. The soothing one she had heard over the radio before she had fallen asleep. Fera turned, dropping Bumblebee's hand and instead finding herself almost bending backwards to see the face of the bot that stood before her. This was not Ratchet.
He was much taller than any of the others Fera had thus met. Legs covered in intricately placed metal parts created two wide feet for the high 'bot to balance. Wheels hung on his hips, with what could only be the stomach being made up of even more overlapping and puzzled parts. His body was covered in flaming red and blue decals, with other solid panels scattered around. Two windows sat across his broad chest with mighty metal arms hanging from high shoulders. A masked face stood out with a dark blue helmet and bright blue eyes, a crest attached to the headgear. And between the two windows on his chest he wore the proud symbol of freedom and peace that Ratchet had told her about.
Optimus came even closer to Fera, making her feel ever the smaller. To make things even more overwhelming, Bumblebee left her to face the mechanical tower alone. Optimus lowered himself to get closer to Fera, the mask across his face sliding off like the knife on a sharpener.
"My name is Optimus Prime. As you must have witnessed, our kind has the abilities of reforming ourselves into your earth-based mechanical vehicles." the pipe on his shoulder hissed again and a small white cloud burst from the opening to dissipate into the air. "I am the leader of a series of Cybertronian beings called Autobots. We are in alliance with your government, and we mean no malice towards you or your race." He paused again.
"What is your name young one?" Optimus asked, two narrow slits over his incredible blue eyes closing and then opening again like eyelids. Fera opened her mouth and then snapped it shut, staring in shock at who was before her. She couldn't answer. Her voice was lost to her. She couldn't. She was too nervous.
But Optimus said nothing, waiting. And waiting. How one could have so much patience, Fera was unsure.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she uncurled her fingers from around her necklace. "My name is Fera Lennox." she finally answered, taking deep, even breaths. Was the air always so thin? Optimus hadn't said anything right after, but he just stood. Fera took a step back and couldn't help her hand as it snapped to her charm again. Optimus' hand motioned to Bumblebee and the smaller bot stood at the attention. "Bumblebee, take Fera to an informer. Our new guest should be acquainted." Bumblebee gave an understanding buzz and then he moved to Fera. "We shall get another chance to conference soon." Optimus reassured before turning away. There was something in the massive robot's voice tone that Fera found confusing. It was something between interest and caution. She didn't dwell on it long, lost in her own wonder and awe.
Fera ripped her gaze from the retreating form to see Bumblebee. "Why don't you transform?" she suggested, coming to meet him halfway. The small bot squatted down, a series of clicks and hums given as an answer. "It'll be easier and faster if you both just go like that. He'll carry you there." Sol answered. Fera looked worriedly at the black bot and saw him pushing himself off the wall, walking the same way Optimus had left.
Fera returned back to Bee, seeing his hand offered, palm up, hovered over the ground. Nervously, Fera stepped forward and placed one foot on the metal hand. "I'm trusting you Bee." she said with a trembling touch. She set her fingers on his arm and then fully stepped on his palm. Her body shook and nearly fell as Bee shifted up. He lifted Fera higher and higher, causing her to grab Bumblebee's arm in terror. Was the yellow 'Bot this tall before?
She squeezed her eyes shut and let her rustled stomach settled before opening her lids again. The movement stopped and suddenly Fera was eye level with the robot's bright blue gaze. He gave a soft click and one long buzz. She blinked and said nothing. Bumblebee brought his hand closer to his body, stopping at his shoulder. Fera got low and crawled across his palm, turning to sit between his head and a large spinning bolt that she guessed made up his shoulder joint. His hand dropped and they started forward, lurching Fera's body. A frightened hand shot out and clasped Bee's headgear tightly, steadying herself. Bumblebee didn't seem to notice, his gaze set forward.
The concrete ground beneath them seemed miles away and the height made Fera tighten her grip on both Bee's helmet and a random piece by where she was sitting. The floor passed by Bee's feet faster than any human could walk, entrancing Fera by the sight of the smaller humans below. Some where just walking, or talking with another. One woman in a lab coat walked right in Bee's way, causing him to stumble and tip-toe around her to not crush her underfoot. She was too busy to notice, a clipboard in hand.
The hall they were walking in was lower than the main lobby, giving a better light to the space. Doors lined the walls on each side, one being human height while the other was tall enough to allow even Optimus through. Fera was no longer controlling a death grip on Bumblebee's body, her curiosity in the base too much to keep her original fears. One of the soldiers below called up to Bee and held up a hand in greeting. Bumblebee nodded and gave a click, raising his own hand.
"Bee? Where are we going?" Fera asked, leaning over to see the robot's face. He slightly turned his head in her direction, jerking her hand behind her so she had to remove it from his head. "They will...tell you." he answered, shuttering the two slits over his eyes again. Fera scanned his face for a moment before giving up. Two blue eyes, much like the ones of the robots', rolled and the young woman sat back.
The smell of stale air met under Fera's nose as they continued and she desperately wished the people here would open a window for some fresh wind. "I just don't think it's wise at the moment." it was a distant voice, one echoing in from the end of the hallway. Bumblebee stopped and turned towards one of the larger doors lining the wall. "No, wait." Fera said, placing a hand on Bee's helmet again. The small bot stopped, looking at her in confusion. She was on Bumblebee's left shoulder, cutting her off from view of the path to their right, where the voice came from.
"It seems nothing is wise in our decisions. However, you must have more faith in her." without a doubt, that was Optimus' voice. Fera sat up straight, pressing her side to Bumblebee's head, as if the large creatures would see her. "We don't even know her Optimus! Who is to know if she decides to go to one of her organic acquaintances and jeopardize our position? The risk is to great, faith or otherwise." it was the distinct tone of Ratchet. Fera's eyebrows came down and a small spark of irritation started up in her chest. Images of herself standing up to the greenish-yellow 'Bot came to mind. Then the outrageous possibility that the Cybertronian -as they were supposedly called- would be frightened enough to apologize. There was a temper in this girl. But not stupidity. "I had known her father personally for 16 of her 17 earth years. We can trust her." he assured. There was a huff and Fera's eyebrows came up. He'd known her father?
Bumblebee shifted almost uncomfortably beneath Fera, seeming nervous about eavesdropping. Fera comforted him by laying a hand on his chest, leaning forward as she did so. "It's ok. If they find us, I'll take blame." she offered. Bee stopped moving and buzzed uncertainly.
"It has taken over 10 of those years to disprove our existence to the world Optimus. If she replenished that knowledge, this planet would be breathing down our backs. We would be captured and passed around like a sparkling's toy, facing the humans' problems." Ratchet was trying hard to change his comrade's mind. Fera just hoped that Optimus would be stubborn enough to ignore the plea. "What she knows will stay limited for now. Until we can fully prove she is as trustworthy as I find she is, her comprehension of our species will be provided by the men around her. The humans know not enough about our race yet to danger it." Optimus decided.
Fera sighed against Bee's head and she closed her eyes. Thank the planet he came from for Optimus, she thought softly. Blue eyes opened once again, batting the tiredness she felt. At least he understands I really don't want to harm any of them. Fera leaned forward once more and patted Bee's chest. "As if I had any friends to tell you guys about anyway." she chuckled in dark humor. He gave a long, low whirr and seemed to smile back. The sound of heavy metal hitting stone sounded and Fera looked past Bee's face to see the end of the hall. Ratchet's angry form could be seen as he stalked down the opposite direction from which he came. He was muttering something inaudible at the moment, but Fera was afraid she didn't want to know anyway.
She finally allowed Bumblebee to open the large sliding door that hid the room beyond. There was still more concrete. The smell was still the same. And more metal occupied the space.
Fera's eyeshadow had smeared across her lids, making them look increasingly dark. She rubbed them, dislodging most of it on her arm. Brown and black dust smudged across the surface of Fera's arm as she pulled it away. She quickly drug the arm over her jeans, causing them to turn a vary of colors. Bumblebee's hand came up before Fera and she lifted herself unsteadily to her feet. Mud-encrusted, torn-laced tennis shoes maneuvered around the different plates and spikes of metal that made Bee's shoulder before she climbed across his palm.
Slowly, her handler let her to the ground, allowing her to safely step off. She did, and Bumblebee stood up once more. Fera nodded up at him and rubbed a hand over one arm, disappointment settling over her shoulders once she turned away. The room only had a few things inside of it, including a metallic table, with two uncomfortable looking chairs.
"Are you...ok?" it was Bumblebee again, making Fera look back at the yellow bot. He had squatted down, his hands laid over his legs. "I'm ok." she said, giving a small, fake smile. Bee sat all the way down, his legs crossed. "You're...lying." he insisted blankly. Fera dropped her arm and looked over at the cyberling in confusion. How could he tell what she felt? "Are you sure you're a robot? You act like you're a human." she gave a small chuckle and Bee's head cocked to the side.
"I guess there are things in the universe that no one can fully understand." she opted, backing up into one of the chairs by the table. "You really want to know?" she asked, looking up at Bee. He nodded, peering down at her with nothing short of interest. Fera crossed her arms and studied the being, curious more than anything.
Here was a mechanical beast, large enough to level an entire town, asking her about her feelings. This is some strange experience, she thought to herself. It couldn't be a dream, she knew that now. It was too vivid and life-like to possibly be. But for a moment, in meeting Optimus Prime, she hadn't felt more uncertain. This was just all so overwhelming...maybe talking to someone -or something- was what she needed.
Fera sat up in the seat and let her arms stray to the tabletop, her eyes never leaving Bee's. "I feel like I'm unwanted here, like I got involved in something that could break because of me. This whole place," she waved a hand around to show she meant all around them, "is nothing like I've ever seen. You guys too. This whole thing is just so...much. It gives me a headache to just think about all that my father had done with all of you."she pinched the bridge of her nose and the room fell silent. Maybe talking to a Cybertronian wasn't the best idea she'd had. She needed a human.
"I'm sorry." was all he said.
The room became ensnared in a slightly awkward tension for about a heartbeat before Fera's hand dropped. She looked over at Bee and found him fiddling with his fingers in an attempt to avoid eye contact. Surprise was the first thing she felt, and then guilt. "No, no Bumblebee, it's not your fault." she said, getting up and moving across the floor. She set a reassuring hand on his knee and baby blue eyes glanced up into her own. "If anything, this is all my doing. I'm the one that decided it was a smart idea to follow you all." she backed up slightly and watched as Bee leaned down. "I think I knew...your dad. He...was nice. And...you look like him." it was probably one of the longest sentences Fera had heard from him. Thin lips stretched into a grin and icy eyes melted to a sky blue.
Fera opened her mouth to thank him, but the clang of the metal door interrupted her. Fera walked around Bee's knee and looked towards the noise. A tall, dark-skinned man was walking towards the table, a clipboard in his hand. His black hair was littered with small grey flecks and he was grumbling to himself about being "too old for this crap". The clipboard was left to fall over the surface of the table and the man turned. Fera drew in a sharp breath, disbelief taking up her expression. "Alright, let's get this over-" he had crossed his arms and seemed obviously annoyed. But his eyes widened when he saw her and his crossed arms fell.
"Fera?!" he exclaimed. Fera strode as quickly as she could across the floor and she let go of her necklace, instead throwing her arms around the man's shoulders.
"Uncle Robert! I didn't know you were still in the army, let alone working alongside these...these...Cybertronians!" she happily squeezed the familiar form of her adopted 'uncle' and he stumbled back a step, placing his hands on her back. "What in the hell are you doing here Fera? Where's Sarah?" he asked. Fera pulled away, noticing the crisp US uniform that he wore. "My mom's ok. I met Bumblebee and the others while I was out with her. These guys are amazing!" they both let each other go and they sat down on opposite sides of the table. "I met Mirage and Ratchet and Bumblebee..." she meant to go on, but Robert stopped her. "Was Sol there?" he wondered. Fera nodded. "Figures." he blew through his lips, grabbing the clipboard again. "It says you were supposed to meet with Optimus. Did you?" he wondered, looking up from over the board. Fera nodded, a smile creeping over her face. "He was magnificent, bigger than any of the others I saw." she pictured the massive Cybertronian again and his even, deep voice.
Robert grinned and gave a short laugh. "Ya, I thought so too when I first saw him. Of course, that was when giant aliens were just myths in a storybook." he let the clipboard fall back to the table. "And after over 16 years of knowin' the guy, he still calls me Sergeant Epps." he chuckled and patted the table with a closed fist. "You've known him that long?" Fera questioned, leaning over the table. Her 'uncle' nodded, glancing over at Bumblebee in the corner. "Known him too. All of them. Except Solas Kaon. That rooky could get us all killed..." he trailed off, burrowing his brow. "Solas Kaon?" Fera said, testing the name on her tongue. "Do you mean Sol?" it was a name that seemed almost dangerous. But Sol didn't look like the type found cooing over a kitten either.
Fera's uncle waved a hand and rolled his eyes. "Whatever he calls himself. The point it that he compromised your safety in acting like he did. And your mother's. Now he's left us no choice but to tell you what your father specifically said not to when it comes to them." he jabbed a thumb at Bee, who in turn gave a long whirr. "Why would my father keep this from me anyway?" Fera wondered, clenching her hands together. Robert let his hand fall back onto the table and looked into her eyes. "He was protecting you. We all were. Even though they didn't know they were protecting you in general, they were. It was all in attempts to keep that safe." he pointed straight at Fera's neck and she lifted a hand to touch the charm. "This? But it's just a charm."
Her uncle shook his head and then looked over at Bee. Fera followed his gaze and they both found Bumblebee to be playing with a scrap of metal. The sliver was floating in the air between his two palms. He was playing with some form of magnetic force, using both negative and positive signals to cause the metal to float. "It's far from that. Your dad and I were good friends before he passed. But when he did, he took all we know about that thing to his grave. All I can tell you is that it comes from them and only they know how to activate it." Fera and her 'uncle' locked eyes again, "He had gotten it from somewhere and then wore it around his neck like it was his own heart. He never took it off. The fact that he gave it to you meant that he must have either trusted you more than anyone or he expected you to finally meet them one day."
Memories and moments in Fera's life that involved her father ran wild in her mind. It was such a fresh, raw wound. Her father meant everything to her, his death breaking her down and feeling that the world was surely over. She had only been in 7th grade after all. But, before then, he had spoken to her; reassured her of the many wonders and excitements she would experience in her life. She had gotten hope. Now she knew that her father had worked with these titans; knew that they held a special place in this world. And they very may will forevermore. "It's a real shock that you all would meet up by coincidence like that though. But it was bound to happen sometime I guess." Robert stood up from the table and dragged his chair around to sit face to face with Fera. "Can you tell me about them?" she wondered, watching him.
He sat down with a grunt and leaned back. "That's why I'm here. Shoot." he lifted his hands, showing he was an open book. Fera paused for a moment, glancing back at Bee and then to her uncle. "How do they do what they do? Transform I mean." she started off. Epps dropped his arms and set them on his lap. "Well, I don't really know. But I did overhear Ratchet a few years ago, talking about a sort of shifter device. You would have to ask him, he's he medic." he explained. Fera put an elbow on the tabletop, setting her head on the fist. "What about their culture? Or how they get their names?" she looked up at Bumblebee, who in turn, looked up at her. She gave him a smile and then returned her attention to her uncle. "Rethalia told me that all Cybertronians either came from two adults, or a thing called the AllSpark. It was like some form of ancient technology that allowed creation of both planets and life itself. It would take the sort of physical makeup of one robot, male or female, and then create a baby."
He paused for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was told not to say the other way in front of Bumblebee."
Moving on before she got herself in something she didn't like, Fera changed topic. "You mentioned someone named Rethalia. Who are they?" Fera mentioned, catching Bumblebee's attention again. Epps leaned down on his elbows and locked his hands, a small grin catching on his features. "Well, that would be Optimus' lady-friend. Her full name is Rethalia Prime and she is one of the last of the female Autobots. And Primes." he explained. Fera sat up, her hand falling from the table.
Female? They had female Cybertronians? And what was a Prime? "The Autobots as you may have guessed, are these guys." Robert went on, jerking his head behind him. "And this is their symbol." he pointed to the same robotic face that Fera had seen on both Ratchet's paint and Optimus' chest. It was a small embroidered patch over his heart. Bumblebee also had the symbol over his face, on a small piece of the helmet he wore.
Question after question filed through Fera's head. And it felt like she couldn't even find the correct words to say anything she wanted to. These were just such strange and fascinating creatures; she couldn't fully grip the thought of it all. For now, she would just ask what she could: "Why are they here?" her eyes flicked from Bee to Epps, who had gotten a serious expression when thinking about the answer. He leaned over and patted Fera's knee, standing afterwards.
"They're called Decepticons. The Autobots had come to Earth to protect it from the evil things after they came here, looking for the AllSpark. Their leader wanted to take over the universe or something, but he needed the Cube first." Epps reached over the table to get the clipboard, his other hand collecting a pen from his chest pocket. He clicked it once with his thumb and started writing on the paper. "The Cube meaning the AllSpark?" Fera assumed.
Epps looked up from the paper and grinned, glancing back down. "You're a lot smarter than your dad. It took him a few weeks to get the hang of all this Cybertron stuff. But they should be able to tell you what you want to know when anything comes up." he tossed the pen across the table and lowered the board. "I can't stay long. I have to go check out a disturbance with some Decepti-creeps. But I promise I'll see you and your mom soon." he said, turning away. Fera got to her feet, hurrying to catch up to him before he left. "Wait." she said, making him stop and turn. "It was nice to see you again." she murmured next to his ear after hugging him again. Robert didn't hesitate this time to press his hands to her back and return the gesture. "You too kid. You're growin' up way too fast."
They both released one another and Epps left without further word. Fera was left alone with Bumblebee, who didn't seem to mind the company. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes, allowing Fera to soak in the small amount of information she'd been told. There was so much more she wanted to know. Like who exactly Rethalia Prime was,or, who might the Decepticons really be. There was also how the Cybertronians decided leaders, how they created sparklings; marriage, war, gender, weaponry... Fera came to the sudden conclusion that she knew next to nothing about these 'Autobots'. And she wanted to know everything she could.
Bee gave a soft hum when a few minutes of quiet had passed and Fera looked up to him. The yellow Autobot stood and opened the larger door for himself, motioning for Fera to follow him. She went out the same door as Epps, not risking getting crushed by the large metal screen Bee simply held out of the way.
"There's a lot about you guys I don't know." Fera mentioned after meeting Bumblebee back outside. "And I'm not sure how much I want to know. But, I hope you and the others would be willing to tell me about yourselves soon." the robot and much smaller human walked down the concrete hall towards the lobby, the air becoming colder. Fera brought her jacket closer around her and she zipped up the front. Bee's large feet stomped next to her, but never close enough to endanger her. They must have had a lot of practice watching their step over the years, she noted, glancing nervously beside her.
They got closer to the main entrance and Fera blinked, smelling a weird new scent in the air. Was it gunpowder? Or electricity? It seemed like a strange combination of both, confusing Fera. She waited to say anything however until they reached the place she had first came to in the room. Once there, Bumblebee split off to head over to some form of flat bench while four other Autobots stood around Fera. Ratchet was there, with his arms crossed over his chest. Fera glanced at him, but then tore her eyes away before she said something she would regret. Grudges were for childish kids.
Sol was there as well, with Mirage standing by the entrance. There was another robot that Fera didn't recognize, but she did notice immediately. It was an extremely large, bulky bot, with a broad chest and two massive arms. His paint was all a forest green with an idle gun sitting on his shoulder.
He suddenly glanced down and saw Fera looking up at him, her lips slightly parted. He lifted a hand and gave a small jerk of it as greeting. "This is the new kid?" he asked with a rugged, rough voice. The Autobot looked over to Ratchet, who leaned against the wall. "She's a small one." Fera felt a little irritated at the bot for talking about her as if she weren't even there, but she dismissed the feeling swiftly.
"Sorry to disappoint." she called up sarcastically. The dripping venom in her voice was enough to get the hulking Cybertronian to look back down at her. He gave a rumbling chuckle and then lowered himself into a squat. "You've got fight in you, that's good. Maybe you'd like to go one on one sometime." he offered mischievously, his arm coming around. A long tone like that of a charging computer sounded and yet another gun shifted itself and suddenly appeared from within the bot's wrist.
Fera took an uncertain step back, her eyes trained on the weapon. "Leave her alone Hound, she's had a long day from what I've heard." there was another voice and both Fera and Hound looked up to see who it was. Another Autobot, slightly taller but not thicker than Hound, walked up behind his comrade to enter the room. "I was just playing around Wheeljack, nothing to get concerned about." Hound insisted. Wheeljack was a white Autobot, with green and red decals stripped across his arms and some decorating his chest. There were strips of metal that rounded around his face to create a mask, two fins sticking out of the sides of his head. "I'm sure Optimus wouldn't like it, whatever you're doing." the two fins on the sides of his head lit up with each word he spoke. He was one of the oddest of the 'Bots that Fera had seen.
"At least she didn't lose consciousness." it was Sol's turn to speak, his position beside Bumblebee catching Fera's attention. Sol had no mask like some of the others, but instead had two sharp looking blades sitting close to his cheek. They were zig-zagged so that they pointed down from the vizor on his helmet. Two long bars stuck up from his shoulders, most likely being the spoiler from his car form. He definitely had height over Bumblebee, but he was still shorter than Optimus. The black paint around his body, shoulders, and face gave him a dark look. There were two strips of red down his arms, one on each. Two of his wheels had been seen sunken into his back while the other two protruded from his lower legs. His feet were mostly silver, with the black and red coloring only starting towards his ankles.
Fera shoved her hands into her pockets and played with the lint inside. "I've never fainted before." she muttered, intentionally keeping anyone from hearing. The gathered 'Bots settled into the room and began to talk with one another or just sit alone. Wheeljack and Hound soon left, with Mirage getting a call to the eastern wing area soon after. Fera settled herself close to Bee and Sol, waiting for whatever. She didn't exactly know what they were expecting, or who, but she knew that they wouldn't do so unless it was important.
Hopefully whatever they were in wait for would come soon because according to the damaged phone Fera kept in her mud-stained jeans, it was close to 7 o'clock at night.
Suddenly the noise of a banging door caught the entire room's attentions, human and Cybertronian. It was a man dressed in a professional looking suit, complete with a red tie. The man was a tanner gentleman, with striking black hair streaked with grey. "Ok, I have had just about enough with all the human stowaways here. It is in strict violation of code and my superiors will not be pleased to hear about this!" he was coming down the stairs of a scaffold high in the air, his hands meeting the rail. He leaned over the side to get a better look around and he spotted Fera, sitting with confused, yet curious eyes up at him. "Great! A teenager! As if we needed another Twitter-junkie around." his voice was simple and normal, much unlike the rich, varied ones of the Autobots. Fera found it slightly annoying and boring at the same time.
"There better be an explanation for this!" he demanded loudly, the tone of his voice ringing off the walls. Some of the men he hadn't yet seen dodged his gaze and hurried out of the room. The unlucky ones stood at attention, having to stand still until they were told otherwise. "And he would be?" Fera asked out loud to no one in particular. She heard one of the Autobots shifting behind her from the mechanical hum their joints made. "The most irritating, priggish being you will ever know." Sol said with a slightly bothered edge. Fera stifled a laugh by faking it for a cough when the agitated man shot her a glance. Sol moved away, a pleased look on his metallic features.
Large footsteps entered the room and Fera looked to the source. Once again, Optimus came in just at the exact moment he was needed. The blue and red Autobot leader was eye level with the human, giving neither an edge over the other. "Secretary Kepler, is there an issue?" he inquired. Secretary Kepler reeled on the new entry into the room, his legs helping him to storm over to Optimus. "Prime, you better have a good reason for bringing yet another civilian onto federal grounds." Kepler advised, his hands held fast to the railing once more. Optimus seemed surprised at first at the sudden anger of the human, but he soon returned his face to a neutral mask. "Secretary Kepler, the Autobots and I apologize for not forewarning yourself and your leaders of this matter beforehand. However, this was an on-sight matter resolved by my soldiers and it has been taken into record with an incidence report." he said calmly.
Secretary Kepler stood tall, removing his hands from the metal. If Fera hadn't been so far away, she could have sworn she saw dents where the man had grabbed. "That's all and well Optimus, but it still does not explain what her presence is here." Kepler went on, lifting his hands to straighten his tie. "She will have to be taken into government custody-" he was cut off suddenly and surprisingly by Optimus, "She has been given clearance by your officials Secretary." Optimus stated, pointing at the man before him and narrowing his eyes. "Therefore, she is now under Autobot protection until further notice. She is free to leave this property as seen fit by grounds supervisors, as well as be guarded by one of my soldiers while awaiting further word." Optimus dropped his hand and Secretary Kepler fell silent.
There seemed a lost for words when it came to Prime's statement. What could one say to that? It was clear as day that Fera wouldn't be going anywhere without Optimus' say so. It was amazing to think that Prime would go so far for her only after a day. "That's Prime for ya." Sol said from his position on the wall. "He'd do anything to protect the innocent. Even ones that purposefully get themselves into trouble." the 'Bot pressed, aiming for Fera. She twisted around and glared at the much taller Cybertronian, only getting a chuckle for her efforts. How could someone go from being funny and actually likeable to being utterly cheeky in the blink of an eye?
Right. Because Sol wasn't even a somebody. He was an alien. But even then, all former humor towards him was lost in Fera's eyes.
Secretary Kepler flared his nostrils in anger and then fixed his suit, yanking the cloth to get it better settled. "Alright Optimus. The girl is in your possession. But," he raised a finger, "if she so much as looks at a restricted area, she will be placed under arrest, understand?" he then whipped around and stalked up the stairs without so much as a leaving word.
"Clearly." Optimus answered the back of the man with a tone that was both grim and intimidating. Suddenly, things did not feel like such an exciting adventure anymore.