Ok, so I realized that ch. 6 was a little long...my bad :D But, this is part two, so hopefully that won't affect things! Thanks for being so patient with me my lovelies! :)
Of The Spark and Heart
Part 1
Chapter 7 (6 part 2)
It was a strange experience- this fear she felt. There were times she'd felt this way before, like in nightmares and when a family member or friend got sick. It had been a very long time however since she'd felt it this strongly- this fear. Her heart pounded in her chest and her hands locked around her bag. Her stomach hurt. But then she would look to the side mirror and see him there, and she'd feel a little better. The truck rumbled and her body shook, leaning from side to side when he turned. The necklace around her neck slapped against her collarbone. He'd said he'd be ok. That he was only doing his job. But where would that get them?
"Will he be ok? Solas I mean?" she asked concernedly, glancing once again at the mirror. The black Mustang kept a steady distance behind them, the holographic driver seen through the windshield. One of the people back at base said that Optimus owned a holographic driver, but he didn't use it on the lesser used streets like the one they drove across now. "Solas Kaon is a capable and fierce warrior. In my opinion, he is in no danger." Optimus answered, his tone unreadable. So far, there had been no sighting of the Decepticon following them, but Fera could just sense him. She didn't need to actually see to know he was there. Closing in.
Fera gripped her bag closer to her, hugging her arms around the bulk of it and laying her chin on the top. Her eyes trained on the floor and she moved her feet closer to her, her feet now on the seat. "In class today we discussed Alpha Centauri and Proxima Centauri." she gave a short laugh and Optimus said nothing. "She said there were worlds out there maybe capable of life, capable of harboring human existence if our world is ever threatened." again, it fell silent. Fera let her hands slip from the bag and instead she tucked them beside her chest. "It's an interesting thought. But wouldn't we just destroy it again? Look what we did here." to add to her words, Fera looked out the window to find a distant smokestack factory, its massive towers billowing the deadly clouds.
Memory of what she and Doctor Shelby had discussed crossed Fera's mind and she immediately felt guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." she trailed off. What had she not meant to say? "It's alright. I don't take offense." Optimus assured, taking another turn. Sol's engine roared behind them and Fera lifted her head to look out the windshield. "If anything, talking about what has been lost maybe a better remedy then silence and secrecy." he added, softer. Fera felt the mental kick as she scolded herself for being so thoughtless. Laying her head to the side she could look at the wheel, she hesitantly went on, "If you don't mind me asking...what was Cybertron like?"
There was a brief pause before he answered, seemingly unaffected. "It it made from the body of Primus himself. Great towers soared into its skies, their shining glories flanked all around by smaller structures. Vast seas of mercury and liquid helium bathed the planet's surface with streets built high over the ground." he described. Fera blinked, thinking about the awe-inspiring scene. She saw massive steel buildings far above her, with arches of metal soaring on the edge of the sky. There would be spacious dome buildings and viewing areas, with quick-moving vehicles carrying passengers across the face of the planet. "At one point in its existence, there was peace and Cybertron glowed a golden sheen. This wouldn't last however, for Megatron himself was created and grown to fight this freedom. And thus, ended Cybertron's time of tranquility."
It was a quick, easy to digest summary of his planet, but Fera didn't press it. If it hurt her to talk about her father, she couldn't imagine trying to talk about her deceased planet. Instead, she looked back out the window and saw Sol where he had been 20 minutes ago. And 5 before that. And 5 before that. And 5 before that...
There was a bright flash, much like that of what she saw at the highway. Fera gasped and drew up an arm, protecting her eyes. Optimus' wheels could be heard roaring over the pavement, not slowing for even a heartbeat. The light suddenly faded and Fera lifted her head, blinking. She looked behind them to Sol and she found he had dropped back, halting his smoking wheels. A large, black, and very dangerous-looking jet circled above him.
Fera's bag tumbled off her knees as she twisted around in her seat. Solas was now transforming, his robotic form standing tall as the jet also reformed, falling down over of him. Fera's eyes grew wide and her hand went to her necklace. Her throat hurt. She wanted to cry.
"Don't look." Optimus firmly commanded.
Fera's body whipped back around, her lips held tightly together. She pressed her head to the seat and she squeezed her eyes shut. Tears stung at the backs of her eyelids, but she kept them down. Her breathing quivered and she could feel her hands shaking again. "Why-why did he stay back? He's going to get hurt." she insisted, trying to take her mind off the hysterics building in her. The road before them broke off and Optimus took the right path, driving as fast as his wheels would allow as they circled around. "Solas will be alright Fera. Reaching the base with you safely is our main concern." he seemed strained, as if all of this was a great effort.
Fera held on to her charm tight enough that she could feel it biting into her skin. "But why do they want me? How did they even know about me?!" she exclaimed. She couldn't help it now. The tears just flowed uncontrollably, slowly one after the other, they beaded off her chin. Now she threw her head into her hands, trying to hide her expression. She suddenly remembered Solas' advice, taking deep breaths to calm down. It helped, but only slightly. "We don't know." Optimus reported simply. Fera sat straight once more, wiping her cheeks. She took in air through her nose and leaned back on the seat. "How close are we?" she asked in a much steadier tone than she thought she could muster.
A holographic map flickered on beside Fera and she looked over it, the sight much like that of Bee's own. They were more than halfway there, with less than an hour's drive ahead. Great. Just great. "Of all the technology you have, can you come up with a teleporter?" she wondered sarcastically. One of the exhaust pipes before her gave a loud hiss and she jumped. "Sadly, no." he answered sincerely. The bridge before them straightened and Optimus slowed to a slightly steadier pace. Fera let her hand move over the padded seat below her, aimlessly rubbing her thumb over the material.
Everything was an overwhelming set of enormity and danger. There were transforming robots with feelings and friends and family. There was also a planet made of one of the things, allowing the very beginnings of an entire new race's creation. They had leaders and children and war and love...
Out of the blue, Fera felt very, very awful. Her mother was alone. At home. With Decepticons on their trail. She felt her face pale and her stomach twist. Absolute nausea overcame her. "I think I'm going to be sick." her hand flew to her mouth, the bile crawling up her throat. Optimus quickly rolled down his window, allowing Fera to lean out. She wretched painfully against the wind, the muscles in her side seizing and complaining with the movement. The wind whipped her hair across her face, the stinging helping to clear her mind. She slowly retracted back into the cabin, her hand wiping across her mouth. A cool flush of air escaped the vents before her, gently caressing her sweat-doused face. "Thank you." she murmured weakly, pressing the back of her hand against her face. She only got a dull rev of the engine as a response.
After resting for a few minutes, Fera voiced her concern. "She's back home. Alone. With them." she quietly moaned. Fear caused a tremble to rock throughout her body, absolute terrifying visions muddling her thoughts. Her hands gently slid off her face and her lungs seemed unwilling to allow in a full intake of air. Her emptied stomach twisted again and she grounded her teeth to settle it. "Who do you mean?" Optimus asked, snapping her from her thoughts. Fera took up her necklace in her hand, her finger barely able to clasp together from the shaking. "Mo-mom. She should be coming home from work any minute now. And she's all alone." Fera managed, choking back the recurring sickness. She twisted the charm around in her fingers and swallowed the lump in her throat. Optimus had gone eerily quiet, not saying a word since Fera had spoken.
There was a moment when she caught herself looking hopefully back into the side mirror, trying to find Sol. Of course, he wasn't there. The moments ticked by, and the air around her seemed tight and uneasy.
"Bumblebee is going to retrieve your mother. She will rendezvous with us there." he announced abruptly, causing Fera to jump. She was on edge, startling at anything that moved. She nodded at the radio and slowly relaxed into the seat. It was an enormous weight off her shoulders and just one less thing she had to worry about. But there was still that matter of her own life.
They passed through the last city before and Fera sat straighter. The last building was left behind them and the road ahead opened up.
But once more, the air became assaulted by the light. Fera moaned in horror and stared straight into the blinding shine, her body pinned back as Optimus' cabin swung around. The light faded and only the smoke from Optimus' tires blinded them. "Hold on!" he yelled over the noise. Again, the flash, but less brilliant. It looked made of liquid fire, the ground charred wherever it landed. Optimus' body skillfully skidded completely around and he rocked from side to side before finally starting out straight again. Fera grasped tightly to whatever she could, the veins protruding from her claw-like fingers.
Her body hurled to the side as Optimus shifted violently, another blast appearing beside them. Fera got her face as close she could against the window to see who was following them. First there was nothing, just rapidly passed clouds and a dull grey sky. Then, a raven-black jet rocketed around into view, two large, circular guns appearing to hang beneath them. A bright blue light charged inside of them and grew brighter, the glow filling the space of each. Abruptly, the flash rang out, flying from the gun to the ground in the blink of an eye. It hit the road way too close for comfort and the hit caused Optimus' form to slightly lift into the air. Fera gasped as he slowly came back down, hitting the blacktop and launching her body into the air.
"That thing looks like the same one Sol was fighting!" she noted in terror. Had the large mech seemingly lost? The thought sent another wave of worry through her. "No, this one is different. It's a tracker drone." Optimus informed, swerving across the highway to cross over into the next intersection. Cars honked and quickly sped around him, nearly spinning out as Optimus had. He blared his horn, nearly deafening Fera. She clapped her hands over her ears, glancing back out the window. The hood before Fera could be seen to wobble, strain being heard from the roaring exhaust pipes.
Another blast, this one just inches away.
Fera leaned away from the glass, as if the short distance would be any safer. Ahead of them, a large, empty series of warehouses and dark garages could be seen. The words Franklin County Warehouse Co. could be seen addressed on the front of one. Optimus sped straight for them, not even slowing for a second. Fera's throat released a soft whimper, her legs coming closer to try to keep back from the structures. "Whoa, whoa, what are you doing?!" she demanded, the buildings coming closer. There came no answer from the large truck as he moved around the side of one building. Fera hung on for dear life to the sides of the cabin, her eyes wide.
The jet behind them blasted again, actually catching the back of Optimus. There came a low grunt from the Autobot and Fera looked behind them. It was still following closely behind, its strangely curled and black, triangular shape twisting through the air. The warehouses passed by one by one, Optimus' truck form barely able to fit through the tight spaces.
He suddenly came to the middle section of the buildings, charging through the broken, worn doors of an abandoned house. Fera gasped and drew into herself, expecting there to be a shower of shattering, cutting glass. But there was only the jostling of Optimus' cabin as the doors exploded, a loud clang signifying their demise. Fera couldn't help but look again, her body floating for only a heartbeat and then roughly being thrown into the air when he landed again. The darkness behind the decimated entrance did not hide its size, dull sunlight filtering through holes in the roof. Stairways and platform levels lined around the walls, boxes and scrap metal scattered across the floor. The sounds of the jet came swiftly behind them, loud and reckless as it roared inside the room.
Prime's body skidded once more, sliding to the side to aim Fera towards the rear of the space. "Stay behind me." he instructed firmly. Fera nodded, collecting all of her things and leaping from his cabin. She nearly tripped over her own feet, leaving the Autobot behind and throwing her things behind a crate. She herself ducked behind it, her feet sliding across the floor as she fell to her bottom and tried pressing her back up to the wood. She could hear Optimus shifting and changing behind her, the slapping and ringing of metal against metal anything but what she'd become used to.
Unable to resist, Fera peeked over the rim of the box, seeing Optimus in his true form standing at the ready against a much smaller, strange-looking drone. It wasted no time, charging forward and lifting an arm, shooting from its wrist. Optimus' shoulder was hit, a pained cry coming from him. Fera gasped and flinched. But then the mech spun low to one knee, lifting his own arm to press to his back. A large series of metal pieces clicked together and came under his touch, a large handle forming. He yanked it from his back, the final plates sliding together. His very own, very intimidating, gun.
Optimus lifted it up and took aim, shooting less than the time it took to breath. It blasted, a loud boom echoing throughout the room. The tracker dodged, rolling to the side and tucking itself close, lastly coming up on one leg to retaliate. Optimus dived to the floor, vibrating it past that of an earthquake. Fera's body jumped and she fell to her butt, but she was Immediately back up on her knees, looking concernedly over the top of the crate. The tracker shot again, catching Optimus in the back. He growled in pain and flipped over, lifting the gun to shoot. The shot flew through the air, forcing the tracker to jump in attempts to dodge. But the red-hot blast caught it anyway, launching it through the air like a puppet on a string. It slammed into the wall and completely ripped through it as if it were nothing but tissue paper.
There was no time to even blink as Optimus got to his feet and sprinted out of the hole after the fallen drone. Fera scrambled to stand as well, sprinting out after them. She made it out just in time to catch the drone and Optimus' exchange.
It's midsection was badly damaged, the inside of the wound glowing orange. It was holding the wound, blue liquid dripping from between its fingers. Optimus was slowly walking towards the drone, his steps grim. The drone's own gun was weakly lifted, but then it dropped in a shower of sparks. Fera held on to the crate beside her as she watched the tall, towering figure move closer. His face showed no emotion, hidden behind a mask. But even then, Fera realized that this was something she wouldn't enjoy.
The gun came up and Fera fell to her knees. She wanted to look away, she really did. But she couldn't. Her mind wouldn't allow it. So there she sat, watching in stunned stillness as the shot rang out and the bullet struck.
There was an explosion of blue liquid mixed with metal as the parts flung everywhere, flying randomly around a jostled body. The weapon in its hand fell from its grasp and the hand cradling its wound fell. The view of the face was nothing but a jagged black hole, missing features, and wearing a buggy one eye that hung from a pathetic wire. The destroyed head and body rocked once, but did not move again. The dead black in its eye was like a disturbing prick in her chest. Was this what it was like? This cold, black stare being the last view of those many dead on Cybertron? And to think that it was each of the same species against the other. Neighbors, friends, maybe even once brothers...forced to kill. Her hand flew to her mouth to hide the horrified gape.
Movement caught her attention and she looked up, seeing Optimus as his arm slowly lowered with his weapon. Her hand slipped from her mouth and she blinked, shocked into silence. One arm was still hung up on the crate and she used it to help herself up as Optimus turned to her. It was not a good idea to follow him here. Not then. This memory would haunt her. For a very, very long time at the least. Optimus lifted his hand and placed the gun back on his back, the exhaust pipe shifting and clicking back into place once its return.
"You were not meant to witness this." he murmured sadly, getting down closer. Fera swallowed, keeping her hands firm on the lid of the crate.
Just in this week, she met an entire new race, gained a Guardian, became involved in a massive government secret, was stabbed, and now she and her mother were being hunted down by an alien species. She sighed shakily and looked up. Optimus was gazing down at her with a face that Fera would have guessed had seen thousands of these deaths. Many, most likely of his own comrades. "There is no exception for me, no matter my condition." she sucked in a breath and dragged her fingers through her hair. "Life doesn't give a rat's ass about me or my supposed innocence. I mean just look at all I've been through this week." she gave a nervous chuckle and nearly fell back from her jell-like knees. "But don't count me out yet, I've still got fight in me." she forced herself to her feet and she gave a thumbs up.
There was almost a confused look to Optimus' face, but he seemed to dismiss it, standing and then proceeding to transform right before her. Wearily, she climbed inside, thankful for the support. Optimus drove her inside and let her grab her things before they left. The sooner they got to the base, the better.
"Frag!" Sol spat out a mouthful of energon on the ground. He rolled to his side and wiped away the mess, climbing to his sole pads. This Decepticon that stood before him wasn't a tracker like he had thought. It was a warrior. And an experienced one at that. He steadied himself and charged, the 'Con simply sidestepping him. He stumbled across the ground and rolled, coming up behind his enemy to launch from a crouched position. He jumped up again and tackled the warrior to the ground, getting a pained grunt for his efforts. A punch to the faceplates later, and Sol was on top of the 'Con, batting away at his lifted arms. There was a swift plunge of something like a knife in Sol's side and he roared.
The Decepticon beneath him knocked him off of his body, whipping around to land a swift kick to the cranial unit. Sol rolled on his spinal support and he gripped the pulsing wound at his tank cavity.
"Look at the noble Autobot." the Decepticon sneered, coming to stand next to Sol. The mech then drew back his leg, planting a solid kick to the uninjured side of his cavity. He groaned and his optics flickered. Warnings blared through his CPU and Sol glared up at his assailant. "So weak and killable." he went on, his optics gleaming with an undeniable lust for energon. This mech was insane!
Sol decided to play into the vulnerability game, making his moans and groans weaker. The Decepticon laughed, falling for it. He then flicked his arm, his bracer shifting to release a homemade blade. These were simple designed weapons, quickly created and in large numbers. But they were effective. "With you gone, retrieval of the human fleshling will be significantly easier."
This was the moment Sol knew his game was over, his fury building inside his dark frame. He waited for just another nanoclick, then he jumped. His body flipped around on his good arm, his leg swiping around to catch the mech off his sole pads. A surprised 'Con called out and he fell to the ground, his armor casing sparking with the impact. Sol moved to his sole pads and held his cavity, trying to slow the flow of energon.
"Who's weak and killable?" he growled mockingly. And not giving a time for an answer, they plunged into a close combat battle again. Sol would throw a punch and then the 'Con would come up with a dirty trick, maybe tearing at his faceplates or jamming his terminal links into Sol's wound.
A low rumble reverberated through Sol's vocal processor as the pain coursed through his circuitry. He threw his hand down, reaching to crush the Decepticon's jugular cable. But the mech knew better, pushing up his arms to block Sol's attack. They fumbled for less than a click before Sol got his hands free, able to pull back his fist and let his terminal links shift. Four sharp spikes rounded up and around on his curled terminal joints. And without another thought, he swiftly threw the punch.
Sparks flew and metal crunched sickeningly. But it was nothing new. It wasn't something that disturbed him. Not anymore. The frame beneath Solas jerked and the now familiar sound of failing systems met his audio receptor. He pulled back his arm and he found the dying mech with his barely functioning optics sunken into their sockets, caved into the cranial unit as half of his faceplates sit crumpled.
Sol stood, peering down on his ruined enemy. There were circuitry cut and severed, energon spilling around him. His plating was now crushed and dented in multiple spots, his spark casing nearly exposed. He wouldn't live through transformation. His vocal processor was also damaged by the last blow, the only words the mech muttering being inaudible. Sol simply saw for mercy, allowing his assualtcode to shift his bracer. His blaster sat ready and warmed, just waiting for command.
"I didn't enjoy this." he stated darkly. And he took the shot, blasting apart the mech's CPU and seeing the internal workings fly in all directions. Bright blue energon was splatter across his form, mixing red and black with a glowing blue.
The body of the 'Con fell limp to the ground and Sol's arm dropped. His vents whirred harshly, one of them being crushed into a cripple. His arm came around and he cupped his tank cavity, the energon still freely flowing. At this rate, he would leak out right on the blacktop. A pained grunt came from his vocal processor as he lifted a leg and stepped over the Decepticon, slowly walking across the road. His energon trickled between his terminal links and dripped to the ground. His sole pads felt like they'd been filled with heavy lean, the soles barely hovering over the ground. One of his toe links caught off of the surface and Sol's body was flung forward. Luckily he was able to twist midair, landing instead on his aft than his faceplates.
"Fragging Decepticon, blasting me to bits." he grumbled, leaning back on the bridge column. The concrete beaded loose bits over his chassis and shoulderbolts, a few becoming lodged in-between his plates. He couldn't reform like this. And Ratchet was far too long away to get to him in time. Again, he growled. The light of the sun flickered before his optics and he shook his cranial unit. His CPU was buzzing and nearly overheating with information about his form. What to do. What could be done?
Sol glanced around, looking for something. And then he saw the burning edges of the Deception's blasted cranial unit. They were glowing with hot energy, the heat cooking the metal and then letting it cool to a blackish burn. He started, putting the pieces together. The heat had melted the plating before it had hardened and cooled. It was an agonizing experience. But effective.
There was no hesitance inside his spark as Sol activated his blaster and aimed it for the ground right before him. The charge warmed, humming as the energy flooded into the pulse generator. He shot it once, the recoil vibrating the column he'd been leaning against. The concrete exploded in a shower of black rubble, most of it coming back to pelt him. Sol flicked his arm to the side, the bracer rapidly cooling his weapon before it could return to his arm. In waiting, Sol pushed himself forward, trying quickly to flatten himself to the shattered earth. The hand on his uninjured side flung out and grasped the ground, allowing his to sink his terminal joints into the rubble.
Ever so slowly he dragged himself forward, the effort causing intense and never-ceasing pain to travel through his circuitry. But he pushed on anyway, trained and drilled into preparing himself for this very feeling- this realization that he may join with the Matrix never bothered him. Not now, not then, and not ever. It was the thought of abandoning his position that drug him on. He held a responsibility to his fading family. He also had a duty to protect this new planet they chose to call their home. And then there was Fera, the only one thing he'd been entitled to guard no matter what.
That was what a Guardian's job was. To shield and protect. To allow freedom and justice- for one and all who can experience it.
Sol finally came to the shallow crater and he looked inside, finding the still-hot plasma laying in a small pool on the bottom. Soon, it would dry and fall apart like rust. But not before Sol would have the chance to do what he aimed for.
Carefully, he set his cooling systems solely on his hands. The links became deathly frigid, the very surface becoming coated in frost. He dug them deep under the pool, his terminal links cupping to bring up the plasma. Almost instantly, the cooling systems' attempts to keep him stable failed and the heat slowly began to melt through. Quickly, Sol flipped on his side and he lifted the hand, tipping it close to his wound.
The plasma dribbled out of the side of his cupped palm, flowing across his injury. The pain was immediate, a loud cry reaching Sol's vocal processor. His frame locked up at the feeling, his form seizing over and his fit slammed into the road. Extra plasma slipped off his terminal links and gathered around his hand. The smell of burning metal touched Sol's nasal receptors and he blew the scent out of his vents. It was nauseating, making him want to purge his tanks. But he held that feeling back, his shaking form slowly gaining mobility once more as Sol moved back to look at the injury.
It was a long line of melted and deformed metal, set in a crooked and jagged-thin covering of hardened, charred armor plating. It looked riddled with holes, a vague inside of his internals could be seen as well as the severed pieces of his circuits. But the flow of energon had stopped. There was now just the pain and the carefulness of not restarting the loss. Once again, Sol fell to the ground, laying the back of his cranial unit to the rough road. His vents whirred hastily and his shell groaned with its weakened state. Sol's optics flickered, the blue snapping on and off. He kept conscious however, forcing himself to push his terminal links into the searing plasma if he was about to fall into recharge.
He found the strength to comlink Ratchet, seeing that no other of his enemies were in sight. ~Solas Kaon...to base. Is Ratchet on?~ he asked, his vocal processor cracking. There was a pause and some static from his damaged audio receptors.
~Ratchet here. You sound like scrap Sol.~ he commented. Sol moaned and shifted to his elbow joint, gently rolling on his spinal support. ~I feel like it Ratch.~he agreed, catching another look at his wound. There was a pained wince from Sol and then Ratchet responded, ~What happened to you? The last I heard of you was when Optimus left to retrieve Fera. And that was over two joors ago.~ he seemed concerned, but Sol brushed that off, clenching his oral sheets. ~We were followed. A warrior and a tracker drone. I took care of the warrior.~ he had to stop between each part of the sentence, trying to allow time for his vents to catch up with the heat of his body.
~And the drone?~he urged.
~It flew right past, straight after Optimus. I don't know where they are, but I'm hurt. Bad. And I doubt I can hold on for much longer.~ Sol tried speeding up the conversation, but it was causing precious energy to be wasted. There was a prodding sensation in Sol and he clenched up, unsure about the attempt at intrusion. ~Sol, it's me. I'm trying to understand your condition.~ he assured. Sol relented, letting his barrier fall away and allowing his body to be searched over by the invisible force. ~Good Primus Sol, did you fall into the Pit? Multiple sets of your systems failed and those severed circuits at your tank cavity could be fatal.~ Ratchet reported. The presence left Sol and he suddenly felt very, very alone.
Sol gave a small chuckle and he set his free hand over the injury. ~Well that's nice and dandy. Why don't you tell me more faceplate to faceplate?~ he suggested sarcastically. Ratchet snorted in discontent. There was that sense of concern from him however that he could not hide. It was in a medic's grid to feel worry for a patient, no matter their affiliation. But this was Ratchet, known for trying to hide his true feelings whenever he could. ~I'll be there in less than a joor. If you die Sol I swear I'll find you in the Pit, bring you back, and kill you again.~ Ratchet warned through th link. There was no helping the humor Sol found in the old Autobot's words and the injured warrior's lip plates twisted up into a grin. He let his tracer beacon give away his location and he laid still on the street, his hands folded on his tank cavity. The pain had faded some, but it was still immense. It was there, but not given attention. What would it feel like to join with the Matrix? he wondered as the feeling in his sole pads numbed. Is it like in the stories, warm and welcoming? Or is there no place for me in such a place of glory?
"No place for a warrior. Not in that life. I'm not there yet." and he let his systems fall deep into involuntary shutdown.
It was a long, very quiet ride. The window was left cracked open to allow fresh air to circulate the space. The road flew by at a more relaxed speed, the cars below them insignificant to the wandering eye. Fera tucked her legs close to her, glancing at the clock before the holographic driver Optimus now possessed. It was some man she'd never seen before, dressed in a crisp military uniform.
The time read 3:25. Her mother would be home.
But would Bumblebee be there? What would her mother think?
There was a joy in the realization that she no longer would have to lie about her nights anymore. But then there was the fear. What about the fear? Would she accept this new life, this life of sworn secrecy and deadly war? No longer could they hide from her father's responsibilities. There was no longer pretending what happened didn't happen. No more running from the truth and dreading the next day. His memory would ever more be a painful reminder that what they were apart of now may have been what he fought for. And now they too were connected to it. They had the protection and they had the new guardians. But where would they go if they couldn't be saved?
Her knees were scrapped and the surface was sticky with dried blood. She could feel the beginnings of bruises being formed all over her legs and arms, one on her lower back after she had fallen while trying to make it outside. Bright blue eyes were now icy and full of worry, a dirty blonde tangle of hair framing their edges. Roughed up arms wrapped around her legs, pinning them closer. Dirt-filled fingernails dug deep into her pale skin. There was no conversation between herself and the Prime. She didn't have anything to say. And apparently neither did he.
The silence was welcomed, but it would have been nice to get her mind off of things. If she had been with Sol, she could be explaining what a bird was or why some humans think farting is funny. The thought of the mech drew her to aim her eyes once more out the window, her attentions set on the mirror. I can't sense him, so I don't know if he's ok or not, she thought softly to herself. But then again, he is an alien, so I wouldn't even be able to even if I wanted to. It would be nice to know if he was still alive though. One of Fera's legs slipped and kicked her bag. A dull set of clanking inside had her lifting her head. She leaned down and zipped open the pack, seeing her set of art materials her father had given her years before.
Her fingers clenched over the binder holding pages upon pages of empty sheets. She then shifted around for her set of pencils. Bringing the wood out of the bag, Fera sat back and closely studied the tip of the pencil. Not yet had she'd dared to even breath on these pages, let alone draw again. Music and art were her two passions. But her father had given her these things, and she cherished them. Could she risk destroying them just to make herself feel better?
As if thinking of an answer, Fera looked back to the blank white sheet in her lap. Her legs then came back up to cross in the seat and she gently pressed the tip to the page. Swallowing her nervousness, she once again drug her hand across the white, crisp sheet.
Just a shout-out to all of my wonderful fans who have added my fic to their favorites or watch and commented on my work :) Oh, and the 888 views! -totally weird, so I just had to put that in there- But seriously, thank you all and please feel free to comment, or catch a mistake I've made in my pieces. Write 'cha soon!