A/N Day-um where did i get all these words from? O_o anyway i hope the wait will be worth it, i went pretty deep into this :3
well i've also included some memories which i didn't just pull out of my...well you get my meaning, no my stories are joined in Ellen's life, so this one story i had already prepared a chapter for but haven't put it on my other story yet because, well i haven't gotten that far yet :) but anyway maybe you could call the memories slight bonding time if you will between Ellen and Optimus, as i haven't done something like that for a long while because of all the *ooooh tensionnnn*
and of course i had included Ironhide briefly, which is who was speaking in the last chapter and who is mentioned in this one, so i will kick myself if he does enter the Prime universe via ship ¬_¬ oh well i made a mistake with the Star Saber but wasn't released until after i had written it so i have a reason :P I'm not psychic.
so italics (as you can probably guess) are memories passed.
Prey
Ellen stood outside base leaning up against a large rock as she kept an eye on the sky, something she could do that was a priority at the moment she guessed just keeping lookout. She had lost her temper through absent mindedness, she was living in fear, she had abandonment issues and she has always feared death.
But she did not fear the passing itself, just the impact, if she were to die she'd leave allot of friends behind and to never see them again? And to just end up in oblivion? She hated not knowing, mystery is fine as long as you can reveal the mystery to others, but death was a one way trip. Well, she had her near death experience, though it was only white with a door present; however hallucinations weren't uncommon when dying.
But what she has always thought to herself on a number of occasions, do all races return to just one place? Perhaps the well of Allsparks was a name given by their race? No, it was in the name itself and had its own origin, but could Primus allow an organic in? She felt stupid for even thinking a question like that. How is it that in the afterlife you are at peace but to not be with her friends of another race? Often she has asked friends what their thoughts of death was, and she had a range of answers, some accepted it as a cycle, some said they would be dead so it really wouldn't matter. And then there were others that accepted that life was cruel. But why should it be? It wasn't fair. why should it be unfair?
She often wondered, fantasised if you like that perhaps it was one world but many worlds. Like a joining of all races, no matter what any race called there 'next life after life phase', perhaps in each held doors to other incarnations, (perhaps that is why she had come across such a door when she was dying herself) she wished for it she had belief but she also had facts, how can she just accept that there is a place after death? That's not how she worked, sure most Cybertronians were strong in their beliefs but Primus is real, a physical being, at least they had that to go on and Unicron as well, is real. And that kind of got her hopes down when it was revealed that perhaps the human races very existence was an accident? Just, moss growing around Unicrons very form? Cybertronians were a proud advanced race born of an ancient and ethereal being and there were, parasites... "Where do we return? To the Earth? Back to moss? Primus, don't just leave us like this..." she said to herself pointing her head up to the sky "in a way you were that chain reaction to our very existence, your responsible." She thought, getting agitated with a being that she doubted could actually hear her pleas.
"Hey." Bee said from above her looming over the rock, she slight inhaled at a fast rate to the sound of high pitched beeps a brief thought coming to mind that Primus would answer with a 'hey', "Raf and Ratchet are fixed in 'concentration' mode. So i thought I'd be with you."
She had no idea what it was about Bumblebee but his face and the uplifting sound of his high pitched beeps were susceptible to smiling, "Good thing too if i'm honest i started to think, and I've made myself ill from It." she said holding her stomach.
"Is it about things that aren't happening now? That usually makes you guys turn ill when you're worrying about things that haven't happened yet." he guessed slightly nudging her form with his elbow.
"You tease me when you can don't you?" she asked weakly grinning.
"I wouldn't want you to become TOO down, and hey technically we're a similar age i should be, easier to talk to."
She stared out in front as she was listening but came up with ways to dodge certain questions she thought he was leading up to. "I've never seen the sun so close."
Bee let out a silent sigh to himself as he looked to the sun also, "Yeah, can't compare anything to a Sun i think it's one of my favourite things on this planet, instead of glow that we would get its natural light."
"Hmm." She said leaning her chin into her hand.
Bee made a low beeping sound like a sigh or a dying toy car low on its batteries, "i can guess, but just tell me, what's wrong?" he said almost sounding stern, so not to give her the chance to dodge the question again.
Knowing the inevitable and knowing how frustrating it is when something 'dodges questions', she patted the ground next to her as she looked at him with brooding eyes, he took the hint as he came from around the rock and instead of kneeling he sat himself on the dusty ground as he kept a knee up, she produced an open palm to him as he looked at his own as he let it hover just above the ground, she lay hers in his, he felt her hand shake slightly and he lightly cupped it as she sighed "Bee." She started very shaky on her words, "i'm...i'm scared." She admitted looking to the floor, "i mean what do I want? I don't seem to know, i don't want you to leave, i don't want you to die, and I moan about one thing only to be punished with something much worse."
Bumblebee cupped his hand a little more firmly to let her know he was there. "None of us could predict what was going to happen on Cybertron. But if he stood right here and said he was leaving anyway. Even with everything that's happened you wouldn't just let him go." He then titled his head slightly as he didn't want to sound too offending with his next sentence. "But i think you felt you had to because you're afraid that if you didn't he'd be killed...bad things happen, but you didn't cause them. Alright?" he told her sternly.
"Fear does that to you." she said. "They'll never be another of him." She then back kicked the rock behind her as she bit her lip, Bumblebee couldn't protest at the suggested tone, because there was a possibility, but there was also the possibility that he was alive. "Why could he not have let me stay with him?!"
Bumblebee shot his head around to her, "You think he'd just let you stay? And die?" Bee snapped slightly, thoughts of when he almost lost his own charge built up inside him if he could've absorbed that Dark Energon to save his charge, he would've.
She was taken back by his tone as she looked to his shoulder to avoid eye contact, "N-No, but he always does things alone, so not to burden others, okay from his point of view i wouldn't either but from my point of view it's frustrating. I don't know what to do now Bumblebee everyday I've always started the day with 'me and Dad' i don't see anything beyond, well just 'me'." She said slightly pinching the front of her jacket.
Bee's optics turned a lighter shade becoming almost a pale sky colour, "I know i'm no good with words but we each knew him, and because of that something was left behind memories, inspiration, hope, us...Autobots and that includes you."
She lightly scoffed, "Yeah because i'm a great gift for humanity huh?" She remarked.
"Hey maybe you should go into politics?" he started lightly.
She lightly shoved his form as she snorted slightly, "ha-ha! Yeah maybe i could run for President, when that happens you better weep for humanity." She jested back as with everything her face fell back again, "but, that's not hope, n-no i mean, well not you guys i-i mean-i mean." She stated as she realised how she was referring to herself and sighed awkwardly, "great, self-pity..." she hissed though thinking more into it, it did make her smile lightly, "me huh? You know you're forgetting Raf, Miko and Jack, though a short time with you guys, they, well 'matured' faster? It's weird, how that kind of change can happen so rapidly...change." then placed a finger against her forehead and instinctively made herself upright when standing, "though my 'change' time with Dad was not as 'casual' in fact it was...boring, to start with."
She re-called standing in the middle of her quarters, she was trying to balance a data pad on her head and to say the least she felt as though she was a performing pet however Optimus' expression proved her wrong, though she didn't understand why this was so important. "E-Erm, i know i slouch sometimes but do i really need to be doing this?" she asked slight blush to her cheeks.
"Good posture has its benefits." He said, his arms were folded and stood there straight as though overseeing something almost a little intimidating for her, seeing how he was at his normal professional level with his bots then with her.
"Yeah but i don't think I'll be getting a slipped disk anytime soon." She argued patting her back.
He raised an eyebrow at her, attempting to look unimpressed, "No i mean other benefits, for example our cooling systems in the high climates need a regular air flow with good posture that can aid it, though that is all down to our design, with what i understand, human lifestyle has become 'comfortable' and many are losing posture to many contributing factors. For humans posture facilitates breathing."
"facilitates?" she said tilting her head as the data pad slipped off her head, though quickly picked it up and started again to avoid embarrassment, "not a word i use really."
"In other terms, allowing you to breathe at your given capability."
"Oh." She said flatly, she had to admit she remembered she felt a little bored and even smiled to the thought that she felt as anxious as Miko, wondering where the action was, where's the awesomeness? What's with learning good posture?
"Humans require twenty percent of Oxygen for the brain." He then stated matter of factly.
Ellen tilted her head again dropping her item, "Wait, you've been learning? I thought you were going to gain information through experience instead of relying on the internet?"
His optics slightly tilted upwards towards the ceiling, with her sudden interest in survival he had been making sure to know the accurate limits of the human body as well as how to reach the peak of their abilities, not just a normal level of understandment. "I have, been consulting with the field medics, i just wanted to be sure with your biology, may i continue?"
"Yes sir." She said with utmost respect but her small voice came off as innocent and charming and showed as he had to repress a smile.
"Therefore increases concentration and thinking..." he finished as she opened her mouth quite widely to protest before he stopped her with a raised finger, "even more so."
"Well alright then..." she slightly huffed.
"But among other things it improves image and self-confidence; we broaden all topics not just physically but mentally as well, as much as i...cherish your innocence, life does not allow you that luxury forever."
She smiled to the word cherish, it seemed to be expressed in such a casual manner, or perhaps he has been hanging around too many casual speaking beings. "You sure? I mean this better be like a Karate Kid thing when he thinks he's doing all this pointless stuff but then has actually meaning behind it?"
"I do not understand, have i not just explained the meaning?" he said lightly.
"Well yeah, well no, well...h-ey, are you teasing me?"
"I can only apologize for any misunderstanding i have caused." He said with a flick of his optics.
"Hmm, well if you were, then that kind of humour suits you, but just don't go slapstick on me, i like it better when you're...hmm, serious? But it's like when your serious, you're the most caring then, i-if-if you understand all that?" she said almost about to back down from that statement.
Instead of agreeing or disagreeing merely moved the conversation forward, "I prefer you being...desultory."
Her face dropped in annoyance, "Why? Just why? Now i have more words to learn its definition, it's like being in a library or school." She grumped, "but when you said that word it's a good word right?" she changed her tone to sound more brighter as she held cupped fists side by side turning eager.
"Is how i meant to portray It." he said lightly as he stared at her, she often portrayed timid behaviour with such gestures as cupping her fists together or wrapping her arms around her form, thirteen...yet everything before was much simpler, he protected her, but now she wanted to care for herself, as much as he was encouraging for her to be more independent then to let this timid behaviour grow, he felt as though barely a nano click had passed, engaging in the simplicity of human culture, however the simplest things were the most engaging. Watching her grow as quick as it was. As she dropped her data pad for the third time he mentally shook his head as he returned to focus, "You are losing your posture." He said firmly.
"Oh right." She said trying to refrain her balance, "Can, can i ask something?"
"You do not need clearance to ask me anything as i have had to repeat many times." He chuckled.
"yeah but, those government guys are always telling me that i have to speak when spoken to, i don't think they like me that much, i'm not sure when to speak to be honest." She shrugged as though it was just how her life went.
He jolted his head to attention, "which government officials?" he said defensively.
"Just some guys..." she said, given his position she never wanted to be an emotional distraction (as Ratchet had pointed out on numerous occasions) with such things as bullying or blatant acts of a threatening manner, but they got out in the end, and when they did, she was an emotional distraction. "Its-it's alright you don't have to say anything, because if you did they might throw you out."
"Did they threaten you with our exile?" he asked fast to reply.
"i-i don't know why i'm the centre of attention i guess like you guys, around here i do seem out of place, so i'm a target..." she then flapped her arms up and down seeing how his frowning intensified, "b-but t-that's fine j-just human nature, you don't have to, just don't, t-to eer is human?" she grinned nervously holding up a shaky thumbs up.
"I would not turn hostile as you suggest in tone." He said softening his tone to her obvious attempts of keeping the peace.
"Yeah but, there's serious...and then there's serious you know?" she said lowering her tone on the second serious and dipping her head so that a slight shadow appeared over her forehead. "You are mister self-control after all."
"My apologies, the Spark tends to dominate the processor on occasion, but do not belittle yourself, it, does wear my patience on occasion for those to attack a being who has had no mental training to be able to simply absorb it." he said strongly.
"you ever thought about being a psychologist?" she said with genuine interest, and she felt her heart swell, though she protested the idea, she liked how sometimes he would verbally state that she was taken care of, though she was convinced that she could deal with it herself, it was reassuring to know she had a line of defence, "W-Well anyway i wanted to ask, is there any, weaknesses on you guys?" she asked slightly grinning as he took this the wrong way.
"You are not engaging Decepticons." He said simply.
"No, no, i mean well maybe one day if the war is still going..." she added sneakily, "b-but just in case i am in a situation where i can do something to a Con i-i mean if i was in that situation. Speaking erm, metaphorically." She argued calmly.
"Then speaking metaphorically." He then pointed to certain sections of his body frame, "Our frames are weaker under the armour, our necks are exposed to damage, mainly from behind, or below the chest, the hip plating, and of course our optics can be easy targets themselves, for 'your' snipers in this case."
"So weak how? Is this using a weapon?"
"It can be, but if there is the right amount of force like say a punch or a kick in the right areas." He said, "Though i am afraid that amount of force given is beyond your capability."
"Hmm." She sighed.
"But it's not all about force; to use thought instead is a better weapon which i have tried to reinforce." He said.
"Outsmart you mean?" she said slightly reluctant to that idea, "it's a...start i guess." She said dipping her head.
Optimus knelt down as he placed a cupped finger under her chin bringing head back up, "i know, 'force' may look impressive but is only external, knowledge can leave a greater mark." He reassured.
Well when he put it like that, it sounded like the Death Star or something to her, she wished he could make Algebra sound awesome. She grinned stupidly producing a writing utensil from her pocket, "the pen is mightier than the sword." she snickered, "well, this is a pencil but you-you get the idea."
"I am skilled in transcribing, though you are a challenge, i manage." He lightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Your particular way of speaking is encoded in itself." He said lightly as she shrugged still with the data pad on her head, her expression was serious but she had managed to make the task look entertaining as well, "Not too long until you are an adult female." He thought to himself with a mixture of relief and slight sorrow, of course he knew this to happen, but to send her out there into the reality that is her world and her life, was a War in itself. "Now i think that should be enough for today little Roller." He said starting to exit the room as she spun around.
She stopped her balance as she let the pad fall off her head, as she thought of what an odd thing to say to her, "Huh? What another name? How many more things do you wanna call me? Is constantly reminding me of my size a thing now?" she jested trying to catch up with him.
He shook his head amusingly at all those question asked at once, "Just thoughts of an old friend, his scale was that of a, well almost the scale of a human. The terminology for what he was, was a droid..." a vented sound, almost like breathed air escaped him, much like a sigh but was fondly expressed, "but he was so much more, brave, somewhat impudent, many underestimated him, I used to keep him with me all the time."
"You had a mini-con e-er that is a mini-bot?"
"I had three, they were my components, wherever they were sent to, it was as if i was there with them." He said further expressing his fondness but at the same time expressed his concern, for even though he was with them, through them. If they were in any kind of trouble he was limited to help them, but they were Autobots and were capable of handling themselves despite their scale. "I know they are still out there...somewhere, i can feel It." he said looking upwards.
She looked at him intrigued watching him ponder his thoughts, "i have allot more to learn about you don't i?" He made an 'hmm' sound as he nodded to himself, "component." She mused then turned shy to these thoughts, "h-hey Dad. Saying that, am-am i like your component?" she asked but did not go over these thoughts first merely blurted them out and regretted it instantly, "N-Nevermind, i know how dumb that sounds." She said shaking her head.
He slightly turned his optics to her, noticing her slightly trip over her own feet as her eyes were fixed on his form, "perhaps you should look ahead." He said instead as she bowed her head taking confirmation that she did speak foolishly. She watched her own footing wary of her own clumsiness, he looked back down at her and watched her being cautious, though that was a positive trait, too much caution was not advised, and she was. As much as he tried to reassure her, she would wait at the entrance of the hanger during certain types of missions, waiting until they returned for her own reassurance. "My components could not survive if i were to pass." He started suddenly.
"Don't say stuff like that." she scolded, her heart racing to the mere mention of him 'gone'.
"Its true, as cold a fact as it is, it is still fact." He stated, he did not mean to come off as 'harsh' but her problem was merely growing, and could turn into something ugly if not resolved, even something as small as a 'little bit of fear' that lingered for so long could turn fast at the right time, resulting in it evolving into anger, rage and hatred.
"Can we not." She slightly begged.
"You cannot simply ignore this fear." He said firmly stopping abruptly as she bumped into his leg, "if you do, it would merely grow, build up. You must let it go, if i were to pass before you, i want you..." He started as she came to a halt.
"p-please..."
"I want you to carry on, how i intended, how you intended...the pain of loss is never healed but time helps..."
"You help!" she cried.
"Not forever, i cannot predict the future, nor of my fate or even your fate, but we share the same fate..."
"And is that all we share?! Why do you always tell me the negatives?! T-That...that i can't, that we can't..." she spat out of frustration.
she wanted to add more meaning to that brief sentence as she ran off to be with herself, she didn't finish off what she wanted to say either, but she knew if she did he would merely continue and perhaps give her an answer she didn't want to hear, uncertainty, only faith, She didn't think of it much back then or since as she tends to want to forget, she had felt that her parents had left her, even though she knew that they couldn't stop from leaving her, she didn't want to think that he would leave her too. Despite his obvious attempt to remind her that death is part of life, So she forgot what he told her, because it wasn't possible, she'd explore, dream and discover with him, she didn't care who knew it, she doesn't want a life partner or a family of her own, she was perfectly content with her parental, her teacher, her friend and partner.
"Huh." She sighed to the bitter sweet memory, taking note of the object she had in her bag again, one way to forget death was to prevent it, and that meant asking if she could help in some way. But now when thinking about, she thought instead of Megatron and any other Con, they were all guilty, they were all contributors, but she knew revenge didn't help, she knew this with her encounter with Silas, but she still couldn't quench the feeling of bloodlust, her primal human nature was clashing with her logical side; prevent or destroy.
"Dad. What do i do?" she thought thinking, Starlight was at home, so if she wanted to help she would have to do it as herself, her arm, her head and her newly acquired weapon, but because of its nature, it was the best kind of weapon for a human because it required one shot, no risk of a miss...but in exchange that user better be prepared to give up there morality...
Ellen was being tended to by a nest field medic, looking pretty sorry for herself as when she fell she skidded across the tarmac, scraping the skin from her knees and elbows, gravel was mixed in with her wound as she recalled trying to hold back her lip from quivering, though it stung like hell.
When her wound was cleaned and patched up she lay her arm in her hand looking like a lame dog, as she looked for some comfort from Optimus who stood a few metres away while the medic worked, though he gave her a light smile for reassurance. "There, now let those heal before attempting anymore physical activity alright?" the medic said firmly to her laying two hands on her shoulder for a mutual understanding.
"Okay, thank you..." she then presented him with an open palm as she cupped it a few times in a swift manner, "what? No compensation?" She hinted.
He frowned at her slightly as he patted his body searching for something, "does this look like a dentist? Well i haven't any of the usual things that cause you to come back to see me but, i have a highlighter?" He said presenting her with a sky blue highlighter.
"That'll do." She said as he gave a swift nod and had given Optimus a scolding stare before he was on his way, it was mostly a fifty, fifty ratio with the humans on base, they either had the greatest respect for the bots or greatly questioned there existent. Ellen turned slightly embarrassed to the figure standing metres away with folded arms, "Sorry...but i think that tarmac needs redoing, there were pot holes i could live in."
He took a couple of steps forward as he knelt down, inspecting her patches, she fell because he had praised her, two months into her survival training, and when she was set with a task she got straight into it, but near the end of timing herself on the long gravelled tarmac was her downfall as she didn't slow down her running and that along with his acknowledgement caused her to not watch what she was doing resulting in tripping, "do they still cause discomfort?" he asked hovering his palm over her arm though in actual reality hovered over her entire being.
"A little, but that just happens." She replied gently stroking her sore knees.
"it is still a disturbing thought on my mind that you still suffer pain even though you have been tended too by a medic, Ratchet is slightly sceptical to human culture itself, though i hope he can become more open minded to different cultures before something terminal happens to you."
"i wouldn't want Ratchet poking me anyway."
"Still, this is never an easy experience." He noted, human flesh when damaged appeared worse in appearance to him and always thought it to be shown in pain as well.
"How do you think i'm feeling?" she jested lightly.
"The obvious responses, though i wish i could bare them with you."
"Yeah well i'm not Cybertronian, so you'll have to just try and understand. As well as me guessing with you, though i have started to make a dictionary of all those subtle movements with your head and the way you do stuff, you're like my subject."
"You are creating a behaviourist book?" he sounded lightly amused for his status of 'subject'.
"Yeah i think we'll need it for future acquaintances, so far i got, 'subtle flick of the optics and furrowed brow' means slightly annoyed." She snickered. "I got more; i think I've figured out when you're actually laughing inside. I think when i release this as a book i'm going to call it 'what the hell is Optimus Prime thinking? A working progress' because you know i haven't all the answers to life's biggest mystery." She grinned.
"Perhaps you should drop the term 'hell' from the title, it is considered offensive to many and with good reason."
"Yeah but that's for dramatic enthusiast, and heck hasn't got quite the same zing." She swooned.
"Permit me wrong but i think you mean 'emphasis'." he mused.
"Everyone's a criti...ah..." she had thrown her arms up in protest before wincing to the soreness of her arms not allowing her to bend her elbows.
"Easy." He softly scolded letting her arm rest in his palm, he then carefully stroked the base of her arm with a curled finger observing the structure of it, "Hmm, foolish? Simple?" he then started thoughtful thinking as she blinked at him.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Your language seems to portray foolishness very harshly, i am trying to use a lighter word for its description, i would not describe you as simple or a fool."
She started thinking herself though she took note that he was trying to call her stupid, "hmm, what about silly?"
"Silly?" he said slightly frowning to the word.
"Yeah i know not exactly 'formal' for your way of speech but i guess it's the best way to describe those things i do."
"Hmm, silly." He mused watching her expression as he continued to comfort her wounded arm; she had a slight shade of red on her cheeks as she would when she would attempt to figure out his thoughts, whatever they were at that point. "Silly girl." He said fondly.
She shyly smiled though felt sceptical but finally decided to ask, "Hey erm, how come you got well pretty annoyed a couple of days ago?" she asked him finally as a couple of days before had turned thirteen, and one particular gift turned Optimus' optics a darker shade of blue, he did not utter a word, that Ellen couldn't hear anyway only a silent command through a comm link to lock it up and to properly dispose of it. And that was it, no comment about it, only to continue with the day.
And his optics turned that shade yet again "Ellen d..."
She slightly impersonated the whimpering of a puppy as she emphasized her bounded wounds, "I need to distract myself from this stinging sensation." She mock pleaded.
He quietly growled to himself almost sounding like a purr because of how she can portray herself as the most innocent being, whenever she wanted to plead her case, whenever she just generally liked to tease him, problem was she had become to comfortable with that power. "Do you know what that was?" he asked her seriously.
She played with her fingers at his tone, "Well...no. I've actually never seen any of you have weapons like that."
"Because we outlawed it. It is a weapon of Decepticon science; experimentation had no bounds to Shockwave." He averted his gaze to one side in a serious manner as he thought of it.
"Ironhide' said he found it on a mini-con..." she started brightly, "But you guys don't take the 'spoils' right?" she slightly chuckled to herself, "but he does."
"No, but his actions are an expression of his nature what may seem wrong to others is right to him, he was only thinking of you and to make a point, but that does not justify the case." He took thought to the vision of her holding it, in itself was a unwanted scenario.
"Wha-whats so bad about it?"
"It is called, a Cosmic rust blaster."
"Is-isn't that like a disease?" she said and her hesitation was caused by the realistic introduction from Ratchet, he was very frank and detailed about said disease.
"Yes, and Decepticons found a way to harness the micro bacteria turning it into physical projectiles."
"Doesn't the disease basically make you rust? And then the...the corrosion? Cause you to basically rust away?" the thought made her body fall limb thinking about her own body basically fall and decay was spine tingling.
"a disease which effects are gradual but eventually leads to that outcome, however the weaponized version speeded up the process, first it discharges a powerful blast that can tear through the chassis, causing external damage to a level that i cannot describe or show to you. Within that blast is the virus itself which..."
"What? What does it do?" she asked, dreading the answer but was eager to know.
"I cannot tell you, i will not tell you." He said sternly as she winced slightly letting a distressful 'uh' escape her, he tapped a finger as a metronome to his thoughts "even though you cannot do too much physical activity, you have your studies i believe?" he said in a calm tone.
She sighed almost moaning in sound, "i guess i have a little, but it's Maaath." She droned letting herself lie back to play dead.
"Do you require my aid?" he asked lightly.
"N-No that's alright i can do it." she said with dread turning her vision to the floor to carefully let herself down.
"Perhaps a second analyse?" he asked.
"It's not that."
"Then there is a reason to not accept my help?"
She curled her lip to form a wide grin, "Yeah, i can't do my homework if you're looming over me, i can't see in the dark."
Ellen grinned to herself to the comically serious position she often put him in, but that weapon. "Which slowly eats away at the victim, alive." Ellen muttered to herself as Bumblebee tilted his head at her.
"Huh?"
"Nothing, i was just thinking about the realisation that if i'm in trouble you guys aren't always going to be there for me. You know when Ironhide was showing me some friendly target practice? Well, really Dad promised me i didn't need to worry about that, but you would think by now at that age i would realise that he just said that to make me happy, but you know, you like to think he could do anything, that he was invulnerable. My God i was so naive for thinking that."
"I remember, what was it you said? You wanted to to learn how to survive on your own insteading on relying on us?" he said placing a mocking finger under his chin.
"Why do you say in such a teasing tone?" she asked sounding slightly annoyed.
"Nothing, just that when you asked him you sounded like Raf when he tried to explain to his Mom why there was a fully grown human male in his bedroom reading A level science."
"Were you eavesdropping?" she asked suspiciously giving him a slight glare that stared into his very spark and soul.
"Maybe. But i did remember that when he agreed you had to refer to him as you would a higher ranking officer." he made a scratching sound suggesting he snickered as Ellen looked at him horrified.
"s-so just to clarify this is the serious you now?" she jested, though his facial reaction made her take this seriously as she straightened up slightly, "er, yes Daddy, sir?"
"Ellen..."
"I mean, yes Sir. Sir?"
She grinned at Bumblebee as she made a slight hissing sound through her teeth, "let's uh, keep that between us alright?"
"Well i don't know i thought i could tell..."
"Al-right?" she started a little more threatening.
He jolted back slightly wavering his hands in a surrendering manner, "Alright, alright, but can i tease you about that? I mean I've taken my share of abuse through the years time for some redemption for this scout." he said shutting one optic to his risky choice of words.
"I'm really surprised at you Bumblebee, using blackmail?" she said mock serious.
"Goes with my paint job don't ya think?" He winked.
She breathed as she sat beside him, "remember some evenings i would come to you seeking some kind of comfort? Besides my school work and then Autobot schooling, and even long hours on the weekends learning survival, Dad was a monster, it's pretty tiring learning about two worlds." She said. Courses, lessons, but she started looking at things a little different and her way of thinking changed too. To a point she started to sound a little different from normal teenagers, with the words she would use, her sentences sometimes sounding more like a life experienced being, so had to somehow balance that, to be able to interact with her own kind but to also use her other way of talking when the scenario arises.
"Yeah, you looked ti-red, and on rainy days you had your hands drooping down in front of you, like when humans pick up cats." he said imitating her.
"Remember the maze?" She said not really reacting to the obvious teasing.
Bee looked upwards as it didn't take long to remember, though he was no good at portraying himself as an intimidating obstacle. "Wasn't i one of the Cons you had to survive?" he said.
She slightly pouted folding her arms, "You kept killing me."
"Not always."
True there were few times where she was able to get to the finish, by outsmarting him, well confusing him. Surprisingly she started giggling to herself, "You know i remember once, he called me 'Little Roller' i thought it was sweet, well not so much when he said it then."
"Really? Never heard him say that before."
"No one did, he said it once and he was thinking of his little friend, Roller, his component."
"Oh yeah, Roller, brave little bot he was." He said excitably.
"I like to think that he was referring to me as...well, i like the name, it had a meaning to him behind it, i wish he called me it more." She mused. "I liked a lot of things he called me, Little one, Swee...e-erm, Ellen heh. But that one made me feel...well this is dumb but, well it made me feel like an Autobot or an adult you know? I felt like i could be taken seriously." She then slightly blushed; expressing her weird ideas to others sometimes caused her fear for what they would think.
Bee gave her another teasing nudge as he laughed lightly, "You could pass off as a little droid, you could probably fit like one too." He then nudged her a little more causing her to fall on her side, "Huh, Little Roller. I no longer feel like the youngest ha."
"Hey you can't say that word, that's our word." she jested back snapping her fingers, as she leant back more, "well whatever the reason he said it, if he was just thinking of past friends or just felt like saying it, one thing's for sure, i still felt stupid for balancing that data pad on my head...but thinking about my training back then makes me yawn, it was so tiring and of course painful at times but not too much i just ached, Dad didn't let me have so much as a nosebleed before we stopped, or, s-scrape my knees."
"Yeah, as for myself i had some physical training with Optimus; it was definitely different from the usual protocol, because it wasn't, it was his way, but besides that i found my own fighting style, well until i got to Earth and i was drawn to the fighting moves of Muhammad Ali."
"Ha-Ha, sting like a Bee right? And for me i guess I grew smarter...sort of heh, more aware maybe even stronger. But there's definitely room for improvement, i mean Silas kicked my ass a lot of the time even though i always claimed i could take on any human heh, o-hhh and all that reading, it put me off reading for a year dude i think you guys get more education then our actual schools. Hmph, funny that i always wondered why he reinforced History than any other subject." She lazily tilted her head side to side, "learn about the past so to define the future...B-But i sucked at Math, and Chemistry."
Bumblebee shook his head making a low beeping sound as a sound of hissing escaped his chassis he was relaxing himself a little more, "You can't officially declare that he is gone, if Megatron can make a comeback Optimus can match that."
Strangely enough from that sentence she thought of Megatron, "In the end, they always fall. Always...hmmm, i think the main things i can remember are quotations of historical figures, and i understand them too, as well as 'movie based fictional characters' heh." She kind of thought of herself at that point, it was hard to describe yourself she might as well have been having a conversation with herself to find out. "Hey Bee? Did i lose anything when growing up? Like the qualities that was me? I-If i had any at all?"
"Nah, they've just grown, your qualities were always a little, mmm, shy, you were, s-shy." he hesitated knowing her reaction.
"Hmm, shy huh? Shy!? What are you talking about? Since when was i ever shy?" she protested.
"Come on I've heard humans go through a 'shy' phase at least once, it's just your were going through the phase for hmmm, six years? I can't remember few times that you were actually on your own, most of the time you were just following Optimus around when you got the chance listening to him whenever he spoke, kind of odd, you odd human you."
"i just, stood in his shadow all the time that's all...and in my defence it took six years to get out of it you know what i'm saying?" she jested giving a little snigger before she sighed deeply, she'd like to think Optimus would make a statement on that comment, but she could probably guess and took comfort in that, as well as the frequent memories she expressed in her mind, many memories despite her short life span they felt eternal, like dreams without time and there he lived, whether in this world or not. But, she can turn to them another time; right now she had to find a conclusion, to continue this life of fear or to continue her own journey taking whatever life hits her with. "Well, i can either get busy dying or living." She thought out loud as Bumblebee whipped his head to attention, "I mean, Dad was...never going to be around forever and even if i did outlive him through such circumstance as this, we all die one way or another, my parents, if they were still here, i would still grow older, and they older still and eventually they would've died..." her tone matured as she continued. "Dad has always tried to tell me this, but i always ran for cover at the mention of it...but i need to accept this, learn this and become harder, instead of letting fear break me. Which, it, won't." She said cupping her fist.
Bumblebee patted her back offering his friendship, "That's great, you know you sound more healthy? ...i don't know but, you-you look great." he exclaimed as she rose an eyebrow at him.
"Correction, i have always looked good, you just could not look at me in case i blinded you heh."
He slightly made a staged bow, "my apologies your majesty, but i meant the colour of your skin of your face, similar with our sparks your face is glowing to your mood." He said fondly.
She placed a hand over her cheek, "Well, thanks...Bee." she sighed, "however with this empathic bond i have with him, i'm tied to his spark, so i know this is going to be a weight on my heart for years, i don't think I'd be able to...feel, the same way, but it was worth it I'll tell you that."
Bee smiled to the positives. "It was at the battle of Tyger Pax that i learned that life is hard too you know. He paused so he knew that she was listening, "I know the main reason for your fear is that you think that because we are both from different races we can't be reunited in death."
She slightly opened her mouth slightly surprised that he knew this. "it's no secret, when you were out cold after that Scraplet incident, i was monitoring your progress while the others were out, you spoke sometimes, but you sounded as though you were speaking with someone, admitting your fears, i hear allot of things but mostly keep them to myself."
She remembered the whole Arctic exploration thing; they had their discussions during that deathly situation, and remembered how unafraid she was, placed between two beings, Arcee and Optimus as they spoke of reunion when they eventually would succumb to the temperatures of that blizzard, "man even when i'm sleeping i can't seem to shut up." She said.
"Honestly, life after death has always been a mystery i don't know about you but i don't have that much of a visual of the Well of Allsparks, sure a description and many can remember there emergence from there and is where our life force originates, but every life force is a soul in itself. The Well of Allsparks carries our souls, and i think that it works like a Spacebridge, teleporting through to get to other worlds." He lightly patted her on the back, his voice sounded determined, that is the high pitched frequency of his voice sounded determined, so sure, just how Arcee and Optimus sounded in the Arctic. "So don't worry about it, okay?"
"Bee..." she stuttered holding her arms onto his legs as she leant into him, she tilted her head to the sky, "Hmm, Well of Souls?" She thought quietly to herself as she lightly whacked Bee's side, "kind of what i was hoping really i'm glad i'm not the only one to hope this."
The two then sat there for a while, thoughts of what was, and what was happening now, as a scratching sound was heard from Bee signifying a puffed laugh, "Do you realise how much is revolved around your planet, Energon? Unicron? Iacon relics? We are defiantly set for life in...Well the Afterlife." He said.
She took comfort in those words, it enveloped her almost, they had there, essences, ghosts, souls whatever word for it, but it healed her heart a little, she thought about that day that she would grow tired and accept her time with ease, and perhaps she'd see friends and family, like Cliffjumper and Optimus, perhaps even guide her soul in case she felt lost and eventually fall, only for them to catch her. "I hope you'll introduce to me some of your friends?" she asked.
"Sure will, hey maybe I'll even meet your parents?"
"Just need to find the right bridge." she said lightly, "and i can finally get to know Cliffjumper a bit more, i, regret not having that much of an emotional connection to him when he passed but until..." Bumblebee then placed a palm in front of her to stop her suddenly; he then motioned to his mouth in a 'shushing' manner. 'What is it?' she mouthed to him as she followed his gaze to the sun, she placed a hand over eyes as a tiny speck was marked over the large sun.
"Lets go." Bumblebee said swiftly as he shooed her with his hand to get her to start running.
She ran with him only to spin around to run backwards as she squinted her eyes, her mouth slightly opened out of pure intriquition, but she couldn't see what Bee saw the Sun was too bright and produced the aftermath of that brightness as she started forward again, she squinted hard to get her vision back only to get frequent black shadows of the suns intense solar power. "Bee..." she panted, "what did you see?"
"Can't tell for sure, but i couldn't take any chances, they might've saw us." he said as going from sunshine to instant eerie glow of darkness took its toll on her eyes.
"I am transmitting our current co-ordinates..." Ratchets voice echoed from within.
Bee almost dived into the control room as Ellen brushed herself down of dust, "Ratchet, we saw something, and its airborne." he said frantically.
"What?" Ratchet said almost stunned.
Bee beckoned his hand as he jogged on ahead, Ellen rolled her eyes as she lazily turned back to follow Bee out back where they had just come. The group was so anxious of what was approaching them none considered precaution, that is except for Bumblebee.
"A ship?" Ellen said cupping a hand over her eyes again.
"Wait here, it's not safe." Bee said putting a halted palm in front of the two.
As the ship approached closer it started to hover as it proceeded to land, the two humans cupped their faces as the dust blew their way, after a long moment the dust resided and the two could finally take a better look at the ship, "it's one of ours." Ratchet said as Ellen and Raf took that as an all clear to approach it, as the ship sat there for a moment an elevated platform came down from the ship itself as Raf and Ellen targeted their eyes on all beings, though a awed expression from Miko is what caught them the most.
"Raf! Ellen!" Miko exclaimed running towards them grabbing Raf like a stuffed teddy bear and spinning around with him as Jack casually made his way over.
"Girls got a kind of grip doesn't...she!?" Jack found himself being slammed to the ground as Ellen fell onto him.
"E-Ellen." Jack wheezed as getting air to his lungs was slightly constricted.
Ellen grinned at him smugly that much a 'ting' could appear on her teeth at that point, "that's right, i'm real Jackson Prime, how you doing Bro?" She swooned dramatically.
Jack attempted to smile though he could really use oxygen instead, "Y-You're going to put someone in a c-coma if you keep throwing your weight around like this."
"Oh?" she started as she held her arms under his back with covered Earth giving him a small hug before lifting her form up again, "so i'm the fat one now?" she added with a constant smile on her face, she needed this, the proof of their safety though she noticed Smokescreen was not among them and frowned to that empty space. Finally she let go as she got up from him and let him find his feet.
He brushed himself down as he gave her that look of mock annoyance as she shrugged, and then held his hand out for a firm shake, "What?" Ellen said raising an eyebrow, "Come on formal is for those friends that you meet who are friends of your friends, close friends get locked palms" she said as Jack did just that without a second thought.
"It's been, what, a few days? And you're tackling me like a football player." he said.
"I'm a very sociable creature so sue me." She shrugged.
Then the two acknowledged Raf and Miko who had longed finished there greetings as they swapped hugging partners, Miko jumped on Ellen forcing her to catch the girl, who kept her legs up as Ellen spun around, "Mikoooooo." She sang as she put her down due to feeling light headed, "Damn girl you're looking like a real rock star." She noted her wore down posture, the dirt in her hair and mostly everywhere else "but then again that's the usual satire." Miko gave her a light punch in the shoulder, "what was that?" she jested as she returned the gesture a little harder causing Miko to stumble and fall on her behind. "Oh! Oh-oh Miko i'm sorry-so sorry ah Jeez."
"You're alive." Ratchet puffed out relieved as he eyed up the bigger group, Wheeljack, Arcee, Bulkhead...
"Who's the Mech with the Romulan shoulder pads?" Ellen thought raising an eyebrow as she pulled Miko up from the ground. She looked this taller Mech over; who was in the back behind the others but still very noticeable.
"Ultra Magnus?" Ratchet confirmed for her.
"Doctor." He greeted.
"Good lord." Ellen finished quietly horrified with her eyes widening, "well, okay maybe he's not that bad, i mean he was trained by Dad, but he's had vorns of training...but then again the student doesn't exactly turn out like the teacher. B-But surely he's not completely hardcore with protocol right? R-Right? I mean I've heard how awesome he is in battle, okay just remain open minded. Remain, open-minded." She thought being able to think to herself again now that the numbers increased and so did hope.
Ultra Magnus approached Ratchet as his stance was absolute and his body frame was similar to Optimus' which makes it hard for her to even look at him but comparing his expression, it was Optimus if he woke up on the wrong side of the berth not the best kind of sight. "Doctor what do you have to report?" He said in a no nonsense manner, well that's the first bad sign but good at the same time?
"For what is relevant at the moment, the Decepticons have a fortress on the outskirts of Jasper, our former base was discovered and therefore, had to evacuate and regroup, the Harbinger is the only resource of late, the communications link needs further calibration to be compatible with Autobot frequencies. The Groundbridge however is fully operational," Ratchet explained.
"That would've come in handy when robo-dragon was trying to eat us for breakfast." Miko added though Raf and Ellen noticed Jack motioned his hand to her to back away with the casual banter. Ellen flicked her eyes back and forth subtlety to any action taken and noticed Ultra Magnus tapped his fingers against his hips as she rolled her eyes slightly.
"Well gee, don't be too patient by all means." She thought.
"The indigenous population of this planet, do they all display the same disregard for authority?" Ultra Magnus asked Ratchet.
"No mostly just Miko." Ratchet said.
She didn't know which part of that offended her the most, the fact that they were labelled or the fact that he was above them? Either way her cheeks turned a slight crimson red in shade "A problem with Authority? Pardon me?" she said as Jack placed two hands on her shoulder.
"Let it go. This guy has a serious glare and he is very authoritive." He begged.
"Autobot Military protocol Jack, And this is our planet not Cybertron he can't just come on our rock expecting respect on here, he's a guest on our planet and our house has different rules, i mean he hasn't wiped his feet or anything, one word comes to mind and that is rude and also giant buzzkill." She said though to be honest with herself, she was slightly wary of him as well, just because of his level of power, a commanding officer and his power house of a ship, versus a scout, a medic, a couple of wreckers and a fiery warrior and of course her human compadres this guy was hope and at the same time a potential threat.
"You can argue later." He said shaking his wildly.
"What? You mean i can't express an opinion?" she simply said as she put her hands up lightly in a peaceful manner, "though he may be an excellent soldier with a reputation on the same level as Dad's as well as second most feared by the Decepticons, Daring, strategically ingenious, and courageous...his expectance for respect stinks." Jack raised an eyebrow at her, "Alright, I will withdraw for now, but this aint over. If Commander Riker here starts pulling rank over the 'indigenous species' again i'm gonna go all twenty fourth centaury on his processor, i mean i am feeling myself again but i'm still pretty damn mad so i will most likely find any excuse to start an argument." She said folding her arms across her chest.
Her ears twitched slightly as she whipped her body around as they all became alert to the sounds of jet engines Ultra Magnus on quick decision deployed his weapons as he charged in its direction.
"No!" Ratchet called.
"Don't shoot!" Arcee said putting herself in his path as well as Bulkhead.
"Its Fowler he's with us." Bulkhead added.
"Takes an initiative, only for it to fail, sounds like a first officer." Ellen commented as Ultra Magnus glanced over the bots as well as her, before turning back to the jet, this planet was proving to present a very bad impression on him, lack of respect for authority, lack of discipline and further disrespect with the use of sly comments. To fire upon the approaching helicopter instead of risk the lives of his Soldiers, he would do so without a second thought.
The jet landed and the kids ran to the area as the dust picked up yet again, first June Darby came out of the jet climbing down the ladder as she eyed up the group of children running blindly towards them with instant relief when she set eyes on her, she wrapped her arms around him letting a relieved cry escape her, she cupped his face into her hands as her eyes trailed his face confirming for himself that he was physically alright. "It's okay Mom. I'm fine" Jack said as he lightly backed off and shoved Miko in her direction and Raf joined the hug.
"Jack, if you push me..." Ellen started warningly as she noticed his hover hand around her back, "I'll...I'll...i don't know I'll do something of a threatening manner." She huffed folding her arms as she eyed up the group hug, "okay i will admit though, i'm feeling emotion right now." she added pretending to wipe away a tear though Jack hovered his hand to around her shoulder as he rested it there, Ellen put her hand on his as it just came to her, "Alright, you emotional response, you have already had a warm gesture of our friendship." She said.
June slightly hunched down to Miko and Rafs level as she placed hands on their shoulders, "your families are safe, Agent Fowler saw to it that Jasper was evacuated in time." She said again standing up as she folded her arms briefly glancing at Ellen with a half open mouth before finding herself looking to the group of bots behind them noticing the conversation.
"The only signals Ultra Magnus was able to isolate are standing right here." Arcee explained from behind to Agent Fowler.
"Maybe his scanners faulty." Wheeljack said having high doubts of the commanding officer.
"So the kids unaccounted for." Bulkhead said.
"Smokescreen bridged out unaccompanied only Optimus knows where, and Optimus remained behind to destroy the Groundbridge to...ensure everyone else made it to safety." Ratchet sighed.
"As the big guy tend to do." Ellen sighed fondly.
"I...watched the base go down." Fowler stated solemnly as Ellen made subtle motions to know that she was listening but as far as she was concerned they can discuss it as much as they want. "No one or nothing came out of there." He said as Ellen folded her arms turning it into a growing habit.
"Not that we could see." June said grabbing Ellen by the shirt collar and pulling her to her side making her slightly gasp for air.
"Jack? Wha-What do i do?" she asked quietly to him generally confused. "Do i just, put a-put a hand around her shoulder or something?" she asked acting slightly alien.
"That's the general idea." He said just as quietly though he found it humorous all the same.
"Even if Prime survived i'm not sure we could afford to wait for him to show up, not with Megatron holding our planet hostage from his high mighty Darkmount." Fowler said.
"I would be inclined to agree with the native life form. We must stop Megatron with or without Optimus Prime." Ultra Magnus said stepping into the group. "We must do everything in our power to ensure Megatrons downfall."
"Everything in our power huh?" Ellen thought to herself though she couldn't help but slightly scrunch her face up to Ultra Magnus, in a flash of gut instinct much like Miko when she mistook Bulkhead being replaced with Wheeljack, she lightly glared at him her age tended to fail her at times when she should be mature.
"But we would need to be smart about It." Ultra Magnus added.
"Thank you Captain Obvious." Ellen said with light sarcasm just enough to be heard and again had caught his attention, out of all of the humans she gave the worst impression. Jack tried to keep the peace by laying a hand on her shoulder.
"Whoa who but shoulder pads in command?" Wheeljack said.
"Temporary command." Jack reassured.
"Ultra Magnus is the only logical choice; he was trained by Optimus and served as his commanding officer throughout the War for Cybertron." Ratchet argued.
"You could say the same for Starscream." Ellen noted getting a slight scolding stare from Ratchet, "Alright, your right he is the most logical choice, and he's got a good reference as well." she added.
Her opinion was not relevant and Ultra Magnus wondered why the Doctor would act so otherwise, "Now unless there is any further objection." Ultra Magnus said looking to Wheeljack, "Soldier, please follow me."
"Well at least he's polite." Ellen said lightly.
"Aye aye, captain." Wheeljack said as the bots followed him into his ship.
"Okay he's gone." Ellen started as she clasped her hands together facing her human group, "Let's get a giant pillow case fill it with bars of soap and beat the scrap out of him before he uses his power indiscriminately, there's still time people." She hit a fisted hand against her palm pretending to start an uproar.
"You'll do no such thing, you were very well mannered when i first met you, don't slander your upbringing." June firmly scolded.
Ellen slightly blushed when she was suddenly put in her place, "Y-Yes Mam." She said looking to the floor, of course June herself had her fondness for Optimus though she did find it odd that she made such suggestive tones, "i was-i was only..."
"Oh." June started again as she pulled her in again, and then ended up holding her.
Ellen looked to Jack as he lightly mocked her with showing how to give a hug, Ellen sighed slightly as she hugged June, she hadn't gave human adults much hugs before, well not like this she has hugged June before and it has always felt awkward, besides her, most adults she knew were nearly always government officials, they...weren't up for the whole hugging thing. "Was-was that alright?"
Her hug was Luke warm at best, obviously not satisfied with the hug June was the one to put more work into the gesture as she held her tighter rubbing her hands against her back, as she finally let go in an abrupt manner she had cupped her face into her hands as she did with Jack though there was a slight glaze over her eyes, as Ellen had to removed herself from it, "Nurse Darby please, I have had my fair share of dark hours. I'm not as fragile as i may appear to be, i can endure."
June lightly smiled as she shook her head lightly, "You really speak funny sometimes, but you know, i still can't help it, i know your durable but you're still young all the same, you should be acting completely selfish, frustrated...but, who am to lecture, after all i haven't been here as much as i should have, I've seen patients die and i being the one to tell the loved ones of that individual, I'm dying inside to the thought but i have to be strong for that family i couldn't just break into tears as soon as i saw them, no, i had my own way of mourning when it was over."
Ellen nodded in understandment, "yeah, but it's alright now, i'm...i'm not afraid anymore. I'm not made of stone either, but nonetheless it's just part of the experience."
"June..." came Fowlers voice.
"But even still do, do you have any other family? That Agent Fowler can call?" she asked making light conversation even though they really didn't have time for it, she just wanted to make the situation appear as normal as possible.
Ellen looked past June to Agent Fowler, she knew he couldn't get in contact with them but June felt right to give her some options, "my, family is, little but i have a few Cousins, couple of Uncles and Aunties." She said feeling light hearted when she mentioned her family.
"June, you know i can't, she knows this too." Fowler noted solemnly.
"b-but it was a nice thought all the same, when these certain events are over I'll make sure to give them a call, maybe Hannah first, Gemma, and Ruby will be last because she's so easily wound up, heh-heh." She reassured her awkwardly.
Though she blinked at first, she then nodded herself as did Fowler for some reason. "June, we have to go back now." Fowler interrupted again trying to do so before.
"So soon?" June said slightly panicked as she looked over the children, especially her Son, "but we just got here."
"June..." Fowler repeated realistically.
She sighed as she held herself, "your right, we've done what we came for." She then spun around as she pointed stern fingers at the group, "but you better be careful, is that understood?"
The way she uttered that last phrase flooded Ellens head with the firm tone of Optimus' voice, causing her to slightly daydream as she jolted and came to full attention as she stood in such a manner, "Y-Yes Daddy Sir." She blurted in high pitched voice, getting a eyeful of gawks, and the whole environment turned silent you could hear each individual grain of Earth shuffle to the slight breeze, but she managed to keep a blush of red at bay, "it's just when you said understand, in the tone you portrayed..." she started very slowly making it up as she went along, "it reminded me of a friend, it was his nickname you know e-er Dad-dy? He once took a javelin to the side of the throat he, he i'm-i'm not winning here am i?" she said letting her arms droop to her side.
They all shook their heads in unison. "Yeah well, y-you all smell funny." She then turned away slightly as she looked at the ship, Fowler behind was the first to attract the groups attention about departure again though only after he had a discussion with Ultra Magnus getting a hard scolding from June for making her misunderstand that he was leaving now.
"i-i thought you meant you were staying for good?" he argued.
Ultra Magnus will be a hard one to convince, Ellen pondered, "Much harder then Dad." she thought seeing how the two were still different despite the similarities, but most of all the firm but fairness of her upbringing and on an emotional level he was/is her parental, but he, Ultra Magnus was more stern and frank. She placed a finger under her chin, and cringed slightly on the quick analysis, "Respect for authority, logical, no nonsense being, a, lack of an informal side, basically someone who is not built for civilisation on first impressions of course...i may need to bite my tongue. I need to gain some mutual ground with him, he doesn't look at us like Dad does, and well I've worked with more mean spirited bots before. But nothing of his rank. Okay, come on think of Galloway, he is way worse then this guy, i mean this guy at least has morals."
"Hey El?" came Jacks voice.
"Hey...are you alright?" she said and stunned to know that the jet had already departed, though even the thoughts in her head were too loud.
"i am..." he started as he scratched his head, Ellen knew he was about to say something whole heartedly because of his typical behaviour, "you know, when we take care of the Decepticons, if your options look slim or anything, i mean, me and my Mom we-we live in a three bedroom house, you could, erm...you..." he trailed off as she chuckled lightly at him.
"Thanks Jack, i appreciate your offer, it's nice to know i have places to belong." She said patting his arm.
Jack draped an arm around her shoulder, "Sure do, sooo, you have a family?" he then said.
She shrugged, "well, yeah, my family line isn't broken, just small, and in all their tiny splendour, they know about the bots, i mean, hell how do you keep that a secret if your family want to see this 'stranger' who has custody of their five year old niece?"
"Plus the whole military base thing doesn't really help the cover story." He said.
Ellen then scratched her head, "you would, have me in, your home?" she said shyly her cheeks turning a light pink.
Jack placed an arm around her shoulder, "Your partner my too." He said as shoved him slightly.
"I know buddy..." she then started patting her person, "but you know your competing with Spock and Picard here." She said patting the inside pocket of her jacket.
"Seriously? Do you just leave them in your jacket all the time?" Jack jested.
She sighed, "Definitely, logic and reason with the side effects of old age, can't go wrong there."
Jack could only roll his eyes.
The platform lowered again as Ellen took a firm hold on Jack protecting him from the loud noise, Ultra Magnus was the first to step out with the bots each wielding a new weapon, "Autobots, numbers are not in our favour, and as much as stealth would be the more logical choice we do not have those luxuries to even do so..." he started saying.
"Yeah but you got us." Miko blurted standing in front of him.
He slightly tilted his head back as he had not observed such behaviour in a long time, for the cold fact that he did not know those kind of beings for long, "This is a matter for Autobots, not organic life forms of...your scale. I will say this once, that you co-operate and stand to one side, it would be much appreciated." He said in a no nonsense manner as he continued walking.
Ratchet was the last to step out as he had a little look around his ship, "Ratchet." Ellen gently hissed. "Would you mind telling him that we're all part of a team?" she slightly grinded her teeth.
Ratchet knelt down to her as he waggled a finger in front of her, "i will be sure to note the advantages of human allies to Ultra Magnus." He said lightly.
"Sorry i have to ask you to do it and i can't even defend Miko, because everything is going down now. And as much as i want to i can't argue now, well to define it i can't be defiant now."
"You mean, you're going to behave for once?" he asked as he felt a spiritual light had hit him, the blessing of Primus had answered his prays.
"Yeah i know, you may mourn for me if you wish." She stated swooning her hand on her forehead.
He looked her over in an almost judging manner as he frowned to her strange that is 'normal' behaviour. "You're...hmm, yourself again? Though i dread the very thought." He shuddered.
"Yeah i was having a talk with Bee, and was finding comfort in memories, i'm...i'm going to carry on, discover, explore, everything that i am already doing with you guys every day. I have my memories; i have Dads stories, lessons. Death, aint nothing but a thang. Just another stage of life. And i'm not going to limit myself here, limitations are only what you set for yourself, i do feel bad thinking this seeing how our world has its many problems but i want to explore out there, see places like Cybertron and the colonists. Oh well, I'll see how our planet endures in the next decade or two, if mankind can handle itself then i'm off to Jupiter."
He trailed his optics over her face, it looked peaceful, troubled because of their situation but that fear of the unknown had been removed, though he sighed relieved to himself but on the outside he scowled at her as he hissed slightly, "how is it you've found peace at such an early age?!" he complained.
"hey my life span is pretty short compared to you guys, i need to get over these kind of things faster if i want to live, but er, if Dads spark is out there, i hope that he'll be watching all of us." she said with sparkle in her eyes.
"Hmmm, i'm sure he will..." he then shook his head to how utterly accepting she was, "w-we have no physical evidence if he has even passed or not!" he hollered.
"Oh, yeah i know, i'm just taking precaution, expect what is to come and to not worry." She said.
Well, good, but before you can plan anything with your life, its only until your eighteen that i can have the satisfaction of kicking you out, so you will just have to put up with us for another two years."
"I'm in no hurry to leave you guys, after all i have plans on joining NEST, select few are ever chosen every so often and even fewer are barely in their twenties."
Ratchet scoffed, "NEST. P-lease."
"Hey, they can function just fine." She scolded, "You're just worried because I'd be part of a human unit."
"But say when the War was over before then?" he asked sounding more hopeful than he did when the omega lock was destroyed.
"Then finally i can go check out my world, without clearance, without surveillance without, heh, without Dad calling me thirty times a minute just for being in the city, but i think I'll still hear his voice in my head."
"Without government funding? How do you propose you will earn a living?" he asked sneakily grinning, as though saying she was forever stuck with him.
"Well start off small i guess hard labour, low pay that kind of thing, but you know I've wanted to go into acting, judge me if you will but it's something i enjoy."
"Hmph Nest, an Actor." He scoffed, "you could try something else you know."
"Oh come on what's wrong with acting?"
"I'm just saying its, a waste if you ask me, you have a brain don't waste It." he said defensively.
"Well I'll keep my options open and..."
"As long as i can accompany you." He said quick to interrupt her, "You're a natural disaster by yourself." She steadily made her way over to him as she gave his leg a pat, "a-alright-alright." He said shooing her away with his hands. "Now, Ultra Magnus already has a plan, so you want an update? Or do you wish to 'stand to one side and cooperate'?"
"Don't start..." she started as she looked behind to the said tall Mech, "I'm a little cautious of him, i mean i know him but only by reputation, i'm not saying i don't trust him it's just, with you guys all being here..."
"He has presented our bots with new weaponry you know." he said lightly.
"yeah but with this guy rank and those level of blasters, which i have only seen Dad use, i don't want anyone to be at the end of those, besides this is the guy we're going to have to put our faith into, that I'll have to put my faith into, but if he even looks at you funny we build ourselves a brig so we can throw him in it." she stated.
"Have you appointed yourself head of security now?" He said shaking his head as he paced himself forward.
She jogged beside him as she continued her conversation, "Ratchet? I don't have Starlight, but if i could help on the front line with something else..."
"Primus forbid you to do anything for the sort! W-What were you planning to go into Ultra Magnus's vault? Stop attempting to cause my frame to collapse!" he snapped.
"I thought so..." she smiled lightly, though his protesting made her feel guilty, because either way she was going to go against him, "I'd hate to worry you, but i can't seem to help it." she thought. "But, if i could..."
"No. No. No. A thousand times no. At least with Starlight if you were..." he stuttered on the word, "s-shot down...you could at least return to your human body, but as a human, one shot could cease your very being ever existing...there would be...nothing left to bury." He said grimly almost terminating himself with such words spoken.
"that's the risk to take, when wanting to fight for a cause you feel strongly about, you gotta be prepared to place your life on the line, but i wouldn't throw my life away so easily, to just lie my body down on the battlefield, would just be stupid." She pondered to him.
"If you keep talking nonsense, there is plenty of scrap metal on the Harbinger, i can easily wield a human sized 'pet carrier'." He threatened.
She grinned, "Well, Ratchet..." she started teasingly, "i'm surprised you even know what one is. What an age we live in." She fluttered her eyes.
"Enough jests, now stop speaking of fighting, and of lives on the line nor would i want to form an image of anything else." He scolded.
"Well, if it's troubling for you to hear Ratchet, i will stop, but, it's still true." She said.
"Hmph." He merely huffed.
"you know back in Tranquillity, it was very, routine, i mean with the whole Decepticon thing, it was just getting deployed to South America, or Africa, or somewhere to intercept Cons, or Energon, rare times there was actual change, but when coming here, i met Unicron and er...n-nearly died because of it, was a 'delivery girl' for the Star Saber, urh, i felt so used damn you, you old Mech, got an 'alt' form, MECH, and you know some other things as well, who knows maybe I'll beat that streak, wonder if there's any Earthly conspiracies? Maybe something that's like fifty years old or something." She rambled.
Ratchet watched her fondly on occasion he wondered if she would collapse from never taking a breather when rambling, but he shook his head with disbelief, "See now I've lost my thought! We are heading to Dark mount i think you'd at least pay more attention than to ramble on into casual conversation ..." Ratchet continued his own ramble as they headed back to the Harbinger, as Ellen listened intently, she had learned not to fear death, instead embrace the next world, if Optimus is dead, it's still gonna be hard for her to carry that with her through her life, she was not exactly a monk, and she will get pretty damn mad when she see's those Decepticons. But she knows she will never truly be able to live until this War was over, so she had plans on being a part of the 'Dark Mount' operation. However there was one obstacle in her path, Ultra Magnus...and she would have to present a good résumé to get even an interview with the 'boss'.
A/N yeah here's a shocker Ellen actually has a family other then the Autobots :P well i'll be damned, well if any case 'another story for another time' ;) i just thought to make a reference, as well as my 'Roller' reference ain't he cute :) but i didn't just throw it in there for no reason, just a minor, referring to change, how things will not always be the same. but i'm sure i'll mention it in the epilogue of 'Rebellion'.
hmmm you know i have also written a chapter for you know my 'other story' of how they formed a 'bond' it was there naturally but for the empathic side of things it had to be made, which is done via heart to spark, but no, its not interfacing or mating *thank you fanfiction and beast machines* ¬_¬ lol but anyway heres my way of things
'interfacing' = for reproduction
'merging sparks' = basically a married spark-couple :P
and there's my thing, 'bonding' = empathic bond, (something that was considered an accident :P its the whole 'its not possible to occur with humans' thing yeah i went there :P but again that will be for my other story)
that is when or if i mention it at all in my fics, well i have made a slight reference in this one and probably will mention it in my 'Three Autobots and their Charges'
anyway i hope this chapter is alright ^^ and please, fave, follow, R + R its all good for it is the life blood of all fanfiction fanatics ;P