Minus One
"So, that's how it is." Ellen said now as her human self as she stood at Optimus' feet, sharing what she found on the Nemesis but not everything. "Maybe you should keep that whole Arachnid thing to yourself though, i mean i'm not entirely sure if she is alive or not." She said looking to the Hangar entrance where she picked out Arcee from the group, "Can't let her think that her decision was an empty one."
"We do not possess enough evidence to defend the status of her existence." he said tilting his head down. "The Immobiliser, Synthetic Energon, a possible existing rouge, and possibly a more refined intelligence on the biology and anatomy of the human body." He started to form a small amusing smile. "You have taken note of these but cannot recall a simple whereabouts of yourself at 00:54 hours on a school day?"
She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes playfully to the comment, "Nice casual note but sometimes I hope that one night I get in and you'll be too preoccupied with the TV and a cube of high grade." She said snickering shortly after to that image, "Well despite what I'm able to remember it's not exactly an answer." She then said seriously.
"But it does provide awareness. We know what they possess, what we should be prepared for." He said before bending down slightly, "has your leg healed?"
She twisted it slightly, "a little stiff, but the bandage has just come off so."
"Two, out of action." He said in the direction of her foot before looking to behind him.
She looked behind also as Ultra Magnus' optics were focused on the floor, "you think with everything Ratchet is doing, I don't think he'll be working on Starlight for a while, should I just grab a couple marvel comics and play a little Space Invaders?"
"It may be a while until you can return to the field." He confirmed translating her.
"I thought as much." She said patting his leg as his optics faded in shade, "Oh." She then announced hopefully, "By the way I went to engineering, hangar B? I was able to get a hold of this." She darted off towards the staircase, on the lowest step and picked up a canister as the distinctive sound of sloshing liquid was heard within. "10W-40, the best kind of oil for you guys especially. Is this what you meant by therapy?"
"Primus." He said with a playful grimace expression. "Remember to use the canister not the containment it came in." He added.
"Of all the things to make a person never forget, I dumped a river of oil on you and with good intentions and that's the biggest crime in history." She emphasised.
"The joint connecting the leg was loosened to a point I could not walk." He said lightly before his face fell and glanced around, "this may be out of context, but besides your subjection to Synthetic Energon, were you aware of anything else?"
She stared at him for a moment to comprehend that. "Like, other substances?" she asked.
"I was referring to something residing internally." He said as he noticed the obvious narrowing of her pupils to the statement.
She kept eye contact at that point, "I don't think so, why has Ratchet found something?" she asked calmly.
He frowned slightly, "No. I do not believe the scan range extended that of internal damage."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as she made it not to last long, "Is this going anywhere? I'd kind of like to use this already." She said shaking the canister.
He looked her over before nodding slowly, "Yes." He said as she made her way over to the bedside as he looked on with suspicion and she knew this.
Optimus stared at her even when Ratchet had returned with what was classed as salvageable materials and expressed this. "Materials. Scraps is the appropriate term." Ratchet started, making himself noticed besides Optimus, "these metals are below poor, but within..." he stopped as he looked at his blank optics, "Optimus."
His optics flickered back into reality as he acknowledged the bot besides him, "...Ratchet."
"Something wrong?"
"Specifically yes." He shook his head, "there is something that is causing uneasiness to my very core, and it resides within that vessel."
Ratchet followed his gaze to the far side of the room, but to one side in the shadows. "'Starlight'? to what do you refer, within?"
"I do not know its nature, or in fact I do not wish to acknowledge its nature." he turned to face Ratchet, "Its tainted effects, and desecration of the dead."
Ratchets optics wandered as it took moment for him to realise the hints, "Are you saying that-" he shook his head wildly, "I detected no source of substance in her systems."
"Perhaps you could not. As you have informed me it is dormant in its raw form without contact with another being or the pulse of Unicron it is difficult to detect, she must have contained it. In some way."
Ratchet pinched his forehead, "Despite the question of how she was able to get her hands on it, what is she thinking to keep any of it? Studying the substance? No, why would she? Science isn't a strong subject for her." He said as he looked at the girl. "We need confirmation." He started as he was set on moving forward.
"No. We need an explanation, but rash confrontation is not the best strategy, it will only cause conflict. I would prefer we were on-" he hesitated slightly, "speaking terms."
Ratchets optics dimme softly, "Hmm, that's nice to know." he said lightly, "but it's been expressed enough, secrecy is isolated here. In a way I appreciate our old base even more now." he said as he watched Ellen climb the med table stumbling over as Miko started laughing at her clumsiness. "We, should leave her." He said to Optimus' surprise, "ethically to leave a potential danger unresolved is irresponsible but..." he stopped as she was speaking with Ultra Magnus. "The children, need recuperating. we cannot turn them into what we became during this war. our sparks turned hard and our processors frank with logic." He said acknowledging all of them. "I have attempted to distract Rafael on numerous occasions." He said almost falling blank from reality, "I find it reassuring that he can focus his attention on me whenever we converse. I'm not so outdated yet if I can pass something on."
"They all think of you with fondness Ratchet." He said lightly. "Our sparks may have hardened but are not dense."
"Hmph. Well perhaps I'm not making that much of an impression then." He added folding his arms.
Optimus turned his head forward again, "Ratchet. Has she always had the ability to lie so calmly in her tone?" he asked him.
He sighed, "she's made herself seem innocent many times in confronted situations, 'I'm home at base with a government official when i'm actually in the city with some friends', 'A tightly observed sleepover when i am in fact breaking and entering the school for a social gathering of loud proportions and later a prior engagement with the local law enforcements'." He stopped. "All I am stating is that all those moments of 'rebellion' have only refined the act of deceiving its just a phase of human nature."
"No Ratchet, this is different. Why lie to hide something this harmful, and how? it is raw not processed which means..."
"So, is there a way around that or is this one of those cruel world things where we have no power over it whatsoever?" Ellen asked sitting on the edge of he med table besides Magnus' legs.
"To think that you can change someone is naive, but you can influence change around them." he said to her.
"That your advice? Don't do radio." She said.
"I never said it was advice just the facts and furthermore you made it your own to just force advisement from me without the usage of 'may i?'" he said.
"Miko is pretty sure i don't need to breathe." She said sticking her tongue out bashfully.
He looked around finding himself impractical to do anything else, "But if it was advice i would say that ultimately some things are not ours to handle. This 'Silas' has made it his own to meet his end prematurely."
"Call me little Miss Polly Anna, but that sound like quitter talk of the universe." She said.
"It is what it is." He said as he glanced at his hand. "But I agree, it is 'quitter talk'."
She glanced too before she jolted suddenly as though she had experienced a small electric shock, "Oh, right." She said looking to besides her with a canister. "Check it out 10W-40. For your 'older' bots."
"inquiry." He said raising his intact hand warily.
"Oil, motor oil. 'Fit for all environments and weather'." She said impersonating a salesman producing a thumbs up. "Is what it claims anyway. then again I always thought Southern Comfort was a washing detergent."
"In that case, the term 'experienced' would have been more appropriately suited." He noted as he watched her read the contents and looked past her extended words.
"You like?" she said childishly.
He looked reluctantly upon the container, "Crude. However this kind of therapy is more of luxury back on Cybertron, not a normal procedure." he noted, as she tested out the oil canister.
"Oops, er, heads up health hazard." She said as a shot of oil fell on the floor, "Well in the words of Will Smith, Welcome to Earth. Besides i thought it could, you know give you a slight more edge to your performance. You know like how we have massages for stress release, etcetera."
"Etcetera?" he questioned to himself to her brief amateur explanation.
"This works in the same sense right?"
"Yes." He admitted. "However this cannot be mere coincidence for you to offer this shortly after my own injury." He said a slight angry tone lingering suddenly.
She raised an eyebrow at him, "before you have an outburst of the sensitivity kind, Ratchet is making you a hand, and is going to attach it to a rusted exterior. So your going to sit there and take this." She argued. He slightly averted his optics to the far left as he made a quick nod. "Alright then, now stand by i will be a little 'crawly'" she said as he presented a hand.
"I don't appreciate the 'crawly' behaviour of a parasitic insecticon." He said allowing her to step onto his hand as he placed her just under his shoulder.
"Good spot Mon Capiton." She said kneeling down, "But it's also the hardest, the most stress is on your shoulders, heh, especially with these things." She noted giving a knock on his shoulder pads. "Seriously what are their purpose?"
He noted the exterior, "A decorative mark of my rank. As an Elite Guard protecting the High Council it did seem there purpose, though I will admit they do not present practical purpose." he said lightly.
She held a dramatic hand to her chest, "hold up. Who are you?"
He exasperated slightly, "I know now that it is not out of disrespect. This unit functions differently, that is, it is not a unit at all. But if you did mean that in the literal sense i am Commander of the Autobots, second to Optimus Prime in rank, former leader of the Elite Guard Ultra Magnus."
"Hi I'm Ellen...I got a lot of other names, and that's all I got." She made a humming sound, "You know if this environment is a world of chaos in your optics i can still learn to hold my tongue if you like as a way of you getting used to things, well i say i can but I'll try...kind of-sort of-don't think I can." She said moving on as she checked over his armour plating, "you still scare me though."
His optics blinked slightly, "You're not the first." he said.
"U-Uh No-No. I didn't mean it in..." she stuttered proving the point.
"I can absorb criticism. Discipline has its purpose also." He said.
"I wasn't challenging your authority." she started playing with her hair, "Well sometimes i was, maybe because your first impression was caught at a bad time but, no. Realistically i will call this a like/hate relationship i mean wow I just saw this douche with practically a 'claiming this planet in the name of Ultra Magnus flag with this big stupid frowny face on it which-"
"Function as suited." He interrupted, "But to a certain tolerable degree, er...Ellen." He said at how breathless and fast she was in speaking. "Was that your analyse of me? Or another insulting tone?" he asked.
"I do that. to avoid too much upset, i secretly have self esteem issues." She whispered. "I get an idea of the person and or bot to guess what will be said and how i should prepare for that. sometimes its not enough."
"Wait." Ratchet started as he approached the two with his materials. "For how long?"
"Since, you and my cousins...and the government." She then used her hand to announce Ultra Magnus. "And now Margaret here will be joining the list of 'bad encounters who are alright on a rare occasion'."
"You always portray me as some form of monster." Ratchet said rolling his optics.
she did the same. "Well thank the deities Ultra Magnus wasn't around when i was a minor...more of a minor i mean."
"That is a curious thought. Humans range in life stages without maintenance?" he questioned though came off more as a demanding inquiry.
She grinned applying some oil under his armour plating, placing her hand underneath padding at his metallic skin "now, try not to move or flinch or you're going to take my hand." She hummed as he waited for an answer, "I was worried you were going to stop asking questions it made me feel special, well that or its chest pains. Well, yeah we do have different life stages in fact each year is specific in description ranging from behaviour and development. Dad had downloaded the information from sources like 'The Expectant Dad's Survival Guide' and 'being a great Dad for dummies'."
"Humorous." Ratchet noted with light sarcasm.
"U-huh, I've noticed your human medical skills have gotten better, you reading 'Human Medial Termology for Dummies'? but seriously those books are pretty 'wordy'."
"Well are you...i-i'm not encouraging this sparkling behaviour." Ratchet stated focusing back on his work.
She shrugged, "Now a bit here. And here." She continued her own work as she retracted her hand, "could you move your shoulder a little. Hmm, still a little stiff." She prodded around the area, "Ah, it's always the joint connecting the arm." She murmured humming a tune, "oh and just so you know, you're a jerk i thought it'd be best to get any bad stuff out of the air before we start again." She blurted.
He looked to Ratchet, "I have known swift vocals, in fact I knew a bot for it. But yours is too spontaneous, but if we are exchanging opinions…you may not be able to absorb critism yourself." He said.
"I know it's coming now, I can display discipline." She said as she opened her arms wide, "come at me bro'." she taunted before speaking meekly, "b-but be gentle."
"Very well, you, are stubborn, have too much expectation, unfocused and interfering. I would say that was the main issues." He said bluntly.
She looked at her canister for a while pretending to shine it up. "Blunt." She simply said. "But hey can't just love everything about everyone, life would be pretty boring. see? I'm untouched." she said shaking a blockage in the canister. "You know i found out about this from experimentation."
He lay his head back slightly as he predicted no silence anytime soon. "That so?" he said flatly.
"Dad had damaged his leg this one time and when you're given a lot of fiction stuff to watch at the time you kind of get this stereotype idea to put oil on a robot and it'll make it all better. Well turns out it would've worked if i didn't pour the entire contents on just his leg."
"Not the inner components themselves?" he questioned.
"No. Well Dad was pretty tolerant about it seeing how i just wanted to help but his face was a sight, like a seagull had just dropped one on his head."
"I do not know how to respond to that. This was frequent? The situations like that one?" he asked.
"Yeah..." she sighed, "not so much anymore, but yeah allot of memories."
His optics slightly narrowed as he thought into it. "You should not have even been here amongst us in the first place, speaking logically." He said bluntly.
She slightly froze as she but the canister down, "Wow that was a little out of nowhere, well I asked for it." She said. "but a lot would agree with you." She said looking to Ratchet whose optics were focused on there conversation. "His moral spark was in the right place but ethically not so much, he had no knowledge of caring for a human, we had no place to be for the first week until a stable base was arranged, and when we did to start off, there was the court case and even after that. He was straight back on the field." She said her tone turning weak as she further explained. "So yeah you're right that logically I shouldn't even be here."
"But at the time, she wouldn't be anywhere different." Ratchet interrupted. "I was strongly against it myself Commander, but even with the points she wanted him and vice versa. It's just one of those things that happened, an accident you might say."
"Hey, you mean accident in the highest form right? like with the others." She stated.
"Yes." He finished rolling his optics.
She shook her head at him as she looked to Magnus again, "Well fortunately I was an army base baby; it was the environment i was used to so it didn't scare me that much. But enough of that, how is your shoulder?" she said brushing her hands.
He started to roll his shoulder around, "That is effective." He said.
"What you call a luxury is actually just taking care of yourself." she said prodding down from his shoulder up to the start of his neck.
"How do you know which points to adjust?" he asked.
"You just do. I mean with smaller hands you can tell where the problems are i guess, like a knot in your under wiring."
He looked to the ceiling, then to the other Autobots who stood by the hangar entrance or were occupied with other tasks, then to the humans who stood to the side on the upper level, "this planet. The society and social protocol is strange to me." He thought as he looked to Optimus who watched the surveillance screens, "If they can adapt, so can i." he finished as he closed his optics. "Were…you able to function in your alternative form?" he asked Ellen.
"Yes, thank you." she then muttered, "but if anyone asks you ordered me to learn and i was obliged to comply. And then I'll be all mopey and drole don't care you know? Like hey you and Magnus getting along? I'll be like what? Pfft, barely know the guy, Aright?"
"The communication is also a questionable matter, not direct but in fact were casual, pre-quotation and hinted rhetorical questioning." He noted logging to himself. "Are you suggesting that you wish to be on neutral terms with myself but not express that much contact and deny any accusations…that, may contradict your original view on myself?" he guessed. She tapped her nose as he frowned almost in an offended manner.
"Well, that gesture has a few meanings but this one meant that your right. Even though you paused a little." She said in a hinting tone of teasing. "you were translating me weren't you?"
"Have you ever piloted a ship?" he then asked.
She slightly narrowed her eyes, "Yeah sure just glance over my excuse sure i just put allot of effort not that- but never mind, so...wait what were you saying?"
"Have you, ever piloted, a ship?" He repeated slowly.
"I set a plane to auto pilot once but…No Never." She said meekly.
"There is a first time for everything." He said looking to what Ratchet was producing. "And piloting ships on our world is something that comes as a basic."
"I was only taught so much." She said, "So, what you think you could...?"
"Perhaps."
She smiled, "Jerk. How can you build my hopes like that and then be all like 'yeah, nar maybe another time, when i feel like it we'll see how its goes'?" she added impersonating him obnoxiously.
"Demonstrate patience."
She shot him a playful glare, "Yeah, i don't like you, everyone is poking me with a stick I'm sorry but how much patience do you want from me? And you admit yourself that you don't tolerate certain things." She pointed an accusing finger.
"Haven't you finished your 'therapy' yet?" Ratchet asked.
She stood to attention to the snappy tone. "Yes I'm done now."
"I, have his hand assembled." He said doubtfully as he turned to them.
Ellen glanced at it, as Magnus' expression was unsure, in appearance it resembled a claw. "You know i have so many things i could say, but one would be how you are able to make it and with such short time?" she said lightly smiling at him.
He muttered something shaking his head. Avoiding visual contact with either eyes or optics.
"Yeah, yeah I suck." Ellen said. She turned as she looked to the ground, then she swung her arms behind her with a number following, "One…two…two…two-oo." She turned to Magnus who was none the wiser of what she was attempting, "Well so much for dignity. Magnus, I can't get down with this only healed leg."
He briefly nodded, "you should have just stated that." He said taking a swift hold on the neck of her jacket.
"Oh come on…" Ellen moaned as she was set down to the ground. "My footwear's clean, kind of. I call forward to be handled with dignity…like that of a hamster." She added as she looked to where she wanted to go. She took it steadily to the staircase as she looked grimly up it, "These stairs look longer than before." she thought nodding to Jack who got her attention.
"You coming up?" he asked mustering his hand.
"But Jack. Stairs. There's like one, two...twenty four steps there." She started to ponder on that, "I demand a stairlift."
"Now you're just being lazy." He said as they heard a covered laugh from Raf.
She grinned, "Well i tried." She said taking it easy up the stairs. She looked to the side as Ratchet was beginning to attach the 'claw'. "Ratchets finished the new hand. He's just attaching it now."
"Yeah, we know. We are standing just right here." Jack said.
"Huh." She slumped back onto the railing, "Man, what a rush. I mean you guys were having it pretty bad too huh? And Miko, beating the Energon out of Starscream."
"Don't forget the part where the Predacon had his jaws around the apex armour she was inside." Jack noted folding his arms casually.
"Clasping jaws?" Ellen questioned in Jack's direction before turning to Miko, "never mentioned that." She said to her folding her own arms.
"For this very reason." Miko grinned. "Its past tense come on." She shrugged.
Her expression relaxed as she brushed her forehead, "Well it's not surprising with all the concerts you go too you have to be able to have those kind of moves." She lightly said.
Miko went into a 'crouched' position eagerly with the approved comment, "Once, i took on this big guy with hair that long he could use as a hammock, the old man was nearly in his golden years practically, long story short i broke his arm in three different places." She emphasised.
"I…you…no response, except maybe- Da-yum." She said before covering her mouth as she looked at Raf, "That was a quote, unquote." She said as Jack shrugged at her, "Well I've said worse but I am a terrible role model."
"There are worse." Jack said.
Ellen shrugged herself, "Thanks." She said leaning back into the railings, "Jack. Forgive the immaturity but...Agent Fowler and your Mom really?" she blurted.
Jack scratched the back of his head, "Well, he's not a stranger." He argued. "And why are you so interested?"
Ellen lightly shook her head, "Sure, just make sure you get used to all those patriotic puns and catchphrases because they are not going anytime soon." Jack himself then leant up against the railing.
"Do you think, all this will end soon?" Jack asked nobody in particular.
"Hey you can't just dodge-" Ellen started to say.
"Jack." Miko said in a stern tone.
"Miko. You know I didn't mean it that way" he said raising up hands in a peaceful gesture as he was slightly taken back by her 'in your face' reaction.
Her glare turned lopsided, "Yeah I know you didn't." she said leaning her arms on the railings.
"I'm not dodging the subject." Jack said in Ellen's direction. "It really was a thought that came up."
"Hmmm, well, I don't know." She shrugged looking to her feet.
"It. It might." Raf said.
"I kind of don't want it to end." Miko mumbled. "If it ends it means they'll leave." She rubbed a hand up her arm awkwardly. "I'm a jerk right?"
"No." Ellen muttered holding her arm as well.
Jack looked between the three to the low tone he had suddenly made, "I-I mean, guys come on. It was going to happen sooner or later. We have to accept that." Jack started, "Besides we'll still have, us guys right? Miko, you said so yourself."
"I never liked split ups." Miko muttered.
"It might not be that long if they went i mean." Ellen said quietly.
"Not that long?" Miko said in a low tone.
"If they went i think it would be for about a few years, and then maybe they would come back." She said.
"And you say that i can go in denial." Miko said.
"I am not. But that wouldn't be like them to just not keep in contact, they care about us." Ellen said in a normal volume of voice.
"What if they couldn't contact us?"
"Then we contact them, we got a bridge."
"And if we lose that?"
"Then we build a ship."
"And if we lost that."
"Then I'll grow a set of wings whatever." She stated loudly as Miko laughed at her.
"Whatever?" Miko said. "Wow, attitude."
"The point is." Jack interrupted. "We look up at the same universe, maybe not the same stars but...well they say true friends are the ones who are farthest away they...i er, you know where i'm going with this right?"
"When you look to the sky you're thinking of them as they think of you." Raf said as the three of them blinked blankly at him. "Er, right?"
"Basically." Jack said, "and you can still stay with me and my Mom...maybe Fowler." He told Ellen.
"Why don't we all just live at Jacks?" Miko said flailing her arms.
"Realism Miko, let's not get carried away." Ellen said a little lowly.
"Right..." she said.
"But we have that common ground, and we can talk about it. Our experience and bond with our bots." Jack said. "Even when we finish school." He said pulling them in, "we stay in contact, come on we have our whole lives ahead of us this is just a small part of that."
The four them glanced growing smiles as they rolled their eyes at Jack. Miko then thumbed in his direction, "Well he speeches like a Prime." She said pretending to yawn into her hand.
"Stay in contact." Raf repeated. "I'll make sure of that. I will hack your phones or any other device you have if you don't, w-well If I had to." he threatened.
Ellen placed a finger over Rafs head, "contact or not I'm taking Raf." She stated.
Jack screwed his face up to the typical behaviour, "you are not, he has-"
"I've done everything i can." Ratchet then said finished with his reattachment of Magnus' arm as the kids silenced there social banter hushing each other. "Considering the limitations of my equipment and less then idle spare parts. It remains uncertain if Ultra Magnus new appendage will be fit for battle. Thought it should prove functional after the requisite amount of therapy." He told the bots.
"That is all we can hope for old friend." Optimus reassured.
"Now that is one bitching looking commander." Ellen said quietly.
"Swear." Raf said.
"Sorry." She said a little blush forming in her cheeks.
"Badaft looking think isn't it?" Miko said generally fascinated with its look.
From afar Wheeljack stood beside Arcee rubbing his hands, "You doing okay?" Arcee asked.
"I'm still two fisted." Wheeljack said.
"So's Magnus" Arcee said.
"Wait and see, the claw is going to become his signature." Smokescreen started, approaching Bumblebee. "You know like the way you own that voice box Ratchet slapped in your throat."
"What? Slapped in my throat? What are you saying? It was thrown in there so you can't understand me?" Bee said defensively.
"I-I mean everyone understands you fine. Why would you even consider getting it fixed now? Right?" Smokescreen argued slightly stumbling on his words.
"Wrong!" Bee snapped walking away his wing like door drooping with his own mood, "Why would i even consider? This not is easy to live with? I had a voice for one thing, MY voice. Just once to not hear a series of high pitched beeps coming out." He muttered off to be with himself.
"Oy vay." Ellen said face palming. "Be-ee come back. I think he meant to portray it the less offensive way he could." She called awkwardly shrugging at Smokescreen.
"Whoa, what did he say?" Miko asked Raf.
"Bee's still kind of attached to the sound of his own voice, his original one." Raf said.
"Hey look at the bright shiny side, Commander Magnus and Jackie single hand ably put the kibosh on project Predacon." Bulkhead said.
"Though at least one beast that we know of remains, the one that has demonstrated the ability to transform." Optimus said approaching them.
"And talk." Ellen said tapping the railings with her finger as Ultra Magnus stood up from the med table, "what did he look like anyway with you know an upright posture?" he asked him.
"It's difficult to explain." Magnus said.
"Right, just gotta see it for myself." She said taking it steady down the stairs as she noticed a long stare from Optimus. "That is, it would be pretty unfortunate if i did." She said grinning before looking behind her, "hey, er, go give Bee a hug will you." She added as he tilted his head at her out of context request.
"Well, where are you going then?" Jack called.
Her expressions was first blank before smiling lightly at him, "Painkillers, legs almost completely healed thought I'd treat myself heh." she said looking to the floor to feel more incognito despite the obvious look she was feeling.
"You left them behind the stairs?" Jack inquired to her footing.
She then spoke as though she had rehearsed what she was going to say. "Well, we have no medicine cabinet and putting anything anywhere, where the bots may tread. I thought to put anything i may need behind a large obstacle. Plus Miko might get into them she's figured out the child proof caps." She said.
Miko shoved Jack out of the way, "You still use children's medicine!" she cried.
"I like the banana flavour, adult chewable morphine tastes of paper." She argued as she made her way behind the Bridge Controls ending the small conversation. She was now behind the console panel as getting around without suspicion was easy with everyone always occupied with something else that would appear in the scheme of things.
Behind a large gap between the stairs but isolated from open view, she gripped two hands around a large object as she dragged it out like a heavy suitcase. "Phew, still here good thing i got this out when i could." She thought picking up the vial like a giant keg as she stood out of sight, she unscrew the top as she lay the vial down gently, then she took her jacket off as she threw it over the purple spearhead like shard that was a dull purple shade but even if it wasn't glowing she didn't want to touch it, not yet. "I'll have to hide you until i can try you out. But the security around the area is tight. I feel like a criminal here, ironically the main-." She suddenly stopped as she hid the vial and her Jacket as she brushed herself down and stood ready.
"Ellen?" Optimus asked from behind the stairway easily towering the railings as he loomed over.
"Hi." She said.
"You were anxious." He said tapping his torso plating.
"Yes! I mean, sorry. I forgot where i was for a moment. Thinking that I might be attacked around every corner." She said nervously.
His optics appeared almost half close as they dimmed. "Your experience on the Nemesis." He confirmed, which was half correct but he went along with it.
"Post traumatic stress, the usual." She added nodding low almost bowing.
"You will tell me the personal experience?"
"It was, distressing i have nothing to hide. There was Knockout, Starscream, Predacon, Megatron, and Soundwave, I know I only briefly said what I found not but this wasn't from a safe distance."
"These were your encounters?" he asked coming closer.
"Yeah...Megatron was the more disturbing part. You see the Synthen made me, stupid in a sense like a rabbit when confused by a stoat." She stopped as she placed a finger on her cheek pondering, "you know because a stoat just runs around it and the rabbit doesn't know what to do and in the end gets that confused-"
"Ellen."
"Then the stoat just grabs its throat when the rabbit is distressed and is killed in seconds, stoat's man. Ruthless. I mean all those predators that tear preys guts out and stuff is disturbing and all but I find it more unsettling when a predator can screw with the prey before if even kills it, like the-"
"Ellen please, these factual descriptions of Earth inhabitants you inform me of are truly fascinating." He started calmly. "I look forward to further insight, but as we have discussed before focus on one discussion at a time."
She made an unsettling chuckle, "I-I'm trying. Just like to get it out."
He tilted his head in a knowing manner, "you can inform me on a later time. Now, about the loss of your senses."
She looked in thought as she tried to rewind back. "Oh yeah, I couldn't think for myself and instead let others do the thinking for me, it always seems to be the way when I'm skittish like that. And i, listened to Megatron. Good grief and i just knew he was playing me but i just went with it. Shrugged it you know? I found it, funny and entertaining I can't really explain it, it was like when you know you're doing something that you shouldn't but hell is it worth it." She announced excitably before clearing her throat. "I was so deluded...that is i think i was."
Perhaps for that reason of a delusional state, she had doubted certain methods, her own. And instead turned down to another path. "Megatron will make you feel as though you are fault. He tries to blur your thoughts, doubt yourself." he said.
She stared tiredly at him, "Dad, I..." she started.
"Yes?"
"I…" she changed her mind, "It's funny, they say the darkest hour is the hour before the dawn funny huh? Because it's true. I mean it was pretty dark at that scrapyard and then that sun came over the horizon? Poetic." She said awkwardly grinning. "Heh-heh, that was Thomas Fuller, some say it was him that first said that but some say he might have quoted it himself from a folk lore of hope, either way I'm making a bumper sticker from it." She continued as he looked thoughtfully at her without reply.
Though he briefly sigh as he expected something else at least. If he could provide an answer it made her open to honesty. "And the statistics?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh, the Nemesis thing i...terminated five and immobilised the others, but i'm sure Knockout won't have any trouble with stiffened joints." She shuffled her feet, "It was stupid of me to think i could've controlled the effects of Synthen. But I give anything a shot to see if it works, well not everything I mean that rhetorically."
"Next encounter, leave any airborne scenario to me?" he said.
She tilted her head raising a lazy eyebrow, "Hm, sure you get all the fun and advantage, but I guess you deserve that much at least."
"That reminds me." He said kneeling down as he presented the Immobiliser, comically handing the item over to her as she held it like a tower of books. "An advantage." he said.
"For now, when you find a relic that slows down time I call shotgun, make a note." She said letting the relic drop hard onto the floor, "one sides light as a feather the other, not so much, I think I need another metallic arm."
"Slow down whilst recovering." he said.
"But Dad." She protested lazily.
"Two worlds, you need to focus on your education which has been neglected." He said averting his head to the other half of the hangar.
"I want to help." She said meekly.
"You have." He said almost losing attention.
She then furrowed a brow at him to the unfocused look in his face. "Dad. You seem a little, tightly wowned more so especially since the Predacon's jump to evolution."
"A new danger has befallen us, if the Predacon who now refers to himself as Predaking can be cloned who can say that they would not attempt it again. Beings capable of matching Megatrons strength and my own, perhaps even going beyond. He displays intelligence and is loyal to Megatron but for how long."
"Predaking. He was pretty angry before, and he's hunting you guys because you killed his own? It's kind of tragic. Megatron was playing Primus remember Jurassic park? What if the Predaking ends up replacing you guys as superior native of Cybertron? Who knows he might have been watching Shockwave through his experiments."
"His intelligence is vastly refining, but his reasoning is still instinctive."
She let the corner of her lip twitch with a giddy smile, "Thanks for not dumbing that down." She said as he nodded with a relaxed expression. "I…felt sorry for him." She admitted.
"You always have approached creatures with a lack of foresight on their expressed behaviour of defence." He sighed as he briefly looked over his shoulder, "Like many times, we are rarely granted arrangements."
She rested a hand on her hip, "this place moves like a busy metropolis, no time to stop, just go. That said we should start playing chess again." She said slowly moving toward him, "Ironically you taught me how to play the game. Love chess, but you prefer Basketball." She said as he averted his optics, "Well if you've stopped playing then i guess i can easily beat you in few rounds." She stated playfully.
"You can attempt to do so." He said.
"Heh. I don't care what you say, you're competitive."
"Have you chosen to be solitary, to be behind here?" he said changing the wandering subject.
She looked to her Jacket, "No." She said looking up. "You know Dad your, 'parting' is still on my mind even though I don't mention it. Just wanted you to know that in case you thought I stopped caring."
He looked thoughtfully at her, "Do not be long, I would prefer it that we were not scattered again." He said hoping to change her views whatever she was thinking about with what she had. But somehow an encounter with Megatron had her in possession; there were many scenarios he had thought of at that point, if he had gotten to her. "How were you able to..."
"Prime." Agent Fowler announced. "We have trouble brewing." he said running atop the higher platform, "the Cons staged a smash and grab at the Los Alamos nuclear plant last night and made off with twenty tonnes of control rods."
Optimus frowned to the Intel, "What are the Decepticons looking to build?" he questioned sternly.
"For one thing with the function of the rods are to control rate, they intend to harness a kind of energy. From what source though, I'll have to further investigate but I'll keep you posted with anything else I can get hold of." Fowler said as his phone started causing him to conceal it to his ear as he walked to the side.
Ellen started jogging from behind the control panel as Optimus looked down. "Overwear?" he inquired.
"Took it off, i'm not one for showing skin especially with my man arms but today is pretty warm." She said performing a campy twirl.
"Hmmm." He said with concern, her secrecy was somewhat disturbing that is how calm she was.
"What?"
he noted the distance between beings In the room and an occupied Fowler. "The compartment on the vessels arm, what have you possessed?" he asked getting straight to the point.
"Possessed? There's nothing in there." She said coming up with an excuse as she started to back away.
"Ellen...you should know by now, you cannot lie to me." he stated sternly.
Her pupils became larger as it changed her expression completely, "Then I can't say anything."
"If it's a potential threat to you or anyone here, you need to tell what you have i felt it. I fear to ask but-"
"W-Why should i say?" she spoke up, "You kept it pretty quiet during the whole Omega Lock scenario t-the secrecy I'm tired of it." she said trying to calm down before getting too into it. "Well i don't want to share this, secrecy doesn't just extend to you. I'm not endangering anyone, just myself and you know what? I'm trying to help my society by doing so. Like you did alone when our base was destroyed." she said defensively.
"You need to tell me what you have; i will offer this one chance to give it up willingly." He said as she breathed frustratingly, "Do not turn what i have done or said against me."
she brushed a hand through her hair, "You wouldn't prefer that you can be given some clue to what will come next? I-I have before." she said. "I could've used that, but I never thought like that before, possibility like that, its crazy."
he didn't reply.
She folded her arms as she broke the deathly silence. "I never told you, I told Jack, Miko and Raf they know the way i describe it, as eccentric imagination. I told them a dream one i described as the Earth growing arms and legs, but it wasn't as cartoony as that. No, it was very clear like I was there watching this from afar, it started as the Earth orbiting in the silence of space. Then like a hatching egg clear sounds of cracking was heard, then a leg breaking from the continent of Australia." She stopped as she rubbed her forehead.
"I guess that was enough as there was just one giant explosion, like a dying star going supernova. Unicron stood where Earth once was. I couldn't wake up like I wasn't allowed to. his optics…his optics were clear in my vision like he was right in front of me. I didn't know who or what he was then, but that explosion…i heard, a million voices all cry out at once and then there was only Unicron…only Unicron" she said her heart rate increasing. "We were gone...in seconds, an entire race." she finished cringing.
As she stared blankly at the floor he took a light hold on her arm almost overlapping her shoulder as she jumped slightly, "It is not occurring, that event was purely a possible outcome but it did not come to pass." He reassured as she relaxed a little, then he looked at her with integrity, "You 'dreamed' this?" he asked.
"That was on the day you were expecting that 'prophecy' to pass. It was also the same day Raf was exposed to Dark Energon, i had a dream of that as well in the same night, though not as detailed more, symbolic." She shuffled her feet again.
"This was when Dark Energon was rising from the Core." He mused.
"I didn't think anything of it, to say that to anyone seriously, they'd think i was crazy." she regrettably admitted.
"But you did not think to tell-"
"You were fighting Unicron and then didn't come back. How was i supposed to tell you? Or any of the others? When I was, trying to keep it together. Keep them together. what if I told you now? even if your a pretty big believer in this stuff. you might think I was being controlled, or that I'm a threat, o-or that either Megatron or Unicron are listening right now through...this." She frowned at her arm. "its the only possible link to these, 'visions'." she held her head as she explained the best she could. "a kind of merging of Primus and Unicron have broken natural law, something as unnatural as this could be provided by Unicron for a being of chaos. But its percussions were shielded by Primus, there's the balance. Its something Megatron doesn't have, his origins aren't here." she shook her head wildly, "I know I'm not making any sense, but I believe I can use the Dark Energon at will."
Optimus stared long, even processed what she was trying to say.
"Please say something." she said slightly pleading.
"Ellen. Despite-"
"Prime." Fowler announced again from over the console. "Its Cons again. In progress this time."
"Co-oridnates received Agent Fowler." Ratchet said activating the Groundbridge.
Optimus glanced over the Groundbridge as he nodded to Ratchet. "Ellen. We will discuss this, but please do not come into contact with it. None of us can comprehend it or even think that we can control its nature, not even Megatron. Not even a being of chaos, we cannot guess the outcome of your theory I will not risk yours or any others safety." He told her.
Before she could murmur a yes or nod, "Let's roll." Ultra Magnus announced confidently.
"Y-ep, Y-ep." Ratchet said stopping him. "Your ability to roll remains predicated upon further exploration of your manual dexterity." He said looking to his claw resembled hand. Magnus attempted to prove his active duty but cupping the claw itself was too slow and took too much effort. His expression was that of damage to his status, reputation and pride of basic function.
"I am afraid Ratchets authority supersedes my own in medical matters." Optimus told him.
Magnus frustrated a sigh, "Understood." He said as the others begun through the Groundbridge. Wheeljack passed by him slapping a hand on his shoulder.
"When we get back, I want you to be ready for me." He said moving past him.
He furrowed his brow confused as the portal closed, but slightly jolted as Ellen had put herself next to him, "do you have to be so present?" he asked firmly. "I could have damaged you beyond repair."
"I never thought you could look like that." she said flatly after the conversation she just had.
"Do not mock me." He hissed narrowing his optics as he slightly covered his 'claw' from view.
"I wasn't, that is i didn't intend for it to sound like that. I meant that the disappointment was different coming from you, deny if you want fine let's have another fall out."
He sighed, "I'm, needed on the field." He said.
"No worries, all we have to do is put some strength and co-ordination into that new hand of yours, mental command remember? Ratchet! Your his opponent come on let's do this." She announced throwing a fist in the air.
If crickets were present they would be heard chirping as no one spoke back to her, only a series of shrugs and shakes of the head. "Ellen, I would need to...work on lower levels to begin with and not put too much strain on the mechanism." Magnus told her through the awkward silence.
"Hmm, how about the lobbing ball. It works like a therapy ball." She said pointing to the said object.
He moved past her as picked it up producing her a questionable look, "build up of strength?"
"No, i mean to pick it up, with your new hand only. Go on give me twenty." She said folding her arms as she straightened her posture.
"Excuse me?" he said straitening his own stance as she slightly slouched to the scale of his height.
"W-Well, There's a new alpha in town due to your injury." She said confidently but avoiding eye contact. "That's how a family works, you kick out the elderly and dominate the weaker members." She grinned.
"Are you not also injured?"
"Details, details." She said before clasping her hands together, "please?" she said clasping her hands together.
"No." he said flatly.
"I don't mean taking your rank, 'though it is tempting', just to keep you focused instead of going by your own rule, like I'd say like 'hey Magnus why have you stopped? Come on get up and keep going.' and you'd be all 'make me' understand?"
"No, but you may proceed to encourage a level of focus on myself. But only because of the circumstances and Ratchet is needed with other issues." He stated.
"Nice. Now come on, pick up that lobbing ball. Turning a disability to strength is easy to just say but dealing with it is still hard." She said stroking her arm and sighing how many times will it attract unwanted attention. "Hey how about a sound off?"
"Too much mental stimulation can encourage independent thinking." He said looking over his new hand, barely trying to clasp it together, then looked to the lobbing ball.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Not for certain groups such as the Wreckers or young scouting units, who find it more entertaining to turn a protocol sound off into a insult Ballard for Decepticons." He said with focus still on the lobbing ball, he then narrowed his optics determined to get this simple task done. As he placed his claw around the ball, he made a series of groans and frustrated grunts as he couldn't feel the stability of the ball. But the anxiousness to get back out on the field he heaved it up, half way in mid air... "Mmm." He frustrated with the inevitable outcome of losing his grip.
"Go again." Ellen said.
"I intend to if you allow me a moment." He said as he continued his therapy. She decided to sit herself down as she stretched her less stronger leg. "What were you discussing?" he then asked a series of clanking sounds were heard as the ball dropped with every attempt but the time gap was longer each time.
"Hmmm." She said a little cautious of his eavesdropping.
"Its a trait i have become accustomed to, something i need to have. Understand I do not intentionally do it." he explained.
She sighed, "Just another confrontation. I found something that might help us, but might harm me. But if i could find something from that why won't he allow it?"
he looked unsure and curious at her, "He normally has no other choice when he stands alone." He said. "What is it you have; perhaps i would have a better understanding and or confiscate it."
She looked around as Ratchet was far enough away. "No. I'm sorry I won't. But i will say this, it's something that could give us one step ahead, in theory anyway how is anything achieved if you don't try it?"
"If it brings potential harm, one step back with your life in tact is more achievement then any advantage." he told her.
she looked him up and down suspiciously, "That line reeks of Dad, but it's easier to say when it's not yourself." she said.
"Actually, he told me that once." he said, she noted his hand.
"Once?" she questioned before putting her arms to her side, "I understand what you mean but I don't real want to." She then walked over to the side where she left her metal pole that acted as a crutch and picked it up, "hey when you take care of the lobbing ball, here's the intermediate level." She said laying the crutch on the ground as he stared at it. She smiled lightly, "I'll be up top with the guys." she bowed her head when walking, "Jeez it was so much easier before, now its become complicated, I-I know that I might be harmed but not for the sake of it, to help but not to worry others that's the whole point of secrets like this. maybe Dad feels like that sometimes."
"Alright i have one, if we were to go undercover to protect our identities and families, what would you do as an occupation and what would your name be?" Jack asked as the group of humans started another round of hypothetical questions.
"Already got it planned out Jack, my name would be Ava Slade." Miko started, "was the founder of the band she formed and was also the one to ruin it, ruined all her relationships with her friends and family, doesn't give a scrap and gets the best thinking time when she's wasted, and she's wasted all the time, cans everywhere. So basically I'm an on the run rock star." Miko said straight and simple.
"Wasted? Isn't that-" Raf said.
"Moving on." Ellen blurted looking at Jack for him to move the conversation along.
"D-Darby Jackson." he stuttered.
"Good call Jack...good call." she said giving a lazy thumbs up.
"I haven't exactly been thinking about it like you and Miko have, I was just curious on how much of a level of insanity you guys are on, i mean how much time do you two have?"
"Not allot of free time, but hypothetical thinking is a sure time passer." Ellen said.
"Actually that was supposed to my original plan when finishing school and leaving the hosts behind." Miko said.
He raised an eyebrow at the both of them as he leant his head into his hand on the railing. "Sparrow Everett." He said simply.
"Sparrow?" they both said.
"Yeah, sure." He said lazily.
"So you have been thinking about it." Miko said throwing an accusing finger in his face.
"Sparrow. Sparrow." Ellen started musing. "'Hey Sparrow.' Yeah i like it. Bird names are the best, Hawk, Eagle, er, blue footed booby. Well most names anyway. Heh-heh i gotta use that one on Smokescreen for that buzz kill note."
"I heard that note. you do overthink things sometimes Ellen." Miko said.
"Wh-aa?" she awed.
"Where would you work?" Raf asked Jack.
"I think I'd go into something like the post office if its low cover and stuff." He said shrugging.
"I don't know, post office gets more trouble then the banks." Ellen said.
"Alright obsessive fanatic, what's your second identity?" Jack said.
"I'd be a janitor." She said proudly.
"Is it because you like the smell of disinfectant?" Raf asked.
"A good point but no, the reason is because I don't say much but i hear allot no one suspects the mysterious, easy going yet sometimes eery janitor. I'd go by the name Luna Falconeye."
"Luna Falconeye? Another bird name." Raf said in a dull tone.
"If the moon had the eyes of a falcon, he could see everything, hence the name Luna Falconeye." she argued. "Yeah it sounds dumb out loud."
"You've really thought into this, i bet you wrote this down haven't you?" Raf said as she shuffled her feet innocently, looking over to Magnus.
"H-Hey I think he held a little longer that time." she said as the four of them watched him continue.
"Mmm, he's pushing himself, rehabilitation followed step by step it would have taken him allot longer to just lift it." Jack said.
A beeping sound was then heard from the control panel, "Ratchet." Came Optimus' voice. "Reopen the Groundbridge, but ensure that the humans are kept at a safe distance, for we will be returning with a Decepticon prisoner."
"Whoa. Prisoner of War." Miko awed.
Ratchet whipped around, "Ultra Magnus, the restraints." He told him as he approached the children, "you heard him, safe distance over there. Far over there." He said pointing.
"We can't stay where we are?" Ellen inquired.
"A precaution. This time we're not taking any chances with your safety, Now move." Ratchet said clapping his hands for them to move.
"Wonder who they've caught." Miko said rubbing her hands as they made their way to the other side.
"Let's just, get up high." Jack said.
"Right." Ellen said clutching the railings tightly.
"From the back." Jack said grabbing her arm.
She made herself relaxed to weigh more when Jack was pulling her in a certain direction. "So wait, we have Megatron in base we hide behind a corner, we bring in a foot soldier and we're almost out of the building?"
"Let's just see who it is first. Since when do you want to see a Con? We see them all the time, then we run in the opposite direction." Jack said thumbing behind him.
"Ah I don't really know why, I'm just being stubborn I guess." She told him. "Let's go." She sighed.
Ratchet waited until the children were up top as he reactivated the Groundbridge. "Doctor, the restraints are in place." Magnus informed him.
"Optimus, we're ready." He said as moments later Bulkhead and Bumblebee dragged in Soundwave out cold.
"It's Soundwave." Raf confirmed shuffling back slightly as Ellen put her hands on his shoulder.
"How did they manage to get mister slick?" Ellen said putting an arm around Rafs neck as she gripped him a little.
"E-Ellen, I can't move." He told her.
She let go, "Heh, sorry."
"A bit ironic that there trying to get Intel from the Con who is not very social but saying that the-" Jack started.
"Hey, look." Miko said looking over to the table Soundwave was on; his arm twitched, then in moments was fully aware of his surroundings as he struggled in his restraints. "Look at him go, losing his cool already."
"Because we had the foresight to shield our new base our captive will be unable to transmit his co-ordinates to the Decepticon warship." Ratchet said.
"Nor will they in turn be able to pinpoint his location." Optimus added.
"Guess we have all the time in the world to make mister personality tell us everything he knows." Wheeljack said slapping a fist against his palm.
"The Cons surveillance chief must know allot right?" Jack said in Agent Fowlers direction.
"But Soundwave doesn't speak, does he?" Miko said leaning over the railings.
"I'm not sure he even has a face." Raf said quietly.
"Huh. No face." Ellen said leaning up against the railings also, on her tippy toes.
"Relax." Jack said to her folding his arms and relaxing against the railings like it was a recliner chair.
"But there all in the way and the silent type are always the ones to impress. I think, though i'm not sure what i heard from him on the Nemesis." She made a frustrated groan as she started to climb the railing.
"Get down." Fowler said.
"Mmm." She sighed stepping down. "Yeah sure Primus forbid that I have a little reckless fun now and then."
"Let's get started." Ratchet said as Optimus approached Soundwave. His visor dark and blank as ever.
"Why is Megatron stealing human technology? What, is he attempting to build?" Optimus questioned.
"~Wh-Wh-Why is M-Megatron STEALING Tech-Tech-Tech-Technology? Wha-Wha-What IS HE ATTEMPTING TO BUILD to-to build?~" Soundwave played back in a series of techno and his own recording of Optimus' voice.
"Whoa. Optimus Prime the remix." Miko said.
"Get me the extended edition." Ellen added making waves with her arms.
":)" appeared on Soundwave's visor as Optimus backed away.
"Wow, he made the big guy speechless…Jack, Gi-Give me a pen i need to take notes." Ellen asked anxiously pawing the air in Jacks direction.
"Er, No." Jack said.
"Oh yeah, why don't i wipe that smile right off his face?" Bulkhead said deploying his manual weapon.
"Soundwave, we have treated you fairly for the sake of the natives of this planet. Tell us what Megatron is attempting to build." Optimus said. "Before we are forced to rely upon less civil methods of interrogation."
A sudden built up charge sound suddenly came from Soundwave as a pitched booming sound of alarm was pulsing as all beings in the room had to hold their heads, then Soundwave stopped finishing his displayed warning.
"U-rgh, what a troll, Y-You okay?" Ellen asked face to face with Jack.
"Ringing in my ears other than that, how about you guys?" Jack asked rubbing his ears with a series of slapping.
"I-I think so." Raf said checking his glasses for any chips.
"Meh, I've heard louder." Miko shrugged smugly before wincing to her sore ears.
"I'm already going deaf so. It's all fine over here." Fowler said.
"W-What are they saying over there." Ellen asked hitting a palm against her ear.
"Something about opening him up." Jack said. "To get the information out?"
Then a wobbly wave of beeps were then heard, "What's that sound?" Raf asked looking past them.
"I don't know i can't see." Ellen said climbing the railings again.
"No. Soundwave is erasing data." Ratchet confirmed with dread.
"Soundwave superior, Autobots inferior." Soundwave said in what seemed to be his own voice.
"Who is he calling inferior?" Miko said placing her hands on her hips.
"What happened? You see that Jack?" Ellen asked him being that he was four inches taller than her.
"N-Not sure, his screen or face went and blacked out." Jack said squinting.
"Is he?" Bulkhead asked of Soundwave's status.
Ratchet gave his form a scan. "His vital signs remain functional it seems he has simply severed all communications by crashing his own drives."
"Giving himself brain damage? Brutal." Ellen said before nudging Jack in the side. "Gotta admire his loyalty."
As they took the moment to comprehend the scenario Fowler's phone started to ring, "Fowler here. What? How soon? But i am currently...yes i understand." He said sighing as he turned around. "I'm needed elsewhere and now, I'll be in touch." He told the kids making his way toward the exit without attracting the bots attention.
"So, you think he and Mom would be alright?" Jack asked them watching the man disappear.
Ellen started to count the points on her finger, "Well, he's always away. She's always away, there's no room for arguments so it's a tight deal. Besides maybe Fowler will be able to retire. Give you guys allot of time together." She said making fish lips for 'time together'.
"Oh come on, it's always been me and my Mom if they did go on from here. I'd say I'm kind of…mmm, I wouldn't want him to- I mean I think I heard Fowler say that he and his partner separated."
Miko started poking him in the side, "Aw. Check out mister standards, hey El better ask him out before a dumber one does." She said grinning stupidly.
"W-What?" Ellen spluttered.
She winked, "I saw what you two did."
"M-Miko!" she protested, "Just, no." she then turned it back onto her as she raised an eyebrow smugly, "why don't you ask Jack out?"
"W-Well i-! w-w-why would- wait...why are we talking about Jack for?" she said dumbfounded.
"Jack, what exactly are they yelling about anyway?" Raf asked standing besides him.
"I...I got nothing, one minute there fine, then the next there hysterical, then fine again." he said trying to figure the two out.
"Prime. These recent con heists have General bries breathing down my neck, so i gotta get back to the barbeque today for another grilling." Came Agent Fowlers voice that loud despite being a private conversation could still be heard.
"Understood Agent Fowler. And, rest assured should our prisoner return online, we will resume our interrogation." Optimus told him.
Jack turned back to his human group, "Back? Is he calling from his car?"
Ellen stopped her conversing with Miko, "E-Heh, well he may have been a bachelor for a while now. Bad habits and that."
"Ellen." Jack said sternly.
"Your right, he's not perfect." He looked doubtful as he showed concern. "You're not perfect yourself, mister gives in to peer pressure." She said before letting her face drop, "Just do what you have to do."
"Your never going to let up with me are you?" he muttered. "I'm fine with Fowler, that is I know he'll try its more then what my Dad ever did." He stood straight brushing himself down as he stood closer to Ellen, "you know for a moment I thought you left like he did." He told her.
she smiled, "That's childhood fears for ya." She said as she took hold of his hand like she were to shake it. "I wouldn't leave, like he did. For the very least I would tell you, that much you deserve even when this is all over." She said as she scanned his face falling slightly low to her frank statement, before clearing her throat abruptly, "Well, er let's try and…it's getting a little late you, Miko and Raf should be getting home." She said turning away from him.
Jack opened his mouth to say something before changing his mind, then something caught Ellen's eye as Magnus and Wheeljack headed their way in direction of the hangar entrance.
"Wheeljack." She called looking briefly at Jack before regrettably pulling away from the human group and putting herself to the ground level.
"Keep in contact." Jack sighed.
"Little early for that yet don't you think?" Ellen said to Wheeljack.
"Not, for Wreckers. The Commanders at his best when purposely agitated." He said. "I'm his ideal opponent."
"Can…can I watch?" she asked intrigued to the words 'purposely agitated'.
"Sure whatever." He shrugged turning back to his footing.
"How about you Lieutenant Dan?" she asked Magnus.
He looked away as he tapped all his fingers in a rhythmic manner against his shoulder, "A safe distance." He said. "And do not serve as a distraction." He then followed Wheeljack's lead as Ellen started to skip stupidly.
"Wait-wait wait, hold it there." Ratchet called as she cringed to his tone almost falling over her feet.
"Y-eeess?" she emphasised.
"You…can't watch." He said.
"Why not? I'll be at least a mile away with a pair of binoculars is that more appropriate?" she said.
He looked her over, she was practically on one knee, "Just, what goes inside that head of yours?" he said referring to something different entirely.
"are you being serious or just acting it?" she said now putting herself on both knees to the strain on her leg.
"I mean…"
"Y-ees?"
He felt the need to sigh, he thought of the Dark Energon what it had done in the past, what it had done to the dead, to Raf, and he felt hostility but he couldn't lash out. not like before as he acknowledged his surroundings. "…yes acting." he said with a weak soft tone. "When Wheeljack is the opponent projectiles will fly, just stay inside. I think it's about time the others went home as well." he noted the others against the railings.
"Well I guess I have others things to do." She said in a weak tone frowning slightly at him at the calm voice.
"There's a pile over there standing about twelve inches high of books." He said pointing the a certain part of the room.
She looked to the top as she saw the corner of a table, "I can do that later but at the moment I have-
"No, now. You can sit up there working and I can watch you." he said in his usual tone.
"Say what now?" she said looking to the med table, "the couch is in direct alignment with his face."
Ellen stretched her legs on the couch as she yawned, a couple of hours had passed since the work pile she had to swim through before unwillingly fell asleep, thought to her, clearly only five minutes as she walked down the stairs. "Hey what did I miss?" she said to Smokescreen who was leaning up against the higher level platform.
"Not much, Soundwaves still out and Fowlers has been on the comm for a few minutes." he told her quietly. "Oh and did you know that you were out for a while?"
"How long?"
"couple of your hours I think." he said.
"Why didn't anyone wake me?" she asked anxiously.
"Ratchet said not to. but I poked you and you made this weird twitch thing with your leg." he said.
she stretched up, "Wow haven't unitentially dosed off like that for a while."
"what were you doing anyway?" he asked.
"Er….School work. Ratchet was explaining his…findings with a question I was having trouble with."
Flashback approximately two and a half hours before.
"(a - a/2)^2 = 0,giving a solution of: x = a/2. Now, how did I get that a^2/4?"
"Well…"
Consider the following: What do I have to add to x^2 - 6x such that the result is a perfect square, that is, it factorises to (x + ?)^2 You can add a variety of numbers to x^2 - 6x such that it factorises: x^2 - 6x + 5 = (x - 5)(x - 1) x^2 - 6x + 8 = (x - 2)(x - 4). But, if you add 9: x^2 - 6x + 9 = (x - 3)^2. Similarly: x^2 - 8x + 16 = (x - 4)^2 x^2 - 2x + 1 = (x - 1)^2 x^2 - 12x + 36 = (x - 6 )^" x^2 - 14x + 49 = (x - 7 )^2 x^2 - 18x + 81 = (x - 9)^2 Do you notice any relationship between the coefficient of x, and the constant term in each one?"
"Actually…"
"That is, if you take the coefficient of x, half it and then square it, you get the final number: 1/2 of -8 = -4, and (-4)^2 = 16 1/2 of -2 = -1, and (-1)^2 = 1 1/2 of -12 = -6, and (-6)^2 = 36 1/2 of -14 = -7, and (-7)^2 = 49 1/2 of -18 = -9,and (-9)^2 = 81. So, in order to write x^2 + ax + ? as a perfect square, that is as (x + *)^2, half the coefficient of x, square it, and add it. So: What is the value of c such that x^2 + 4x + c has only one solution? Take the coefficient of x which is 4, half it to give 2, square it to give 4, and add: x^2 + 4x + 4 = 0, so (x + 2)^2 = 0, so c = 4. Understand?"
End flashback
Ellen shuddered, "Never have I been able to see the fabrics of the universe then I could when Ratchet was explaining algebra." She stated mystically. "Oh well at least with all those subjects out the way I can finally focus on my lines. Even if I did miss a good friendly fight."
"You mean between Commander Magnus and Wheeljack?" he asked.
"You saw that?" she questioned anxiously.
"it, was…intense." He said admitted excitably, "There was this moment of triumph where Wheeljack threw a grenade at such an angle It would've caused a fatality,but Ultra Magnus with 'the claw' took hold of that grenade and threw it to the sky, and shot it before it went off. You should've seen the light of the sun just reflect off his claw like a holographic moment recorded for the ages, it was-!" he stopped to the murmuring sound she was expressing, "are you sick?" he asked.
"Prime." Came Agent Fowlers voice, "I'm on my way to the base but i just got word, the Cons busted into the solars particle collider project at the South Pole."
"Autobots." Optimus called.
Ultra Magnus cupped his claw quick paced. "Y-ep, Yep." Ratchet said stopping him again before he could make himself apart of this mission.
"Doc." Wheeljack interrupted. "The Commanders ready."
Ratchet looked him over then ducked his head as he slightly shoved Wheeljack aside as he passed on by muttering, "Fine, fine."
"Bulkhead, Smokescreen remain here with Ratchet to guard our prisoner, everyone else transform and roll out." Optimus commanded as Ratchet activated the Groundbridge and as soon as they left the others turned their attention on Soundwave as Bulkhead looked uneasy.
"Can't we throw a tarp over him?" Bulkhead said. "He's creeping me out."
"Yeah it's like he's watching no matter where you go." Smokescreen said.
"Would both of you stop focusing on what Soundwave can or cannot see and figure out what he did not tell! Like why Megatron would be so interested in something believed to generate enough power to create a black hole?" Ratchet stated.
"Black holes?" Smokescreen questioned. "So Megatrons looking to swallow up the whole universe."
"And everything in It." Bulkhead added.
"No, No." Ratchet protested. "He would merely want to harness the power of something capable of swallowing worlds. In order to create one." He continued with realisation in his optics. "Oh My."
"Create one?" Ellen questioned.
Ratchet darted to the control panels as with fast pace brought up the comm link, "Optimus i know this hardly seems the time but it may aid you in your task." Ratchet said contacting him.
"Go ahead." Optimus replied.
"I believe that Megatron may be attempting to rebuild the Omega Lock, do we let it?" he asked treading lightly.
"No, for you know as well as I that Megatron will use a reconstructed lock to Cyberform both Cybertron and Earth. And that is one abusive power that we cannot allow."
Ratchet sighed, "Understood."
"Ratchet it may not be with the Forge or the Omega lock but we're gonna find a way to get our planet repaired." Smokescreen reassured.
"It was an option not a last resort." Ellen added as they looked behind to Agent Fowler, "Yeah hi." she said looking at Smokescreen rolling her eyes, "he's going to fall one of these days if he doesn't watch where he's going."
He turned to look at Soundwave then back to Fowler "It's like he doesn't even know we're here. We must be that quiet."
"And have you noticed that he's also quiet not a 'Prime!' in sight or sound." she said as they both snickered.
"Yeah." Smokescreen said, "Prime! what's your first name?" he said in a small voice.
"Hey." Bulkhead interrupted, "Fowlers alright." he argued.
They both shrugged as a moment of silence had found its way back, but Smokescreen looked suddenly entranced, "Do, you guys hear that?" he asked.
"Hear-?" Ellen started.
A loud smashing sound of a broken window and an intruder had made its way inside, Laserbeak. "Oh no." Ratchet said breathlessly
"It's the demon bird, a flying devil!" Ellen cried as Smokescreen took hold of her putting her between himself and the intruder's projectiles. Laserbeak shot at Soundwave's restraints.
Smokescreen looked up to Laserbeak as he deployed his weapon taking a shot as it blew apart of Laserbeak's wing off, losing balance whilst airborne Laserbeak nosedived into Smokescreen knocking him over, Smokescreen took the moment to slide Ellen behind a staircase. "Stay here." he said as he started to fire upon Laserbeak again as said droid was flying in an uncoordinated manner, before finally attaching itself to Soundwave's chest who came on almost immediately.
Bulkhead swiftly brought out his manual weapon as he charged at the Con, but was send stumbling back from a physical attack by Soundwave, following straight was Smokescreen bringing down a forceful high jump kick whilst crying out. but was caught in mid air by one of Soundwave's tentacle like limbs forced against a table on the other side and shortly electrocuted into an unconscious state, Bulkhead attempted to free Soundwave only for a second electrified limb to latch itself onto him also.
Ellen looked then over from under the table she had gotten herself under as there forms lay still, she gritted her teeth as she stayed low making her way back up the stairs. Soundwave had a direct route of movement as he approached who backed away from the Con, Soundwave set a blank vision on him.
Ellen jogged up the stairway as she looked to across the room, "Immobilisers too far. think, think-think-think." She said as she saw Fowler run at Soundwave's feet with a fire extinguisher and was flicked to one side. she hit the bar with a fist as she went with the only thought to come to mind like Agent Fowler had done. she fenced over the railing to a lower platform hopping from island to island as she gotten close to Soundwave from the back.
Soundwave whipped his electrified extension of his limbs in Ratchets direction. "Bad touch…" she hissed leaping onto his back with gripping hands like talons and started thumping hard with her arm, "Break you anti-social basement dweller break!" only that the disadvantage was that his extended limbs were free range and covered all areas as he threw her down without effort. "For Primus sake i just fixed that leg!" he said as he saw him move toward Ratchet, "No..." she said horrified, as Soundwave electrocuted him in the neck as it wrapped around almost strangling in appearance.
She ran for him as Soundwave span around pointing a daggered tip once again, put pointed it upwards flicking it in her direction. he then brought up a Groundbridge on his Visor as she couldn't see the location from his height, as a Bridge opened she made a sharp jolt forward as Soundwave brought the daggered tip to Ratchets neck, he shook his head slowly in what looked like a mocking manner. she stood silently as she watched Soundwave drag Ratchets out cold form from base, she kept her eyes on his face until the Bridge closed and the room silent once more, Ellen stared at where the Bridge once was, "Ratchet..." she said brushing a hand across her face which heated up as the seconds ticked by, "Skrew this." she declared turning around as she walked towards an unconscious Agent Fowler.
A/N this fic can also be educational :P
so some references that I like to add in here and there, some teasers and I try to add a little bit of cute because hey whatever I do in this I also like to give way to whatever anyone WANTS to think because the mind is limitless ;) heck I'm honoured at least one person likes this let alone make suggestions or 'like the idea' for certain scenarios with my oc :)
so I'm probably going to just focus on this fic at the time being until I finish it, which would probably be with the movie but with all these rumours who knows maybe they'll be a sequel to this story but I'd have to see I think I've shown my character as much as I can in different situations but we'll see what the future holds for opportunity to further develop my oc.
on a side note if I get anything that's being said from the episodes wrong I'd appreciate it if you corrected me, (with politeness of course :P) and of course the algebra formula might be incorrect so please don't grade me :P but I picked a hard sum with a long working out so you can just glance through it from how migrane-ish it looks.
anyway did anyone like this one? well I had fun writing it. any suggestions or thoughts (trust me I have actually made a list so not to forget previous ones) just pm me, R+R, send a hi I'm buzzing today ;D