A/n: Hi guys! Sorry I've been AWOL lately, just been pretty busy and all. I had some spare time to whip out a new chapter for this story. Hope you guys like it! Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Missing

Elena's POV

I laid on my side silently in the comfort of my bunk. The girls behind me chatted while the bang of cell doors rang in my ears as the slammed in the distance.

"Hey Lena, what's the deal today?" I heard a thick Boston accent ask me.

It was Heidi, someone that I've grown to actually get along with. Usually I was quite fond of speaking to her but right now, it was the last thing I wanted. My mind swirled about Sel and how she had visited me last time.

"A lot of things have happened Elena," She told me quietly, her similar -to-mine ebony locks falling around her face as she stared at her fingers. She had grown up so much from when I last saw her two years prior.

My heart clenched from the name she referred to me as.

Pursing my lips, I debated whether or not I should press, but I knew I needed answers. This was my daughter for Christ' sake, we should have a bond that no one could break but I knew it was too late. I had hurt her too much and I could understand as to why she'd have her walls up against me. Nervously, I placed a hand on the table before peering up to her seriously, "What things, Sel? Come on you can tell me anything. I know I haven't been the best mom in your life-"

She chuckled, "You're my only mom, Elena and I know I can...I know now."

Her eyes wandered and I knew it was a trait that she had inherited from me when she would take cookies from the jars as a child and would hide it. "Sel, please. I know there's a lot on your chest and I would really love to hear it and maybe...even give you some advice!"

A forced laugh erupted from my mouth as I tried to ease her into it. She opened her mouth then closed it again, shaking her head. "It's something the dangerous. S-something I can't drag you into, mom."

"Sel, please- just- trust me!" I began pleading and reached over to grip her forearms.

"Take care mom...I'll see you soon," She finished off with sorrowful eyes and ripped her arms away from me. All in the meantime, my heart felt the same action of being torn apart. Why is she such a stubborn child? Doesn't she know that I will always have her back even if the world was ending, she would always be my first priority. Unable to accept her response, I got up and two guards held me back.

"Sel! Sel no! Tell me! Seleeeennaaa!" I shrieked as they dragged me away from the visiting quarters, only seeing the back of her head as she exited to the outer world of this hell.

"Lena!" I felt a hand jar at my shoulder, shaking me vigorously out of my trance.

"Get off me, bitch," I mumbled, waving her hand away. She snorted, plopping down onto her own bunk and resting her elbows on her knees. She gave me an amused expression.

"You know, Lena. All of us have gotten your ass since day one but you still thinkin' about your smart ass of a daughter-"

I heard Crystal, an extremely buff woman with mussed red hair cut Heidi off. "-smarter than you'll ever be. Lena loves her daughter and you can't blame 'er for bein' persistent."

"Well lookie here, Miss Crissy usin' big words and such! 'Persistent' my ass," Heidi sneered, turning her beady blue orbs at me, "She ain't nothing but bringing you down Lena. Don't ya' see that?"

The nerve of this woman sometimes.

"Heidi?" I asked swiftly, the anger already fuming in my blood.

"Wha?"

"Do me a favor and shut the hell up," I growled, stomping up to my feet.

Crystal laughed loudly, "She clipped your ass!"

"Didn't need to say it so coldly..." I heard Heidi mumble in the background but I ignored her, walking up to the cell doors.

I saw a couple of men dressed in heavy, black military suits conversing with some of the guards. I was slightly confused considering they never really visited this penitentiary, well any penitentiary since they had better things to do than guard delinquents.

"Who are they?" I asked aloud to the women behind me, the group of men never leaving my sight.

"Dunno, they actually just showed up now," Crystal answered as she also observed from beside me.

All of a sudden, all of the men had their eyes fall upon me. Gasping slightly, I gulped and backed away from the guards crowding the cell.

"What's going on here?"

"Hey what the hell!"

I heard the loud chatter and complaints of the other 6 women in the cell with me. One man stepped in, all suited up and sunglasses covering his eyes. It was a relief considering if I saw his eyes, I could only imagine the coldness and piercing glare it would give me. As if it would cut right through me. That his intentions were to hurt me in the first place.

"I'm looking for an Elena Witwicky," The man's voice shook the spine in me.

I was a tough girl no doubt and wouldn't mind standing up to a man 5 feet taller than me. Hell, I was a trained CIA who could put assassins to their ass but in this case I was just little, fragile Elena. This man had horrible intentions with me, I could feel a heavy weight in my gut that usually told me trouble was brewing in the coffee maker and I was about to be poured for a drink. Disgusting analogy but it was the best thing I could think of right now. Gathering myself, I stepped forward and felt all eyes glued to me. "Yes?"

"I'd like to speak to you, if...you don't mind?" The man asked, more like commanded in my ears.

"Who are you," I responded simply. I knew my rights and this man whoever he was had no right to just ask for me.

"That's a matter of confidentiality-" One of the prison wardens announced but I'm not standing for that bullshit.

"Confidentiality my ass, I deserve to know who I'm talking to don't I?" I spat through my teeth at her. She was afraid of me and I knew everytime we'd be eating lunch. I could see her cower behind the director of this prison when she'd taunt me about Sel or my 'past'.

The man chuckled darkly, "My name is Quest...General Quest. I have information about your daughter if you'd like."

Now he's got my attention. What has this guy done to her? What has happened to her? My mind focused on one thing and that was figuring out who this man was and what information he has gotten about Sel.

"My daughter? Is she okay? Has anything happened?" I rambled on but the man smiled satisfyingly.

"Come and have a talk with me, Ms. Witwicky," He replied before heading outside of the cell.

I glanced towards the women around me as some seemed terrified, others envious. Following in pursuit, the guards of the men filed around me to create almost a barrier between me and the man to the outside world. My stupid ass was probably getting into some trouble right now but if it's for the safety if my daughter then I'll be willing to take anything from anyone. We entered a small room in which the man sat across from me and the guards pushed me onto the seat in front of him. The guards filed out of the room and locked us into the room. You are in shark infested water Elena. Be prepared to think fast.

"So...you have me. Now what's the deal with my little girl?" I asked with a cocked eyebrow.

The man laughed, shaking his head, "Ms. Witwicky may ask your belief in a certain group of species?"

"Excuse me?" This guy was a nut-case. God, what have I just gotten myself into now.

"Your belief, Ms. Witwicky," He pulled his sunglasses down and all the hair on my body rose from the color of his eyes.

"W-w-what b-belief..." I whispered shakily.

His bright red eyes stabbed themselves into mine, "Alien robots."

Sel's POV

I gulped as I read the headline article of the newspaper Lennox dropped in front of me.

EastGate Penitentiary attacked by Mission City's 'Aliens'.

Former CIA: Elena Witwicky MISSING
REWARD: 150,000 dollars

"I don't understand! Why would they go after my god damn mom!" I almost shrieked, shoving the newspaper off the table and the sheets flying around. "I made sure to not get her into this mess and look where she is now!"

"Sel, relax, we'll send out a search group of Autobots immediately," Lennox tried to assure me. As much as I rely my trust on the Autobots saving my mom, we all know from the movies it's a good reason for them to also kill her. She's easy bait to use.

"But h-how can you assure her of her safety, Lennox?!" My lips quivered as tears threatened to spill out of my eyes. Me and Elena haven't been on the best terms but she was still my mother. My own flesh and blood that gave me a chance to live this extra-ordinary life. "What if they just want me? They can take me instead of h-"

"Selena, don't ever think that. Your mom is a strong and smart woman...I know because I...met her while she was on the field," He admitted to me almost sympathetically.

My head whipped up as my breath hitched, "That's how you knew her favorite color...did you ever learn much about her?"

He opened his mouth to say something but I saw Epps enter the cafeteria. He ran up to the table me and Lennox were sitting at, "Lennox, some of the new trainees ar- Sel? Is that you?"

I smiled as Epps stared at me astounded. I'm guessing Lennox wanted to keep my visit low profile right now. Laughing, I got up, "In the flesh!"

"Holy crap, come here!" Epps gathered me in his brutish arms and tightened me into a bone-crushing hug. "Damn you've gotten big!"

He placed me down as I chuckled, raising an eyebrow, "You callin' me fat?"

Lennox spluttered out a laugh as Epps looked at me with the most regretful expression, "No, Sel...I...uh..."

"I'm just messin' with you, Epps," I laughed while he let out a sigh of relief.

"Dammit, Sel, you gotta stop that before I get a cardiac arrest!" He shook his head as he sat down on a chair. "And I've gotten plenty of chances to receive one from you."

I grinned deviously at memories of me throwing a faux spider at Epps one time. Didn't know the man could be a soprano in a choir class! I remarked, "Have you tried at the coffeehouse open mic yet?"

Growling, he grunted, "Wasn't a funny prank."

"Are you kidding me, I'm sure Europe could've heard you from that scream," Lennox added and I agreed.

"It's true, Paris just called me," I joked along with Lennox as we burst into a fit of giggles.

"You know-" Epps got up and jabbed a finger at me and Lennox, "-I don't need this disrespect."

"What you need is to hide that big ass forehead of yours," Lennox said as Epps covered his apparent 'five-head'.

Snickering, I began feeling sorry for the guy and ended the brutal teasing, "Okay, okay enough-"

"Well this big ass forehead is calling you to talk to some new recruits," Epps punched Lennox on the shoulder. He was slightly jarred to the right when he got the impact and nodded.

"Okay, okay. Let's go-" He turned to me before grabbing some of his stuff "-we'll send a team out don't worry about it."

"Yeah, Sel, we all got it covered. The minute I heard the news, I knew you were here eating up the veggie burgers," Epps teased as I shrugged, looking at my plate that contained leftovers of 4 burgers I had eaten.

What, a girl needs to grow!

"I know...just please find her," I answered with a small smile but they knew worry was in my eyes.

"We will, trust us."

With that, Lennox and Epps disappeared from my sight. I didn't blame them. They were really busy with the whole system of NEST since it was new and I couldn't be the reason for them to be distracted from their jobs. Maybe if they can't help me right away, I can gather up some information on my own. I'm capable! I think. Well one thing's for sure, I can't do this alone. Not without a certain brunette, girly-screaming dork of a cousin.

I waited as Bee finished training with some of the soldiers, observing at how skilled he was in combat. I'm being serious, you have to admit the bot has a high ass kill streak. Standing at the upper platform that bordered the hangar, I leaned against the railing and knew I was nervous at asking Bee to take me to Sam.

"Okay, good job Bumblebee! Maybe make your swings just a bit more quicker next time," I heard one of the soldiers advise him.

He whirred confidently before turning to my direction. Walking up to the platform, I patted his helm before smiling. "I'm quite impressed. You're getting better every single day."

"I know, don't worry," He dusted off his shoulder plates cockily.

"Hey now, don't get too cocky with your training. It can still do better," I smirked deviously at him. He made whirr of disapproval as his eyebrows furrowed. I backed away from the railing as he transformed into his alt. form. Oh god, where'd this bitch go- "Oh shit!"

I squealed as my back hit a warm torso and felt my wrists gripped in the air before I was shoved into the wall, face first. Well that hurt.

"Damn you, Bee! You could've given me a warning!" I growled as he had me pinned against the wall from the front.

"'Can still do better' huh?" He sneered into my ear, the warm air of his breath fanning over my neck. Not fair! Not fair at all! "In war, there are no warnings honey."

He let me go as I struggled to breathe from how implanted I was into the wall. Composing myself, I stood up straight and placed two hands on my hips and angrily glared at the blonde leaning against the railing. "You don't think I know that, sir?"

"Well it seemed like you didn't!" He laughed, a smug smile I wanna slap off his face appearing.

"Well I did...I just...wasn't ready!" I tried my hardest to cover my slip up but he could see right through my façade as usual.

"You're never ready for anything but the food menu," He chuckled and I scoffed, crossing my arms.

"Is that so bad?" I smiled at him as he returned one back.

"No, I've always like your rather large appetite."

Blushing slightly at his remark, I knew I wasn't here to have small talk and remembered my 'mission'. "Bee, I need your help."

"What is it, Sel?" He gave me a concerned look.

"My mom...she's...she's missing," I pursed my lips and looked at him in the eye. "I need to Sam, maybe he can help-"

"Sel no. You're meddling again, you should just leave this to us," He interrupted and gave me a look of disbelief.

"I don't like being helpless though, Bee and you know that," I felt the volume of my voice raise as I edged closer to him, staring at him pleadingly. "Please, Bee. I just need to be taken to Sam."

He thought for a moment, his eyes wandering around him as he debated in his mind. Closing his eyes, he turned to me with a strict shake of his head. "I'm sorry, Sel but it's better for us to take care of this. You could get hurt and not only would that hurt all of us but also your mom. If you want her safe then you keep yourself safe."

The words he told me were like knives cutting into my heart but I knew to some degree he was correct. My safety was in no doubt more of value to Elena than her own which is what scares me the most. Elena would die protecting me which I greatly admired about her through all of the flaws she had. I couldn't just sit here though, I needed to find more of what happened and maybe Sam could help in some way. Besides, I wanted to see him anyways since I was in DC and his university was nearby. If Bee wouldn't help me, I'd just have to find another way on my own.

"Okay...I understand, Bee," I replied quietly, nodding reluctantly.

"From what I've heard from Prime, we're starting the search party early tomorrow morning so I promise we'll get onto it right away," He assured me and moved some of my hair behind my ear. Caressing my cheek, I leaned into it and stared up at his blue eyes sadly.

"Promise?"

"I promise," He vowed, raising his right hand up.

"Okay."

A/n: I have another chapter coming up. This one was just a god awful filler to be honest but it gets from point A to point B. Next up is the situation at Sam's university!

Review!