Lots of wonderful reviews! falls over in joy* A lot of people seemed to really like the last chapter and I've gotten a lot of favorites! Thank you all! glomps in hugs*
Now, important note: the circle is completed and Shay's little journey has ended, so this is the last chapter where things are in her point of view and we'll be returning to third person like in the beginning. Later, I may have small snippets in Shay's pov but I'm still deciding. For now it's unlikely.
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That is a huge doorway, I thought. Gazing at the massive opening seemed to only reaffirm the thought that I had finally made it. I did it.
Another, albeit quieter, part of me protested and claimed that there was no way I had actually traveled halfway across the country to the Autobot base. In one piece no less. But the sight of the behemothian metal ship protruding from the rock promptly made that voice shut up. Sunlight glinted upon the dusty orange and I briefly wondered how no one had noticed it before the Autobots had awoken. Surely some person in the last thousand or so years must have discovered it? I wondered what they had thought. My wandering train of inquiry was abruptly disrupted as a chuckle surrounded me and my ride shook gently.
"Most of you guys get that look when you see the Ark. What do you think?" My fingers clenched before relaxing as I realized this Windcharger guy was only commenting on the awe that had shown on my face. A faint smile ghosted and disappeared.
"It it amazing."
And that was the truth. I wouldn't have bothered to say it if the remark wasn't sincere. The Autobot made a pleased sound and silence stole over the conversation when we approached. Passing from afternoon sun to shadow caused my pupils to dilate at the sudden change as the metal doors whooshed away. Not even pausing, Mirage and Windcharger advanced through the colossal entryway and straight down a hallway. I saw a few other Autobots as we drove quickly by and didn't have time to memorize the twist and turns we took before they rolled to a stop in front of a closed doorway.
Unclicking my seat belt, I slid out carrying the bag and looked up when they transformed. There was a notable hesitance as two sets of blue optics glanced at each other before the taller one palmed a screen on the wall. Reinforced orange metal slid to the side and Windcharger ushered me forward. A low growl built in my throat. I did not like their giant hands near me but refrained from voicing my disapproval. It was better to remain polite.
Surprisingly, it wasn't too hot or too cold in the room, but rather lukewarm. I decided I would need to take my denim jacket off soon. My frosty eyes cast around with wariness, taking in the large tables, tools, and various equipment. That didn't settle my nerves and I realized my expression was most likely not inviting. But at the moment I didn't care. The lights picked up on my worry and tried to send back reassurance. Mischief proceeded to 'tickle' me before I mentally thanked him and nudged the presence away. Focus was needed right now.
A heavy footstep brought my attention towards another bot, this one mainly white with red plating on his hands and pelvic area. Crimson crosses shone proudly from his shoulders and made it quite evident that he transformed into an ambulance. He turned light blue eyes toward us and my escorts shifted on their feet a little. I studied the darker gray metal that started on the new bot's forehead. The point extended outward and curved up into two points. The head decoration was interesting.
Scowling, the new one walked closer as I pulled the container out. There wasn't a good reason to put off the inevitable but my fingers twitched as paranoia reared it's head. I shoved it away and set the cylinder on the floor with a subtle clank.
The footsteps didn't help. Mirage seemed to always walk quietly and Windcharger had tried to be careful of his steps near me, yet the ambulance apparently hadn't a care for that. He stomped up like we had just interrupted something important. The 'pissed-off dragon' glare hardly diffused the tension. If I got stepped on, then I would be pissed off.
Automatically my arms crossed in defense before he spoke harshly, "What...is this?"
And the conversation didn't exactly go uphill from there.
Something heavy settled in me when I let him pick up Sullen and Mischief. The medic (I assumed him to be a doctor of some sort) moved them up higher to a table where I couldn't see the orbs anymore and the dread grew. Politeness had pretty much gone out the window when I'd growled earlier. It really didn't matter. I needed to make sure they were safe.
The alabaster and red giant leaned down to offer me a hand, although his expression still seemed cross, "It would be easier for everyone if you weren't down there. So either let me help or climb up yourself."
My glare intensified as I silently threatened him. Doc, you better not be a threat. But there really wasn't much choice here. How much did I trust these guys?
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It felt like someone had fired a bullet through my chest.
I jumped to my feet, almost not believing my ears, "Those two I saw, the red and yellow ones, aren't dead? They're just...here?"
My hand gestured toward the spinning cerulean lights that were currently tugging at me. They were demanding to know why my emotions were spiraling out of control. I didn't answer just yet, I couldn't.
The bot named Ratchet affirmed my hope, "Yes, yes. Of course, we'll have to..." I tuned the rest out.
Yellow and Red hadn't died. They had been the glowing orbs the whole time. I hadn't seen someone die. A happy and consoled grin broke across my face as I answered the lights; joy, relief, and comfort flooding across to them. It was as if the rocks on my shoulders had been lifted away. Yellow hadn't died right in front of me and I hadn't failed to save him. They were both right here, safe.
Later, quite a bit later, Prowl sat down on a chair that had been pulled up to a med-berth. It was the tactician's job to make sure he had all the facts. While it seemed Shay's appearance had resolved the question of why the Decepticons had been nearby, it was always a good idea to go over all the important points. And they couldn't go to his office because the human refused to leave the medbay right now.
The conversation went easily enough. Although hesitant to volunteer information about herself, the woman readily discussed her journey here. Faded blue eyes narrowing slightly, Miss Carpenter glossed over how bad the fight with the three male humans had been and tried to downplay the evident injuries sustained, not knowing that the officers had seen a video of the scuffle already. Prowl had agreed with her that challenging Wildrider on the road had not been the most ideal plan but with few options it was not completely rash. With a grim set in her jaw, the human female had quite adamantly stated that she was never going to do it again.
His doorwings twitched up the barest bit in amusement at her dry and serious tone before he asked about the only action he had not been able to logically understand, "Why did you not tell the authority figures what had happened and let them deal with it?"
Although not as expressive as most of the humans he had met, the Praxian still caught a slight grimace, "Multiple reasons."
Prowl remained silent at her tired answer and waited as Shay ran her fingers through her hair. The woman sighed and rubbed a spot on her jeans.
"One, and least importantly, it got me a chance to do something different. It was quite unlikely that another chance to travel across the country was going to present itself." Mentally, the tactician was thankful for her formal syntax. It was quite a bit easier for him to understand rather than the more popular slang people her age seemed to use.
"Two is trust. I couldn't trust the police to handle it. What if they damaged them? Or someone took them away to see what they were? I'm afraid I can't put a large amount of confidence in people I don't know. They would have kept the lights and you or I would have been none the wiser."
Now Prowl frowned slightly, "The law enforcement officers are supposed to follow a strict code of conduct. I'm sure they would have returned the Twin's sparks to us."
"Are you telling me there's never been crooked cops?" A delicate eyebrow raised in disbelief, "If I'd known someone who was a police officer then I would have spoken with them. But I didn't and deemed it safer to come on my own."
While Prowl tried to think of a response to that, Shay unfolded her crossed legs and stood. Walking a few feet closer, the woman sat on the edge of the berth and hung her feet over. She tilted her body forward and up to look him in the optics before asking another question.
"Would you have rather had the police or I bring them here?"
"That question is ridiculous. It has already happened so trying to decide what decision I would make prior to the knowledge I now have is pointless. I did not know about this beforehand so I can not accurately say which I would have preferred." The tactician's battle computer started scrolling through alternatives before he stopped those thoughts.
She shrugged in response and continued, "Anyway, the last and most important reason is because the yellow one, Sunstreaker, asked me to."
A red chevron tipped as he eyed her uncomprehending, "Care to elaborate?"
Lips thinned as Shay's tired face turned thoughtful, trying to put her thoughts into words, "He told me to get the container to you guys. I though he had died. If someone appeared to be dying and asked you to do something as their dying wish, would you do it?"
"That would depend on what he or she asked." Prowl replied practically.
Shay's eyebrows scrunched by the barest noticeable bit and eyes narrowed, "If they asked you to keep something or someone safe, would you?"
"Yes." No hesitance.
A nod, "Then you can see why. Not only would it have been disrespectful but giving them to any law enforcement would have just been handing responsibility to someone else."
Silence before the black and white Autobot tipped his helm in acknowledgment and stood, concluding his questioning session, "Miss Carpenter..."
"Call me Shay or I'll call you Mr. Tactician." She cut him off. Apparently, someone had been paying attention when he'd introduced himself and what he did around the Ark.
Not reacting to the sharp tone, he continued, "Thank you Shay. For returning the Twins and...for your sense of honor. It has given us back what we thought was lost."
Her mouth curved up a little and eyes softened, "You are quite welcome. I'm just glad they're safe."
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Bluestreak Log: 017-395
'- and the Twins are alive! I can't believe it! Not everybody knows yet and I can't talk about it but I'm just sooooo glad they aren't dead like we all thought they were. And all the bots that do know don't look so depressed anymore, which is a good thing. I know I was really sad and upset. I don't like it when my friends and teammates die...
But they're here! And they never actually died! It's really odd actually, a human had them the whole time. I got to talk to her and she's pretty quiet but nice. I bet she's just really shy or something.
Shay's kinda odd though. Not in a bad way or anything just...I dunno. We didn't frighten her, at all. Which is a bit weird 'cause most humans are skittish or look up to us like we're guardians. Not that the latter is a bad thing, she just didn't do that. She looks at us like we're equals. Like if one of us were to start something she'd deal with us like she'd deal with any other human. It kinda refreshing actually.
I think it's her optics- er, eyes. They're just light blue but when she looks at you...it's hard to look away. I dunno how to describe it. There's a bit of regalness in her face, and knowledge- like she knows something everyone else doesn't. But her expression and eyes, there's something off putting in there. Like she's staring right to your core. Optimus gets that look, and so does Prowl sometimes, but hers... isn't all that benevolent. Almost judging, almost angry and wild, almost dangerous, but not quite. Like she chooses not to! Which is funny 'cause Shay's just a little human. Funny weird, not funny 'haha'. But anyway, Shay was pretty friendly once I got past the wariness. I bet she was just worried about the Twins. I can't get her expression out of my processor though. It seemed so...above everything else. As if someone took an ancient deity and placed them in a lowly mortal body.
Huh. Prowl's right, I've probably been watching too much tv. But earth culture is so interesting! There's this one show where people go all over the world-'
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Jazz drove out of the Ark with music playing on his radio and a passenger in his seats, "Closest train station is only thirty miles away. Yah sure ya don't want meh to drive ya home? It'd be quicker."
"I'll be fine."
The woman didn't look up, staring out the window with a blank expression. You could barely hear her words above the music. The saboteur turned down his tunes to a barely perceptible range.
"Are ya alright?"
Unknown to the Autobot, Shay was not alright. A cold numbness similar to the beginning effects of anesthesia had started in her chest and the feeling only grew as they put the miles behind them. Some of the pain must have shown in her tense posture or perhaps her face. Either way, the young woman's response was bland.
"I'm fine."
Jazz hated that phrase. Usually, bots could tell when a human was lying to them because of changes in the heart beat and respiration. But some people repeated that dreadful phrase so often that it was automatic and therefore, impossible to be picked apart as a lie.
He let out a silent sigh but kept his voice neutral, "Well, if ya insist."
Shay nodded, still keeping her eyes focused on the outside world through the glass. Her expression started to slide into pain and despair but she quickly hid it. A hand rubbed her aching chest without conscious thought. The woman's mood turned pensive. 'This is the right thing to do. If you stayed then you would just have to say goodbye after they woke up. And that would be harder. It would hurt more,' she thought. Decision confirmed, she hoped that distance and time would ease the numbing discomfort. People stared at the shiny sports car that pulled into the lot next to the train station. Shay hadn't reacted either way when he'd turned his music down so halfway there it was up again. And thankfully for her ears, at respectable levels. Parking, he opened the door so she could get out.
"Here ya are lil' lady." Headlights flashed, causing more heads to turn. And quickly look away at the glaring sharp eyes. Shay was not in the mood to deal with others.
"Thank you Jazz."
A quiet murmur. The pain had left but the spreading cold remained. She was too tired to say much. With a final farewell the woman dipped her head in respect and slipped into the train station. Seeking out an empty bench, she sat and pulled out her phone and wallet from her pockets. The only items to carry now that she'd lost her other bag. Leaning back she waited and waited. When she checked again, her phone showed twenty minutes had passed. The woman stood and slowly strolled out. She kept her head down and careful eyes noted an empty space where Jazz had been. Letting out a pent up breath, Shay started walking away.
Miss Carpenter never noticed the Martini Porsche near the edge of the parking lot in the shade. But he certainly noticed her. Sensors kept watch of the human female until she had disappeared down the block. A moment or so passed before Jazz started up his engine and turned back to the base.
A memory file played; 'The train station. If you could just drop me off there, I'll be fine.'
'Hmm.' The saboteur would have grinned if he'd been in his bipedal mode. 'Clever human. Yer smart with yer words,' He thought. Shay had never said she would board a train. Implied- yes, actually said it- no. Therefore, she had never lied. The Autobot bounced on his wheels slightly as a delighted and entertained chuckle could be heard.
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music: Epic Pop- Show Me Where I Belong
"I don't care." growled Sunstreaker, optics still in the paler range, "It's just a stupid human."
With folded arms, he leaned back against the wall of their shared quarters. Ratchet had told them to rest and stay off active duty for a week. It also gave Optimus time to explain to the others that the Twins were alive while said frontliners recharged. Sideswipe looked back at his brother pleading.
"But Sunny..."
"Don't call me that!"
The carnelian twin frowned and tried again, "But we need to at least go talk to her! We have to figure out what happened!"
Sunstreaker snarled, servos balled into fists as he straightened, "She. Left. That human doesn't want anything to do with us! She didn't stay long enough to talk. What makes you think going after her would be a good idea? She. Left."
With an angry rumble, the golden mech stalked across the room to his berth. Pulling out a container of wax and a rag, he started to polish and tried to get himself back to his previous perfection while keeping his temper down. A faint scent of citrus from the wax scented the air. They must have been out of the regular kind. Sunny hated the polish that smelled like organic vegetation.
Sideswipe winced marginally and sank down on his own berth, "She had to have a reason. You felt her, she cared. Something must have happened."
His brother didn't look up, "Why do you care? She's a human. Humans are gross and disgusting."
"What about Spike and Carly? And Sparkplug? You've never had a problem with them before." The red Autobot accused, "Tracks can't stand organic stuff but he's still friends with Raoul. What's your deal bro?"
"I'm not Tracks." Was the only answer.
Sides narrowed indigo optics at his sibling and pushed at their bond. For a split second he felt past the anger to the pain. Sadness, betrayal, distrust. Sideswipe sighed. Sunny and himself weren't very trusting people. And now that trust was broken, at least in his brother's case. Sideswipe was sure something had made the human leave. He just didn't know what.
"Maybe she was scared." He said quietly, thoughtful, "Maybe she's scared of Cybertronians and...didn't want to be around us and all the others here."
Finally Sunstreaker stopped what he was doing to look up, "Do you think she heard from everyone that we're dangerous and decided not to talk to us first?" Ice edged into his voice, a muted hiss in the stillness of their room.
The ruby frontliner just shrugged, shoulder pads twinging from the recent patch-ups, "I don't know. But you remember how she felt right before she left. She was sad and trying to cheer us up."
He rubbed his helm with one black servo and brought his knees up to his chest while his twin turned back to his work.
"We shouldn't have done that. Especially because she's human."
"We don't even know what we did, or that we were doing anything at the time. It's not like it was on purpose." Sideswipe countered, "Maybe it was just because we were in the spark container that we could reach out like that. It's ….we probably can't even do it now."
"Have you tried?"
A pause as Sideswipe tried to do what had been easy in the glass and metal container, "...yeah. Nothing." Sunstreaker nodded at his brother's admission.
"Then there's no reason to keep after this. I don't care why she left. I don't want to deal with a human."
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Two days after leaving the Ark Shay had finally gotten back to her Dad's truck. And had only found herself lost twice. She blamed it on no longer having a map. But lo and behold in the evening sun was the vehicle still hidden in the rundown wood structure. Taking a deep breath of crisp and dry air, the woman decided that she had time and lay down for a nap.
Waking long after the sun had set, Shay stretched and climbed a nearby hillock to watch the moon and stars. Silver swathed the short grasses and surrounding fields. The trees behind her creaked their nightly conversations. With no one around for miles to hear, the woman let down her defenses. Tears swelled in moonlight reflective eyes before dripping down to the chilled ground. A wail of pain and grief burst from her center and echoed in the frosted luminous dark. The only response was a coyote's howl in the distance.