Hello everyone! I hope you're all well? I've just got back from a holiday in France; it really is a beautiful country I would strongly advise visiting if you ever have the chance!
A strong muse returned to me and I managed to bash this chapter out in a few hours, so I hope you all enjoy it! Please excuse any small mistakes, I had a lot of trouble uploading this to FF for some reason... -_-
Millie
The bouncing of the van along uneven tarmac jostled Millie where she sat on the bare, cold bench; each movement pulled on her wrists sharply, causing her to hiss with pain through the gag in her mouth.
Her mind was whirring through the recent events of the night, working on overdrive as a stark realisation dawned her. If she had been able to speak, a stream of expletives, cursing Sector 7 and her own stupidity, would have been flowing furiously from her lips. How had she not made the connection before? The Sector 7 files she had obtained earlier that evening had discussed the study of and reverse engineering from a subject assigned the codename NBE-1. Accompanying the data had been a simple monotone photograph of a towering figure shrouded in a thick covering of ice, his features faintly distinguishable beneath his icy shroud.
Later on Millie had seen that face once again, completely devoid of ice and twisted into a feral snarl as he blasted an Autobot through the chest plates. There was no doubt in her mind as she sat stock still on the bench, stunned: it was Megatron. If Megatron was in the custody of Sector 7, then what other Cybertronian artefacts could be in their possession? What if they had the All Spark? A pit began to form in Millie's stomach; god forbid they had Megatron em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"and /emthe All Spark in their possession and were keeping them in the same complex.
Moving past her want to scream and curse, Millie steeled herself and brought about the calmness that allowed her to focus; it was this ability to bury her emotions so quickly that had led to her survival over the last 12 years. She needed to formulate a way for her to get Simmons – ignorant pig of a man – and Optimus to talk on neutral terms; if Megatron was in the same complex as the All Spark (if the All Spark was in Sector 7's possession… Only time would tell), then she had to work around convincing Simmonds to work with the Autobots rather than trying to capture and examine them like a High School science project.
Before any semblance of a plan could be formed in her mind, the van driver slammed the brakes on and the vehicle came skidding to a halt, half-throwing Millie from her seat and causing a fresh wave of pain to flash through her wrists and waist as the restraints held her unforgivingly. When the van finally came to a stop, the belt around her waist pulled Millie back onto the bench harshly.
Pulling against the restraints, Millie did her best to try and hear any voices outside of the vehicle. It was silent for a moment before a deep rumbling baritone rippled through the air, sounding very angry.
Optimus! Millie thought in relief, immediately recognising the voice and slumping back into her seat. The Autobots found us!
More voices soon joined Optimus' along with the crashing sounds of a vehicle most likely being destroyed by the infuriated Prime. Listening intently, Millie heard distinctly human voice continue to discuss between themselves some distance away, while what sounded like heavy footfalls began to make their way towards the van. In a swift movement, the back of the van had been ripped clean off and the bright, gentle optics of Optimus Prime were looking down at her with worry.
"Emilia!" Optimus said, relief coating his voice as he reached forward as if to lift her out, before he paused and assessed Millie's current predicament.
Millie watched curiously as he pulled back, his optics dimming slightly, before a holoform flickered into being in front of her. She couldn't help the widening of her eyes as Optimus' human form knelt before her and gently began to remove the gag from her mouth; he was tall, with broad shoulders and solidly built. His hair was a dark chocolate brown, framing a strong jaw, angular, almost exotic features and piercing blue eyes. What shocked Millie the most however, was how young he appeared; Optimus couldn't be more than 10 to 12 years her senior, and even that was probably an overestimate.
"Thank you." Millie rasped out as the gag fell from her dry mouth.
"It is the least I could do for you." Optimus replied as he reached around her and quickly snapped the cuffs that restrained her wrists. "Did they hurt you at all?"
"No, I'm fine." Millie replied with a shake of the head, her voice clearer now.
Optimus pulled on the belt around her waist, efficiently breaking it, before his gaze returned to Millie's. His brows furrowed in concern as he noted the blood slowly drying at the corner of Millie's mouth; his eyes darkened as he raised a hand and slowly wiped the blood away, his fingers feathering over the delicate, bruising skin.
"Do the males of this planet not know the proper manners with which to treat a femme?" Optimus asked angrily, startling Millie with the force behind his question.
"Only the good ones do, and they can be hard to come across nowadays." Millie replied almost hesitantly, Optimus' fury subduing her somewhat.
As if sensing her slight discomfort, Optimus' holoform dissipated and his true form leant forward, offering his hand to Millie.
"Here," he gestured gently, all trances of anger had vanished from his features as he held out a finger, "let me help you out."
Millie stood up slowly, rubbing her sore wrists experimentally, before she reached out gratefully and grasped the proffered finger, using the support to jump down safely from the van.
"Thank you again, Optimus." Millie said, smiling up at the bot as he straightened to his full height.
"Thanks are not necessary, it is enough to know that you are safe and well." Optimus replied almost automatically, looking down at Millie with a small smile.
"Regardless, you have my thanks." Millie continued, walking alongside Optimus as the two of them moved towards where Sam and Mikaela were engaging with Simmons in a heated argument.
Glancing around her, Millie noted a sum total of eleven disarmed Sector 7 agents, their weapons piled at Ironhide's feet. Surrounding the humans alongside Ironhide were Ratchet, Jazz and Bee; all four of them had their cannons out, however none of them were online, thus acting as a neutral display of strength rather than an open threat. Clever.
"What's Sector 7, answer me! How'd you know about the aliens?" Sam shouted angrily at Simmons, who was turning a beet red with anger as a furious reply rose to his lips:
"I'm the one who–!"
"Sector 7 is a secret government agency devoted to the study of and defence against all things extra-terrestrial following the discovery of Megatron by your grandfather, Sam." Millie said factually as she drew level with Sam and Simmons. Her statement earned her a number of shocked stares from Sam, Mikaela and the Autobots, and a glowering scowl from Simmons.
"How the hell did you come across that information?" Simmons barked angrily, pulling against the handcuffs Mikaela had just slipped on him.
"I had a computer and some free time." Millie replied cryptically, returning Simmons' look with a scowl of her own. "As much as you don't like it, we're going to have to work together."
"And why the freaking hell would I do something like that?" Simmons spat, disbelief crossing his enraged expression. "I'll never work with a terrorist–"
"I'm not the enemy here, and you need to remember that." Millie cut him off quickly, pointing a finger into his chest to reiterate her point. "Now shut you mouth and listen to me very carefully. This isn't just a matter of national security, but of global security! The only people who can help us are the Autobots, and you've already managed to piss them off."
Drawing closer to Simmons, Millie squared herself to her full height and looked him straight in the eye.
"So I suggest you hold your tongue until you've been filled in on the shit that's about the hit the fan."
Grimacing in distaste but holding his tongue, Simmons gave a curt not and turned his eyes from Millie up to Optimus, waiting expectantly.
Satisfied, Millie turned her back on the silenced man and began to move towards Ironhide, talking to Optimus as she did so.
"I know where Megatron is." She said, leaping over the pile of weapons and looking up into Ironhide's optics. "Do you have my backpack in your subspace? I need my laptop."
Ironhide grunted in affirmation, reaching into his subspace to remove the item before handing the backpack down to Millie.
"How do you know where he is located?" Optimus asked incredulously, watching Millie as she sat cross-legged on the tarmac and placed her laptop on her knees; her fingers flew over the keys as her eyes trained the information on the screen.
"Earlier today I bought myself this laptop and decided to put it to good use." She said, pausing her frantic typing as she found the file she was looking for. Standing, she offered the laptop to Optimus.
"I decided to hack into the Sector 7 files to try and understand how they managed to find Bee less than 24 hours after he arrived on Earth." Millie was interrupted by a small scoff of distaste from Simmons, but the man was quickly silenced by a glare. "I haven't managed to look through all the information, but I've read enough to know that Megatron is in the custody of Sector 7 and a large majority of our modern technology has been reverse engineered from him. Is there a way for you to download the information off here?"
Optimus nodded quickly, kneeling down and extending a cable towards the laptop. Everyone gathered, human and Autobot alike, watched intently as Optimus scanned through the information, his optics dimming slightly as he did so. After a few moments, her withdrew the cable, a look of complete shock on his face.
"The All Spark…" He whispered, a hint of near-desperation in his voice. "It's at the same facility as Megatron!"
Well shit. Millie thought angrily, shoving her laptop back into the backpack and tossing it over her shoulder.
"I guess that means we need to get these humans up to date on the real situation and extract the All Spark ASAP."
Optimus
They had found the All Spark.
After search for so long, it was here. Nearly within their grasp.
Except for the minor complication of it being in the same facility as Megatron.
"I guess that means we need to get these humans up to date of the real situation and extract the All Spark ASAP."
Optimus looked down at the small human femme standing near his pede. A look of determination was set in her face as she bounced on the balls of her feet, like a youngling preparing for their first battle.
::The human youngling is right.:: Ironhide murmured over the primary. ::The longer we wait, the greater the chance of the 'Cons discovering Megatron's location and gaining control of the All Spark.::
::Agreed.:: Ratchet added, subspacing his cannons and planting his servos firmly on his hip struts.
::We know where the All Spark is, can't we jus' blast in there 'n retrieve it?:: Jazz supplied casually, leaping up from the SUV he had been lounging on with his cannons.
::However much we don't like them, we need to work with these suited humans to get the All Spark to safety.:: Optimus scolded gently, know full well Jazz was trying to make a potentially lethal situation a bit lighter. ::We came here with the intent of being peaceful with the humans. We must work with them to prove we mean no harm.::
Nods of affirmation flited around the Autobots as Optimus gained the support of his unit. Crouching down slightly, Optimus brought himself closer to the humans Sam, Mikaela and Millie had organised into a more compact group. He noted with a slight smile that all mobile phones had been confiscated. Sensible.
"Listen well humans, for it is with a heavy heart I tell this tale and I prey you take heed of my words." Optimus said gravely as he onlined the projectors in his optics, displaying the same scene he had shown the Sam, Mikaela and Millie an hour prior.
As he delivered the narrative denoting the destruction of their home, Optimus watched with grim satisfaction as more than a fair few faces of the gathered humans paled in horror.
"It is imperative we find the All Spark before the Decepticons discover Megatron's location." Optimus finished, trying to impress of the gathered humans the gravity of the situation. "If the All Spark falls into their hands then your world as you know it will be destroyed. Myself and my unit offer our support to you in the defence of the Earth against Megatron's forces in return for the All Spark's safe delivery to our custody."
"Wait wait wait back up." The annoying leader – Simmons – interjected, stepping forward slightly. "We don't even know who this Megatron is! Or the All Spark for that matter!"
"Oh stop being dense, Simmons." Millie interjected angrily before Optimus could formulate a suitable reply. "Megatron is the bot you have dubbed NBE-1. As for the All Spark…"
"It takes the form of a cube covered with carvings of Cybertronian glyphs." Optimus supplied, noting Millie's grateful glance at him as realisation began to dawn on Simmons' face. The human clearly knew of Megatron and the All Spark it seemed. His apparent awkwardness was more than a little infuriating.
"If we do work with you," Simmons began nervously after a lengthy pause, "how do I know you're not just rescuing your buddy so you can destroy our planet and take our resources?"
Sparks around Optimus began to hum with burning fury as his unit onlined their cannons dangerously, threatening Simmons to take that statement further. After what Optimus had just shared with him, did the man really have the audacity to ask such a question?
"For the sake of my vow not to harm any humans," Optimus said furiously, his voice rumbling like thunder, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
::Please can I terminate?:: Ironhide begged over the primary as the Weapons Master twirled his cannons in preparation.
::Don't tempt me to break my vow so soon.:: Optimus replied mildly as he raised a servo to Ironhide, gesturing for him to lower his cannons.
"You really do know how to make them angry, Simmons." Millie said nonchalantly as Optimus watched her take a phone from the small pile she'd collected from the agents.
Walking over to the man in question, Mikaela released his handcuffs as Millie held out the phone. Simmons watched the two of them with suspicion, glancing up at Optimus and the other bots warily before returning his eyes to Millie.
"While the offer of cooperation still stands, I suggest you start making some calls for the sake of the Earth." Millie said casually, holding out the phone to Simmons. Optimus couldn't help the small smile that formed on his faceplates as he admired the girl's efficiency. For one so young she seemed very comfortable in such a demanding situation.
Simmons snatched the phone from Millie's hand and began dialling furiously, pressing the phone firmly to his ear as a voice answered.
"Kent? Get me Banachek and Secretary Keller on a conference call ASAP; it's an emergency."
Venting in relief, Optimus finally relaxed his stance. He sent a silent prayer to the heavens, hoping with his entire being that they were one step closer to the All Spark than the Decepticons. Primus knows what Pit the 'Cons would create on Earth if they ever gained such power.
In my mind's eye I picture Optimus' holoform as a young Hugh Jackman, although I am sure many of you have you own thoughts on what he would look like as a human so it's just a suggestion :)
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I really enjoy writing Millie's dialog with Simmons, I just flows well and she always gets to verbally beat the crap out of him!
Til all are one.
Shakalakaboomboom x