Here's the next episode of Robyn and Mayfly! :)
Sorry this took a hot minute. I was on vacation and just now got around to finishing this up.
Hope y'all like it!
God Bless and Good Day!
~The Lupine Sojourner
I glance at the kids and wince. Yeah, it was probably best if they don't meet him just yet…
He doesn't usually handle sudden change with the most grace and patience…
"Isn't he your uncle?" Jack asks.
"He was my dad's best friend, and my godfather, yeah." I surmise, unwilling to go into more detail.
"As Agent Fowler tends to visit only when there are issues, it may be wise if you do not meet him at this time." Optimus notes as Uncle Will enters the elevator.
Within moments, the elevator opens and out comes Uncle Will, looking ready to blow a gasket, just as the kids duck out of sight.
"7 wrecks, 32 fender-benders, a 3-hour traffic jam, and of particular note, numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make, and a black and yellow custom muscle car!" He grumbles, coming to the edge of the elevator entrance platform.
Optimus just listens, as usual, as Arcee and Bumblebee glance at each other.
"So, anything you care to get off your tin chest, Prime?"
I walk over to try to calm him down. "Uncle Will-"
"Not now, hun." He interrupts, holding up a hand without taking his eyes off Optimus.
"We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler." Is all Prime says, and really all he needs to say.
It's enough for Uncle Will to piece together part of what happened, at any rate. "They're back, aren't they?"
"If you are referring to the Decepticons, I have doubts they ever left." Optimus replies evenly. "Your planet is much too valuable."
"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon."
I sigh. "You know why they don't want-"
"Hear me, Agent Fowler. We are your best-possibly your only-defense against the Decepticon threat." I let Optimus talk. He's always more eloquent than me, anyway.
"Says you."
I groan. "The military can't-"
"Hey, fleshie!" Bulkhead interjects from the other side of Ratchet's lab/sick bay. "Did anyone get splattered on that freeway?"
"Bulk, I don't-" I start to interject when Bulkhead grabs a tool off Ratchet's counter.
"Team Prime knows when to use force. And how much to use." Bulkhead continues, crushing the tool in his hand.
"Bulkhead, I needed that!" Ratchet complains irritably.
"Enough!" Optimus calls, then turns back to Agent Fowler. "Military involvement will only end in catastrophe." He reminds Agent Fowler, as he did when poor Cliffjumper and Arcee arrived here and warned of the coming warship.
I realize with a sinking feeling that no one had told Agent Fowler about Cliffjumper.
Which means it might fall to me to privately bring him up to speed when I get the chance.
Great…
"Perhaps you may condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot."
Uncle Will sighs, but backs down a bit, stalking toward the elevator. "Then do us both a favor and handle this, Prime. Under the radar. Or I will." He then turns back to me. "You heading home?"
"Not yet. Got more reports to file." I reply. This wasn't the time and place to tell him about Cliffjumper…it'll have to wait.
"Fine. Let me know when you leave, ok?"
"Yep. See you later, Uncle Will."
He closes the elevator doors and leaves.
Bulkhead walks over. "Your uncle has pretty big bearings, for a human, Robyn."
"Yeah, he can be pretty darn stubborn. That's why I'm technically only contracted with the military to be your liaison and I'm not fully enlisted."
"He is also concerned for his world, as he should be." Optimus muses.
The kids come out, but can't seem to find anything to say in the prevailing silence.
As if on cue, the computers whir and beep and-
"Wait, what?" I breathe, staring at the monitor in disbelief.
What was Cliffjumper's signal doing on the monitor?! He's…
Ratchet groans. "Blasted Earth tech!" He snaps, then turns. "Cliffjumper's signal just came back online."
"But he…" I murmur so softly no one hears me, my eyes locked on the signal even as they prickle with unshed tears.
"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asks innocently as the kids look on in confusion.
"How is that possible?" Optimus asks.
Ratchet frowns. "It isn't. Another bug. The system's chock full of them."
I pull myself together, but Arcee voices my thoughts before I can.
"If there's any chance Cliff's alive…"
Optimus nods, setting his face in determination. "Ratchet, prepare sick bay. We may need it."
Ratchet nods and starts prepping the ground bridge.
"Hey! What can we do?" Miko asks eagerly.
I already know the answer, but Optimus gives it patiently.
"Remain with Ratchet." He turns.
"Awww!" Miko protests.
Ratchet groans, but fires up the ground bridge.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus orders and moments later, it's just me, Ratchet and the kids in the base as the ground bridge powers down.
"What just happened?" Jack asks.
I smirk. I was used to the bridge, but it was amusing to see the kids' shocked faces.
"I transported them to the designated coordinates via the ground bridge." Ratchet explains without much patience.
"Be nice. It's their first day." I tease.
Ratchet huffs.
"You've used it?!" Miko gasps.
"What? No, no. I don't go on missions with them. I'm just a contracted liaison for the military helping Uncle Will keep the Autobots a secret from the public."
"But you knew about this bridge thing?" Raf asks.
"I did. In fact, I watched Ratchet build it from the tech left after their ship crashed. And it's called a ground bridge."
"Whoa!" The kids all exclaim nearly in synch.
"But what exactly is it?" Raf presses.
"It's a way to get around Earth quickly, basically." I explain.
"It's also just a scaled-down version of Space Bridge technology." Ratchet grumbles. "Since we currently don't possess the means or the Energon required for intergalactic travel-"
"You're stuck here…on Earth." Jack interrupts, realization dawning.
"With the likes of you, yes." Ratchet snaps.
"Ratchet, enough!" I reply, feeling irritated at his continued annoyance at humans' existence.
"I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet." He continues as if I hadn't spoken.
The kids all gasp as if I hadn't tried to say that same thing just a second ago.
I chuckle. "Impressive, huh? Ratchet's a whiz with engineering."
"Puh-lease. If I were, we'd be on Cybertron right now." He grumbles, probably more to himself than me, so I don't reply.
"Does it work for humans?" Raf asks.
"Naturally."
At least…it does in theory. I had volunteered to try it out, but Optimus vetoed the idea on the grounds that there were risks, and he refused to put me in danger. Ratchet assured him that it wouldn't hurt carbon-based life forms, but it didn't sway Optimus' decision.
So while it should be fine for humans, there was no absolute guarantee, despite Ratchet's confidence.
"So you mean I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asks.
"Within moments." Ratchet grabs the switch. "In fact, allow me to send you there immediately, all three of you."
"Ratchet." I roll my eyes. "You know Optimus said-"
"I'm aware of his orders." He replies tersely.
"Watch it, Ratchet." Miko gives as good as she got, hands on hips.
Ratchet groans and seems to dismiss us as he starts preparing sick bay.
Miko walks over to a radio system. "What is this, anyway?" She asks.
"Broken. Don't touch." Ratchet grumbles before I can get a word in. Miko reaches for a button anyway. "Don't touch that, either."
I roll my eyes. "That's an old radio system, Miko. Ratchet's right about it being broken. C'mon. I'll show you around."
"But is there anything we can touch?" Jack asks sarcastically.
I chuckle. "You get used to him, I promise. And he'll get used to you if you do end up coming over more. But for now…" I show them the human medical area (just in case we needed it), the entertainment area for when I'm done filing reports but don't want to go home, the bathroom and shower, the kitchenette if I need food while I'm on base, the vaults that don't have anything in them, the Energon supply line, and then finally we're back in the main area.
As if timed, the computer bings an error message.
Raf notices. "How come you guys are using human computers?" He asks innocently.
"Well-" I start, but Ratchet scoffs.
"It certainly isn't by choice."
I bite my lip to keep from snapping at him in front of the kids, but I am tired of him acting like it's some kind of torture being here and that human engineering and technology are so primitive it's beneath him.
"It was handed down from the previous tenants when we inherited this former missile silo. I make modifications as I see fit."
"He's integrated some of the processors and tech from the ship to operate the space bridge and run the bridge on-"
"Ms. Burns, if you-" Ratchet starts cutting me off when the computer encounters more errors. Ratchet's groan is a warning sign to leave him alone, but before I can suggest a movie or something, Raf pipes up.
"I think I can fix that."
Ratchet eyes the kid. "Really?" He scoffs. "You do know this is complex technology, don't you? I mean, it isn't a child's toy."
"Ratchet, he knows." I reply, sighing.
Raf pulls out a laptop and plugs into the computer, typing quickly. "Now try it." The errors clear and Ratchet has to eat his words.
Which he does in silence, merely eying Rafael again, this time with something close to an impressed eye.
I scan the monitors and see the life signals of the Autobots, but… "Still no word from the others?"
"Not yet. They'll call in when they're ready."
I nod. "I know...Do you think he's…"
"I don't see how his life signal managed to come back online, Ms. Burns, but if he is indeed alive, the team will retrieve him."
"I know."
The kids watch the monitors, too, silence falling as the kids aren't sure what to say and Ratchet is eying the life signals.
I know he's frustrated at being stuck in the base so much, worrying about the team and if someone else will get hurt or worse…
I just wish he didn't vent that frustration by downplaying Earth and humanity.
Suddenly, the computer detects a massive explosion near where the team bridged to!
"Not again…" I moan, heart kicking up.
"Ratchet, bridge us back. Use the arrival coordinates now!" Comes Optimus' voice on the comm line.
Ratchet does so nearly instantly and it seems even that speed was cutting it close as the team rockets through the portal with blue flames pursuing them, Optimus last through, transforming and sliding into base just as the flames would have overtaken him, the portal snapping shut.
Ratchet frowns as he eyes the team. "Cutting it a little close." He muses. "How about Cliffjumper?"
No one says a word, the somber atmosphere nearly suffocating with its intensity.
I swallow. He's not here…that must mean…
It was a trap. Somehow the 'Cons used Cliffjumper's signal to lure the Autobots out.
I hang my head. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, but I couldn't help it…I really hoped he was somehow alive. He'd make some joke about how it was silly of us to think he was dead and things could go back to normal.
But that was too much to hope for.
"What was that explosion? Was there a fight?" Miko asks, breaking the silence like a thunderbolt. "Can I come with next time?"
I can't help feeling irritated at her insensitivity, even if she's just a kid. "Miko, they don't let me go on missions with them." I snap, more angry than I meant.
"Look-" Arcee starts, looking ready to say something she might regret.
"H-hey Miko, let's go see what's on that TV Ms. Burns showed us." Jack intervenes.
"Please do." I manage to sound more calm, but I know I probably look as upset as I feel.
"Seriously?" Miko protests.
"Seriously." I nod toward the TV, and to their credit, the kids start heading that way.
"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asks as I walk over to Mayfly, who had just put down a few big shards of raw Energon to be processed.
Arcee shudders and hugs herself, eyes stormy with the memory of whatever happened out there. "Not Cliff-at least, not anymore." She reports. "He was mutated, butchered like something from those 'Con experiments during the war."
I shudder. I can only imagine what kind of horrors Cybertronians can inflict on each other if they had a mind to…
Arcee then sways and falls over as if lightheaded. Mayfly catches her and supports her. "'Cee, are you-?"
"I'm fine, just dizzy." She replies.
"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko asks.
I flinch. "Didn't I tell you guys to watch TV?" I grumble without thinking.
"Robots with emotions…" Raf adds.
"Robots who can die…" Jack gulps nervously.
Mayfly sits Arcee down and Ratchet scans her, the scanner flickering red over her hand.
"Hmmm…what is this?" He asks as Arcee raises her hand. On it is some kind of purple goo.
"Don't know." Arcee shrugs. "Cliff was covered in it, leaking it."
Ratchet scrapes as much as he can onto a kind of scalpel. "Go take a decontamination bath. Now." He orders and Arcee leaves with Mayfly and Bumblebee supporting her.
"H-hey, O-optimus, I hate to bug, but…no bars." Jack timidly points out as the Autobots disperse.
Optimus turns. "A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radio waves."
"Well, if I don't call my mom, like, now, I'm pretty sure the cops are gonna be out looking for me."
Optimus leans down. "Have you broken a law?"
I chuckle. "Optimus, he means his mom will be worried and might think he's gone missing." I point out.
Jack nods. "Yeah and it's past curfew. It's after 10:00 pm."
"I'd better get home, too, or I'll be grounded for a year." Raf chimes in.
Optimus nods and straightens. "Earth customs- -I hadn't considered."
"I can take them home, Optimus." I offer.
"That won't be necessary, Ms. Burns. However, the issue of all your safety remains." He turns to the nearby Autobots. "Ms. Burns will be escorted by Mayfly when she wishes to leave. Bulkhead, accompany Miko home."
"Awesome! My host parents will freak!" She squeals.
"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form." Optimus continues.
"Curbside duty. Got it." Bulkhead replies, turning to Miko, who just slumps.
"Aww."
"Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf." Optimus instructs to which Bee has no objections. "Ratchet-"
"Busy." Only Ratchet can get away with taking that tone with Optimus, so I let it go.
Optimus spots Arcee coming out of the decontamination bath. "Arcee, you'll accompany Jack."
"Oooh, still dizzy." She tries to pretend, but Ratchet airily waves a hand.
"You're fine, says your physician." She sighs and shrugs.
I chuckle and turn to Mayfly. "Mind giving me a lift?" I ask.
"Sure thing."
I wave to the kids and climb in.
We're quiet on the way home for a while. "You brought back Energon." I muse.
"Yeah. It was a mine we bridged to. It was exploding, so I couldn't grab a cart, but I know we need all the Energon we can get."
"Yeah. That was a good idea."
"Thanks."
I sigh. "You know, we're gonna have to tell Uncle Will about…" I can't bring myself to say it.
"I know."
"I'll try to talk to him before I head over tomorrow."
"You don't have to."
"I know. I'm really sorry about Cliffjumper…"
"He was your friend, too. You have a right to mourn him."
I sigh, tears filling my eyes. It almost felt like he died again. "Thanks, Mayfly."
=#=#=#=#=
"I know Cybertronians don't need sleep, but have you been working all night?" I ask, yawning and sipping coffee as I get out of Mayfly.
I'd been woken up in the middle of the night by Uncle Will leaving so I didn't get to talk to him. Plus…let's just say I didn't have a restful night's sleep.
"Yes. I was attempting to analyze the goo that was on Arcee, but I was interrupted." Ratchet grumbles.
"By what?" Mayfly and I ask at nearly the same time.
"That." Ratchet gestures to a pile of broken parts in a tube.
"Is that a tiny Decepticon?!" I ask worriedly from behind Mayfly's foot.
"No, it was that piece of equipment Bulkhead broke last night. Some of the goo got on it, and it…attacked."
Mayfly shudders. "Spooky. Any idea what caused it?"
"I fear it is Dark Energon." Optimus suggests, eying the parts gravely.
"What's Dark Energon?" I ask.
"According to legend, it's the blood of Unicron, the chaos-bringer. There's not much information about it, but the rumor is that it can reignite a Spark." Mayfly explains. "Right?"
"Yes, but…" Ratchet sighs and shrugs. "We can't know for sure."
"If the rumor is true, and the residue Arcee found on Cliffjumper brought your broken equipment back to life," Optimus closes the door to the machine the tube of parts is in, "then it would stand to reason that the very same substance brought Cliffjumper back from the dead."
I shudder. "That's a horror movie plot if ever I heard one." I mumble to myself.
Ratchet thinks about it. "That would account for his life signal inexplicably coming back online, but…Dark Energon? It's so scarce as to be virtually nonexistent."
"Where would Dark Energon even have come from?" Mayfly asks, her door wings vibrating. I guess that's the equivalent of shuddering for her.
"It was transported…by Megatron." Optimus sounds so sure…wonder how he knows. Or does he just suspect it? It makes a lot of sense, but still.
"For what purpose?"
"Good question, Ratchet." Mayfly's wings stop vibrating, her hands clenching in resolution. "Whatever it is, we'll stop it."
"He means to conquer this planet by raising an army of the undead."
"Where would he get that many Cybertronian dead?" Mayfly asks, tapping her chin. "Other than on Cybertron, which they can't get to…right?"
"Precisely." Ratchet agrees, then laughs. "Megatron would have to break quite a few toaster ovens."
The sound of approaching engines abruptly ends the conversation, which I don't find to be a bad thing.
The 'Bots pull up and out come the kids, laughing and looking so happy, as if there wasn't a death just a few days ago.
They're just kids, so I pull myself together a bit and walk over, chuckling as Bulkhead pulls a guitar out of his chest cavity that Miko had left in the backseat. "What took you guys?"
"Oh, you know…traffic." Jack replies, shrugging and exchanging a glance with Arcee.
"Sure…" I shrug. "Anyway…" Before I can suggest anything, Optimus turns to the Autobots.
"Autobots, prepare to…" He then notices how comfortable the kids look with them and the fact that the kids are clearly going to hang out at the base.
"Roll out?" Arcee asks.
"Remain here." Optimus decides. "Ratchet, Mayfly, you'll come with me."
"Wait, sir, if you need someone to stay here with the kids, you don't nee-"
"I would rather not take risks where safety is concerned, Ms. Burns."
I hold in an irritated 'you think I can't protect the kids?' or 'the base is more secure than Fort Knox!' and bite my lip as Optimus then turns to Arcee. "Arcee, we will be outside communications range for some time, so I'm putting you in charge."
"Dude, you're the biggest. You should be the boss." Miko whispers to Bulkhead.
"Um, he never picks me."
"He hardly ever has to put anyone in charge." I add as Ratchet prepares the ground bridge.
"Optimus, with all due respect, playing bodyguard is one thing, babysitting's another." Arcee protests. "Besides, Ratchet hasn't been in the field since the war." She tried to say that quietly, but that's hard when you're a giant robot…
Ratchet definitely heard.
"My pistons may be rusty, but my hearing is as sharp as ever!" He snaps back, still inputting coordinates.
"Optimus, not to question you, but I can take care of things here. Ratchet taught me how to use the ground bridge and how to man the comm line. If you need the team, I'm fine to babysit." I chime in.
It had taken persuading (AKA I'm 99% sure Optimus told Ratchet to) but he had shown me how to use the comms and ground bridge. He'd even let me operate it to send the team on a few missions.
Besides, I have an ammo box, my glock, and my hip holster in a locked locker in the entertainment center. I can grab it and be ready for anything.
Not that anything would happen with all the security the base has.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Ms. Burns, but for the moment, it's only reconnaissance."
"Then why do I hear an edge in your voice?" Arcee presses.
She makes a good point…
"Arcee, much has changed in the last 24 hours, and we all need to adapt." The tone in Optimus' voice leaves no room for argument as he turns to Ratchet. "Ratchet, bridge us out."
The bridge is activated and in moments the recon team is gone and the bridge closes.
"Ok, Chief, so what's on the activities list?" Jack asks awkwardly.
Arcee sighs. "I'm going on patrol."
I frown. "Arcee, Optim-"
"Don't start with me, Robyn!" She warns. "You said you can take care of things here, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but-"
"Then take care of things. We won't be gone long."
"She's right, Arcee. Optimus told us to stay." Bulkhead presses.
"When you're in charge you can call the shots." Is her response. "Bee, with me." Bumblebee whirs and acts like a teen being told to clean his room, but he walks over to her. "Bulkhead, you're in charge." She pats his arm and with that, they're gone.
"Great." I grumble, throwing my hands up in frustration. "So much for following orders."
"So, uh, what's on the activities list?" Bulkhead asks.
I take a deep breath to try to calm down. "I dunno-"
There's suddenly feedback of a guitar and we all flinch.
"How about band practice?" Miko suggests.
I blink. "Where'd you get the speaker?"
Miko just waves me off. "Don't ask silly questions."
Raf takes his hands off his ears. "But, we're not a band." He points out.
"Why so antisocial?" Miko retorts, chuckling and walking closer. "Come on, Raf. You play anything?"
"Uh…keyboard?" Raf offers, lifting his laptop to really drive the pun home.
I snort. "Nice."
"Yeah! Laptops and samples, good." She turns to me. "You?"
I roll my eyes. "I need to monitor the comm line. Y'all have fun!"
I only hear bits of Miko asking Jack what he played (he mumbles an answer) as I climb up to the main computers.
"Just cover yourself in fake blood and jump around screaming!" Miko calls.
"Fresh out of fake blood, Miko!" I call back.
Undeterred, Miko goes to Bulkhead. "Bulkhead, percussion! We'll go for a big, industrial sound. D.I.Y, we're a band!"
I sigh and chuckle as I turn to watch the life signals. They hadn't moved much and Arcee and Bee were following the normal patrol routes.
I scowl at Arcee's signal. Why did she have to be so difficult with me? I've been as friendly as I am to everyone else and she just seems to blow me off!
Ugh!
I'm so focused on the computer, I jump when Miko starts playing the guitar loudly.
"Miko, stop! Not so loud!" I cry, hands clamped over my ears, which I'm pretty sure are bleeding.
The lights and klaxon (not that I can hear it well, mind you) of the proximity alert start up and I try again.
"Miko, stop!" No effect.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Bulkhead waves to get her attention and I can finally sort of hear again.
"Come on." Miko protests, smirking. "You can't handle raw power?"
"It's not that." I grumble. Uncle Will is already in the elevator.
"Proximity sensor." Bulkhead explains briefly. "Quick! Hide!"
The kids duck behind Bulkhead (Miko still holding the guitar, which is still attached to the speaker) just as Uncle Will comes out of the elevator.
"Prime!" He snaps, as always.
"Agent Fowler!" Bulk greets awkardly. He's so bad at covering anything up…this is so not going to go well… "Uh. he's not here. Nobody's here-except Robyn and me, of course."
I resist the urge to facepalm as I wave. "I'm on monitor duty while Ratchet, Prime, and Mayfly are off investigating something and Bee and Arcee are on patrol."
That doesn't help Uncle Will's mood at all. "Where did he go?!"
"He didn't say." I reply hesitantly.
"Wait, don't tell me; he's out pancaking a mini mall!"
"He wouldn't do that." I snap without thinking.
"Not now!" Uncle Will grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Now, I don't know what language you Bots speak on your planet, but Prime promised he'd handle the Decepticons, and blowing a crater in the middle of Nebraska is not what the word 'handle' means in English."
Throughout Uncle Will's tirade, the kids had shifted behind Bulkhead and Bulkhead had to shift as well to cover them, resulting in the guitar creating feedback from the tension in the cord to the speaker. I hold in a groan and turn to Uncle Will.
"That was the Cons blowing up an Energon mine miles away from humans to try to kill the Bots." I explain.
"I don't care!" Uncle Will snaps. "You tell Prime-..." He trails off, noticing the feedback. I gulp. Here we go… "Since when are you Bots electric?" He asks, narrowing his eyes.
There's an extremely awkward pause before the kids come out from behind Bulkhead, sheepish looks on their faces.
Uncle Will whirls on me. "Contact with civillians?!"
"It's not the Bots' fault! The kids were in the wrong place at the wrong time!" I explains quickly, hands up.
"Team Prime has really gone off-book this time. Wait, don't tell me; you're running a daycare!"
I roll my eyes. "Optimus wanted to make sure we could keep an eye on them in case the Cons try to use the kids to get to us."
Nothing I say makes a difference as Uncle Will starts walking toward me.
Jack starts saying something about the kids being interns, but Uncle grabs my arm. "You can give the full report to General Bryce, missie."
He only calls me 'missie' when he's really mad at me…
"Uncle Will, stop!" I protest, to no avail.
Uncle Jack glares at the kids as he drags me toward them. "Let's move. I'm taking all three of you into federal custody. It's for your own protection."
"They're safe here!" I grumble as Bulkhead raises a foot and puts it between Uncle Will and the kids.
"We're protecting them." He says in a no-nonsense tone I've rarely heard him use.
"Is that so? Well maybe you can explain that to my superiors at the Pentagon!" Uncle Will lets go of my arm to make for the only working telephone in the base when Bulkhead leans over.
"Don't use that phone!" He calls. "It's…" He smashes it with his finger just as Uncle Will grabs it. "out of order."
Uncle Will angrily drops the useless phone and glares up at Bulkhead. "This ain't over, big butt!" He warns. "Not by a long shot!" He grabs my arm again and silently brings me up to the elevator.
"I'll work it out! Don't worry!" I call over my shoulder. The elevator door closes.
"I can't believe you let the Bots involve minors."
"The kids aren't involved, Uncle Will." I explain, trying not to lose my patience. "Team Prime is just making sure the kids are safe, now that the kids know about their existence."
"Doesn't make it right!" Uncle Will grumbles as the elevator opens and we get into the helicopter.
I sigh, unsure what to say as Uncle Will opens the line to General Bryce. "Sir, Agent Fowler. We have a situation. I'm en route from the Autobot base. I'll brief you in person."
I realize this is an opportunity to talk to him about Cliffjumper, as I hadn't had the heart to compile and upload that report yet.
"Look, I get why you are so upset about the kids, but Uncle Will, the kids came in at a sort of chaotic time for the Bots."
"Chaotic how?"
"Well, last time Arcee and Cliffjumper were on patrol, Cliffjumper ran into a…situation." I gulp, tears prickling in my eyes. "He was the first to see the Cons after their return, and they engaged him in combat. The mine Cliffjumper found was ignited, then next thing we knew…" I can't make myself say it, my throat tightening as tears swim in my eyes.
"What happened?" Uncle Will takes a moment to realize what I'm saying. "...I'm sorry, Robyn."
"It was just so sudden. We're all coping as best we can."
"I know it's tough, but it does get better…eventually." He promises.
I sigh. "I hope so."
Suddenly, an alarm starts going off, warning of some large object approaching.
"Hey, big bird, I'm flying here." Uncle Will grumbles.
I get a look at what it is. "That's not a bird…"
"What in Uncle Sam's beard?!"
"My guess is something from the Cons. Look out!" I cry as the drone-thing nearly collides with us, Uncle Will taking evasive maneuvers.
"First the freeways aren't safe, now air travel?!"
"Freeways are safe, 99% percent of the time." I point out.
"Not now!" We take a minor hit as the thing catches up to us before it drops a little behind, leaving us to fly as fast as we can toward the end of this canyon, Uncle Will pulling up as best he can, but the drone is relentless, coming right up after us.
Uncle Will then drops into another canyon rapidly, leaving the drone to fly over us, where Uncle Will pulls up behind it, preparing the gun on the bottom of the copter.
"You wanna dance, Con? I'll lead!"
I grip my handholds. This wasn't gonna end well…
Uncle Will opens fire on the drone and while the drone does take some hits, it doesn't slow down or stop or even really seem to register that it had been hit. Uncle Will keeps firing, however, but it does no good.
Soon, the ammo runs out and the drone is quick to take advantage, accelerating above us before flipping and
"Brace yourself!" Uncle Will exclaims as the tail is cut off with an almighty screech of metal on metal, leaving us whirling in mid-air with several alarms blaring in our ears.
I can't help a scream, my stomach in my toes and my heart in my throat as we start to spiral toward the ground.
"Never an Autobot around when you actually need one." Uncle Will grumbles.
"If you hadn't dragged me out, I would've grabbed my phone!" I reply snappishly.
"Yeah, yeah! Look out!" The drone now has tentacle-esque arms reaching for the copter as Uncle Will struggles to press the distress signal. The arms break through the glass and the one near me seems to register my presence with a momentary pause before grabbing the front of my shirt and encircling my ribcage as if-oh, no.
They're not trying to kill us, they're trying to capture us!
I barely have time to think about that as I'm forcibly yanked from the copter, a piece of glass gouging my eyebrow as I find myself dangling from the arm of the drone, Uncle Will joining me moments later in another arm.
The copter is left to crash as the drone carries us off toward-
"Whoa!" That warship is massive!
Too bad it's full of Cons…Cons who are probably going to interrogate and torture us to get the Autobot base's location…
We're in deep trouble!
