Apologies for accidentally leaving this story for a while! I got caught up in life stuff.
Anyway, here's the next chapter for you guys!
Also, I'm open to doing 'Bonus Scenes' for things like Team Prime's first experiences with Earth stuff or if Robyn isn't around for a scene and Mayfly is, I am willing to write the part Mayfly is there for and vice versa. I'd even do a 'what if' idea (such as 'what if Robyn/Mayfly was involved in a situation they're not involved in during the insertion') as a bonus chapter if there's interest. If you would, let me know what you think of these ideas for bonus content! I'd be happy to oblige! :)
For now, I hope you like this chapter!
God Bless and Good Day!
The Lupine Sojourner
We finally land in the warship and if I weren't now a prisoner of the Cons, I'd be extremely grateful to be back on solid ground, even if I end up tripping while regaining my equilibrium. Uncle Will helps me regain balance as two of the standard Cons I'd briefly seen and heard called Vehicon troopers snap at us to move, one in front of us and one behind us to make sure we don't try anything.
Finally, after being marched through hallways and doors, we arrive in a room I assume is some kind of brig, with chains ominously hanging from the ceiling.
Uncle Will, looking up and noticing the chains, too, stumbles and falls over, and I help him up automatically.
"Welcome-who's the extra human?" A male voice snaps. "Soundwave, I ordered you to retrieve Agent Fowler and no other!"
The drone that kidnapped us attaches itself to a tall slender purple and black robot with sharp angles all over him.
I hadn't noticed he followed us…
So that's Soundwave. Mayfly said he's freakishly tall and skinny. He also has no face, which is…very disconcerting.
Then the other bot must be Starscream, the stiletto-heeled egotistical maniac. Yup. That'd be him, walking toward us.
Soundwave's face changes, an image of me in the copter next to Uncle Will (screaming cus we were crashing) displayed as if in explanation. Can he not talk?
"Yes, I see. She also knows the base's location. In that case, the more the merrier, as you humans say." Starscream chuckles, glancing down at us over his shoulder as he towers over us, and to his credit, it is a bit intimidating of a picture.
"You'd treat us all this nice?" Uncle Will asks, brushing himself off in a show of bravado.
Starscream chuckles, leaning down just a bit. "Any friend of the Autobots…-"
"Autobot?" Uncle Will interjects, shrugging casually. "That one of them coin-operated, wash-my-own-car places?"
I nod in agreement. "Sounds like it to me."
Starscream's eyes narrow. "Oh, so that's how it's going to be, hmm?" I gulp. If he decides to start doing more than talking…we're toast. "Apparently, no one has told you I have no appreciation for human humor."
"Is Cybertronian humor that different?" I ask rhetorically before I can think better of it and receive a glare in return.
"Make our guests comfortable." Starscream orders before walking away.
Uncle Will and I turn to see the Vehicon troopers acknowledge the order before moving toward us.
Helpless to stop them, I am grabbed by the torso and held in mid-air as those ominous chains on the ceiling are looped around my arms several times before being secured with something I can't see, then I'm released and I can't help a squeak of fright as I drop a little, my shoulders protesting when the chains halt me at an uncomfortable angle.
Uncle Will is soon suspended across from me, but close by, so I'll get a good view of whatever they do to him to get us to talk, and vice versa.
Great.
The troopers then exit the room, I assume to get Starscream so he can start the interrogation.
I take the brief alone time to both test the chains (they're secure. I'm not going anywhere and it just hurts my shoulders to keep trying to move) and talk to Uncle Will.
"You pressed the button, right?"
"What button?" He asks.
"The SOS button!" I hiss.
"Of course I pressed it. But if they didn't complete the location scan before the copter crashed…"
I gulp. "We're on our own. At least til Ratchet, Optimus, and Mayfly get back. They'll come for us when Bulkhead tells them-"
"Honey, you know as well as I do that bucket-head isn't too friendly with me."
"But he likes me well enough." I reply a little testily. "Besides, the kids will probably talk him into trying to find us…I hope."
"I wouldn't bet on that."
The door opens before I can reply and in comes Starscream and the two Vehicon troopers, now joined by a third. Two guard the door, with another standing by, probably to assist Starscream in our interrogation if needed.
Starscream circles us, smirking. "I have one simple request that will spare your families the pain of grieving;" He starts, then puts a clawed finger under Uncle Will's chin. "Tell me the location of the Autobot base. Either of you may answer, but honesty is the only way you both survive."
Uncle Will smirks in a subtle way I know means he's gonna give Starscream the hardest time he can. "No problem, but I need to ask you something first."
Starscream, thinking Uncle Will was actually going to cooperate, leans in. "Yes? I'm listening."
"I got an issue with the customer service around here."
"Me, too. I mean, this isn't what I would call 'comfortable'." I chip in.
"Could I speak to the manager?"
That seems to strike a nerve in Starscream, who quivers, growling in rage. "I make the decisions here! I am in charge!" So he's insecure in his authority and easily provoked. Got it. "Bring the prod." He orders, which makes my heart skip a beat.
If the 'prod' was meant for Cybertronians…what would it do to humans?
Soon enough, the prod is brought and again Starscream walks over to us. "I ask nicely one more time-the Autobot base."
The prod is fully visible in Starscream's hand, a clear threat, should we refuse to tell him.
But still Uncle Will just glares at him. "Sure thing, buddy. Right after you eat my Star-Spangled shorts!"
Starscream's eyes harden and he jabs Uncle Will with the prod, a harsh purple glow crackling from the prod's tip into Uncle Will, who cries out in pain.
"No! Stop!" I scream, but Starscream ignores me, a savage smile on his face.
"As I thought, Energon and human biology don't mix."
"Wait!" I cry, a desperate idea forming in my head. "I'll tell you! Just stop hurting him!"
Starscream pauses, looking at me for a moment to see my best desperate face. He then walks over as Uncle Will groans and twitches a little in the aftermath of the shock.
He gets right up in my face. Perfect!
"You'd better tell the truth, human." He warns.
I nod. "The Autobot base is…" I pretend to hesitate, subtly swinging my legs to gain momentum.
"Yes?"
"It's right here!" I jam my legs up into Starscream's chin, sending him reeling back a few steps, making me smirk with satisfaction despite knowing I'll likely have bruising on my knees.
However, that smirk is wiped off my face when Starscream jams the prod into my ribcage, unleashing tingly fire into my very veins, horrible and searing. I can't help a scream of pain.
I barely hear Uncle Will cry out like I'd done and Starscream growling "Not so smug now, are you?!" as I continue to burn with the electrified Energon.
Finally the prod is removed and the feeling of fire dies down, leaving me shaking, dizzy, and nauseous.
"Now, are you ready to tell me what I want to know, or do you need further convincing?" Starscream asks, tapping the prod against his hand threateningly, the end dangerously close to my abdomen.
"I'll talk when pigs fly, Con!" Uncle Will snaps, which makes Starscream glare at him as he jabs me again with the prod.
I scream again as the Energon sears through me. This time, the nausea is so bad when he stops, I can't help heaving, emptying my stomach directly onto Starscream's chest.
"That is disgusting!" Starscream growls, backhanding me and scratching my cheek, leaving a small trail of blood.
I'm left swinging with the taste of puke in my mouth. "It's not like I meant to do that." I grumble without thinking, spitting as much as I could out.
"Unless you want another shock, you'll answer my simple question." The prod hovers centimeters from my abdomen.
"You alright over there?" Uncle Will asks.
"Peachy." I reply.
Starscream turns and hits Uncle Will with the prod. "Silence! Your turn will come!"
When the prod is removed, Uncle Will smirks a little. "Seems like it's my turn right now."
To that, Starscream just shocks him again.
"Stop!" I scream despite knowing it's pointless.
Starscream lets the silence tick by for what feels like a long time before chuckling. "My dear humans, you do realize the Autobots have abandoned you. I am the only one you can rely upon now."
I can't help but laugh, knowing that it'll probably get my a hit with the prod, but I just can't believe he's already trying that tactic when it's not even been two hours since we were kidnapped, unless my math is off. And this is all counting the travel time it took to get us here from the copter crash, nearly half a terrifying hour suspended high in the air with nothing but a drone's mechanical arm around my torso keeping me up.
Regardless, Starscream whirls on me. "What, pray tell, is so funny?"
"Just that you've only had us here maybe two hours. That's it. If it had been 12 hours, you might have had a case, but not after just 2. Even if it's been 3 hours, that still makes you look desperate."
True to my prediction, I get shocked. This time, though I dry heave, nothing is apparently available for ejection.
"The Autobots will never find this warship, so unless you tell me what I want to know…" He points the prod at Uncle Will to illustrate his point. The point crackles purple and I wince.
"Please…no more." Uncle Will protests and I have to restrain a reaction.
Was he breaking already? Nah, he can't be…can he?
As if timed, there's some commotion outside.
I smirk a little. That had to be the Autobots, right? They're quick, I'll give 'em that. I wonder how they found the warship, though…
The smirk drops when Uncle Will keeps talking.
"They're in…secret government base."
I try my best to keep my face still, but I know when Starscream glances at me, he sees my worry.
So he turns back to Uncle Will, the prod still near his face. "Go on." Now the commotion is close enough to hear blaster fire. Starscream briefly looks at the door before trying to get Uncle Will to continue. "Yes?"
"In the old steel mill." Uncle Will says, a small frown of thought on his face. "Or was it under that carnival funhouse?"
"I think it was the hall of mirrors." I chuckle in relief, making Uncle Will laugh.
"Definitely the hall of mirrors."
Of course, poor Uncle Will gets jabbed with the prod again and I have to turn my head. It hurts to see Uncle Will get hurt.
Just then, the blaster fire gets closer and more intense and I brace for the moment the door bursts and the Autobots come charging in.
"Someone find out what's going on out there!" Starscream orders, and two of the three Vehicon troopers in the room leave.
I try to stay awake and realize Uncle Will has passed out as Starscream yells at him to wake up.
"Grandma? Is it cookie time?" He asks, half-awake and a bit delirious from all the electricity and Energon in his system. I bite my lip. He definitely can't take another shock. I doubt I can take more than one myself…
What's taking the Bots so long?
There's a knock on the door and it opens to reveal one of the troopers that had left, standing in the doorway.
I immediately notice the faceplate isn't active and there's a familiar rotund shadow behind it.
Starscream is a bit slower on the uptake, though, narrowing his eyes. "Well?!"
The trooper falls, revealing Bulkhead, who promptly takes down the final trooper with one shot.
"Ha! Knew you'd find us!" I can't help calling, my voice slurring a little as Bulkhead goes blurry. I'm about to pass out…
I see twin Bumblebee's with their blasters raised, then realize Starscream has his own blaster positioned to take me and Uncle Will out in one shot. "Not so fast." He growls.
It's a standoff! The Bots freeze, but then I hear a tap on Starscream's head. I barely am able to glance up through my closing eyes to see Arcee positioned in some kind of hole in the ceiling.
"I wouldn't." She warns.
"Oh, but I might." Starscream purrs, a cocky smirk on his face.
Adrenaline helps clear up my vision and make me feel steadier, but I wish I could see something other than Starscream's blaster in my face.
So I stare at Bee's determined face instead. However, none of the Bots move, knowing Starscream could kill both me and Uncle Will in a second if he wanted to.
"Now," Starscream chuckles. "Agent Fowler, his associate, and myself will be taking our leave."
I shudder. Please no… I shut my eyes, praying that whatever was going to happen would just happen and be over with.
"The Emu says 'yeah'!" I almost chuckle at the absurdity of what Uncle Will said, but the situation prevents me. We have to get him out of here. He's losing it!
Thinking quickly, Bee shoots between Uncle Will and Starscream's arm, causing Starscream to scream and back up, freeing the Bots up to fire at him.
He deftly avoids the blast, then transforms into a jet, firing his engine directly at Arcee, nearly knocking her down and blowing Uncle Will and I backwards.
Somehow, the chains holding me loosen and I slip out. I scream as I fall, but luckily, Arcee drops and catches me.
"Thanks." I manage through my racing heart and returned nausea.
"Let's get you and your uncle back to base." She says gently, standing with me in her arms as Bulkhead and Bee work on getting Uncle Will down.
"That sounds amazing…" I close my eyes, the adrenaline facing now the danger was past.
"Bee, can you-" The voices blur and fade as I pass out, grateful the Bots were here.
=#=#=#=#=
Next thing I know I hear a heartbeat monitor and feel warm. I groggily open my eyes to see I'm laying on one of the hospital beds we kept at the base in case of situations like this.
I sit up and groan at the lights above me, so I rub my eyes.
A metal finger gently pushes me back down. I move my hands away to see Mayfly standing over me, smiling.
"Hey, partner." She greets. "Heard you had a rough day."
I smile back. "Nah, just a run-in with the 'Cons." I chuckle and look her over again, only to see new dings, scratches, and even a welded area (the Cybertronian equivalent to stitches, basically). "Wait, Mayfly, you're injured!" I sit up, concerned. "What-"
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. How'd the Cons get you?" I look over Mayfly's shoulder to see Optimus and Ratchet are also injured, but listening to what I had to say. That, and Uncle Will is asleep beside me.
"Uncle Will came by to yell at Optimus about the mine explosion and the kids didn't hide very well, so he saw them. He freaked out and wanted to take me to General Bryce to give an in-person report. I guess some Con intercepted Uncle Will's call to the general, cus next thing I knew, the chopper was attacked and we were taken to the warship by I'm assuming Soundwave's drone. Then we were taken to the brig where we were interrogated with some kind of Cybertronian prod." I shudder, then notice the somber, sad faces around me, so I grin. "There was one upside, though."
Mayfly tilts her head, smirking. "Oh, yeah?"
"I threw up all over Starscream." I laugh. "You should've seen his face!"
My attempt at humor doesn't help, as no one laughs and Mayfly's face goes dark. "When I see that high-heeled maniac's face, I'm gonna-" I realize I'd given away who had interrogated Uncle Will and I. Oops.
Optimus has his hand on Mayfly's shoulder before I can say anything. "Mayfly, we all share your anger at the suffering inflicted on our human friends, but we cannot allow it to cloud our judgment." He turns to the team at large as Mayfly grits her teeth, but nods. "I believe Megatron's quest for an army controlled by Dark Energon is not over. We must act quickly if we are to stop his rampage on Earth."
I blink. "Wait, an army controlled by Dark Energon? What'd I miss?"
"Optimus, Ratchet and Mayfly fought zombies! And I wasn't even there to see it!" Miko grumbles.
"Going there would have been an even bigger mistake than going with Bulkhead." Jack snaps back to her under his breath.
I frown, but Optimus turns to Bulkhead, who's standing near the kids. "Bulkhead, you exercised extremely poor judgment in allowing the humans to accompany you."
"Hold on! What?!" I snap, ignoring the way my head swims as I try to stand. "What did I miss with you guys?!" I wobble a little as I walk toward the kids.
Mayfly lifts me gently and sits me back on the bed. "I'll fill you in later."
Optimus is still frowning at Bulkhead, who looks like he's wishing the earth would swallow him whole. "It won't happen again, Optimus. I-I promise."
I stand again. "Will someone tell me what happened?" I wave off Mayfly's hand. "I'm fine."
"It was my fault!" Miko speaks up. "Not Bulkhead's!"
"Miko, please!" Bulkhead pleads.
"But check it out!" She continues, holding up her phone with a photo displayed. "We got some recon!"
I clear my throat. "If someone doesn't tell me what-"
"I heard Miko snuck out with Bulkhead when he went looking for you and your uncle after the SOS call, then Jack and Raf went after Miko…and they all ended up in the warship." Mayfly murmurs, sighing and crossing her arms.
I pale. "Are you serious!?"
"Yeah. We're gonna have to set some rules going forward."
I nod. "Yup."
I tune back into the general conversation to find Optimus asking Ratchet to look at the picture on Miko's phone, saying it might be of importance to Megatron.
"Wait, Megatron's back? That's really bad news!" Jack pales.
"He brought back the Dark Energon to reanimate the undead Cybertronians Optimus, Ratchet, and I fought." Mayfly explains briefly, her doorwings fluttering a little.
Ratchet comes over to look at the picture, only to frown. "I…don't understand."
Miko looks at it and chuckles. "Oops! That's the Con who tried to blow Raf away."
I flinch as Raf shudders and put a hand on his shoulder. "You ok?" I tuned out Miko eagerly explaining that Bulkhead then rearranged the Con's grill and her showing Ratchet the other photo she'd taken.
"It was so scary…" Raf mumbles. I hug him and sit back on the bed, rubbing the poor boy's back. Miko and Jack start arguing, but I focus on Raf.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Raf."
"I hope that picture helps somehow. It looks really important."
"I'm sure it is. You were very brave, helping them get that picture."
"I didn't feel brave. Just scared."
"But you did it anyway, which is the definition of bravery."
He looks at me. "Really?"
I nod. "Really." Technically it's not, but Raf needs comforting, so I just rub the kid's back as he sits next to me.
I refocus on Miko and Jack to hear Miko snapping at Jack that everyone, including the Autobots, were nearly killed.
Jack turns away from her. "Well, if this was just an average day with the Autobots, then I don't want to be part of it! Not anymore."
"Jack, this isn't how things go here. I promise." I chime in. "This was the exception, not the rule. I-"
"I don't care!" Jack snaps back. "I'm sorry, Ms. Burns, but I can't handle this. I thought I could."
"Jack, putting you in harm's way was never our intent. However, it is no longer the safety of you three and Ms. Burns that is at risk, but the safety of all humankind." Optimus chimes in.
I shudder. If what Optimus said about Dark Energon raising 'zombie' Cybertronians was true…yeah. We're all doomed, provided Megatron gets his hands on dead Cybertronians. Which, as far as I know, is impossible…right?
"We will respect your decision, if you wish to leave."
Ratchet had apparently pulled up coordinates for Jack's house, opening the portal.
"No point in long goodbyes. There's the door."
I sigh, knowing nothing I could say would stop him leaving. I just hope he'll come back on his own.
Jack turns to Raf. "C'mon, Raf." It's sweet he's looking out for Raf, but he can't make the decision for him.
Raf glances at Bumblebee, who looks sad at the thought of Raf leaving, and turns back to Jack. "I'll be ok, Jack. See you at school."
I say nothing, but I'm happy Raf has decided to stay.
"Sure thing." Jack says, not even trying to talk Miko into leaving before he goes does the stairs. Arcee meets him at the bottom of the stairs, face unreadable. He sighs. "I know; you don't exist." He says, walking by before she can say anything.
"Don't make me hunt you down." She replies. I'm assuming that's something of an inside joke between them.
I watch him enter the portal, and her eyes become sad and she lets her emotions show.
"So the portal does work for humans." I muse to myself, sighing as I lay down on the bed.
No one knows what to say, but Mayfly stays right by me.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to rescue you." She says, voice small and regretful. I smile at her.
"Don't be. You had your hands full preventing a zombie invasion."
"Still. You were hurt, and I wasn't there."
I pat her nearby hand. "You can be here now. I'm gonna get some sleep. Can you sit here until I fall asleep?"
Mayfly manages a half-hearted smile. "Aren't you a little old for that?"
I shrug. "You never know."
She settles against the nearby wall, pretending to be scanning the area. "True. Get some sleep. I'll make sure no boogeymen come out of the closet."
"Or out from under my bed?" I press, playing up the 'child in need of comforting' act.
"Or out from under your bed." Mayfly chuckles and I settle into the sheets with a grateful sigh.
"Thanks, partner." I soon start falling asleep, feeling safe and protected among the Autobots.
Sure, today was just about the worst experience of my life, but at the end of the day, I held up under Decepticon interrogation and the Autobots got me and Uncle Will out before too much damage had been done.
I'm safe now. When I wake up, I'll feel perfectly fine and I can start filing reports again. It'll almost be like none of this happened.
Won't it?