Saphira did not really know how long she had been running through the city for. She had been keeping an eye out for any of the autobots as she wanted to find them, while also keeping away from Transit after he had targeted her directly. She did consider trying to stick around to where Bumblebee and Mirage were, but given that Transit seemed to be very smart and knew the map of the city extremely well, she guessed it was not worth trying to hang around because of that. She didn't want him to catch her so quickly, as she did not know where Optimus was. And she was hoping that she could find him.
But as she was running through the alleys as a means of avoiding the road to keep herself from Transit, Saphira had to think on what to do if she could not find the autobots here. She figured she could go back to the wharf or the warehouse, as the autobots may go back to those buildings as well. It could be a long shot, but Saphira didn't really know where else she could go that the autobots would even know or think to find her. She could find other random factory buildings, but it was a slim chance that they would go there. She would have to go to places by the water.
But as the city was so big, and Saphira was going to refuse to get on any of the buses. That would be stupid. But she could use a taxi, but she didn't have her money with her right now. That was with Optimus. She had no choice by to run through the city to try and get to the other side as quickly as possible. And she hoped to avoid encounters with unsavoury people as well. She did not want to have to deal with people stalking her through the city. But she expected that to happen.
She did eventually stop in a small alley to take a moment to give herself a break while thinking on her next plan. She looked up at the sky to see it was still night, and the moon's light was shining over the high rises around her. It was eerie, and she was cold. Even though she was moving quickly through the city, she was still feel the chill of the air. And the snow was starting to fall heavier as well, making it harder and more slippery on the cement as well.
I really hope that I can find one of the autobots…I don't even know if I'll be able to find my way to the wharf.
Saphira shivered as she took deep breaths while she thought on what to do. She needed to figure out how she was going to get to at least by the water so she could potentially find her way around. She knew the wharf had a few of the Statue of Liberty, so she would need to first find the statue at least. She focused as she had to remember the names of the streets that would leave her to the ocean, knowing that it was the only way to even make her way back to the wharf.
She rubbed her hands together as she shivered while getting her thoughts together. She really wished that there was a backup plan in case something like this was to happen, but they had not really thought or planned for something like this anyway. They had confidence that this would not happen. Saphira couldn't find it in herself to feel angry about it though. She knew this was not their fault. And she didn't want to blame them at all.
She took a deep breath and proceeded to the end of the alley to the next street, looking around and deciding to walk down the street to find a street name. She was lucky she wasn't in a busy part of town, so the streets weren't busy. But people who were in the streets were giving her weird looks as seeing a young woman walking through the streets in a panicked way did make some look at her with concern. Especially as some were looking in the opposite direction from her to see if they could spot who might be following her. It was kind of nice to know people were looking out for danger.
But before she reached the end of the street, she stopped as she saw a bus turning into the street and began to drive in her direction. Saphira did not know if this was Transit or not, even though she could see a drive and passengers in the bus, but they could easily be holograms. She glanced both ways on the street before she ran across it towards the next alley. She knew it might look funny to others to see someone run and hide from a bus, but she knew they would not understand at all.
When she ducked into the alley, she did stop and turn to watch the bus roll by without slowing down. She still could not trust that it was not Transit, and she wasn't about to stay to find out as she turned and ran down the alleyway. When she reached the other side, she looked both ways when she ran into the next street and looked to her left, pausing as she noticed that at the end of the street, there seemed to be a clearing overlooking the water.
I hope this is a good sign.
Saphira knew she had to be fast though. If Transit was still close by, he could easily drive from any of the streets and see her running towards the water. Though that fear did not stop her from running down the street to get there as fast as she could, while still keeping a close eye of her surroundings so that she would be prepared to hide if she saw Transit again. And she was still hopeful that she would see one of the autobots driving out too. Though as she kept running, neither seemed to show up at the moment.
When she ran to the end of the street, she smiled as she saw the shimmer of the water over the ledge, and ran over to the pathway alongside the water and stopped to look around and she spotted the Statue of Liberty close by. She took deep breaths as she stared at the statue and began to glance at the building across the water to get her bearings. She hummed softly to herself as she gazed her eyes at the buildings while taking note of everything that she would recognize.
Hmm…I think the wharf is…over there…or is it there?
Saphira knew that it was on the other side at the very least, and it might take her most of what is left of the night to get to. But she at least knew where she was going, and that was a good thing. She did manage to spot the shipping containers from a distance, though it was really hard to see. The light of the moon reflected off some, so she figured she would go there at least. She was glad that she knew she had a heading, and she began to make her way around.
I don't know if the autobots will be looking for me, but I hope they don't think that I have left. Optimus might be thinking that though…maybe…but hopefully when I get there, they will come to wharf soon too so they can see I came back.
Saphira was aware that it was highly possible that the autobots would not come back straight away. But she did still have hope that she would meet up with them again very soon. Even if she didn't find them, Transit will still see her as an easy target, and she was extremely nervous about that. She glanced at the road with a start as she heard the sound of a bus engine rolling between the buildings, and she made sure to try and not make herself look obvious. She pulled her hood over her head and kept her arms folded as she walked quickly alongside the water.
She made sure to not make eye contact with the random people who were hanging around alongside the water as she knew that some people will respond to that. She at least had nothing of value on her, but she knew that wasn't always what some people wanted. She already had to deal with two drunk men before they had been killed by Transit, even though she could not help but silently thank him for that. Otherwise, it might have been bad. But Mirage helped first, so she couldn't help but be grateful about that.
She remained focused on walking as she also knew that she would remain warm enough despite the snow that was falling around her. She didn't bother shaking it off from her jacket as more would only pile on her jacket anyway. She told herself that she would just have to look forward to sitting inside a warm cab. Maybe she could convince Optimus to take her to a public shower so she bathe in the heat of the hot water. That would be very nice.
She walked around a group of men, completely ignoring them, and she grimaced as she heard them cat whistling at her, but she did not bother to look back at them and as kept walking. She glanced up as she was getting closer to the Statue of Liberty at this point too. She knew it might not be a straight line to the other side, but she would be able to get to the otherwise just fine, so long as nothing would interrupt her.
As she continued to walk by the Statue of Liberty, Saphira gazed up at the statue as this was the first time she's really been close up to it. It really was a sight to behold with just how big the statue was. She certainly was not going to forget this in a hurry. She smiled to herself and looked away to continue walking. She was making progress, even if it wasn't a huge amount of progress.
An hour passes and she guessed that it was nearing midnight, though she wasn't sure. She wasn't keeping an eye on the time, so she was only making assumptions. However, she did notice, as she walked by some parked cars, the group of men who had catcalled her before were following her. She saw them in the side view mirrors and she became very nervous. Especially as it seemed they have been following her since they had seen her. She grumbled to herself as she did not make eye contact with them, but they still decided to follow her anyway.
She looked ahead and she saw what looked like a parking lot ahead. It was full of cars and trucks, so maybe she could hide among them. She was going to have to be smart about it though, as she didn't want to let the men know she had seen them following her. But she did pick up her pace a little so she could try and put some distance between her and the group of stalkers. She could not help but glance at the road, hoping that she could spot Optimus, Mirage, Bumblebee or Arcee and be able to go over to them to get somewhere safe.
But she was unfortunately not able to see them, as they likely were in a different part of the city. She approached the parking lot and as she walked into it, she began to move between the cars. She stuck by the SUVs due to their size, and she was able to crouch without much effort. She heard the men shouting something, and they began to run. She quickly tiptoed over to a truck before they could find her by the SUVs, and she kept walking quickly between the vehicles. She was glad that the snow was falling hard enough to cover the light tracks she was making enough that the men would have a hard time finding her.
She ran beside two small trucks and took a moment to catch her breath while she thought of what she should do. She could hear the men shouting, and the sound of them crouching to see if they can spot her feet. She really did hope that they would not find her. She had many more miles to go before she could reach the wharf, and she hated the fact that she was being slowed down now by a group of idiots who have decided to stalk her.
She ran across to another row of cars, only to stop and widen her eyes as high beams turn on and she backed up as she saw a bus driving towards her. She was shocked to see him, and she was about to keep running, only for her to feel a strong hand grab her wrist. She turned to see Transit's holoform grinning at her, while his red optics glowed with excitement. "Well, well, well…this is my lucky day. I knew you would find a way back to your little hiding spot by following the edges of the bay."
Saphira stepped back as the bus was still rolling forward slowly, pushing her towards the stone wall at the back of the lot. "Please…I am not involved in your war…"
"But the autobots made it that way. I would not have cared at all about you, if they didn't get you involved." Transit shoved her roughly towards the wall, making her stumble a little and look at him with wide eyes. "And now I would like to know why they decided to bring a human into their midst. It seems completely in vain to me."
Saphira guessed that Transit was thinking there was a motive, but she hoped she could convince him otherwise. "It was actually more of an accident that I met them. I bought a car some time ago, and it turned out, that it was Mirage who I paid money for. And when I met them, I was on my way to a date, and it turns out that date was a complete disaster anyway. Optimus had summoned Mirage at the time…and they learned of my existence."
Transit tilts his head a little as he listened to her as she kept walking back nervously, glancing at the bus behind his holoform nervously as she did not know what he was planning on doing right now. He seemed to be thinking about the response she had given him. "I am surprised that Optimus has allowed you to remain with them this whole time. From a distance, I have seen his distrust for humans. So letting you remain so close is a mystery to me."
Saphira shrugged as she understood. "Uh…he keeps me close because…of that reason. He keeps me close to stop me from going and telling people of your existence…" She glanced over his shoulder as she spotted the group of men staring at the bus and Transit's holoform as she was still moving back. "I am not sure…"
"That does seem like the most obvious scenario…" Transit rubbed his chin as he pondered on the explanation. "But…" He leaned closer to her and she gasped as she felt the wall against her back, making her trapped between the wall and Transit. The bus came to a halt thankfully, but it was really close. "You and I both know that most humans would probably think you are delusional. Optimus might not be so aware, but it is true."
"I-I know…" She glanced over to the group of men again as they were still staring and chatting among each other. "But Optimus wants to make sure…he even forced me to give up my apartment…"
"He did?" Transit let out a chuckle of amusement and shook his head. "And we get called evil…sometimes they do not walk the walk." He glanced over his shoulder as he was well aware of the men watching them. "And it seems that there might be some other reason Optimus might keep you around."
She frowned at him and shook her head. "Not really. I stay willingly, because I feel like I could help them in some way…uh…i-if you d-d-don't have a ship…I feel I could…" He began to laugh at her as his holoform faded and she jumped as the bus transformed in front of her. She tensed and turned to run from him. "Leave me alone, Transit!"
He simply chuckled and shoved multiple vehicles suddenly, making Saphira almost get run over by one of them, as they block her path. She glanced back at him nervously as he walked towards her with a grin. "This still has to be my lucky day. The human pet of the autobots is in my grasp." He slammed his fists into the ground, making her stumble and slip, falling onto her backside hard with a grimace. "You might believe they're keeping you around because they have a need of secrecy, but I have a feeling, that there is more happening that you might not be aware of." He reached down and picked her up suddenly, making her shriek fearfully and squirm in his grasp. "So tell me, little human…how much do you care for Optimus Prime?" Saphira frowned as that was a very strange question to ask. "Has he told you how he can no longer return to Cybertron because of my master, Megatron?"
Saphira did not understand why he asked that. "I…care a lot…but I don't think that's important, is it?"
"Oh…" Transit laughed slowly as the girl's question. "You have absolutely no idea. Maybe it's not as important to you…but to me…" He pulled her closer and she grimaced, glancing around away as his face frightened her a lot. "It means I have something that belongs to Optimus…"
"Let her go!" Transit grimaced and turned his head slowly, looking down at the men who had decided to be brave enough to come out and shout at him. "That poor girl is scared! Let her go!"
Transit chuckled and, to Saphira's surprise, Transit dropped her. She shrieked and landed hard on the ground, feeling a sharp pain up her back as she landed on her tail bone. She was lucky that she didn't feel a bone break. She rubbed her lower back and looked up as Transit armed himself and aimed the weapon at the men. The men quickly realized they were in danger, and scramble to get away before Transit shoots at them.
Saphira stood up and held her lower back as she ran around Transit to get away from him, only for him to push another truck in her road. She groaned as she turned to look at him nervously. "I don't understand humans, and their ridiculous impulses that they don't seem to know how to control. Nonetheless…" He leans down as he eyed her with a grin. "I think you and I are going to have a bit of fun. The autobots did seem worried about you when I left Bumblebee and Mirage is a scrap heap, but they haven't found you yet." Saphira shook her head as she didn't want to be trapped by him, and he simply chuckled and turned around slowly. "A human with such deep green eyes, long, black hair and a rather strange tone of skin…" Saphira frowned as she didn't like that he was thinking of this way too deep. "There's a uniqueness about you. A normal human probably would have done everything they can to get away. But not you."
And he thinks he can somehow exploit that somehow…maybe…I don't know…
Saphira screamed as Transit began to transform suddenly, and she had to endure with the feeling of her body being moved around roughly until she was sitting at the very back of the bus, and she felt the strap of the seatbelt across her chest, tightening to hold her in. She did try to unclip it, but she was unable to. She tried to stand up to try and slip out of it, but she felt straps clamp around her ankles and wrists to keep her in place for the time being.
She felt the bus move forward and jumped as his holoform formed in front of her. He was grinning at her as she stared at him nervously. He leaned down as he had a smug expression as well. "Make yourself comfortable. It will be interesting to see how long it will take. Don't worry, I'll make sure that you can make use of the bathroom provided, and I'll bring you the necessary food and water for your convenience. But you will not be leaving this bus, not unless I decide otherwise. Especially if I am wrong about an assumption."
Saphira took a deep breath and looked at him curiously. "You never got to finish what you were trying to say. I don't understand why my appearance, or the fact that I care about the autobots deeply enough to consider them family has anything to do with what you are…"
"You are mistaken." He knelt in front of her and looked her right in the eye. "All of that is exactly part of the reason why you are a liability to them. Even if they stopped believing it, you are their weakness." He chuckled softly as he saw that she did not understand it. "Tell me…when you say you care deeply…do you get any strange feelings when you speak to Optimus? Maybe Mirage?"
She deepened her frown as she did not understand what he was asking her. However, she had to think for a moment before she realized what he was getting at. "Uh, are you trying to tell me that you think that I have feelings for one of the autobots?"
"Bingo!" Transit clapped his hands together as a way to mock Saphira, making her roll her eyes in irritation. "We are finally at the point I have been trying to make. And let's not forget Optimus Prime. I am curious if he has behaved differently with you."
"Not really. He has been nicer, but that's because I have earned his respect. Before he was rash, and he was stern and cold…but I understand…" Saphira still did not fully understand why he was interested. "I dare hope you're not suggesting that Optimus would even feel any kind of affection me. Me! A human. I don't see that happening."
"Hmm…I am curious to see if that is true or not…" Transit shrugged as he slowly stood back up. "I am not a fool, human. While we might be a different species, I am not stranger to seeing things when I see them as beautiful. Such as the snow falling right now. Is that not considered beautiful to most humans?" Saphira did not respond and he scoffed in amusement. "Whatever…if I am wrong, I am wrong…but testing to see if that is true is way too good of an opportunity to pass up. So, sit back and relax."
Saphira glanced at the window worryingly, knowing that she was now not able to get to the wharf like she had hoped. Maybe she might find away to get away from him. "And how long do you intend to keep a hold of me?"
"Until I get bored of this, and then, you'll have no use to me." His holoform fades and Saphira looked around nervously, hoping that the autobots would find her soon, as she knew that Transit would kill her when he is done with her. "There will always be another human out there for them to find anyway."
Saphira did not know how to respond to that. She wished she could get out of the bus right now so she could try and find the autobots, or run fast enough to get away from Transit so she could return to the wharf. But she could not while she was trapped within Transit's vehicle mode. She was strapped in, and she did not know how he was going to possibly hide her from the humans. She didn't even know if humans drove this bus.
Transit has a weird fantasy though…but…I don't think I've felt anything for Optimus, aside from admiration and respect. I also don't believe Optimus feels the same for me…I would be shocked if he did, because we have only started getting closer as friends…
Saphira felt that Transit was not reading the situation, but he was taking advantage of what he believes. Regardless, she was in danger, and that was definitely the case for her right now. She hoped that the autobots would indeed find her. She didn't care that she would not freeze to the death right now, and she knew that Transit killed those men out of irritation, but she also was not being stalked again. That still did not make her feel comfortable at all.
But as Transit continued to drive through the city, she let out a shriek of surprise as Transit shocked her suddenly, which caused her to pass out in the seat. He did not want to deal with a potentially whiny human, so he wanted to keep her quiet for as long as possible. And this was one way to keep her quiet, and behaving as well. And he did not care that it might hurt her a lot, so long as she obeyed him while he used her to taunt the autobots, and potentially get some truths out from them. It was going to be rather delightful in his optics.