Disclaimer: Hasbro owns Transformers, I own my OCs.
The Autobots, Sam and Mikaela come into play this chapter... hopefully I do them justice, though any in-depth characterization won't happen for a while yet. Maeve and Barricade will not be seen until the next chapter.
Now that it's needed...
Legend:
"Speaking"
Thoughts
::Comlinks in English::
::Cybertronian Speak, whether among Comlinks, Spark-Twin link, or Spoken Aloud::
Chapter Six
Next Day…
Optimus Prime cycled his vents in frustration as he rubbed the bridge of his "nose", in an imitation of those Congress budget liaisons that so thoroughly drove him crazy. Today was clearly not going to be a good day.
Three incoming contacts had been observed by Blaster's faithful in-depth scanning, and Autobot sensors had placed an eighty percent probability of said contacts being Decepticon. These contacts also had ninety percent probable trajectories of crashing somewhere in the Colorado San Juan Mountains, and Optimus had the task of preparing the NEST task force of intercepting them – with most of this task force being half a world away from the secondary base in northern Arizona.
This secondary base had only been active for a few months, and it was woefully understaffed and lacked the amenities and security devices that Diego Garcia enjoyed.
Time would be tight. The logistics, and the associated human politics, were enough to make his optics spin.
There was also the matter of Tranquility; unknown Cybertronian signatures had been caught briefly by Blaster last week, and then abruptly disappeared.
While a small worry, it was magnified when Bumblebee had confirmed that he, Sam and Mikaela had just arrived in Tranquility and were heading towards Sam's parents' house.
Optimus set down the datapad he had been reading and rubbed his temples this time.
This would be the thirteenth Decepticon contact in just under a year, with ten of said contacts occurring on the American mainland. Something was clearly going on, and it made Optimus nervous, not only for his human NEST counterparts and fellow Autobots, but also for humans like Sam, Mikaela and the rest of the humans living on the continental landmass known as North America.
Truth be told, it made him nervous for all humans on the planet Earth.
Primus only knew what the Decepticons were planning… and that made Optimus Prime anxious, a feeling he did not enjoy.
The Decepticons, based on all the latest arrivals, were clearly aiming for something on this blasted continent, and Optimus was annoyed that he still hadn't figured out what that something was. No matter how many times they interviewed the Decepticon survivors, those whom Ironhide hadn't blasted to bits, there had been no clues given as to what was going on. None of the Decepticon survivors would give anything but vague comments and sarcastic barbs.
It was time for a NEST meeting. Optimus cycled his vents again in irritation as he opened a comlink.
AUTOBOT SECURITY FORCES COMLINK ACTIVATED
:: Red Alert, let Blaster know that I need an uplink to Diego Garcia. Priority.:: Optimus reluctantly told his paranoid Security Director.
::Affirmative, Optimus. Uplink shall be active in approximately 1.4 human minutes. Please proceed to Operations Central Command. Is there something wrong? I keep saying this base is not up to code, those hangars can't possibly stand up to Decepticon attack, and the humans' barracks are woefully close to the perimeter fence, and speaking of, the fence is abhorrently under-maintained and I think we need to set up plasma mines and perhaps a large moat as a precaution, and those incoming contacts are most likely Decepticon, and they will only be a few hundred human miles from the base and - ::
::No, no, just need to call a meeting with the rest of NEST. This base is coming along nicely. That is all, Red Alert, we shall discuss your suggestions for the base at a later date.:: Optimus interrupted Red Alert's rant that was verging on hysteria.
This was one of the times Optimus found himself wishing that Prowl was here. As much as he was thankful for Red Alert's presence, Red Alert and Blaster having just arrived right before the acquisition of the second base a few months ago, his Security Director's rampant paranoia was enough to give him a processor glitch.
Prowl's cool and collected demeanor and his strategies in dealing with problems such as the one that loomed over Optimus was what he really needed now.
But Prowl was unreachable, somewhere in the universe. Optimus wasn't even sure if Prowl were still alive. Only Prowl's brother would know if Prowl had been offlined, as they were spark-twins, but that was one mech Optimus did not wish to see again on this planet.
Optimus cycled his vents yet again in an approximation of a human sigh, a human trait that he never fully realized he had picked up.
Red Alert's affirmative echoed over Optimus' comlink as he prepared the information datapack for the NEST forces and his Autobot compatriots in Diego Garcia. He had a feeling that the sneering and utterly annoying Liaison Galloway would not be happy about the developments regarding the incoming Decepticons. Not that Optimus was joyful about the situation either, but the Liaison had a particularly aggravating way of making even the simplest of missions inexplicably complicated.
Oh, how he wished that the infuriating human would have resigned over the admittedly hilarious situation in Egypt, when Galloway had activated his chute inadvertently in response to Major Lennox's prodding and had been dragged out of an airplane to land in a sheep herder's camp in the middle of nowhere Egypt.
But of course, Primus wouldn't allow such sweet justice…
Sometimes, I really wish I had taken a page out of Ironhide's book, Optimus admitted to himself as he began walking to the ragged hangar that currently served as the second base's "Operations Central Command".
Taking a page out of Ironhide's book certainly would make the politics part of his job easier. Optimus shook his head, clearing his mind of such thoughts.
Harming the humans is a direct affront to the Autobot ideals.
But still, I cannot deny that I would feel absolute pleasure at seeing Ironhide's pulse cannons sending that insufferable human to Primus. I think everyone on both bases would cheer with delight…
Something Red Alert had said over the comlink distracted Optimus from that thought. What is a "moat", and why would Red Alert think it is a good idea?
Optimus cocked his head in puzzlement as he quickly did an internet search. His stark blue optics widened.
Crocodiles? What in the world? Optimus shook his head in amazement as he stepped into the old hangar. He really needed to have a conversation with Red Alert after the current crisis on what constituted non-lethal-to-humans base security measures.
"MY BABY!" Judy Witwicky nearly tackled her son as he stepped out of the bright yellow Camaro in the morning sunlight.
"Mom, seriously, I'm fine," Sam rolled his eyes at his exuberant mother as Mikaela Banes watched in amusement at her fiancé's discomfort. Mikaela had to admit that she had the coolest, albeit wackiest, future mother-in-law on the planet. Come on, how many future-mother-in-laws did you know that had eaten "green-for-the-environment" stoner brownies and then spilled her son's closely held secrets regarding his virginity and his alien car without any hesitation to college girls, and then tackled someone for a Frisbee?
Oh yes, Mikaela loved her mother-in-law, even though Judy was probably the most eccentric person on the planet. Her eccentricities were endearing though.
"Yes, well, it's been how long since your father and I have seen you? You missed President's Day dinner, the Valentine's Day Feast, AND the St. Patrick's Day parade. You DIED two years ago. Forgive your mother for wanting to see you every holiday," Judy pouted, and Sam could hardly resist the urge to roll his eyes again. His mother was such a drama queen.
"Mom, I'm here now. And you wanted to see me every holiday before I died. I'm alive now. See? Still breathing, no cardiac arrest or horrific lethal injuries. Stop with the theatrics."
"But…"
"Mommmmm!" Sam whined.
"Judy, give the kid a break," Ron stepped out of their newly remodeled porch, courtesy of State Farm and the taxpayers, and smiled at his son.
"It's good to see ya, son." He said as he wrapped Sam in a large bear hug.
"Thanks, Dad," Sam murmured, as Ron moved to Mikaela and gave her a similar bear hug. Mikaela just smiled. Sam's parents were unusual but so lovable that Mikaela put up with the weirdness they exhibited often. It was certainly better than anything her supposed "family" had ever offered her. She hid her grimace as she remembered how her family had expressed their "love" with violence and bruises.
"So, what's the plan kiddo? Are you here to stay for a few days or what? Your voicemail wasn't exactly clear," Ron chided, as they moved to take the bags out of the trunk of the Camaro.
"Dad, it's Spring Break. Didn't I say that in my message? I thought I had?" Sam was genuinely confused, Mikaela could tell. She patted Ron's arm, and he looked down at her.
"We'll be here for five days and then Bumblebee and I will take Sam back to the college. Is that okay?" She grinned at him, and Ron smiled back. Ron had to admit that his son's fiancée was one of the best things that had ever happened for his son. He regretted ever saying that at some point Sam would find a "Muffy".
"Of course, it's okay! Now, are you two staying here or are you going to stay with your father?" The last part was said in a quiet tone, not even wanting to bring Judy into that conversation.
The last time Mikaela had stayed with them, in Sam's room, Judy had given the two of them a long lecture on condoms, and responsibility, and that a baby was out of the question until those "damn Decepticon jerkoffs stop trying to kill my Sammy" and that there was to be no "riding the disco stick" in her house without responsibility. That had been more than enough embarrassment for all involved… excluding Judy, of course.
"I'm going to see my dad for a bit to make sure he hasn't destroyed my shop, but I may crash with you. If Judy throws a fit, and brings out the condom jar and the disco stick responsibility lecture, I'll stay in the guest bedroom," Mikaela answered in an equally low conspiratorial tone of voice, struggling to contain the laughter that wanted to spill out. Ron just patted her hand in assent as they began to carry the suitcases into the house, and told her that Bee could park in the garage.
After retrieving the last suitcase from Bumblebee's trunk, Mikaela shut it gently.
"Ron says to just park in the garage, 'Bee." She murmured to the yellow Camaro. She felt Bee sag on his suspension, and then the 'Bot drove a short way, parking just outside the stand-alone wooden garage.
Bumblebee didn't feel comfortable shutting himself into the garage again, not after all those long months he had spent there. He slipped into recharge easily, exhausted from the long trip from Diego Garcia to Sam's college to Tranquility.
Major William Lennox was being shoved violently, and someone's voice kept telling him to wake up.
But I don't wanna… Ugh.
"Whhatsh goin' on?" It had been four days since he had a proper eight-hour night's sleep; he had had less than ten hours of sleep total in three days. He was utterly exhausted.
Ratchet was going to kill him the next time he was due in for a medical scan… which was in three days. His eyes finally cleared from the blur of sleep to find his best friend and confidante, Master Sergeant Robert Epps, standing over him and rolling his eyes.
"Man, you look like hot shit."
Lennox growled haughtily in response. "What's going on? The kids and 'Bee get to Tranquility okay? Is the world ending? Megatron finally come out of the closet with his bestest buddy Starscream and start tap-dancing to Riverdance?"
Epps couldn't help but snort at that last part. Will was only that sarcastic when he was very tired and very irritated.
"Sam, Mikaela and 'Bee made it fine, the world isn't ending as far as I know, and no, Megatron and Starscream haven't been heard from and frankly, we should all be very happy about that fact."
"Then why the slag did you wake me up for?" Will groaned and tried to throw the blanket back over his head. Epps, in one swift movement, yanked the blanket entirely off Will and threw it to the opposite corner of the small room.
"Bastard!" Will reacted to the sudden temperature change by curling into a fetal position, throwing his pillow over his head.
"Seriously, Will, Optimus is calling; says it's an emergency but not a world-ending one. Get up and get dressed. Big Bot's waiting and he is not happy." Epps sighed.
"Damn," Will muttered into his pillow. He groaned as he stretched, and slowly rose from his bed, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Did he say what it was about?"
Epps just shrugged. "No idea. Just get dressed, will ya?"
Will glared at him, scowling as he pulled on his BDUs.
Three minutes later both men were jogging towards the communications center. They found Ratchet, Ironhide and Arcee already present in the hanger, Ironhide giving Will a pointed look. Will couldn't help but be relieved that the Younger Twins, as Mudflap and Skids had come to be called, were not present at this meeting. Those two could always be relied upon to make serious meetings dissolve into utterly hilarious chaos.
Will could feel the slight tingle as Ratchet did a quick scan, and dutifully ignored Ratchet's look of fury when the medic analyzed the results. Will knew that Ratchet was not pleased about Will's lack of sleep, and he was not looking forward to the requisite lecture to come.
Lennox continued up the stairs to the human level that gave them eye-contact with the mechs.
Arcee's smirk caught Will's eye, and they shared a knowing look. Ratchet the Hatchet's reputation was not just known among the Autobots; all the humans on base, save but a few, made it a point to avoid the cranky medic's med-bay at all costs or suffer his infinite wrath.
Will looked up as he positioned himself so he could be seen by Optimus. The very large screen on the wall opposite Will's position showed Optimus, looking wearier than Will had seen him in a long while.
Not good, Will thought, and tried to keep his face looking cheerful.
"Hello, Optimus. What's with the wakeup call?" Will greeted the Autobot leader, a relaxed smile on his face.
Optimus responded with a small smile of his own, though his optics still reflected the weariness that plagued his spark.
Not good, Will internally grimaced.
"Major, I apologize for interrupting your sleep cycle, but we have received information pertaining to three Cybertronian contacts that will be entering Earth's atmosphere in roughly three to five days."
Ratchet and Ironhide immediately bristled at the news, and Will frowned. He looked at the human communications specialist to his right, wondering how in the hell his people at Diego Garcia had missed such important information. The communications specialist ignored the questioning look from the Major, keeping his attention on the computer consoles in front of him.
Will sighed as he turned to the Autobots in the hangar.
"Where?" Ironhide asked; his annoyance made clear by the unintentional activation of his defense routines and cannons.
Arcee mumbled a few choice Cybertronian words in his direction which Ironhide dutifully ignored as he glared at the screen which held Optimus' image.
Optimus replied in his stoic voice, "Easy, Ironhide. Blaster and Red Alert have informed me that there is a ninety percent probability that the contacts will arrive somewhere in or near the Colorado San Juan Mountains. We are lucky that it is a generally remote area, but Red Alert has expressed his concern that the contacts may touch down near the small city of Durango, Colorado or any of the small towns that dot those mountains. I share his concern. They also feel that due to the faint energy signatures, that these contacts will most likely be Decepticons."
The atmosphere immediately changed in the communications room of Diego Garcia.
Ironhide, typically, growled in frustration while the humans struggled to contain their surprised gasps. Decepticons usually arrived one at a time or in a pair – for three to be incoming was rare, and concerning to all present.
Optimus continued, "Due to the possibility of human lives being placed in danger, I need more Autobots and human forces here in Arizona as this base is not up to standards and there are so few of us. Red Alert is also understandably paranoid about these new arrivals due to the proximity of our secondary base and the unknown contacts' projected landing area. Although Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are here for base security, I'm sure you can understand my concern about these new arrivals and the... Elder Twins." Optimus looked from Will to Ironhide, a dark look darting across his faceplate.
"Hmph, those twins are a disaster waiting to happen," Ironhide muttered darkly.
"Indeed," Optimus concurred, a certain devious twinkle radiating from his optics.
While the Elder Twins, as they were called to differentiate them from the Younger Twins, were notable warriors on their own, three possible Decepticon contacts were certainly worrying. With the Elder Twins, that concern was tripled.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were notorious for their troublemaker and reckless antics on and off the battlefield. Sunstreaker had arrived a few months before, and he and Sideswipe had caused some memorable incidents that would not be forgotten by the human allies for quite some time.
Will completely understood that Optimus could not leave the secondary base undefended to search for the three potential Decepticon contacts.
There was also no possible way that Optimus would allow the Elder Twins to go after the contacts alone, or to protect the secondary base. Will also knew that Optimus, although fully capable to go after the Decepticon contacts on his own, would not place his safety in danger. Will suspected that that had more to do with Optimus' fear of Ratchet's reaction; rather than a fear of facing the potential contacts alone as Optimus was certainly capable of taking Decepticons on his own.
Well, except for the time he died. Will shook his head of that morbid thought, and turned towards the mechs, nodding at Optimus.
"The human forces of NEST will certainly aid in the search for the three contacts, Optimus." Will spoke, his hands behind his back as he stood at the ready. "However, the time will be tight as far as flights and troops needed."
Optimus nodded slowly. "I assumed as much, Major. Please get to work on the flight plans and troop numbers as soon as possible."
"Of course, sir." Will affirmed. He noticed Ironhide moving himself closer to the cameras that fed the feed Optimus was seeing at the secondary base.
"When do you need us?" Ironhide demanded. There was no question, he and the others would certainly aid in this mission.
"Immediately. Ironhide, I am sending a datapack of approved Autobots currently at Diego Garcia who I want to staff the secondary base, and who I want on this mission. Ironhide, do not mention the situation to Armorhide, and especially not to Warpath. He is the last mech I need for this; he would put the Elder Twins to shame."
Ironhide harrumphed at that, but nodded in assent.
Optimus continued sternly, "For that matter, Ironhide, do not mention this situation to any Autobot besides whom I have approved to come to the secondary base."
Optimus turned his bright blue optics to stare at Will, and the Major unconsciously straightened as the Prime spoke, "Major Lennox, I also need you to contact Keller and get the approval as fast as possible."
"There may be a problem with a certain Liaison." Epps muttered unhappily; his eyes gleaming with a murderous intent.
Will silently echoed the sentiment, but quickly added, "He won't be a problem."
Galloway may have been a pain in the ass, but he certainly knew not to cross Will after the incident in Egypt. As much as he had ranted after, Will and others had made sure that Galloway did not have as much power as he assumed he had.
Optimus just nodded, looking weary again.
Suddenly there seemed to be movement from Optimus' end, and low Cybertronian being hissed, sounding almost frantic, off-screen.
Will snuck a glance at Ironhide, Ratchet and Arcee, who had clearly heard and understood the transmission that the humans could not. Ironhide looked homicidal, Ratchet cycled his vents, and Arcee seemed to be amused.
Will looked back at Optimus as the mech's faceplate fell even more.
Prime pinched the bridge of his metallic nose in frustration with a touch of aggravation.
"There is more," Optimus sighed. "Blaster also managed to uncover two unknown energy signatures in the vicinity of Tranquility. They both arrived sometime last week, and then disappeared. Until today, at least, for one of them. The signature was brief, but it is clear that it is Decepticon in nature. The other, we are unsure of what faction it follows. Given the circumstances of the Decepticon, it is quite possible that the unknown mech is another 'Con. When you arrive, we must deal with the Tranquility situation first. I do not feel comfortable with leaving Bumblebee on his own."
Ironhide snorted at that. Bumblebee was perfectly fine on his own usually; it was who was with Bumblebee that caused Optimus' concern. And what Optimus was holding back from the humans… just who that Decepticon was.
Ironhide was curious why Prime did not tell Will this information, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Prime had his reasons. Ironhide personally felt that Bumblebee would need all the help he could get if this particular 'Con revealed himself.
The transmission ended, and the Autobots quietly conversed in Cybertronian. None of them were happy with the situation, and all decided that they would not wait for human "approval" to go to their Prime.
Ironhide was particularly vocal and fervent about not leaving the young scout in Tranquility alone. Arcee, Ratchet and Ironhide each voiced their opinions of the list Optimus had sent of "Approved" Autobots, and quickly formed a plan.
A brief message was sent to Fireflight.
Ironhide pulled Lennox aside a few minutes later and told him that one of the Aerialbots was preparing for a skeleton crew.
Ironhide would not wait halfway around the world, with one unknown Cybertronian contact and one known Decepticon contact in the same vicinity of Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela; and what with the incoming probable Decepticon contacts… slag the Liaison. They could deal with the political ramifications later.
The human children, and Bumblebee; as well as the situation of the incoming Decepticons was too much to wait for the "proper" human approval.
"Call Keller on the plane. I've sent Prime's list to General Morshower with our recommendations, and the General can choose who to send after us, he knows the 'Bots here well enough to choose wisely. Galloway is a nonissue that we will deal with later. Grab your most trusted soldiers; we're moving out right now, Will." Ironhide said gravely.
Will smirked and nodded. He grabbed Epps on the way out of the communications center, and quickly told him the plan. Epps just laughed and rubbed his hands together.
Oooh, this was going to be fun.
Hours later…
"So, what are the plans today?" Sam asked Mikaela as they lounged on his bed in his old room.
It had been several hours since they had arrived in the morning, and both had awoken from a light nap. The damage Bee had done to the bedroom two years ago after the kitchen-bots had attacked had been fixed, although it didn't really look like it was Sam's room anymore.
Still, Ron hadn't fulfilled his promise of using the space as a home theater, though everyone was positive that was only because of Judy and her influence.
Mikaela shrugged her shoulders, and gave Sam a slight smile.
"I don't know. Bee's tired, and even after that nap I'm still tired, especially after that trip from getting you. But I wouldn't mind getting out of the house with you for a bit before I go see my dad."
"Still worried he's blown up the shop or something?"
Laughing, Mikaela playfully shoved Sam. "Shut up, you jerk."
He smiled at her, and then kissed her softly, one hand playing with her soft brunette hair while the other hand grasped her small waist tightly.
Predictably, Judy barged in at that moment.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD? DO I NEED TO LECTURE YOU AGAIN?"
"Mom! It's called knocking!" Sam groaned loudly in embarrassment.
Luckily for Sam and Mikaela, they were saved at that moment by Ron who, having heard his wife's shouts from their room down the hall, had dragged his shocked and muttering wife from their son's room.
"Get out of the house you two! Have some fun!" Ron called pointedly as he herded Judy down the stairs who was now muttering about condoms and disco sticks because of course she was.
They didn't have to be told twice.
Bee may have been slightly cranky when he was woken from his recharge rather rudely by Mikaela sitting on his hood, but even as he grumbled several choice Cybertronian swear words, he could still tell that his humans needed to relax.
Judging from the rather heated argument coming from inside the Witwicky home, Bumblebee also knew that they wanted to get away from Sam's parents. Bee drove to the edge of the driveway and popped his doors open, waiting for his human charges to get in.
Sam and Mikaela wavered at the doors though, when they noticed a very familiar police cruiser slowly driving up the residential street towards them.
Bumblebee went rigid as he processed the very faint energy signature. His systems automatically analyzed the danger and activated his weapons system, his senses on full alert.
Sam grasped Bumblebee's door in shock. "Bee… is that who I think it is?"