I really hope you all like this chapter. We will see the Decepticons (sorta). Also, my depiction of Starscream is movie Starscream in looks and somewhat in personality, but he is also VERY heavily influenced by Animated Starscream's personality (and if you have never seen Animated, I highly suggest you do). "Argh, this day just can't get any worse... I stand corrected." "STARSCREAM!" "I'm sorry, you must have me confused for some other Harrier jet". lol sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Fifteen:
Senior Patrol Officer Chris Hall winced as he heard the tall-tale ringtone from his cell phone. He was still half-asleep, but he knew that ringtone by heart. He groaned as he gazed at the alarm clock. This early? Seriously?
Lieutenant Jack Murphy was calling him; the Beverly Hills Cop ringtone echoing loudly through Hall's bedroom. Hall's wife groaned as she rolled over.
"Chris, answer that fucking phone so I can go back to sleep, dammit." She mumbled as she grabbed a pillow and threw it over her head, trying to drown out the loud sounds of her husband's phone.
Hall apologized to his wife, and then swiftly picked up the phone. He pressed the "call" button and brought it to his ear.
"Hall." His voice sounded tired even to him.
"It's Lt. Murphy." His superior said, equally as tired as him. Hall couldn't help but notice the stressed tones in his superior's voice.
"Yeah, I know." Hall sighed.
Lt. Murphy gave a confused look towards his phone, and then shook his head. Caller ID. Duh, Jack. He spoke into the phone, weary. "Maeve's in trouble, she needs you and the boys ASAP."
Hall shot up in bed, further irritating his wife. He didn't care. "Explain."
"We need to meet. I'm not going to explain this shit over the phone. Trust me, you'll know why when I tell you."
Hall rolled his eyes, but affirmed. He only had one question to ask his LT, no matter how annoying it might have been.
"Give me at least a clue, LT. I'm not getting out of my warm comfy bed and leaving my gorgeous wife tonight for nothing, even for you."
"You bastard." Lt. Murphy exclaimed, irritated at how Hall was acting. Only Maeve's men would answer him like this, deliberately disobeying the chain of command. He knew it was Maeve's influence. Lt. Murphy sighed, and then spoke again, "Maeve's in trouble. Three words – six months ago. Does that ring any bells?"
Hall's jaw dropped. Six months ago, Maeve had gotten seriously hurt. He and the team hadn't been privy to the details, but rumors at the precinct had flown. Hearing those words from his LT, he knew instinctively that Maeve was in some serious shit. He knew then what he had to do, if the LT was namedropping that clusterfuck. Hall thought quickly of places to meet the Lieutenant. He thought of one close to his home, a place where most cops in their jurisdiction met for shift swaps.
"Meet me in the parking lot at Johnson's Grocery, corner of 15th and Grant, fifteen to twenty minutes. I'll be in a dark blue Toyota Tundra." Hall spoke, quietly, already getting out of bed and dressing himself. His wife groaned, tempted to throw the pillow at her husband.
"See you in twenty." Lt. Murphy spoke crisply, and then hung up.
Hall rubbed his face hard, trying to wake himself up, as his wife murmured, "What's going on?"
"SWAT things, baby."
"Be home before dinner or I kick your ass."
"Yes, dear." Hall sighed, and kissed his wife on the cheek. "Love you baby," He called to his wife as he walked out of their bedroom, narrowly avoiding the pillow his wife finally threw at him.
Sam blinked in the early morning sunlight as he debarked from Fireflight's cargo hold, along with Mikaela, Jolt, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Ironhide. He had desperately wanted to ride with Silverbolt, who had carried the rest of the Autobots, but he didn't complain. The only reason he had wanted to ride with them was due to Prowl's presence. He had to ask Epps and Lennox what they had heard during the short ride to the Autobots' secondary base. The flight to Arizona in Fireflight had been quiet; Ironhide and his students deliberately being silent. Jolt had tried to encourage some conversation during the short flight to the secondary base, but he had quickly given up as the air remained tense and Ironhide had shot him a death glare.
The cool desert morning air assaulted Sam's face as he walked towards Major Lennox and Master Sergeant Epps, talking to each other at the end of the runway. Sam knew they still regarded him as a "kid", but he didn't care. He jogged up to them.
"So... what'd ya hear?"
Epps gave him an annoyed look. Lennox let loose a sigh.
"We heard some things I don't know if I can tell you yet. Epps and I need to have a long chat with Optimus alone, there are some things that came up with Prowl that we're not too happy with. Sam, we'll give you the full details later, okay?" Lennox replied quietly, and Sam sighed, his head dipping slightly. He was disappointed, but he could wait.
"Fine." Sam turned back to Mikaela, and shrugged. At some point they'd learn what had been said during the flight.
In the rural Idaho mountains, construction was ongoing on a most unusual base. It was not human-made, but Cybertronian, and had been cloaked so no Autobot could be aware of its presence. Several humans had stumbled upon it, but had been dispatched quickly, their disappearances unnoticed in the large wilderness. Here, the Decepticons on Earth were stationed, forever plotting to bring about the demise of the Autobots and the humans.
Starscream was currently in charge of the Decepticons, left there after Megatron had left the planet to find Shockwave.
Starscream smirked. Megatron would not like his reception back on Cybertron, as Starscream had deliberately not told him that Shockwave had taken over those troops left on Cybertron, and was styling himself the Lord of the Decepticons and of Cybertron. And now, Starscream was doing much the same on Earth.
Not like Soundwave was helping any, he had had to ask the communications specialist on a private comlink three times already to report the day's communications report.
Starscream scowled. :Soundwave, report. Last time I ask or I will rip out your spark!:
Soundwave was still currently stationed in Earth's atmosphere, taking over which ever satellites the Decepticons needed him to. He kept watch over their communications, though in the past year the Autobots had considerably masked their NEST communications. Soundwave had had to master their increasingly encrypted frequencies, a task which he quietly enjoyed and reveled in.
:Yes, Starscream?: Finally Soundwave responded, his voice cold. Starscream bristled at Soundwave's refusal to call him by what Starscream felt was his proper rank.
:That is LORD Starscream, you insolent glitch! You shall call me that, and never only by my designation! How many times must I tell you this?:
:Would you like to hear the day's report or would you like to continue your rant?: Soundwave responded coolly, and Starscream couldn't help but let loose an enraged cry. Before answering, Starscream cycled his vents and cooled down his systems. Mustn't let his emotions get in the way, Soundwave was still regrettably needed. One of these days though...
:Report. Anything new on the despicable Autobots and their fleshy pets?:
:The Sam fleshling returned to Tranquility yesterday. Also, some interesting energy signatures emerged in that area besides the bug. One of them was Decepticon.:
Starscream startled as he walked towards his quarters. How could that be? Starscream scowled.
:There are no Decepticons in that area, as far as I am aware.: Starscream responded. High up in the Earth's atmosphere, Soundwave rolled his optics.
:Would you like the rest of the report?:
:There's more? Explain now, Soundwave!:
Soundwave cycled his vents. Starscream, the impatient skidplate. :As I was saying, there was a Decepticon energy signature. There was also an Autobot signature, and then last afternoon, a number of Autobot signatures. The Decepticon is no longer in the vicinity of Tranquility, but has been traveling east. I lost his signature just outside of Las Vegas. I was not aware of who the Autobots were after until late last night. Apparently, our old friend Barricade is alive and well.: Soundwave responded, his tone almost mocking.
Starscream growled, :What the slag is that traitor doing in Tranquility?:
Soundwave smiled as he extended his cables deeper into a satellite while simultaneously speaking to Starscream and downloading more information. :There is more, my dear Lord Starscream.: Starscream missed the sarcasm, as Soundwave continued, :Barricade has apparently found himself a filthy organic charge. One named Maeve McWilliams, of Tranquility Police Department.:
Starscream's optics widened. Maeve McWilliams, that damnable woman, had finally been claimed by her Guardian? Hmm... perhaps now is the time to kill that pathetic traitor and retrieve what I have wanted for so long. We must find them. Starscream thought to himself. This time he would not send Dead End to do his work.
:Maeve McWilliams? Are you sure, Soundwave?:
:Yes.:
Starscream had a wicked smile on his face, one which he knew Soundwave couldn't see. :That is all, Soundwave, thank you for your report. Please keep an eye on Barricade's whereabouts if you can and immediately let me know if his signature pops up on the radar again. I must know exactly when his miserable energy signature appears again.: Starscream paused, his smile replaced by a scowl. :And if you deliberately ignore me again, you will be dismantled!:
:Yes, sir.: Soundwave responded, and then Starscream clicked off the comlink. Another wicked grin spread across his faceplate. Now, now would be the time he could force the other Decepticons to accept his obvious Lordship, especially with what that damn squishy had. And he could finally kill that son of a glitch, Barricade! Power would be Starscream's now, the Decepticons his, and Megatron would finally fall, for good!
Chris Hall was waiting outside his Tundra, tapping his fingers irritatingly against the metal frame. Where the hell was Jack Murphy? Twenty minutes had gone and passed, and still the LT wasn't there. Hall was getting anxious.
And then... finally. There was the Lieutenant's personal car, speeding across the parking lot and finally skidding to a stop in front of Hall. The senior patrol officer crossed his arms as he waited for the LT to get out. The LT wearily got out of his car, and Hall noticed the dark bags under Murphy's eyes, and the... soot on his face? What the?
"Hall, thanks for coming."
"Whatever, what the hell is going on and why is Maeve in trouble?" Hall demanded. "Tell me everything!"
Jack Murphy sighed, and rubbed a hand against his neck. "Well, that's a long story..."
Hall narrowed his eyes at his Lieutenant, and brought down his hands, clenching them into fists. "We've got time, LT. If someone put my squad leader in danger, then you need to spill it, now."
Murphy nodded, his eyes weary. "Remember Mission City and all the rumors?"
Hall gave him an incredulous look. "Yeah, that it happened because of giant alien robots. What of it? Bunch of conspiracy theorist bullshit."
Jack laughed, nervously. "Not quite, Hall."
Hall stared at him, unable to keep his jaw from dropping open in surprise. "You have got to be joking. What does this have to do with Maeve?"
"Everything, unfortunately." Jack sighed. "Look, whether we believed it or not, that shit at Mission City happened. Maeve was there. Those giant alien robots? They're real, and one of them chased after Maeve today. Another blew up her house. I saw it, Chris, it's why I have fucking ashes on my face. That shit six months ago? Almost certainly the work of one of those fucking robots. Two military guys took me and Janet home today after what we saw, and made us sign some fucking disclosure form. Maeve wanted me to tell you what happened, and so I am. Maeve is seriously injured, because of these jackasses. And now, she's running across the country with another one of those aliens, who for some fucking reason, protected her. But those other ones? They're after her, and I don't trust them."
Hall's eyes widened. He wondered how far around the bend his LT had gone.
Jack sighed, noticing how Hall clearly didn't believe him. "Look, you watch the TV lately?"
Hall startled. "What? What the fuck does a TV have to do with your lunatic ramblings?"
Jack gave a short laugh, and motioned to Hall to follow him. He pulled out a laptop from his personal car's front seat, and turned it on. Quickly, he pulled up a short video, and turned to Hall.
"This vid made its way onto our local newscast about two hours ago, at the start of their early broadcast. It hasn't shown up since, and I'm positive the feds have something to do with blocking it because I haven't found anything else about it anywhere on the web. I did the smart thing and downloaded it before it was deleted. I also managed to rescue some vids from some of our secure cameras around the freeway, before they were deleted. You watch them, and then try to tell me I'm crazy."
Hall let loose a defeated sigh as he grabbed the laptop. He cocked an eyebrow at his LT. "Fine, I'll watch 'em. But right now you look as crazy as some of the people we've caught, LT."
Jack nodded as he looked around the parking lot, before quietly remarking. "Don't I know it. You'd think you were crazy too, Hall, if you saw what I did last night."
Maeve awoke with the sun shining in her face, and wiped a hand across her weary eyes. Where was she?
She sat up, and winced, her body stiff with sleep, and pain from her previous injuries. Damn, it wasn't a dream. She thought, and sighed.
Maeve realized she was still in Barricade's alt mode. She stiffened, waiting for a scathing remark or a comforting comment, depending on Barricade's mood. She received none, and realized he must have been asleep, or well, the robot version of sleep. She quietly opened his door. She stepped out in the bright sunlight, and shut the door as quietly as she could. Barricade didn't move.
Bringing a hand to her eyes, blocking out the bright sunlight, she noticed the landscape around her. The red flat dirt led up to an astonishing dropoff, looking onto one of the most amazing sights she had ever seen.
He... brought me here? The Grand Canyon? Why? Maeve was stunned as she walked up to the very edge, staring down into the canyon's abyss. She couldn't even see the bottom. Maeve smiled. She had wanted to come here with her family, long ago, but had never gotten the chance. She tried not to grimace as she remembered why they had never been able to visit this wondrous place.
Maeve kicked a pile of dirt, the red clumps blowing in the slight wind. She gazed back at Barricade, and then sat down at the very edge of the Grand Canyon, her legs just barely hanging off the edge of one its many cliffs. The wind was blowing just ever so slightly, and the sun beat its growing heat upon her. She didn't know what time it was, and didn't much care.
Until her phone went off abruptly, scaring the wits out of her. She startled as the phone vibrated, and realized how close she was to the edge. All right, being this close isn't worth it. She got up, and walked away from the edge, stopping close to Barricade.
Maeve dug for her phone in her pants, and after pulling it out, gazed at the number on the LCD screen. Hall? What the fuck was Hall doing calling her? Then she realized, and smiled. Lieutenant Jack Murphy had pulled through after all.