Ch. 13

"Anything?"

"No." Miara sniffed the air one more time, tilting her head to feel the vibrations around her. "Starscream and Thundercracker are long gone."

"Yeah, I figured." Bumblebee knelt down and peered out at the path leading up to Iacon's front gates. From where he and Miara stood atop the walkway overlooking the gates, they would be able to spot any approaching travellers a good distance away from the city. The minimal damage done by the Decepticons' weapons had already been repaired, but no one else approached Iacon under the mid-day sun. "What about Laserbeak?"

"No, he's gone too," Miara replied. "But I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up again."

"Me either. Optimus is right; Megatron's on the lookout for something inside Iacon." Bumblebee shielded his optics with a servo, peering out at the wide exapanse of Cybertron beyond the capital city. "Me? I think the Decepticons are low on energon and are lookin' to get their grubby servos on whatever supplies we have."

"Especially because we have extra energon now," Miara agreed. The Teron glanced behind her at Iacon's proud buildings. "Iacon hasn't had any blackouts for a while; maybe Megatron noticed."

"You know, Sandstorm, I think you're right." Bumblebee knelt down next to his fellow scout. "We've been lucky reagrding our energon supplies, but even with the crystals we got from that red planet- what'd the humans call it again?"

"Mars."

"Mars, right. That energon won't last forever and if the Decepticons are watchin' us, we won't have much of a chance to use a space bridge to find more."

Miara frowned, crossing her arms and tapping her tail against the walkway in thought. "Do you think that could be Megatron's plan? Hoping we run low on energon before he attacks us?"

"Part of it. I'm still pretty certain the Decepticons are going after any energon they can find. Especially after what happened with Starscream and Thundercracker."

"And they didn't seem very eager to attack today."

Before Bumblebee could respond, Jazz's voice came in through both his and Miara's radios. "Anything to report?"

"Nothing. All quiet here," Bumblebee answered.

"South gate, report in."

"All clear," Miarage's voice answered.

"We got something!"

"What?"

"I'm not sure." Prowl sounded wary, but calm. "They're a little too far out, but they're Decepticons alright."

"Where?"

"Over by Gate 2 on the eastern sector."

"Ironhide, head over. Same to you and Miara, Bumblebee."

"On our way. C'mon, Miara." Bumblebee transformed, his engine already revving in anticipation. The Teron jumped into Bumble's interior and the Autobot scouts sped off. Thankfully, the walkway had been cleared except for the patrols. The Autobot guards who were present quickly leapt aside to allow Bumblebee to pass, several of them giving the yellow Autobot and the Teron a brief wave as they passed. Miara waved back, peering out Bumblebee's windows at the streets of Iacon below. Threat of Decepticons or not, Cybertron's capital city was alive and well. Cybertronians hurried through the city, in both their normal and alt modes, either en route to one of Iacon's many buildings or performing some kind of maintenance task.

Hopefully we won't need to perform any major repairs in the near future. No, Miara thought as she and Bumblebee approached Iacon's eastern sector. Like she had told her new human friends, the Autobots would never allow the Decepticon army to force their way past the gates. Yes, a few of them could get by in the heat of battle, but one or two Decepticons in Autobot territory wouldn't go undetected for long. And even if some Decepticons managed to force their way into Iacon, they wouldn't get far enough to find out about Bud, Lenny, or Chad. She'd make sure of it!

Bumblebee skidded to a halt, pulling up right in front of Prowl and Ironhide, who had just arrived with a small team of soldiers. Miara hopped out of Bumblebee's open door as her fellow scouted transformed back and the entire group peered out of the gate.

"See them?"

"More than see." Miara raised her head as she felt the air stir. "That's Rumble for sure."

"Yeah, I figured." Prowl stared out at the far-off figures. From where the Autobots stood, they couldn't make out the individual features of the four Decepticons, but their movements were easy enough to interpret. Rumble's trademark weapons were pounding the ground, hollow thumps echoing loudly enough to reach the audio sensors of any Cybertronian passing the eastern sector.

"What in the name of Primus is that idiot doin'?" Ironhide narrowed his optics. "Tryin' to start a quake?"

"Maybe he's trying to lure you out, Miara?" Bumblebee held out a hand to allow the Teron to climb up onto his shoulder. "Or he thinks you're nearby and is trying to get your attention."

"Well, he got it. But does Rumble really think I'd run toward him if he was advertising his presence like that?"

"He might think you're out scoutin', Sandstorm," Ironhide said. "My guess is he wants you to alert us."

"Makes sense," Bumblebee agreed. "They're out too far to be heard, but Miara would feel those vibrations in no time."

"And I can still feel them." Miara frowned. "But f Rumble is trying to get our attention to what he and the others are doing out there..."

"... then it's probably a distraction," Ironhide growled. "Jazz, come in. Anything happening?"

"Not as far as I know. Why?"

"We think the Decepticons out by the eastern gate are just tryin' to get our attention."

"All gates report in now!" Jazz commanded.

"Front gate is clear."

"Back gate is clear."

"Gate one in the western sector is clear."

One by one, the reports came back. While a few more guards reported Decepticons some distance beyond Iacon's boundaries, no one could report said Decepticons as doing anything other than just being present. Indeed, it seemed as though only Rumble was doing anything other than making himself seen and by the time the last of the guards confirmed all was clear, Rumble had ceased his noise and retreated out of sight along with the rest of his group.

"Anyone want to tell me just what they were up to?"

"I'm still not sure about that, Bumblebee." Prowl's optics were still fixed on where the Decepticons had been standing. "Hey, Miara, you pick any trace of anyone else?"

"No, but I've been monitoring the skies. Laserbeak still hasn't shown back up and the Decepticon scouting parties are probably going to report directly to Megatron."

"What about Soundwave?"

"I haven't smelled or felt him anywhere close by."

"So, the scouting parties are staying out of range yet they're allowing themselves to be seen, and Megatron's best spy hasn't put his talents to good use." Ironhide tapped a ped against the ground. "If Optimus is right and Megatron is lookin' for somethin' in Iacon, he's doin' a pretty poor job of it."

"Optimus also mentioned what Ratchet said," Prowl reminded him. "Megatron could simply want us on edge and leave us guessing bout his next attack. And if we run ourselves ragged trying to figure out his schemes, all the better."

"It does make sense," Miara said. "We have energon to keep Iacon running for now, but it won't last forever. And if we end up running through the reserves we keep for the space bridge, we'll be in real trouble. Granted, Megatron doesn't know about that, but he has to know that even Iacon doesn't have an endless supply of energon. If he wants us run down, he'll have to attack before we have the chance to refuel."

"You're right, Miara. Bumblebee, you and Little Sandstorm there better report back to Prime and let him know everything. With any luck, we may be able to guess when the Decepticons will attack Iacon."

"Right. C'mon, Miara, let's go."

"I'll stay alert for anyone approaching the skies."

"You do that, Miara." Ironhide waved at his troops. "Spread out over the walkway and patrol the walkway between here and the front gates. And if you have to shoot a Decepticon, try to clip his wings!" Ironhide paused, then added,

"Unless it's Starcream. Do whatever you have to do to shut him up."

The cry of "yes sir" could only be described as extremely enthusiastic.
************************************************************************************************************************************

"...and after that, we alternated between each gate. But every time a Decepticon party showed up, they stayed away from Iacon and didn't care about us seeing them."

"Yes, I know." Optimus stood in front of his computer, rubbing his chin as he viewed the reports sent in over the course of the solar cycle. "I think Ratchet was correct in that Megatron wants us on high alert and I also think that you were in correct in noting the timeframe regarding our energon supplies, Miara."

The Teron smiled at the Prime's words, nibbling down the last bit of rockfish from her evening meal "Do you think Megatron is after energon, Optimus?"

"I've no doubt the Decepticons would raid our energon supplies in an astrosecond if they could. For all I know, Iacon's energon supplies- and indeed, the city itself- could be all Megatron wants. But..." Optimus sighed. "I just have a bad feeling that he's after something else. I just don't know what."

"If he's not after the humans, do you think he knows we have access to a space bridge?"

Optimus was silent for a few kilks, but Miara could almost hear his processing unit at work. "I think," the Prime finally said, "that we are going to have a lot to talk about with President Gilligrass next solar cycle."

Miara grinned. "You have a plan, don't you?"

"I do. But given that it could potentially put our guests in danger if we're not careful, I need to give it more thought as well as clear it with the President and the humans at NASA."

"Can I do anything?"

"Yes. You can get some rest."

Miara climbed into Optimus's servo without protest, but couldn't stop the disappointment from creeping over her face when the Prime set her gently into a basket of warm sand covered with a clean cloth. "What about you?"

"I still have work to do, I'm afraid." Optimus switched the screen on his monitor to a view of some of Cybertron's gates. Despite the lateness of the hour, Autobot guards continued their patrols. Miara watched as a group of new guards relived the Autobots standing by the front gates.

"I can still help them if they need me."

"I know you can, Miara, but you need more recharge than a Cybertronian and you've been working all day."

"I don't mind." Miara stifled a yawn. "Really, I don't."

"You don't need to tell me, Little Sandstorm; you've done nothing but make me proud since the day I brought you to Cybertron. We'll need your skills again soon, so you must be rested and ready."

Miara nodded, curling up on the sand and relishing the heat. "Optimus?"

"Yes, Miara?"

"Can you tell me the story about the Benevolous Bridge?"

"Again?" Optimus asked, a smile evident in his voice.

"Please?"

"Alright." Optimus sat down on his recharge berth so that he could see both Miara and his monitor. Running a finger over Miara's back, Optimus began his tale.

"Long ago, before the Great War, I worked as a data clerk at the Hall of Records. One day..."

Miara closed her eyes, savoring her guardian's loving touch and his gentle voice. Optimus's words faded away as the Teron fell into slumber, but before she did, the little Teron was certain she could see the great bridge Optimus had helped build with the Cybertronian Jetfire. Beyond it lay the calm of the Alpha Preserve, a place she and Optimus both loved.

Maybe we can show it to the humans. Miara sighed, a smile on her face as sleep claimed her. Beside her, Optimus continued his story, knowing his sparkling wasn't awake to hear the ending, but happy to tell her all the same.