Transformers Fan Fiction ❯ Fragments of Memory ❯ Confusion and Revelation ( Chapter 11 )

Chaper 11: Confusion and Revelation

 

 

The scanner had picked up on them about thirty minutes ago, and now the blips on the screen were approaching fast. A brief confrontation with three Decepticons nearly cost Bumblebee his life. He gave up on explanation and brute force but finally saw some progress with groveling. Several hours later he was on his knees in front of Starscream himself, offering him the unconscious body of Arianna.

“I should kill you right now boy, but I know how useful you are.” Starscream caressed his cheek with a metallic claw. “What are your demands?” he would humor the bot before he crushed him.

“I want no objection to choosing her as my soul mate once the machine has been used.”

Bumblebee said, his head lowered demurely. Starscream could still make out the gnashing of his gears though.

“You love the girl? And the others didn't take this well, I suppose.” The boy was mad, the girl's power would consume her mind and she would kill him herself. That would be more entertaining than killing straight out. And cleaner. Bumblebee shook his head.

“They objected strongly.”

“I assumed as much.” Starscream looked from his seat to the giant bay of a machine. He only had enough power in the mind controlling equipment to rein the girl in for short periods. He would toss her back inside and reform her to a defenseless human in between attacks. Bumblebee could be valuable; he could keep the little wretch from biting her own tongue.

“I grant you permission then. Soundwave!” he barked “Bring the girl to the cells. Fetch her water.” The Decepticon leapt to do his master's bidding, and took Arianna from Bumblebee. Starscream noted that the boy's facial gears were mashing painfully. This was too perfect. A lovesick Autobot fool hand-delivering the Decepticons their quarry.

 

Bumblebee walked down the long corridor, cool despite the New Mexico sun. Starscream strode just ahead of him.

“Her fragment of the Allspark nearly completes the plan. I am impressed with you, Bumblebee. It is unfortunate that you were unable to extract the last piece from Optimus Prime, however.”

“Yes, master. I had the piece a long time ago, but gave it up as I was unworthy to carry it.” Bumblebee tried to steer his thoughts from the small piece of Allspark nestled deep in his chest. Starscream wasn't the only Transformer who knew how to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

“We will begin an assault on the headquarters in Michigan in seven hours time. It is a good thing that you and Bluestreak did not attempt to spy on us. We would have destroyed you.”

“I understood the futility of the situation, sir, and acted thusly.”

“Good. Now, you need to be fully integrated into our ranks.” Starscream waved him through a doorway. “It is time for your insignia.” Bumblebee walked inside without hesitation as another Decepticon decaled his forehead with a shining new logo that indicated his loyalties.

 

Cold. A splash of water. Wet. She shivered. Struggling brought the realization that she was restrained. Hurting. Shoulders yanked back, ties at the elbows and wrists. Legs as well. Arianna gave up as she realized she must look like a fish in death throes.

“Human must not struggle. Human must be healthy, human consume more.” A strange voice said and another cold splash of water was heaved onto her. Arianna struggled again.

“Are you trying to DROWN me or give me a drink, you moron!”

“Soundwave does not understand `Moron'.” Her eyes adjusted more to the dank and she could now see a blue colored robot with a square chest outside a set of bars. Was that a cassette deck? Her natural curiosity overrode her fear.

“Aren't you slightly behind the times? Even DVD's are archaic.”

“Soundwave is communications officer, not cassette deck.” Came the monotone reply.

“Can you untie me?” Arianna asked hopefully.

“Human must not run away.”

“How can I run away when I'm in a cell?”

“Soundwave has direct orders from high-ruler.”

“Yeah, well your high-ruler can go fuck himself.” Arianna said scathingly.

“Soundwave does not understand `fuck'.”

The girl rolled her head into a puddle on the ground and blew bubbles in frustration. What the hell was going on? Why had Bumblebee hurt her? She had just told him she loved him, and he seemed so happy about it. It might have been because none of the others approved. The stress… or something, something made him snap. Oh Jesus, this was why she never really offered up any feelings to someone. It always backfired. Even so, how could he say that he loved her and then chuck her to the wolves?

“Human must drink.” Soundwave reminded, politely.

They wanted her healthy. The transforming machine! Bumblebee had told her what Starscream had said, all those years ago; that a machine could be built to manipulate the shards of Allspark and make her into a Transformer. That must be it!

 

Oh God, she thought, her heart sinking. That's what Bumblebee was thinking. He knew that they couldn't be together like they were. No one approved, and Prime was sure as hell not going to let it go any further than it had already. Love! What a complicated thing. Love wasn't supposed to be complicated, she thought. It was supposed to be some tall dark guy, with roses, candlelit dinners. Kids and minivans and soccer games… She was starting to disgust herself. Bumblebee must want her to change, despite all the warnings. They could be together then, and no one would think twice. They probably all wanted it to happen, in fact. She could repopulate their species, since all the fembot Autobots had been killed in the last battle against Megatron's forces. Eh…repopulate?! God, she needed to get her head screwed back on the right way. The fact was that Bumblebee had snapped; lost his mind because no one would let him feel as he wished. He had gone over the deep end because there was no other way for them to be together. She still loved him desperately, though. It would only take her soft words and time to heal what had happened; of this Arianna was sure. Unless…did she really want to stop this? They could be together if she were to become a Transformer. No, she stemmed that line of thought harshly. She was human, and that was that. Still, Bumblebee had hurt her, attacked his comrades, and she wasn't sure if she could trust him anymore. Arianna hoped Bumblebee would come to her, and prayed that he didn't all at the same time.

 

The bindings were becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Her hands pulsed painfully with every heart beat, and she couldn't feel her legs anymore. Soundwave had abandoned his post for more worthy causes hours ago. Was it hours? Minutes? Days? The dim cell's light never changed and no window offered any clue. Nightmares had wracked her mind as she caught naps. Tall hulking robots assaulted her, and killed her family over and over again. They were already dead, she tried to tell herself, but the pleading faces kept coming. In the latest one, she had been the destroying robot to snuff their dream-lives. She woke again and again in shivers bordering on convulsions, and now lay awake by force of will. The blue eyes did not come and save her this time. Cold was seeping into her from the floor like a dead clutch of fingers. Arianna didn't know if she would live long enough to loose her humanity.

 

Two dozen Decepticon troopers were sorely disappointed to find the base they had all worked so hard to find already destroyed. The Autobots had luckily evacuated to a new undisclosed location hours ago. What dumb luck, thought one, as he transmitted their unfortunate discovery back to the New Mexico location. Starscream's hiss came back over the communicator.

“Get back here then, worthless dogs! They will already be on their way here if our cover is blown! We change the girl upon your arrival.” Starscream boiled. No matter, he thought, calming himself. The troops had been a decoy to sacrifice. One or two were supposed to survive long enough to reveal the New Mexico operation location. He would have to extract that piece of Allspark Bumblebee was hiding himself.

“Yes master.”

They transformed and moved out swiftly to make the long trek back to their base.