Times Are Changing

27

 

Jadefire pulled out of recharge at the sound of the emergency alarms. Beside her, Ironhide rose quickly as well, though he was already halfway to the door as she rose. “What on Cybertron is that?”

“The shard; someone’s in the protected area we left the fragging humans in charge of.”

She leapt up to her feet and followed him out, joining the sea of running soldiers and Autobots alike to ensure the shard’s safety.

By the time they arrived, however, the base was silent, save for the wailing alarm.

Optimus stood beside Lennox, who was visibly paling at the sight of the devastation. “This is not good.”

“After us, huh?” Ironhide spat. “Looks like we found out what they wanted.”

A nameless soldier ran up to Lennox and saluted. “Major Lennox!”

“Report soldier. What happened here?”

“It was… it was like some massive metal cat, sir. Fired at us and kept us distracted until the shard’s alarms went off. Something streaked past us and left with that fast cat.”

Optimus’ optics narrowed. “A metal cat. Are you sure?”

The soldier nodded. “Yes sir.”

Lennox looked up at the large mech. “You know it?”

“Ravage.” He turned to the other Autobots. “We must leave. Tonight.”

“Look at what you allowed now!”

They all turned to see Galloway stalking up. “Director Galloway, to what do we owe the—“

Save it, Major.” He turned on Optimus. “How do you expect us to trust you all now?”

Ironhide growled low. “Now see here—!“ He stopped at Jadefire pushing on his chest to keep him from advancing on the human.

Optimus had the patience of a saint. “I have a plan of action on retrieval of the shard. I need transportation for my soldiers to American soil first, however.”

“Absolutely not!” His bravado was holding strong. “You will go nowhere unoccupied by the military, is that understood?”

“Director Galloway, we will be with them on that journey,” Lennox supplied. “Let the Autobots do what they must to ensure the safety of many innocents.”

Galloway visibly fumed, but finally folded. “Have your men ready to leave immediately, as well as his.” He started stalking back to base. “And get this place cleaned up!”

“Snarky spawn of a glitch,” Jadefire said, dropping her hands from Ironhide’s chest. “We really have to listen to him?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Optimus turned to the femme. “You are to remain here in case of an emergency. Also while we’re gone, you’re in charge of radio transmission.”

“Of course.”

“I also need you to monitor activity. Let us know anything you find out.”

She nodded. “Got it.” She took a few strides before jumping into her vehicle form, speeding back to the main bunker.

“When are we leaving?” Ironhide asked.

“As soon as the planes are ready. We need to find Sam.”

“How could the boy be of any help to us now?”

“The humans are forgetting what side we’re on.” He looked on, almost sadly, at the soldiers repairing the damage. “We need to remind them somehow.”

The weapons master grunted. “It’s a long shot.”

“One we need to try.”

---

Jadefire followed her spark to find Ironhide. Her search led her to the Autobot’s side of the armory, seeing the mech reloading his cannons and making sure his weapons systems were calibrated. She waited for a troop of soldiers to pass by before approaching him. “’Hide?”

“I don’t like this.” He jerked his arm and closed the chamber on his cannon. “Something isn’t sitting right with this whole thing.”

“More like everything isn’t sitting right.” She folded her arms while he transformed another gun and reloaded it. “I’m a bit scared, actually.”

He scoffed, locking the chamber on his gun. “I know, Sweetheart, but not much we can do. We’ve been doing this exchange of ammo for far too long now.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “Besides, I’ll be fine.”

She smiled a bit. “You’re not the one I’m scared for. ‘Cons know better than to mess with you now.” Jadefire nodded her head towards her brother, conversing with Ratchet on the other side of the armory. “It’s him.”

Ironhide frowned and transformed the gun back into his arm. “He’s had enough training to get away with very few injuries. Made damn sure of that.”

“And I trust your teaching skills. All your other students have done well.” She moved to lean against the table where all his unused ammo lay. “He’s… you two are the only family I’ve got left now. I’m allowed to worry.”

“It’s normal.” He tugged her forward, hearing her squeak slightly as she lost her balance for a second and leaned on his chest plates for support. “We’ll be fine. All you need to worry about is keeping the med bay prepared for anyone who gets the Energon kicked out of them.”

“Mm, last I checked, it was you occupying the table in the previous battle.”

“Last I checked it was both of us on that same table.”

She looked thoughtful for a second. “Oh yes, that’s right.”

“Autobots prepare to leave for D.C. base immediately.”

Activity around them picked up as robots and men alike left the armory, heading for the planes. Transformation sounds filled the air, as well as shouts of orders.

She nodded towards the ruckus. “Looks like your ride’s leaving.”

“Seems so. We’ll be back before you know it.”

“In one piece I hope.”

“I’ll see how well I can keep to that promise each time.”

“Fine, in manageable pieces, how about that one?”

He grinned and wrapped an arm around her frame. “That one is better.” He pressed his mouth plates to her helm and dropped his voice, switching his language to Cybertronian. “Keep an auditory sensor to the radios. Optimus is wary of the humans right now with Galloway in the midst. They may be hiding something from us.” He pressed a digit lightly to her chest, over her spark. “Let me know through this the instant something comes up.”

She nodded her understanding. “Get your aft on that plane before it leaves you.”

He took a few steps away before transforming into his truck alt and leaving for the hulking flying machines he hated so much.

Jadefire watched him go for awhile, reaching behind her for one of his smaller pistols, knowing he had left it there intentionally for her. “Don’t have to worry about me, Love. It’s the humans that need to worry if they try to harm you all…”