Fic: Smoke and Mirrors, Secrets and Lies 11/?
TITLE: Smoke and Mirrors, Secrets and Lies, part 11
SERIES: Imperfection Deviation
AUTHOR: Macx
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: None of the characters belong to me, sadly. They are owned by people with a lot more money :)
FEEDBACK: Loved
WHO TO BLAME: Sapphire! It only took one weekend to work this out, two weeks later the story was written out as a rough draft. Darn bunnies!
“They have a bond.”
“Is that Cybertronian for really good friends with perks?!”
Raoul paced up and down the length of the, for a human at least, considerably-sized room. Drift sat on a metal slab that was the examination table, red optics tracking his human friend.
“We shouldn’t have agreed to this!” the mechanic said, looking up.
“There was no choice. It was a peaceful solution or something a lot more violent. I couldn’t risk injuring you, Raoul. If something had happened…”
“I can take care of myself. I duck fast.”
Drift’s facial plates shifted into a brief smile. “This isn’t about speed. I was lucky to hide this long with you. Sooner or later it had to happen. My signal dampener failed and I was exposed. It could have been a lot worse. It could have been a strike to take me out and off-line me without questions.”
“I thought they were the good guys.”
Drift reached down to pick up his friend as Raoul gestured to be lifted up to the table.
“They are Autobots. A faction of Cybertron. While I trust the Prime not to execute me without a fair chance, not every single one of his men would be so kind.”
“You put a lot of faith in one individual. Like I said, I trust our president, but he has advisors, he has people to think of, and a country to lead. If this Prime guy decides they’re better off with you scrapped, you’ll just take it?”
Drift was silent. Raoul slammed his fist against the red armor.
“You’re not some pig to be slaughtered, Drift! You’re not the enemy! You deserve a chance and I’ll make them hear me about this!”
“You’ll be my advocate?”
“Don’t be so sarcastic about it!”
Drift leaned down a little. “A few law shows don’t make you an expert. And Cybertronian law doesn’t follow human rules.”
“I don’t care. You’re my friend and I’ve known you for a lot longer than they have! I’d do the same for a human buddy of mine, wherever he comes from!”
Drift whirred softly, then clicked once or twice. “I wish it was so easy.”
Raoul glared up at him. “You really have given up, right?”
“I want you to be safe, Raoul. You say I’m your friend. You are mine, too. I like this planet very much. I respects its people. But Megatron stood for hatred and the intolerance toward apparently weaker or organic races. His methods were brutal, his single-mindedness feared. Too many followed his lead in that regard, were violent without reason.” Drift gazed at his fingers. “His ways seemed logical back then. Today I have no idea why I followed. Maybe it was easier. I didn’t need to think too much.”
“We have and had crazy leaders on this planet, too! They ruined countries and started terrible wars! Read our history and you know it! But even then the people of those countries weren’t simply… judged. Not because of their nationality. One person doesn’t leave a mark on every individual who once wore the sigil,” Raoul insisted. “People can change!”
Drift didn’t answer, just looked away. Raoul’s rumbling stomach kept him from arguing more.
“You should eat,” the Decepticon advised.
“And leave you alone? No.”
“You need food. If you faint, they might blame me.”
Raoul rolled his eyes. “Very bad attempt at giving me the guilty conscience of the day.”
Drift smiled slightly. “Please?” he only asked.
Another eye-roll. “How about we ask one of your guards nicely?”
He got up and Drift got the hint that his friend wanted to be lowered to the ground. He did just that and Raoul walked over to the door. There was a panel at human height and he pushed the only button.
“Room service?” he called when someone answered.
Drift groaned softly to himself. Raoul just shot him a grin. He would get food somehow, into this room, and he would stick to Drift like glue.
* * *
“His general condition is rather good,” Ratchet reported to the two Primes. “His self-repair took care of the deeper systems, though there are glitches that need taking care of. Superficial damage was attended to by Mr. Vega. He has a rather keen understanding of Cybertronian technology because of Drift’s continued presence in his life.”
Optimus nodded. “It shows. While he doesn’t leave Drift alone anywhere, he does wander around a little. He picks up on things quite quickly, as Arcee confirmed.”
“I can’t find anything aversely wrong with Mr. Vega. He is a normal human and quite protective of ‘his car’. Considering that Drift has been known to him as a mechanoid life form from another planet, and he claims he knows what a Decepticon is, it is astounding.”
Lennox, who sat on a mech-sized sideboard-like feature of the room, shot Ratchet a neutral look. “You thought Drift was controlling him somehow?”
“No. It may have come across the wrong way. I’m surprised he revealed himself to a human the way he did, supported this human, was a peaceful part of his life - and tried to protect him in the end by offering to run off alone. Raoul is very loyal and this is a loyalty that doesn’t come from fear or threats or blind devotion. Mr. Vega is very knowledgable as to what Decepticons stand for. He claims he has friends that run with very bad street gangs, friends that were killed or had to kill, and Decepticons are just the same. That they can change.”
“They can,” Optimus agreed. “Jetfire changed sides. Barricade declared an alliance to us and has protected not only his spark-bonded, but also humans from harm. Drift wants to be seen as a neutral, though.”
“He has been one for all the time on this planet,” Rodimus spoke up. “And he’s been here for a while.”
“He treats Mr. Vega, as well as Ms Sheppard… Bella…” Ratchet corrected himself, looking briefly at Lennox, “as equals and friends. From the little we spoke, he respects humanity. He actually mentioned that he likes living among them, even in secret.”
“Raoul got him to be a car show exhibit more than once. He has to love humans,” Lennox remarked, smirking.
“So we really let him go? Back to LA?” Rodimus asked.
Optimus was silent, looking at the assembled mechs and one human. Tony was back in LA because of business matters, Sam was at Yuma base.
“Yes,” he finally said. “I gave my word. I fully intend to keep it.”
Ratchet shifted a little, but showed no other reaction.
“I want to bring in Sam,” Optimus continued. “I called him earlier and he agreed to drive over from Yuma if we need him.”
“And we need him,” Rodimus commented.
“Yes. I know we can’t end a war if we suspect everyone, but I also know Decepticons lie. His actions speak for themselves, but to erase even the last doubt I want Sam to scan him if he agrees to it.”
“I talked to Barricade about Drift,” Rodimus threw in. “He doesn’t know about him in particular, but he knows of Megatron’s assassins. Drift defied a command and should Soundwave or Shockwave find him, he will be terminated.”
“Walking dead,” Will commented.
“Something like it.”
“I’ll start with the necessary maintenance and repairs,” Ratchet announced. “It could take up to three days. We should let everyone at the bases know. Just in case.”
Optimus agreed. “I’ll prepare him for Sam’s arrival.”
* * *
Bella could freely move through the base, though she never ventured too deeply anywhere. It was so easy to get lost. Twice a soldier pointed her back, the third time she acquired a rather small Autobot called Arcee as he new guide. Well, Arcee was small compared to the others, but she was still taller than Bella.
Her tour guide was an immense help and she soon knew a little more than before about the base and Arcee.
“I still feel like this is all a dream,” she told the troubleshooter when they settled down outside.
It was a nice day, not too cold or too hot, and the shade was pleasant.
“I believe it will take a while for you to process everything,” Arcee agreed. “You had a lot of information dumped on you.”
“Especially about my dad.”
Arcee tilted her head, the blue optics glowing softly in the dark gray face that was framed by a blue and green helmet. Bella thought the Autobot looked like a delicate insect compared to her taller and more massively armored friends.
“Will Lennox is special and has been ever since the accident with the Allspark shard,” Arcee finally said. “But he is still human. Despite what he sometimes claims.”
“I know. I mean, aside from those moving tattoos he hasn’t changed.” She was sure there was a lot he hadn’t told her and might never. “That’s kinda freaky, though. I mean, he’s my father. He should be older.”
“Those changes cannot be covered. He tried. I know it burdens him not to be able to move openly.”
Bella nodded. “Bummer.”
Arcee made a soft noise that sounded like a laugh. “Will has very good friends here. I believe without Ironhide things might have turned out a lot worse.”
“Ironhide’s the big, grumpy guy, right?”
Another laugh. “Yes. Don’t let him fool you. He’s an ornery, stubborn old mech, but his spark is in the right place.”
“He and Dad are friends?”
“A lot more.”
Bella stared at her. “Huh?”
“They have a bond.”
“Is that Cybertronian for really good friends with perks?!”
Arcee tilted her head, whirring softly. “I’m not sure I can translate your words correctly, Bella. Ironhide and Will are partners. Ironhide’s spark connected to Will’s hybrid body. He didn’t tell you? The changes invoked by the Allspark made him much more than just a hybrid. He is, essentially, a Prime.”
Bella held up her hands. “Wow, wait a second. He’s a what? Prime? But he’s human! And he’s not having sex with a big robot, is he?!”
Arcee’s blue optics flared once more. “We don’t have sex, Bella.”
“That’s a relief. Then what’s a spark bond?”
“It means two sparks belong together.”
“But Dad has no spark!” Her head was starting to hurt.
“It is difficult to understand,” Arcee agreed. “Even we don’t understand how it was possible, but it happened, and Ironhide was Will’s stability.”
She groaned and leaned back, bumping her head against the metal behind her. “This is a bottomless well. I barely get half of it.”
Arcee touched her gently, the elegant fingers tapping against her shoulder. “No one expects you to. You need to catch up on a lot and it’s not done within a few days.”
“Apparently.”
Her father had something with an alien robot. With an alien! Corey would flip. He would positively flip if he knew. He never could, sure, but if he could… Bella wondered when she had started to fall asleep and dream of alien mechanoids. Right now, it really did feel like a dream.
“My dad and a mechanoid alien life form,” she said out loud. “Please tell me that’s not something uncommon for you guys.”
Arcee tilted her head a little. “Spark bonds are rare. Sharing is more common.”
“Sharing?”
“An exchange of data and energy. It is without attachments, without a permanent connection.”
Bella blinked. That sounded very much like sex… But robots and sex? What for?
“And my father has a bond? That rare thing?”
“Will is no Cybertronian. It can never be a real spark bond,” Arcee explained. “It’s different. Will explained his hybrid status already?”
“Yes. Can’t be overlooked, actually. The runes and all. He tried to give me the basic version and it’s still fantastic. I mean, he absorbed a piece of alien whatnot and now he’s… he’s half whatever and… and he has abilities. I think he hasn’t told me everything. But that he and one of you guys… Ironhide is… isn’t he male?”
“We do not have different genders.”
“But you sound like a woman.”
Arcee smiled, face plates shifting. “You apply your views to my exoskeletal structure and the modulation of my voice. I can change the modulation easily enough, and my size is only due to my original function as a troubleshooter. We cannot gain mass and size, Bella. We are created with limits. Optimus can never be less tall than he is, and I cannot grow.”
“Okay. So no genders. My dad’s not involved with a guy, just an alien robot.”
Arcee tilted her head, looking amused. “My kind has emotions, too, Bella. We can feel deeply for another, even another life form. Myself I’m friends with several humans and one in particular I grew very fond of. We don’t ‘fall in love’ as you do. But the bonds are as intimate as we can be with another individual.”
Now her head started to hurt. “Geez… So, how many are there? Bonds?“
Arcee looked at her with. “Three I am aware of.”
“All humans?!”
“Two.”
So aside from her father there was another. Arcee wasn’t forthcoming with a name and Bella didn’t really want to know. She was still digesting the news. It was one thing to play online, to pretend there were alien beings and so on. Or to read about what people thought of alien sex. But her father..
No, not sex, she reminded herself. Wouldn’t work. Couldn’t work. Physical impossibility.
“Annabelle?” Arcee asked gently. “I’m sorry if this confuses you.”
“It does. A lot.”
“I apologize.”
“Not your fault.” She dredged up a smile. “I think me and Dad… we need to talk again.” She drummed her fingers onto her thighs. Finally she asked, “You said he’s a Prime, right? How’s that possible?”
Arcee tilted her head. “I believe you should talk with your father, Bella. I see there are many things he hasn’t explained to you yet.”
She nodded slowly. He hadn’t. The bottomless well had just gotten even deeper.
tbc...
SERIES: Imperfection Deviation
AUTHOR: Macx
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: None of the characters belong to me, sadly. They are owned by people with a lot more money :)
FEEDBACK: Loved
WHO TO BLAME: Sapphire! It only took one weekend to work this out, two weeks later the story was written out as a rough draft. Darn bunnies!
“They have a bond.”
“Is that Cybertronian for really good friends with perks?!”
Raoul paced up and down the length of the, for a human at least, considerably-sized room. Drift sat on a metal slab that was the examination table, red optics tracking his human friend.
“We shouldn’t have agreed to this!” the mechanic said, looking up.
“There was no choice. It was a peaceful solution or something a lot more violent. I couldn’t risk injuring you, Raoul. If something had happened…”
“I can take care of myself. I duck fast.”
Drift’s facial plates shifted into a brief smile. “This isn’t about speed. I was lucky to hide this long with you. Sooner or later it had to happen. My signal dampener failed and I was exposed. It could have been a lot worse. It could have been a strike to take me out and off-line me without questions.”
“I thought they were the good guys.”
Drift reached down to pick up his friend as Raoul gestured to be lifted up to the table.
“They are Autobots. A faction of Cybertron. While I trust the Prime not to execute me without a fair chance, not every single one of his men would be so kind.”
“You put a lot of faith in one individual. Like I said, I trust our president, but he has advisors, he has people to think of, and a country to lead. If this Prime guy decides they’re better off with you scrapped, you’ll just take it?”
Drift was silent. Raoul slammed his fist against the red armor.
“You’re not some pig to be slaughtered, Drift! You’re not the enemy! You deserve a chance and I’ll make them hear me about this!”
“You’ll be my advocate?”
“Don’t be so sarcastic about it!”
Drift leaned down a little. “A few law shows don’t make you an expert. And Cybertronian law doesn’t follow human rules.”
“I don’t care. You’re my friend and I’ve known you for a lot longer than they have! I’d do the same for a human buddy of mine, wherever he comes from!”
Drift whirred softly, then clicked once or twice. “I wish it was so easy.”
Raoul glared up at him. “You really have given up, right?”
“I want you to be safe, Raoul. You say I’m your friend. You are mine, too. I like this planet very much. I respects its people. But Megatron stood for hatred and the intolerance toward apparently weaker or organic races. His methods were brutal, his single-mindedness feared. Too many followed his lead in that regard, were violent without reason.” Drift gazed at his fingers. “His ways seemed logical back then. Today I have no idea why I followed. Maybe it was easier. I didn’t need to think too much.”
“We have and had crazy leaders on this planet, too! They ruined countries and started terrible wars! Read our history and you know it! But even then the people of those countries weren’t simply… judged. Not because of their nationality. One person doesn’t leave a mark on every individual who once wore the sigil,” Raoul insisted. “People can change!”
Drift didn’t answer, just looked away. Raoul’s rumbling stomach kept him from arguing more.
“You should eat,” the Decepticon advised.
“And leave you alone? No.”
“You need food. If you faint, they might blame me.”
Raoul rolled his eyes. “Very bad attempt at giving me the guilty conscience of the day.”
Drift smiled slightly. “Please?” he only asked.
Another eye-roll. “How about we ask one of your guards nicely?”
He got up and Drift got the hint that his friend wanted to be lowered to the ground. He did just that and Raoul walked over to the door. There was a panel at human height and he pushed the only button.
“Room service?” he called when someone answered.
Drift groaned softly to himself. Raoul just shot him a grin. He would get food somehow, into this room, and he would stick to Drift like glue.
* * *
“His general condition is rather good,” Ratchet reported to the two Primes. “His self-repair took care of the deeper systems, though there are glitches that need taking care of. Superficial damage was attended to by Mr. Vega. He has a rather keen understanding of Cybertronian technology because of Drift’s continued presence in his life.”
Optimus nodded. “It shows. While he doesn’t leave Drift alone anywhere, he does wander around a little. He picks up on things quite quickly, as Arcee confirmed.”
“I can’t find anything aversely wrong with Mr. Vega. He is a normal human and quite protective of ‘his car’. Considering that Drift has been known to him as a mechanoid life form from another planet, and he claims he knows what a Decepticon is, it is astounding.”
Lennox, who sat on a mech-sized sideboard-like feature of the room, shot Ratchet a neutral look. “You thought Drift was controlling him somehow?”
“No. It may have come across the wrong way. I’m surprised he revealed himself to a human the way he did, supported this human, was a peaceful part of his life - and tried to protect him in the end by offering to run off alone. Raoul is very loyal and this is a loyalty that doesn’t come from fear or threats or blind devotion. Mr. Vega is very knowledgable as to what Decepticons stand for. He claims he has friends that run with very bad street gangs, friends that were killed or had to kill, and Decepticons are just the same. That they can change.”
“They can,” Optimus agreed. “Jetfire changed sides. Barricade declared an alliance to us and has protected not only his spark-bonded, but also humans from harm. Drift wants to be seen as a neutral, though.”
“He has been one for all the time on this planet,” Rodimus spoke up. “And he’s been here for a while.”
“He treats Mr. Vega, as well as Ms Sheppard… Bella…” Ratchet corrected himself, looking briefly at Lennox, “as equals and friends. From the little we spoke, he respects humanity. He actually mentioned that he likes living among them, even in secret.”
“Raoul got him to be a car show exhibit more than once. He has to love humans,” Lennox remarked, smirking.
“So we really let him go? Back to LA?” Rodimus asked.
Optimus was silent, looking at the assembled mechs and one human. Tony was back in LA because of business matters, Sam was at Yuma base.
“Yes,” he finally said. “I gave my word. I fully intend to keep it.”
Ratchet shifted a little, but showed no other reaction.
“I want to bring in Sam,” Optimus continued. “I called him earlier and he agreed to drive over from Yuma if we need him.”
“And we need him,” Rodimus commented.
“Yes. I know we can’t end a war if we suspect everyone, but I also know Decepticons lie. His actions speak for themselves, but to erase even the last doubt I want Sam to scan him if he agrees to it.”
“I talked to Barricade about Drift,” Rodimus threw in. “He doesn’t know about him in particular, but he knows of Megatron’s assassins. Drift defied a command and should Soundwave or Shockwave find him, he will be terminated.”
“Walking dead,” Will commented.
“Something like it.”
“I’ll start with the necessary maintenance and repairs,” Ratchet announced. “It could take up to three days. We should let everyone at the bases know. Just in case.”
Optimus agreed. “I’ll prepare him for Sam’s arrival.”
* * *
Bella could freely move through the base, though she never ventured too deeply anywhere. It was so easy to get lost. Twice a soldier pointed her back, the third time she acquired a rather small Autobot called Arcee as he new guide. Well, Arcee was small compared to the others, but she was still taller than Bella.
Her tour guide was an immense help and she soon knew a little more than before about the base and Arcee.
“I still feel like this is all a dream,” she told the troubleshooter when they settled down outside.
It was a nice day, not too cold or too hot, and the shade was pleasant.
“I believe it will take a while for you to process everything,” Arcee agreed. “You had a lot of information dumped on you.”
“Especially about my dad.”
Arcee tilted her head, the blue optics glowing softly in the dark gray face that was framed by a blue and green helmet. Bella thought the Autobot looked like a delicate insect compared to her taller and more massively armored friends.
“Will Lennox is special and has been ever since the accident with the Allspark shard,” Arcee finally said. “But he is still human. Despite what he sometimes claims.”
“I know. I mean, aside from those moving tattoos he hasn’t changed.” She was sure there was a lot he hadn’t told her and might never. “That’s kinda freaky, though. I mean, he’s my father. He should be older.”
“Those changes cannot be covered. He tried. I know it burdens him not to be able to move openly.”
Bella nodded. “Bummer.”
Arcee made a soft noise that sounded like a laugh. “Will has very good friends here. I believe without Ironhide things might have turned out a lot worse.”
“Ironhide’s the big, grumpy guy, right?”
Another laugh. “Yes. Don’t let him fool you. He’s an ornery, stubborn old mech, but his spark is in the right place.”
“He and Dad are friends?”
“A lot more.”
Bella stared at her. “Huh?”
“They have a bond.”
“Is that Cybertronian for really good friends with perks?!”
Arcee tilted her head, whirring softly. “I’m not sure I can translate your words correctly, Bella. Ironhide and Will are partners. Ironhide’s spark connected to Will’s hybrid body. He didn’t tell you? The changes invoked by the Allspark made him much more than just a hybrid. He is, essentially, a Prime.”
Bella held up her hands. “Wow, wait a second. He’s a what? Prime? But he’s human! And he’s not having sex with a big robot, is he?!”
Arcee’s blue optics flared once more. “We don’t have sex, Bella.”
“That’s a relief. Then what’s a spark bond?”
“It means two sparks belong together.”
“But Dad has no spark!” Her head was starting to hurt.
“It is difficult to understand,” Arcee agreed. “Even we don’t understand how it was possible, but it happened, and Ironhide was Will’s stability.”
She groaned and leaned back, bumping her head against the metal behind her. “This is a bottomless well. I barely get half of it.”
Arcee touched her gently, the elegant fingers tapping against her shoulder. “No one expects you to. You need to catch up on a lot and it’s not done within a few days.”
“Apparently.”
Her father had something with an alien robot. With an alien! Corey would flip. He would positively flip if he knew. He never could, sure, but if he could… Bella wondered when she had started to fall asleep and dream of alien mechanoids. Right now, it really did feel like a dream.
“My dad and a mechanoid alien life form,” she said out loud. “Please tell me that’s not something uncommon for you guys.”
Arcee tilted her head a little. “Spark bonds are rare. Sharing is more common.”
“Sharing?”
“An exchange of data and energy. It is without attachments, without a permanent connection.”
Bella blinked. That sounded very much like sex… But robots and sex? What for?
“And my father has a bond? That rare thing?”
“Will is no Cybertronian. It can never be a real spark bond,” Arcee explained. “It’s different. Will explained his hybrid status already?”
“Yes. Can’t be overlooked, actually. The runes and all. He tried to give me the basic version and it’s still fantastic. I mean, he absorbed a piece of alien whatnot and now he’s… he’s half whatever and… and he has abilities. I think he hasn’t told me everything. But that he and one of you guys… Ironhide is… isn’t he male?”
“We do not have different genders.”
“But you sound like a woman.”
Arcee smiled, face plates shifting. “You apply your views to my exoskeletal structure and the modulation of my voice. I can change the modulation easily enough, and my size is only due to my original function as a troubleshooter. We cannot gain mass and size, Bella. We are created with limits. Optimus can never be less tall than he is, and I cannot grow.”
“Okay. So no genders. My dad’s not involved with a guy, just an alien robot.”
Arcee tilted her head, looking amused. “My kind has emotions, too, Bella. We can feel deeply for another, even another life form. Myself I’m friends with several humans and one in particular I grew very fond of. We don’t ‘fall in love’ as you do. But the bonds are as intimate as we can be with another individual.”
Now her head started to hurt. “Geez… So, how many are there? Bonds?“
Arcee looked at her with. “Three I am aware of.”
“All humans?!”
“Two.”
So aside from her father there was another. Arcee wasn’t forthcoming with a name and Bella didn’t really want to know. She was still digesting the news. It was one thing to play online, to pretend there were alien beings and so on. Or to read about what people thought of alien sex. But her father..
No, not sex, she reminded herself. Wouldn’t work. Couldn’t work. Physical impossibility.
“Annabelle?” Arcee asked gently. “I’m sorry if this confuses you.”
“It does. A lot.”
“I apologize.”
“Not your fault.” She dredged up a smile. “I think me and Dad… we need to talk again.” She drummed her fingers onto her thighs. Finally she asked, “You said he’s a Prime, right? How’s that possible?”
Arcee tilted her head. “I believe you should talk with your father, Bella. I see there are many things he hasn’t explained to you yet.”
She nodded slowly. He hadn’t. The bottomless well had just gotten even deeper.
tbc...