Fic: Paint the Sky With a Silver Lining 3/?
TITLE: Paint the Sky with a Silver Lining, part 3
Crossover with The A-Team movie
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
Author’s Note: I’ve never tried to write the four guys from The A-Team before, so I might have handled them out of character. Call if creative discrepancies ;)
Will Lennox sat inside the familiar and comfortable cab of his partner’s alternate form. He had his feet up on the dash, listening with half an ear to the chatter on the military channel. Eye-lids drooping a little he seemed to be dozing, but he was wide awake. His mind was simply going over all the facts they had about the four men Sam was currently following. They were dangerous if threatened, but from the various reports Gene had forwarded he knew they were really doing a lot of good. They were modern soldiers of fortune and they helped those who found no other way to help themselves. They had never killed anyone, which was one reason why the military hadn’t hunted them down with more force. One man by the name of Decker was making it his life’s goal to catch Smith, but so far they stayed ahead.
Lennox had already given Optimus a heads-up and the Autobot leader agreed that if Sam’s assessment of the mech that posed as the team’s van was a positive one, that it was benign and not insane like so many of Sector Seven’s experiments, they would make sure Smith’s men would remain free and that Decker would stay away from them as far as possible.
“Anything?” he asked into the silence.
“No.”
Will closed his eyes and sank deeper into the comfortable seats. Ironhide hummed and it sounded amused.
Lennox cracked an eye open. “What?”
“Already getting bored?”
“I’m a trained Army Ranger, Hide. I’ve been watching and waiting a lot longer and in more uncomfortable places.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
“Accepted.”
He chuckled. “You’re bored,” Will stated.
Silence.
“Not much of a patient guy, I know,” the human Prime went on. “But let me tell you, going in there guns blazing and scaring the new mech into revealing itself and its intentions isn’t the solution. This calls for different talents.”
Ironhide grunted.
“We can relieve some tension at the shooting range when this is over.” A sly expression crossed his features. “Or we can handle that relief right now.”
That got him a chuckle. “Humans have a one-track mind.”
“Well, this hybrid human has.”
“Nothing hybrid about the very clear offer.”
Will grinned. “Any takers?” His fingers played teasingly over the side panel of the driver side door, runes running over his finger tips.
Ironhide’s shudder was answer enough. As was the hardlight hologram that pounced him. Lennox grinned and silently congratulated his partner on updating his techniques. Ironhide liked to learn human ways of close physical interaction, but he was limited by the missing sensor net in his holoform. The contact with the runes made up for that rather nicely, as did his enthusiasm to try out what might work for them as well.
Like the kissing.
Will didn’t mind the kissing at all, despite how weird it had been in the beginning. A lot had been weird, but he adapted; they both did.
The cab’s window’s darkened, but Will didn’t care one bit. They were alone out here and the military unit assigned as back-up was far enough away not to interfere.
It was his last thought as the exchange of energy grew more intense and Ironhide upped the ante by demonstrating that yes, he did download human porn.
* * *
Sam gazed at the black van, all senses opening slowly. He felt the soft pulses of another mind he hadn’t met before, one that was regarding him cautiously. He let his abilities rise and did a first, non-invasive scan. It got him a prickle of curiosity. He approached - while still standing where he was - and tried to get an idea what he was facing.
It didn’t feel like a Cybertronian spark, nor like a sparkless mind. It was more like WiFi, which only strengthened his belief that this was one of the lost Sector Seven experiments, like Firebolt. But where Firebolt had been forthright and interested, this mind was cautious and almost shy.
::Hello:: he sent.
It got him nothing.
::My name is Sam. I’m not here to harm you. I just want to get to know you::
Still nothing, but he thought he sensed a ripple. Around him there was no movement. Anyone with any sense at all was in bed and asleep. At two in the morning, in this rag-tag town with its single unkempt motel, no one stayed out past ten. The only bar in town had closed early and the gas station was dark and silent. The fifty-plus towns people were scattered over a large area with tiny farms and even tinier houses. The only selling point of this place was that if you needed a place to sleep, this was the next best thing. And cheap.
In the distance a truck honked as it thundered across the highway. Otherwise, silence. One reason the four men had sought out this place was the anonymity of the town.
Something shifted in the van’s mind’s presence and suddenly it rolled forward noiselessly.
Sam tensed.
Barricade’s presence rose as well and Sam felt the bumper connect with his legs. Gently. Just a soft pressure to remind him there was protection. He touched one palm against the smooth, warm metal, almost curling his fingers around it.
::What’s your name?:: he sent, directed at the van.
He thought he heard something, but it sounded garbled. Did it have the same damage Wifi had battled with for so long? That would mean a prior injury.
::I don’t understand you::
Again, the garbled words. Then, ::Go. Away::
It was the first he had heard out of the mech and the voice was… rather feminine. What a surprise.
Sam pushed the surprise aside.
Whatever.
::I can’t.::
::Go. Away:: This time there was more force behind it.
He caught a fleeting impression of being hunted.
::I’m not here to harm you or the humans with you. I’m not with the military.::
::Lies::
::No, please..::
::You followed us. You know who they are. You are a hunter::
The van rolled closer and Barricade’s engine came to life with a dark growl. Sam’s hand clenched around the guard rail, pushing Barricade down with his mind. Not yet. It would scare the van.
But it was too late.
Sam felt the spike of fear and he knew things were going downhill immediately. The black van’s engine came to life with a howl and it surged forward, barreling toward the technopath. Sam lanced a blow at the mech and the van swerved with a shrill cry, turning sharply and kicking up dust.
“Don’t!” he yelled, trying to reach for the terrified mech mind.
Barricade had launched himself forward as well, blocking the van’s escape, making it turn around.
And then it transformed.
All musings about whether or not it was a transforming vehicle or not were blown apart by the smooth shift in form. The metal unfolded and rearranged itself into a heavily armored, stocky looking mech with a green visor and a battle mask over his lower face.
Sam had no time to check if the noise had woken the motel guests, he reached out and tried to calm the mech.
Barricade had followed suit, transforming himself. His weapons aimed at the unknown female mech, red optics aglow with tamed anger. He was positioned between Sam and the attacker, very much aware that the human Prime was still too close.
A hand touched his foot and the power of the technopath seemed to shiver through him as Sam anchored himself firmly.
::We mean no harm!:: he called again and again, using his mind. ::We only want to ask you a few questions. Nothing’s gonna happen::
He repeated the words, over and over, trying to be calm and in control.
Somehow the black mech was far from calm and he was darting nervous looks around.
::We don’t mean any harm, either for you or your friends:: Sam tried.
::Fugitives. They’re fugitives. The military hunts them!::
::We don’t care. We only want to know about you::
The green visor pinned him and Sam felt Barricade tense. The shock-trooper was looming next him, ready to strike.
::You are like them:: the technopath tried. ::You are a mechanical life-form born by the Allspark. We want to know if you’re okay::
The black mech glanced at the dark motel across the street, visibly drawn between defending itself and fleeing.
::We mean no harm:: Sam repeated. ::We’re friends:: He turned his attention briefly to Barricade. ::Stand down, please. You’re scaring it::
Barricade, whose relationship with Sam was based on a lot of different factors, none connected to him being a Prime, still followed the order.
::Please…:: Sam said softly.
The van whined softly, drawn.
::I give you my promise as a Prime that nothing will happen to your human friends or yourself::
The others were suddenly closer. Will and Ironhide and the team. They were darkness within the night, invisible, but there. Sam felt Ironhide’s powerful presence, a sharp mind that was ready for battle. He couldn’t sense Lennox, but he knew his fellow human Prime was there as well.
::Please:: he begged the unknown mech. ::Please calm down. I’m not the enemy::
The green visor scanned him and Barricade, the mech shifting with indecision.
::Why are you here then?:: it/she asked.
::Because we were looking for something else. One of those who were lost and might not know who they are. We found you.:: Sam tried a little smile. ::You’re not alone. There are others.”
The nameless mech glanced at Barricade.
::His name is Barricade. He is from Cybertron. It’s the place where the Allspark came from, the device that gave you life.::
::How do you know?::
::If you give me a chance, I’ll answer all your questions.::
Sam took a step away from Barricade and the other took a step back. He raised a hand, trying to calm the skittish mech.
“We’re not here to harm you or your friends,” he said out loud. “Give me a little time. It’s all I ask for.”
“You’re not taking me away?”
“No.”
The other contemplated that. “Why can I hear you in my head?”
“I’m a technopath. It’s my ability. I can talk to machines.”
Another contemplative silence, then the apparently female mech seemed to relax a little more.
“What’s your name?” Sam tried once more.
“I was never given one. B.A. calls my Mygirl.”
“How about Mai?” Sam smiled. He didn’t get a negative on the suggestion. “You never talked to him?”
“No. I can’t. I have to hide.”
“Why?”
Mai gave him a hard look. “You should know.” She gestured at Barricade. “You hide with him. I can’t tell anyone or be hunted as well. I can only be with them and try to help in their work.”
“Okay.”
“Tell me about the others,” she asked.
Sam looked around. It was still dark, but soon the sun would rise. Mai transformed as if she had sensed his thoughts about discovery and Barricade followed, nose pushing against Sam’s legs once more.
::I’ll be fine with her:: he told the shock-trooper.
But Barricade didn’t follow the unspoken suggestion to leave. He remained; a dark presence inside Sam’s mind and in the parking lot.
::Lennox requests an update::
::Tell him to stand down. I’m really okay:: Sam glanced briefly at the black vehicle behind him, giving the grille a pat.
Barricade growled, but he insisted on rolling after Sam as he approached Mai. The technopath had his full attention on the van and showed a great deal of trust when he sat down next to the vehicle and started to talk. Then again, Barricade would destroy Mai without remorse or a second thought should she try to harm the Prime.
* * *
He had woken to an unspecified feeling, like a distant headache, like a thunderstorm approaching. Sometimes he had those feelings, sometimes he thought it was what the beginning of a migraine might feel like. The sensation had never lasted.
Until last night.
It had woken him and he had slipped out of bed without disturbing the man in the twin bed.
Leaving the motel room he had stepped into the pleasant night air, only to freeze as he had taken in a scene like out of a sci-fi movie. Two giant robots, a human-sized figure he couldn’t make out, all overlaid by the sensation of the approaching thunderstom in his head.
Rooted to the spot he had watched. And he had listened. For some reason he had heard and not simply seen things.
Crazy.
Weird and crazy.
And nothing he could turn his back to. Nor did he alarm the others. The thunderstorm swept him away.
tbc...
Crossover with The A-Team movie
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
Author’s Note: I’ve never tried to write the four guys from The A-Team before, so I might have handled them out of character. Call if creative discrepancies ;)
Will Lennox sat inside the familiar and comfortable cab of his partner’s alternate form. He had his feet up on the dash, listening with half an ear to the chatter on the military channel. Eye-lids drooping a little he seemed to be dozing, but he was wide awake. His mind was simply going over all the facts they had about the four men Sam was currently following. They were dangerous if threatened, but from the various reports Gene had forwarded he knew they were really doing a lot of good. They were modern soldiers of fortune and they helped those who found no other way to help themselves. They had never killed anyone, which was one reason why the military hadn’t hunted them down with more force. One man by the name of Decker was making it his life’s goal to catch Smith, but so far they stayed ahead.
Lennox had already given Optimus a heads-up and the Autobot leader agreed that if Sam’s assessment of the mech that posed as the team’s van was a positive one, that it was benign and not insane like so many of Sector Seven’s experiments, they would make sure Smith’s men would remain free and that Decker would stay away from them as far as possible.
“Anything?” he asked into the silence.
“No.”
Will closed his eyes and sank deeper into the comfortable seats. Ironhide hummed and it sounded amused.
Lennox cracked an eye open. “What?”
“Already getting bored?”
“I’m a trained Army Ranger, Hide. I’ve been watching and waiting a lot longer and in more uncomfortable places.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
“Accepted.”
He chuckled. “You’re bored,” Will stated.
Silence.
“Not much of a patient guy, I know,” the human Prime went on. “But let me tell you, going in there guns blazing and scaring the new mech into revealing itself and its intentions isn’t the solution. This calls for different talents.”
Ironhide grunted.
“We can relieve some tension at the shooting range when this is over.” A sly expression crossed his features. “Or we can handle that relief right now.”
That got him a chuckle. “Humans have a one-track mind.”
“Well, this hybrid human has.”
“Nothing hybrid about the very clear offer.”
Will grinned. “Any takers?” His fingers played teasingly over the side panel of the driver side door, runes running over his finger tips.
Ironhide’s shudder was answer enough. As was the hardlight hologram that pounced him. Lennox grinned and silently congratulated his partner on updating his techniques. Ironhide liked to learn human ways of close physical interaction, but he was limited by the missing sensor net in his holoform. The contact with the runes made up for that rather nicely, as did his enthusiasm to try out what might work for them as well.
Like the kissing.
Will didn’t mind the kissing at all, despite how weird it had been in the beginning. A lot had been weird, but he adapted; they both did.
The cab’s window’s darkened, but Will didn’t care one bit. They were alone out here and the military unit assigned as back-up was far enough away not to interfere.
It was his last thought as the exchange of energy grew more intense and Ironhide upped the ante by demonstrating that yes, he did download human porn.
* * *
Sam gazed at the black van, all senses opening slowly. He felt the soft pulses of another mind he hadn’t met before, one that was regarding him cautiously. He let his abilities rise and did a first, non-invasive scan. It got him a prickle of curiosity. He approached - while still standing where he was - and tried to get an idea what he was facing.
It didn’t feel like a Cybertronian spark, nor like a sparkless mind. It was more like WiFi, which only strengthened his belief that this was one of the lost Sector Seven experiments, like Firebolt. But where Firebolt had been forthright and interested, this mind was cautious and almost shy.
::Hello:: he sent.
It got him nothing.
::My name is Sam. I’m not here to harm you. I just want to get to know you::
Still nothing, but he thought he sensed a ripple. Around him there was no movement. Anyone with any sense at all was in bed and asleep. At two in the morning, in this rag-tag town with its single unkempt motel, no one stayed out past ten. The only bar in town had closed early and the gas station was dark and silent. The fifty-plus towns people were scattered over a large area with tiny farms and even tinier houses. The only selling point of this place was that if you needed a place to sleep, this was the next best thing. And cheap.
In the distance a truck honked as it thundered across the highway. Otherwise, silence. One reason the four men had sought out this place was the anonymity of the town.
Something shifted in the van’s mind’s presence and suddenly it rolled forward noiselessly.
Sam tensed.
Barricade’s presence rose as well and Sam felt the bumper connect with his legs. Gently. Just a soft pressure to remind him there was protection. He touched one palm against the smooth, warm metal, almost curling his fingers around it.
::What’s your name?:: he sent, directed at the van.
He thought he heard something, but it sounded garbled. Did it have the same damage Wifi had battled with for so long? That would mean a prior injury.
::I don’t understand you::
Again, the garbled words. Then, ::Go. Away::
It was the first he had heard out of the mech and the voice was… rather feminine. What a surprise.
Sam pushed the surprise aside.
Whatever.
::I can’t.::
::Go. Away:: This time there was more force behind it.
He caught a fleeting impression of being hunted.
::I’m not here to harm you or the humans with you. I’m not with the military.::
::Lies::
::No, please..::
::You followed us. You know who they are. You are a hunter::
The van rolled closer and Barricade’s engine came to life with a dark growl. Sam’s hand clenched around the guard rail, pushing Barricade down with his mind. Not yet. It would scare the van.
But it was too late.
Sam felt the spike of fear and he knew things were going downhill immediately. The black van’s engine came to life with a howl and it surged forward, barreling toward the technopath. Sam lanced a blow at the mech and the van swerved with a shrill cry, turning sharply and kicking up dust.
“Don’t!” he yelled, trying to reach for the terrified mech mind.
Barricade had launched himself forward as well, blocking the van’s escape, making it turn around.
And then it transformed.
All musings about whether or not it was a transforming vehicle or not were blown apart by the smooth shift in form. The metal unfolded and rearranged itself into a heavily armored, stocky looking mech with a green visor and a battle mask over his lower face.
Sam had no time to check if the noise had woken the motel guests, he reached out and tried to calm the mech.
Barricade had followed suit, transforming himself. His weapons aimed at the unknown female mech, red optics aglow with tamed anger. He was positioned between Sam and the attacker, very much aware that the human Prime was still too close.
A hand touched his foot and the power of the technopath seemed to shiver through him as Sam anchored himself firmly.
::We mean no harm!:: he called again and again, using his mind. ::We only want to ask you a few questions. Nothing’s gonna happen::
He repeated the words, over and over, trying to be calm and in control.
Somehow the black mech was far from calm and he was darting nervous looks around.
::We don’t mean any harm, either for you or your friends:: Sam tried.
::Fugitives. They’re fugitives. The military hunts them!::
::We don’t care. We only want to know about you::
The green visor pinned him and Sam felt Barricade tense. The shock-trooper was looming next him, ready to strike.
::You are like them:: the technopath tried. ::You are a mechanical life-form born by the Allspark. We want to know if you’re okay::
The black mech glanced at the dark motel across the street, visibly drawn between defending itself and fleeing.
::We mean no harm:: Sam repeated. ::We’re friends:: He turned his attention briefly to Barricade. ::Stand down, please. You’re scaring it::
Barricade, whose relationship with Sam was based on a lot of different factors, none connected to him being a Prime, still followed the order.
::Please…:: Sam said softly.
The van whined softly, drawn.
::I give you my promise as a Prime that nothing will happen to your human friends or yourself::
The others were suddenly closer. Will and Ironhide and the team. They were darkness within the night, invisible, but there. Sam felt Ironhide’s powerful presence, a sharp mind that was ready for battle. He couldn’t sense Lennox, but he knew his fellow human Prime was there as well.
::Please:: he begged the unknown mech. ::Please calm down. I’m not the enemy::
The green visor scanned him and Barricade, the mech shifting with indecision.
::Why are you here then?:: it/she asked.
::Because we were looking for something else. One of those who were lost and might not know who they are. We found you.:: Sam tried a little smile. ::You’re not alone. There are others.”
The nameless mech glanced at Barricade.
::His name is Barricade. He is from Cybertron. It’s the place where the Allspark came from, the device that gave you life.::
::How do you know?::
::If you give me a chance, I’ll answer all your questions.::
Sam took a step away from Barricade and the other took a step back. He raised a hand, trying to calm the skittish mech.
“We’re not here to harm you or your friends,” he said out loud. “Give me a little time. It’s all I ask for.”
“You’re not taking me away?”
“No.”
The other contemplated that. “Why can I hear you in my head?”
“I’m a technopath. It’s my ability. I can talk to machines.”
Another contemplative silence, then the apparently female mech seemed to relax a little more.
“What’s your name?” Sam tried once more.
“I was never given one. B.A. calls my Mygirl.”
“How about Mai?” Sam smiled. He didn’t get a negative on the suggestion. “You never talked to him?”
“No. I can’t. I have to hide.”
“Why?”
Mai gave him a hard look. “You should know.” She gestured at Barricade. “You hide with him. I can’t tell anyone or be hunted as well. I can only be with them and try to help in their work.”
“Okay.”
“Tell me about the others,” she asked.
Sam looked around. It was still dark, but soon the sun would rise. Mai transformed as if she had sensed his thoughts about discovery and Barricade followed, nose pushing against Sam’s legs once more.
::I’ll be fine with her:: he told the shock-trooper.
But Barricade didn’t follow the unspoken suggestion to leave. He remained; a dark presence inside Sam’s mind and in the parking lot.
::Lennox requests an update::
::Tell him to stand down. I’m really okay:: Sam glanced briefly at the black vehicle behind him, giving the grille a pat.
Barricade growled, but he insisted on rolling after Sam as he approached Mai. The technopath had his full attention on the van and showed a great deal of trust when he sat down next to the vehicle and started to talk. Then again, Barricade would destroy Mai without remorse or a second thought should she try to harm the Prime.
* * *
He had woken to an unspecified feeling, like a distant headache, like a thunderstorm approaching. Sometimes he had those feelings, sometimes he thought it was what the beginning of a migraine might feel like. The sensation had never lasted.
Until last night.
It had woken him and he had slipped out of bed without disturbing the man in the twin bed.
Leaving the motel room he had stepped into the pleasant night air, only to freeze as he had taken in a scene like out of a sci-fi movie. Two giant robots, a human-sized figure he couldn’t make out, all overlaid by the sensation of the approaching thunderstom in his head.
Rooted to the spot he had watched. And he had listened. For some reason he had heard and not simply seen things.
Crazy.
Weird and crazy.
And nothing he could turn his back to. Nor did he alarm the others. The thunderstorm swept him away.
tbc...