Fate is a Cruel Mistress (TFP universe)

Fate is a Cruel Mistress

by Davonne Burns

CHAPTER  

Prologue

The ground still shook with secondary explosions. Smoke partially obscured the giant warship hovering over what had been my son's second home. Wrapping my arms around my middle I tried to control the shaking. 

"It's gone . . ." A tear burned its way down my cheek. "The Autobots . . . they're gone . . ." 

"We can't know that. We have to assume they made it out." 

"Jack . . ." 

"Mrs. Darby, Optimus would do anything to make sure your son was safe." 

That's what I was afraid of. Jack was smart and brave. He'd grown up so much since meeting the large aliens. He was everything I'd ever wanted him to be. I knew he was alive. A mother knows. But Optimus . . . 

I yelped flinching as two aircraft roared by overhead. One looked like an F-15 the other was most definitely alien. 

"Megatron." Agent Fowler growled even as he put an arm around my shoulders. I turned into the comforting embrace. 

"What do we do now?" 

"There isn't much we can do." 

"No, I suppose not." What could we, two small humans, do in the face of these beings? 

"I'll find Jack, I promise you that, June. But we need to go before we are spotted." 

He flew us back to Jasper. It was eerie. The streets deserted. A stray dog barked in the distance. Even from my house I could see the giant structure that Agent Fowler had told me was probably Megatron's new fortress. What kind of power could build something on that scale in a matter of moments? One hand clutching the front of my shirt I tried to contain the well of terror threatening to drown me.  

Once in the house I wandered. I knew I should pack. Agent Fowler would be back to escort me to what we hoped was a safe house. At the moment I didn't think I would ever feel safe again. Going to my closet I pulled out a few garments, not even bothering to look at what I grabbed. It all got shoved into a suitcase. Something prompted me to go to Jack's room and do the same with his clothes. I had to believe I would see him again. I had to. 

An hour later I found myself sitting on the couch staring at the television. I hadn't even bothered to turn it on. Shaking my head I got up. Instead of going to finish the packing I ended up in the garage standing in the middle of the empty space. Jack's bicycle was still leaning up against the wall. I covered my mouth as a soft sob escaped. 

No. No he was not gone. Optimus had promised and if I knew anything about that stoic red and blue being it was that he valued his word. 

"Oh Jack . . ." 

Wiping away the tears I looked at the bicycle. Taking a deep breath I nodded to myself. Going back inside, I wrote a quick note for Agent Fowler. 

It took me nearly an hour and I was exhausted by the time I reached the crossroads. Rubble still smoldered on the ground around me. The smell of burnt wiring and melted metal filled the air. The ship was gone as were the support aircraft. Propping the bike against the stop sign I started forward, picking my way around boulders and other debris. I had to climb once I reached the side of the mesa, but only about twenty feet or so. The hollowed out base lay exposed reminding me of patient with their chest cavity cracked open. Nothing looked like it should. Steel girders lay warped and twisted amongst the rubble like compound fractures. In the middle nearly covered with soot and debris was the Autobot's symbol.