One In A Billion | Transformers Prime [1]

𝟎𝟎𝟖

When I get home, it's past midnight and I'm dissatisfied with my findings. Apparently, everything Jack, Miko, and Raf told me earlier was irrelevant to what I was trying to do. Not to mention everyone giving me a hard time at the base. What was their deal? Why were they trying too hard to make me disclose information about myself? I plastered a hard look. I needed to dig deeper. But how? If I kept asking each member of the team about each other, suspiciousness would stir. Someone was bound to detect a pattern. I had to think of another way.

The mansion stood like a dark sentinel against the backdrop of the night, its imposing architecture casting eerie shadows across the grounds. As Wheeljack pulled up, I felt a shiver run down my spine. The realization that I was harboring a Transformer, an Autobot no less, was as much of a secret as it was a capital offense to the operation. I gazed at Wheeljack, his visor-like optics shifting, a conflicted expression crossing his face. "Look, kid, it's not like that. We, uh, just wanted to get to know you better. Didn't mean to come across as pushy."

"Oh, I'm sure. And you would know all about pushiness, wouldn't you?" I scoffed, voice laced with bitterness. Wheeljack shifted his weight from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable with the accusation. "I admit, I might've gone overboard and so might have the others. But it's not like I'm cut out to be a guardian."

"Funny, I was just about to say I don't want you as my guardian. We're quite the pair, huh?" I countered as defiance flashed in my eyes. Wheeljack let out a humorless chuckle, his gaze finally meeting mine. "Trust me, Ember, having you around wasn't exactly my top choice either. But it's not up to us. Optimus made the call."

My lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Well, lucky us then. Stuck together whether we like it or not."

"Yeah, that's about the size of it."

My gaze turned cold, as I crossed my arms even tighter. "Fine. Whatever. Night, I guess."

"Goodnight, Ember," Wheeljack replied, his voice gruff.

As I turned and headed toward the mansion, I couldn't resist one last jab. "Try not to wreck anything on your way out. I'd hate to think I'm the only one stuck with you,"

Wheeljack let out a half-hearted chuckle, his shoulders slumping a little. "You're not alone in that sentiment,"

The night air was heavy with secrecy as I retreated into the mansion's opulent foyer. A dim light illuminated the lavish decor, contrasting starkly with the weight of the mission. I moved toward a massive fireplace, fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the mantle as if seeking solace in the artistry.

My mind conjured up images of Autobots: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, and the others. They were heroes to the world, but to me, they were potential targets. I knew that someday I might have to eliminate them to fulfill the mission I had been conditioned for since childhood.

Walking over to a grand piano, I let my fingers dance hesitantly over the keys, producing haunting melodies that seemed to echo my inner turmoil. I thought about my life, a tapestry woven with secrets, lies, and a loyalty I wasn't sure I fully understood anymore.

"Can I really do this?" I whispered. "Can I betray everything I've learned to be true?"

As my fingers stilled, I turned my gaze toward a hidden compartment within the piano. There, nestled beneath layers of sheet music, was a collection of encrypted files containing the information I had amassed about the Autobots. Each piece of data was a thread I had delicately woven into a complex web of understanding.

After giving it some thought, I concluded that I'd need to genuinely qualify for a job that was somehow linked to the Autobots. I couldn't just keep asking them for info. I started pacing. The bots' base is government property. Now I just needed to find a specific branch I could work for.