Crosshairs finds Drift sitting on the hood of his alt mode, looking at his phone.
I know you’re tired of talking about it, but I don’t think we can’t, even if it’s the same covers every time. Crosshairs sighs and approaches Drift.
“What is there to say?” Drift asks in a sad tone, “I thought the centuries wondering if Rangeblade was killed in the war was my punishment for all the killing I did. Either it was, and this is continuing the punishment, or this is the punishment; being terrified that I’ll find the one I love dead. I can’t even help her. When was the last time she was happy?”
Crosshairs watches tears roll down Drift’s face as he hugs him.
What can I even say when I’m also terrified we’ll find Jamie dead? Crosshairs wonders.
Neither knows that Ratchet and Optimus heard what Drift said.
“Should I write a doctor’s order for Drift to talk to Rung?” Ratchet asks, “actually might be better for both of them to talk to Rung.”
“I don’t think that’ll help. We’ve been dealing with Jamie’s mental struggle longer than them.”
“from what you’ve told me about how she was doing during our secret meetings, she rapidly changed in the past three and a half years. I hate how it feels like all we can do is try to keep her safe, and we’re failing.”
The two go back to their rooms before Crosshairs and Drift see them.
Mirage tries not to worry that Crosshairs and Drift have been gone for an hour. Worried that this situation is putting Drift in a position that seems out of character, or maybe it’s because while Drift has been an Autobot for centuries, there’s never been someone he cares this much about putting him through a rough situation.
Do you feel you’re dealing with this alone, Drift? Mirage wonders.
Mirage is more concerned about Drift than bothered that the two seem to have forgotten he’s been in the room. Mirage leaves, hoping his three friends will be ok.
Sideswipe watches the spy more focused on something on his phone than on his breakfast.
“Go away!” Mirage scolds before Sideswipe can sit down, “this aft disappeared again!”
“Jamie found the aft no problem,” Sideswipe mocks.
“That’s it,” Mirage comments, “I can’t believe I didn’t think about it sooner. I can track this guy via his cell phone,” Mirage explains.
“Not sure how you thought about cell phone tracking, but ask Jamie to find the guy. This guy is smart, making sure he can’t be found, and I don’t think he has the same phone number and phone for long.”
“So you pay attention,” Mirage jokes.
Would Jamie have thought about finding him sooner if it wasn’t for her mental state? Mirage questions.
Mirage and Sideswipe watch Jamie and Prowl disappear to the killer’s location within ten minutes of Mirage suggesting the idea.
“Told you,” Sideswipe smiles.
“Stay hidden and get back up if things get challenging,” Prowl instructs Jamie.
Jamie stays in the shadows as the two enter the warehouse.
Prowl doesn’t make it far before being electrocuted. Prowl falls to the ground and his optics offline. Jamie watched, ready for a fight rather than contact Prime.
I can handle them. Just need to wait for the right moment. Jamie believes.
An hour of playing video games with Lily goes well until Jamie’s guardians and Optimus walk into the lounge room.
You didn’t tell them, did you? Sunstreaker asks.
I thought Prowl would have informed them. Sideswipe admits.
Sure enough, Drift asks where Jamie is since she’s not here.
“She went with Prowl,” Sideswipe replies.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?!” Drift rages.
“Uh, I suggested the idea. Prowl is the one that had Jamie take him to the killer’s location rather than just tell him where the fragger is!” Sideswipe argues, knowing saying he suggested Jamie find the killer for Prowl isn’t helping get Drift to not be enraged at him.
“You know we all worry about keeping her safe and avoiding causing her to feel like a prisoner,” Optimus reminds Drift.
“I know it’s hard not to think she went on a suicide mission, but she knows how many people that fragger killed,” Crosshairs points out.
The three mechs forget that Lily and Sunstreaker sit on the couch by them. Both trying to figure out how to get Drift to relax.
“I know you don’t care for video games, but you need to relax,” Sideswipe suggests, knowing meditation like Drift would typically do is out of the question.
Drift wants to argue but feels defeated, with Crosshairs and Optimus agreeing with the idea.
Lily sneaks away to talk to Prime as he leaves the room.
“What happened? They won’t tell me anything even though they want me to be friends with Jamie,” Lily sulks.
“It’s complicated —.”
“What’s complicated about Drift thinking Jamie is on a suicide mission?! I know what she did during the vacation! Something is troubling her to where she thinks death is the answer—!”
“Lily, enough!” Sunstreaker scolds.
“She’s right, though,” Crosshairs points out, “she knows what happened, but not why Jamie feels that way. All she knows is Jamie deals with depression and anxiety.”
“She’s only thirteen; she doesn’t need to know specifics!” Sunstreaker argues.
“I don’t know, Lily. It’s stressful knowing what’s troubling Jamie, and we can’t help her,” Crosshairs tells her.
“You don’t need that!” Sunstreaker adds.
“Sunstreaker, stop!” Drift demands, “trust me, Lily, you’ll be helping Jamie even if you don’t know everything,” Drift assures her.
Lily sighs, “fine; I don’t know what adventures Jamie has been on, but I don’t think she’s hoping to be killed. Now, as for you,” she tries to get Drift back into the lounge room. He smiles as the thirteen-year-old pushes him. Crosshairs and Sunstreaker laugh.
“Lily,” Sideswipe laughs, seeing what she’s doing.
Did you tell her about how we’re like a family? Sunstreaker asks. I can’t remember if she heard Jasmine talk about how we’re all like family.
I didn’t, Sideswipe admits, but it’s pretty obvious. I just wish times like this helped Jamie.
Prowl’s optics online, staring at Barricade.
“Nice to see you, brother,” Barricade taunts, “thank the humans you protect for my revival, and Bumblebee for not telling you I’m back,” to Prowl’s surprise, Barricade frees him from the restraints, “I’ve been waiting a long time to kill you.”
Jamie watches the two mechs, waiting to step in if needed.
The two go at it for ten minutes before Austin demands Barricade break up the fight. Prowl finds it strange his brother obeys, smiling before transforming.
“Until we meet again, Autobot,” Austin smiles before getting in Barricade’s alt mode, and they drive off.
“You know that means they’re going to disappear for a while?” Jamie asks.
“I do, even if that means the city is safe for now,” Prowl punches the wall.
“We’d have a problem even if you arrested Austin and Barricade got away. Even if Austin doesn’t know about Megatron.”
“Optimus will not like hearing this. Oh, and what happened to call for backup if something happened to me?”
“One dumb con and human is too easy.”
Can she really deal with Barricade and Austin, or was she hoping to be killed? Prowl worries.
Once Prowl knows Jamie is with her guardians, he contacts the chief of police to meet him in Optimus’ office. He figured Lennox would join the meeting.
“This is concerning,” Optimus frets, “even if Barricade isn’t taking him to meet Megatron, I fear they’re planning something big.”
“If Megatron allows Austin to join the cons, his plan will become more deadly,” Lennox adds.
“He could disappear for a year, hoping we’ll forget about him,” chief adds.
The four mechs do the best they can to prepare for when Austin or the cons strike.
“So, business as usual, but now we have another human enemy,” Lennox concludes.
We’ll be ready. Just hope Sunstreaker doesn’t go looking for revenge.
YOU ARE READING
The Holiday Killer ✔️
FanfictionWashington D.C. has been dealing with a string of murders since the beginning of December. Prowl helps the local police department with the case, but no one is prepared for the attacks the killer has in store for several members of N.E.S.T. and the...
