Beeps and Buzzes

🌒 ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 16

　　　

Lulled by a choice selection of country music, cooled by a steady flow of air seeping in through the open window as day turned to a warms summer evening. Sky awash with autumnal colours; everything seemed fine, yet felt terribly disturbed.

Perhaps your wake up call was Optimus silhouetted against the amber skyline, Autobots gathering around him atop a cliffside. Or the heavy sigh of begrudging acceptance from shotgun where Wheelie and Brains started to fidget.

Soon as Bee parked, rolling in next to Mirage, you stepped into the chilly evening air as Bee swiftly took on a new form from behind.

Present company included all known Autobots plus six humans clad in casual attire. Few you recognised, others not so much. A couple did stand out, only one approaching.

Ryder.

"So... They told you, huh?" breaking the silence, nodding not so subtly towards Optimus.

Ryder shook his head "no... No, Epps told me. Told all of us" stepping aside to allow for the man in question to step up, decked out in a hawaiian shirt and mirrored sunglasses.

Epps stepped up, confliction dancing on his features, donning an expression of remorse "soon as I heard Director Mearing mention the name 'Attinger', I guessed our friends here were going to be in deep shit. So, I told then to be prepared to get the hell outta dodge--"

"Attinger?"

"Harold Attinger," Epps clarified "CIA, Black OPs. Seems as though the world Governments didn't like the whole Chicago Affair, and sent him to round everybody up in a... Permenant, fashion" sounding grave as he relayed all this information in briefest of descriptions.

You appreciated shortform explanations. Straight to the point, all facts. No stressing over missing out crucial information over the course of lengthy dialogue.

Optimus knelt down, levelling with you as much as physically possible. Optics boring into your own eyes, yet you found it impossible to be intimidated by somebody so just; "With Epps informing us of matters that we wouldn't otherwise know of, Ratchet thought best to check in on our overseas comrades. All but two responded, Livewire and Jolt. Last transmissions speaking a name we've not heard in centuries ..."

"Lockdown" finished Leadfoot, spitting in contempt "scum of the universe. No side, just hunts for Bountys. Turns out, Prime here has a pretty sum placed on that lovely helm of his" he flicked his own bright red helm, causing it to ring, scowl laying thick across his derma.

Optimus vented, casting a sideways look towards the Wrecker, attention going back to you. Radiating a certain air of regret, pressed onwards "I have yet to know why I am being tracked. But... I am intent on keeping my family safe."

Effortlessly pushing himself up, even among his kin a skyscraper, attention turned solely towards the horizen "which is why, to insure our survival, we must go our seperate ways. All of us" pedes taking small steps toward the cliff face, serves resting upon hips, entertaining a mighty stance.

Finding your voice, brushing past both Epps and Ryder, uncertain about your feeling in the matter but guessed they weren't as powerful as the guilt Optimus was experiencing.