Epiphany (TFP x FEMME/OC)

Reign

     Nitro placed Melissian's small form onto the bed in the corner as I take in the towering steel walls and begin searching. I look behind screens under furniture and above shelves, each without a camera or a microphone.

'Anything?' Nitro asks.

I shake my head, 'We still must be precautious, you know how Soundwave can be.' He laughs, shrugging off the pack, hauling it to the corner of the room. 'Should we need to return to the house, how long will it take to get there?'

'Screamer says after the that there is a meeting at some point discussing the logistic of their next stopping point.'

Gathering my though it asks, 'Could we nominate Jasper?'

'But Nevada is a hole in this Earth, there is nothing there!'

'Exactly,' I hum to myself, 'No one would look for us there, I also have a check-up with R-'

He holds up his hand and the room fall silent. Passing footsteps clank outside the door and Nitro looks to me cautiously. He sighs after a few moments, 'We'll need to prolong the wait, Mel needs her monthly and you're exhausted from recent endeavors.' I raise my brow at his phrasing, and he laughs, 'For once I don't mean it in that way,' he smirks, 'or do I?'

I shove him, 'You're not helping my processors at the moment.'

'Stop annoying Mama!' Mel rolls her eyes as Nitro shrugs, her betrayal to him slapping him in the face.

'I thought you were on my team!' sighing Mel pulls at her own pack, pulling to the small dolls and cars. She mimics engine sounds, losing interest in Nitro and me. 'We'll see Ratch-' He cuts himself off abruptly, 'Like you said, we'll see the doc at your next appointment,' he sits himself down on the larger bed, putting his hand behind his head and snuggles into the metal wall, 'until then we stay and assist making Megatron's transition back to leader smooth.'

Sitting down next to him he put a supportive hand against my shoulder, 'That is a much better plan,' he scoffs at my words, nodding with pride, 'but you need to be on your best behavior for this meeting.'

He hums to himself, 'Fine.' then looks to Melissian, whose eyes are cast down onto the toy cars on the floor. 'But what are we going to do about that? Do we just leave her?'

'I would prefer not to, but-' I watch as she pushes the toy away the wheel clicking against the ground, 'I think it might be best to bring her, though we'll keep her as hidden as possible. Make our roles on board less...' I consider my next words, not really knowing how to phrase it, '...obvious.'

Nodding in agreement, we both look to the ticking clock on the wall, waiting for the seconds to turn to minutes. Until eventually we have to prepare ourselves for the gathering.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     We stand in the shadows of the formation, Melissian's hand tightly grasped in mine. I roll back my shoulders as the final group of troops walks in, preparing myself for the long speech from one of the superiors. I hush Mel as she mumbles something at me, her head falls to the floor and Nitro places a reassuring hand on her back.

I hate having to put her through this. Having to see me on high alert with our own kind. My people. The mechs and femme's I created Mel's bedtime stories from. But this is what it is like to be a mother. I have to protect my child from everything I believe is a threat to her and a part of me is beginning to doubt my intentions for rejoining the ranks.

'Commanders!' My brother's husky voice echoes through the bridge, and I straighten, my spine stiffening at the word. 'Step forward.'

Looking to Nitro, I hand over Mel's hand and she opens her mouth to protest but I shake my head, and she goes silent. But even as I walked to catwalk, I could feel the purple haze of her optic's follow my every step.