Shadowfire

Chapter 36

"I'm in, anything you guys need to know?"
"Run a search for William Lennox" I said, and my voice didn't shake.

The three NEST affiliated humans, along with their Autobot counterparts crowded around. If the girl felt nervous waiting to complete her search she didn't show it.
"William Lennox, former Major and commander of NEST. Court-martialled and stripped of his rank" I held my breath but the word 'posthumously' never passed Yager Jnr's lips "for his treasonous actions post-Chicago. Relations: Sarah Lennox, wife- estranged; Private Shaleigh Lennox, eldest daughter- missing in action; Annabelle Lennox, daughter.
Imprisoned in Custer Gallatin Military Penitentiary"

A pause, where I could tell her desire for information was warring with her residual fear of us, and then-
"Who is he?"

"He's my father, and we're going to get him back"

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With our unique blend of cybertronians from all different allegiances our much expanded group didn't fraternise more than we needed to. The Autobots remained separate from those of no faction- Prime's allies, which remained separate from the Decepticons, which remained separate from the humans.
There were some exceptions to the rule of course- me, for one, Rapidflare- who split his time between the 'cons and the two Yagers- who remained outcasts, not trusted by anyone; even Optimus and Jazz to some extent.

That night found Rapidflare with the humans, who had built a fire to keep themselves warm in the cold desert night. Epps, Sam and Kayla lounged around, chatting and talking, occasionally making an effort to engage the two Yagers in conversation but mostly not bothering. For the most part the newcomers were occupied with Rapidflare- the only one who had cared to get over his distrust and actually get to know them.

"There's no way you can actually go that fast Rhi" the girl giggled, oblivious to my approach.
"Tessa's right, that's impossible" the girl studied her father.
"You know what? I believe the alien robot" the man snorted.
"I bet you he can't"

Rapidflare opened his mouth to respond, but looked past the two humans and spotted me.
"Yager. I need you to do something for me" the both girl and man looked up and I continued "use your hacking skills, I need you to track down Jason Cogar, former Sergeant with NEST"

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We didn't bother mobilising the majority of what had grown to become a full militia and was still growing by the day. We had no need of them, and they had no desire to risk their sparks to fight for a single insignificant human- but to those of us who had known him Lennox was far from insignificant, he had risked his neck for us time and time again, had put everything on the line, and it was time for us to repay that loyalty. Yager Jnr had been able to get a message to Jason, who- though sceptical, had agreed to meet us at a prearranged spot, though we'd been warned there would be guns on us, that we'd never be able to take them all down. I understood his caution, through everything that's happened Sergeant Cogar has kept his men safe, renegades in their own country, you don't do that by falling for obvious traps.

We had arranged to meet at a fringe shopping mall at night- when it was clear of civilians. The ex-NEST men had the floodlights on, a ring of brightness that obscured everything just outside of it.

I could feel the glare of weapons on me, and knew there were men positioned all around us- on rooftops and hidden in the darkness, knew that they had orders to take everyone out if we proved hostile, even if their commander was in the line of fire. It was what I would've done.