Gears and Pistons | | Bayverse | | Book 1

Chapter 6 | | The Battle Begins | |

"Stars only fade when the sun rises."

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Toby's head leans heavily on Ratchet's passenger seat, mouth agape and ginger hair covering her eyes. Soft snores leave her lips on occasion, blowing strands of hair with each exhale. Ratchet chuckles to himself at her appearance, glad that she's finally resting her body.

A bellowing horn causes the woman to shoot forwards, eyes wild and hair a mess, kicking the medic's glove box out of reflex.

"I'm awake!" Her scream makes Ratchet cringe, though seeing Optimus make a sharp u-turn to follow a convoy of military vehicles, he tightens Toby's seat belt to keep her from flying into his window. The mechanic screams again, caught off guard by the sudden movement and nearly short circuiting the medic's audio receptor in the process.

A split second passes as Toby struggles to grasp what is happening, staring blankly at the cars in front.

"It's Bumblebee!" She pauses, expression brightening. "Piston, could you open a comm channel with him?"

"Already working on it."

:.—timus!.: Sam's high pitched voice cause Toby to clap her hands over her ears.

"Yes, 'tis us," she sarcastically remarks. "But there is no need to use such a volume."

:.Toby? What are you—?.:

"I was invited. Now, what's happening? Does it have anything to do with Megatron or the Allspark?" The dead silence on the comm channel makes the woman realise that her sarcastic question is actually relevant. "Oh frag, it's both isn't it?"

:.Not by choice!.:

"Ah, what the hell, we only live once anyways," she sighs, though shudders slightly from an unknown feeling. Her eyes widen in panic and terror. "The Allspark, is it safe with you?!"

:.H-how do you—.: The whiny teenager doesn't get to finish his sentence, interrupted by the ever-impressive Mikaela Banes, :.—It's safe! But Megatron's back!.:

"I figured!" Toby growls at the comm, throwing her hands up in frustrated stress. "'Bee, what's the plan?"

:.~All~spark~to the city~safe from evil.: The radio whirs an answer from the Autobot scout.

"So we're hiding the Allspark somewhere in the city?" The woman checks, wanting to know everything that can sway the course of the events about to occur.

:.~Yes, ma'am.:

"And I presume that these military guys are your convoy?"

:.~Aye aye.:

"Contact the lead vehicle if you can, and tell them to prepare for heavy fire. See if they can evacuate people," Toby runs a hand through her hair, feeling overly connected to the whole thing. "There's no way the Decepticons are giving up without a battle. They won't care who gets hurt or who sees them. Got that?"

:.~You can count on me.: His reply ends the comm connection and the woman sighs nervously.

"I've got a really bad feeling about this, Ratchet," Toby whines fearfully, hugging her arms to her body.

The use of his designation catches the medic's attention, notifying him of how terrified the girl is.

"And don't try to tell me that it's gonna be alright, because I know it's unlikely that I will survive this."

"You will survive, I will make sure of it."

"I guess we'll see then," she looks out the window at the approaching city, "the battle is about to begin."