Music box (HIATUS)

Chapter 4: Slum

Antonina sighed looking out of the window. It was hot. She felt like she went to sauna. Of course, conditioner worked well and helped to chill a little.
She was sent with Knockout on a mission to find a relic, since no one of the Decepticons could reach it. So now they were driving through streets of a seaside city. They still had a long way to go and they couldn't move very fast because of all motorcycles on their way.
- You're a little quiet, Tonya, - Knockout said.
- You want to talk? - she asked.
- I meant that you don't complain as much as I expected, - he explained, - You know, I'm actually not fond of humans, really. But you do pretty good job at not irritating me. Not even crying to let you go to these... older ones your sparklings usually stick around.
- Parents? - she said, - Well, it's not like I would meet them if you let me go.
- Why so?
- It's... - the girl went deep in thought for a moment, - It's complicated. And I actually hope I will not meet them ever again.
The girl clenched on the edge of her blue and black dress. She wasn't used to talking about that. And she sure didn't expect Decepticon to be interested.
- I see. Do you know Autobots' pets by the way? - Knockout changed the subject.
- I don't think so, - Antonina answered, - Where do they even live?
- Jasper, Nevada.
- Sounds like America. Soundwave picked me in Marseille, France. So there's no way I've met them before, - she said.
- Oh, so you're from another country? How come upu speak the same language as those fleshies?
- You're from another planet. How come you speak the same language as them? - the girl parried, - I just need English since some foreign teachers sometimes come to our classes. I actually fluently speak three languages. Too bad Vietnamese isn't one of them.
Then the car stopped. Red bot opened the door letting Tonya out. She stepped outside and breathed in hot moist air. She then took off her cardigan and covered her head with it. It wouldn't be good if she got sunstroke.
- You better do it quickly, - Knockout said.
- I'll try.
The big slum district stretched out before her. She could almost see all houses within it since it was placed on the hill. The girl took a deep breath as she started walking through narrow passages. She couldn't know the specific location of the relic, since the scaner cons used was too big for her to carry. All she knew was that it was around the center of the district and that she would definitely recognize it.
As she walked some people watched her, some approached her asking something about Soviets. Though it wasn't hard to shake them off. Lots of kids were running around, some dogs as well. She didn't feel good in here. Slums all over the world were famous for thier higher crime rate, so she always looked around nervously.
The girl wandered about for several hours untill she finally found something. Under old stone stairs some bricks were moved aside showing empty space under it. Antonina took a look inside. There was a disk made of white metal and... something ball shaped of the same material. The girl took out her phone and called Knockout.
- Knockout, it's Tonya. I've found something, - she informed, - I'm not sure though.
- How does it look like? - he asked.
- Like a metal jar? Is this it?
- It's a container. You can leave it there. What we need is inside.
- But there's nothing in it, - she replied after taking the jar out and looking inside, - Nothing but a big fat spider.
- What?! - the bot went silent for a moment, as if checking something, - Alright, the relic is still not far from you, straight east from where you're standing. And you better hurry up! Just how much free time do you think I have?!
- Got it.
The girl put the phone in her pocket and rushed in the right direction. She is screwed if those Autobots kids were the ones to take it. After some time she ran out on some sort of open space between buildings and started looking around. And then she saw... a bunch of kids playing football. With a strange metal object instead of a ball. A sigh of relief came out of her mouth. Now all she needed to do was take it. The girl put on her cardigan properly to look more presentable and walked towards the kids.
It wasn't actually as hard as she expected. Luckily she grabbed some french sweets when Soundwave let her out. And now she took them in case mission would take too long. These kids traded without a second thought.
Antonina held the object in her hands and looked it all over. It was definitely it. A strange circle like thing with claws on sides. It wasn't very big, but obviously it was a little heavy. While turning it all over she accidentally touched her wrist with it and claws formed a tight grip over it. Now it was like some kind of bracelet. Suddenly she noticed someone beside her. She turned to see an Asian girl in colorful outfit, with black and pink hair.
- Hey, girl! - she waved and then pointed at the relic, - Excuse me, but can we have that? We kinda need it.
- Well, I need it too, - Tonya glanced at the boy with a European looks that was standing not far and talked to someone on the phone.
- Arcee, we found it, - he whispered.
Arcee. It sure was a strange name. And it sounded familiar. Yes, these two were probably Autobots' friends. Not only they needed this alien like thing, but they also were just walking around slums, in which no tourists would step (unless they are looking for some sharp sensations).
Antonina rushed towards the alley. Now all she needed to do was run down the hill and meet with Knockout. The girl ran as fast as she could. Luckily, these kids weren't as fast as her, so she lost them after some time. But then she finally noticed that it was getting dark.
- "God, why does it always get dark so early in warm countries?" - she whined in her mind.
Before she knew it the sun has set and everything around became pitch black only lighted by lights from the windows. She should hurry. It was quite dangerous here even in daytime. Now who knew what would come out. The girl was almost there. She could even see the red car from afar.
And at the moment she thought that the mission was successful someone grabbed her shoulder. It was a local man and he was holding a knife. Just what she was worried about. The thiefs. He hold out his hand waiting for her to give him money. Just then she rushed again, but this time was caught. Antonina barely made it in time to catch his arm before he could cut her throat. She standed there for split seconds and then gathered all her power to throw the man over her shoulder, then, before he could stand up again she kneeled down and puched him in stomach. He let out a loud scream as the girl felt something crack under her fist. At first she didn't understand what happened, after all she couldn't punch him that hard. But then she saw her hand. It was now in some kind of big metal glove with glowing orange lines on it. So this is how it worked? No wonder everyone was so crazy about this little thing.
- "Now, let's hurry until anyone else comes here", - she thought.
Tonya ran towards the main road. Her feet already hurt from a whole day of walking around and her legs felt numb. But she still pushed a little more trying to go even faster just to get away. Finally she reached for the door and jumped into the car. The girl was breathing fast trying to recover from marathon she'd just been through.
- I see you haven't failed everything after all, - Knockout purred, - I actually thought I would have to go there myself to pick the relic after that fleshbag sent you offline.
- Ha... Let's hurry up and go back, - she said after finally recovering her breath, - These... Autobots's kids were there. So those guys are probably nearby.
- Too late, fleshy~
Red car turned the mirror and Antonina could see a massive green off-roader and a blue motorcycle. The belt bound her to the seat as Decepticon rushed at full speed. Thakfully, there were a lot less people on the way so he could maneuver over them. Then he turned around and rushed in the opposite direction passing Autobots that couldn't cross the street because of small stone wall. Or that's what the girl thought. The motorcycle led by the boy she met before quickly jumped it over and followed them. It was a lot easier to maneuver for this one so it started to approach the con.
- Perfect! - Knockout said, - Tonya, put the relic back into shrink mode.
- How? - Antonina asked.
- Ugh, just push the blue button in the center, - he whined obviously annoyed.
She did as he said. The big glove covering her hand and wrist started transforming until it looked like a bracelet again.
- Hide it, - the girl put it in her bag holding it firmly, - It'll be a little shaky now. Try not to let your insides out.
- Koneshno, - she commented with sigh.
She expected some big dangerous race, fast turns, even a fight with aliens weapons in their alter modes. Pretty much anything Knockout could do right now. But none of her expectations came to life. Red bot turned around again and again drawing a circle around himself until the belt released her and the door opened. Any suport from under her disappeared as she was thrown out of the car.
- Ah! - she let out a short cry as she hit the back of her head with glass and the door closed and a car made a fast turn and rushed in other direction.
- Gotcha! - said familiar voice as she was trying to take in what just happened.
- Breakdown? Gosh, you can't imagine how you two scared me, - she whined letting out a sigh of relief.
- Relic?
Girl quickly looked in her bag to check just in case.
- Here.
Now she was inside Breakdown. His alt form looked like an armored truck. Sure suited him.
- So, now what? - Tonya asked, - There's at least two of them, so they will probably chase after you too.
- Bulkhead isn't that quick, so don't worry. The little one will most likely try to get the relic she thinks Knockout has.
The bot pushed the pedal to the floor making the girl flinch.
***
Groundbridge opened letting the blue truck into the ship. Soundwave closed it right that moment it was inside. The car's door opened and the human girl jumped out. Starscream dropped his jaw when he saw it.
- I thought that Knockout was entrusted with this mission! - he screamed, - What is this fleshbag doing here?!
- Relic was in hard-to-reach area, - Breakdown answered without any hint of guilt, - Besides, why can't she be here? She's Soundwave's pet.
- The relic, - blue seeker interrupted before Second in command could start again.
Tonya took the bracelet out of her bag and handed it to bot that kneeled down for her.
- What is it? - blue bot asked.
- Well, it transformed in some sort of a big glove, - she answered, - But it probably has some other functions than powering up punches.
Dreadwing looked it over and then headed towards the exit.
- You did well, human.