Souls Divided (TFP) - Chapter Two

Chapter Two

I squirmed uncomfortably in Optimus’s palm while he contacted the other Autobots over his comm. link to come into the main room of the base. Optimus seemed to sense my nerves and looked down at me encouragingly, his great blue eyes gazing at me kindly.

‘Do not worry Sky. Everything will be fine.’

I sat bolt upright when I heard heavy metal footsteps come from a corridor to the left of Optimus and me. The first to emerge from the shadows was a reddish orange and white robot. He had an intelligent looking face with red eyebrow crests above each eye. His eyes widened when he saw me, and he muttered something that sounded like 'for the love of Primus.' After him came an army green robot who was oddly proportioned. He had a large bulky body and long arms but extremely short legs when I compared him to Optimus and the other robot. Next emerged a small blue robot who had a distinctly feminine shape. She was small and delicate, but had an unmistakable air of toughness about her. She was positively tiny compared to Optimus, her head barely brushing the top of waist. Lastly came a yellow robot with black racing stripes across his chest and back. He had an eager friendly face, and his eyes seemed to be smiling warmly at me, for he had no mouth. Optimus named them in the order that they had come into the room.  

'Sky, meet my fellow Autobots. This is Ratchet, my medic. Here we have Bulkhead. Bulkhead is an ex-wrecker. The Wreckers were once a team that operated separately from the Autobots, but they were wholly on our side. The Wreckers accepted missions that no one else would. This is Arcee, my Second in Command and an extremely talented fighter. Last but certainly not least, we have Bumblebee. Bumblebee is my young scout.' At this, Bumblebee beeped excitedly and stood on tiptoe to get a better look (he was only slightly taller than Arcee). Ratchet stepped forward with a stern frown on his face. 

'Optimus. I really must protest. Bringing a human into the base? What was going through your processor?' Bumblebee stepped forward and put a restraining hand on Ratchet's shoulder, but Ratchet merely shook him off. Ratchet's eyes kept switching from Optimus to me, and I shrank away from him, feeling slightly intimidated. I was surprised that Ratchet spoke to his leader with such boldness, but perhaps that was the norm where the Autobots were from. Not one of the other Autobots had saluted Optimus and I filed that thought away in readiness to ask Optimus later. Optimus responded surprisingly calmly to Ratchet's sudden outburst. 

'Ratchet. This is Sky, a young female human I encountered whilst out on patrol tonight. She was being harassed by two male humans, and I believe that they would have caused her harm had I not stepped in. I couldn't just stand by and watch it happen whilst it was in my power to stop it. I did not reveal my true form to Sky until we were well away from any populated areas. I brought her back here because I did not want her to be alone after tonight's events, and I wish for you to check her over as I believe she's in some mild shock.' 

'Optimus, I have very limited knowledge of human biology and of their medical science.' 

'I realise that old friend, but perhaps you can scan her vital statistics?' Ratchet nodded and Optimus placed me onto a raised platform. Ratchet then raised his arm and a thin line appeared just above his wrist. From this thin line emanated a green light that changed to red when it passed over my body. 

'Her heart rate is a bit fast, but otherwise she is fine. Though my scan picked up a number of bruises on her torso.' I didn't want Ratchet to expand on this, so I spoke up quickly. 

'Thank you Ratchet. I do appreciate this.' I nodded at him with what I hoped was an approximation of a smile. It felt very forced. Ratchet looked surprised that I was addressing him directly. 

'You're er..welcome. It was my pleasure.' I felt compelled to reassure Ratchet that I wasn't all bad. 

'Um Ratchet?' He turned to look at me, a wary look on his face. 

'Yes?' 

'I just want you to know that I'm not a threat to you or the others. You and Optimus have my word that I will not tell anyone about you. It might sound dramatic, but Optimus did save me tonight, and if the only way I can repay that favour is with my silence, then I will gladly do so.' At my words, Ratchet's facial expression changed from stern to pleasantly surprised. 

'You wouldn't tell anyone of our existence?' 

'No. Optimus has done me a great kindness this evening, and it would be a poor way of showing my thanks if I were to tell anybody of your existence.' 

‘Thank you very much. That means a lot that you say that. I want to apologise for my earlier behaviour; I don’t react very well to newcomers, so please accept my apology.’ I smiled at him and he smiled back.

‘I will gladly accept your apology Ratchet.’ Ratchet nodded at Optimus and me, and then left the room via one of the side corridors. Optimus reached up and offered me his palm, and I climbed on after a second’s hesitation. He left through the same corridor as Ratchet had, but turned left into a huge doorway, so huge he didn’t even have to stoop. We came into a large room with a single computer like the one in the main room, and a large raised platform in the back left corner. Optimus went over to this and sat down on it, wrapping all his fingers firmly around me and placing me next to him. I winced a little as his strong fingers made contact with the bruises on my ribs and back. The pressure wasn’t strong, but these bruises were less than a day old, so they were still very tender to the touch. Optimus noticed and looked down at me in alarm.

‘Have I hurt you Sky?’ I struggled to quickly think of a coherent response.

‘Um no, I just..’ I couldn’t think of anything to say, and I was sure the panic was evident on my face. Optimus gently scooped me up so that I was sitting as you would on a chair, my legs dangling over the side of his hand.

‘Sky, please tell me. Have I hurt you? My audio receptors detected the sound of your pain as I picked you up.’ I sighed, not meeting his penetrating gaze. Ratchet’s scan had already picked up my bruises, and I could only avoid questions for so long.

‘No Optimus, you just touched my bruises, and they’re still quite tender from yesterday.’ Optimus’s ‘eyebrows’ rose in confusion.

‘What happened to you yesterday?’ It was as if Optimus’s question had unlocked a secret door. I wanted to tell Optimus everything, something inside of me was telling me to do so.

‘You want me to tell you?’ Optimus nodded earnestly, waiting for me to continue. ‘I live with my father, it’s just the two of us in the house and he’s not the easiest man to live with. He doesn’t have a job, so I’m the only one bringing money into the house. My job doesn’t pay very well, but I’m saving up to go to school. If I don’t get dinner on the table quickly enough or pay the subscription bill to his favourite sports channel, he’ll get...’ I hesitated here, wondering if I should continue.

‘He’ll get what Sky?’ Optimus prompted gently.

‘He’ll get violent with me.’ I whispered. ‘He’s how I got these bruises,’ and I slowly lifted my t-shirt to just below my bra strap, then I carefully turned around in Optimus’s palm so that my back was to him. I heard him murmur something softly, but I couldn’t make out what it was. I felt his cool fingers gently stroke the outline of each inky bruise. It was the gentlest way I’d ever been touched in my life and it brought tears to my eyes. I pulled my top back down and turned to face Optimus again. The expression on Optimus’s face was one of sheer horror and disgust.

‘Your father did this to you?’ I nodded, hastily wiping my eyes. Optimus shook his great head and his other hand clenched into a tight fist. ‘But humans are supposed to protect and cherish their young, not harm them.’ I smiled at him sadly.

‘You’re right Optimus, parents are supposed to look after their children. You’ll be sad to find out that a large number of the population hurt their kids.’ Optimus ran one finger down my cheek, and I leant into his touch, craving more of the tender contact.

‘He shall harm you no more Sky. I shall protect you from him from now on.’

I nearly fainted with relief.