Transformers-'verse, Nellis AFB, investigating

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

When she stepped off of the Cessna and walked out onto the flight line at Nellis AFB, Vanessa Raymond didn't know what to expect.

She'd dealt with the military before - as an aide to the Secretary of Defense, such dealings were an inevitability. However, when one threw giant alien robots into the mix, things got decidedly weird.

She wondered if her training in forensics was going to come in handy at all here. She was used to blood spatters and DNA samples, dead bodies and mysterious causes of death. All she had in this case was one human victim who had already been buried (cause of death? bullet wound from standard M-24 US army-issue sniper rifle), and a mechanical victim who... well, she hadn't exactly figured that out quite yet.

The plane's engines shift from idling to silence and it's only then that Vanessa heard the rumbling of another engine.

This was from a very large, very good-looking Peterbilt big-rig, with a custom paint job that was almost comical. She grabbed her luggage and strode purposefully over to it.

"Afternoon," she said, standing below its driver-side door with a grin. "Mr. Peters."

Comments

[random_xtras]

The blond-bearded man in the driver's seat turned slowly to look down at her, his handsome face showing a slight but rather blank smile as the passenger door popped open seemingly under its own power.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

She chuckled and walked around to the other side, climbing into the rig and closing the door on her own.

"Thanks for picking me up," she said.

[random_xtras]

Clear blue eyes turned toward her as a familiar deep voice rumbled from somewhere inside the dash. "You're welcome, Mz Raymond. Do you want to stop and look at the site of the trap? It's along the way."

[random_xtras]

He pauses to scan her and see if he's too close for her comfort, then sets a hand palm up next to her on the rocky ground. "Are you afraid of heights, Mz Raymond?"

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"Not really." She points to his palm. "And call me Vanessa. You want me to... uh..."

Well, it was patently obvious, so she just climbs into his hand, holding onto his middle finger such that she won't fall off.

because Optimus has a habit of dropping people

[random_xtras]

Something passes by overhead, another black mech very similar to Ironhide but not as bulky. He's gone as quickly as he came, but Ironhide twitches and growls, his optics glaring after the pink femme in the other mech's arms.

"And that's Ironhide and Chromia's son, Starforge," says Optimus, sighing. "And one of our scouts, Arcee."

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

Vanessa can't help but chuckle. Keller had told her how amazingly human these Autobots could seem, but she hasn't believed it. Until right now.

"Looks like you guys are getting on well here."

a few minutes later

[random_xtras]

Optimus pauses in the open hanger door, his eyes going to the bigger couch, where Bumblebee is laying on her back with an arm around Honey, who is curled up on her mother's chest. Rap's voice lifts up in his cheerful laughter, and the Prime looks over toward the TV and smiles to see the boy playing the computer simulation with Sam and Mikaela. Jazz is watching the satellite feeds at the computer, and Ratchet's arguing with Jeimu in the workshop.

Then he remembers Vanessa and looks down at her where she's tucked safely in his hand. "Welcome to our home."

A roach scuttles past, Roach in hot pursuit with guns blazing.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

Vanessa looks slightly overwhelmed. These robots look so... at-home and completely human that it is ... creepy.

"Um... yes, thank you. Who is it that I want to see again?"

[random_xtras]

"Vanessa, this is our Chief Medical Officer, Ratchet. Ratchet... I'm not going to ask." Optimus is rubbing his nose again.

The yellow mech shrugs and turns to Vanessa. "Hi."

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"Hi." She smiles. "I'm here on behalf of the Secretary of Defense; I'm heading his investigation into the incidents your family has been put through. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about what happened to you a few days ago?"

[random_xtras]

"I didn't look," he admits, his hand slipping into Endeavour's as the other smooths Honey's back. "Bumblebee went over them right in front of me, so I never thought about going myself."

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"And nothing earlier in the day that would have indicated a hiccup in your power grid?"

[nottabeater.livejournal.com]

Bumblebee comes back then and walks over to kneel next to the human woman, her round blue optics resting on the words that Vanessa's written.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

Vanessa turns to look at her and grins easily. "So. What happened?"

[random_xtras]

"Could you wait a moment, Vanessa?" rumbles Optimus as the others leave the room. "There's something else I think you might want to see."

His deep voice holds pain as he glances toward a tarp-covered something at the back of the room.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"Of course." She nods and stands up, walking over toward the tarp.

[random_xtras]

"And then the one killed the other." He shakes his head, mobile face showing his feelings on the subject.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"Yeah." Vanessa replaces the tarp and sighs. "You and yours are in deep, Prime, whether you want to be or not."

[random_xtras]

"I'm good!" He looks up, his expression wide-eyed and earnest as it is frazzled. "I'm really good... uhhh wait, is it supposed to do that?"

Yes, Vanessa, this is the hero that saved the world.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"Here, let me." Vanessa steps forward and shoves Sam out of the way to rescue the fettucini.

[random_xtras]

"Coping mechanisms," he says softly as Honey hugs him and kisses him on the head. "If I knew Earth was dead and there were only a few humans left? I'd be crazy too."

"Honey drew on the dishes...." Mikaela pauses to look at the cheery plastic plates with amused dismay.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"I suppose." Then she looks over her shoulder at Mikaela. "Eh, permanent marker never killed anyone."

[nottabeater.livejournal.com]

Bee makes an absent raspberry sound and continues to sit on Jazz as he looks at the computer screen.

"Okay, we don't have a table or anything, so we just take what we want and sit on the couch," says Mikaela.

"I already prayed for it," offers Sam. He had too, fervently.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"Ah." Vanessa nods and grabs a plate.