Through Ash and Dust (ROTB)

Chapter 8

Saphira jumped as she heard vehicle engines approaching and Mirage stepped back from the girl, looking towards the entry and smiling a little. "Ah, finally! The band has finally arrived!" She frowned at Mirage's enthusiasm, and the bot smiled at her. "Don't worry, you will be fine." She still did not believe that, and she was fearful of what might happen. "Arcee, how lovely to see you back here!"

Saphira saw the Ducati 916 rolling into the warehouse first before the bot transformed. Arcee looked at Saphira and widened her optics as she saw the tattered dress, cuts and bruises to the girl's body. "Mirage..." She lifts her hand to her head and rolled her forehead in irritation. "You were told to find the girl. Not do anything to her."

Mirage stared at Arcee in shock as he raised his hands defensfily. "Woah, woah! What the hell, Arcee?! Are you seriously trying to point the finger at me?" He looked at Saphira with wide optics. "Can you believe it? Arcee just accused me of doing that to you!" He shook his head and folded his arms. "I am ashamed that you would even think that I would do that, Arcee."

"If it was not you, then who did it?" Arcee walked over to Saphira and the girl jumped when Arcee began to scan her. "Stay still, human. I will be able to see the extent of your injuries, and Optimus will determine if..."

"But, Mirage did not hurt me...someone...um...th-the p-person I-I w-w-was supposed to meet tonight...h-he...and..." Saphira grimaced as tears fill her eyes as she remembered it. Arcee seemed to believe the girl though as the femme listened to her. "Well...this..." Saphira gestured to herself with her hand. "This is the...e-e-end result..."

"I see..." Arcee did not seem to comment or react much to the girl's words. "If it was not Mirage, at least that will eliminate one issue. Though..." She frowned as she was reading the results of the scans of the girl's body. "Hmm...but I am afraid the end decision will not be from me. It will be from Optimus Prime."

"I know...and...I w-w-will wait." Saphira hunched a little as she shivered. She wish she could get herself dried and warm soon, but she could only wait. She saw the camaro entering the warehouse next and she took a deep breath. "I guess that pretty much leaves your leader..."

Bumblebee transformed and he looked at her curiously before he frowned. "Did you get jumped on by some kind of gang?" He asked through the radio and Saphira gave a half-hearted shrug and nod in response to the autobot's question. Bee's frown deepened a little. "That happened in such a short time."

"Oh yeah. She was hiding under a beam when I found her in the alley." Arcee glanced at Mirage and narrowed her optics slightly. Mirage rolled his optics at her. "What? I did not do nothing to her, Arcee. Stop looking at me as if I am the one who attacked and hurt her. That is not my style and you know it. I much rather have fun than fight something smaller than me."

Arcee smiled a little at Mirage. "I am honestly just teasing you right now, Mirage." The bot seemed relieved to know that, but he was still upset by it all. "Though it is interesting that this happened so quickly. I would be curious to know the story behind it."

"I kind of know the story, since I was there when that guy screamed as Saphira for getting a new car." Mirage placed his hand on his hip, lightly tapping his fingers as he thought back to it. "Personally, I did not understand. And I feel like I was doing Saphira a favor by bringing her here...though she still ended up being beaten...or whatever happened." He turned his head as the headlights of the freightliner truck shine into the warehouse. "About time. The big man always seems to be the last to get here."

Arcee frowned at Mirage and placed her hands on her hips. "Mirage, you do know Optimus drove a little further than you might think. It took him a bit longer to get here. Stop acting like a sparkling, you're much older than that." Arcee herself was happy that Optimus finally arrived. She smiled as Optimus began to transform as he entered the building. "Mirage has ensured that the human was found and brought back, Optimus. Though something happened to her."