Terra

Empty Connection Part 1

5 Months ago, we watched Optimus Prime launch into space to track down his creators. Or was it the creators of Cybertron, I can't remember. 4 months ago, Cade, the Bots and I left Tessa with Shane back at the farm. Joshua did his part and helped with restoring the farm and got Tessa into her desired college. I feel like he went above and beyond by paying for all of her schoolings. I knew Cade didn't want to leave but his desire to protect Tessa overrode his desire to stay. The six of us have now been on the move for the last 2 months. Bee has pretty much been acting as the leader, to me, it makes sense as he arrived to Earth before Optimus in search of the Allspark, where the others arrived after Optimus sent out a signal about Earth being their new home.

It's been hard on us all, trying to find a place to hide. We all are torn between staying on the move or hiding away. Both Cade and I want to help other bots, find whoever we can save. I have considered that we should head to a different country, even a different continent, but the ship we had from Hong Kong was barely able to get us stateside and by now is swarmed by humans. Hound told me that they have an actual ship but none of them can find it so getting to Europe is out of the question, it would be too hard to get to Mexico or lower and Cade can't handle the cold of Canada. I haven't suggested yet to head for my home in the North. Mostly because I rather not have any potential groups finding it.

I felt one of the bots approach me as I was sitting by the campfire we had set up, its warmth flickering across my skin. He just stood there next to me, silently. I turned my head away from the fire to look over at where Cade was sleeping. A yawn passed my lips as I finally looked up at the bot next to me. Drift stood there, looking off into the surrounding forest. "How long do you think he will be gone? I know it will be a while, but how long with be a while?" I asked him, looking farther up to the stars shining above. Drift didn't say anything as he shifted to sit down where he stood.

I just watched him as I could feel the other three making their way over here. "Who can say. Boss bot's pretty much gone on a goose chase." Hound said as the three of them sat down, being careful not to squish me or the sleeping Cade. "So, what's the plan?" Cross said to all of us while looking at me. I simply shrugged, I haven't been talking as much over these months, too much in my head to get out by words. Bee reached over and picked me up, cradling me in his hand. "Right now, you- get some sleep. Plan in the morning." Bee said to me, knowing he was right, I curled up on my side as Nanos formed a blanket over me and I fell asleep to the mechanical sounds of the Bots talking in their language.

When I woke up I was laying across Crosshair's back seat, "Afternoon, sleeping beauty." I just hummed in response. "We're heading for a less populated area of the country. Bee was able to convince Cade for the cooler climate areas. No reallocation set just someplace abandoned." "Suppose' to be a lot of ghost towns in the north of the Mid-west. Plenty of tree cover." Hound's voice came over Crosshair's radio. "Yeah, my home is about two hours out from a ghost town along Lake Superior." "Bumblebee had mentioned heading for the Superior Lake for a new location to hide." Drift inputted. "So, we're essentially heading home for you, hu, Terra?" I hummed once again.

I carefully climbed to the front to sit in the passenger seat as the chatter died down and Cross turned on some music. The noise faded into the background as I watched the scenery flash by. After 4 hours of driving, we pulled into a town a little away from the highway. Cade saying that as humans we needed to eat. Coming over to Crosshair, Cade pulled me out and guided me into a Culver's restaurant. He went and ordered for us while I used the restroom. When I emerged, I found my way to the table Cade sat down at to wait for our food to arrive. Once I sat down, Cade left to use the restroom. After a few moments, a server arrived and left the food behind as he took the number tag. I spotted some cheese curds, so I took to eating those even if Cade got them for himself.

Shortly after I had finished eating them Cade came back and moved the chicken strips in front of me as he grabbed the fries and butter burger. Before he sat down he got us some drinks, him a root beer and me a Dr. Pepper. I slowly ate, knowing Cade was worried about me and that the Bots could see us, me, through the windows. "Terra?" Cade asked me, worry lacing his voice. I just hummed at him, ripping my chicken apart. "How you doing? We're getting worried about you." I looked up at him, pausing in my movements. "I-I mean, you have been slipping. You've been talking less and less since we returned to the states. You've been going to sleep later and later, waking up later and later. Eating less and less. None of us need to be a doctor to see that you seem to have depression."

I sighed, my shoulders sinking before I managed to murmur out, "Not here." He just nodded and we 'quickly' finished eating. Whatever I didn't eat we just threw out. I followed Cade out to Bee, Cade took the driver's seat while I sat in Bee. Once we were off, Bee leaned my seat back and tightened the seatbelt around me, I shifted so I could lean against the door. We drove off to a more secluded area where no humans would be near. Cade stepped out and Bee transformed so I sat on his shoulder. The others transformed and looked at me with worry. "What's going on now Terra? Talk to us." I could only shrug, looking away from them all. Bee picked me up and held me at eye level to him. He just whorled at he, his tone was almost begging. I held his gaze for what felt like an eternity, the others silent and waiting.

I finally looked away, "I don't know. I don't understand." "What's on your mind? How are you feeling?" Cade asked me as the bots sat down, Bee keeping me in his hands. I just froze, trying to piece together my thoughts. "I- I guess. I feel like I'm missing something. S-something that I was missing for years, finding it, only for it to be ripped away from me leaving a hole. It's worse than when my adopted parents died." I shuttered at the memory of their deaths. "Were you depressed following their deaths too? How did they die? Hell, didn't even know you were adopted." Cade spoke, somewhat exasperated near the end. "I was. That's why I don't understand. The emptiness is like how I felt losing my parents. And I have only mentioned having adopted parents once back at the church in Chicago." "Perhaps, if you were to tell us your past and how you have been feeling from when you first met any of us up to know. We may come to understand how you are feeling." Drift spoke up.

"I guess it could help." I shifted in Bees' hands to sit cross-legged.