A clean crisp mountain breeze blew through the Colorado Mountains. High up on the edge of an overview a teen sat on his motor bike surveying the immense landscape. As he surveyed the land he watched as beauty turned into the large canyon known as the Heavens Highway. Silently the breeze swept into the teens face shifting his dark brown hair. Taking a deep breath Soren McKree smelled the open air pine and oak trees, wild ferns, uncut wild grasses, and about ten other things.
Home.
Boom.
A large crashing sound knocked Soren to the ground toppling his motor bike onto his legs. Grimacing with the weight Soren gently wiggled out from under the heavy machine and caught his breath as he looked up. A flaming sphere crashed down into the lower valley deep into the canyon.
"Wow, guess I'm not in Kansas anymore." Soren said smiling. Quickly he shoved his helmet onto his head and stood the motorcycle back then kick started it to life. Carefully Soren swept down the dirt pathways wondering what exactly he had seen. A feeling as if a secret had just been told to him that had been hidden his whole life. As he drove faster down the rough track ways he hoped he was making the right move in going down there. Making his way into the canyon Soren began to hear a series of cheers and instructions coming from around the upcoming turn. Silently he stopped and lifted the face shield of his helmet then listened.
"Coby you need to give it more gas."
"Bud this is all the gas this ATV is going to give, uh."
Rolling forward Soren came upon a sight that he could barely believe. A massive robot lay in a deep crater in the middle of the canyon floor. Standing on the opposite side of the crater were two recognizable friendly faces: Coby and his younger brother, Bud. Soren watched as Coby floored the ATV sending dirt and rock into the crater, but not making a single inch at removing the robot. Smiling Soren drove around the turn and parked next to the ATV. Soren smiled again at the questioning looks on his friend's faces.
Probably think I'm with a top secret agency. Soren thought as he slowly removed his helmet and revealing his face.
"Hey guys." Soren said cheerfully offering his hand to Coby. Coby's face went to sudden relief seeing Soren's face; silently he took Soren's hand in a true friend embrace.
"Man am I glad to see you we saw the robot fall and are trying to get it out of this hole before any adults find out about it. Can you give us a hand?" Coby asked gesturing to the giant robot, which hadn't moved an inch since Soren's arrival.
"Coby you sure that you want to do this. I mean what if this thing is dangerous?" Soren said in a worried voice. Coby gave Soren a look that they only gave each other when something was important.
"And what if it isn't, what do you think the adults are going to do with it?" Coby said intensely, "They'll take it apart and treat it as if it is nothing but a piece of machinery." Soren looked at the robot and thought for a moment then sighed grabbing a rope that was draped over the back of the ATV. Taking one end he tied it around the tow poll on the back of his bike, and then slowly slid down the edge of the crater to where Coby had tied the other rope. Quickly Soren tied the rope where Coby had tied his and quickly scrambled up the crater, instantly hopping onto his bike then slammed his booted foot on the ignition. Flipping his face shield down Soren gave Coby a thumbs up.
"Okay on three we give it everything we got." Soren ordered. Quickly Soren revved his engine then held up three fingers for Coby to see. Silently Soren dropped one finger, then the next, and as the last finger went down both he and Coby floored their engines. Soren could feel his bike digging in its tires making large divots into the land, Soren revved his engine again and made one more shove which brought the robot out of the crater. Turning off the bike Soren turned around to see the robot moving into a sitting position.
"Where am I Dirt Planet?" the robot said as it surveyed its surroundings.
"This is Earth and it's not all dirt. You're from outer space?" Coby asked as he stepped off the ATV. Soren watched as Coby walked to the back of the robot and untied the ropes without worry or fear.
"Not outer space just another planet. Look kids I'm not supposed to be here." The robot said as it got to its feet. As it stood Soren watched as it towered over him.
"Then I suggest that we clear out before someone spots you or us. Oh, by the way the names Soren, and this is Coby, and his younger brother Bud." Soren said in a muffled voice.
"Names: Landmine." The giant robot said as he stared at the three humans.
"Let's head for the deeper part of the forest no one should see us there. Landmine stick close to us so that you can see us." Soren said as he flipped down his face shield and quickly disguised his face once more. Soren started his engine up again then led the way into the deep woods feeling the earth shake under the footsteps of Landmine's stepping out from under him.
Twenty minutes passed until Soren finally stopped in a covered area. This seemed like the best place to hide at least for a little while. Sighing Soren turned off his bike and removed his helmet, just as he was about to set it down a rustling caught his ear.
"Whoever is there come out now!" Soren shouted as he stepped off his bike. Slowly another familiar face came out from behind a nearby tree.
"Lori?" Soren said in surprise. Turning his head to Coby he was quickly answered with a thumbs up. Sighing Soren laid his helmet on the fuel tank of his bike and swung his leg off.
"What took you so long?" Coby asked critically. Lori simply shrugged her shoulders.
"I had to change. Now I'm dressed for robot repair." Lori replied as she walked closer to Soren. Soren smiled, just like a girl always needs clothes for certain things, however, he did like the symbol on her shirt.
Weird. Why do I have a feeling I've seen that symbol before? Soren thought as he again glanced at Lori's shirt.
"Okay take a seat Landmine." Bud announced snapping Soren out of his thoughts.
"What for?" Landmine questioned, Soren smiled as he watched Coby unhook a familiar looking tool box from the ATV.
"So Coby can fix you, duh." Bud replied in an obvious sounding voice. Silently Soren removed his jean jacket from his shoulders and laid it across his seat.
"Uh, that's okay kids I can manage thanks for the thought though." Landmine said as he sat onto the ground in front of Bud.
"Don't worry Coby's grades may not be the best but he's like a pro mechanic." Lori replied as she walked closer and gave a thumbs up. Soren smiled as he watched Coby sort through his tools.
"Come on guys I want my first talking patient to have confidence in me. Now where does it hurt?" Coby asked as he moved closer.
"Well I do have this pain in my arm." Landmine said as he started to ease into the sitting position. Soren waved for Lori to join him by his bike.
"Besides I doubt he knows what grades are." Soren whispered so not to draw attention to Coby's goodwill work.
"Okay I see the problem and yep it should be a cinch to fix." Coby announced, Soren turned to see Coby squatting by Landmine's arm turning a screw driver on one of the many mechanical parts.
"Hey Lori, why don't we try to shine up Landmine while Coby works." Bud offered as he handed Lori a cloth, who nodded and accepted the rag. Soren smiled as he watched Bud try to climb up onto the top of Landmine's leg, sighing Soren moved to Bud's side and cupped his hands together.
"Here," Soren said as he motioned for Bud to put his foot on Soren's platform, "One, Two, Three uh." Then with all the strength he could muster Soren lifted Bud up, while Bud pulled himself up onto the top of Landmine's leg.
"Thanks Soren." Bud said as he began to polish Landmine's armor. Soren nodded and went to his bike and watched his three friends work. He wanted to help, but he had a feeling he could do more as a look out than as a mechanic.
Thirty minutes passed and Soren listened to Landmine tell them of a massive black hole that was swallowing up everything in the galaxy. Landmine also said that he was an Autobot which were the good guys trying to revive their planet, Cybertron, for peace, but that a bunch of ruthless transformers called Decepticons were trying to find a way of using the black hole to rule the universe. As Soren listened he began to wonder what their helping Landmine would bring to the planet. Were they doing more harm helping the autobot than good?
"Okay let's test it out." Coby suddenly announced Soren straightened his stance as he watched Landmine lift his arm up and flex his fingers. Coby and the others sighed as they watched the transformer use his hand.
"Hmm, feels good, huh, maybe even better nice work kid." Landmine said thanking Coby. Soren walked over to his friends and sighed again.
"Now we just have to deal with our other problem." Soren said the others turned to him in puzzlement.
"What, other problem?" Bud asked. Soren sighed again.
"Getting Landmine back into space before anyone else notices him. I've got a feeling that the four of us were not the only ones that noticed him falling from the sky and the small earthquake that happened with his landing." Soren replied the others turned to Landmine. Soren was right other people had to of noticed at least one of those two things.
"Don't worry about it kids, I'm going to be just fine." Landmine suddenly said. Soren and the others turned their heads to the robot confused.
"You saying you've got a plan." Lori stated stepping forward. Landmine smiled and nodded.
"Yeah a search party." Landmine replied, Bud looked at him still slightly confused.
"Well if we're having a party I better run home and get some chips and dip." Bud said, Soren smacked his forehead, just like Bud getting two things mixed up.
"Search party, no food necessary." Soren restated, and then the sound of voices drawing closer came to their ears.
Soren rushed over to some nearby bushes and peered over them. Down in the Heavens Highway were a large group of people, Soren easily recognized the sheriff, but there were also about twelve others.
"Take a look sheriff the tracks lead up that ridge and into the forest over there." One of the volunteers said pointing out the trail that Soren and the others had come up, quickly Soren ran back to the others. The others could see that something was definitely wrong.