When I'm in a bad mood I have strange thoughts . This story , in some ways very different , but very similar to the others I have written, is the result of this sudden change in my personality .
The story comes to life a long time ago. And it was based on different characters taken from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation , of which I am a big fan .
After hesitation and second thoughts , I modified and adapted it for TFP .
Chapter one
It was now late evening in the small town of Jasper, Nevada. The air was cold and the wind was passing fast among the branches of trees, resulting in a large swirl through the leaves. In the distance, the glow of the lightning lit up the dark and gloomy skies. A new storm was on the horizon.
Nurse June Darby was standing near the window. With the right hand she slightly opened the heavy curtain in the living room and drew a long sigh. She was watching the approaching storm.
After a while, the drops of rain began to beat on the windows of the elegant home. The woman stood still a few seconds to look at the rain and get lost in her thoughts.
Her mind wandered to a few months before.
Flashback ... one year later or so
It was Saturday night and the kids had insisted on staying at the Autobot base for the sleepover. June, despite her rejection in the beginning, was convinced at the end: she just couldn't say no to those Raf's big and shiny eyes. He used that look every time he wanted to get something! And it worked... all the times!
The base was unusually quiet. Everyone was busy with their guardian. Miko was in the "gym" and was trying with Bulkhead some new combat moves. Raf was in Bumblebee's room. Probably the two friends were playing some video games or they were simply enjoying each other's company. Jack and Arcee were on the roof, stargazing.
Ratchet had left the main hangar, muttering something about a certain tool that one of the teenagers had accidentally broken in the afternoon.
And Optimus ... as usual the Autobot leader was somewhere in recon. June wondered why every time the base is filled, the big red and blue mech vanished into thin air. And the agent Fowler? Oh well, he was in a meeting with General Bryce.
This made nurse Darby the only presence inside the hall. The silence enveloped the great room. The only sound, almost imperceptible, was the one of the large monitor.
The woman began to wander around the hangar until a loud roar made her jump. It looked like an explosion, but the noise that followed made it clear June to what was going on.
"A storm ..." she muttered, as the rain became more and more impetuous.
Then the door of the large elevator opened and Jack and Arcee jumped out, both wet, but smiling.
"Wow ... I think that today I will not need to take a shower" Jack said between laughs.
"You're right partner!" Arcee said, as she was trying to remove a bit of water her body.
Then one engine noise attracted the attention of the three. A big red and blue Peterbilt made his entrance from the main tunnel. Just as he reached the middle of the hangar, the truck transformed, revealing a very wet Optimus Prime. During the processing, a considerable part of the water that covered the frame of the Autobot leader not only reached Arcee and Jack, but also June, who was on the opposite corner.
"Oops ... My bad!" Prime said, with a rare smile on his lips.
"No problem Optimus ..." June said, smiling back.
The woman had seen Optimus and the other Autobots transformed a million times, but she remained fascinated as it was the first one every time this happened.
Then, without warning, the monitor started to go crazy. Optimus and Arcee ran in front of the big screen. A moment later, Ratchet, Bumblebee and Bulkhead had made their appearance.
The doctor moved Prime away from the screen and began to press keys on the computer.
"Hmm ... interesting ... " said after a few seconds the red and white mech.
"What's wrong, my friend?" Optimus asked with his usual calmness.
"I'm picking up a signal. It's very similar to that of Nemesis Prime and it comes from an area already identified as a possible MECH's base" Ratchet said. He seemd worried.
"We must contact Agent Fowler" decreed Optimus, while the doctor was already dialing the federal agent.
"... At the moment I'm not avaible ... " (AN: Thanks for the suggestion The Anonymous Forgot my name) the usual and unnerving voice mail.
"It seems that we should investigate without his help …" said in a small voice Optimus "Autobots! Get ready! Ratchet, my friend, you will need to come with us this time, "said Prime resting his hand on the shoulder of the doctor.
"Raf, you'll be in charge of the deck space, while Miko and Jack will stay communications" instructed the red and blue mech, "As for you, Ms. Darby ... you'll supervise the children."
June gave a nod of approval to Prime, just before he transformed and crossed the ground bridge, followed by the other Autobots.
It was the last time June Darby and the kids saw Team Prime.
From that sad night, there were no more contacts from the five Autobots and the humans, after so many months of silence, feared the worst.
Agent Fowler had set up a real task force to be able to find the Autobots, but it was all in vain. They seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
June drew the curtain near to the glass and headed for the stairs, leading to the upper floor. She put a hand on the handrail and slowly began to climb. She walked toward Jack's room, down the hall. All three kids were there.
Miko was sitting at the desk. In her ears she had the headphones of the inseparable Ipod. Fresh tears in the eyes.
Raf was sitting on the ground. In front of him there was the laptop, open but untouched. The eyes of the young man was lost in the vacuüm.
Jack was lying on his bed. Arms crossed behind the head and legs slightly bent. He looked out the window the incessant rain beating against the windows.
June knocked. Jack was the first to leap to his feet. Raf looked quickly away, while Miko, unaware of everything, continued to beat the rhythm of the song she was listening with the right foot.
"Dinner's ready!" said the woman.
The two boys looked at each other, "Thanks, Mom, but I'm not hungry," said Jack returning to the supine position on the bed.
"Yes .. thanks Mrs. Darby, but I also don't have an appetite" said Raf, before sitting back on the floor.
June approached Miko and put a hand on her shoulder. The girl removed one of the headphones.
"Are you hungry Miko? Dinner is ready " repeated nurse Darby.
"Uhmm ... no thanks. I ate lunch and I'm very satisfied," said Miko quickly and then put on the headset and resume listening to the music.
June gave a last look to the kids, she took a deep breath and walked out of Jack's room, closing the door behind her.
She put both hands on the wall and closed her eyes. Then she went down the stairs, she walked into the kitchen and sat down at the empty table. And she did something she hadn't done for a long, long, time: she began to pray for the salvation of her friends and her family.
Flashback - A few months earlier, in an unspecified place in U.S. ...
"The machine is completed and tested. We are ready to use it to on your order, Sir "a sinister masked man turned to an even more sinister figure in the darkness.
"Well ... Bring out the Autobots ... it is time to begin "the voice of Silas echoed throughout the lab, while a deafening noise and a bright light filled the room, till that moment silent and dark.
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