Greetings, TransFans! This is ShinkisRule with her second story on . This was originally going to be a somewhat animated comic for YouTube, but I'm kind of lazy, so it became a story. Now in case you don't figure it out by reading this, this takes place AFTER Sari's upgrade. It's somewhere between Human Error and Endgame. Now, on with the story!
Life Lessons
By ShinkisRule
Chapter 1
Sari Sumdac stared out the window as three girls stepped into a school bus. Sari didn't know why, but they were laughing. Sari sighed. She had a life that most people could only dream of having. It was wonderful to be a part of the Autobots' mission, and to be a member of their "family," but still, she always wondered what it was like to be… Normal. After discovering that she was more different than she thought, she wished for it even more. She wanted to be like those girls, who seemed as though they didn't have a care in the world. Sari didn't for a second want to leave the Autobots, but she did want that life she could never have.
"Dad?" Sari asked, leaving the window and turning to her father, "Can we talk?"
"Of course, Sari," said Isaac, "But not for very long; it is almost time for your lessons."
"That's what I want to talk to you about."
"Go on."
"Dad…" Sari began, hesitant because she wasn't sure how to tell him, "I want to go to school."
"Whatever for?" asked Isaac, "You have all the education you need right here at home. Is your Tutor Bot not sufficient?"
Sari sighed. He clearly didn't get it."It's not just about education, Dad. Sure, I'd like to have some teachers who make sense to me once in a while, but that's not the main reason I want to go."
"Hmm?"
"I want some friends."
Isaac looked confused. "The Autobots are your friends, are they not?"
" Well, yeah, but…" Sari paused. This was going to take a while. "I want to spend time with other girls my age. I want to complain with them about quizzes that we didn't study for and burst out laughing with them in chemistry when something blows up. I want to score a winning goal and celebrate with a trip to the movies. I want to go shopping at the mall with them and hang out at someone's house so we can paint each other's nails and giggle about stupid things and talk about boys. I mean, the Autobots are great and all, but… it's just not the same."
Isaac shook his head. "I'm afraid I cannot allow it, Sari. It simply isn't safe."
"What do you mean it's not safe?" Sari asked, "I'm 16 years old and I can take care of myself!"
"No you aren't," said Isaac, "You're 9 years old."
Sari folded her arms in frustration. "Well, fine," she said, "If you want to get all technical about it… but I'm mature enough to be 16, aren't I?"
"Yes, you are, but it isn't a question of maturity. The point I am trying to make is that you are different, whether you like it or not. Not everyone will accept that the same way you and I do."
" So, in other words, you don't think I can handle it?" Sari waited for an answer, then sighed when Isaac didn't respond. "Dad, I know I'm different. I've always been different and all I've ever wanted after I found that out was to be normal. You wouldn't send me to school before because you were afraid everyone would find out what I was… well, am. But maybe now that I know, it'll be easier to keep it a secret."
"You make a good argument, Sari," said Isaac, "You are right, but I still worry. Keeping your secret may not be as easy as you make it out to be. But… I will think it over."
Sari squealed in excitement. "Thanks, Dad!" She said, "You won't be sorry! I promise!"
Sari ran up to her room, giggling, leaving Isaac wondering why she was so happy all of a sudden. After all, he hadn't even said yes.
**
Bumblebee desperately pushed buttons on his game controller. He was playing Ninja Gladiator with Sari, and she was mopping the floor with him.
"Ha-ha!" Sari laughed, "You are so gonna die any second now!"
"No fair!" Bumblebee whined, "I'd be winning if you didn't get the invincibility!"
"That wore off 20 minutes ago, Bumblebee. Admit it! I'm just that good!"
"Still, you took that chance to make me lose at least 50 life points!"
"70. And counting."
Bumblebee moaned. He was the best player around, Bulkhead had said so himself. There was no way he was giving up that title to Sari.
"You only have 6 life points left!" Sari said, laughing evilly, "I am totally gonna kick your skidplate!"
Bumblebee's optics bulged and he dropped his controller as his avatar dropped dead, and confetti fell over Sari's, the screen flashing "WINNER!"
"Nooooooooo!!!!!" Bumblebee screamed.
"Oh yeah!" Sari cheered, doing a victory dance, "Who's awesome? I am! Woo-hoo!"
"No fair!" Bumblebee complained, "I demand a rematch! Best 2 out of 3!"
"We just did best 2 out of 3 and I won."
"Best 3 out of 5, then!"
"Don't be such a sore loser. That was perfectly fair."
"Perfectly unfair!"
Their argument was interrupted as Professor Sumdac walked into the room.
"Hi, Dad," said Sari, "Can you tell him that I beat him and therefore am the best Ninja Gladiator in this galaxy and beyond?"
"I think it's better if I stay out of this," said Isaac, "Anyway, I wanted to have a word with you, Sari. Can you spare a moment?"
Sari nodded and walked out of the room. Bumblebee had no idea what was going on, so he simply shrugged and started a new game. Now that Sari wasn't playing, he was sure to win. He thought just playing video games would be fun, but maybe what he really enjoyed was winning.
"You dare call yourself a ninja?!" he said, "PREPARE TO FACE THE WRATH OF–"
Bumblebee was cut off by a scream. He dropped his controller (again) and ran over to Sari as quickly as he could.
"What the slag are you doing to her in there?!?!" Bumblebee yelled. He was even more confused when he realized that Sari and Isaac were hugging. Sari looked happy, so why did she scream? What in Primus' name had just happened?
"He wasn't doing anything to me," said Sari, leaving her father's arms, "That was an excited shriek."
"You shriek when you're excited?" Bumblebee asked, "I've never heard that before."
"That's because I've never been this excited! Guess what?!"
"Ummm…."
"Dad's sending me to school!!!"
Bumblebee's face immediately fell. So that's what happened, he thought to himself.
"Wow…" He said, trying to look like nothing was wrong and failing, "Really?"
"Yeah!!" Sari said, not seeming to notice, "Isn't that awesome?!?!"
"Yeah… Great…"
Bumblebee walked outside, much quieter than usual. This was just great. Sari would be gone nearly every day, leaving him at the base with nothing to do. True, he had Bulkhead to hang out with, but he couldn't really play video games or race with him, because it was in Bulkhead's kind nature to let him win, so it wouldn't be that fun. Bumblebee would be doing things by himself, meaning Optimus would probably notice and put him on monitor duty, which, in Bumblebee's opinion, was second only to The Pit itself. The Decepticons had been pretty quiet lately, so it would be even worse. Bumblebee wasn't even going to think about what it would be like left with Prowl or Ratchet. It just wouldn't be the same without Sari. Even when she got home from school, she'd probably be up to her eyeballs in homework. She'd never have time to hang out with him anymore. Bumblebee couldn't remember the last time he had felt so lonely.
"Bumblebee?" called a voice. He looked behind him to see Sari, walking up to him with a very concerned look on her face.
"You okay?" She asked.
"Sure I am," Bumblebee replied gloomily.
"You don't look okay… You look pretty upset."
"I'm not upset. You get to spend all day miles away from here with a bunch of other humans while I sit around playing video games all by myself. Why would I be upset?"
"Oh…" said Sari, looking somewhat ashamed, "I get it… You want me to stay, huh?"
"Why can't you be home schooled like you've always been?" Bumblebee asked.
"I'm sorry…" she said, "I'm not trying to forget you. It's just that… well, I feel so excluded from the rest of the world. I'm almost always at home or with you guys. I barely ever get to go anywhere, and I've never left Detroit. I mean, when was the last time you saw me talking to someone I'm not related to or doesn't know my dad or isn't trying to kill me? Just for once, I want to feel like everybody else. No Decepticons, no bad guys… I don't want to feel like a robot. I just want to be normal. I want to interact with other people who can really relate to me. You guys are all amazing, Bumblebee. No one could ever replace any of you. But I think I really need this. You can understand that, can't you?"
"I guess so," said Bumblebee, "I just really like having you around… I don't want you to be gone all the time. This whole thing is lame." He knew Sari had every right to leave, but he still felt like slag.
"I know," said Sari, "I'll miss you too. But look on the bright side… You'll have more time to improve your Ninja Gladiator skills."
Bumblebee's optics widened. That was true. Maybe one day, he'd reclaim his title…
"Oh, yeah…." He said, rubbing his servos together like an evil scientist.
"But I'll still kick your skidplate."
"You wish! I'm gonna be better than you one day, and when that day comes… Buahahahahaha…"
"You'll have… bragging rights…?"
"I already have bragging rights. I'll just have more."
"I see you're feeling better," said Sari, both annoyed and amused.
"Yup," said Bumblebee, wearing his signature grin. "Wait a second! Did you just insult me in some obscure way?"
Sari simply laughed.
Poor Bumby (YES I just called him Bumby) doesn't want Sari to leave him. No, I'm not implying any sort of romance, I'm just restating that they're bestest buddies. Hopefully he'll be able to find a way out of monitor duty. Keep reading, my friend, keep reading.
