There you go, folks! Thanks for the favorites and reviews!
A whole new chapter of the story, covering the second half of Darkness rising pt.1 and Darkness Rising pt.2. It's a long chapter... hope you can enjoy!
I sigh as I pick up the half-damaged bicycle wheel I have made from scratch. I've put so much work and effort into making it, yet it was sacrificed with one hit to save our lives.
I find the other, which is also left at where it last landed after I've thrown it, and reattach them to the wheeless-bike which is also left under the highway. I take a quick glance around, hoping at least one robot I'd seen will show up. But none appears.
I sigh and throw the bike over my shoulder. Judging by its crooked wheels with punched edges, even a three-year-old can tell the bike can't be ridden.
I take the drain as the shortcut to return to school, where almost everyone has gone home except a few, including Raf, who's waiting for me at a side by the road.
"Did you find anything?" he asks as I cross the road and approach him. I shrug my loaded shoulder and say, "That's it."
I look over his shoulder and see two figures: Jack Darby, who is just walking down the school entrance stairs, while the girl who is sitting on the stairs drawing happens to be Miko Nakadai, the Japanese punk transfer in school, who is infamous for her long record of trouble-making.
Raf turns and sees them. He waves at Jack, and he darts to us. "Kallistrate…"
"It's Kal," I correct him. I don't really like people saying my whole name, because it happens to be only Raf's family and my worthless teachers say that.
"Okay, um, Kal, and Raf, is it? Maybe we'll pretend that nothing happened last night after school… no, not again!"
A familiar yellow muscle car comes by and stops on the road right behind me. It is the one we've seen just a day before. It opens the door and beeped, get in, you two! Let's go for a ride!
"It wants us to get in?" Jack asks uncertainly. That's when I notice he can't understand the beeps.
"No, just me and Kal," he replies.
"But – how can you tell?" Jack questions.
"It said so." Raf replies simply. "I think yours is over there."
He points to a flashy blue racing motorcycle parked right in front of the school entrance, which I recognized to be the female robot who got shot in the belly.
"A ride, huh? Then you'll have to take this." I let the bike on my shoulder slip down and grab hold of its top tube. Then the car trunk flings open automatically. I throw the dark blue bicycle into the trunk and slam it back down, while Raf takes a seat at the back row. I unzip my half-length black leather jacket and consume the other back seat, and the car slams the door shut itself and runs off the road without Jack Darby.
Every instinct within me goes to top alert mode immediately. Who knows what this car would do to us? Although Raf seems to be enjoying the ride himself, I decide if that any sign of trouble appears I'll break the window glass and get him out first.
In the end nothing happens, until we are driven into a normally-deserted path which I recognize. It's a dead end one-way road. What lies ahead is only a maze of rocky hills.
We speed past the 'stop' post by the road and head straight for a lone rocky hill that acts like a shield to the upcoming road. I take a quick peep at the back mirror and see another vehicle following. The blue flashy motorcycle with two passengers without helmets: Jack Darby and Miko Nakadai. I can't help but ask myself: why is Nakadai following us?
There's no way of escape now. The hill in our way is only yards away and we're going fast, and the car seems to have no intention of turning or stopping. "Duck, Raf. Now!"
I push Raf down on his knees and brace myself when we're at the face of running into the hill, hoping the least damage can be caused. Instead of a bumpy-crash I expected, we enter what appears to be a pit-black tunnel. Raf unbraces himself and look up as I do the same. There are artificial walls made of large pieces of metal boards covering the side of the cave entrance. The motorcycle behind is sticking to us close. The gate, or rather the cover of the cave closes up automatically just as we all entered.
"See? Nothing to worry about, you're just being agitated," Raf smiles as faint lamps appear on the walls, lighting the way.
"Maybe," I grumble, and twirl a fringe of hair behind my ear. Now we're through the cave. What next? We're shut within the place.
As soon as we enter the main chamber of this cave or anything you're pleased to call, I feel like I am about to faint as the familiar shrieking rings in my head, from an incident which is never told to anyone for any reason, not even Raf, for twelve years.
What triggers that single strand of memory are two enormous robots: one green, and of wide build strides over, and the other, a robot with white and orangey-red color scheme, who is standing in front of a green glassy monitor, what appears to be a vast computer screen. Both have blue glowing light bulbs as optics, like what the motorcycle and this muscle car have for eyes.
"Wow," Raf gasps in amazement. Much as I am impressed with the mechanics and physics involved with what makes the robots, I only get more tensed with so many machines around that I'm not familiar with, which is a rare case.
We get out of the car as the two riders of the motorcycle behind also get off. The trunk flings up and the car beeps get that thing outta here or I'll smash it!
I snatch out my nearly-destroyed bicycle and the two vehicles turn into their robot forms right on their feet.
Fantastic. Two more life-threatening robots hanging around, ready for fight as I recall, they are armed with deadly weapons.
"Four? I thought there were three," orange-and-white says in a half-surprised tone, and a tiny hint of annoyance I recognize, often heard from my teachers of the misbehavior they find on me.
'Haven't you heard? Humans multiply," the blue femme replies dryly and puts a hand on her hip.
"I'm Raf," Raf begins with introducing himself.
"I'm Miko!" Miko Nakadai chirps ecstatically and trots over to the green robot. "Who are you?"
"Bulkhead."
"Are you a car? I bet you're a truck, a MONSTER truck!" she starts up with questions as if firing an AK. "Do you like heavy metal? How much do you weigh? Ever used a wrecking ball for a punching bag?"
And I am deeply unimpressed with her immaturely warm approach to strange artificial intelligence we've never known.
"If you guys are robots… who made you?" Raf brings up the exact question I've longed to ask them. Clever little brother.
Instead what I get is most unexpected. "Pfft! Pluh-lease…" is the discontented reply of orange-and-white, who rolls his eyes and turns back to the controls he's been working on.
Heavy metal footsteps approach us. The four of us turn to see a towering robot mainly in red and blue coming forward, who seems to be easily taller than anyone in the place. Miko jogs back our way to get a closer look of the new intruder, as I kick the kickstand down to keep the bike in my hands in its place.
"We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron, also known as Autobots," he says his entrance speech in a deep voice.
"Why are you here?" despite his obvious worries, Jack takes a step forward and asks.
"To protect your planet from the Decepticons," the big 'bot replies curtly.
"The jokers who tried to bump us off last night," the blue femme explains.
"Oh-kay… why are they here?" Jack asks further.
"A fair question, Jack. In part, they are here because our planet is uninhabitable, ravaged by centuries of civil war," he bends down and answers the question.
"Why were you fighting a war?" Raf asks with a quavering voice.
"For most, over control of our world supply of energon, the fuel and lifeblood of all Autobots and Decepticons alike," he says, and continues with his story. "The combat was fierce and endured for centuries. In the beginning, I fought alongside one whom I considered a brother. But in war, ideas can be corrupted, and it was thus that Megatron lost his way."
He tells it as if an old retired soldier recalling his memories of the wars he'd fought in long ago.
What a likely story for people to believe.
Miko views this in an entirely different angle. "Huh... is there gonna be a quiz?" she sighs as she twirls a bundle of hair tied loosely behind her back.
"So… what does Megatron, or any of this have to do with us?" Jack ignores her nonsense and continues his conversation with the robot.
"Megatron has not been seen or heard from in some time, but if his return is imminent, as I fear, it could be catastrophic."
"What a likely story, that's typical history," I have my first sentence in an almost drawling tone. "Aliens, huh? Proof?"
"Proof? What sort of proof do you still need, we're standing right here! Have you seen anything like us?" Bulkhead exclaims at my respond.
How I wish I could say I had. Twelve years ago. But it is my top secret that I cannot expose to anyone.
"I understand that this can be hard for you to accept," the towering robot stands back on his feet and says. "But please believe us, that we're telling the truth."
"Well then," I take a step forward beside Jack and fold my arms, staring into his optics. "Proof to me that you are trustworthy."
"Then you're lucky that we haven't blasted your head off, kiddo," the femme rubs her hand without casting a slightest look at anyone, even when I know she's referring to me.
She's got a point. They didn't kill us. The jokers we saw did try last night.
But that's not the whole story. How do I know if there's anything more before that incident? And how do I know, that if they are a bunch of robots under control of a certain organization developing artificial intelligence and technology, that they are just puppets to someone's control?
All I knew about them… is they do not have a soul. They might be able to think and interact, but I do not trust them.
Nevertheless, the other three are buying the story pretty much, and we are introduced to the orange-and-white Autobot medic Ratchet (which I doubt whether robots ever need a medic. Just bring them to their manufacturers and BAM, they're fixed), Bulkhead, the yellow muscle car Bumblebee, the blue femme Arcee and the leader of the 'bots, Optimus Prime.
"So, what's your name?" Bulkhead asks me. That's when I realize I'm the only one who haven't submitted my name.
"Call me Kal," I respond curtly.
"And since you know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours," Optimus continues.
"Got it, we spot any strange vehicles, we call 911," Jack replies. "Can we go now?" he adds, as if he wants to leave the place as soon as possible.
"Are you insane? I'm living a dream in 'bot swana, and I'll not let you or anyone to shatter it," Miko declares her stance angrily at Jack's
"It is best that you four remain at our watch, at least until we can determine our enemies' intention," Optimus resumes.
"Optimus, with all due respect, the human children are in as much danger here, as anywhere!" Ratchet cuts in, showing his disapproval of our existence in the place.
"Children?" Jack seems highly offended with the word. Chill, dude, I'm seventeen and you're just sixteen. I should be the first to complain in that case.
"They have no protective shell! If they go under foot they'll go… squish," he brings up the possibility, and stomps his gigantic feet to emphasize the point.
And I assume if that happens, it's either he's blind to see us or we're too slow.
"Then for the time being, Ratchet, we must watch where we step," Optimus persuades him to accept our existence in the place.
An alarm goes off just as he finishes his sentence, as green alerting lights flash in the room. "What's that?" Jack queries and shows his more-than-obvious nervousness, as Ratchet marches back to his computer controls.
Proximity sensors, they're on the roof which tells us something's coming, Bee explains.
"Proximity sensors. Someone's on top," Raf translates for the other two whose manifest confusion is written on their faces.
"It's agent Fowler," Ratchet concludes who's the incomer, and shows a camera's live video transmitted to the screen which shows a military helicopter descending onto the hilltop.
"Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world," Optimus explains. "As he tends to visit only when there are… issues, it may be best if you do not meet him at this time."
We note that and goes for cover behind the stairs, which leads up to a platform conspicuously too small for the bots' use and more accurate for human use.
Anyways, the sound of an elevator descending from the ginormous cylindrical transmission tube that reaches from the rooftop to the middle of the platform is heard, and as we peep out as the elevator door on the platform opens up, revealing a paunchy black man in suit coming out of the elevator.
He comes out and complains about what happened last night – which exactly fitted into our case of how Jack, Raf and I first met the bots.
What can I say, I don't get a pretty good first impression from Fowler. He reminds me too well of my teachers when they tend to list out my misbehavior and wrongdoings. Here's an example of a few words of exchange between my discipline teacher and me which sounds almost the same.
"Two assignments late, three times of late to class and the fifth time I receive a complaint about you chewing gums on lessons with foul language to teachers, Kallistrate Malsky."
"Oh shit. Sorry."
"No foul language, Malsky. I believe I just said that. And spit that gum out of your mouth now."
"Onto your face, motherfucker?"
You can imagine what happens next, and I can tell you, the outcome wasn't sweet.
Anyways, Prime assures Fowler everything's under their control after Bulkhead breaks something with Ratchet fussing around about that. Fowler leaves through the elevator, warning that the bots should handle the situation under the radar, or he – the military will.
Sounds so bossy.
If there are two Decepticons – they say they're called that – we spotted last night, how many more of them could possibly be out there?
And, if these bots are all the only Autobots on Earth, my long-searched answer for the mysterious accident when I was small can only be hidden with the Decepticons… and I must get the answer at all costs.
"Blasted Earth tech," Ratchet's curse brings me back to attention to the reality. "Cliffjumper's signal popped back online."
"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko arouses the question behind me to Ratchet, now that we stay on the platform we can't be squished as Ratchet suggested earlier.
Duh, another robot, simple as that. I scolded in my mind.
"How is that possible?" Optimus says and takes a closer look at the vst monitor.
"It isn't," Ratchet confirms. "Another bug. The system's full of them."
Arcee joins in with a higher mood. "If there is any chance that Cliff's alive - "
"Ratchet, prepare sickbay. We may need it." A metallic battle mask covers over Optimus' face, as if preparing for a mission.
"Hey! What can we do?" Miko asks loudly. I shake my head and roll my eyes behind her. She's simply impossible. And loud.
"Remain with Ratchet," comes Optimus' orders.
"Aww," Miko complains in frustration, apparently unsatisfied with the fact she can't go.
I wish I can go too. I need to know more about them, about what exactly happened in my past.
Someone has to live to tell the tale.
Ratchet doesn't seem any happier than Miko. But he clicks a few buttons and pulls down a cylindrical handle on a machine beside his main controls. And as if someone just shoots a massive green flashlight in, the passageway right opposite to us lights up with that strange light which twirls on the stone wall at the end of the way.
"Autobots, transform and roll out!" Optimus announces, and they all turn into a respective vehicle: Arcee and Bumblebee into a motorcycle and yellowish muscle car with black racing stripes as we've seen, while Bulkhead into a green SUV while Optimus turns into a red-and-blue truck. They run straight into the light and are – gone.
"Whoa, what just happened?" Jack asks in bafflement.
"I just transported them to the designated coordinates by our ground bridge," Ratchet replies.
"What's a ground bridge?" Raf asks.
"You're talking about a teleportation system, are you?" I suggest, and the three humans in front of me almost jumped. I guess that's because it's too much of a rarity that I speak. "You just like – literally bended time and space to transport them into another place through that bridge as a shortcut."
He looks pretty astounded at my guessing. "Technically, yes," he turns back to the monitor and continues with his all-time dull computer work. "It's a scale down version of the space bridge technology, since we currently do not possess the means or energon for intergalactic travel."
"You're stuck here, on Earth?" Jack steps forward and asks.
"With the lives of you, yes," Ratchet replies. "But I constructed the ground bridge that enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet."
"Whoa. Does it work for humans?" Raf sounds so impressed like he wants to jump into that bridge thingy at once.
"Naturally."
"You mean I can just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko propounds the possibility ecstatically.
"Within moments. In fact, allow me to send you there immediately, all four of you," Ratchet says somehow, in a threatening tone to Miko as if he wants to drive us out of the place as soon as possible.
"Watch it, Ratchet," Miko retorts.
"So… can we take a look around the place?" Jack suggests for an activity.
Ratchet hesitates. "Just… stay in sight. And watch where you step," he adds sharply. I walk down the platform with Jack and Miko and start exploring the place.
"What is this anyway?" Miko approaches a machine covered in a thick layer of dust when she asks.
"Broken. Don't touch," Ratchet doesn't even cast the slightest look at us, and Miko withdraws her outreached hand immediately. She raises a finger and attempts to touch another machine on the wall right above that when Ratchet says, "Don't touch that either."
"Is there anything here we can touch?" Jack asks.
Without warning the main frame of the monitor beeps loudly and an information box pops out. Bugs.
"How come you guys are using human computers?" Raf asks, who is still remaining on the platform so he can speak to Ratchet in a less tiring way.
"It certainly isn't my choice, it was handed down from the previous hands when it was a Cold war missile silos," he explains. "I made a few modifications as I see fit."
More bug boxes pop out onto the screen as Ratchet groans at sight of them.
"I think I can fix that," Raf suggests timidly, and reaches into his backpack for a laptop I've seen for years, which serves as his all-time companion.
"Really. You know this isn't complex technology, don't you?" Ratchet sneers, clearly underestimating Raf's abilities. "I mean, it isn't a child's toy!"
And he's so wrong with that. I know more than anyone does, that Raf is much more than an ordinary twelve-year-old computer user. I'd say if he ever want to apply for a CIA computer analyst, he can sit in the senior officer's chair right now.
Raf taps his keyboard in smooth and affluent moves. "Now try," he says. Ratchet turns back to the screen, and to his incredulity the bugs are removed – and I guess, with Raf's ability, they're removed permanently.
"Nice one, Raf," I compliment Raf on his work. He beams. He doesn't always get praised. "Human technologies are faulty, I suppose you've always wanted to say."
Ratchet rolls his eyes and turns back to the computer. "Whatever you say," he waves up his hand to dismiss the topic.
I take a glance as the machine Miko just left untouched. I wipe away some dust on the surface which covers the manufacturing company. This turns out to be a long-ranged missile launcher, and to my knowledge, this type of missile weighs tons, as I know.
"Then why didn't you fix it?" I look up at the wirings and connections of the machine, estimating its usage. "It's for defending air strike, you know. This can always come in handy."
"Why should we even bother to do that when the Decepticons still do not possess the location of our base?" Ratchet returns. "Besides, it's teeny."
"Then your manufacturers should have considered about adding in exquisite working functions."
"Plu-ease, Kal, what do you need to be convinced by our story?" he says tiredly.
"At least a look at your CPU chip."
"Pluhh. Impossible humans."
I spot a tool box lying a few feet away from the ground bridge. I grab it and fix the little faulty hitches with the machine – and the faint grayish-yellow monitor lights up with a few words that are flickering, indicating it's functional with a series of beeps.
"Oh, for Primus' sakes, I told you not to touch that!" Ratchet yells exasperatedly and turns to me. "What have you done?" he demands.
I throw a wrench behind casually with a loud GONG of its landing. "You can always use that teeny missile launcher, doc," I say sarcastically and strides back onto the stage with Raf.
He drops his metal jaw and walks over for a closer look at the highly functional machine, with the word 'unbelievable 'written on his face. I assume Raf and I have just given him a whole new view on kids.
"Ratchet, bridge us back! Use the arrival coordinates, now!" the voice of Optimus rings in the chamber from the computer. Ratchet immediately returns to his post and pushes down the cylindrical handle. The passageway for the ground bridge lights up again and the four vehicles reappeared as they drive into the room, with Optimus coming in last as a cloud of blue flames sticks close to his back.
He transforms back into his robot mode as Ratchet pulls the handle back up to its original position – cutting the flames just in time before anything blows up or catches on fire.
"Wow," Raf and Miko exclaim in admiration together.
"That's a bit close. How about Cliffjumper?"
Bee looks down, as if they're beaten down. Somehow, among all robots, I seem to understand him the most.
"Was that an explosion? Was ther a fight? Can I come with next time?" Miko starts firing off her usual array of questions as if firing a Vickers machine gun.
"Look," Arcee says angrily, pointing out the fact that they barely made it out alive.
"Hey, Miko, let's go see what the bots hide in their sock drawers," Jack pulls her away before she can blurt out any more sensitive questions.
"Seriously?"
I remain at the fence of the stage to get a closer look at the robots. "Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asks calmly at the femme.
She holds her arms tightly as if she catches a cold. "Not Cliff. At least not anymore," she describes what she sees when they were out for mission. "He was mutated, butchered, like something from those 'con experiments during war!"
She loses balance and falls onto a stack of boxes. You okay Arcee? Bee endeavors to help but Arcee rejects his hand."I'm fine, just – dizzy," she gasps a conclusion of her status.
If they are just artificial intelligence, they can't possibly use those words. They can't describe mutated or butchered: those are of the aspect of consciousness and humanity. Robots without feelings can never understand that. And the pain of losing Cliffjumper marks on Arcee's face freshly, which I know of too well. That feeling can't be hidden or faked.
"Robots who get dizzy? " Miko brings up her lip-deep question once again.
"Robots with emotions," Raf says.
"Robots who can die," Jack concludes what can actually happen. If these robots can die, the protection we get isn't of much use.
But now I understand. For the first time ever, I believe their story: they're not just emotionless robots. They're something more to that.
"Robots who have souls – alive, just like us," I let go of our final definition to them. Not robots. They don't have a programming chip. They're living things.
Ratchet scans Arcee, and takes some suspicious matter abstract in between purplish liquid and gas state from her hand. She is escorted for a decontamination bath by Bumblebee when Jack complains that there is no network reaching to our place as he can't dial anyone.
"A security precaution, the silo wars isolate all radio waves," Optimus explains the reason for his distress.
"Well, if I don't call my mom like, now, I'm pretty sure the cops will be out looking for me," he explains to Optimus.
"Have you broken a law?" Optimus bends down as he questions us.
"Um, curfew. It's after 10pm."
"I better get home too. We'll all be grounded for a year," Raf says. I fold my arms behind him. To be honest I'm used to that, but I won't allow that to happen on Raf.
"Earth customs. I haven't considered," Optimus muses. "But the issue of your safety remains. Bulkhead, accompany Miko home."
"Awesome! My host parents will freak!" Miko cries gleefully, until Optimus adds, "And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form."
"Curb-side duty, got it."
Her happy grin is replaced with a moan.
"Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf," Optimus arranges Raf his guardian, whom he seems to be getting along with.
"As for you, Kal…"
"I'll go with Raf and Bee. I live in Raf's house," I tell him the truth. He approves of that arrangement.
"Ratchet…"
"Busy," the medic waves up from his controls as the female warrior comes out of a cylindrical glass room, which appears to be the decontamination bath. "Arcee, you'll accompany Jack."
Jack rubs the back of his head, uncertain of whether it is a good sign.
"Huh. Still dizzy," Arcee says.
"Your fine, says your physician," Ratchet announces her current status. She sighs, and walks over to the stage.
We get down the platform and I get my bike before loading it into Bee's trunk after they transformed. On our way back to Raf's house, I am forced to discuss our story for his mother.
"Maybe you should tell her the story, Kal, I'm not good at lying," he reasons with plead in his eyes.
"She won't believe it if I'm the one telling it; you'll have to agree on whatever I'm saying, okay?"
"Deal, but what's your plan?"
I bite my lips. "I'll say I bought Bee."
"But what if she asks how did you afford that? She's been cutting back on your pocket money."
"I work at old man Joe's repair garage for part-time, remember? Let's say he agreed on giving me an old, crappy and half-broken car at an affordable price, and we fixed it with new painting jobs…"
Hey, kiddo, do I look old, crappy and half-broken? Bee protests.
I gave him a rare little smile."That's just a story. By the way, I think you'll have to stay in the house garage overnight," I tell Bee.
No problem, I've always wanted to see how's your car ports, Bee beeps thoughtfully.
And before we even realize, we've arrived at Raf's home, which the lights were lit and his mom with a not-so-friendly face and hands on her hips was waiting at the front door.
Uh-oh, Bee squeaks.
I get off the car and take the bicycle out of the trunk as Raf jumps off his seat.
"So, Kallistrate Malsky," she begins with the usual hard tone. "Ten fifteen now. What's your story this time?"
"Can't you see?" I challenged with a drawling tone. "Car, bicycle."
She grits her teeth. "Raf, back into your room."
"No, Raf. Stay here."
She glares at me, which I stare back in return. Raf just stands there helplessly at our silent argument.
"So," she continues. "Explain how this car comes."
"One of old man Joe's second-hand vehicle. I fixed it and Raf helped with the paint job," I smooth my palm across Bee's hood.
"Mom, Kal is telling the truth," Raf says stiffly. He seriously needs to improve his lying skills.
"Why would you need a car, when you have that, well, speedy bicycle?" she points at the bike on my shoulder awkwardly.
"If you don't like it, I'll have it returned and Raf will still go back to school on foot."
With that considerable fact, she thinks for a while. Finally she gives in. "Fine, Kallistrate Malsky," she sighs as she places a palm on her forehead. "Make sure you drive safely."
"Whatever you say, Mrs Esquivel," I return and get into the driver's seat, and drive Bee into the garage.
When I get into the house, Raf is waiting on the stairs.
"We made it," he sighs in relief in my ears. I smile a little.
"It's Saturday tomorrow," I say. "Fun time."
