Complications
Chapter Two
(When I refer to the characters, I'll be referring to their personalities/minds, not their bodies. Similarly, when I use "he" and "she" it is the minds I refer to, so "she" would be Mikaela, "he" is Optimus)
"So, Ratchet, do you have any theories on how this happened? asked Optimus.
"I have a theory." said Ratchet, as he sat by Mikaela as she began to reach full awareness again as Ratchet's treatment began to wear off. "I think that it was the energy of the lightning strike that effected the accidental transfer, while the two of you were connected by the lightning discharge."
"Shit!" was Mikaela's reaction to that, as she sat up again. "How am I meant to use this thing?-no offence intended." she said, holding up the huge mech hands of the body she was in.
"I can probably help with that." said Ratchet. "For the transforming, I will probably have to connect to you and effect it using my own systems, until you learn it yourself. You'll have to come back to the base with us, too, as there is no way you'll fit in your own house. You, Optimus, are going to have the hardest job, trying to pretend to be Mikaela around her friends and family."
Sam could see that attempt being disastrous. "I have a better idea. Get Optimus to phone Mikaela's Mom and explain that she's staying with friends, and then Optimus can either stay with me, or at the base with you guys."
"Would it be acceptable for Optimus to stay with you, Sam , as you will need to help him deal with eating and drinking." Sam put his hand to his face as he realised something.
"And dressing! Oh God, I'm gonna get Mum to deal with that side of things!" He blushed. Then an awful thought struck him.
"Ratch-you are going to be able to reverse the effects, aren't you?" he asked.
"I hope so." Optimus said, as Mikaela said "He'd better be able to! I'm not staying like this for the rest of my life!"
"I will have to research what happened, but theoretically, we should be able to find some way to re-create the situation that caused this, even if it means standing outside in a thunderstorm again." Ratchet stated.
"Not this storm though." said Sam, as he watched the huge cumulonimbus moving off. "It's passed over us."
"I am pleased about that." said Optimus, shivering. "The ambient temperature seems to be detrimental to this body. It will not stop shaking."
"That's normal when you're cold." said Sam. "Bumblebee, could you go back into car form and turn on the heaters for us poor organics?" Sam led Optimus over to the obliging Bumblebee, and sat with him as Bumblebee turned the heaters and blowers on full. Sam put his arms over Optimus' shoulders and pulled him close, to share body heat. Sam had no objection to holding Mikaela's body this close to him.
"This is a very new experience for me." said Optimus.
"What is?" Sam Asked. "Being organic? I imagine it's new to Mikaela being a mech, and a male one at that."
"That too." said Optimus, "but I was referring to the difference in size. Being the smallest one in a group is not something I have ever had to face. Especially not when standing amongst humans."
He snuggled into Sam. "You are so warm." Sam began to feel stirrings below the belt, for he had always been attracted to Mikaela, and when her body was this close to his, his hormones tended to take over. However, he had stirrings elsewhere too, in his mind, of unease, for he could not forget whose mind was inhabiting this body.
Optimus' breathing, he noticed uncomfortably, was getting deeper and less even, and Sam remembered some disquieting experiences he's had with his body, some of the physical reactions and dirty images that had sprung to his mind when looking at some girls at school. Their personalities he couldn't stand, but their figures had made his treacherous body react.
What if the same thing was happening to Optimus?
"Uh-Ratchet, I think something is happening to Mikaela's body. Could you make sure nothing's wrong?" Ratchet ran a scan.
"It's not life-threatening, Sam, if that's what you're worried about."
"That's not what I'm worrying about. It's Michaela's body I'm worried about. Specifically, her hormone levels."
"Her hormone levels are elevated, specifically those associated with attraction and reproduction. Her body is readying itself for mating."
That was the very situation Sam had worried about. He pulled away from Mikaela's body as he said "You're warm enough, Optimus. Between Mikaela's body and Bumblebee's heaters, you'll be okay soon."
"But I'm still cold!" said Optimus, reaching out towards Sam again. "Why won't you share your body heat any more?" Sam leaned back, away, and Optimus sighed and lowered his arms again.
"Look, Optimus, it's complicated. You're a male mech in the body of my female mate, and it's just messing with my head. Just accept it as a funny organic thing, and let it be, okay?"
"For a start, if it's my body going to be doing that sort of thing, I want it to be my mind in there." interjected Mikaela, whom Ratchet was supporting in a standing position. He had finally got her to keep her balance while walking about.
"Can we head off, please? The sooner I get Optimus home, the quicker I can start teaching him how to be human. Anyway, my mom's cooking, and both Mikaela and I will need to eat."
"We still need to teach Mikaela how to transform." said Ratchet. "I think it would be best, Mikaela, if I connect to you and help you the first few times, then I'll let you try by yourself. I could leave it till we get to the base, but I would rather be prepared for any eventuality."
"O-okay, what does it involve?" she said nervously.
"I will intitate a wireless connection to Optimus' body." said Ratchet, "I will initiate transformation into vehicle mode, then back into robot mode."
"Okay." Mikaela said.
Ratchet was surprised and gratified to find that, after the first two or three times, Mikaela took to transforming as if designed for it-although being in an experienced body, where any kinks had long since been fixed, may have helped. When Ratchet said she'd have to learn to drive, she said "I have driven before, you know!"
"Not like this you haven't!" said Ratchet,. She had to concede that, and folded back into truck form without a word.
"Bumblebee, you go in front, then Mikaela, then I'll follow." said Ratchet.
Thankfully, Mikaela took to travelling in vehicle form as easily as she had taken to transforming. Bumblebee and Ratchet opened up communications so the three mechs and two humans could all communicate. They were not far from the location of the Autobot base when Sam caught sight of a form he recognized. A too-familiar police car, seeming to have not noticed them, cruised ahead.
"Leave him, he's pretty much alone now Starscream's fled." said Bumblebee. "He's not looking to cause trouble."
"Screw that!" Mikaela said in Optimus' deep voice. "I owe him a kicking!"
"No Mikaela!" cried Ratchet, but it was too late: Mikaela was transforming.
Being unused to transforming on the move, she stumbled and almost fell, and then regained her balance.
"Come here, Barricade, you little shit!" she hollered, and stepping over Bumblebee, headed towards the black and white Decepticon.