Transformers: Edge of Humanity

Chapter 1: Macaroni and Things

"Hurry up or we're going to be late!"

"Just a minute! I'm almost done!"

Kaleena hopped down the stairs intent on shoving her left foot in the opposite shoe. She would've fallen down the stairs and flat on her face had Carrissa not been running back up. Instead they collided and Kaleena landed half on her back and half against the stairwell wall behind her. It wasn't the most comfortable position. Especially, with Carrissa entangled in her legs in such a way Kaleena's backend was also half in the air.

Carrissa didn't take to having her face smashed into the adjacent wall, or her hand in a place she really rather it not be, either.

The only positive, really, was that with her feet in the air Kaleena finally noticed that she had been putting her left foot in the right shoe.

In an explosion of movement, grunts, and plenty of "would you please get your elbow out of my boob?" the two girls disentangled. Carrissa hustled Kaleena down the last steps then ran back up kicking Kaleena's shoes down to her.

"And please try not to talk to or about Mr. Beetle!" screamed Carrissa as she rushed to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

"I don't mean to..." murmured Kaleena.

And really she didn't. Sometimes Kaleena simply had to respond like she had to breathe, strange as it sounded. Plus, it wasn't like Kaleena even wanted to repeat that which had remained officially dubbed: The Very Bad No Good Horribly Worst Day Ever.

Finished tying her shoes Kaleena snatched her bag and dashed outside towards the car. A car, which just happened to be a red Ferrari 458 Italia. Their Dad said he'd gotten it as a perk from his job but the girls knew better...well, Kaleena did. She heard The Buzz around that car. This meant that car was special. A Mr. Beetle kind of special. And today, she was so absolutely going to-something, or someone, shoved her to the side-not drive.

"You wish!" Carrissa cackled with glee.

Kaleena, out of frustration of never once driving the apple red vehicle, threw her hands down at her sides and cried, "Come on!"

Nonetheless, she trudged to the passenger's side and opened the door.

"'Come on' yourself," replied Carrissa as Kaleena sat down. "I'm the professional with a full license. You're just a rookie!"

Said professional sat in the driver's seat smugly "adjusting" the mirrors even though they never moved because Carrissa was the only driver.

"Well, how am I supposed to get better if I don't practice?" questioned Kaleena green eyes wide as Carrissa once again threw her ridiculously large black backpack all willy-nilly.

Carrissa's brown eyes met Kaleena's as she smirked devilishly, "On your own time."

Kaleena groaned slumping back into her seat. Carrissa started the Italia and peeled out of their driveway at completely illegal speeds.

"Son of monkey!" cried Kaleena as her hair was flung in her face and she slammed into the door.

Carrissa braked shifting the gear from reverse to drive. As she pressed the gas pedal and straightened the wheel she spared Kaleena a glance.

"'Son of monkey?'" asked Carrissa with a raised brow.

"Shut up!"

The shorthaired girl laughed as her oppositely haired sibling practically hugged the seat for dear life as she peeled out once more, at completely illegal speeds. Carrissa slowed down to the speed limit a moment later. Razzing Kaleena, however fun, was not worth a ticket. Of which, she already had a few.

Kaleena sighed and stared out the window. The sun shone as brightly as a sun could manage with gray dotting the sky. It looked like rain.

Slag, slag. It's going to rain and it's going to be muddy.

Worse things than mud-

Shut up.

Kaleena was unfazed. Though others did not speak often but they did speak enough to no longer surprise her. She rather liked the so dubbed Sunflower's voice. Rari's, Carrissa and Kaleena's car, came in close second. Kaleena wondered where Mr. Beetle had gone off to. She hadn't heard his voice for a while.

"I wonder how he's doing...," Kaleena wondered aloud.

"You mean Austin?" Carrissa replied.

Kaleena blinked then realized she'd spoken aloud. Glad she did not have to scramble for an excuse she merely nodded.

"Yeah," Kaleena said dismally.

Carrissa continued to drive like the good driver she actually was instead of the maniac speedster she liked to parade as. Not long after, the sisters arrived at the school. Finding their favorite spot they parked. Carrissa hopped out immediately dragging both bags with her. Kaleena exited more slowly.

Late again, why are they so late?

Kaleena sighed, "We're late, again."

Carrissa's head snapped around to stare at her.

"What? No way!"

Carrissa then checked the dashboard clock.

"Crap," said Carrissa simply.

Kaleena shrugged and muttered.

A rusty blue pickup with an equally rusty red truck bed cover pulled up beside them. The boy who hopped out seemed about their age, equal in height to Carrissa and towering over the barely five-foot-two Kaleena. However, unlike his female friends, Austin was not curvy nor did he hold lithe boyish girl figure. Instead Austin seemed all legs, arms, and sharp angles.

Slamming his truck door shut he greeted the girls, "Sup ladies?"

"Oh look, it's what's-his-face." Kaleena sighed with a woe-is-me tone directing her eyes skyward.

"Oh ha ha! Nice to see you to, Kaleena," the boy said.

Kaleena grinned in response.

Carrissa looked over at the boy taking in his unkempt dirty blond hair then tossed Kaleena her bag. Kaleena staggered and almost fell to the ground.

"Hey, Austin," replied Carrissa rolling her eyes at Kaleena.

"Why are you guys so late? You're usually here already," said Austin.

Carrissa glared at Kaleena, "Someone stayed up late then, of course, didn't want to get up this morning."

Kaleena shrugged simply. Carrissa glared harder.

The younger sister sighed then smiled. Austin was a friend, a strange friend at that, so surely she could take some liberty here?

"Well, mud is muddy and the rain makes it worse. I had to listen to Rare mediate conflict between a pretty flower and everyone on Earth," she explained casually. "You almost got incinerated last night you know."

Carrissa gawked and Austin's pale blue orbs took her in like an interesting bug.

"Kaleena!" cried Carrissa.

The other girl crossed her arms defensively, "What?"

"Simmer down, please," Austin said calmly.

"Why?" Kaleena asked again. This time hurt. Everyone always got on to her!

"'Cause, you'll melt the pavement," Austin replied straight-faced.

Kaleena burst out laughing as Rari broadcasted complete confusion. Even Carrissa snickered a little. Austin allowed himself a small smile. Behind them the school-warning bell rang with an insistence all too like a mother duck ushering her ducklings.

"Shouldn't we get inside?" Carrissa spoke up in the silence following after.

The three friends all looked at each other. They didn't have any classes together what with Kaleena in a different grade and Carrissa in band. They had little to no desire to trudge inside the school and have the teachers suck away their brains slowly (Kaleena, however always protested vehemently that Mr. Leigh was not one of them.).

"Yeah...we're all gonna get eaten by a giant spirit monster...!" Austin exclaimed jokingly.

"Wait, what?" Carrissa asked incredulously.

"No," Kaleena countered; after all spirit monsters only existed in the ever-popular anime and manga. "But it will rain in a while."

Carrissa and Austin glanced up at the grey sky.

"Yeah," said Carrissa.

They all stared at each other once more.

Finally, Austin urged them ahead, "You guys go on in. I'm gonna hang outside for a few minutes."

Kaleena hefted her bag and turned towards the school. She grumbled something just out of the other two's hearing then waved her hand in the air as a sort of reverse goodbye.

"Don't be late! Or I'll know!" she called behind her.

Carrissa shook her head and grabbed her own bag. She threw Austin a look but he was turned away now staring off to who knew where. Carrissa huffed. Something clearly had its worrying claws in the boy next to her. However, she hardly had any know-how to help with. Carrissa simply didn't deal well with people. Nonetheless, she kicked Austin in the ankle, and when he turned to her to ask why, punched him in the arm.

She'd already crossed half the way to the school before he could even muster up a response. Austin didn't take much offense. Even as he rubbed his sore arm he knew she'd meant well. She solidly retained the title of Girl-of-Action just as he had Boy-of-Talking. It was simply her form of affection...maybe.

She could also just like hitting me, he thought.

The bell marking the start of school rang loudly.

"Guuuhhh," he groaned tossing his head back.

He really didn't want to go to school. Really. And considering the week he'd had didn't have a right to a couple of school-less days?

I do, he thought, just not in any explainable way unless I wanna be carted off by the government.

Staring into the gray sky Austin blinked when something splashed his cheek.

"Wha...?"

More and more 'somethings', also known as raindrops, fell kamikaze style from the sky. Austin stood still as the rain continued to fall increasing into a full on pounding downpour. As the change in weather soaked through his clothes the only sign of any kind of reaction from Austin was the sound of air escaping a tire from between his teeth and bottom lip.

"Ffffffff...," Austin threw his hands in the air growling, "Okay, first Dad is shipped off, again, and then my house, and mom and then that thing...," Austin trailed off.

"That thing," he repeated

Frustration raged and roiled inside Austin causing his stomach to turn and his throat to burn. It wasn't fair. Nothing was fair or really made sense anymore. His now fisted hands shook in helplessness. He'd been so, so stupid thinking that thing would keep its word. He should've gone to his Dad but he hadn't. He'd thought, actually thought, that for once he could take care of something. Instead, he'd dug a hole too deep, sent his mother to the hospital, and gotten stuck doing things for the one creature he hated with his entire being. Pure fury overtook him at the mere thought at what that thing had done. What he wouldn't do to...Austin breathed out.

"Come on," he sighed, feeling defeated, "I was just going to go inside seriously. Couldn't have waited five minutes to rain? Five minutes?"

Austin's wrist buzzed making him jump.

Oh, no...Not now, please.

Another insistent buzz this time with a hint of electric shock. Austin rubbed his wrist, cringing. He glanced back at the school now wishing with all his might that he could go. Despite the foreboding air the building had, because of its gothic inspired structure, it was more welcoming than the thought of what to come.

To listen and follow the call meant he committed to whatever the Thing desired.

Austin shivered.

Last time had been so dangerously close...

This time the shock doubled him over. Austin gagged feeling his stomach spasm. He hoped that he didn't throw up what little breakfast he'd managed down. Shaking he managed to press the correct spot on his wrist. Then shivered as whatever was inside him shifted doing whatever it did to spell the small address across his arm. The meeting place.

Austin shook again this time in an unnameable ugly emotion that consumed him.

He wouldn't go.

He wouldn't.

He was not a pawn. He wasn't.

The buzz, the electric charge, surged through his body tightening his muscles and spasming his heart.

Austin fell to his hands and knees trembling.

He wouldn't...

This time he hit the ground as pure agony raced through him. When it passed...

He went.

Inside Kaleena found it hard to concentrate in her history class. For one, her teacher, Mr. Ceezar, kept droning in a monotone unusual for him. For another, worry had her stomach twisted up in knots.

Kaleena shifted in her seat once more trying to catch something from Mr. Beetle or one of his various associates again. She wanted desperately to run outside and check the parking lot for herself.

What is going on? she worried.

Kaleena glanced around wishing there was a window in her classroom. Unfortunately, the classroom had originally been a computer lab, which meant the room sat near the inside of the building. Therefore, it sadly lacked any portal to the outside.

Dang it...

"Glad to see you're so excited for history, Kaleena."

Kaleena blinked and looked up at Mr. Ceezar. Realizing she'd spoken aloud she made an 'Oh, crap' face and went red. Quickly, she ducked her head hoping her teacher would take pity on her. He did. Instead of ridiculing her further Mr. Ceezar continued on about their lesson.

Kaleena attempted to listen, really she did, but found that ancient Rome really didn't interest her all that much. Especially when Holly kept typing up obscene comments and derogatory comments about Draco Malfoy on their little 'chat room,' a document shared over Google Docs. -A feat that would've been impossible had their teacher not had Macs everyone could use.

Thank God Mr. Ceezar taught yearbook.

The rest of the day passed by normally, Carrissa had even, like usual, forgotten a test of some sort and freaked out at lunch about it by getting a ridiculous amount of fries. The rest of the table, including Kaleena and her friends, had helped themselves, discreetly. Yet Kaleena couldn't shake the feeling of unease sitting like a solid rock in her stomach.

On the drive home Carrissa asked, "Do you know where Austin went? He wasn't in math and I think he was missing at lunch...I dunno, sometimes he doesn't come by though."

Kaleena squirmed uncomfortably looking out the window.

Carrissa glanced at her curiously, "What?"

Kaleena looked at Carrissa, "I don't know."

"What do you mean?" Carrissa asked.

Kaleena huffed and turned away, "That's the problem. I don't know. He's gone, I know that at least, but I don't know why."

Carrissa shrugged, "So Mr. Beetle isn't all-knowing. It's not that bad. And Austin probably just decided to stay with his mom, you know?"

Kaleena didn't answer. She'd almost said that it hadn't been Mr. Beetle to inform her of this but she hadn't wanted her sister to think she was even crazier. Even though her sister always said she believed her and stood up for her, Kaleena knew one of Carrissa's half-lies when she heard one. Besides, how could she explain that despite the fact that Rari didn't seem to know or care what had happened despite feeling alarmed over whatever had occurred?

A flash of yellow zoomed by.

"Isn't that...Dad's car?" Kaleena asked, eyebrow cocked and finger pointing.

Carrissa glanced up in her rearview mirror and sure enough a yellow black-striped Camaro with familiar plates continued on past behind them.

"Yeah, maybe he's getting something for mom," Carrissa responded.

"Or going to work."

Almost immediately after Rari asked Mr. Beetle, Is Sam with you?

Kaleena always thought that Mr. Beetle and company calling her dad Sam instead of Dad would be an important point in disproving the fact that the voices were only in her head.

No.

Kaleena already felt assured when Carrissa shook her head fiercely, "Nuh-uh. Dad said he would be home. He could just be going to get something for Mom."

They pulled into the driveway finding it and the garage ahead empty.

Kaleena's stomach twisted as she thought, It's okay. He's home. Mr. Beetle wouldn't lie.

The sisters exited the car, Carrissa still handling her backpack, which should be banned as an illegal weapon, without care, and entered the house.

"Daaaad!" called Carrissa.

"Here!" came the muffled response.

Relief flooded through Kaleena. He was in the study then, she thought setting her bag down.

Carrissa thunked her own school bag down atop the island tabletop. The two made their way around the kitchen grabbing differing snacks. For Carrissa, she decided a Star Wars: the Clone Wars strawberry-flavored Go-Gurt and saltine crackers with mustard was the way to go. Kaleena selected two granny smith apples, peanut butter, and the remaining chunk of cheese left in the fridge.

Kaleena settled next to her sister as Carrissa went to work on her homework with surprising intensity. Kaleena, with a lack of school work, worked on her snack. She managed to get her apple cutter partway into the apple before it got stuck. Irritably she took to second option for solving any problems: violence.

Lifting the apple cutter with stuck apple high she brought it down hard on the counter three or four times before it was snatched away.

"Hey, hey!" chided her dad behind her. "Don't blame the apple for your shortcomings."

"Hey!" objected Kaleena to her father's jibe and her sister's following snickers.

She whirled to face Sam holding her hand out expectantly, "Give it back!"

"So you can damage my counters and encourage an apple uprising?" questioned Sam with a raised brow. He leaned over her and smoothly pushed the apple the rest of the way through the cutter, producing six even pieces on Kaleena's plate. "Nah."

Kaleena rolled her eyes then dug into the peanut butter eagerly with her apple slices.

"Hey, Dad?" asked Carrissa.

"Hm?" Sam said snatching a couple mustard crackers.

"If you're here how was your car driving down the street earlier?" asked Carrissa.

The two girls watched transfixed in the way one would when they saw a terrible wreck as their dad adopted a deer in the headlights expression before promptly choking on his stolen mustard crackers. Pounding his chest and downing the milk Carrissa offered he smiled.

"Whaddya mean you saw my car?"

"Driving home from school," replied Kaleena. She stared down at her now empty milk glass. Why had Carrissa offered hers? "It went past us toward that way." She waved off in the wrong direction.

Carrissa nodded focused on Sam.

"But you're here!"

Sam shrugged snatching a napkin and wiping his face.

"I sent it in to get fixed," their dad responded.

Kaleena gasped looking aghast, "What was wrong with it?"

While Carrissa deadpanned, "By itself?"

"No, of course not," said Sam waving her question away. "The mechanic came to pick it up."

Carrissa looked dubious but Kaleena saved Sam from an awkward question by snatching Carrissa's milk and attempting to down it in one swallow. Sam decided not to intervene as Kaleena got one half and then the Carrissa got the other. All fair in his book.

Turning away he tuned out their good-natured squabbling and headed back up the staircase toward his study. When he got there and the video chat screen showed an empty chair he wasn't worried. Most likely Lennox had gotten bored waiting or, like the brain dead gnat he showed himself to emulate occasionally, had been distracted by something that would be considered a near forty year-old-man's equivalent of a three-year-old's 'shiny'.

A smile flickered across Sam's face at the thought of Wheeljack, their resident Autobot equivalent of a brain dead gnat. That smile turned into a frown when his eyes landed on the files pertaining to the meeting he and Will had been holding prior to his girls arriving home.

It wasn't exactly a dark, doom and gloom matter, but it was disturbing in a sixth sense sort of way. Something was going on here. Something just out of reach. Always in the peripheral. Will agreed to having this feeling as well.

Running a hand over his face he typed a short message in the small text chat window next to the webcam one, telling Will they'd pick up tomorrow.

Closing everything and shutting off the computer he went back downstairs to make dinner for the girls. Easy-as-pie-macaroni sounded good.

Not long after as the family dug into their meal Carly came through the door. Setting down her bag and keys she raised a brow at the three now staring at her. She glanced down at their plates and asked, "Sam...cooked?"

The sisters only nodded.

"Well, don't sound so surprised," Sam said sarcastically.

Carly looked at him, "You burnt jelly, honey. Jell-O. We lost my favorite cooking bowl because we couldn't get it all out."

Sam thrust an accusing finger at her, "It was sabotaged Jell-O!"

Another look.

"Okay, okay," placated Sam. "It wasn't sabotaged. But! I'll have you know that while I'm no gourmet chef I can mix up some mean macaroni."

Carrissa bobbed her head exclaiming, "The cheesiest!"

Kaleena stared at Carrissa's plate, "You just regurgitated your food..."

"Did not!"

Carrissa shoveled the fallen macaroni back into her mouth.

"Ew," murmured Kaleena, looking perplexed.

Carly and Sam smiled at their children. Then looked at each other. Sam gave a meaningful flick of his eyes toward the oven. Carly rolled her own eyes and headed there to get her own plateful of dinner.

"It is especially cheesy macaroni, I suppose," Carly said, "But what can you expect from a cheesy guy?"

Sam laughed.