Odd turnout
Rachael had been in Detroit for about two month now, and she was sort of enjoying herself. She had to help fix everything she broke for the first few weeks, but after that Sari and the Autobots were giving her the grand tour. They had also told her how they came from cybertron, how they took care of Sari, and the many enemies that the Sumdac's have. She loved every aspect of the tour – well not every aspect.
"Man," Rachael gasped, "the last time I saw this warehouse it was collecting dust on cob webs." She walked around the place. She saw the TV, training room (the manufacturing conveyer belt room), the Autobots bedrooms, all of it. It was like a college fraternity bachelor pad. "You guys turned this into one great home." She marveled.
"You really like it?" Bulkhead asked.
"I love it." She laughed. Bulkhead smiled back to her. This girl is the same one that tried to kill us a few weeks ago. He thought in disbelief. You'd never believe it.
Then Prowl stepped in. "Good so try not to break it," Prowl snapped. "I know how much you hate nice things."
"Which explains why I hate you," she retorted. Prowl glared. Rachael had hit a sore spot with him. One of the roles of being a ninja was being over protective. Since Rachael attacked the Sumdac's – the family he protects – she was on his enemy list. So instead of starting fist fights, the two would throw insults back-n-forth at each other. They would have fist fights, except Optimus and the others would get in the way.
Example: "That's not all," Bumblebee announced, pulling out a microphone, "We also have a park for walking dogs, metallic slopes that people slide on, and multitudes of giant pot holes filled with crystal blue liquid that people swim in. YES! This is the Detroit of the future. And Rachael," he put a hand on her back, "You are a lucky girl to be to experience the magic that is TECHNOLOGY!" Rachael giggled at the yellow bot.
"And they even put in a few amusement parks," Sari said. "And I have hit every last one of them and rode every rollercoaster," she boasted blowing on her knuckles, "and I'm proud to say that I haven't thrown up once."
She and Rachael bumped knuckles. Rachael sat on the couch, daydreaming about the modifications to Detroit. "Wow, Detroit has really changed since I left." Then she turned to Sari, "And so have you Sari, you've really grown up."
"Thanks Rach," She giggled. "And I have to say, I like you better with the hair and eye change."
"You think so?" Rachael asked running a hand through her hair. Sari bobbed her head excitedly. "Thanks Sari. But I kind of miss my old hair though."
"What did you look like before?" Ratchet asked. Sari pulled out her phone and showed them a picture. She had her original brown hair and blue eyes. Ratchet nodded, "Impressive."
"Not really," Prowl remarked smugly, "She still looks like an assassin."
"Said the jealous Assassin bot," Rachael mocked.
"First of all," Prowl exclaimed holding up a finger to her face, "I'm not jealous. Second why would I be, and THIRD," He put his large fingers in her face, "I'm a ninja bot." Rachael scrunched her nose, jumped on his hand and put four fingers in prowl's face, "Four?"
"Same difference!" she hissed.
"NO THEY AREN'T!"
"YES THEY ARE!"
"ENOGUH!" Prime shouted. The two looked at him with wide eyes. "You two are acting like Proto Forms."
They folded their arms and pointed to one another, "she/he's the porto form." They said simultaneously. The two sneered. They turned back to each other and growled in their faces. "Youre just mad because I kicked your metal plated ass." She stated confidently.
"NO, you shot me and then ran away," he corrected.
"Well at least I hit you, heir go, I won."
"I could beat you with both Servos' tied behind my back." Everyone stared in dismay. None of them, not even Sari, have ever seen Prowl so competitive. So Sari came up with an idea. "Rachael, do you still play hockey?" Sari asked. Like a cartoon moment, Rachael dived behind the couch, and out of nowhere she put on some hockey gear. "By the way, how do you make weapons appear?"
She held up her right wrist, "The scientist who made this," she pointed to her silver bracelet, "called it a Merry Poppins bracelet, only because he could put anything in it. If you ask me it should called the Ratchet and Clank clasp." Ratchet cocked an eyebrow. "It's a videogame. No relation to you Ratchet." Ratchet nodded.
"Anything?" Optimus doubted.
"Well, only metal weapons." She corrected herself.
"So not anything," Prowl said snidely. "You should really choose your words more carefully." He laughed. Rachael smacked him with the hockey stick. "WHY YOU-" he reached for Rachael. She dodged out of the way and charged for him.
"OKAY," Prime said getting between them, holding Rachael in one hand, holding back prowl in the other, "Why don't you guys go get some gear for this hockey game before you decide to kill each other." He suggested. With a final glare, the two rivals turned and walked away.
"Well this was all well and fun," ratchet yawned, "But I'm going to go take a stasis nap."
You all know how this works; Ratchet is taking a nap near the hockey rink. And Sari hits him with a hockey puck.
"HEY, WATCH THE FENDER!" Ratchet roared.
"Time out fan interference," Sari announced skating up to him.
"First of all, I'm not a fan of this childish game." He said with a haughty accent. "And second, the only interference is with my stasis nap!"
"Sheesh, what a grouch." Sari commented. She skated off.
"Yeah, nice going ninja glitch," Rachael commented.
"Me," Prowl raved, "you're the one who shot the puck at me."
"I was aiming for the goal. You blocked it and sent it flying at Ratchet. So it's your fault."
"Enough already," sari spat, throwing the puck on the ground. "Game on," Sari put the puck back into play. Then bumblebee took it to the goal. Prime tried to stop him. Bumblebee spun past him. Rachael went for it. He somewhat tripped her and headed for Bulkhead who was the goalie. "The crowd goes wild. He shoots," the puck flew past bulkhead, and was stopped by a moving trash can. "I MISSED!" He whined.
"Ooh, bad luck," Sari smirked.
"Was it really?" ratchet questioned and pointed at the key inside the trash bot.
Rachael glared at her. "SARI!"
"Whoops how'd that get there?" She laughed nervously.
"Gee, I wonder?" Rachael questioned, scolding sari. Sari walked over and took the key out of the robot. Rachael held out a hand, telling her to hand it over. Sari pouted and handed the key over.
"I bet you but her up to this Demon brat," Prowl accused.
"AW is somebody mad because they're losing." She said in baby tone. The two went on arguing.
"Sari," Ratchet scolded, ignoring the arguing couple, "How many times do I have to tell you: the key isn't a toy." Then the key started glowing, "I said knock it off."
"I'm not doing that." A beam came from it as something crash landed near one of the construction sites. "This can't be good," Ratchet stated.
"Unless objects normally crash land from outer space," Rachael commented, "I'd agree with you."
The Autobots saw on the news how the two Decepticons were tearing the construction site up looking for them. Sari wanted to go along, but they told her it would be too dangerous.
"But I'm part of the team too." Sari complained.
"We already had trouble protecting you from one decepticon," Ratchet said, "I don't know how we'd do against two."
"What's a decepticon?" Rachael asked. Ratchet reached into a compartment in his chest. He pulled out a purple emblem. He flashed it to Rachael. "That looks like the emblem you guys have," she commented, "Only the design is sharper."
"This is the symbol of the Decepticons," Ratchet explained. "They're bigger than us and they fly. And unlike Autobots, Decepticons are mostly black and purple and have red eyes."
Rachael thought about how much bigger a decepticon could be. She picture Optimus next to a purple and black block. The block was the size of a skyscraper, while Optimus was the size of a boulder. She shuddered. "When was the first time you had to protect Sari from a decepticon?" Rachael asked.
"A little while ago," Optimus explained, "We were attacked by one named Starscream. We nearly lost Sari and her Father."
Rachael gulped. She turned to Sari and mentally cursed herself for not being there to help. Prowl saw her face, and felt sort of bad. "You weren't there then," he said, trying to comfort her, "But you're here now, so you can reconcile for your absence."
Rachael smiled at the ninja bot. Prowl smiled back. Then Rachael decided, "Sari, you and I are staying here," she declared.
"But we're a team." Sari pressed.
"Sari we know that," Rachael said, "But I doubt even I can handle these Decepticons."
"But you beat them," Sari said pointing to the Autobots. "No offense guys."
They waved a hand, gesturing that they took no offense. But inside they were coming up with excuses. Saying she got lucky, the sun was in their eyes, or some other lame excuse. "Yes," Rachael agreed boastfully, "because I took them by surprise." That's a good excuse. The bots decided mentally. Besides if they can barely handle one, you and I won't stand a chance against two."
"BUT-"
"Sari, we're staying here. And that's the end of it." Rachael declared. Sari stuck her tongue out at her. Rachael stuck hers out.
When it was decided that the two girls would stay, the auto transformed and rolled out.
As the fight with the Decepticons broke out, the Autobots were off to a rocky start. The names of the two Decepticons were Blitz wing and Lugnut. When bumblebee said that Megatron blew up, Lugnut blew them up with his punch.
Back at the warehouse
Rachael and Sari saw the smoke rising from the direction the Autobots went. They saw something fly off. "Autobots don't fly!" Rachael assessed.
"Then that means that was a decepticon!" Sari shrieked. Rachael sprouted her wings. "Where are you going?
"I'm going to go check on them," She stated.
"What if they come back?" Sari pressed. "You said so yourself, you can't handle a Con."
"I don't have to handle a Con in order to help the guys." She remarked desperately. "You stay here." Rachael flew off. Sari got mad and went back inside.
As she was flying, Rachael took in the view that she was experiencing. She could see the lake, the parks, and small fields. She wasn't kidding when she said Detroit had changed. "It's so beautiful." She kind of got lost in her thoughts. She soared in and out of the clouds. She felt like she was on cloud nine – only she wasn't in love. She snapped back to her senses when she neared the construction site. As she was gazing below, a smoke screen came out of nowhere. "What the-?" she coughed. Rachael blew the smoke away by flapping here wings. When it cleared, she saw a purple jet coming towards her. "What the hell?" the jet transformed into a purple robot. Rachael couldn't believe what she was looking at. Black and purple coloring, red eyes, and a flying robot – It was a Decepticon. "Ratchet wasn't kidding," She breathed, "You guys are big."
The bot crossed his arms and stared snottily at Rachael, "A winged organic," Gawked the huge bot, "Now I've seen everything." Rachael snorted. "So what are you, the Autobots new pet?"
"The name's Rachael," She spat, "And I'm a friend of the Autobots." Starscream closed his eyes and shook his head, snickering at Rachael. "And what are you supposed to be? Some badly colored Autobot?" she decided to mock him.
"The name's Starscream and I'm a Decepticon." That was all Rachael needed to hear. She Pulled out two Plasma cannons, and locked on. "I see, so you're a fan of those cyber glitches." Rachael sneered at the con, "Youre an Autobot lover." He taunted with a sly tone.
"They aren't Cyber glitches'," she roared. Then she shied away, "and I wouldn't say lover."
"Well you don't exactly hate them either, so which means you care for them." Starscream mocked. Rachael didn't respond – mainly because she couldn't. "Well if you don't care about them," he hover closer, "then you wouldn't mind telling me where they are?"
Rachael's eyebrow twitched. "Are you out of your damn processer," she barked, "Prowl would never forgive me if I did that." Feeling like she just blew a secret, Rachael slapped her hands over her mouth. Why would she care if Prowl forgave her?
"The ninja bot?" Starscream cocked an eyebrow. Then a sly smile snaked its way across his face. "So you are an Autobot lover. The ninja bots anyway." he made kissing sounds.
He barely ducked out of the way of the fired plasma. "There's no way in hell that I would ever love that…that…cybertronian," shoots and missed, "virus filled," shot and missed again, Starscream becoming more and more amused by her blind rage, "Ninja wannabe." She shot wildly, missing the decepticon. She stopped, panting heavily.
"Finished?" Starscream asked, seeming disappointed. He shrugged and aimed his guns, "My turn then?" He shot. Rachael flew out of the way. Starscream fired relentlessly. Rachael barrel-rolled, flipped, and dived out of his line of fire. One of his blasts brushed past her wing, missing it by an inch. Starscream had to admit, he was impressed. "You're pretty maneuverable," he commended, "Abilities worthy of a decepticon." Rachael kept her distance, not taking her eyes off of him. "But you'll have to do better if you wish to defeat."
"As you wish Star Freak!" She switched to a hammer. Starscream smirked. Rachael charged for him. Starscream, deciding to make her flight over to him a little challenging, fired more shots at her. Rachael maneuvered up and down, narrowing her wings so she could move past the bullets. When she made it to him, she twisted her upper body as far as it could go. She swung the hammer. It made contact with Starscreams face. It broke in half and Starscream wasn't even scratched. Rachael stared in disbelief. "C'mon, I knocked Bulkhead half way across Detroit with this."
Starscream grabbed Rachael, holding her tight. He began to crush her slowly. She was gasping for air. "Youre strong, I'll give you that." He squeezed harder, hearing her ribs crack. She passed out. "But you're still 50 stellar cycles too young to even match my power." He launched her in the air, and shot her down. She fell to the street. "Have a nice life in the well of alsparxs." Starscream blasted off.
(^)^(^)^(^)
The Autobots hobbled into the warehouse. They were scratched up and dented. "What happened?" Sari exclaimed running up to them.
"We got our butts handed to us." Bumblebee rasped. The bots crashed out in the med lab, broken and bruised.
Prowl leaned against the wall, groaning in pain. Then he noticed something. "Hey, where's Rachael?" he asked. CRASH! Rachael burst through the window, battered and bleeding. Burn marks on every inch of her body. "RACHAEL!" Prowl shouted. Despite his injuries he ran to her and held her close. "Rachael, what happened?"
"ST-" she groaned.
"What? Prowl asked, moving an ear closer. Rachael coughed, a gurgled, but couldn't get an answer out. Her body went limp and she was unconscious. "Rachael…..RACHAEL!"
(^)^(^)^(^)
Sari sat in the living room, as Ratchet patched up the bots while Sumdac's doctors patched up Rachael. She came too about an hour earlier. They told her to rest for a while. But knowing her, she wouldn't sit still for five minutes. It was true. Rachael was back at the plant. She told the bots what happened. "Sari and I saw the Decepticons fly off, so I came to check on you. Then I," she didn't want to tell them she ran into Starscream, she didn't want to worry them, "got attacked by birds."
"Birds?" Prowl questioned doubtfully.
"Yes birds." She assured him.
"How did you get burn marks then?" prowl asked crossing his arms.
"Not sure, I passed out." She lied. Prowl shook his head. She was lying to his face.
"Well the important thing is you're safe," Optimus said, "but I'm afraid that this whole Alspark deal is getting out of hand, we'll have to leave."
"WHAT," Rachael jumped, opening her wounds, "that hurt," she moaned, "and YOU CAN'T GO." She looked at Prowl, "Well you can, but the rest of you can't go." Prowl ignored the comment. Rachael was surprised. Usually he would insult her or tell her to go jump off a bridge. Now, he was silent. It was as if he didn't want to leave.
"We have to." Optimus insisted. "It'll be safer for you, Sari, and all the other humans of this planet if we were gone."
"But, what are we going to tell Sari?" Bulkhead asked.
"She's a big girl. She'll be fine." Bumblebee assured them.
Boy was he wrong. Sari screamed at the top of her lungs, telling them they couldn't leave. Prime knew they wouldn't be leaving right away. So Ratchet and Sari had to fix the ship at the bottom of Lake eerie, and they were less than thrilled. Prime wanted Rachael to stay, but she was already on his shoulder and ready to go.
Lake Eerie
The Autobots, Rachael and Sari pulled up alongside the frozen lake. Rachael jumped out of Optimus. "You have some comfy seat Optimus."
"Thanks. I try to take care of myself." He flexed, showing off his metallic biceps. Rachael giggled. Prowl rolled his eyes. The other bots pulled up. Sari and Ratchet pulled up. They were arguing the whole car trip. "You two keep arguing like that, someone's going to think you're married." Optimus quipped.
Ratchet went to robot mode and sneered at Sari. "Trust me Prime, nothing in this or any other life time is going to make me want to marry a diminutive proto form like her."
"Who'd want to marry such an old, crusty, grumpy bot like you?" She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Whatever," he switched back to vehicle mode, "Move it along kid, we haven't got all night," Ratchet urged Sari.
"Sorry, I forgot my swim suit." She retorted snidely.
"Can we try it without the attitude?"
"No."
"Wow," Rachael said, "They fight more than we do."
"It just means they're close friends," Prowl replied.
"Then you two must be dating," bumblebee commented. Prowl and Rachael glared at the yellow mech. "What! It's true." Prowl put him in a head lock and Rachael began to hammer his leg. Soon Sari's key began to glow. The three stopped wrestling. "Sari?" Bumblebee said warily.
"One word: INCOMING!" millions of missiles came showering towards them. Prowl pushed Rachael out of the way. "Thanks Prowl."
"No problem. Just remember, you owe me Rachael." Blitzwing fired his ice cannon. Rachael grabbed Sari and flew out of the way, while the Autobots sped to the lake. Blitzwing froze it, so they couldn't enter. Lugnut began firing at Rachael. She dived one way. A couple times she had to throw Sari into the air and catch her again. If Rachael was going to help, then she needed Sari out of the way. "Ratchet," Rachael called as she flew down next to him, "Take sari." Still driving, Ratchet opened his door. Rachael put Sari in Ratchet and he sped off. A missile was shot at prowl, throwing him off balance and tripping him into the ice. Blitzwing fired at him. Prowl couldn't move. He closed his eyes, waiting for impact. "Am I dead?"
"Only if you stay there?" Prowl looked up. Rachael had stopped the missiles with a shield. "My debts repaid, now run."
Prowl changed into his Motorcycle mode. "GET ON!"
"What?" she said with disbelief.
"I said get on! I can drive faster than you can fly." Rachael nodded. She hopped on and both sped off.
As they made it half way across the ice, Blitzwing blocked their path, "Aw look at zhe lovers helping each other," he changed his face to the red one, "It makes me want to hurl," then black, "Makes me feel all tingly."
Rachael jumped off of Prowl and skidded to a halt on the ice. She bared her fangs. "How many times do I have to say it," Rachael growled, "I," she pulled out the rocket launcher, "DO NOT," Aim, "LOVE PROWL," And fire. Blitzwing was blown back a few feet.
"Well…nice shot." Prowl commented in awe.
"Thanks." She blew the nozzle.
"FOOLS, you cannot escape." Lugnut fired more missiles, breaking the ice. The Autobots went for the cracks. They dived into the water. Blitz wing cursed him for letting them get away. Ratchet and Sari made their way to the ship.
"QUICK! How are you when in water?" prowl asked.
"I'm like a fish," she replied confidently.
"Not swimming. Does your demon half allow you to breathe?"
"No. but I can hold my breath for 20 minutes – WHHYY?" she screamed as Prowl dived underwater.
*(*)*(*)*(*)*
Down below the water, Prowl was holding onto Rachael as they descended. Blitzwing and Lugnut followed after them. "Rachael, stay with me." Prowl ordered. She nodded wordlessly. Any words at all and she'll lower her breath supply.
The Cons were nearing their positions. Prowl took Rachael and sped for the ship, leaving Optimus and Bumblebee to handle the two cons. Slight problem. Lugnut had both Optimus and Bumblebee in his hands and Blitzwing blocked Prowl and Rachael path. "DAMN!" Prowl snarled.
Blitzwing's red face, "You've reached zhe end of zhe line you little water bugs." He declared, aiming his cannons. "Now let me squash you like bugs." He fired his heat cannons. Prowl sped out of the way. Blitzwing gave chase. Purple face, "Zhe more you run zhe more I'll chase you." he fired at prowls wheels.
"That's fine," Prowl declared, dodging the blows. "I can do this for another fifty stellar cycles."
"But what about zhe organic on your back?" he asked slyly. "How long do you think she can do zhis?"
Before prowl could respond, he felt Rachael turn his handle bars, revving his engine. "Are you sure you can keep going?" He asked. Rachael nodded. "Well okay." He sped up. Then Rachael got an idea. She tapped on his side and held her hand as a makeshift phone. "You want me to call someone? Prime?" She nodded. Blitzwing fired two more times. The first shot missed. The second shot hit the ground in front of Prowl, causing him to flip forward. Prowl tumbled on the lake floor. Rachael swirled around. When she collected herself, she swam back down to prowl. She still had another ten minutes underwater. Prowl saw her and she signed again, putting her to her ear. "Call Prime?" Then she shuffled through the dirt. "SMOKE SCREEN!" Rachael bobbed her head. "Good idea! Now swim to the ship. The four of us will handle the cons." Rachael nodded and swam off.
"Not so fast!" Rachael looked up. Blitzwing had locked onto her and shot her with ice. Rachael's upper body got hit and she began to sink.
"RACHAEL!" Prowl screamed. The other Autobots heard Prowl. Optimus tossed Lugnut aside and he, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead swam over. Prowl was swimming as fast as he could to reach Rachael. But he was too late. Blitzwing had caught her. The Autobots aimed their weapons. "Let her go Blitzwing!" Prowl hissed.
Lugnut joined Blitzwing. He aimed his cannon. "Surrender zhe alspark and I shall. Refuse," she tightened his hand. Rachael cried out, bubbles exploding from her mouth, "And zhis fleshling become part of zhe lake floor."
"FINE!" Everyone looked behind the Cons. The Cons turned as well. A bright light flashed in their eyes. It was Ratchet and Sari and they had the ship, with a cannon fully charged to fire. The light was so bright, Blitzwing dropped Rachael. She floated down to the lake floor. As the ships cannon was about to fire, Prowl went into Vehicle mode. He sped for Rachael, catching her. Optimus and the other sped out of the way. The cannon fired. Blitzwing and Lugnut were hit, getting blown out of the water.
Prowl sprang out of the water. He tossed Rachael onto the sand. She was coughing up water. "Hey, hey, Rachael," prowl called, "How do you feel?"
"Water logged," she threw up more water. Prowl put a hand to his forehead, chuckling.
&(&)&(&)&(&)&
Back at the plant
"That was...fun?" Rachael lied.
"And more fights like that will come." Optimus said.
Rachael nodded, acknowledging the danger. She heard prowl groan in pain and saw that his side was sliced open. "Prowl," she flew up to him looking at the injury, it was a clean cut. "Ratchet, give me the blow torch."
He handed it to her. Rachael took the hilt of her broken hammer and welled it on prowls scratch. She added a little paint and he was good as new. "Thank you Rachael."
"My pleasure." She pushed her hair behind her head, and unknowingly blushed.
"Hey Rach, red looks good on you," Sari teased.
"Looks good on prowl too." Said Bee. Prowl had turned red as well.
Rachael and prowl drew their weapons and chased down the two kids. "Well at least Prowl and Rachael aren't fighting," said Bulkhead.
"Not at the moment," Ratchet commented. Bulkhead shrugged.
"Well at least this battle had a good turn out," Ratchet and bulkhead looked at prime, confused, "Those two finally like each other."
Next chapter:
Rachael: we're visiting the dinobots.
Prowl: and I shall be protecting you.
Rachael: you mean I'll be protecting you
Prowl: how can you protect me?
Rachael: I saved you from becoming scrap metal.
Prowl: I saved you first.
Rachael: did not
Prowl: did to
Rachael: DID NOT
Prowl: DID TOO
Starscream: told ya she loved him
Prowl/Rachael: SHUT UP GLITCH HEAD.
