AN: I do not own Transformers nor Halo.

Just a heads up, there wil be certain days in July that I will not be uploading. The following are the 4th, 5th, 7th, and the 14th unless my plans change.

Other than that, I would like to get into the description of my character's appearence. Tempest is around 5"4, 125lbs, and she has fairly lengthy black hair which she prefers to keep in a bun as if she didn't, it would drape down to her mid-thigh. Most of you may argue that the Forerunner do not possess hair as humans do, but that's not true. In Halo lore it is said that as the Forerunner progress with their mutation process, they lose most of their hair over time. Also, given that Tempest is un-mutated, she would retain most of her natural traits she was "born" with.

As I already explained in the previous chapter's author's notes, Halo lore stated that the Forerunner were very close in appearence to that of humans in their un-mutated state with Forerunner female's being closer in appearence to humans than the male's of their respective species.

Now, this is where we detail her Forerunner appearence which she currently has cloaked. (This will be elaborated on more later. I don't want to give away too many plot details yet to those of you who are new readers.)

Tempest has almost all of the physical traits of her species. Those of which being grey-ish skin, a lack of a pronounced nose and ears along with five fingers on each hand as the Librarian did which would have been abnormal in Forerunner society. Tempest also has elongated canines which is abnormal for her species. (This was my personal decision to make her seem more alien to those around her as the Foreunner have flat teeth much like we do.)

I hope that my minor description allows you to better visualize Tempest.

Now, it's time to get into the story.


Storm was lost her thoughts, attempting to wrap her head around the day's earlier events at Bolivia's dealership as she silently read her book. She'd still yet to come to a logical conclusion other than the obvious. That Sam's car was more than just that, a car.

She knew one thing for certain, however. If she wished to unravel this mystery, she couldn't let on that she was wary nor suspecting. I could make her vulnerable. Even worse, it could make Sam vulnerable. And that was a risk she was willing to take no matter the circumstances.

Suddenly, Storm's cellphone began to vibrate, effectively startling her from her thoughts with a jump. She breathed out a sigh of relief when she realized that it was only her cellphone. She was far too paranoid and on edge right now.

She dog-eared the page of her book before closing it and setting it off to her side, picking up her cellphone and placing it up to her ear; speaking into it happily. "Hey, Sammy. What's up?"

"Hey, Stormy. I was wondering if you'd want to go with me to the lake? There's a party happening." Sam said.

Storm contemplated the idea silently. She had never been fond of situations that would place her around large groups of people. However, this would prove the perfect opportunity for her to gather reconnaissance on whatever was masquerading as Sam's Camaro. She'd just have to make sure to stay composed.

"Sure, Sammy. When are you leaving?" Storm asked.

As Sam responded to her question, she heard the sound of his front door closing. "Right now."

"Alright, Sammy. I'll see you in a few minutes." Storm said.

She hung up the phone as she stood from her place, making her way over towards the table beside her front door. She placed her cellphone on it's wooden surface before grabbing the handle to her front door and opening it; making her exit from her home and over towards Sam's.

She made her way up the sidewalk leisurely pace, taking in the gentle breeze as she crossed the threshold into Sam's yard. He was waiting outside for her, leaned against the driver's side door of his Camaro. She smiled at him to keep up her façade, pretending to be completely ignorant and un-aware to the fact that she already knew his vehicle wasn't at all what appeared to be upon first glance.

"I'm ready if you are, Sammy." Storm said as she approached the passenger side of his Camaro.

She opened the door, inviting herself into the vehicle without hesitation as Sam sat down in the driver's seat beside her. She looked over at him as she engaged her seatbelt and raised an eyebrow. Sam seemed tense and filled with anticipation. For what reason, she didn't know.

She said nothing of it, however, turning her attention ahead of her as Sam pulled out of his driveway; blanketing his yard in a cloud of thick, black smoke. Storm couldn't help but laugh as she looked out the back windshield, watching as Sam's home faded from view. Judy was going to be furious.

Storm rolled down her window as Sam drove in silence, closing her eyes as she relished in the sensation of the heated, summer air pelting her face. Now she understood why dog's enjoyed sticking their head's out of the window on car rides so much. It was calming.

"You sure you'll be alright around so many people? I know large crowds makes you un-comfortable but I didn't want to leave you behind without at least asking." Sam said.

Storm shrugged her shoulders. "As long as they don't all surround me at once, I'll be fine. Plus, you know I like music and a party always equals music."

Sam laughed as he pulled onto a dirt road. He followed it to the end and parked on a hill beside the lake. Storm narrowed her eyes. She had expected for there to be a lot of people here, but this was something else entirely. The lake was full to capacity. Not a single area was without human presence.

"Uh, Sam?...Were we invited to this party?" Storm asked with suspicion.

Her friend shrugged off her question. "Of course. It's a lake. Public property."

Storm sighed heavily as she opened the passenger side door, making her exit from the Camaro in unison with Sam. That would be a no, they weren't invited to this party. She came over to stand at his side, watching as scanned the landscape with his eyes; stopping once they landed on the person he'd been hoping to see. Mikaela.

She chuckled to herself. Now she understood why Sam had seemed filled with anticipation on their ride to the lake. It's because he had known that Mikaela would be here. Her friend wanted to impress his long-time crush with his new car.

She walked around the Camaro as Sam continued to stare, laying down carefully on the hood of the faded-yellow vehicle. She raised her arms and placed them behind her head to act as a makeshift pillow, leaning back against the windshield of her friend's car.

To others, it would appear as if she was relaxing and enjoying the evening sun. However, this wasn't the case. As she lay there, eyes closed, she attempted to tune out everything around her. All sound, all movement. Solely focusing on the vehicle beneath her.

Slowly, she began to feel an electric sensation similar to that of what she'd felt hours earlier. This time, however, instead of the aggressive hum of energy that had coursed through her body, it was faint; pulsating in time with her own heartbeat. This confirmed her earlier suspicions. This Camaro was no ordinary vehicle at all. It was something else entirely...something alive. How had this went un-noticed by her?

Storm sat up from her laying position just in time to see a blonde-headed male wearing a backwards facing baseball cap push Sam. The chestnut-haired boy let out a pained grunt and an angry sneer plastered itself on her face- a low clicking sound emanating from the back of her throat. One that was decibels too low for human ears to pick up on.

She was furious. Storm wanted nothing more than to walk over and punch the smug expression of Trent's face for what he'd just done to Sam. But she couldn't. This wasn't her fight nor would the situation justify her harming a human. She could only watch helplessly as the situation began to escalate; Mikaela quickly intervening with a firm hand on Trent's chest.

"Okay, okay...you know what? Stop." The onyx-haired female said with seriousness.

After much persuasion from Mikaela, Trent reluctantly backed down from the fight, taking the female and his entourage that had gathered around him during the argument along with him, much to Storm's relief.

She remained in her spot on the hood of the Camaro, watching with narrowed eyes as a heater argument un-folded between Mikaela and Trent. A pang of concern began building in her chest as she watched the girl walk away angrily, no obvious destination nor a way to get home and it seemed that the thought had registered with Sam, as well. This was his chance.

As if the Camro had read Sam's mind, it's radio started up of it's own volition, playing a song that referenced to driving a girl home. Storm found it amusing, wishing to laugh but she refrained from doing so. She wouldn't give herself away unless the situation deemed it necessary. Instead, Storm opted to remark over the situation with a tone of joking. "I think you're car is possessed, Sam."

"...I'm going to drive her home tonight." Sam said with confidence.

Storm kept her gaze trained forwards where she'd seen Mikaela disappear to, shrugging her shoulders with indifference. "Whatever you want to do, Sammy."

She stood from her spot, walking around the Camaro to it's passenger side. She opened the door, sliding the front seat forwards and climbing into the back of the yellow vehicle. In the event Sam decided to follow through with his plan to chase after Mikaela, she would need somewhere to sit and space was limited.

Not long after, Sam entered the vehicle. It seemed he had made his decision. He inserted his keys into the ignition, wasting no time in pressing on the gas; all the while praying silently that Mikaela was still somewhere down the road.

The chestnut-haired boy scanned the sides of the road as he drove, eventually spotting Mikaela only a few feet ahead of him. She hadn't made it far. He matched the distance and slowly pulled up beside her, foot pressed lightly on the gas to keep up with her walking pace.

Sam leaned over towards the passenger seat and rolled down the window, calling out to the woman just outside the car. "Hey, Mikaela!"

The onyx-haired female either didn't hear Sam or she was ignoring him. Storm assumed it was the latter, watching as her friend continued to try and get Mikaela's attention with desperation. "I hope I didn't get you stranded or anything...So, listen...I was wondering if I could ride you home? I mean- give you a ride home, to your house."

Storm buried her face into the leather seating, un-able to hold back her choked-up laughter in response to Sam's question. She began beating her fist into the seating of the Camaro in an effort to not belt out in violent laughter. It was just barely working, the only thing she could do in that moment to stifle her emotions.

Sam wasn't so amused, however, and his face said it all. The only thing he could do was pray silently that Mikaela couldn't hear Storm's outburst nor how she sounded like a dying T-Rex in the backseat.

He ignored his friend and her strangled noises as he opened the passenger door for Mikaela from the inside. The onyx-haired female stared down at him in contemplation for several moments before taking him up on his offer, sitting down in the Camaro with an audible sigh.

As Mikaela sat down, Sam glanced into the rear-view mirror. Storm was laying down, completely motionless aside from the rise and fall of her chest that indicated her breathing. It seemed she had finally gained her composure after his embarrassing slip-up, thankful that she had finally ceased her muffled screaming.

Sam turned his attention ahead of him as he put the Camaro into gear, setting off towards Mikaela's home. Everything was silent as he drove. Un-comfortably silent. He glanced at Mikaela from the corner of his eye. Her shoulders were slumped and she was staring at the floorboard absent-mindedly.

He cleared his throat to break the thick silence, speaking up to Mikaela with a question. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just...I can't believe I'm here right now." The onyx-haired female said, hurt resonating in her voice.

Sam's shoulders dropped. "You can duck down if you want...I mean, it won't hurt my feelings."

Mikaela's eyes went wide as she stuttered. "Oh, no, no, no. I didn't mean- I didn't mean here with you. I just meant here...in this same situation I'm always in. Because, I don't know, I guess I just have a weakness for hot guys. For tight abs and really big arms."

"Big arms, huh?" Sam said lowly with intrigue.

Storm hadn't missed the tone of Sam's murmurred question. Her friend was contemplating something and whatever it was that he was about to do, she knew it was going to hilarious. She watched Sam as he flexed his arm in an awkward, forced manner, un-able to hide her snickering as he began pointing to various decorative items in the vehicle.

"Well, uh...there's a couple of new additions in the car. I just put in that light there. And that disco ball. So the the light reflects off the disco ball." Sam said with audible strain.

Her snickering progressed into snorts of laughter as she listened to her friend's ridiculous attempts at impressing his crush, the only response he received from Mikaela being a raised eyebrow. It seemed she had recognized Sam's blatantly obvious attempts to show off his "muscles" and judging by her current expression, his attempts were failing. Hard.

Suddenly, the Camaro gained a life of it's own, romantic-themed music blasting from it's radio as it's engine sputtered loudly. It drove itself over to a cliff despite Sam's efforts to regain control, turning the key repeatedly in it's ignition but to no avail. His car simply wouldn't respond.

Sam turned to Mikaela with a dumbstruck expression, frantically trying to explain away the strange behavior of his Camaro. "The radio is, like, you know- it's an old radio, so- look...This isn't something that I- I wouldn't try this on you. You know? Because this is like a romantic thing that I'm not trying to do."

Mikaela simply hummed in annoyance with Sam's stuttering, pulling her hair back into a ponytail with a hair-tie that was around her wrist. It was obvious that the onyx-haired female didn't believe a word of what Sam was saying.

Storm watched silently as the woman exited the Camaro, deep in thought as Sam continued to flounder over his words. Whatever this car truly was, it was sentient; that much could be deduced from this situation. This thing seemed to have an understanding of romance.

She sat back in her seat as Sam followed after Mikaela, her sight of the pair soon being obscured by the onyx-haired female raising the hood of the faded-yellow vehicle to inspect it's inner workings. Should she get out and help? No...she needed to gather information. In the event whatever was masquerading as Sam's car wasn't friendly, she would need everything she could get; no matter how small and seemingly insignificant it was.

She didn't know how long she'd been lost to her thoughts, but it was long enough for Sam to anger Mikaela, causing her to leave on foot. She watched as Sam hurriedly slammed the hood of the Camaro before rushing into the open driver's seat, trying to start the vehicle so he could mend the situation that he'd caused. As hard as Sam tried, however, the Camaro wouldn't start.

"No, no, no, no, no. Come on, please. You've got to work for me now...Don't let her walk away." Sam pleaded under his breath.

He repeated those words like a mantra as he gave the ignition one last turn...The Camaro finally started. He sat up straight with haste, turning the vehicle around wildly on it's axis to chase after his crush. He called out to her for her to wait as he pulled the car over to her side, opening the passenger door for her from the inside once again that day.

Mikaela was very visibly weighing her options as she stared down into the car at Sam, deciding the awkward tension was better than walking for hours to get home. She got back into the car with a heavy sigh, securing her seatbelt over her without uttering a single word.

The ride from that point on was deathly silent, the air filled with un-deniable tension that even made Storm feel un-comfortable as they weaved through city traffic. She looked between Sam and Mikaela, shooting them a mischievous smirk that went un-seen by the pair as they pulled into the onyx-haired female's driveway. They should just kiss already and get it over with.

Once parked, Sam turned to Mikaela and the girl shyly averted her gaze to her feet, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I had fun. So, you know...thanks for listening."

Sam nodded in response to Mikaela's words. "Oh, yeah, yeah."

"Do you...do you think I'm shallow?" Mikaela asked hesitantly.

The female's question had caught him off guard. He shook his head from side to side, vehemently denying her question with physical actions. "Do I think you're?...No, no, no. I think there's a lot more than meets the eye...with you."

A large smile spread itself across Mikaela's face, very obviously satisfied with Sam's response. She grabbed her purse out off the floor from between her feet before opening the passenger side door and exiting from his car; walking away towards her home.

Sam waited until his crush was out of sight and could no longer see him before he began scolding himself in hushed whispers for his blunders throughout the day; banging his head lightly against the steering wheel in embarrassment. If he'd ever had a chance with Mikaela, it was long gone now.

"So, uh...ride you home, huh?" Storm asked from the backseat, the smirk audible in her voice.

Sam groaned out in annoyance as he slowly raised his head from the steering wheel, turning to glare out his friend. "I swear, Stormy. I will kick you out right here and make you walk home. No hesitation."

Storm narrowed her eyes at Sam challengingly. "Try all you want, Sam, but you and I both know you can't get rid of me that easily."

Sam knew he wouldn't win this situation, not when Storm's competitive nature was involved. He turned around with a heavy sigh, starting up his Camaro and backing out of Mikaela's driveway. He was tired and ready to go home.

That was when he was suddenly hit in the back of the head by a small, crumpled piece of paper that Storm had found and chucked at him from the backseat; her cackling laughter following after the hit.

He had no idea where Storm had found the piece of paper, but he was ready to drop the female off so that she'd be out of his hair and it seemed that she shared the same idea, shouting out a joking command to the chestnut-haired boy from where she was now laying down in the backseat.

"Take me home, Sammy!"


Whew, another chapter done.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and as always, thank you for reading.