Part 3 - Spanner

"They'm nice."

"Phil and Bob? Yes. Funny and friendly."

"An' it'll be good f'r you t'have some human company."

Poppy blinked, then frowned.

"What do you mean?"

'Beat was silent for a moment as they approached a roundabout, then sighed.

"Most sentient beings need the company o' their own kind. You've only had us up to now. Y'never meet up wi' friends, no-one ever visits. S'healthier f'r you to have some other humans around."

Poppy opened her mouth to argue, but then realised that he might have a point.

"Mm. Not that I've missed it - you lot are far too interesting and far too much fun for that. But I see what you mean."

"An' from what I've read on t'internet, humans usually form families. Couples to start with? Y'don't have a partner."

Poppy shrugged.

"Never met anyone I felt much for."

"S'my point. Y'never will if y'spend all y'r time just wi' us."

Poppy patted his dashboard. This was not something she wished to discuss right now. Distraction was called for...

"What about you? Do you have families?"

"No."

Poppy waited, but nothing more was forthcoming. She sighed as 'Beat pulled into the supermarket car park: she'd learned that tone of voice a while back and knew she wouldn't get anything more out of him on the subject. As he parked up she grabbed her shopping list and bag, then hesitated for a moment. The last thing she wanted was for him to be hurt again.

"Will you be OK while I'm gone?"

"Yeah. Anybody tries anything, I'll start up me new alarm." There was the suspicion of a chuckle in his dry, wry voice. "It's... loud."

Poppy laughed.

"Good. OK, I'll see you in a bit."

xxx

It was still an hour before she returned, trolley almost overflowing. She'd managed to get most of what she'd come for, but there was still the meat to buy. Filling 'Beat's boot with bags and boxes, she considered the options. There were two butchers in the town, neither of which she'd used before. Trolley parked safely out of the way, she locked the boot and slid into the driver's seat.

"'Beat, could you take a quick gander on the 'net and see if there's anything about Abbotson's Farm and Game, and Cuthbert's Family Butchers? Particularly if anyone has complained about either of them."

A moment's silence, then 'Beat hmmed.

"Nowt much. Prices look t'be a tad better at Cuthbert's. Environmental Health was called out for a suspected E. coli threat at Abbotson's six year ago, but it were a false alarm. Not much between 'em, though Abbotson does game as well as the normal stuff. Good reviews of their venison."

"Oooh, venison!" Poppy giggled. "Haven't eaten Bambi in ages... we'll give them a try."

xxx

Parking was tricky: Poppy had to leave 'Beat a good way down the street, and there was a queue in the butchers, so it was a good half an hour before they headed back to the house. But Poppy was chuffed with the trip, she'd found everything she wanted, and shouldn't need another for at least two weeks. Milk, bread and fresh veg she could pick up as needed at the farm shop a few miles down the road. All in all a satisfactory expedition.

There was another vehicle in the drive as 'Beat pulled in, very large and definitely official. Phil and Bob were offloading... things... with 'Spin and Vault's help: Phil waved cheerily as they parked up.

"Give us a few minutes to get this stashed away then we'll help you."

Poppy climbed out and nodded, watching with interest as some impressively big items were eased onto the ground. 'Beat beeped his horn to get Poppy's attention.

"If you could unload the shopping, I can give 'em a hand. Some o'that stuff is heavy."

"Oh, sure. Sorry." She opened the boot, then turned to find Sinewave, TeeVee, Upbeat and Blue standing behind her, ready to help carry. She grinned at them all.

"Thank you!"

TeeVee waved a couple of hands in the air dismissively and reached for the first six bags...

xxx

It actually took a couple of hours to get everything put away, even with the transformers helping. Afterwards they all assembled in the lounge - it was getting a little too cold for the outdoor get-togethers, at least for the humans - for a brief confab. The basic security was now set up, with an outer perimeter around the wall of the grounds, an inner around the house, and a third in the building itself. The energon detector was calibrated, installed and working, and the passive IR detectors were also in place. NEST had sent over the 'cleansers' required for the larger transformers, and Poppy was advised in no uncertain terms not to use them without wearing protective gear. Apparently the solvents the Cybertronians used for cleaning themselves could strip skin and flesh from humans, and even though - at 'Beat's insistence - only the very mildest had been delivered, it could still cause some nasty and debilitating skin conditions.

Poppy had swallowed and nodded, glancing at 'Beat, who had managed a small smile which had her instantly feeling relieved. 'Beat wouldn't let anything hurt her, she knew.

Though perhaps she ought to let them wash each others' backs for the time being...

Phil took a swallow of his coffee and gazed at Poppy.

"HQ reports we're not much along further with the tainted energon enquiry. Physical security on the base is tight: the thinking is it must have been tampered with en route. The driver's still being held, but so far it looks as though he's clean." He frowned. "There are several bridges over the road on the route he took, and there was a traffic hold-up at one of them. It's possible that someone got into the back while he was stopped under the bridge, poured in the additives, then got out again - but that means someone not only knew the energon was being transported, but also which route the truck was taking. Which means we have a security leak."

Poppy bit her lip. 'Beat patted her shoulder, very carefully.

"Don' worry. We'll look after you."

Bob nodded, his usual grin replaced by a grim expression.

"It's why we're here. Between us all we should be able to keep everyone safe, but if worse comes to worst, we can escort you all to base for the duration."

"But we don't expect it to get to that stage." Phil added quickly. "We're pretty confident this is a minor incident, more of a... prank than anything. It could have been much more serious."

"Yes, but why?"

The soldiers exchanged a look, and Phil sighed.

"There's been a bit of an upsurge in anti-'bot feeling just recently. It's been kept out of the news, but there've been a number of Decepticon incidents around the world. A lot of destruction of property and a number of human deaths. Our Autobots are outnumbered, and can't be everywhere at once - and the general public don't see any difference between the two factions." He grimaced. "One of the drawbacks of keeping their presence secret for so long. Joe Public just sees giant robots causing mayhem."

"But I don't see what that has to do with my transformers! They're small. They can't do any harm."

"That doesn't matter to a frightened human. The very fact that they look like living machines, and can hide so easily in plain sight - and are almost impossible to injure or be killed by your average human - is enough to terrify most people."

Poppy nodded slowly. Yes, she could see how that would be likely.

"So, you think the energon was some sort of warning?"

"It's feasible."

"And the arson?"

"That's more worrying. We have our own forensic teams going over the place, but whoever it was they did a thorough job. I'll keep you apprised of anything we learn."

"I'd appreciate it."

He nodded, then gazed around at the silent transformers.

"I know you'll stay alert, and report anything suspicious. But please don't let it interfere with your lives here. We want you to feel safe, comfortable and at home." He grinned. "Well, as much as you can, anyway."

'Spin inclined his head, as usual speaking for them all.

"Of courthe."

"OK. So, anything else we need to discuss?"

'Beat raised a hand.

"Yeah, but it can wait until after dinner."

Poppy looked up at him, frowning. He nodded.

"Y'blood sugar's low. An' y'r internals are growlin'."

Oh wonderful. Now she had her car nagging her about her health. She sighed, and Phil chuckled.

"Well, it is getting on for eight. And it's been a busy day." He glanced at Steamy. "What do you have for us tonight?"

The little transformer sat back and tilted his head.

"Pörkölt with pasta. It's from Hungary."

Poppy's eyebrows rose.

"Getting adventurous, Steamy?"

Brilliant blue eyes blinked.

"Well, Mr Phil likes meat, and Mr Bob likes pasta, and you like spicy things, and the weather outside is getting colder - it seemed like a good idea."

"I'm sure it will be delicious." Poppy pushed herself to her feet and grinned at her transformers. "There's a film on tonight I'm planning to watch, if you'd like to join me? It's a classic."

A murmur of accord accompanied her to the kitchen.

xxx

'Beat touched Phil's arm as he made to follow: the NEST operative glanced up enquiringly.

"Quiet word?"

"By all means."

"I want t'get some upgrades."

Phil pursed his lips.

"What sort of upgrades?"

"Weapons. An' armour."

The Second Lieutenant blinked.

"Weapons?"

"Aye. And some trainin' in how to use 'em."

"Why?"

"I'm not much of a guardian f'r Poppy as I am."

"But we're here."

"Yeah - but she goes out wi' me. Me platin' in't even bulletproof right now."

"I think you're being..."

'Beat's engine growled.

"I may never need 'em. But if I do, I want t'be prepared."

"I don't know..."

"Wi' respect, you can't stop me. All I need t'do is appeal to the Prime. He'll OK it." His vents grumbled. "If we're bein' targeted, we need t'be able to protect each other. Y'said yerself, there's more 'cons here now an' the Autobots're outnumbered. Back on Cybertron during the war, after I left, nearly all of us had some form o'weaponry fitted. Had to, f'r protection. I'm not askin' f'r fusion or ion cannons - not that anyone'd authorise them - just somethin' f'r defence. Ironhide'll advise."

"But if you get them, everyone will want some."

"Yes."

Phil waited, but the Mini remained silent, waiting.

"I'm not at all sure about this."

'Beat inclined his head.

"'M askin' you as a courtesy and 'cause if it happens you'll need to know the specs. But I need 'em. I will get 'em."

Phil wasn't prepared to argue too hard. What 'Beat was asking made sense.

"I'll speak to Graham after dinner."

"Ta." The Mini gestured to the kitchen. "Better go eat 'fore she comes lookin' f'r you. And don't say anythin' - I'll tell her meself."

xxx

In a bed in a hospital a couple of cities over from the transformers' house, a burned and bandaged woman Poppy would have recognised as the landlady of The King's Head peered up woozily at the shadowy figure hovering over her. The figure's voice was low and soothing.

"We are sorry about what happened. You do understand it's all the fault of that robot you were keeping, though, don't you? The one you thought was a jukebox. It had enemies."

The woman tried to speak, smoke-damaged lungs spasming painfully as she coughed.

"... what..."

"But we can help you. Help you get back on your feet. We are prepared to make a significant cash donation towards a new establishment for you. With the insurance payout as well you could be running a new place in a couple of months."

"... liked... the old..."

"Then perhaps we can find you another old hostelry. We do have some pull."

"... what... want...?"

"We just need to know where the jukebox went after you sold it."

Had the landlady been a little more alert, she'd have wondered how they knew it had been sold. But she was dosed up to the eyeballs on painkillers and antibiotics, and just wanted to go back to sleep. She raised one bandaged hand and gestured weakly to the cabinet beside her bed.

The shadowy figure quietly opened the door and pulled out a battered and singed handbag. Inside were a small photo album, keys, purse - and a copy of the receipt she'd given Poppy.

With Poppy's name, address and telephone number on it...

© JAT 10/12/11