Are They After Us?
Dare waited impatiently at The Outlook, or what he and Eryn had called their meeting place for practicing drag racing away from town, named for its beautiful view and cliff at the very end. Eryn usually was very prompt, but something seemed to be wrong. First of all, she hadn't even completed the race a few nights ago. Then she had gotten in an accident, although it wasn't her fault. It never was.
A few minutes later, Eryn drove up in her Ford Focus. It looked shiny and new, except for a scuffed area on the door that looked like the paint was peeling. The mechanics did a fine job otherwise, Dare had to admit. He would help her later with the scuffed doors.
He watched as she climbed out of the car. She seemed a bit wobbly and there were deep bags under her violet eyes. Dare frowned. She was still not getting enough sleep. As her friend and 'brother,' he had to get onto her about it. He did care what happened to her, even if he did seem to nag quite a bit.
"Why aren't you getting enough sleep? I told you to limit the racing. Why didn't you just call and say you couldn't come?" One could always tell when Dare was concerned. He always rambled.
A corner of Eryn's mouth quirked up as she calmly replied, "You would have come an hour later asking all about the accident and why I was avoiding you."
Dare shut up at that and ducked his head sheepishly. She was right, even if she was younger by a year or so. He grinned.
"Touché."
Eryn grinned back and sat on her car's hood. She could always depend on Dare, even if it was to annoy her incessantly by nagging. She knew what she was doing, but she also knew he was right about the sleep. A deep sigh made her 5'5" frame relax.
"Are we still going to practice today despite your concern? Do I get a head start for compensation?" Eryn winked, pulling a puppy face.
"Nope," Dare smirked, quickly clambering into his car. Eryn shook her head and slipped back into her car and started the engine. Both revved their cars' engines' and took off, tires squealing a bit on smooth rocks at the quick take off.
"You lost your edge Dodge! You aren't going to beat me today!" Dare shouted through the window.
"Fat chance Dare, you don't have the years of experience I do," she shot back, laughing as she sped by his Ford Fusion Sport V6. She had the window down and let it whip her hair back as she raced around a bend and flashed past the huge rock that marked finish line, finally slowing down.
"Aw Dodge…" Dare mock whined. Eryn only snickered. She had always been the better driver. Absentmindedly, she rubbed the scuffed area of her car's doors. A few paint chips fell away in her hand and she frowned, looking down at it. Her eyes widened as she saw spots of purple behind the chipping paint.
"Dare…" She began rubbing the other loose chips off. She sat back on her behind as she stared at the purple, bird-like Decepticon symbol staring right back at her after she had cleared enough of the chips. Her chest felt tight as she held back a yelp.
"My. Car. Is. A. Fragging. DECEPTICON!" She squawked. Dare stared at the symbol, unable to believe his eyes. He had been noticing the symbols recently too, and could only come up with one thing.
"Are they after us?"
"What do you mean 'us'?"
"I've seen 'em too. There have been several around… especially that Saleen cop car."
"They turn into giant robots, you know that right?"
"…Yes."
"What are we going to do?" Eryn nudged her cars door, suspiciously.
"Well ours seem to be dead."
"OURS?"
"Mine had a symbol on the hood. I painted over it."
"We're screwed if they suddenly decide to come alive again," Eryn whimpered a bit, rubbing her head.
"Calm down Dodge. We've had these cars for five years. They would have done something by now if they had 'come alive'," Dare soothed her, giving her a small hug, "Buck up. We'll be ok. We know what to look out for."
"How…how long have you known?"
"A week or so. Cop car came after me too."
Eryn only groaned. Her somewhat normal life was slipping down the drain. She hated not knowing where this would all go. She liked being prepared. Dare silently studied the two cars and sighed.
"Lets race some more."
"Mind if I join you?" A deep voice called to them, standing a few feet away, with an older Datsun model not far behind. Dare raised a brow, a bit surprised. Eryn's brow furrowed. Why hadn't they heard that car drive up? Nobody could have driven so quietly, especially on this dirt and gravel road. Not to mention she hadn't heard the car door shut.
"Nice model you got there," Dare commented, studying the sleek vehicle, "Which Datsun is it?"
"A Datsun 280ZX Turbo," the man replied, his startling blue eyes twinkled at them, but narrowed when he spotted the purple symbol on her car, "Who are you?"
Eryn frowned a bit as Dare answered, "I'm Derrick and that's…" The man was watching her, a suspicious glint in his eye.
"Eryn. What's your name?" she finished, eyeing the man distrustfully.
"I go by Smoke," he replied easily, then asked quietly, "What's with the purple symbol on your car?"
Eryn's eyes widened as her face paled, "I don't know. Do you know what it is? Have you heard the ideas of… robotic beings?"
"I've heard rumors…" Smoke leaned against his car, but then shrugged, "It hasn't done anything has it?" An amused smirk crossed his face. Eryn frowned. He probably thought she was crazy.
"Apparently not. I've had my Ford for five years," Eryn replied, huffing. Eryn had also heard the rumors. Conspiracy theorists making speculations on disturbances relating to vehicles with strange symbols. The newspapers said it was a bunch of baloney and that it probably had to do with some gangs. So most people out there didn't know about the strange robotic creatures that seemed to hide in plain sight with their… shifting metal bodies that turned into alt-modes. Alt-modes? What the heck is an alt-mode? I meant a car!
Smoke nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face before a crooked grin replaced it, "Ready to race?"
"You bet!" Dare quickly climbed in his car. Eryn sighed and got in hers. A slight grin crossed her face. A new challenger? Bring it. She revved her car's engine, and all three took off down the dusty road.
Eryn had to admit this man knew how to handle his Datsun. He coaxed speed out of it she didn't realize was there, but she wasn't pushing her Ford all out either. This was going to be a quick race. She floored the gas pedal and crept up beside Smoke's Datsun, but just as she thought she would win, he sped up yet again and won. Surprised, she pulled to a stop and got out as Dare stopped his car, in last place once again.
"Nicely done," she nodded to Smoke with more respect. She hadn't heard of him before, but she wouldn't mind racing him again in a true drag race, even if it meant her losing another race.
"You too," he acknowledged, the crooked grin coming into play as he ran his fingers through his dark hair, "So what's your nickname? I haven't heard of 'Eryn' in any drag races."
Eryn sighed. She didn't want anyone to know about her name of 'Dodge,' aside from Dare, but Smoke seemed trustworthy so far, partly because of his knowledge of the 'Cons and 'Bots.
"Dodge," she finally replied, quietly, "Do not tell anyone, please. I have kept this hidden for quite a while, and I'd rather not be caught now."
"Dodge?" Smoke stared at her incredulously, "Dodge?" To say that he was shocked was an understatement. Eryn merely nodded. An unreadable look crossed his face as he stared at her. He seemed to drift off into thought, but minutes later he shook it off.
"I need to be going. I hang around here, if you want to race again, just give a shout. I'll hear you," he grinned as he climbed back into his car and drove off.
Eryn and Dare stared at each other, and then shrugged and continued practicing for a little while. All in all, it had been a strange day.
-0-
A small robot with bright blue optics skittered up to the two silent cars, a Ford Focus and a Ford Fusion Sport V. A tiny maniacal laugh followed.
"Good, good. So much better for Lord Megatron. He will be pleased. Shaderacer will go… missing along with a guard. Good, good," the spidery Con got to work on the two cars, pulling a cable here, and inserting information there. Soon, his job was finished. The Con symbols were gone. Now to get them to a safe place…
The Con thought for a moment, and then sighed. This was as good a place as any. He fiddled on his Internet, chortling about how simple these fleshie machines were. Minutes later, he skittered away again into the shadows cast by buildings.
-0-
Vivi: This took longer than I thought it would, as a minor case of writers block came along. BUT. Things will be happening quickly in the next chapter. Thanks to Thanksgiving break coming up, I should be able to update a few times then. Enjoy!
Athena: This one's a favorite of mine :3 and we shall see what thanksgiving break has in store for us... life has a way of getting in the middle of the road and causing five car pile-ups.