Tales of Mojo 'Superdog'

Chapter Four

Judy Witwicky was humming to herself in the kitchen. She had muffin ingredients spread out all over the 'island' in the middle of the room. When under stress – bake. She was regretting her major outburst at that poor robot; whatshisname, the one that was an ambulance rescue vehicle. With a big collision bar on the front. She was going to ask Sam what his name was when he returned.

"Mom?" Sam's hesitant voice was only soft yet she still dropped her baking tray on the bench with a startled clang.

"Sam! Oh thank god, honey," she wiped her hands on her shirt (she didn't like aprons, too Martha Stewart for her tastes). "C'mere!" she beckoned him over to her with one waving hand, intending to kiss and smack him at the same time. A kiss for love, and a smack for endangering her beloved dog with big robots.

"Ah, no, Mom, there is someone I wanted you to talk to." Sam kept the kitchen door open nervously with one hand braced on the frame while he looked around the room, "Where's Dad?"

"In the lounge room, with his wine. Why?" Judy blinked at him, one hand fluffing a stray hair out of her face.

"Get him for me? Please? I'd like to talk to you guys outside." Sam waited for her to reply. She'd either start screaming again or do as he asked. If she screamed, he was so totally jumping into Optimus and locking the doors. Prime was armored. His Mom was so not getting in no matter what she shot or hit him with.

"Okay, sure, I'll go get him, if that's what you want." Judy was treading carefully.She knew she needed to learn to keep her anger in check.

"Thanks..." Sam breathed a relieved sigh, backing out of the door and moving over to stand on the edge of the porch. Bumblebee was still sitting on the ground, petting Mojo, the house lights reflecting off his armor. Optimus was sitting patiently in his truck form. Oh shit, his front wheels were squashing the lawn. "Optimus, quick, back up dude, don't park on the grass-"

"Oh my god!" Judy gasped.

Too late. His Mom was standing behind him, freaking out and flapping her hands. "They're back again! Ron! Quick! Get out here!"

Sam turned around to look at his father while Optimus rolled backwards a little, rolling silently. He couldn't figure out how they did that without turning on their engines. Batteries or something? Like a Toyota Prius?

"Yep," Ron sighed, eyeing off the Autobots in his backyard while taking a sip of red wine from the glass in his hand, "they're back. Evening Bumblebee."

The yellow mech gave a small happy wave. Act casual, seem innocent and innocuous. Don't scare the parental units...

"Who is the truck again? The boss, ain't he?" Ron continued, staring at the huge trailerless rig. Optimus had almost made it completely back onto the driveway. One wheel was still a teeny bit on the grass. Mr Witwicky, feeling far more relaxed than his wife, decided not to mention it. This time.

Sam opened his mouth but Optimus spoke up for him, his commanding voice coming from somewhere out of his chassis. "My name is Optimus Prime, and you are correct, I am the Leader. Please forgive me for staying in my truck mode and not transforming, unlike Bumblebee I am much too tall and would be easily seen by your neighbours. Do you mind if we have a small discussion about past events?"

Judy ignored his polite gentle request, walking down the steps to stand in front of his huge grill curiously, "You're not the one I hit with the bat!"

Optimus grunted, "Certainly not. That was Ratchet, our CMO." A female smacking him around with a stick would have to be the last indignity Optimus would ever allow himself to suffer on this planet.

"CMO? What's a CMO?" Judy crossed her arms underneath her bosom, standing firm. She was not going to let this big thing scare her into backing off.

"Chief Medical Officer. Our doctor, of sorts."

Sam moved carefully around his parents standing in front of Optimus Prime, going to stand next to his Guardian, Bumblebee, and Mojo. The dog leapt off his perch on Bumblebee's crossed ankle joint and trotted to Sam.

"The reason I am here is to explain about Mojo, your dog."

Judy grunted, controlling herself. That was still a hot subject. "Go on."

"You must understand how responsible and considerate we were in caring for him. Our base was modified to his needs-"

Sam snorted into one hand, muffling his mouth. Bumblebee poked at his back with one finger, giving him a mock glare. Setting up a pen in Ratchet's medbay was 'modifying' the base? Yeah, right.

Optimus continued, "Mojo was fed, watched over diligently, given a warm place to sleep, walked twice a day-"

"WALKED?! How on Earth did you walk him?! You're robots, taller than a building!" Judy burst out, waving both hands in the air madly.

"You walked Mojo?!" Mr Witwicky said with awe, leaning forwards and blinking at the truck.

"We had a leash, Sam showed us everything." Optimus stayed calm. Never let your opponent ruffle you, no matter what they came up with. No squishing the humans.

Judy was silent for a moment. The humans held their breaths while the robots stayed still and silent. The woman narrowed her eyes at the truck, "Did YOU walk him?"

"Er... yes. I had to."

At that both Sam and Bumblebee fell over themselves on the lawn, the boy shrieking madly with hysteria while Bee's body convulsed with a squeaking fit, the Autobot lying down with his legs up in the air, hands drawn into his chest.

Mr Witwicky chuckled, waving his almost empty glass at the pair on the lawn, "Boy, that must have been some walk."

Judy ignored the circus on the lawn. She was beginning to understand what this robot was trying to explain. "If you walked Mojo, I think that was punishment enough. He's a devil to walk." She started to grin. Ah, so what, Mojo came back in one piece, and the robots appeared very taken with him. They liked him. Mojo certainly loved Bumblebee, at any rate.

"Did Mojo do his toilet duties correctly as well?" the woman asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Optimus sighed, shifting on his suspension. If it made the female feel better to know all the humiliations the Autobots went through while minding the dog... "Mostly. He did make a mess in my quarters, although I do believe that had more to do with Ironhide leaving my door open while I recharged that night. Mojo dirtied my floor and took the liberty of sleeping on my chest."

This statement sent the boy and smaller Autobot into another fit of giggling laughter. Ratchet had spent the next few days after that incident making loud sniffing noises whenever Optimus walked past, alluding to the mighty warrior stepping in the errant dog poo and being unable to get rid of the smell from his feet.

Judy squeaked, covering her nose and mouth with her hands. She slowly started to laugh. "Now I don't feel so bad! It sounds like a good time was had by all." She was conveniently forgetting Ratchet's comment about Mojo being tossed into the air so he vomited. "Oh well, let's forgive and forget, whatever," she hiccuped, and patted a hand to her upper chest. She'd had too much to drink. "Can you say sorry to that other robot I smacked around? I did get too rough with him, I hope he's not, um, injured or anything. Anyway, you've got Band-Aids or something, right? Promise me you'll tell him I'm sorry!"

"Of course, I promise to do so. I must now return to the base. Thank you for being so understanding about this awkward situation," Optimus started his engine, filling the backyard with deep diesel noises.

"Bye Optimus! Thanks!" Sam stood up from rolling on the ground, picking up Mojo so the little dog could wave a paw (with Sam manipulating it). Bumblebee rolled over onto his front, propping his chin on one hand and waving at his departing Leader with his free hand.

"Goodbye Mojo, Bee, everyone," Optimus acknowledged, flashing his lights as he backed up into the alleyway slowly.

Contemplative silence settled over the yard as the big truck rumbled away.

"Nice robot, he didn't threaten to squash you or anything, Judy, for beating up his soldier," Ron said, carefully lifting up his poor flattened grass with the toes of one foot.

Judy didn't answer, turning on one foot to direct a firm stare at her son, "Samuel Witwicky!" she began, sounding dangerous.

"Oh shit... I knew this was coming..." Sam nervously backed up into Bumblebee, hands reaching behind himself to grab onto his Guardian's bulky armor. Bee snickered. Who was the coward now? Still, he casually reached out one long arm and softly wrapped it around his boy, making him feel safe. Sam hooked his hands onto Bee's arm, using it as a barrier. He gulped as his Mom approached, leaning back into Bumblebee's supportive shoulder. "Shouldn't you stand up or something?" Sam hissed urgently at his Autobot.

"Negative!" Bumblebee's abrasive voice responded.

"Get your cannon thing out, man!"

Bumblebee's optics shone brightly, amused, "No, Sam."

Too late. Judy got her face right up into her son's, causing the poor boy to lean back painfully, "The next time aliens visit this planet and you decide to leave Mojo in their care, CALL ME FIRST!"

"Yes Mom, sorry Mom, will phone you, yes," Sam winced.

Judy softened her gaze, looking at the yellow robot behind her son, "Bumblebee dear, I think we should get you a proper garage or something, we can't leave you on the grass every night. Ron! Let's build a nice new shed for Bumblebee!" The woman perked up, all excited by having something new to plan.She was imagining planting petunia's and pansy's around it and hanging plants in baskets from the roof edges. Lovely!

Sam nudged a foot against a bemused Bumblebee, "Say yes, and tell them you want it big enough so I can move in with you!" he whispered urgently.

Bumblebee's optics paled. He'd seen the state of Sam's room through the window many times. His room upstairs was a mess! Stuff all over the place! He couldn't live with such disarray! "Only if you keep it tidy and clean, Sam," Bee said gently. "And yes Mrs Witwicky, somewhere proper to recharge would indeed be wonderful. I am grateful for your offer. Thank you."

"Gosh, these aliens are so polite and tidy, aren't they Ron?" Judy beamed at her odd family happily.

"Oh yeah," Ron burped contentedly. One new shed for the alien, coming up.