Here's another chapter for ya, Trackster. Hope it's comical, yet exciting!
A Trip to the Hardware Store
One afternoon, Melanie was in her room, going through her things. She dug through box after box of her belongings trying to locate one item in particular. She suddenly heard rather large footsteps approaching her room and she paused for a moment, and then rolled her eyes. Then she turned to face her door. The doors slid open to reveal whom the pounding feet belonged to. It was Tracks, her Autobot guardian, who was again (as on many occasions) a little too overprotective and concerned for his ward. Causing him to appear as a constant nuisance to her.
"Yes?" She grumbled lowly through her teeth, as if she didn't want to ask.
"Whatcha up to kiddo?" He asked then surveyed the room and was surprised to see an endless number of boxes littering the floor with loads of stuff messily falling out of them.
"What's going ON in here? Did you lose something?" He asked.
"For your information, no. I haven't lost anything. I'm just…looking for something I put aside a while back. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to continue looking for it in…peace." She answered stiffly, then peered into a nearby large box headfirst to dig at its bottom and resumed looking for the item.
"Why? Can't I help?"
She pulled her head out of the box rather quickly and looked up at him, slightly annoyed.
"No! I want you to get out."
"Why?!" He was persistent.
"Because it's a secret! Now shoo!"
"A secret about what?!"
"LOOK! It involves YOU okay? So you can't be in here right now!"
Tracks was puzzled. But he didn't want to anger her more so he just turned around and walked towards the door.
"Suit yourself." He replied sadly.
Just then, Camille was walking towards Melanie's room, and saw Tracks come out of it. Once the door closed shut behind him, he turned towards her and walked down the hallway, looking at the ground, slightly dragging his feet. His head was drooping so low; she could have sworn it was hanging on by a thread. She could tell instantly that he wasn't himself.
"Hey Tracks, what's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing." He fibbed. "You going to see Mel?"
"Yeah."
"Well she's kinda busy at the moment. So busy in fact, that she didn't even want me to help." He turned his head towards Melanie's door, in hopes that it would open up and she would call him back in, but it didn't.
Camille raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Well…she called for me, so I'm sure she'll let me in!"
"Whatever you say kiddo." He answered blankly as he continued to walk past her.
Camille ran up to the door and pushed the intercom.
"Mel! It's me! Can I come in?"
"It's open!" She yelled from inside the room.
Camille entered the room and saw the boxes all over the place. It was total chaos!
"Wow. I take it you haven't found what you're looking for yet?"
Melanie then smiled when her hand reached in a box and felt a familiar rectangular object. "On the contrary…I think I just have!"
She pulled out what looked like a thick catalog and slammed it on the floor.
"This is it!" she said triumphantly as she opened it and started turning pages.
"What is that?" Camille questioned as she got on the floor to get a better look and the elusive item.
"It's a Home Depot hardware catalog. I got it in the mail months ago and didn't think I would need it, but for some reason I didn't throw it away. Now I'm glad I didn't!
"What do you need it for?" She asked.
"That's easy silly! I want to buy Tracks another sweeper! Since the Insecticons annihilated my last one, that is. It's the perfect torture device!" She continued to browse the pages, then suddenly stopped.
"Ah! Here it is! Oh that's a nice one! It looks exactly like the old one!"
She reached for her cell and called the 800 number on the catalog. Promptly someone picked up.
"Yes, I'd like to order item # 563828…" She spoke to the telephone operator.
"How many are you going to get?" Camille interrupted.
Melanie covered the mouthpiece of the phone, and then answered, "Just one. What are the chances that something bad will happen to this broom?"
Camille didn't answer. Melanie returned to her phone call.
"Yes one please." There was a long pause. "What?! You're out of stock? Can you check if a nearby store has one that we can pick up ourselves? Where? Oh, yes that's close to us. Okay. Thank you. Goodbye."
Camille anxiously awaited Melanie's next words. "Well?"
"They have some in stock at the Home Depot just off the main highway south of here. Let's go get it ourselves."
"But who's gonna drive us?"
"How bout Sideswipe?" She said with a smile.
"You…" She pointed mischievously at Mel. "You know how I think, and you know what I like don't ya?"
She snorted. "Duh! It's only obvious you're sweet on him. Let's call him!"
I blushed as she ran towards the intercom and pushed the page button.
"Sideswipe, this is Melanie. Report to my room immediately!" She commanded.
"You sound just like Megatron!" Camille joked.
"No I don't! He doesn't sound like that!" She retorted as she grabbed her wallet and shoved it into her back pocket.
Tracks, who had just returned to his room, heard Melanie's announcement on the intercom and wondered why she was calling for Sideswipe, and not for him. He decided to just turn on the TV until she needed him.
When Sideswipe arrived, he skidded to a stop in vehicle mode right in front of her door. Camille and Melanie were already standing outside.
"Yes ladies?"
"We have an urgent mission for you! You must transport us to the nearest Home Depot right away!" Melanie joked.
"Really? Why?"
"Oh don't start asking questions, just do it!" She said as she and Camille opened his doors and got in.
"Hey, you're the bosses!" He then revved his engine and floored it down the hall and out of the base.
Once they were on the main road, the Home Depot sign was barely visible in the distance. After about 7 minutes, the 3 of them arrived. But before they pulled into the parking lot, Camille stopped Sides by putting him in neutral.
"You'd better wait here Sides, I don't want people to see two 'poor girls' get out of a car that's worth thousands of dollars. It just wouldn't look right, you know?"
"Who are you calling poor?" Melanie huffed, slightly insulted. But she was ignored.
"Uh…okay." Sideswipe accepted as he opened his doors to let the girls out.
"Call me if you need me. I'll be right here."
"We will. Come on Mel!" She said as she grabbed onto the sleeve of Melanie's jacket and jogged with her towards the front entrance. She reluctantly followed.
As they walked through the front doors, Camille couldn't help but notice the six strangely painted construction vehicles that were parked precariously in a corner of the parking lot. It was as if they were out of place, I mean there wasn't any construction barricades or cones to signify that any work was being done. As she looked over her shoulder, she could have sworn a red light flickered from the purple and green colored cement truck's dashboard, but it was probably just her imagination.
The girls walked the long halls of the establishment until they found the broom aisle. Melanie gasped in awe as she lifted the last sweeper off the display rack and proceeded to dance with it.
"THIS is the one I'm looking for! It's perfect! Okay, we got what we came for, now let's get home."
"Ohhh!!! I can't wait to use it on him!" Melanie continued with a very high-pitched voice.
Once the broom was purchased, the girls strode out the door and towards the lot. When they were halfway to where Sideswipe was, the 6 construction vehicles started to transform and combined into a humongous robot! Camille watched as the giant completed its last transformation and then recognized the familiar purple brand on its chest. She screamed as its eyes locked on them. It was way bigger than a normal Decepticon!
"Side---Sideswipe…?" Camille whispered.
She couldn't bring herself to yell for him, she was just too scared.
At the nearby corner gas station, a news van was getting its tank filled up. The news reporter, who was leaning on the van, checking her make up with her compact, heard Camille's scream and signaled for her camera guy to go live. Back at Autobot headquarters, Tracks was flipping channels and dropped the remote when Devastator's image appeared on the screen.
"HOLY PRIMUS! Mel! Camille! I gotta get down there! It looks like, yes, the Home Depot off the main highway! Don't worry Mel I'm coming!!!" He raced out of his room, transformed to his vehicle mode, and once he activated his wings, he took off for the air.
"Holy crap! It's Devastator! SIDESWIIIIIIPE!!!" Melanie shouted.
In an instant, Sideswipe's tires could be heard screeching towards the parking lot, and though he knew he'd be seen by the other humans, he transformed to robot mode anyway and ran towards the towering Decepticon's midsection.
"I'm coming you guys I'll save you!" He yelled.
But Devastator was prepared for him. And with a swift kick, launched him into the air like a football. He flipped numerous times and finally landed a few blocks away. The sound he made when he hit the ground was far away, but still audible.
Camille's fear suddenly melted away and anger started to fill her heart. She looked up at the laughing Decepticon and snatched Melanie's broom from her hands.
"Hey! That's m---CAMILLE! ARE YOU CRAZY!?!" Melanie shouted as Camille walked toward the giant with the broom in hand.
"HEY! JOLLY GREEN GIANT!" She shouted.
"Hmmm?'" Devastator suddenly stopped laughing and gazed down at the enraged human girl.
"How DARE you do that to Sideswipe! You're gonna pay!"
Closing her eyes to maximize the strength of the hit, she wound her body and prepared to swing the broom at his leg, not noticing that the giant lifted his foot and placed it right above her. Melanie gasped and ran for Camille, grabbing her by the jacket and yanking her out of the way. Camille dropped the broom as the huge foot came crashing down on top of it, reducing it to splinters, instead of her.
Melanie's jaw dropped.
"MY BROOM!" She screeched as if someone ran over her puppy.
Camille, realizing what just happened, got to her feet and pulled Melanie to hers and turned to run. Only Melanie held tightly onto her sleeve, stopping her in her tracks.
"What are you doing?! We gotta run!" she shouted.
"No! We won't be able to run away! Not with his huge feet. His strides would catch up to us too easily! Let's just hide under that SUV!"
"But what if he smashes us while we're under it?"
"That's a risk we're gonna have to take! But I have a feeling, if Megatron sent them, then maybe they'll need us alive! Only one way to find out!"
Camille agreed and the girls crawled under the black Chevy Tahoe with ease. It was higher underneath than a regular car. But just as Camille had feared, Devastator approached the truck, lifting his foot once again.
"I guess I was wrong. Sorry Camille." Melanie apologized.
Just then one of the Constructicons voices erupted from its body.
"NO YOU FOOL! MEGATRON WANTS THEM ALIVE!"
"Just pick up the fragging Earth Vehicle numb nodes!" Another one chimed in.
The foot slammed down on the ground inches from the truck, causing a gust of wind to blow under the truck and mess up our hair. Then a large hand picked up the SUV with ease. The girls whimpered in fear as he threw the Truck over his shoulder like nothing. The girls then embraced each other as the giant's hand came closer to them.
Tracks, who was now flying overhead, transformed from flying car mode to robot mode, retracted his hand and shot out a cable (much like Jazz had done on many occasions) which wrapped around the giant's fingers, preventing him from grabbing the girls. He then used his weight from his decent to pull the hand away from the girls. It helped, but not a lot. Melanie and Camille looked up at their savior.
"Tracks!" Melanie shouted.
He tried to pull and still the mighty beast, but he was greeted by a low laugh from the giant and was suddenly whisked into the air as Devastator got a better grip on the cable that constricted his hand and started swinging poor Tracks around in circles above his head. As Tracks helplessly endured his 'wild ride', Devastator got down to one knee, while still swinging Tracks in the air. With his free hand, he advanced on the girls again. Camille and Melanie suddenly heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching from behind them.
Before they could turn around to see who it was, Sideswipe whipped out his blaster and nailed Devastator's free hand, causing him to grunt in pain. It wasn't much pain, but it served its purpose, distracting him long enough for him to leap over the girls, twist around and land on his back and slide through the legs of Devastator and stopping a few feet behind him. With his back wide open for attack, Sideswipe located the beacon he had to shoot that would immediately render him immobile and cause the Constructicons to disperse and fall apart.
Devastator knew of his handicap and tried to turn around, but he was too late. Sideswipe took a shot and Devastator arched his back as he yelled and fell to his knees. Tracks was still spinning in the air on the cable, but when Devastator's palms opened upon being hit by Sideswipe in the back, it got loose and he was flung in one direction, but could now transform into car mode and resume flying. Once he corrected himself, he turned and flew back to pick up the girls.
"Tracks! Boy am I glad to see you!" Melanie said as she got to her feet and opened the driver side door and got in.
Camille ran to the passenger door but threw a worried look over her shoulder for Sideswipe but couldn't see him.
"Camille! Come on! Get in!" Tracks shouted, as he opened the door himself so she would enter.
"What about Sideswipe?" She answered her own question when she saw his head pop up from behind the pile of purple and green construction vehicles that littered the parking lot.
"Oh."
"My sensors tell me he's fine! Now get in! We gotta get out of here before those constructicons come around!"
Without a second thought, she entered the car.
Now completely in pieces, the Constructicons shook their heads and tried to focus, still in a daze. Sideswipe, who was itching to take on the disoriented Decepticons now that they were more his size, held back for the sake of the girls. It wasn't in his persona to run from a fight, but if the Constructicons reconfigured, he was sure he wouldn't be able to come up with another miraculous diving save. After his common sense got the better of him, he transformed into his Ferrari mode and followed the Blue Corvette with the flames on its hood back to Autobot headquarters.
Approximately one week after the incident, Melanie finally had put the last of her things back where they belonged before she had begun searching for the catalog. With a defeated sigh, she solemnly walked towards her bed and sat on it. Still upset that broom #2 was destroyed yet again by Decepticons. Tracks was in her room, helping her with the heavy things.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you Tracks…" She began.
"Oh for Primus' sake Mel! It's okay! You've already apologized enough! I don't think I can take one more apology!"
Camille walked in Melanie's room with a long rectangular package that was almost as tall as her.
"Hey guys. So Tracks, you can't take one more apology huh? Well I got something for you that you won't be able to take period!"
"What are you talking about Camille? What's in the box?" Tracks questioned.
Sideswipe then followed Camille into Mel's room with a wide grin on his face, then he stood in front of the door as if blocking it.
Tracks gave him a strange look. "Ooookay…what's your problem?"
"You'll see." He answered bluntly.
Melanie looked up at Camille with the package in her arms.
"What's that?" She asked, a little curious.
"It's addressed to me, but it's actually for you." Camille then held out the box in her arms towards Mel.
Tracks froze when he scanned the contents of the box.
"NO---!"
Camille turned to look at the worried Autobot's face.
"Oh yes!"
Melanie took the package and ripped the top of the box off and gasped happily as she pulled out the brand new ivory colored sweeper from the box.
"Camille! What on Cybertron were you thinking?" Tracks yelled.
"Just helping a friend!" She smiled.
Melanie, her sadness gone, happily ran towards Tracks as he backed up in the corner. Melanie started to brush Tracks on his most vulnerable spot possible…his hood. Tracks laughed heartily, totally aware now why Sideswipe was babysitting the door. As the two giggled and rolled on the floor together, Camille walked towards Sideswipe and wrapped her arms affectionately around one of his legs. He froze and looked down as she embraced his leg while watching Tracks and Melanie tickle each other. He then relaxed and smiled at the small human. It was the perfect end to a not so perfect day.
