*Chapter 4: Power of Heal and Protection*
Hope is her room one night after dinner is over and everyone but her is asleep. She couldn't stop thinking about what just happened today. Even she had strange powers, and the bite marks from Serpent is gone. Could it be from the bite that gave her a gift somehow? At least it's not poison. Hope will have to keep the powers of hers a very low profile from anyone. They are not dangerous, of course, but she doesn't know that for sure. She will have to wait until the next day.
"I have protection in me, but...I wonder if I have anything else." She says to herself. The bite marks are gone, and the pain is gone while she was at NEST today while meeting Optimus Prime. Was it healing? It could be. Harmless powers she has now. Nothing too dangerous.
At NEST, Hope was scanned by William as Charlotte and Sam were there with them, waiting for any signs of what Hope is having in her body. William looked at the screen and made a look of shock. Light blue aura is found in Hope's body.
"My god. She had something in her alright." William said by turning to Charlotte and Sam. "Hope is holding power. Nothing serious, but a handful one. Are you saying that she had the power of heal and protect like she showed you before?"
"Yeah. When I picked her up with Bee, she showed me and...yeah, that's pretty much it." Sam replied. "Will they expire?"
"I don't know. If Optimus knows about it, he will know the detail." William says. He turns to Hope with a serious look. "Hope, listen to me. Do not show off your powers towards anyone. Only for certain times when you are in danger. Understand?" Hope nodded in silent. She was told to leave the room to meet the Autobots and Camron. As she walked down the steps, Wheelie came towards her.
"So, how'd it go?" He asked, following her. "Those abilities you have could be quite a handful. When you get into a battle, you could just use a force field, and you can heal yourself and others. If you could heal others."
"I'm not allowed to use them for fun, Wheelie. I have to be careful towards other who shouldn't know about it." Hope said, looking at the little robot. "Only for...emergencies."
"Ah, come on, kid. You could get some training. You gotta learn." Wheelie says climbing on the desk. "It wouldn't hurt to try 'em out, right?"
"You want me to get in trouble?" Hope asked with a look. "I don't want to get into an accident or anything. I was bit by the snake. I don't want to be in the way."
"Sheesh, you're no fun, kid." Wheelie muttered, getting off the desk. Hope rolled her eyes and turn to see Camron with Bumblebee. She came towards them. Camron looked at his sister.
"Well? What did they say?" He asked.
"I have to keep a low profile, like we agreed last night." Hope replied by crossing her arms. "But, I can only use them for dangerous situations like if the Decepticons are attacking, I'll use my force field to protect myself and others possibly."
"Smart kid. I like that." Ratchet says walking by.
"So, where's Optimus?" Hope asked.
"Out on patrol. Why?" Camron replied. Hope turned to face the doors. "Hope, don't ever think about going out there again. Remember yesterday?" Camron said.
"If you're that worried, brother, why don't you and Bumblebee just come out with me then?" Hope snapped and walked away.
"Whoa! Hold on!" Camron says catching up to her and got in front. "Look, I'm sorry, but...we're only trying to protect you. I don't want you to get hurt or anything. We just lost our parents, Hope. I don't want to lose you either." Hope made a look, but she relaxed with a sigh and sat on the chair.
"Sorry. I'm just...still lost since mom and dad are dead." She said. "I don't want to lose you either, Camron." Sam appeared out of the room and went down the steps.
"Hey, you guys. I have to take you back-" Sam was cut off when he saw something outside. Camron and Hope turned and saw Serpent slithering away. The three humans ran out of the base and saw Serpent slithering away in a flash. "Bee! Come out here now!" Sam yelled. A yellow Autobot appeared and saw the Decepticon escaping. He started to chase it and about to make a grab for it, but Serpent turned his head and spit out the poison from his fangs to aim for Bumblebee's blue orbs. Bumblebee looked away and held his head and try to rub his eyes, but he was blind by the poison.
"Bumblebee!" Camron and Sam cried out, Hope watched in horror. Serpent chuckled and slithered away. Hope came towards Bumblebee who got on his knees, making noises from the radio.
"Bee, hang in there." Sam says. "Guys, stay with him." He was about to get back inside the base until the Autobots and the soldiers came out after hearing the attack. Hope had her hand out towards Bumblebee's face, her hand glowed. Bumblebee's eyes glowed as well, and no longer feel the pain of the poison. Ratchet and Sideswipe came towards Bumblebee.
"Bumblebee, are you alright?" Ratchet asked. Bumblebee looked at him, then at Hope.
"I feel better." He says to Hope who smiled. She healed him. She saved his eyes. "Thank you, Hope. I could've been blind."
"I don't want my brother and cousin's best car to get hurt or blind by the Decepticon." Hope said.
"We could use your special abilities if anyone gets hurt." Sideswipe says with a grin. Ratchet turned to him.
"Are you nuts? She's not even fully trained and we don't need her on patrols or fight battles with the Decepticons!" He says in a strict tone. "And Optimus told her not to interfere, remember?" Hope did promise not to interfere in battles. She'll slow down the Autobots. She'll get in the way. Besides, she's only human.
"But, she has a force field, Ratchet." Camron said. "She can protect herself and you guys. She'll be fine."
"The answer is no. We've lost too much already. Losing a human would cause pain to Optimus and Sam." Ratchet growled and walked away from everyone to return to NEST. Bumblebee made a sad expression. Maybe Ratchet was right. It wouldn't be a good idea to bring along a human being with powers. Hope placed her hand on Bumblebee's hand.
"I know how you're feeling, Bee." She said. "And don't worry. I promised Optimus not to be in the way. I'll root for you guys, so you will become stronger." Bumblebee made a nod.
Bumblebee took Sam, Camron, and Hope out in the woods for a safe stroll since there are no signs of the Decepticons anywhere. In the open field, Camron sat on Bumblebee's shoulder as Sam and Hope walked on foot in front.
"Have you ever thought about joining the war along with us? I mean, like after training you and all that." Sam asked. Hope shook her head in respond. "You promised Optimus, huh?"
"Yes. I might get in the way and I will be the target. Camron doesn't want me...killed." Hope said. "To be honest with you Sam, I would fight against the Decepticons to avenge my parents. But, I'm only human. Force fields and healing is all I have. I'm not a fighter like you." Sam placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Someday you will become a fighter. But, what Optimus Prime calls us humans, Freedom Fighters. We fight for our planet. And the Autobots are there to protect us." He said. He turned to see Bumblebee and Camron. "Bumblebee is always there for me whenever I needed him. He'll be there for you and Camron. Like I said before." Hope smiled as she watched her brother on Bumblebee's shoulder. A truck appeared on the field.
"Optimus..." Hope whispered. The truck transformed into Optimus, he sees Hope running up to him with a smile. "You never came to NEST. Where were you?"
"Searching for Serpent and Decepticons. So far, no luck." Optimus replied by kneeling down. "How is your arm, Hope?"
"Um, well..." Hope stuttered. She rolled up her sleeve and show Optimus her arm that had been healed. She explained what happened since she and Camron got home and no bite marks were shown anymore, and she discovered she had powers of heal and protection, and Serpent was seen again and shot poison in Bumblebee's orbs, but Hope healed him. Optimus was surprised by this. He had never heard of a human having powers from the bite of the Decepticon. "And Ratchet forbids me to join in the battle or anything, because I am not trained. But, he says my powers are useful when I need them for myself or anyone. But, I kept your word about not interfering." Hope exclaimed. Optimus smiled a bit and lowered his giant hand, offering her to climb on.
"I like to thank you for saving Bumblebee's sight." Optimus said as he watched Hope climbing on his shoulder to sit on. "And at least you're safe from Serpent. Ratchet was right about losing too much. We've lost our Autobot comrades. We are the last ones here on this planet." Hope frowned a bit.
"Sorry about that. But, I'm sure they will be proud of you all by now." She said. "Before my parents died, my mom told me that my grandparents will always be with me, even when I can't see them. They will always be in my heart." Optimus stopped at his tracks. Maybe that's where his close ones are. In the better place, but they will be there in spirit. Optimus moved his blue orbs towards Hope who sat in silent.
"Perhaps you are right. They will always be with us. We can feel them, not seeing them." He said with a smile. Hope smiled back at him. Sam watched the two along with Camron and Bumblebee. Sam could see that Hope enjoys being around Optimus more than anyone. Camron sat on the log, watching along with his older cousin.
"She likes him, you know?" Camron says. "Optimus is all she talks about since she met him yesterday."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with that." Sam said with a shrug. "All she needs is someone like him to talk to her. And now look at her. She looks happy. Even she helped Bee." Bumblebee made a small noise, like he was still thankful. "She will be a great soldier one day." Sam says.
"Yeah. Maybe..." Camron said. "But, what about the Decepticons? They could be anywhere. What if they search for her?"
"I don't know where they are, but we will stop them." Sam said. "Hope may not be strong enough with her force field from their attacks if she ran into them." Little did they know, Long Legs is hiding above the tree on one of the branches listening. The Decepticon spider crawled away to get to the hidden base where Megatron and the rest of the Decepticons are hiding.