Arthor's notes: Long awaited chapter I know...sorry about that.

Chapter 4

They were in eye sight of the mall when they hit a red light. With a curse Speedbump came to a stop. Buster felt relieved that he knew the rules of the road, seeing as getting a ticket for running the light wouldn't have helped his mood in the least. As they sat there watching opposing traffic go by Buster noticed something. Behind his was a black car with tinted out windows and on the front of the hood where the manufacturer's crest was usually located…there was a purple face.

Buster's stomach gave a frightening churn.

"Speedbump…" Buster whispered.

"I know…" Speedbump replied. "Hold on tight…"

When the light turned green, instead of driving straight on, Speedbump made a (illegal) U-turn and drove off the way they had come at speeds that Buster could only guess at, but felt grateful that Speedbump had warned him. If he hadn't been holding on as tight as he was there was a very likely chance Buster would have flown off. Buster could hear Clank yelling to let him out of the backpack, but did nothing.

"OK, Mall's a no go," Speedbump commented as they blew passes a four way intersection. Buster didn't even have time to see the light and simply it had been green. "Damn, they're still on us."

Buster looked back and indeed there was the black car following.

"How fast can you go?" Buster asked.

"With passengers? 100 MPH at most."

Buster swung his back pack over and held it in his lap. Leaning forward he grasped Speedbump's steering wheel.

"Do it!" Buster said.

With almost a gleefulness to his voice Speedbump complied.

"Yes sir!" The G-force was nearly overwhelming as Speedbump drove at top speeds. Diving between traffic and displaying unfathomable skills, they were well out of City limits within a few minutes.

"Dammit!" Speedbump cursed.

"What?" Buster asked.

"They're keeping up!" He sneered. "I didn't expect them to be able to match my speeds…"

Them? Buster thought.

Turning around only confirmed it. Now there were two cars with Purple faced insignias. The Black car now had a buddy, a white car. Their windows were tinted so it was near impossible to tell if there was anyone driving, though Buster highly doubted it. Where had they comes from? What were they after? This Matrix thing Buster has dreamed about? Why? Was this Matrix thing responsible for his sudden abilities?

"Where do we go?" Speedbump asked, sounding slightly panicked. "I can't keep at this speed for too much longer…"

"I don't know!" Buster said, sounding very panicky. "I've never ran from transforming robots before!"

"A lot of help you are!" Speedbump snapped. "Think of something-anything- because if we don't we're as good as dead within the next minute."

Fuck! Buster cursed, what were they going to do? These double dragon cars were easily keeping speed with them…

"Do you have any weapons or anything?" Buster asked throwing out different ideas.

"Yeah, but I can't access them in this form," Speedbump replied. "Ask shorty!"

Buster unzipped his backpack and Clank's head popped up.

"About time!" He said.

"Clank!" Buster said urgently. "Do you have any weapons?"

Clank thought for a moment.

"I have a laser." He replied.

"Good!" Buster cheered. "Aim your laser at the tire's of the cars behind us and make sure you get them good!"

Buster helped his little robot position himself onto his shoulder. Clank's hand disappeared within his wrist and the barrel of a laser replaced it. Carefully aiming at the spot where the most damage would be sustained, Clank fired on the black car. The left tire blew apart with a great explosion causing it to fishtail and spin right into its companion. Buster felt a wave of relief sweep over him as he heard the cacophony of destruction behind him.

"Nice shot!" Speedbump said.

Clank swelled with pride at his younger brother's comment.

"All in a day's work," Clank replied.

"We're not out of the woods just yet…" Buster reminded them. "We still need to hide..."

Buster splashed his face with the cold water from the stream they'd come across. The night air was crisp and relaxing, especially considering the day he'd had. Being chased by robots in a Go-cart wasn't exactly the best way to spend a Saturday, but he was alive and very much thankful. They seemed to have lost their pursuers for time being and had made it all the way into the hills before stopping. Spending the night outside wasn't exactly pleasing to Buster, but considering how much he owed Speedbump for warning him, he decided to keep his mouth shut.

Buster sat against a tree deep in though while Speedbump walked around the parameter of the area they called camp. Clank was busying himself by playing with sticks…

"I wonder if my brother will worry," Buster asked under his breath.

"He'll be grateful you're alive," Speedbump replied. "I think we lost them…"

"Thanks," Buster said to Speedbump.

"It was nothing," Speedbump replied. "I had to warn you. There wasn't anything else to it."

"So…"Clank began. "When can we go home?"

"That's a good question," Speedbump said. "Probably when those metal heads stop chasing us…"

Buster shook his head.

"No," He declared. "We have to find the Autobots…the red faced guys."

"How do you know we need to find them?" Speedbump asked kicking away a stick.

"Not all humans can create robots…not like me. Up until a few months ago I couldn't either." Buster explained. "But when I got this power, I had a dream. These being came to me and said 'The Void will seek to destroy you and in doing so, destroy us.' That's what they said…"

Before he could continue, Speedbump silenced by pressing a finger to his mouth and motioned for him to stay put. Without sound, the red robot walked off into the trees only to come back not even a minute later.

"We need to move," Speedbump announced. When Speedbump turned to look at Buster he found the human boy pale, staring up at something behind him.

With a feeling of dread the small bot turned and saw what Buster had been staring at. Two shadowy figures, only lit optics visible through the darkness, stood between the trees, looking down at them.

"MOVE!" Speedbump yelled, pulling Buster up to his feet.

"Wait!" Buster called. Doubling back and scooping up Clank who had been standing motionless in the shadow of the intruders. With Clank firmly in hand, Buster ran with Speedbump through the foliage relying on his friend on which way to run. He could hear trees being crushed and pushed aside as they were pursued. Buster panicked when he lost sight of Speedbump only to feel relief when he emerged onto the banks of a swift flowing river. Speedbump was halfway across the river, using several large boulders to climb across.

"Hurry!" He called back. Buster swung Clank onto his back as he began to climb onto the closets rock. Over and over again he hoped from rock to rock. He was almost there when he came to a large gap between the rock he was on and the next one.

"Buster!" Speedbump called back. "Hurry!"

"Catch him!" Buster yelled back. Gripping a hold onto Clank, Buster tossed the smaller bot over the next few rocks. Speedbump stepped forward and caught his older brother.

"Got him!"

Good, Buster thought. Carefully balancing on the rock, Buster began to reach for the next rock. There was a strange and sudden noise that startled Buster causing him to misstep. He stumbled to the side and slipped off the rock straight into the water. The freezing temperature of the water sent Buster into shock and he gasped, breathing in water instead of air. The current of the river turned him around taking him under just after surfacing.

Speedbump watched horrified as his master fell into the water. With a cry he crossed back over the river with Clank firmly in the crook of his arm.

"Buster!"

Buster felt the ferocity of the water pound into him, taking him farther and farther down river. He couldn't grasp enough of himself to feel panic. All he knew was that he was going to die. Just as his mind began to black out Buster hit something in the water. At first he thought he might have hit a rock, but no. He felt fingers wrap around his body and lift him from the water, dripping wet and coughing, but very much alive.

Gently, Buster's rescuer placed him on the ground where the boy began to cough up water.

"Buster!" Speedbump called as he came upon the scene. A large robot kneeled next to Buster who was violently coughing and spitting up water. Instinctly, Speedbump reached behind him and pulled out his small laser aiming it at the giant robot.

"Wait…cough…" Buster called out from his position on the ground. "Speedbump…cough …wait….the-cough-red face…"

Speedbump looked at the new robot and sure enough, barely visible in the darkness, was a red faced insignia instead of purple on its chest.

"Who are you?" Speedbump asked, refusing to lower his weapon.

"My name," The robot spoke in a surprisingly young sounding voice. "…is Prowl. I am an Autobot."

"An Autobot?" Clank asked from Speedbump's shoulder. "We've been searching everywhere for you guys!"

Prowl said nothing but looked up as his companion appeared through the trees.

"There you are," The new Autobot said sounding out of breath. "Don't go running off like that."

When the new robot caught sight of Buster and the smaller bots he looked sternly over at Prowl.

"What's going on?"

"I was told to find the Autobots," Buster said, getting control over his coughing. "They said that you'd protect me from some a great danger…They called it the Void."

Prowl's optics narrowed and the unknown Autobot made a choking noise.

"They came to me in a dream," Buster admitted. "They called themselves the Matrix."

"The Matrix?" The Autobot sneered. "Why did they come to you? Where's Optimus?"

Buster and Speedbump exchanged glances and shrugged.

"You three need to come with us," Prowl said as he reached down and scooped Buster up.

"Hey!" Buster struggled against the robot's grip. "Put me down!"

Speedbump fired his laser at the Autobot, in defense of his creator. The laser bounced harmlessly off Prowl's armor. Without so much as a word, the new Autobot reached down and grabbed Speedbump and Clank.

"Leave them alone!" Buster hollered. A strange rage filled Buster at the thought of either of his friends being hurt.

"No harm will come to them," Prowl replied coolly. "That is, as long as you cooperate. C'mon Springer. Ultra Magnus will want to hear this."

As Prowl took the lead Buster tried to look and see if he could see Clank or Speedbump but failed. He could hear Clank complaining and Speedbump cursing. He hated it. He felt helpless and weak. He could barley keep himself from shivering in his wet clothes let alone do anything. His dream had told him the Autobots would help him…not harm him. So he had to trust that those Matrix guys knew what they were talking about, though Buster couldn't help but feel doubt. They hadn't been moving all that long when Prowl walked into a clearing.

It was quit a sight.

An immense ship dominated the area with several other robots mingling around, the red faced insignia branded into their chassis. When Prowl and Springer emerged from the alien foliage many took notice. Buster tried to make himself as small as possible in Prowl's grip, feeling the gazes of the robot bearing into him.

"Prowl!"

The robot turned at the mentioning of his name. Strutting towards them was a rough looking Autobot of a pale green color with a scowl on his face. Dints and scratches covered him and he walked with a slight limp.

"Why in the pit would you bring a native here? I thought this was a stealth mission," He demanded. "…and what the hell are those?"

The new robot said as he looked over at Clank and Speedbump with a disgusted look.

"They were with the kid, Kup," Springer informed, lifting the two smaller robots slightly as a way to point them out.

"I need to speak with the commander," Prowl inserted. "This human may know where Prime is."

"Hey!" Buster called. "I told you I have no idea who the guy is!"

"Regardless," Prowl replied looking down at the boy. "Not only did you say the Matrix came to you with a warning, you mentioned the Void and on top of all that you recognized our emblem. You are tangled up in this ordeal and if my suspicions are right those two abominations were created using the creation matrix right?"

"Abominations?!" Clank and Speedbump called out offended.

Buster looked away.

"Uh-huh," The Autobot mused; that was all the confirmation Prowl needed.

"I have no idea what's going on," Kup added bewildered. "But Magnus is in his quarters talking with Trailbreaker. Seems one of our scouts hasn't returned from reconnaissance yet."

Prowl placed Buster on the ground and walked towards the shuttle.

"Watch 'em Springer," Prowl pointed as he walked off.

"What?" Springer asked exasperated. "Why do I have to Proto-sit the squishy and his pets?"

"The squishy's name is Buster!" The young man scowled. "And they aren't my pets. They're Clank and Speedbump."

"I'm older," Clank quipped.

"By a few hours," Speedbump growled.

Springer shook the two quiet, making Buster feel a jet of nervousness.

"I don't care one way or the other," He scowled. "But if you know where Prime is you better start talking."

"Ask him," Clank squeaked pointing as Buster.

"Thanks," Buster sneered. "Next time I create sentient life I should remember to add a spine…"

A long moment of silence descended on the group. Buster sat on the ground shivering in his drenched clothes when the older, worn out, green Autobot walked up to Springer and examined Clank and Speedbump.

"You…" Kup mused with a hand caressing his chin thoughtfully. "…made them?"

"Clank was kind of an accident…" Buster replied with Clank making an over exaggerated gasp in the background. "But yeah…I don't know why I can do it…"

Kup took Speedbump in one hand and looked him over.

"Watch it!" Speedbump snapped. "Are you just gonna sit there and let this metal head violate me?"

Buster wrinkled his nose.

"You're fine," He said. "And besides, what am I suppose to do? Drop kick him?"

"That might work," Clank added.

"Shut up you," Speedbump snapped.

"Respect your elders," Clank quipped back.

"How can anyone have respect for a foot tall crybaby?"

"Buster!"

"Both of you shut up!" Buster snapped. "You're giving me a headache!"

"Or maybe you just hit a rock in the water," Clank offered.

Kup and Springer burst out laughing.

"I never thought I see the day when we'd find brothers that fight as much as the twins," Kup snickered as he put Speedbump down next to Buster. Springer did the same, setting Clank down who then rushed over to Buster.

Buster shivered.

"I really wish I hadn't fallen in the water," Buster breathed. "It's freezing!"

"The atmospheric temperature is average for this region during the current planetary rotation," Springer replied.

Buster rolled his eyes and looked up into the light green robot's face.

"If you're some highly advanced super robot," Buster asked feeling very annoyed at this point. "How can you be so stupid?"

"He has his moments," A new voice said, causing everyone to turn around. A new robot toward over them, his feature illuminated by the moon, and his optics focused from face to face before resting on Buster's. The newcomer was incredibly large and very intimidating especially considering Buster was currently sitting on the ground. The human boy strained his neck to look into the face of this newcomer, noticing the large red faced insignia blaring brightly from his arm. Prowl stood to one side of the new Autobot looking severe.

"This is the native, sir," Prowl directed.

"I assumed as much," The new Autobot replied as he turned to the Security officer, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Thank you Prowl."

"Sir," Prowl replied with a salute.

The new Autobot looked from Prowl back to Buster. With a thoughtful smile he squatted down and rested on one knee.

"I apologize for any trouble my officers have caused," The Autobot spoke in a very calm collected tone. "But I hope you will understand we are quite desperate. My name is Ultra Magnus and I am the Commanding officer of this excursion. What, if I may ask, are you're names?"

"I'm Buster," He replied. "And the small one here is Clank and that one's Speedbump."

"Yo," Speedbump replied failing to mask the irritation in his voice.

"Prowl has informed me that you may have some clue as to the location of one of our own," Ultra Magnus spoke softly and squarely as if making sure Buster understood exactly what he wanted. "He is my predecessor and dear friend."

"That Optimus guy right?" Buster replied beginning to get bored with the conversation. "I told your buddy already I…have…no…wait."

Buster paused as he suddenly had a thought. What if the guy they were searching for was the robot in Briar's cave? Buster suddenly felt very stupid that it had taken him so long to make the connection.

Buster squinted up at Ultra Magnus.

"What does he look like?"

Ultra Magnus didn't catch himself fast enough and the faint glimpse of a smile crept to his features. Wordlessly, the Autobot commander lifted his right arm and a small panel lifted up and a column of soft light shot up. In the center of the beam was a hologram of a Robot's head. Buster choked on his intake of breath when he came face to face once again with the mysterious robot from Briar's cave.

"This is Optimus Prime," Ultra Magnus explained. "He has been missing for many millennia and a third of a planetary rotation ago we received a distress signal from his vessel he was last scene operating emanating from this planet."

Buster felt himself go cold inside. His mind began to race and a frightening thought came to him and he couldn't help but voice it.

"If you're here for him," Buster said. "Then why are the purple faced ones…why are they here?"

Ultra Magnus's face darkened.

"Purple Faced?" He breathed. The Autobot commander stood quickly and looked to his officers. "Have we picked up and Decepticon Signals sense arrival?"

"Not that I've heard about, sir," Kup replied sounding grave. "But knowing them, they're probably using this planet's networking systems to block their signatures. With all the audio waves flowing around this planet's air space it's a miracle our COM links are operational at all."

"Slag it to the pits," Springer cursed. "The last thing we need is Decepticons meddling around with us. If Megatron's with them then we're in deep. I knew the rest of the Wrecker should have come!"

"They were needed where they were Springer," Kup stated.

"We have to find Prime now," Prowl decreed staring into his commander's face. "Before the Decepticons find him."

"Agreed," Ultra Magnus replied, his voice shedding its kind and softness replacing it with a hard and dignified assuredness. The four Autobots looked at each other and all at once turned to Buster, causing the boy to shift uncomfortably under their harsh gazes.

"You need to take us to Optimus," Magnus stated sharply. "It's no longer a question of if you know where or who he is. We need find him before our enemies do. As of now, you and your friends are now under Autobot protection."

Ultra Magnus turned swiftly and walked on but paused.

"We leave in five breems," He stated. "Springer, send word to Cybertron and get the Wreckers and Hound's detachment down here." His deep voice had lost all kindness and was now demanding and harsh. Buster suddenly felt very small and numb. The world as he was aware became a condensed circle of robotic faces staring down at him while preparations for god only knew what went one around him. The meanings behind Magnus's orders were lost on him, but Buster felt he had a pretty good idea of what it meant. At that moment he wished he had never turned 17.