Part 4 - Wrench
"How much longer?" Poppy sighed, elbow on the car door, chin resting in her hand as she gazed out of the windscreen at the drizzle. It seemed to have rained non-stop since 'Beat left. Phil chuckled.
"Missing him?"
"Of course I am! I was really beginning to enjoy the independence, if nothing else. And... well, I felt safer knowing he was here."
"You really know how to make a bloke feel wanted."
"What? Oh!" Poppy flushed bright red. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
Phil laughed.
"Just teasing. We know humans can't compare to big sentient metal beings - well, not when it comes to protection, anyway."
Poppy managed a weak smile.
"I didn't mean to offend."
"You didn't. And last I heard it should only be another few days. He'll be back well in time for Christmas."
Poppy nodded, then turned to the officer.
"Is it painful, do you know?"
Phil shrugged, turning into the driveway and bringing the car to a stop as close to the porch as he could. "I'm afraid I don't know much about the process: they tend to be a bit cagey about the details. I do know that they have to use bits of dead Decepticons to provide the metal required for the upgrades, since earth metal isn't the same, doesn't have the intrinsic strength or density."
Poppy grimaced. "Sounds horrible."
"I suppose it's no more nasty than us having an organ transplant."
Poppy frowned. "Mm. I suppose that's really all it is? That does make it sound a lot better."
"Best way to think about it." Phil climbed out of the car and reached into the back seat for the shopping bags. "Let's get unpacked and I'll make coffee."
xxx
'Beat's request had been granted surprisingly quickly, and within three days he'd found himself boarding a military transport at RAF Brize Norton heading for Diego Garcia. All Poppy was told was that Ratchet would be handling his modification, and he'd be returned as soon as he was accustomed to the mods and had been given some basic training in whatever weapons Ironhide decreed suitable. She'd had no further contact with him, although Ramp reported that things were fine and 'Beat was adapting well to his upgrades.
But it had been three weeks now and Poppy wanted him back. She missed the shopping expeditions, and the weekend trips to out of the way places. Ashamed as she was to admit it, he knew more of the history of her home than she did, and made it funny and interesting to hear. She'd grown to appreciate his tastes in music too - and he'd started listening to some of her favourites...
xxx
Poppy pulled up short as she entered the house, staring around the lounge open-mouthed.
"What the...?"
'Spin paused in hanging the last shimmering icicle on the huge tree now sitting in the far corner, his eyes bright.
"Don't you like it? If not, we can alwayth take everything down..."
Poppy took a moment to catch her breath and take a proper look.
It was beautiful - though with Sinewave directing everyone's efforts that wasn't really surprising. Delicate, sparkling chains of... she peered upwards. Snowflakes? They were probably meant to be snowflakes, given that they were sort of six-sided and silvery, though they resembled no snowflakes or pictures of snowflakes she'd ever seen. They were three dimensional for one thing, little balls of intricate spikes and diamonds and minute crystals. Cybertronian snowflakes, maybe? Did Cybertron even have snow?... They glittered across the ceiling and hung from the light fittings: the mantel above the fireplace was covered in bunches of holly and mistletoe with here and there a tall silver candle rising from the green, and the tree... the tree was magnificent, a green so deep it was almost black, and sparingly but beautifully decorated with more snowflakes, icicles and... she didn't recognise them. Oddly-shaped silver... things. Potatoes? Asteroids? Meteors? She gasped quietly as they all lit up and started to change colour, soft electric blue blending into vivid emerald green melting into rich deep purple changing to soft gold and back to shimmering silver.
"... wow..."
'Spin inclined his head, mouth twitching in his version of a smile.
"We'll take that ath a yeth, then."
"It's fantastic! Where did everything come from?"
"Vault and Thinewave dethigned everything, and the retht of uth made them."
Poppy laughed delightedly.
"You are... staggeringly clever. And talented. And creative. All of you." She leaned down to pat Livewire, who was scurrying around trailing something that looked a little like tinsel but which seemed to be twisting and untwisting in strange shapes under its own power. "It's really beautiful. Thank you. All of you."
'Spin waved a hand dismissively.
"Leatht we could do. And it wath fun, adapting our ideath to your human traditionth. We did thome of the other roomth ath well, but mothtly in here, ath thith ith the rec room. Ithn't it?"
Poppy nodded - the term was close enough. Beaming, she pulled off her coat and sat down on the oversized sofa, admiring the decorations. Phil appeared from the kitchen, handed her a mug of coffee and seated himself in the chair opposite, and she mock-frowned at him.
"Did you know about this."
He grinned. "Might have done."
"So that's why we had to go the long way 'round."
"Just wanted to give 'em time to finish."
"Thank you..."
He saluted lazily.
"You're welcome." He leaned forwards. "I need to ask - what do you have planned for Christmas? Do you go to family or have anyone here? We can't actually leave you by yourself but we can make sure we stay out of sight."
Poppy waved her hands.
"Oh no! Nothing like that. I don't have much family anyway, just my mum, and she's in California. We speak on the phone. I usually have a really quiet day - eat something nice, watch films, pig out on chocolate... Last year was more fun, with this lot here." She gestured to the transformers in the room, then smiled at him. "It'll be nice to have you two here as well. I can make a bit more of an effort with the meals, if nothing else."
Phil chuckled.
"Well, we can help with the veg anyway. I peel a mean spud."
Poppy giggled.
"That I must see!"
They sipped coffee for a few minutes in a contented silence, then Phil asked, a little hesitantly, "Not a party girl, then?"
Poppy shook her head.
"Never was much of a one for loud music, flashy lights and too much alcohol. Tried it at uni but didn't enjoy the hangovers. I've gone to a few office parties in the past, but didn't really enjoy them. Not being rude, the people I worked with were fine - at work. Outside of it, well, we just couldn't find any common ground. Made it all a bit stilted."
"Ah. Pity."
She shrugged.
"Happens. It's OK."
He debated asking her about her friends, her hopes and plans for the future, but decided it really wasn't any of his business. She didn't seem lonely, but even so this wouldn't be a particularly good time to intrude.
He was saved having to change the subject by Steamy padding in from the kitchen asking them what they'd like for lunch...
xxx
The following morning Poppy had just taken delivery of the new washing machine - 'Spin had protested but she'd insisted he couldn't carry on washing her clothes, not now that she knew what he was - when Ramp loped through from the office.
"Poppy - Upbeat is on his way back. His transport has just landed at Brize Norton."
She grinned happily.
"Great! Any idea of an ETA?"
Ramp's display flickered for a moment.
"They estimate three hours, by the time they've cleared security."
Poppy nodded.
"Terrific. We'll wait lunch 'til he gets here."
"Could we have thome energon, do you think, to welcome him back?" 'Spin asked hesitantly.
"Oh, I should think so. As long as we don't have a repeat of last time."
"That wathn't our fault..."
"I know. I'm teasing."
"Oh. Well, Vault and Thinewave will help me organithe it."
"Thanks, I'd appreciate it."
As they left Phil came in, opened his mouth then closed it again and grinned.
"Let me guess, Ramp beat me to it."
Poppy chuckled.
"Yup. He says about three hours."
"Good, good. Be interesting to see what's been done..."
xxx
At one p.m. Poppy and Phil were standing in the porch when Graham's Defender drew to a halt outside the house - followed by a strange car. Phil raised his eyebrows and whistled.
"Oh, very classy!"
Poppy stared. The new car was sporty, but still looked rather old-fashioned, though its colour scheme - a rich soft dark teal with silver accents - was certainly modern.
"What is it?" she whispered to her companion. "I don't want to seem ignorant..."
"It's an MGC. British. Absolute classic. They stopped making them in 1969."
Poppy would have questioned further but was halted by the sound of the car transforming...
"... 'Beat?"
The figure crouched down to be closer to her. The face was definitely 'Beat's, but the rest...
"You're... bigger..."
"Aye. Had to be, to hold mods."
"And... sleeker." Which was true - the blocky bulkiness of the Mini was gone, replaced by a much more streamlined frame. 'Beat's head tilted to one side, his expression faintly worried.
"Y'don't like it?"
She shook her head frantically.
"No, it's not that at all! I think you look amazing! I just didn't expect... I mean, I never really thought much about it." She suddenly realised she hadn't even said hello yet, and grabbed his thumb with both hands. "I'm so glad you're back. I missed you."
His mouth quirked in his equivalent of a smile.
"Missed you too. Got lots to tell everyone." He nodded to Phil. "Sir."
Phil frowned - then spotted the Autobot brand on 'Beat's shoulder and growled to himself. So that was the price required for the upgrades. He exchanged a look with Graham - his superior officer didn't look too happy about the situation either, and muttered, "We'll talk later."
Phil nodded, then turned back to 'Beat: Poppy was now sitting on his hand.
"We've waited lunch for you, Upbeat, and I know 'Spin, Vault and Sinewave have brought in energon for everyone. Perhaps we can hear all about it while we refuel?"
The MGC nodded.
"Aye. Got a lot to tell." He glanced at 'Spin, who was hovering in the doorway. "An' I got to meet the Prime."
Poppy heard a softly gasped "ooooooh..." from behind her and grinned. Better let him talk about that first. She could always find out the ramifications of his upgrades later.
It was very good to have him home.
xxx
© JAT 17th Dec 2011
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There's a very nice pic of an MGC here - http : / bchtl41 .free. fr/ images/ mgc2. jpg (just remove the spaces as usual) [g] Nice rims...