Imperfect
Disclaimer: This was a very peculiar idea I got from watching Transformers the movie last night. I was observing the scene when Simmons explains the purpose of the Allspark at Sector Seven and the Hoover Dam and oddly enough, came up with this odd little fic. I dedicate this to Cyndi. Note that the first few chapters will be pre - 2007 verse. And yes, there is language, but as far as I am concerned, language isn't that bad enough to give it an M rating. I have quotes from the movie, so they are Michael Bay's and the writer of the Transformer movie. Not mine.
"People throw away what they could have by insisting on perfection, which they cannot have, and looking for it where they will never find it."
-Edith Schaeffer
"Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable."
-Lord Chesterfield
By: VampireQueenAkasha
"Humans don't deserve to live!"
Megatron: 2007 Movie
Chapter Five: Names
Tranquility
Nevada
Sam did not enjoy school the next day. Even though he had done well with his presentation, he received a D- on one of his Math tests. His teacher, Mr. Williams just shook his head at the failure. He was a man who was quite old fashioned. He believed if you did not do what you should, you'd never make it in the real world.
"I gave you a D - because if I had given you an F, I'd have to see your face in Summer School." he snapped, at Sam.
Sam rolled his eyes. The other students had gone to lunch and the teacher called him up. Now, not only being late for lunch, he had to have this D- right after his dad bought him his car. With a sigh, he glanced outside and noticed the same peculiar woman he had met at the dealership standing in the school parking lot. She was staring at his car with an intent expression. She had no desire to steal it because he knew she would have done that already. And besides, a public place was not the best place to steal anything.
So what was she doing?
Sam frowned when she looked straight at him. He wasn't even listening to his teacher anymore until Mr. William began yelling at him now.
"Sam, are you listening to me?" he snapped.
Sam blinked out of his daze and looked down at his teacher. "Huh?"
Later on, Sam walked out to his car during lunch, finding the woman crouched there with a fascinated look on her face.
"Sam, this is a very nice car you have ... " she said, softly, "I like it."
Sam blinked a bit and smiled faintly. "Uh, yeah." he murmured, with a slight chuckle. "Uh, w - were you following me and ... " His eyes widened when he realized that she had used his name without having him say what it was. "and how'd you know my name?"
The woman realized her mistake and faltered somewhat. Before she would answer, though, Sam's friend, Miles was running toward him, breathless. The surfer - looking airhead looked at his friend, not acknowledging his company at first.
"Sam, lunch's almost over, man!" he said. "You gotta get back in before..." He trailed off and noticed her now, eyes widening. "Whoa ... "
The woman scanned Miles quickly, receiving digital images of his address, age, height, width, and everything. Threat level was 0: Civilian.
"Who's your lady, Sam?" Miles asked, grinning like a moron in heat.
Sam sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "This is someone I met at the car dealership a little while ago." he explained, "I don't really know her name, but ... she seems to know mine."
Miles grinned widely. "Dude, do you know my name?" he asked, in a mystified voice.
The woman sighed heavily. "It's Miles."
Miles giggled and blushed like an idiot. Sam turned to her with a frown. "Okay, how do you know that?" he demanded. "Are you some kind of stalker or something?"
And just then, one of the teachers shouted outside to the two boys. "Hey! You boys had better get in here or the door's gonna get locked!"
Yeah, that was the last thing Sam needed.
Miles and Sam both rushed off back into the school before the teacher could shut the doors. Sam just stared at the woman beyond the glass of the windows, not sure what to make of her. A part of him felt a little uneasy. Was she some kind of stalker? Was his dad probably right?
O
School was over quick for Sam.
And when he walked to his car with Miles, the woman was there, perching on the back of the car like a bird. She turned in his direction with a faint smile. This fascinated even her because there was something in the database of the goggles that spoke of Sam's ancestry. She had heard of the Witwicky family and somehow felt an odd ... connection with them. She had never once met his family and felt as if she knew them somehow.
"Um ... could you get down off of my car, please?" Sam said, a little perturbed. When she refused to budge, he sighed heavily. "Alright, fine, sit there if you want. I'm heading home." He looked at Miles, who was getting in the back seat the old fashioned way: Jumping in through the window. "Do you have to do that?"
"What?" Miles protested, shrugging innocently.
Realized I can never win
Sometimes feel like I have failed
Inside where do I begin?
My mind is laughing at me
Tell me, why am I to blame?
Aren't we supposed to be the same?
That's why I will never tame
This thing that's burning in me
As Sam pulled up toward his house, the woman had kept a perfect position on the back of his car by gripping the rear spoiler. She cocked her head, studying the house with vague interest. Sam and Miles were talking about Sam's love crush while they got out.
"Look, Sam, you're gonna have to just mellow out, bro, on this whole Mikaela thing, she always shines you, man." Miles said.
Sam sighed and shook his head, gesturing for the woman to hop down. "You don't understand; we have a history."
Miles shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, you had history: pre - freshman history." he pointed out, "Could've had her back then, man."
"She was only a kid, dude!" Sam protested, scowling at him.
Judy Witwicky was walking out of the house, wearing gardening attire and sighed. "Sam! I'm glad you came straight home because I need your help with the gardening!"
Sam stared at her in protest. "Mom, I came home to change but I'm going back out." he insisted, "I want to go to the party at the lake."
Judy seemed a little pleased that her stuck - at - home son was going out with friends. She smiled and nodded. "Well, okay. I guess I can get Ron to help me when he gets home." she said, "Just, come inside and ... " She trailed off, seeing the woman there. "Oh! Who's this with you?"
Sam chuckled painfully at that and gestured to the woman. "Uh, this is that chick I told you about at the dealership. She - "
"She pounded Bobby Bolivia, man!" Miles finished.
"She did not ... " Sam said, glaring at him.
Judy brightened and gave the woman the once-over. "I dunno, Sam." she said, furrowing her brow, "She seems too old for you. I mean ... "
Sam went red at the thought and shook his head rapidly. "No, mom!" he protested, "It's not like that at all! I just met her, she's been following me and-"
Judy smiled, feeling rather generous and giving the woman a gentle push. "Well, come inside!" she offered, "I'm making some snacks! You're welcome to have some if you'd like!"
The woman seemed a bit surprised by her generosity. She was sure she could trust these seemingly weak civilians. Maybe they could help her leave the town once she told them that she was in danger. It wasn't necessarily a lie.
Judy, Miles, and Sam watched in disbelief as the woman observed a small pile of sandwiches placed in front of her. She seemed to be scanning it and sniffing delicately like a cautious animal. Judy frowned, glancing down at a jar of mayo and sniffing it.
"Is it stale?" she asked.
"No, mom." Sam said, fascinated and irritated all at once, "She studies everything for some odd reason. I can't figure it out yet."
Judy chuckled and shrugged. "Uh, okay." she said, smiling. "I'll leave you guys to chat. I'm going out back to wait for Ron." And with that, she walked out of the kitchen. But not before reappearing and waving a stern finger. "I'm outside, so don't you try anything. She's too old for you!"
Sam rolled his eyes and Miles giggled under his breath.
"So ... you really don't have a name then, huh?" Sam finally asked, looking at the woman very carefully. "No name at all?"
"No."
"Any ... nickname?" Sam waved his hands thoughtfully, "I mean, what did people call you?"
The woman paused between a bite of her sandwich. If the two could see her eyes right at this second, they would see the hesitation in them. Her next words carried more of a weight than the two boys seemed to catch on to. "A lot of things."
Miles shrugged. "So ... uh, how about we give you a name?"
The woman looked at them both in surprise. "Really?" she said. "I am new to such a ritual, that would be nice." She was silent for the moment, somehow confused and delighted with the gesture. Maybe a name would help keep her identity much more safe. Maybe.
Miles grinned and elbowed Sam in the ribs. "I know! Let's call her Mikaela, so you don't feel so bad that she's not dating ya'!"
Sam glared at him. "No, dude." he snapped, "And I DON'T FEEL ... " He trailed off and sighed heavily a little miserable. " ... that bad." He looked at the woman. "I mean, we can't have you running around and not have a name." He paused thoughtfully and considered what he'd call her.
"How about Jade?" Miles suggested, "That was my sister's name."
The woman shook her head. She glanced down at a newspaper and studied a headline. 4 POINT EARTHQUAKE STIRS TERROR IN SCHOOL.
Terror ... Terr ... Terra.
Ahh yes. Terra. It was a small half of terror. It felt fitting. She liked the name. Many thought of her as terror, many thought of her as a shadow. Terra. It was perfect.
"Terra..."
Sam blinked the second she said that. "Terra?" he repeated. "You like that name, huh?" When she nodded, he chuckled and leaned back. "Terra ... that's good."
She was smiling, pleased. This was her first real association with humans on a more civilized level and she had to admit, it was good.
O
Note-Korn's "Did My Time". Wow, the wind is really howling outside today...