Title: Flare
Summery: The events of Mission City has lasting effect on Sam. A new girl, boy, her car, Decepticons, and the way his life might have changed more then he thought. Sam on (not) being a hero and human.


Chapter Seven: Horizon

Kenneth woke in the early morning alone on a large, comfortable mattress. There were no noises of the Cybertrons and he sat up, rubbing one eye. Blinking at the view of the unfamiliar room he remembered where he was. He didn't see Siri anywhere in the room and he slid out of the bed cautiously. Walking up the stairs there were no noises of any one awake. It was early morning yet.

He exited the stairwell to see the clock read 5:47 AM. Bare feet padded the floor and he looked curiously for Siri. There was no one in the kitchen but soft murmurs came behind a slightly ajar bathroom door.

"I wondered if the guilt was normal." The voice of the boy they met yesterday, Sam, said. "After everything really, and it was the right thing to do. I'm sure of it. Mostly. And wow, my life being so screwed up in a number of days you know, I would have never believed it in the beginning of that same week. Or staying up the night before doing the Genealogy chart."

Siri's voice gave a soft murmur.

"I wonder sometimes, not about if it was worth it because it was, but what if, you know? What if I didn't," he gave a chuckle, "buy Satan's Camaro."

Kenneth reached out and pushed the opened door back. Siri and the boy were sitting on the bathtub edge and they both looked at him in the doorway.

"Oh, it morning already." The boy said, blinking and looking to the bathroom window as if seeing the light for the first time.

"It's still early." Siri said. "Kenneth wakes up early."

Kenneth walked the steps clumsily towards Siri and slid down to place his head on her lap. He yawned. "I'm hungry, Siri."

She ruffled his hair gently the way he liked it. "You fell asleep before you ate dinner last night."

He whimpered. "I was tired."

Sam stood up. "Ah, I better get ready and go get changed for the day." He said. "I'll meet you guys in the kitchen for breakfast and the guys might come at any minute to give us news."

Kenneth perked up. "You mean Soundwave?"

"Yes, our robotic friends." Siri said.

"Come on, up big guy." Siri said, tugging at his arms. "Time to get washed up."

Kenneth remained stubbornly on her lap and Sam laughed. He reached out and tickled the sides of the younger boy. Kenneth squealed and whirling around, launched himself on the teenager.

"Whoa, whoa! I give!" Sam spoke in the midst of laughter as the two boys rolled on the bathroom floor.

It was unsanitary but Siri simply made a face and kept quiet. It had been so long since Kenneth had a human playmate other than her. Kenneth smiled triumphantly and Sam stood, extending his arms to the seated Kenneth.

"Up now." Sam offered.

Kenneth reached out and grabbed hold. Sam winced as electric pain raced up his arms momentarily at the weight. He hoped that the bandages wouldn't need changing yet. Kenneth's blue eyes were wide and luminous staring up at him. Sam ruffled the younger boy's messy morning hair.

"Time to wash up." Sam repeated.

Kenneth looked at him with the large eyes and nodded solemnly. He smiled crookedly to the two of and turned.

"I'll go use the upstairs washroom. I'll see you guys after in the kitchen." Sam said and walked out.

Kenneth watched the teenage boy go until he ascended the stairs. In the silence of the early morning the child ran to close the bathroom door, taking care to lock it, turned to see Siri still sitting on the bathtub rim, and raced back to settle on his knees next to his caretaker and leaning his upper body over her lap.

Blue eyes were large as they stared up at her. "He feels like the Cube Siri."

She nodded somberly. "Yes," she replied softly, "he does."

"Is he like me then?" Kenneth asked inquiring.

She hesitated then shook her head. "He was holding it when…the Cube's gone Kenny, Sam said he broke it." At Kenneth's stunned and devastated look she smoothed back his blonde hair in comfort. "He needed it, to save people. To save his friends."

"Oh." Kenneth replied.

In the silence the young boy's trembling hands clenched and unclenched in the excess cloth of her shirt. His eyes dropped and he stared, eyes shimmering, jaw tight, lips pinched. His shoulders shook but he made no sound. Finally he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She waited.

"Do we hate him now?" Kenneth's quiet voice seemed to echo.

She smiled. "If you ever have to ask that, then you don't." She told him. "Or you shouldn't."

They lapsed into silence and Kenneth crawled forward on his knees between her legs until his small arms wrapped themselves around her waist. He buried his face in her chest and the unnatural stillness of his body hurt worse than any crying or screaming could have. They stayed that way until a gentle knock came on the door. Kenneth got up and walked slowly to the door. Unlocking and pulling the door open to reveal Sam standing on the entrance with a lop-sided smile.

"I thought maybe I should take Kenneth." Sam replied to their careful blank faces. "Since we're both guys, and leave you to get ready."

Siri made herself nod. "Thank you."

"Come on Kenny." Sam said. "The two of us need to stick together." He extended a newly bandaged arm and Kenneth stared. This time it was different, this time the moment felt weighted and so important even if the reason why was unclear. Sam stood smiling in light confusion at the stalemate.

Hesitant, ever so preciously, Kenneth reached out his small palm and gently placed his tiny fingers in Sam's offered hand. "You have new bandages." The little boy observed subdued.

"Yeah, the old ones needed changing." Sam replied.

"But there are more than before." Kenneth pointed out.

"My hands seem to be getting worse than better in the past few days." Sam explained dryly. "I wonder why."

Kenneth was quiet, and he looked down to the floor. Sam tilted his head confused at the young boy's abrupt change of behavior, but the little blonde's grip in his hands was tight.

"Kenny, go with Sam." Siri said. "You guys have things in common."

"Yeah, we're two of a kind." Sam rolled his eyes. "Come one Kenneth, you might not know this," he confided in a fake whisper as he turned and walked off, taking Kenneth with him, "but girls take a long time to get ready."

"But Siri's always ready fast." The little boy's perplexed reply came faintly down the hall.

Siri smiled and waited, watching the opened doorway until wooden door swung gently closed.

-Optimus Prime and the others crash landed that night. Optimus explained the situation accompanied by this cool life-like video graphics, mega-brownie-points man, explaining about the Autobots and the Decepticons and how my great-great-grandfather actually did discover something-

-I found out about the glasses but I also found out about Sector Seven, a secret government group, they knew about the Autobots before anyone else but kept it a secret, they had a do-whatever-you-want-and-get-away-with-it badge-

-took us to Hoover Dam, underneath they had a huge complex as their hidden base, Simmons had to listen to his boss Banachek and I told him I'd take my car, my parents, Mikaela's juvie record-

-in the huge chamber called the Alien Chamber I told them: N.B.E-1 a.k.a. Megatron was the harbinger of death, wanted to bring about the next apocalypse, taking over the world by killing off humans and replacing the population with the robotic-life-giving Allspark, which apparently was this gigantic cube thing they had in the next underground chamber-

-Bee shrunk it, I don't know how, but then we headed off to Mission City and there was the battle, this huge battle, that-that-that well, we were supposed to have back up but Starscream struck and Bee lost his legs-

-running, running with the Allspark and I was wondering why it had to be me, you know? I just wanted my family to be okay, my friends, Bumblebee, and I wanted the girl, the car, the cool teenage life and instead I'm running with a alien cube in my arms with bullets, lasers, guns, huge robots wanting my death-

-I dropped the cube once, and god almighty, the phone booth and computer came to life, but I didn't have time to think about it-

-nothing like when he was frozen. He was huge, and metal, and so frightening. He offered to keep me as his pet if I gave him the cube, eh, yeah, not enticing let me tell you. Then he just decided to kill me, he's such an asshole-

-Prime was the only one to take him on, you know? The others tried but Megatron was so strong, and bigger than them. Prime and he had this huge fight and I really, really, just wanted to get away, be alive, go check on Bee-

-Prime said to stick the cube in his chest to get rid of it, but that would mean Prime was going to die, and I was so angry, so confused, so scared, so desperate, and I didn't even think. If Megatron wanted the cube so much, could hunger for it, destroy worlds for it, create wars for it, hurt my friends, hurt Bee, and well, I guess I just thought subconsciously I would give it to him. Give it to him and end this stupid fight, but on my terms. My way. And I shoved it up, up into his chest where his Spark was a, god, god there was fire and pain and electricity and I saw my life flashing by my eyes. I was just a normal sixteen-year-old boy why, why did it have to be me? Why did this have to happen this way? Why couldn't-couldn't-ahp-

-the government took their remains away…I don't really know too much of what happened after the battle…Bee said he would stay with me and then I felt so tired, so bruised and in so much pain, I didn't faint. I just sort of…fell unconscious after a while…and now…well now…-

-the burns are still healing and I don't go to the doctor for anything. It's too classified and well, it might be taking a bit longer then normal burns, I might have faint etchings of squiggly line scars on my palms, but hey, they'll fade and at least Megatron's dead…right…?-

"Oh Sam." She whispered wrapping her arms around her middle and bending her back to curl into herself.

-I don't regret it - maybe I do, maybe I don't. I killed but there was no other way. I just wish…no one wants to hear it you know, how I might feel, how I might actually regret it somehow, even a little, maybe like right now. I regret killing Megatron but I don't regret that he's dead; do you know what I mean? I wish it hadn't happened that way, that it hadn't been me, but Megatron needed to die, and that's just the way things are.

Megatron's dead.-

"Oh Sam," She whispered, "I think you're breaking my heart."

Outskirts of Tranquility

Tom Banachek supervised the movement of the crew and waited with William Lennox as the rest of the units set up a temporary base. The mid day sun crossed a sky filled with few clouds and Banachek watched as the shift changed and three agents left for lunch. He pushed up the dark sunglasses on his nose and nodded to his men as they looked back at him for confirmation before leaving the premises.

"You're not hungry?" Banachek addressed the military man beside him.

"Epps should be arriving soon. Sam and Mikeala as well. I'll go when someone comes to relieve me." The words were curt.

Banachek stifled a sigh. Simmons' disposition had always put a strain between the relations.

The two men had been civil to each other throughout the day but Banachek hadn't been able to heal any of the rift that the initial impression of Sector 7 had left. The field agents had been good for when a situation needed force but they should never be sent for public relations.

The Autobots hadn't come out of the warehouse since the agents had arrived and Ratchet had allowed none to enter, due to delicate medical procedures. They were waiting for some of the other Autobots to show up and debrief.

A yellow Camaro with sport streaks turned the corner to the lot followed in a short distance by a large red and blue freight truck maneuvering carefully around the small streets. Banachek stiffened his shoulders and walked up to meet the two teenagers he could see through the glass of the florescent yellow car.

"Mr. Witwicky, Ms. Banes." Banachek greeted them as they slowly exited the car.

"Mr. Banachek." Samuel Witwicky replied. "I didn't know the check up was supposed to be so soon."

Sam had been regularly checking in once every two weeks, for debriefing and follow ups, as per the agreement for the contract made with the Secretary of Defense. He had checked in last week.

Banachek smiled. "No, but we received a cut transmission from Captain Lennox and my men were sent out in response."

"I thought Sector 7 was disbanded." Mikeala Banes said arching her chin.

Banachek tilted his head. "It was. I work under a different Division now, but contact and dealings with the events of Mission City and N.B.E. are still routed through those already cleared for the knowledge."

"It was a false alarm." Lennox interrupted. "I dropped my cell phone in the middle of the call. It was all a misunderstanding."

Banachek looked around at the torn gravel where men were reading energy traces from various machines. "Quite a scene."

Sam shrugged. "The guys are huge you know, anything small would be…not usual." He laughed nervously. "A small thing to them would end up a big thing to us, you know?"

"Yeah, totally." Banes agreed energetically. "Big guys, big machines, big scenes. But to them? Small, totally small."

The truck pulled to a stop near the warehouse. Banachek made to turn and approach the leader of the Autobots but Lennox stepped in front and stopped him.

"Look, there's Epps."

A black military hummer turned into the lot and pressed forward slowly. A tall dark skinned man was seen through the windows driving the car. Banachek stayed with the other humans waiting for information and change of shifts.

The horn honked twice from the Camaro and large doors slowly screeched open to allow two large Autobots to exit from the inside of the warehouse. Banachek recognized the first as the medical officer Ratchet, and the second which was a mix of blue and white plating was unknown to him. The second form closed the door before they headed towards the transforming yellow robot.

Some distance away the metal car door popped open and two figures exited. The small blonde boy swiveled and waited for the older teenage girl who looked around the busy location before freezing as she spotted the middle aged man in a black suit by the other two teenagers and the military Captain. Her eyes were wide and shoulders stiff. Jerking she quickly jumped down and crouched, pulling the smaller boy to her.

"Kenny." She whispered.

"Siri?" He asked just as quiet.

She stared at him then pinched her lips. "Look at Sam."

The now curious boy peeked around the front bender and bright blue eyes widened before he jerked back and stared at the older girl. A tiny tremble ran through his body as he paled.

Expression tight and lips pale the young woman said numbly, "We're going to the warehouse." for the benefit of the listening Autobot, and she knew the boy understood as Kenneth's eyes flashed. He nodded shakily and placed a trembling hand in hers. She tightened her hand around his and taking care of their position, casually walked towards the backdoor of the warehouse, their bodies hidden by the freight truck wheels and cargo box.

Shuffling carefully Siri and Kenneth tried to look like they belonged for the odd chance someone should detect them. None did, although the freight truck was oddly still. Taking a deep breath, clenching Kenny's hand in hers, the two children sprinted the small gap between the end of the truck and the back of the warehouse.

Hearts hammering, they hit the stone wall with too much noise for Siri's comfort. She held her breath and waited, but no approaching footsteps sounded. The truck started its engine and moved towards the group of tall standing robots in the middle of the lot. Throat tight she pulled Kenneth with her as they slid to the back door. She twisted the knob but it stuck, the door was locked from the inside. Sweat perspired on her brow as Kenneth pressed close to her and she twisted the knob again and again, rattling the lock quietly. Then it clicked.

Siri drew in a slow breath as the door creaked, each low screech like a possible arrow to her back. Staring down the barrel of a gun, she was never so happy to see the purple robot.

"Rumble." She said quietly.

"Flesh ling." Rumble sneered and Siri flinched at the noise.

Quickly she pushed back the raised gun and autonomous robotic life form, pulling Kenneth in and to the shadows with her but left the door open. She let go of Kenneth's hand and walked hurriedly over to the seated Decepticon.

"We have to leave." She said, heart slamming to her ribcage.

The newly activating Cybertron looked down at her. Ravage leaped from his place on Soundwave's knee and trotted towards the young boy.

"We have to go. Now." She repeated.

"Why should we listen to you?" Rumble asked sardonically. "What has made you so eager?"

"Your heartbeat and blood pressure is escalated." Soundwave remarked.

Siri's lips twitched. "Now is not the time to be a smart aleck. We have to leave."

"You don't command us flesh ling." Rumble told her.

Siri locked her jaw. "Me and Kenny are not staying. We're leaving, now. We'll leave without you if we have to."

Glowing robotic eyes flared as they stared at her in silence.

"Please." The little boy said broken, arms around the neck of an electronic jaguar. His whole body shook.

"Rumble." Soundwave said and his form started changing.

The purple robot turned stiffly, gears grinding but stalked out of the opened door. Ravage followed him with Kenny at his back. Siri quickly bent and picked up the old cassette recorder and thanked the world for small favors, she was carrying everything they had in the large side bag she wore. She ran out to see that the rest of them were ready to go.

Rumble had transformed into a sparkling purple high speed motorcycle, Ravage into an attachment cart. Hurriedly Siri strapped the bag and Soundwave tight on the back of the motorcycle, Kenneth seated in Ravage who automatically strapped the young boy in. Jumping a step and throwing one leg over the body of the motorcycle Siri settled into the seat and bent low, gripping the handles tight.

"Go." She said in a low tone. "Quiet as you can, take us far away from here."

The brake moved off the gravel and the engine turned on a low roar. A small thrum started and then Rumble moved across the gravel towards the closest exit. Siri fervently hoped they would not be noticed until too late; Kenneth squeezed his eyes shut and sunk into the seat as low as possible.

They pulled out in to the street and turning a far corner, Rumble gave a throttle and raced down the open road.


Optimus transformed and stood at a height taller then the rest of the Autobots. The other moved to allow him space and offer him respect.

"Optimus Prime." Banachek greeted.

"Tom Banachek." Optimus replied. "This is our new member," he gestured towards the new addition, "Prowl. We are very happy to have another one of our brothers here with us."

"I hear there was a small scuffle?" Banachek inquired.

"Indeed." Optimus replied just as evenly. "There was a simple misunderstanding of arrival details. Nothing too large."

Banachek avoided turning to the destruction of the many metric meters around him. "Indeed. Then I shall notify the authority and the Secretary of Defense the matter has been handled."

Optimus inclined his head. "Thank you."

"What were the discrepancies, that I should report?" Banachek asked.

The Autobots and Lennox all moved to speak but Sam beat them to it.

"No one." He said quickly. "I mean, nothing. Nothing, no one, none. No discrepancies!"

Lennox bit back a curse, Epps standing behind him closed his eyes. The Autobots remained silent, still, and Mikeala drove a not-so-gentle elbow into his ribs. Sam gasped in pain.

Banachek stared at the teenage boy intently from behind dark glasses. "No…one?"

"Uh em." Sam hummed. "None. Just me and Mikeala here, like always." He grinned promptly.

Mikeala smiled speedily and brightly in conjunction. "Some of us weren't told of what to expect and was surprised that's all. But everything's good. Great! Even."

"That's good." Banachek remarked, "And, Prowl, was it?" The robot nodded. "Found you all by himself?"

"Yeah, mostly." Sam agreed hurriedly. " Just Syri-" Mikeala ploughed an elbow into his gut.

"Sigh-ri?" Banachek repeated sharply.

Mikeala groaned. Lennox and Epps kept their faces blank, Ironhide grunted "For Primus."

Sam rubbed his abused ribs and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Sam. Son." Banachek softened his tone and took off his sunglasses, placing them in his breast pocket. "I don't want to hurt anybody. I'm just here to make sure everything's alright, and to make sure none of you are harmed. If there is anything you want to tell me, anyone you think I can help…"

Sam snapped his eyes to his. "You'd help?"

"Sam!" Mikeala snapped.

But Sam did not look at her, or to any one else. He stared steadily into blue eyes. He thought about how tough and wrong Simmons had been; then how Banachek had explained about N.B.E.-1, showed them the cube, allowed him to speak, ordered Simmons and the others to stop hurting Bee; how Bumblebee and the other Autobots didn't trust him but he was nice, accommodating, apologetic to his parent's outrageous proclamations; how civil the check ins were.

He thought about the trust needed when he had said they had the Cube, and Banachek showed it to them. The kindness he showed when he offered to explain the cover-up to his parents. The way Bee was living with him and Mikeala's juvenile record was gone.

He thought about Siri's dark eyes, the slenderness of her body in the night, the almost visible ribs of Kenneth as he dressed the boy this morning. The wariness in Siri's slow smile, the exhaustion on her body at the first meeting, the desperation of Kenneth's voice as he proclaimed he would not leave without Soundwave, the compassion and understanding Siri had offered last night, and the fear and hesitation in Kenneth's eyes as a stranger approached.

The shadows in their eyes that looked right back at his.

Heroes pay a price.

Sam swallowed. "I don't want them involved."

"Them?"

"Syri – Siri and"

"Siri?!" Banachek's tone was harsh and several other agents stiffened around them.

Suddenly Sam had all the attention of 10 suited men who had previously been scouting the parameter.

"Kenneth." Sam finished unnerved.

"Kenneth!" Banachek repeated. "Kenneth: young, blonde, blue eyed, around 10, follows Siri. Siri: small, Asian, black hair, brown eyes, 19?"

"19?" Sam and Mikeala blinked. "I thought she was 17 like me…"

"My God." One agent muttered and another pressed two fingers to his ear and read off a code, ending with, "Alert Nigel."

Suddenly Sam didn't think he would tell Banachek after all. "Look, I don't know what happened but I don't want them hurt. I don't want to get them involved-"

"Involved?" Banachek turned fully towards Sam, gaze intense. "You have two children of the First Seven and you say you don't want them involved?"