Megatron looked up, his holoform wrinkling his nose. "What in Primus's name is that smell?" he demanded.
Miko looked up with an innocent smile. "Nail polish," she said simply. "I decided to go with a dark, purple color," she explained, shrugging. "Just because I wanted to."
He frowned, looming over her to get a better view of her nails. "Why would you do such a thing?" he asked.
She frowned. "Um, because I wanted to?" she repeated. "And it's cool."
"But what is the purpose?" he asked with a deeper frown.
"Because it's...it doesn't need to have a purpose!" she exclaimed. "Human girls just do it because it's cool and fun." She huffed. "And now you're taking the fun out of it with all your questions."
His holoform eyes never left her fingers and he continued to watch as she took her boots off and started painting her toenails. "But why-"
"Don't even start," she warned, wielding her nail polish at him threateningly. "This stuff stains. Don't make me spill it."
The threat was clear and he sat back with a huff, going over his notes for the next class. He narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Miko who was humming a soft tune to herself as she got to work painting her toenails, her dark, cerulean eyes narrowed in-
He blinked. Cerulean? Miko had brown eyes, not cerulean!
He swiftly grabbed Miko's chin, causing her to let out a startled yelp. "Dude! Seriously, you almost made me…" She trailed off when Megatron forced her to look at him, his holoform eyes narrowed. Yep, there it was. Before, Miko's eyes had been a deep, wide brown, almost dark. But now, her eyes were outlined with a bright cerulean color; a color that sparked like electricity.
"Interesting," he muttered, tilting his head.
Miko yanked out of his hold. "Dude, what was that for?" she demanded, annoyance flaring in her changed eyes.
He smirked, a theory playing around in his mind, one that he was not opposed to. "I am not too sure."
Jack ran his hand through his hair with a sigh as he trudged on back to school. The lunch break outside with his friends was something he always looked forward to. They would chat with Orion, Megatron and Ariel while sitting on the benches outside the building. At some point, it had rained and Megatron had growled at the clouds as if he alone could scare the clouds away.
His steps faltered for a moment when he felt a feeling of discomfort come over him. He frowned, cocking his head as he tried to place who it was coming from. It wasn't from the Cybertronians. He tried to focus on Raf and Miko's part of the bond, his steps slowing.
"-You little freak," a voice hissed around the corner.
Jack frowned, recognizing the voice as Vince. Suddenly, he was able to place the discomfort. Vince never really targeted Miko as she would always fight back. Frankly, Jack was pretty sure the girl scared the bully. But there was someone else that Vince could target.
He quickened his pace, his heart hammering as he was filled with anger. How dare Vince even dare harm his brother!
"I'm not a freak!" Raf shouted. Yes, at this moment, Jack would recognize his little brother's voice anywhere. And right now, at this moment, it was filled with anger and hurt.
"Raf," Jack said, turning the corner to see Raf push himself away from the wall, clutching his computer. Vince was staring at the smaller boy with a jeer on his face.
"Great," the redhead scowled. "Now we got two freaks."
"Two freaks who outnumber you," Jack growled. "Now knock it off Vince." He stood protectively by Raf's side, his eyes narrowed and his mouth set in a hard, firm line. "We're tired of your lies and mocking."
Vince's lip twitched, rolling his shoulders. "See you both after school," he muttered, flicking Raf's glasses.
Raf's hand lashed out, grabbing the other boy's hand, his face twisted in a scowl, a look that did not belong on Raf's face.
"Jack said to knock it off," Raf said, letting go of Vince's hand with a shove.
Vince blinked before a small smirk crawled on his face. "Looks like you've grown some spunk," he muttered, striding off.
The two boys stood in silence for a moment, both strangely content and not wanting to bring up the inevitable subject. Raf let out a deep breath, leaning against the wall, his hand twitching.
"So he noticed?" Jack asked quietly.
Raf pushed his glasses up with a small nod. "Yeah, he did."
Jack tilted his head, examining Raf. Though it was not noticeable in the dim hallways, Jack could still spot the slight aura of silver and red in the boy's hair. He absentmindedly ran his fingers through his own hair, aware of the changes in him as well.
"We should get to class," Raf said suddenly, blinking his now strangely colored eyes.
Jack nodded. "Yeah." Though he stayed at Raf's side. Not just to keep an eye on him. But also because he really enjoyed Raf's company. He was bright, energetic, though not as much as Miko, and he was a smart kid.
In his class room, he slid into his usual seat behind Miko's near the window. He set his bag down, waiting for the teacher to speak. He blinked, noticing the bright sunlight coming through the window. He resisted the urge to run his fingers through his hair once again, knowing that anyone watching would notice the strange and unexplained coloring that had appeared in his hair.
"We need to find different seats," he muttered.
In front of him, Miko snorted. "Yeah, good luck with that." She turned in her seat to face him. "But it's not too bad. No one really noticed with my hair."
He frowned, eyeing her. "That's because you already have pink strands in your hair."
She sighed. "So what if people notice that your hair now has a certain blue shine to it whenever the sun hits? Or how your eyes are now cerulean. The only reason we've noticed is because we're so close."
"Blue and silver," Jack muttered.
Miko paused. "Excuse me?"
"I noticed a small bit of a silvery shine in my hair too," he clarified, his voice low.
Miko pursed her lips before she grinned. "You gotta admit," she said, leaning in and Jack could see the spark in her blue rimmed eyes. "This is really cool!"
He raised an eyebrow. "That our bodies are going through weird changes? What's next, is my skin going to turn blue?"
She huffed. "Stop overreacting."
"I'm overreacting with good reasons," he snapped. "My mom is going to notice the change in my hair and my eyes! You and Raf are lucky in that part at least. Only the outer parts of your eyes have turned blue."
She shrugged. "So? Just tell her it's a shampoo product you're trying out that gives your hair a silvery blue shine."
He sat back in his seat with a groan. "I don't like lying to my mom, Miko."
He felt a small touch of sympathy from Miko's side of the bond. "I...I know," she said. She had it easy. Her host parents didn't really notice the strange pink and silver shine in her hair or her eyes. And when she talked to her parents over the phone, she left out the parts involving the Cybertronians.
With Raf and Jack, who had families with them, it was different.
Miko twitched, playing with her hair as she got lost in thought when she heard a small chuckle, a sense of amusement that was not her own filling her. She looked up to see Jack grinning. "What?" she asked through the bond with a raised eyebrow. No matter how many times they did it, speaking to each other that way never ceased to amaze them. It had to be her favorite part of the bond. She frowned thoughtfully. No, it had to be the part where she could feel their emotions. That was amazing in every way.
He pointed at her hair. "The sunlight made your hair shine."
Miko grinned, winking. "See? What'd I tell you? Cool."
"Miss Nakadai and Mr. Darby," the teacher exclaimed suddenly, making both teens jump. "Are you both lost in each other's eyes, or are you going to give me your full attention to today's lesson?"
"I had no idea the bond would have such an effect on them," Orion confessed.
Ariel frowned. "None of us did."
"I like it," Megatron said, approaching them. "It shows everyone that they are ours."
Orion frowned. "They are not things to claim, Megatron, but living beings who have the freedom to make choices of their own."
"I know that," Megatron grunted. "But please don't tell me you've missed the signs."
Orion and Ariel traded confused looks. "Signs?" he repeated.
Megatron looked upward, as if seeking help from a divine being. "First off, their eyes," he said, pointing to his holoforms sparking blue gaze. "Blue," he said. "Not any other color but an electric blue. Second; you have the hair. Now, this is just a theory, but Soundwave agrees with me…" Here, he trailed off as if uncertain.
"What?" Ariel asked, stepping forward.
Megatron let out a breath. "While these changes are not entirely normal for humans, it can easily be explained away by a simple trick of the light, as the changes in their hair is only noticeable when the sunlight hits their heads."
"But that is not what you think," Orion stated. Megatron's stare was evidence enough. Orion let out a breath. "You think that the bond is not the only thing that has had an effect on the children. You think it is tied to us as well, that we are influencing it in some way."
Megatron shrugged. "Just a theory."
"But a somewhat solid one," Ariel pointed out. "Miko's pink shine in her hair, Raf's red shine and Jack's blue glow. And all have silver traces in their hair as well." She frowned thoughtfully. "And is this really a bad thing?"
"What other changes might they go through?" Orion asked.
"Grow metal on their skin?" Megatron suggested. He held up his hands in surrender at the aghast looks he got. "Hey, it might happen. But that isn't to say that it will," he hurriedly said at Orion's groan. "We just need to be ready and watchful."
"How are they going to explain this to their families?" Ariel asked, concerned.
"Miko decided to dye her hair once more, Jack and Raf...eh. We'll think of something," Megatron said.
"Why does everything have to get so complicated?" Orion muttered to himself.
"Rafael Esquivel," a teacher said. "You are to report to the Nurse's office."
Raf looked up in surprise, blinking his eyes. "Yes ma'am," he said, getting up from his seat in confusion.
He hurried down the halls, wondering if this was just a regular checkup. Otherwise, he had no idea why he would be called. Did this have something to do with Vince? If so, then they were a bit late. But he also didn't see, if that was the reason, why he had been called. Vince hadn't physically hurt him or anything.
The waiting was the boring part, but he was once again surprised when he was ushered in quickly without question.
"We'll just be running some tests," the nurse said with a tight smile.
Raf nodded and for the first few minutes was subject to a series of exams. They checked his pulse, eyes, his throat and took a blood sample. Then one nurse took a hair sample, which he found odd.
"Why do you need that?" he asked, watching as she placed the hair sample in a small, clear tube.
"It's a different procedure we are now following," she said curtly, not looking at him. "I believe we are done."
Raf was left in the halls blinking in confusion. He looked back at the closed doors of the Nurse's office with a small frown. He shrugged. Oh well. He supposed it wasn't the weirdest thing happening in his life.
"Well hello there little Iníon," Ariel said with a small smile.
Miko adjusted her backpack as she jogged over to Ariel's holoform. "Hey Máthair," she greeted. "Raf will be a minute, he's just clearing some things up with the nurses. So what's up?"
She shrugged as they both strode over to the pink car that was Ariel. "Orion has convinced Megatron to keep the shed that we call 'home' and renovate it so that you three can visit." She grinned. "Orion is not ready to give up on the place and said that it just needs a little TLC."
"Totally Lost Cause?" Miko asked with a smirk as she leaned against the car, waiting for her brother.
Ariel chuckled. "Exactly Megatron's choice of words." She frowned. "You said that Raf was at the Nurse's office. Is he alright?"
"Yeah, he's fine," Miko said casually. "I think it's just some check up or something. They did the same thing with me. It was kinda unexpected and they took a hair sample and stuff. But it's cool. Anything to get me out of class." She beamed. "And here comes the Hacker himself. Hey Raf!" she exclaimed, waving her arms around happily to catch the other boy's attention.
Raf grinned as he approached them, jogging to quicken his pace, his large backpack bouncing around. "Hey guys."
"Mac," Ariel greeted with a smile, her car doors opening. "How was school?"
"Same," Raf replied as he and Miko got in. Miko took the passenger seat as usual while Raf took the back. It had been promised when he was old enough that he could ride in the front. But until then, he was stuck in the back where the Cybertronians deemed it safe.
"So when will the other Bots show up?" Miko asked suddenly. "I mean, I haven't seen Bulk in a while."
Ariel sighed. "Well, they had to return to Cybertron, as you already know. But they should be back pretty soon. Megatron and Orion can pull some strings, and Arcee is my sister and I can always drag her down for our 'exploration'."
Raf frowned. "So, does that mean that you guys will be called back to Cybertron? I mean, the stuff you do is important and your absence won't go unnoted."
"We will have to make an appearance eventually," Ariel agreed. "But that won't be for a while. And when we do, we will always come back." Her seat belts tightened around the children comfortably. "Nothing will change that."
"Good," Miko said, settling into her seat. "Because we'd have to track you down which would involve a bunch of science stuff for Raf to handle and you know how I am with science."
Ariel chuckled. "Do not worry. As I said, it will not be for a while."
Megatron had noticed the femme the moment she had approached him. He had tried to ignore her, but she just trailed him like a predator would its prey. So, instead, he sighed and turned to face her. "What is it?" he asked, his tone already dreading the answer.
The dark haired woman smiled, her gleaming white teeth, almost as sharp as her purple eyes stared at him. "I was right in assuming you were Megatron than," she said. "You are a hard mech to find and I did not expect you to be here of all places." She wrinkled her nose as she stared at the drive in.
His holoform raised an eyebrow. "From the way you followed me and the stance you had taken, you had never doubted yourself in the first place."
She hummed. "My, my. You do have a quick eye for detail."
"Soundwave has been very helpful," he said simply.
Her holoform eyes sharpened. "I have no doubt of that. Is your brother here?" she asked, making a show of looking around.
"Not at the moment," Megatron said swiftly. "And frankly, you don't want to deal with him at the moment." He leaned in. "I never got your name."
She tilted her head up, a calculated grace. She knew what she was doing, and her measured movements were done with purpose. Megatron made sure to position himself in a way to where, should the need arise, he could protect Jack who was working at the counter, the teen unaware of what was going on.
"I am Airachnid," she said simply. "The Council sent me as they have noticed your absence and want a report on why this exploration has taken so much of your time." She frowned. "You and Orion Pax are needed back on Cybertron."
Megatron blinked. "Just me and Orion?"
"You, Orion, his mate and your faceless lapdog," she replied, causing Megatron to bristle. "Your presences are requested."
Megatron frowned. "And just which Council member sent you?"
"That is information is not important," she said simply.
"I'll bet it was Sentinel," he said, looking up with a tired frown. "That mech is always meddling."
Her eyes narrowed. "That is the Prime you are speaking about," she warned.
"He is a Prime only by birth," Megatron said. "As far as I'm concerned, I am more of a Prime than he is." He paused. "Or Orion is." He grinned, knowing that such a suggestion would be an insult to the higher caste systems. "Take your pick."
Airachnid's optics narrowed even more, a frown on her thin lips. "Regardless of how you see him," she said and Megatron had no doubt that she would run back to her superiors with his comments. "You are ordered to return to Cybertron."
He scowled. "Ordered?"
"What makes the boy so special?" she asked suddenly, nodding toward Jack. Megatron stiffened up. "He has an interesting, natural color to his hair. Something I have noticed his fellow humans lack."
"He is unique," Megatron said curtly. "We are trying to get a better sense on how the natives of this planet work."
She nodded, her eyes never leaving the boy. "I see." She looked back at Megatron. "I will alert Sentinel that you are rather busy than. I am sure he would love to come and-"
"Tell him we will be there," a voice interrupted.
Airachnid turned with her half smile. "Orion Pax," she greeted.
He nodded politely. "Airachnid. There is no need to inform Sentinel of such things. My companions and I are nearly done here." Behind Airachnid, Megatron raised an eyebrow at his brother.
Airachnid straightened up. "Really? Then I shall alert him to your arrival." She nodded. "Always a pleasure to see you." And she left, her holoform heels clipping on the floor, her dark form vanishing from view.
Orion sighed. "You honestly could not tell when you were speaking to Sentinel Prime's secretary?"
Megatron blinked. "That was his secretary?"
"Please tell me that you did not say anything insulting," Orion groaned.
He waved a servo. "Do not worry. I did not say anything that I would consider insulting."
Orion slumped in his seat, silently glaring at Megatron. "You know what this means."
Megatron slid back into the seat in front of him. "That we have no choice but to go back and clean whatever mess is waiting for us back on Cybertron?"
"Alpha Trion used to handle such matters," Orion stated.
"But Alpha Trion is not here," he said, feeling the twinge of pain in his brother's spak. "We are left with the responsibility." He paused. "Do you not think it odd that they want all four of us?"
Orion shrugged. "Ariel is my mate and Soundwave is in more ways our advisor and bodyguard. In a way, it makes sense." He frowned. "Though it does seem a tad odd."
Megatron nodded. "What do we tell our Three Musketeers?"
Orion shrugged, suddenly looking very weary. "The truth. That we have to leave but that we will be back."
Megatron nodded. "Very well then. Might as well break the news over dinner." He paused. "A dinner that we don't even eat."
'Mac' is Irish for 'Son' and 'Máthair' is Irish for 'Mother.' Again, got the idea from Steelcode, and the name for the 'Three Musketeers' and their new physical changes with their hair and eyes. Thanks! And also special thanks to sakuralovelight and Steelcode for mentioning Airachnid's involvement.