"Alright, sweetie," a man said to his young two-year-old daughter who was cradled in his arms, "we're gonna go and see daddy's friends! You wanna meet daddy's friends?"
The girl looked up at her father with her blue eyes shining under reddish-brown curled bangs and squealed with excitement. "Daddy's fwends! Awmy fwends!"
The red-haired man laughed. "Yes, I suppose they are my army friends," he told her, smiling. "Come on, they're just in here." He indicated to a nearby grey military-style hangar.
They went, an elderly man driving by in a jeep waving at them before he sped off to his destination. The girl's father reached the hangar and went through the massive door that was slightly cracked open. It was quiet as if nobody was there. Other than the man and his daughter only four assorted vehicles of different colors were parked quietly.
"Hey, guys," the man called out, his voice echoing in the gigantic building, "I've brought you a little visitor." For a moment, nothing happened.
Suddenly, the girl gasped in glee. All of the vehicles had started changing, each standing up straight and sprouting limbs and a head. The four large robotic humanoids looked at the man and his child with curiosity, while she continued to squeal in happiness; her own way of expressing curiosity.
A blue and white robot with a number four on his chest and a visor was the first of them to speak. "Whoa, this is some freaky sh**!" he expressed, staring at the girl in awe.
"Jazz, please watch you language around her," the man told him with a frown. "She's only a kid."
"I must congratulate you," an extremely large blue and red masked robot stated, kneeling down to look at the small family closer. "I'm certain that you and your partner are very pleased to have her." The girl laughed and began reaching out to touch the 'bot's face mask.
"Thanks, Optimus," the man replied smiling. He looked at his daughter fondly. "She may have my hair and eyes, but she's got every ounce of her mother's beauty."
A red robot looked at the girl in an observing manner. "Short and chubby-looking, isn't she?" he asked, turning to the father. "Can she even walk with those short lower appendages?"
The man chuckled. "See for yourself, Perceptor," he said, kneeling down and setting the toddler up on her own feet.
The robots all instantly became still, worried about harming her if they moved, as they watched her gain her balance and she began to waddle toward the 'bot Perceptor. She reached his massive hand that supported his body as he was kneeling and she fell forward onto it, catching herself.
The toddler looked up at the red 'bot's face and smiled widely. "Percy!" she squealed excitedly.
"No, sweetie, his name's Perceptor," the human man told his daughter with a slight smile.
"I-it's quite alright," Perceptor said quickly. "I'm sure that she's just learning how to use her vocal systems and my name may be too complex for her at the present."
The child smiled and said his name again. "Percy! Percy! Percy!"
"Wow, Perceptor," a red and orange 'bot said, approaching from the opposite end of the hangar with a smile on his faceplate, "I'm impressed that a nerd like you could appeal to a young organic."
Perceptor looked at the ground nervously. "T-thank you, Hot Rod… I suppose…"
The robot known as Hot Rod chuckled and he went past the others toward the girl, who was now looking at him. Once he got close he sat down cross-legged on the floor and leaned forward to look at her.
"Dang, man, you and your wife make one good-lookin' kid!" he told the man with a smile.
The man laughed. "Thanks."
Hot Rod reached his hand out toward the girl and dropped his voice to a cooing tone. "C'mere, kiddo," he said gently. "Come see Uncle Hot Rod."
"Uncle Hot Stuff!" the girl said excitedly, obviously misinterpreting the robot's name.
Hot Rod laughed. "Close enough," he said.
The child began her waddle toward his out-stretched hand. She reached it and started to climb onto it, grabbing the grooves at the joints in his fingers to pull herself up.
Once she sat in his palm he slowly brought her to where he could see her better. He smiled. "Hello, little one."
"Hey, Ellie, where's your mom?
I nearly fell off of the tall metal couch when I heard Sideswipe's voice being right behind me. "She went with Bumblebee to grab some food," I said turning to the 'bot, who was leaning over the back of the couch with his head resting on his folded arms. "They should be back soon."
I had been thinking about the dream I had the night before. It wasn't necessarily a bad dream – it was just weird, and a little creepy. It had been a while since I had dreamed about my dad, and I certainly wasn't expecting a dream with the Autobots in it. What puzzled me though were the different robotic designs of Optimus and Jazz, and then the two extra Autobots; Perceptor and Hot Rod. I never saw them with the Autobots, so I was wondering where they came from.
"Hm. So while you're waiting," Sideswipe said, interrupting my thoughts, "you decided to watch racing on TV with my ever-so-selfish brother?"
"Hey!" Sunstreaker exclaimed from beside me, turning to look at him, "I'm not selfish!"
"You care about your paint job more than you care about Ellie," the red twin said calmly. "You used turtle wax TWICE this morning."
"Hey, I can't help it if I've been granted by Primus with sexiness instead of you," Sunstreaker responded with a smirk.
I moaned. "Guys, please," I interrupted, "it's too early. Seriously, just let me watch TV."
"Yeah, SIDES," Sunstreaker stated to his brother. "You're bothering us and keeping us from watching the race."
Sideswipe raised an optic ridged. "No," he said, "I'm keeping YOU from watching the race. For Ellie, I'm worrying about her." I looked up at the red Autobot in puzzlement as he focused on me with a serious face. "Is something bothering you?" he asked. "You don't look okay."
"She's fine!" Sunstreaker said before I could reply. "Now shut up or go away!"
"Wasn't talking to you, ugly," Sideswipe told him. Sunstreaker instantly stood up and I did too, inching backwards to the other end of the couch. "'Ugly'?" he demanded angrily. "We're TWINS!"
"Yeah," Sideswipe replied standing up straight, "and I'm evidently the smarter half."
I watched as Sunstreaker tromped around behind the couch and looked at his brother with rage. "You wanna say that again?" he growled.
Before Sideswipe could answer, there was a loud crash of metal as an Autobot had come and slammed both the twins' heads together. The silver 'bot then slammed them both harshly away from the couch and onto the floor.
"You two!" Jazz shouted at them as they looked up at him. "You get yo afts away from Ellie if you gonna fight!"
"Y-yes sir, Jazz!" the two 'bots said at the same time.
Instantly, they both turned into their vehicle forms and swerved around, speeding away to the hallway across the room and disappeared, Sunstreaker mumbling loudly about dents in his helmet.
I continued to stare at Jazz as he patted his hands together, making the metal clink. "D*** kids," he mumbled. He turned his head to look at me and I could see he was smiling. "Sorry ya had ta see that, kid." He looked at the TV. "Mind if I join ya?"
Still staring at him, I nodded. Jazz returned the gesture and walked to the side of the couch. He suddenly leapt up into the air and before I could react he landed in the seat, bouncing me about a foot up. He leaned back setting his feet on the table in front of him and I landed on my butt, groaning quietly.
Not noticing me, Jazz folded his arms and stared at the giant television with interest. I sighed and put my back against the metal couch and looked at the TV as well, though I wasn't paying attention to it. When I thought more about the dream, the more I found similarities between it and the argument from the night before; the possibility of them knowing my Dad from the past, and the dream taking place when I was just a little kid.
"Whoa… that's freaky."
I looked up at Jazz, who was still looking at the TV. "What's freaky?" I asked.
"Well," Jazz began, turning to me, "y'see, Cybertronians can change what they want for their vehicle forms if they wanna just by scanning them." He looked at the TV again. "I just saw somethin' that looked like my old form I used ta have."
I could feel my eyes widen in curiosity. "What?" I asked turning to the TV as well. "Which car? Which one is it?"
Jazz leaned closer to me and pointed. "Ya see that one behind the red 'n green one?"
I looked at the car he was indicating to. My heart almost stopped. "Y…you mean the blue and white one?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yep!" Jazz declared proudly. "I used ta transform inta somethin' just like that, 'cept it had the human numeral four on the hood. Man, I kinda miss that ride." He sat back and let out a chuckle. "But, d***, I still look hot!"
I just sat transfixed on the blue and white car as it closed in on the lead car. It was just too weird to be a coincidence. The Jazz in my dream easily looked like he could transform into that car.
"Yo!" Jazz suddenly said loudly, startling me, "just where do ya think yo goin', glitch?" I stood up on the armrest to see who he was talking to and saw the red and black 'bot Sideswipe almost to the base entrance.
"I'm just goin' to get some air!" the twin protested. "Primus, who went offline and made you Prime?" He turned back toward the door and instantly stopped. "Oh, you're back."
I perked up as I saw Bumblebee walk with my mom sitting in one hand and a grocery bag pinched between two fingers in the other. He immediately spotted me peeking over the couch and began making his way across the room.
"Wazzup, Bumblebot," Jazz greeted cheerfully, waving.
"Hey, Jazz," Bumblebee returned.
"Hello, Jazz," said my mom. She looked at me with a smile. "Hi, sweetie." Bumblebee set her down on the table and handed her the bag.
"Hi, Mom," I said, allowing Jazz to help me across to where Mom stood. What did you get us?"
"Just some chicken and stuff," Mom replied. She reached in the bag and handed me a small box of chicken strips. "Bumblebee tried to pull into an Italian restaurant drive-through, but I had to tell him I was on a tight budget."
I laughed. "Thanks, Bee," I said looking at the yellow 'bot.
Bumblebee shrugged. "Can't blame a 'bot for trying."
I opened the box and began eating my chicken strips that mom had gotten for me. I finished pretty quickly, even though I wasn't very hungry. I was still thinking about the dream. I really wanted to tell someone about it, but for some reason I was afraid to talk to Jazz, even to Optimus. Mom just wouldn't get it, so I had no idea what to do.
"Hey, Mom, is it okay if I leave the base to go for a walk?" I asked turning toward her.
Mom stopped eating as she was about to take a bite out of a drumstick and looked at me. She looked over at Jazz, who just shrugged. "That's fine, sweetie," she said focusing back on me. "I could tell you to take one of the Autobots with you, but Sideswipe's already out there. If you find him you'll be fine. But if you don't, I want you to come back, got it?"
I smiled at her. "Glad that meeting the Autobots hasn't messed up your obsession with my safety," I told her sarcastically. "I should be back soon, kay?"
Mom just nodded and continued eating the chicken leg. I let Jazz help me to the floor from the metal table.
"Thanks, Jazz," I said gratefully and I trotted toward the base exit.
***
"Ow!"
I blinked at the nearly-blinding sunlight that hit my face as soon as I stepped out of the cave-like structure to the Autobot base. I had been stuck in the base for too long.
Still shielding my eyes, I began walking. I didn't care where I was going, I just needed to think. It was clear that my troubles weren't just about having discovered a new alien race and keeping the secret anymore. It was now about trying to figure out how I was going to live with Optimus apparently keeping secrets from me, and maybe even some of the Autobots. Whatever he thought the Decepticons were after, he wanted to make sure that I didn't know my mom and I were somehow involved. It just bothered me, but I didn't know what to do.
I suddenly heard something; an engine of a car and wheels digging in the dirt. I was out of sight from the Autobot base; no time to run back inside. I ran and hid at the in the thick shrubs at the bottom of a forked aspen tree. I sat there, praying I wouldn't be spotted.
D*** it, I thought the Decepticons had no idea where we were! I cautiously peeked from the shrubbery to watch the approaching vehicle. Oh, wait…that's no Decepticon. It's only Sideswipe.
The red Lamborghini slowed to a stop as I stepped out into the open. In an instant he transformed and was staring down at me in curiosity and puzzlement.
"Um, Ellie," he said, "is there some kind of human game where you go about hiding in a bush?"
"Actually there is," I replied, fixing and pulling twigs out of my hair. "It's called hide-and-seek, but that's not what I was doing. I just thought you were a Decepticon."
Sideswipe narrowed his eyes at me. "Thanks a lot," he grumbled, sitting down cross-legged and resting his chin on his hand. "So, what're you doin' out here if it seems you're going to be paranoid about scrap?"
I sighed and sat down too. "I just got stuff on my mind," I told him. "I thought getting outta the base would help clear my head a bit."
"Hm. So I was right."
I looked up at the Autobot. "About what?"
"Remember?" Sideswipe asked. "At the base I asked if something was bothering you."
I looked away into the forest. "Oh yeah," I said quietly. "Right before Jazz beat the crap outta you and Sunny." I sighed. "Yeah, I was thinking about…something."
"You wanna talk about it?"
"Not really," I replied shaking my head. I sighed, but then a thought came to me. "Sideswipe," I said, turning up to see him, "do you trust Optimus?"
The 'bot looked at me as if I was crazy. "Of course I do!" he stated strongly. "I trust Prime with my very spark."
"Even if he was keeping something from you?" I blurted out a little loudly.
Sideswipe blinked, but then he shook his head. "I'm sure that if Prime had ANYTHING to keep from us it would be for a good reason," he replied leaning closer to me. "Listen, Ellie, to him the most important things are the lives of innocents and the lives of his team. If keeping secrets keeps us safe, that's what he'll do. But it's not like he likes it."
"Well, I don't think I would like it either if he kept something important from me," I said, a bit annoyed.
The Autobot let out a huff. "And you think we do?" he asked. "Of course whenever we find out stuff's been kept from us we get a little mad. But then we realize it's usually for the better."
I grumbled. But then I realized Sideswipe had a point. I sighed and looked back at him. "I guess you're right," I admitted quietly.
The red and black 'bot smiled. "Don't worry," he said, ever so gently patting my head. "Optimus will keep you and your mom safe. Besides…I think I've got something to cheer up." I watched as his chest suddenly slid open like a drawer with a pivot point at the bottom. He reached in, grabbing something in his fist, and his chest closed back up.
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
Sideswipe smirked and opened his fist, palm up. I gasped at what he was holding.
"That's my…"
"Your notebook," Sideswipe finished proudly.
I stood up and gazed at it in surprise. "How did you find it?" I asked, looking at him expectantly.
"As you humans would say," he began, "it was pure luck. I was driving around, blowing off some steam, when I saw this thing lying on the ground. I went to check it out, and lo and behold, it was yours."
I couldn't stop smiling. "Oh my g**, Sideswipe, you're the best!" I exclaimed, grabbing his thumb and hugging it. "I love you so much!"
Sideswipe laughed. "Love you too, kid. I have to say, I hate it when you're depressed." He nudged me with his hand so I took my notebook. "Now, if you'll excuse me," the 'bot said, standing up, "I'm gonna go help Jetfire with setting up you and your mom's room."
"Wait, what?" I asked, looking up at him.
"What, you think you'd have to keep bunking with 'Hide?" Sideswipe asked with a smile. "No, Optimus said you humans needed your own room with your own needs and everything." I watched as he walked past me toward the direction of the base. "I'll see you around," he called over his shoulder.
I watched until he disappeared from sight. I was still shocked about him bringing back my notebook; bringing back something from my normal life. I began to continue my aimless walk. Sideswipe was right, it DID cheer me up. And he said that we would be getting out own room so I didn't have to stay with Ironhide.
I immediately stopped. Ironhide…I hadn't seen him at all through the morning. I even woke up on his recharge booth without him being there. It was almost like he was avoiding something. I knew I had to find him.
I sighed and kept walking. 'But it's not like I know where he is,' I told myself. 'Besides, even if I did find him, how would I ask if something was bothering him?'
As I was thinking, I noticed something. I was right by a path of vegetation that looked like it had been stomped on by elephants recently. Shrugging my shoulders I decided to follow it away from the base.
Finally, after a bit of walking, I saw something through the trees' something black and silver. It was Ironhide.
My insides fluttering, I ran through the path he had made to try and reach him. When I did, I saw that he was sitting in the grass by a small lake, occasional ripples appearing from fish briefly breeching the surface. I focused on Ironhide and noticed he looked like he was thinking about something.
"Ironhide?" I asked.
The 'bot immediately turned his head, surprised that someone had found him. "Blast it, girl, don't do that!" he shouted. "Ya keep doin' that an' you'll give me a spark short-out!"
"Sorry," I said shrugging. He just grumbled and looked back out to the lake. "Ironhide," I asked quietly, "are you alright?"
He grunted. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you kinda disappeared his morning," I told him. "I don't know if you're avoiding everybody because something's bothering you or what, but," I sighed, "I guess I'm worried about you."
For a moment, Ironhide didn't seem to care that I actually said something. But then, he sighed. "I'm okay," he stated quietly. He looked at me. "But I dunno if YOU are. Yer involved in somethin' that's been goin' on fer millions o' Earth Stellar cycles."
I had to think. "Stellar cycles…that's like years, isn't it?" Ironhide nodded. "Whoa…MILLIONS?"
Ironhide nodded again. "Yeah," he said. "Been here since the beginnin'. An' I hafta say, it ain't a pretty thing ta be livin' a war." The 'bot suddenly groaned and leaned back, supporting his weight on is arms. "But 'nuff 'bout me," he stated, his voice back to normal. "How's Ellie doin'?"
I sat down in the grass, setting my notebook to the side. "What do you mean?"
"Waddaya mean wadda I mean?" he asked loudly, shooting a glare at me. "Ya practically poured yer spark out at me last night with all the cryin' an' stuff!"
I stared at him. "My WHAT?"
The Autobot blinked. He thought. "That, uh, beating lump o' muscle in yer chest. Slag, what'd Ratchet call it?"
"My…heart?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, that thing. Now are ya gonna answer my question or not?"
I had to think. Did I really want to let Ironhide know what was on my mind? Sure I told him about my Dad, but did I want to tell him of my suspicions?
I sighed. "Well, I guess I'm okay," I began, "but I had this really weird dream last night."
"Dream?" Ironhide asked. "I think I know those… like motion pictures in yer head when yer unconscious, right?" I nodded. "Right. So, what was it about?"
I took a breath and began telling him about the dream; where my dad was taking a toddler version of me to visit some Autobots at some sort of military base. I also made sure to mention the two extra 'bots, Perceptor and Hot Rod.
"And you know the Hot Rod one?" I asked finishing up. "I recognized him as the robot I was drawing when I found out Dad died." I looked up at him and I noticed he was staring at me. "What?"
"N…nothin'," the 'bot mumbled, shaking his head. "Just like ya said…weird dream." He suddenly stopped, almost as if listening to something.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Optimus."
"Can I hear it too, please?"
Ironhide nodded. "'Course." He double-tapped the side of his helmet and I heard a click.
"Optimus Prime to Autobots," Optimus' voice came from Ironhide. "Return immediately to base for discussion and it is necessary for Ellie to attend as well. Any 'bot who is with her, please bring her along." There was another click and I assumed that it was the end.
"Discussion?" I wondered looking up at the black and silver 'bot.
He shrugged. "Yer guess' as good as mine." He reached his hand out and allowed me to climb on before he stood up and turned back for the base.
