Chapter 9

"Show-off," Sunstreaker mumbled. I just sighed and put my head into my hand, slapping it.

"I was protecting her!" Road Ripper argued. "And you said I couldn't do that."

"Could've done it without making a scene."

"There's no one to make a scene to."

"What's your point?"

"My point is is that I can be like you except cooler and not as big an ego the size of Russia!"

"I don't know who 'Russia' is, but I'm ready to take you on!"

"Bring it, popsicle!" Road Ripper was about to hit Sunstreaker when Wheeljack held back his fist.

"We have bigger problems than figuring out who's more superior," he said. "Road Ripper, you saved all of our lives and I'm grateful. Sideswipe?"

The red Lamborghini walked up to Road Ripper. "Thanks for saving us. If Rumble got through, he would've blown us all up."

"Good." Wheeljack looked at Sunstreaker. "Sunny?"

"Pass."

"Sunny?" he said with a little more emphasis. Sunstreaker uncrossed his arms and stood up to Road Ripper. The Tesla Roadster glared at Sunstreaker as he shot a look back. I didn't like how these two would just hate each other so suddenly. Well, I get the fact that they both love me (who wouldn't?) and would do anything to make sure I was okay, but this was getting a bit too ridiculous.

"Shake hands or something!" I shouted. No one looked down at me, but Road Ripper held out a hand towards Sunstreaker, not changing his expression.

"Truce," he muttered.

"Truce," Sunny repeated. He said something to Road Ripper in some different language and the red 'bot's optics were wide with anger.

"You sick-o!" he shouted. He grabbed Sunstreaker by the shoulders and forced him on the ground. The two tumbled and rolled on the ground, nearly crushing me. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker tried to find some spot to put their hands in and separate them. Road Riper took a hit and whapped Sunstreaker on the side of his face with a loud clang and parts of the yellow 'bot's face came off. Sunstreaker rolled over so Road Ripper's back was to the dirt and pounded the red's chest constantly.

"Let's see what your spark looks like in my hand!" Sunstreaker yelled.

"Cut it out!" Road Ripper screeched. A sonic blast of sound came from his mouth and Sunstreaker stopped clawing to cover his ears. Road Ripper pushed the yellow Lamborghini off and ran across the yard. He didn't have enough parts of his chest enough to transform so he ran as fast as he could down the road.

"Coward!" Sunstreaker shouted. Wheeljack held him back from behind before he could take off after the Roadster.

"Cool it!" he said. "You did more damage on him than Road Ripper did you. You're done!"

"I ain't finished with him!"

"Yes, you are!" Sideswipe said, holding his brother's legs. "He only got your face; you took out his entire inside!"

"And I'm not done!"

I was weak at this point. Whatever I said, Sunny would never listen to me. Especially if it involved Road Ripper. I didn't want to think this, but those two were like two hungry, muscle guys fighting over a piece of meat. And I just called myself a piece of meat!

"Sunstreaker, it's done. Over!" Wheeljack continued.

"Let me at 'im!" Sunstreaker growled. He struggled to be released, but Sideswipe was what really held him down. As for me, I decided to take a walk. Those three wouldn't notice that I was gone, and I wanted to comfort Road Ripper. Luckily, I knew where he would go.

(-)

When I saw him, Road Ripper was throwing rocks over the edge towards the city. This was one of those spots that looked out to Tranquility (and also where those horny teens would make out a bit too much, if you know what I mean…). After a few more throws, he sat down so his legs were hanging over the edge.

"Hey, big guy," I said, poking myself out of hiding. Road Ripper turned his head around. He didn't smile, but he looked like he was sad.

"Hi, mama," he sighed. I walked over to his side and looked up at him. He switched his gaze out to the sky. It was getting to nighttime and the black clouds were so close to disappearing. A few points of stars were twinkling in the sky.

"Upset because of Sunny?" I said, not wanting to feel tension in the silence.

"A little," he said.

"What did he say to you?"

"Something you wouldn't want to hear."

"Try me."

He leaned over to whisper it into my ear. When he was done, I looked at him with a mad expression and a wide mouth.

"He did not!"

"I didn't say that!"

"I know! He called me a slut!"

"And called me a pimp," Road Ripper muttered.

"I am so glad you tore his face! I'm just sorry that he did more to you." I looked at his chest and saw some sparks flying everywhere. Inside was a pulsing blue ball, which I knew was his heart. He saw me looking and covered it with a tightened fist. I turned my eyes over to see his face. The appearance said "worried".

"That was a good kiss," I said. He chuckled for a bit and I saw his expression change fast. He seemed to be in deep thinking. It bugged me that we could be so silent for so long. "What'cha thinking about?"

"Nothin', really," he sighed. "I was thinking how bad Sunstreaker would hit me again if I tried to plant another kiss on you right now."

Whoa! Did he mean that?!

"You're letting some self-absorbed alien robot stop you from kissing me?" I scoffed. "You're weak, dude."

"He almost killed me!" Road Ripper screamed, nearly hurting my ears. "Sorry. I meant that since I've irritated him this far, it might be good to stop."

"Sunny wants to impress me by beating up my car," I mumbled. Road Ripper heard me and laughed again. "How great a friend, huh?" I sat on the ground next to him and leaned my head against his leg. He took one of his large hands and petted my hair.

"Doesn't get any better, does it?" he said. He moved his hand over to my side and pulled me in closer to his leg. Though he was made of metal, he was kind of comfortable. Like a big teddy bear.

"Ya mind if I sleep with you tonight?" I said. "I really don't feel like going back to the home of Charles Manson."

"I get it," he said. "Just let me get situated here." He moved his body around so he wouldn't hurt me and was lying on the ground. He held up his head with and arm and smiled at me. I couldn't help but give out a girlish giggle. He rolled over onto his back and let me climb on top of him. I laid down across his chest plate and heard the beating sound of his spark. To me, it was calming, but to others it would sound like taiko drumming. His right hand moved over and covered me, serving as a blanket. His hand was so warm that I probably didn't want to get up in the morning.

"Better?" he said.

"Much."

"Good. I don't want you to freeze to death."

"Then what about you? Are you fine where your are or…?"

"I'll be okay, don't worry."

I shrugged and accepted the assurance. If he said he was fine, I would believe it for now. I heard deep in his chest, the radio playing We're In Heaven (DJ Sammy Mix). God, I loved that song so much! I still couldn't take the fact that he knew everything about me, so I shouldn't be surprised whenever he does something like this. I rested my eyes and listened to the song, drifting off to sleep.

(-)

"Huh? What…?" I woke up on cold, black ground. Road Ripper wasn't around and the sky was as black as that witch from Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent. The sky had no stars, no clouds, just a full moon glowing purple. Weird that it was purple, but even stranger was that I had no idea where I was.

"Have you got…My patience…thin…"

A voice was heard from some other part of this area. His voice was deep, dark, and terrifying. I dared myself to walk towards the voice and heard one respond, which sounded all too familiar. Soundwave was standing in a dark room and a monitor showed a black face with bright red eyes.

"No, Lord Megatron. There have been complications due to the Autobots' appearance."

"Why have you not exterminated them, yet?"

"We have tried. I had ordered Thundercracker to capture the human, therefore we could seize the Autobots. But the girl fooled him and ran away."

The sinister looking 'bot smirked. "It's not hard to trick that grunt. Have you at least found out where the All Spark piece is?"

"Yes, Lord Megatron. But it now moves continuously. I sent Rumble to find it, but had failed. He said the All Spark was in front of him, but for some odd reason, he could not find it. In its place was someone or something else."

"Autobot or Decepticon?"

"Negative. It has no recognition frequency; it's completely from Earth."

"But the humans cannot recreate any Cybertronian technology! How can it possibly be…" He trailed off, trying to think. "No. It can't be!"

"Sir?"

"Soundwave, I want you, Thundercracker, and the Cassetteicons to capture that Earth-made Cybertronian. Do not question me, now go!"

(-)

This time, I really did wake up. And I was on Road Ripper's chest plate. His face was leaning over to the side and his mouth was half-open, a true sign that he was sleeping. His hand was still on my back and I tried to squirm away. It took me a long time to get free and I slid off of his body and into his left palm. I tiptoed away and walked a couple of meters away from where he lay so I could think about that dream. It must've been real; usually my dreams make no sense at all. (Like in the pool and suddenly Spongebob Squarepants shows up with the Loch Ness monster.) Megatron must've figured out how Road Ripper came to life. The only thing he could be planning was to take the Tesla Roadster apart until every bit of that All Spark piece was in his grasp. Maybe a few minutes after Ripper wakes up, I could tell him. But not now. I mean, wouldn't suck if someone went up to you and said "Good morning! Guess what? A four million year old warmonger is going to take you apart just so he could control the universe!" Yeah, that would suck.

xXx

Author's Note: *gasp* Suspense!