It felt wonderful to be free. Spike knew the city like the back of his hand and headed straight for his dad's place. There was no point returning to his old apartment. His place had probably been cleaned out already. He slowed down and cruised up his dad's street. It was strange to see it again after all of the madness. Everything looked the same, and he felt weak for a moment. He wished that nothing in his life had changed.
Spike pulled over to the side of the road two houses down from his dad's place. He stopped behind a neighbor's car under the oak trees that lined the quiet street. The sky was overcast with bulging, grey cumulus clouds rolling in off the ocean. The leaves rustled above him and a wind chime tinkled somewhere in the distance. A wet leaf fell from the tree above and stuck to his windshield.
Spike paid no attention to the leaf. He was focused on more important things. He could see his dad's house, but was not sure what to do next. He felt the rhythmic thudding of his fuel pump as he remembered what Prime had told him. How was he going to introduce himself? His father believed he was dead. Spike shrunk over his wheels. He might have to face the grim reality that he was alone. He waited by the curb, frozen with doubt.
One of the neighbor kids was riding his bike back and forth across the street. Spike watched him as he pondered his next move. He knew he could not transform in front of all the neighbors, go up to the door and knock. The unwanted attention would be embarrassing.
Bored with weaving back and forth, the kid stood up on his bike, then peddled quickly down the street past Spike, seeing how fast he could go. As Spike tried mentally rehearsing what he might say, a new doubt crept into his mind. What if he had fled from the Autobots and driven all that way, only to miss meeting his dad? No, he must be home. It's Saturday morning. Over and over, Spike confronted the idea that he was going to have to talk to his dad as a car. He would feel foolish, but it was the only way he could avoid attracting everyone else's attention.
"Yeah, that's what I'll do," he suddenly spoke aloud, forgetting himself.
"Whoa!" The sudden exclamation came from behind Spike. It was the kid on the bike, cycling back up the street. "A talking car!"
The kid dropped his bike and ran up to Spike's driver's side window. He pressed his hands against the glass and looked inside for someone. Seeing the car empty he stepped back, leaving handprints on the window. "Are you KITT?"
Surprised, Spike laughed nervously. "No, Billy. I'm-"
What was he saying? Spike suddenly realized. Stupid, don't tell him who you are! "Never mind. I didn't say anything." He did it again. Spike felt stupid. He shut himself up, concerned that he had foolishly blown his cover.
"You are KITT!" Billy breathed in awe, and ran off to go get his friends.
Great! Just keep yourself quiet and they'll go away.
A few minutes later, a small group of kids ran as fast as their little feet could carry them up to Spike. Out of breath, Billy pointed at Spike and shouted.
"Here he is! It's KITT, the car!"
One of the older boys was skeptical. "That's not KITT. KITT's a Trans Am. This is just a Honda Civic. It's not even cool."
"It is KITT," Billy tried to convince the older boy. "He talked to me. He even knew my name."
The older boy laughed. "You're imagining things. KITT has a red light on the front. This one doesn't. It just has this funny looking thing." He pointed to the Autobot symbol. "C'mon guys. Let's go."
Billy was frustrated. He tried to plead with his friends but they ignored him and walked away.
"Where's Knight Rider, Billy?" one of the other kids taunted him.
Billy picked up his bike and ran off after the others.
"His name isn't Knight Rider. It's Michael Knight," Billy corrected his friends. "Guys, wait up!"
Phew! That was close. Spike glanced at his dad's front room window. The curtains were stirring. His dad must have gone to the window while he was preoccupied with the neighborhood kids. A minute later the garage door began to rise and he saw the illuminated red tail lights of his dad's truck.
Sparkplug slowly backed out of his driveway. He saw the kids on the road and paused to check over his shoulder that none of them were playing or loitering around in his path. Regrettably, this was his new daily regime: going to the cemetery to visit his son's grave. It seemed that this was the only important activity in his life. He looked over at the framed picture of Spike that lay on the seat beside him and wiped a tear from his eye. Sighing, he shifted from reverse into drive. Every day was so difficult.
The white reverse lights turned off and the truck slowly drove forward down the road and away from Spike. Spike had not expected his dad to leave in a vehicle. He had figured that his dad would come outside to do some yard work and he would get to talk to him that way. Not sure what else to do, he pulled away from the curb and began following his dad.
Where's he going? There were a lot of possibilities, all leading to busy public areas where it would be difficult to talk. He could just wait for him to come back home, but Spike really needed to see his dad.
Sparkplug was definitely not heading out to one of the usual stores and he was not headed across the city. Spike was perplexed. His dad's route took them toward the river, into a quiet area of town. As his dad's truck slowed and pulled off to the side, Spike suddenly realized where his dad was taking him. The Willamette Cemetery. So, it's true. Spike was shocked. He stopped at the side of the road. I can't believe it. How can this be? I'm right here! His dad got out, crossed the street and entered the cemetery.
This is all wrong! He was not dead, just somewhere... different. Why did his dad not believe it? Spike wondered desperately. Dad knows that the Autobots have this kind of technology. Nothing was making any sense. Desperate to set things straight, Spike transformed and cautiously approached the cemetery. A thick hedge surrounded it, making for a private setting for those within its perimeter. In robot mode, Spike could see over the hedge.
Sparkplug walked next to the row of plaques near the adjacent hedge at the far edge of the cemetery. He stopped at a humble grave freshly decorated with flowers. He knelt down facing away from Spike and was silent for several minutes. Then, he produced something from inside his jacket and placed it on the grave. When he stood up and stepped back, Spike saw that the item his dad had placed on the plaque was a picture of him.
Spike was touched by his dad's show of love and would have shed a tear if he was able. He was choked for words. He had assumed that his dad had forgotten him because he was a robot, but the opposite was true. Dad still does care. Spike could not restrain himself any longer.
"Dad…?" he called hesitantly.
Sparkplug turned around upon hearing the voice.
"Dad! It's me, Spike."
Sparkplug scanned the cemetery, but no one was there.
"Over here, Dad," Spike waved his arms in the air.
Sparkplug squinted, not sure who was calling him. "Who did you say you were?" He did not recognize the Autobot standing on the other side of the hedge.
"Spike," he responded simply. "I realize you, uh, don't recognize me." This was not how Spike had hoped to start the conversation.
Sparkplug shook his head and laughed mirthlessly. "No. I don't know who you are."
"But -," Spike tried to explain.
Sparkplug wiped his eyes with his arm. "This is sick. I heard about this from Prime," he stopped suddenly, unable to continue.
Spike tried to interject. "Dad! Wheeljack saved me. You have to believe-"
"No, don't say anymore," Sparkplug forced out the words. He paused a moment to collect himself. "You Autobots should have protected him! You can tell Prime that I think it's sick. Sick that after Spike died, he used my son's car to build another Autobot." He shook his head, a tear running down his cheek. "I just don't understand it."
"But-" Spike fumbled before he was cut off again.
"Do you know where my son is?!" Sparkplug demanded emphatically through his grief.
Spike was afraid to respond.
"Here!" Sparkplug angrily pointed at the grave. "He's here! And that's what I have to come to terms with!" He wept with his whole body, unable to contain himself. "I had to bury my own kid. That's not supposed to happen."
Spike's frame sank. He hated to see his dad suffering like this. With downcast optics, Spike realized that there was nothing he could say to convince his dad to believe him.
"I miss you, son," Sparkplug said through tear-filled eyes as he looked skyward. There was a moment of silence.
"I'm right here, Dad. I hear you," Spike protested feebly.
Sparkplug looked at the robot suspiciously. "I specifically told Prime that I wanted to be left alone." You are looking over that hedge into my private life." He wiped the tears away. "I want a son, not a robot. It's easier to deal with death."
Spike froze as he listened to his father. It was the worst thing he imagined his dad could say. He hurt so deeply that he felt numb. Spike stared off into the distance along the street for a while. There was nothing left of his old life, nothing at all. After all the hell he had been through trying to come to terms with what happened to him, re-learning how to function, being so mistrusted and then finally humiliated, he hoped that the one person left who would accept him would be his own father. But his dad had all of his ideas lined up and there was no way through them.
He looked back at his dad and a raindrop splattered on his hood, followed by another, and then another. His dad had shrunken down over the grave, holding his head with both hands and weeping with grief.
With closed eyes, Sparkplug shook his head slowly. "Spike, I just need more time."
Sparkplug's words left Spike reeling with confusion. He stepped back from the hedge as the rain started to fall regularly.
A metallic growl behind him caused Spike to jump. He spun around to see Ravage slinking toward him.
Spike's fuel pump surged, the old fear of Ravage instantly returning. How long had the cat been there watching him? He froze on the spot, paralyzed by fear.
"So, Spike, is it?" a punk voice asked him. It was Rumble. The blue Decepticon landed on the street with his war-mongering pal, Frenzy.
Spike was speechless. How had the Decepticons found him? He looked up and saw the familiar shape of Laserbeak circling above.
"Yeah, I remember the last time we met." Frenzy laughed crazily then mocked. "You didn't like playing with Ravage."
The cat hissed at Spike with malice.
Optics wide, Spike stared at Ravage and his memory finally flashed back to life. He recalled reaching for his car door, and then something grabbed him by the leg. He saw the cat's face in his mind's eye, just as he was staring at it in the present moment. All of the confusion and pain abruptly made sense.
"Hey!" Rumble yelled. "Megatron wants to talk to you."
Frenzy was eager to draw his weapon. "What's it gonna be? Are you comin' with us or are you gonna fight?"
Spike realized he had to think fast. His dad was still in the cemetery, and obviously heard the Decepticons talking to him. There was fear in his eyes as he regarded Spike over the hedge.
Spike blinked slowly in the rain. He had no weapons. His dad was in danger. And, he realized, he was an Autobot. If that's what the Decepticons wanted, then that was what they were going to get.
He hollered over the hedge. "Dad, run!"
Sparkplug was no stranger to the Decepticons, and took Spike's advice, fleeing in the opposite direction through the cemetery and into the wooded area behind it.
The Decepticons turned in Sparkplug's direction, wondering for a moment if they should give chase. But Spike wanted their full, undivided attention. "You want me?! You're going to have to catch me first!"
Spike transformed and spun his wheels for a moment on the wet blacktop before gaining purchase and speeding away. Ravage bounded after him, then stopped and looked back at the other two who were still standing there. The rain bounced off the three Decepticons. Spike was already far down the road, vanishing from sight.
Frenzy relished the moment. He flexed his arms and clenched his fists, optics flashing red. "So, he wants to fight."
"Let's get 'im!" Rumble ordered and the three took to the sky.
Rain pelted him as Spike flew down the streets, making left and right turns, hoping to evade the Decepticons. The wet streets reduced his traction and he fishtailed around corners. Luckily, it was Saturday and there were not many people on the road yet.
After several miles, Spike scanned behind him but detected nothing. Thinking he had lost them, Spike came to a stop. But then he heard Frenzy's voice from above.
"Down there!"
The Decepticons were almost on top of him. Panicked, Spike realized he had to find a place to hide. But where? He needed to find somewhere sheltered so the Decepticons could not see him from the air. A parkade! Spike knew where he had to go. He squealed his tires as he took off again, wildly making every turn.
The chase took him through the streets between the low rise buildings leading toward the city center. Spike shifted down through the narrower streets and turned right to avoid having to stop at a red light. Turning the corner, the light ahead of him changed from amber to red. He had no time to wait for it. Spike checked the cross traffic and sped through the intersection on the red. Pedestrians turned and pointed at him.
He sped up through the next two green lights, making a hard left at the second one as he changed his mind at the last moment. A sign in the block ahead advertised all day parking in an above ground parkade. It would have to do. Tires screeched as Spike swerved past a car. He gunned it through a red light toward the parkade entrance. He braked hard and his back end spun around so that he faced the driveway. I made it! He pulled forward, but was gripped by fear when the ticket machine blocked his way.
"I can't take a ticket!" he said to himself, both annoyed and scared. What am I going to do? There was no time to turn around and look elsewhere. This is it! I have to do it! Spike readied himself, then lurched forward one car length, breaking through the arm of the ticket machine. He stopped and looked down at the broken arm behind him, feeling bad about wrecking it, but knowing he had to get in.
"Rumble to Megatron," Rumble's voice was somewhere down the street. "We've got him downtown."
It was quiet while Rumble waited for Megatron's response.
Megatron and his Decepticon interception party soared above the city, looking for an appropriate area to meet the newcomer.
"Good Rumble. Have you learned any more about where he comes from?"
Rumble hesitated. "Uh, yeah. You're not gonna believe this, but it's that human kid that hangs out with the Autobots. He must not have made it."
Megatron narrowed his optics, realizing that he had been fooled by Reflector's faulty intelligence. He frowned as the idea of a portal back to Cybertron vanished. No matter. Megatron would have him, anyway.
Starscream overheard Rumble's report and could not resist taking a jab at Megatron. He kicked in his thrusters and lined up his sleek jet form parallel to the Decepticon leader.
"I told you that you were chasing that boy's car. But you wouldn't listen," the air commander derided the Decepticon leader.
Soundwave and Thundercracker quietly ignored Starcream's insubordination.
"Silence, Starscream!" Megatron scowled, tempted to aim his particle beam cannon over at the air commander and blow him out of the sky. He resisted, showing the other watching Decepticons his absolute control in the situation. "I came here for a Decepticon recruit, and that is what I will have!"
"You'll be lucky if you get that," Starscream said contemptuously as he fell back in behind Megatron and out of easy range of his arm cannon.
Megatron ignored his least favorite Decepticon and redirected his attention to Rumble. "Rumble, drive him into the industrial yards to the east. He will face me there."
"Got it, Megatron," Rumble acknowledged, and commanded his fellow Decepticons. "Split up and look for 'im."
Spike had to move quickly. The energon was pumping through his fuel lines. He tried to compose himself and casually wound his way up the levels of the parkade so as not to attract attention, looking for a place to park and blend in.
On the third level, he found his spot. Spike backed himself in, just in case he needed to make a fast getaway. All he could do was wait and hope that they would not find him.
He looked around. Through the openings in the outer concrete wall, the rain poured down outside. The other cars were dry since they had parked before the downpour started. Spike realized that he was the only wet car. Between that, and the large red Autobot symbol displayed on his hood, he realized with horror that he was a dead giveaway. Maybe this wasn't such a hot idea.
Ravage stopped on the street in front of the parkade, glowering at the broken ticket machine arm. He growled excitedly, seeing the wet tire tracks leading into the parkade. The cat bounded up the driveway into the first level. Seeing the metallic creature entering his parkade, the parking attendant from the payment booth dropped the pieces of the broken ticket machine arm and fled next door.
Spike heard Ravage's metallic growl echo on one of the levels below him. Ravage wasted no time checking the vehicles for an Autobot symbol. There were four levels to the parkade and no way out but past Ravage. Now it was just a game of cat and mouse and Ravage was, of course, the cat. He was on guard for the slightest movement out of the ordinary as he slinked up to the third level.
Ravage was close enough now that Spike could hear his feet clinking against the concrete. The cat was confident, not trying to hide the sound of his footsteps. Trapped, the oil in his hydraulic lines felt like sludge. The low headroom prevented him from transforming. Spike supposed it did not matter, though, since he was weaponless. Although… not defenseless, he recalled.
Spike's systems buzzed with heightened activity as he anxiously watched Ravage's head appear around the concrete wall. He was sure the cat could see him, but Ravage looked away in the other direction as he cautiously moved forward. He's going to see me any second! Even though he knew what to do, panic overwhelmed Spike.
Ravage eased forward, body tensed and ready to strike. He turned to his left, as he completed his scan of the cars on his right. Spike wondered if his reflexes would be fast enough. He would have to time it perfectly, just as Ravage turned to look at him. Sure enough, Ravage's head began to slowly turn back in his direction. Now!
Spike activated his Solar Lux Lamps. There was a nearly imperceptible pause before the third level of the parkade lit up like daylight. The blinding light caught Ravage full in the optics.
Spike peeled out of the parking spot. He turned hard to his right, knocking Ravage into a parked car as he sped away first down to the second level, then first level, and finally through the parkade exit arm and into the street. Next door, the parking attendant recognized the car that had broken the first arm, but there was nothing he was going to do about it. That creature was still in the parkade.
Although blinded, Ravage's other sensors and equipment still functioned. He alerted Rumble and Frenzy of Spike's escape from the parkade. The other two Decepticons halted their search in the streets nearby and took back to the air, looking for the fleeing black vehicle. They swept over the buildings, observing the casual human traffic below. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
"Where did he go?" Rumble asked Frenzy, puzzled.
Something darting across the bridge nearby caught Frenzy's attention. "There!"
"This is gonna be easy. He's practically walking right up to Megatron," Rumble realized. "We're gonna look like heroes."
As Spike fled over the bridge to the east side of the city, Rumble informed Megatron of Spike's whereabouts. The fateful rendezvous would occur shortly.
In a mall parking lot on the east side, Optimus Prime had gathered his Autobots together.
"I don't understand it," Bumblebee said, "we can't find him anywhere."
"Perhaps it's time to pay Sparkplug a visit," Optimus Prime said solemnly. He had hoped that he would not have to intrude upon Sparkplug in his grief.
But then, Hound's radar alerted him. "Prime! I'm picking up Decepticons in the area. Several of them."
"What are Decepticons doing out here?" Bumblebee asked.
"The same thing we're doing here, Bumblebee," Prime surmised. "They must be looking for Spike."
"We have no time to lose. Autobots, we must find Spike quickly or risk losing him." Prime called Prowl, Wheeljack and Mirage. "The Decepticons are here and they are after Spike," he informed them. "Meet up with us." Then Optimus Prime directed his attention to his scout. "Hound, lead the way to the Decepticons. Autobots, roll out."
Without a plan, and with Rumble and Frenzy still after him, Spike sped east along a road through an industrial district. He did not know where he was going to go. As it turned out, running away from Autobot Headquarters only landed him in a worse predicament than if he had stayed. He could see now why Prime wanted him to stay close to the base.
But why are the Decepticons pursuing me? Autobots left the base alone all the time and never had to contend with what he was facing. They must know what happened to me. He remembered how Megatron had tried to sway his loyalties in his brief time as Autobot X. That reason made the most sense of all. And that meant that they would try to recruit him again.
Spike's tires slipped as he made a left turn at a steel yard. He sped down the street, but it ended abruptly with a warehouse on one side and an empty lot on the other. A dead end. He realized that he had taken a wrong turn.
Before he could back up, Spike detected six Decepticons approaching rapidly from the air. It was over. Spike transformed and waited. He should have been frightened as Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, Thundercracker and the two cassettes, Rumble and Frenzy, dropped down out of the sky around him. There was nothing he could do but accept his fate.
The huge Decepticon leader strolled confidently up to him. Spike cast his optics down at the ground, but Megatron grabbed his faceplate and forced him to look in his optics. "Greetings, Autobot Spike." Megatron smirked. "We meet again."
Soundwave and Thundercracker laughed. Hearing their boss's strange metallic laugh, Rumble and Frenzy also joined in. Starscream was not impressed.
Spike closed his optics.
Megatron let go of him and put his hands on his hip plates. "I see we have helped you attain a higher form of being." He tipped his chin up and grinned down at Spike through narrowed optics. "I think you know why I'm here."
Spike remained silent.
Megatron turned and faced him. "You know you have a choice. But there is only one decision you can make that will let you leave here alive."
Starscream crossed his arms and rolled his optics skyward. It was always a chore to endure Megatron's theatrics.
The Decepticon leader glanced through the rain at his warriors on either side of Spike.
"Heh, heh. Answer Megatron, if you know what's good for you," Thundercracker advised.
Spike was at a loss for words. He was not the same Autobot Spike that Megatron was seeking. That one had disappeared years ago. He was just the same old Spike, complete with all the same imperfections as his human self. His old life might be gone, but it did not mean that the Decepticons were his only option. He did not feel enmity toward the Autobots. They had saved him in the only way that they knew how. Like his dad, he just needed more time to sort out everything.
Megatron awaited his response.
Spike could not give in to the same dark forces that had destroyed his humanity and threatened the Earth. His decision was made, and he had to accept whatever consequences it brought him.
Spike rehearsed the word mentally before softly saying it aloud to Megatron. "No."
Megatron showed no noticeable response. Instead, he simply glared at the Autobot below him. "Your loss." The Decepticon leader heaved Spike into Starscream, who caught him and held his arms so that he could not move.
A low growl of approaching engines caught the attention of the other Decepticons. They turned in time to see Optimus Prime, flanked by many of his Autobots, transform from their vehicle forms. The Autobots sprang toward the Decepticons with weapons drawn.
Megatron signaled Starscream to show them the captive. Starscream spun Spike around into full view.
"Autobots! Hold your fire!" Optimus Prime commanded with his arm extended to one side.
"Stay back, Optimus Prime!" Megatron ordered as he aimed his arm cannon. "Or I'll blow your precious Spike to pieces!"
"You wouldn't," Prime tried calling his bluff.
"Oh, I would, Prime," Megatron assured him. "Let me give you a little demonstration."
Spike lowered his head, expecting the worst. Rain ran in rivulets down his features.
Prime was shocked by Megatron's cruelty. "Let him go. Shoot at me, if you have to. This is between us."
Megatron was undeterred. The last thing he was going to do was let Spike go and have Prime increase his numbers. He trained his particle beam cannon on Spike. Spike felt Starscream flinch behind him as the air commander realized that Megatron did not care if his shot went straight through Spike's body and into Starscream. He imagined Megatron's brilliant cannon fire in his mind's optic and was reminded of the ability that Wheeljack gave him. He looked up at Megatron and smiled strangely.
"I will enjoy this," Megatron narrowed his optics. A glow emerged in Megatron's cannon as it charged to fire.
"He's done for," Hound said quietly to those nearby.
"Not so sure 'bout that," Ironhide said, noticing a change in Spike's body language. He turned and glanced at Wheeljack.
Also realizing what was about to happen, Wheeljack yelled at the other Autobots at the last possible moment, "Guys! Cover your optics!"
Spike's black visor slid into place, protecting his optics not a second before the disabling brilliance from his Solar Lux Lamps struck Megatron. The Decepticon leader was invisible for a moment as the light engulfed him.
"Good work, Spike," Wheeljack commended him quietly from a distance when he saw the glow around his arm.
After a moment, Spike turned the lights off and the visor retracted.
Megatron growled as he pressed his palms into his optics. "What have you done to my optics!" He aimed his arm cannon back at where he thought Spike was standing and fired. The shot struck Thundercracker, who was still stunned by his overloaded optic sensors, knocking the Seeker off his feet.
"You just hit Thundercracker!" Rumble exclaimed in disbelief. He and Frenzy still had their sight since they were much shorter and had been behind Starscream.
Starscream held Spike tightly, even as his optics quickly recovered to a level at which he could minimally function. He laughed heartily at Megatron and pushed Spike forward. Spike caught his footing and turned back toward Starscream.
"Autobot," Starscream laughed. "You have my gratitude - temporarily." The air commander transformed and thrust himself into the air. "Decepticons, follow the sound of my engines."
Rumble and Frenzy feebly tried to help Thundercracker to stand, but Soundwave stopped them.
"Rumble, Frenzy, return." Soundwave waited while his minions transformed and returned in cassette form to his open chest compartment. The communicator's optics were not functioning properly but his auditory senses were perfect.
"Soundwave!" Megatron called blindly. "Take me back to Decepticon Headquarters!"
Following the sound of Megatron's transformation, Soundwave caught his leader in gun mode and carried him off into the sky after Starscream. Thundercracker transformed and followed the others.
The Autobots cheered as they watched the Decepticon retreat.
Optimus Prime went over to Spike and knelt down on one knee so that he could be at the same level as Spike. "I had no idea Wheeljack gave you such a powerful weapon."
"It's not really a weapon, Prime," Spike explained, laughing with relief. "It's a defensive tactic," Spike said, copying Wheeljack's manner of explanation, complete with a finger raised for emphasis.
Everyone laughed at Spike's joke. The others circled around.
Spike became serious and looked up at Optimus Prime. "I'm sorry I ran away like that." He looked away, thinking of his dad. "There was something I needed to do."
Bumblebee relaxed and looked up at Ironhide, who only grinned. Relieved to see Spike was okay, Bumblebee addressed his friend. "So Spike, are you ready to come back?"
Spike looked down. "Yeah." He did not sound enthusiastic.
"Spike," Prime stated to him. "I'm sorry for any difficulty that you've suffered. You are our friend and are always welcome to stay with us."
"Yeah, I know." Spike looked up at Prime, his thoughts elsewhere. "I'm okay. Let's just go."
Prime stood up and surveyed the other Autobots. The tall figure before him gave Spike a sense of stability that reminded him of the dad he missed. He would be okay, Spike told himself.
"In that case, we're going home," Prime said in a soothing tone. "Autobots! Transform and roll out!"
Spike stood there, as he had so many times in the past, and watched the other Autobots transform into their vehicle modes. He looked at Bumblebee and imagined himself climbing in through the open door, eager to go back to Autobot Headquarters.
"What's the matter, Spike?" Bumblebee asked.
Spike scratched the back of his head. "Oh, nothing."
Now one of them, Spike transformed and the convoy slowly made its way back to the base.
