Chapter 9: Irritatedness and Unexpected Arrivals
A week had passed since Megatron had been revived and Starscream had released me. The group of humans had been sent back to their world, as they had insisted that they couldn't stay when their world needed them. No one blamed them for wanting to return, though no one would've blamed them had they wanted to stay either. Miko was the only one who didn't seem to quite get that war was a horrible thing. She had annoyed all of our guests with her enthusiasm for battle.
On top of the stress I already experienced from day to day stuff, Ratchet had me in the medbay twice a day running tests and scans on me. He was extremely concerned over my predicament, as were everyone else. I was growing tired of the tests and the seemingly non-ending scans and it was starting to make me irritable. I kept the irritatedness hidden, though, as I didn't want to snap or anything at my Autobot friends. It appeared as though the change was going at a very slow pace right now, only my skeleton had any change in it and very few parts of it were Cybertronian so far. According to Ratchet's scans, my skeleton was a protoform from my wrist to half way up my forearm on my right arm, my knee was now Cybertronian on my left leg and my left shoulder was as well. There was no outer appearance of this change yet and we felt that it would be some time before it became visible to anything or anybody without scans. We still hadn't found the cause.
"Amelia, time for your check-up," Ratchet said as the large door to my quarters, which I had figured out were across from his own, opened.
I groaned and flopped my head down on my desk. I had been in the middle of writing. "Can't we just skip them for one day? I feel like a lab rat..."
Ratchet frowned, though I couldn't see it with my face on my paper. "You are not a lab rat," he said. "But we must keep tabs on this...transformation, so we know it is not harming you in any way."
"Meh, I don't care!" I said, my frustration with it all at an all time high. I even shook my fist angrily in the air.
"You should care!" Ratchet said in an aggravated tone. "This strange occurrence could end up killing you!"
"Fine! If that is supposed to happen, let it! I don't care at this point!" I said. I covered my head with my arms and hoped Ratchet would just go away. I was not in the mood for scans or tests.
"Amelia, what has gotten in to you?" Ratchet asked and I could hear the concern seeping through the angry tone.
"Nothing!" I said loudly, nearly growling.
"Don't give me that," Ratchet said. I heard him walking over to where I sat at my desk and tightened the cover I had over my head and closed my eyes, wishing he'd just let me be. "Amelia..." he said, his voice now sounding more exasperated and concerned than angry.
"Leave me alone," I said. I was vaguely aware of how pathetic my voice sounded with the whine that had made its way into my voice now.
"Amelia, I know you are scared, but I can't help you through this if you don't let me," Ratchet said, resting a large metal hand on my back. His hand was warm and the gesture was a little comforting. I sighed heavily.
"I'm sorry, Ratchet," I said, my eyes still closed. "I know you just want to help and make sure I don't die from whatever the heck is going on. It's just...hard. I'm sick of all the tests. I'm sick of not knowing. I'm sick of not being able to say for certain that everything will turn out right in the end. I've always run on faith that everything would work out, but this? This is just too much for me to handle. I hate having to admit this, but I am scared." I felt my body shudder.
"I know, Amelia," Ratchet said, his voice quiet and soothing.
"The whole fact that we don't know the cause isn't even the scariest part," I said. "I mean, even if I survive this, if we can't stop it and I do turn into a Cybertronian, I don't know the first thing about being one of you. I have vague ideas from fanfictions, but I don't have any idea on if any of that stuff is true. I've only ever been human. How am I suppose to live as something else? I'll just be more trouble than I'm worth."
"You will not be more trouble than you're worth," Ratchet said firmly. "If it comes to it, we will help you adjust. You are not alone in this Amelia."
"I know," I said, finally lifting my head up and looking over to him. "Thanks Doc Bot. I seem to already be having a hard time adjusting. Nothing's the same for me anymore, it's rough."
"I understand," Ratchet said. "Now are you going to allow me to give you your check-up this morning?"
I grimaced. "Can we please skip just one day? Or not even one day, just this one?" I pleaded with him.
"Amelia," he sighed. With one look at my pleading face though, he caved. "Just this one. I will still do tonight's though."
"Fair enough," I said, even as Ratchet surprisingly lifted my into his servo that had been resting on my back. It took me by surprise so I instinctively grabbed onto his thumb in slight fear, but quickly calmed down as he brought me close to his chassis. I sighed and leaned back against him, feeling the thrum of his spark as he walked out of my quarters.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"The children are here and Miko has been demanding you come help them with a song," Ratchet said. "She said she found a song by someone named Fireflight she believes you will like."
"Fireflight isn't a person, it's a group," I said. "I've heard some of their songs."
"I would prefer if you don't strain yourself," Ratchet said. "We do not yet know everything about what is going on with you."
"Will we ever?" I asked before sighing. "Don't worry Ratchet. I'm a little reckless at times, but I know my limits. I won't over exert myself."
"Good," Ratchet said.
Ratchet carried me out to the main portion of the base where he deposited me on the ground with the three kids.
"Amelia! What took you so long?" Miko asked. "We've been waiting for hours."
"It's only ten," I said. "I was writing."
"Really? Writing what?" Raf asked.
"Stuff," I said vaguely, smirking at the expression Miko made.
"One of these days you're gonna tell us what you spend so much writing about," Miko said.
"Sure I will," I said in a tone that said I clearly believed otherwise. "Now what's this song I hear you think I will love?"
The song turned out to be one of my favorite songs by the artist Ratchet had mentioned. Miko had us practicing it, because she wanted a new song to show Bulkhead when the bots returned from a mission they were apparently all on right now. Apparently they had picked up some Autobot signals somewhere in California and went to check it out. Part of me was expecting another weird occurrence, but part of me was hoping for some form of normalcy.
We practiced for several hours before Miko was satisfied with our performance. After that the three kids played one of several games I had brought with me when I had gone home for my stuff. I just watched them, leaning against the side of the couch as I sipped on a cup of hot chocolate I had made. They were playing Super Smash Bros. Melee and I rooted for all three of them, which amused Jack and frustrated Miko.
"Just choose a side already!" she said.
"But I don't want to choose a side," I said. "Whoo! Go Raf! Button mashing is not very effective, Miko."
"Oh shut up," Miko said, causing me to chuckle.
It was about an hour later when I heard the ground bridge activate and the Bots return. I turned my head to greet them only to become confused. With them were two new Autobots. One of them was red with black shoulder pieces. His optics were war hardened and I could tell just by looking at him he was a warrior. The second one was silver with some red accents and his optics were covered with a blue visor. I could recognize the first from the game War for Cybertron, but the second I only placed due to the visor.
"Whoa, who's the new guys?" Miko asked, enthusiastic as always.
"This is Ironhide and Jazz, two of my oldest friends," Optimus introduced. "These are the human children who are working with us."
"So these are humans, that's cool," Jazz, the silver one, said, his face becoming very close to mine.
"Ok, dude back up," I said. "Get in Miko's face, she'll love it." I moved Miko in front of me and then walked over to where Jack and Raf stood. It came as no surprise to me when Miko and Jazz started talking about music.
"Amelia," Optimus said and I walked over near where he stood with Ironhide. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm good," I shrugged. "Really, stop worrying so much. I can get through this. You have enough to worry about."
"What's wrong with you? You look fine to me," Ironhide said, poking at my side.
I gently pushed his finger away, trying not to giggle. "Please don't do that, I'm ticklish," I said. "And I think Ratchet's the better one to answer that question, he can probably explain it better."
"There is no real explanation," Ratchet said, walking over with a datapad in his hand. "But she is going through a change. Becoming one of us. Unless we can find a way to stop it."
"That's crazy," Jazz said, walking over, Miko on his shoulder.
"All this talk is great and all, but we got a new song I want to show off!" Miko said.
I rolled my eyes. "Leave it to you to want to show off a song before actually getting to know someone," I said, causing Miko to just grin.
"I think this calls for a party anyway," Bulkhead said. "We got more fire power against the Cons and more friends."
"Party? Amelia should be resting," Ratchet argued. "I do not want her to over exert herself."
"Oh come on, Ratchet," I said. "I'll be fine, I promise."
It took a little more convincing to Ratchet for him to allow us to have said party and we had to promise that we'd only do the one song. I thought Ratchet was being a little over bearing, but there was not much I could do about it. Miko had us do the song first thing, while all the Bots were around.
I always thought I had it figured out
No need for the benefit of the doubt
I could never look beyond what I could see
I was in control and it was all about me
I'm so sick and tired
Of this selfish life... I want more
Reach up, reach out
This house is burning down
These walls we've built are caving in
Reach up, don't give up
We're standing on the ashes
With a clearer view and a new perspective
I can feel the hardness breaking up inside
Shattered by the tears falling from their eyes
I just want to push beyond the boundaries
Surrendering all control 'cause it's not about me
They're so sick and tired
Of our selfish lives... they need more
Reach up (we know they need us)
Reach out (and they're all around us)
This house is burning down
These walls we've built are caving in
Reach up (it's a new beginning)
Don't give up (with the love we're giving)
We're standing on the ashes
With a clearer view and a new perspective
We need to open up our eyes
See it written on their faces?
We are running out of time
Is there no one who will save them?
I'm reaching out
Reach up (we know they need us)
Reach out (and they're all around us)
This house is burning down
These walls we've built are caving in
Reach up (it's a new beginning)
Don't give up (with the love we're giving)
We're standing on the ashes
With a clearer view and a new perspective
The Bots all seemed to like the song, though it was hard to tell if Optimus liked it or not, but he rarely showed emotion so yeah. The rest of the party we spent just hanging out, though Optimus left to go on patrol shortly after we had done the song. Apparently Primes just didn't party. It was fine with me, though I did occasionally become concerned over the boss bot. Ironhide assured me that he would be fine though.
"Optimus has been gone a long time," I observed several hours of story-telling and game playing later.
"Prime's just don't do party," Arcee said.
"Optimus will be fine," Ironhide said, seeing my worried expression.
"I know he will," I said, glancing at the large, red bot. "I am just a worry wart. I'm a worry wart to a fault. I'm not afraid to admit it. I know I worry when I don't need to and for no reason at all."
"You know, somehow I get the feeling there's more to that than you will tell us," Miko said, walking by behind me as she looked through a magazine.
"Oh shut up, Miko," I said. I flinched when I felt sudden pain in my head and rubbed my forehead with my fingers. "Ow, headache. I think I'm gonna go rest." I yawned. "I'm tired."
"Don't let the bed bugs bite!" Miko sing-songed as I walked off.
"Yeah, yeah, night everybody," I replied before disappearing down the enormous hallway.
As I walked I couldn't stop my mind from wondering to thinking of the reason why I was such a worry wart. I knew what it was, there was no denying to myself what it was. Ever since I first made a friend I had felt that same thing. I had gained friends and I had lost friends. I had lost family and gained family. Now I was torn from my old family and had made new friends and family here. I was so tired of losing and I hated the thought of being alone again as I once was. The truth of the matter was as simple an answer as I could find in the big mess I had found myself in.
I was afraid of losing my friends, even one of them.
