Chapter 10

SAW's memory banks drew a complete blank as he thought up something to tell Mikaela. In his periph, he saw Thundercracker tense and go on the defensive. He quickly put a hand on Thundercracker's hologrammed chest to settle him down. "Err....." he began lamely, berating himself to think up something--anything--better to explain himself with. It was then that he also realized that both he and Thundercracker's hologram were standing right beneath an obviously misplaced F-15E Strike Eagle. Yet something else to explain.

Primus damn it all.

"...Sam?" Mikaela's voice brought him out of his panicked thoughts. "...Sam, are you alright?" She stared at Thundercracker. "...He isnt bothering you, is he? I'll go get the others if he is--"

"No!" SAW replied a little too quickly. "Um...he's a friend," he finally said. "...He's my friend." Mikaela's gaze turned to the jet behind them, and a look of realization hit her.

"Oh," she said, nodding. "You're an Autobot, arent you?" SAW mentally winced when Thundercracker's true form cranked loudly.

"No, I am not," his hologram replied. "Far from it, actually."

"TC!" SAW hissed, glaring at him. "...Mikaela....this is Thundercracker.....he used to be a Decepticon...and Starscream's brother."

Mikaela's eyes widened. "You mean...?" she replied, pointing at him. "...Wait, I recognize you...! You're one of the ones who kidnapped Sam a few years ago! You're one of them!"

"Mikaela, please!" SAW pleaded, stepping between them. "Please, he's not here to hurt anyone! He's here to help me!"

"Sam, come on!" Mikaela said, holding out her hand, glaring at Thundercracker. "...We'll go get the others right now! You dont have to cover for him!"

"Mikaela, I'm not covering for anyone!" SAW shot back. "I'm being serious--!" He cut off, mentally screaming with frustration, when he saw the other holograms come out. "Son of a--!"

"Sam!" Bumblebee ran up, his bright blue eyes glaring at Thundercracker. "Get away from him, Thundercracker!" Just the sound of Thundercracker's name brought the unmistakable sound of transforming from the hideout, and just seconds later, Ironhide came barreling out, cannons at the ready, with Sunstreaker in tow.

Thundercracker immediately went on the defensive, his hologram vanishing and his jet form shifting into his true form. SAW couldnt handle anymore of this. He dispelled his hologram, transformed, and ran out after Sunstreaker, actually throwing out a sharp projective into Sunstreaker's leg to make him trip.

"STOP IT!!!" he screamed in Cybertronian. He winced when Ironhide took a shot at Thundercracker, who dodged just in time, but was singed on the shoulder nonetheless. "Ironhide, I said stop!" He instinctively whipped out his arm, shooting another projectile at Ironhide's cannons, which jammed them and prevented anymore shooting. SAW turned to Thundercracker, about to beg him to stay calm for just a little longer, but instead, Thundercracker gave him an almost sad look, transformed, and shot into the sky.

All was dead silent for the longest time. Finally, Optimus' hologram dispelled, and his true form came walking out of the base, his eyes pinned to SAW. The other Autobots shifted out of his way while SAW stood there, trying to process what the hell just happened. He came to a stop in front of SAW, staring down at him.

"...I think you need to start talking," he said, his voice thick with parental anger. SAW looked around at everyone, then looked back up at Optimus.

....Primus help him.

By the time SAW had finished explaining himself, he was aware of several things.

One, his projectile had cut a vital hydraulic in Sunstreaker's leg, and now Sunny needed at least three new parts to be functional again.

Two, it would take Ironhide about a week for his cannon to be functional again.

Three, Nathan was obviously not prepared for the sight of giant robots, and Mikaela had dragged him back to her house in a somewhat comatose state.

And four...SAW was sure he never wanted to see Optimus this angry ever again.

It actually took Perceptor to calm the Autobot leader down while Optimus grilled out a long and quite loud tirade at SAW, who was near tears the entire time, and feeling like a child again. Finally, after about two hours of explaining and shouting and angry looks from nearly everyone, SAW quickly excused himself to his room while Optimus was mid-sentence and locked the door shut.

If it wasnt for the fact that he didnt breathe, he was sure he'd be hyperventilating at this point; the intense pulsing of his spark wasnt a bad substitute, though. He ignored the loud knocking on his door and instead slumped down to the floor, his face in his knees. He felt so tired; so weak right now. He didint want anymore of this. It was too much.

Like many times before, he found himself wondering why. Why had the Allspark chosen him? Why was it putting him through all this hell? Why was his life quickly going down the drain instead of improving all the time?

SAW felt the sudden and almost irrepressible urge to get out. To leave the Autobot base and run somewhere. He just needed to leave. On impulse, he looked behind him to make sure the door was still locked, and quickly bolted for the emergency exit in the back of his room. It was actually a tight squeeze for him, but he managed to make it out the side of the mountain and scoot alongside it before mentally scanning the schematics of a new vehicle and transforming, zooming away as a black and silver 2009 Aston Martin DB9.

Just a few miles down the road, something stood on the side of a smaller mountain, their coloring blending into it almost perfectly, as they surveyed the transformation and travel of the Aston Martin. Their lime-green optics clicked once, getting a good view point.

"Bludgeon, reporting in," he said in a low, growling sound. "I have the Breeder in my sights."

"Excellent," came an evil, higher-pitched sound. "Follow, and detain."

"Yes, Lord Starscream."

Just moments later, a very out-of-place Buffalo H MPV came tearing down the road, in a head-on course to the Aston Martin.

It's a little short, but I'll have more very soon! And I'm aware that Brawl was an HPV in the first movie; I just think it's a cool vehicle...