Hello folks, I gotta say, a little over two weeks to finish one chapter? Not good.
Trials, Tribulations, and Transformations
X - Revelations
Autobot Outpost Omega One - Jasper, Nevada - April 23rd, 2011, Saturday, 10:00 pm
"KATIE?!"
"Oh. Hey Vince."
When Vince saw Kaitlyn Steinfeld reach the top of the stairs leading to the human rest area, he stood up suddenly from the couch, startling Rafael who was next to him.
Jackson Darby was was with her and upon seeing Vince, he attempted to back away slowly.
"Darby?! Why is Katie here?!" Vince almost shouted.
Jack did not move any further. No point in putting it off, might as well be frank.
"To put it simply Vinny, wrong place, wrong time," Jack said, grinning sheepishly.
Vince looked like he was about to spit fire. His fists clenched, his face twisted and turning red with anger, and his teeth gnashing so hard that they came close to cracking.
Vince breathed in slowly through his nose.
Count to four. One. Two. Three. Four. Exhale.
Vince released that same breath, and then slumped back on the couch.
"MECH?" he asked.
"MECH," Jack confirmed.
Jeez!
"Who were they after? You? Or Sierra?"
"Probably me and my mom, I doubt that Sierra's a priority target and even she were, how could they have known that she was at my house just minutes after being bridged there?" Jack said.
"And yet they found you anyway. How?!" Vince shouted.
"I don't know! They know where I live but-"
"They know where you live?! For how long?! Why weren't you relocated?!" Vince roared disbelievingly.
Jack was stammering his words now. "Well, I-"
"What's going on here?!"
Both boys turned to see June Darby standing below them on the floor level, looking up at them both with a most unimpressed look.
"Isn't there enough conflict around here?!" June shouted with her hands on her hips.
"Hi mom," Jack said nervously.
June turned towards her son. "Isn't there someone you should be talking to Jack?"
"Huh?"
"You know who I mean?" June asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jack paused for a moment, deep in thought, as he was trying to remember something he had forgotten.
And then it hit him. Jack's eyes grew huge and he immediately ran down the stairs and into a certain hallway.
Vince watched him go with bewilderment.
What was that about?
Vince heard someone clear their throat, from behind him. He turned and with a start saw that it was Nurse Darby.
Vince felt his heart skip a beat when he saw how angry she looked.
"We're going to be here a while Vince," Nurse Darby said sternly. "I'd appreciate that you try to get along with everyone here, especially my son."
June then looked Vince dead in the eye with such intensity that the boy did not dare move or speak.
And she said in a dangerous tone, "And don't think that it has gone unnoticed that you tried to rush my son when you first arrived here. Optimus already gave you a warning, so I'll just leave it at this: if you ever so much as hurt a hair on my son or any of his friends, no one, not even Optimus, will be able to save you from me."
Vince did not move or speak.
"Have I made myself clear?" June asked.
"Yes ma'am," Vince answered almost in a whimper.
"Good."
June then descended down the stairs and strode back towards the medical wing of the base.
As soon as Vince was sure that Nurse Darby was gone, he sank to the floor in a daze. He tried to catch his breath, just realizing that he had been holding it.
Vince then turned to look at Rafael who was sitting at the couch, looking stricken by what he just witnessed.
Katie who had taken a seat next to him looked as equally startled..
"I never thought Jack's mom could be so scary," Katie said.
Raf nodded in agreement.
Grimacing to himself, Vince stood back up. As soon as he did, he yawned.
Rafael took notice and he himself realized how exhausted he was as well.
"I guess we could all use some sleep right now," he said.
"Where are we going to sleep?" Katie asked. "Surely not on these couches? There's only two."
"You needn't worry."
The three children turned towards to see Ratchet with his back to them, typing at the base's main console.
"It's already been arranged. Your living quarters, your washrooms, everything," Ratchet said listlessly.
"Living quarters?" Vince said.
"Correct, you may retire anytime you wish."
"Retire?" Vince asked.
"It means to withdraw to or from a particular place, like when going to bed," Katie said.
"I knew that," Vince said irately.
"You'll also have access to a fully-stocked kitchen, courtesy of Agent Fowler and Dr. Sumdac," Ratchet said. "It has not been used for some time so it required some remodeling. It should all be complete before the new week is out. But your sleeping areas are already prepared."
"Since when did this base have a kitchen Ratchet?" Raf asked.
"It was built along with the silo so it's been here before your government allowed us to use it," Ratchet answered matter-of-factly.
"Why haven't we known about it until now?"
Ratchet said nothing at first. He just continued typing. To anyone else, it would appear that he was simply working. But to those who knew him, it looked as if he didn't have an answer for the question or rather not one that was pleasant to hear.
"Because...well..." Ratchet said but he trailed off as he couldn't go on.
"You didn't want us to be too comfortable or overstay our welcome, right?" Katie asked.
Ratchet stopped typing with a start.
Raf looked over at Ratchet with a sad look. "Is that true Ratchet?"
Ratchet said nothing. His head was down and he still did not resume typing. "Only at first Rafael," he said remorsefully. "The human living quarters served no purpose for us Autobots. We did not anticipate that humans would stay here for a prolonged period of time. And then you three came along Raf. There was no need for you to know about the additional rooms in this base because there wasn't any point. But now after everything that has happened, in order to guarantee your safety and well-being, we had to make them open for you. I did not expect to...well...become attached to any human. I...did not want you to become too comfortable here nor I to become too comfortable of your company in the event that...we'd have to part ways."
Rafael was crestfallen. He hadn't considered it. In the event that the Autobots' protection were no longer needed or if, however unlikely, the war came to an end within their lifetime, the Autobots might not have any reason to stay on Earth.
He might have to say goodbye to Bumblebee.
"I understand," Raf said sadly, getting off the couch and heading down the stairs.
"Raf..." Ratchet said, trying to reach out to him.
"It's ok Ratchet, I get it," Raf said. "Being in a war for so long, you must've suffered so much loss. I can't imagine what that's like. And you don't want to get too attached to us since we don't live as long as you."
"Rafael..." Ratchet said sadly.
"I should go to bed. If you could tell me where the sleeping area is Ratchet? Please?" Raf asked. He was trying very hard to hide the hurt in his voice. He was failing, miserably.
Ratchet closed his optics and sighed. "I'll print out an updated schematic of the base for you. I'll highlight where your quarters will be, as well as the washroom and kitchen."
"Thanks Ratchet," Raf said.
Meanwhile...
In United States airspace, just above Nebraska, there was a private jet, which was on route for the McCarren International Airport in Paradise, Nevada.
Its passengers consisted of only three people, including the pilot.
In the passenger cab, in the front row seating to the left side was a short, portly man of Indian descent. He wore a simple business suit, bore a full mustache and jet-black hair that was styled in a tall-spiked fashion that might've been suiting of a mad scientist. His most defining feature was the streak of white hair that seamed to form an 'S' on his crown.
Next to him was a young lady of twelve, also of Indian descent, but instead of jet-black hair, it was a dark crimson as it was dyed. She wore a simple orange jumper dress with a white long sleeve t-shirt and matching orange converse sneakers. She also sported long pigtails and bangs parted from the left with two orange and white hair clips holding them in place. She had dark brown eyes, same as her father.
And she was bouncing in her seat with a huge grin on her face.
"Sari, please settle down."
"Sorry dad, I'm just so excited. I haven't been on a trip since...well...when mom..."
Sari Sumdac stopped bouncing in her seat and looked down at the floor in a dead silence.
Her father, saddened to see his daughter in such a way, reached over to put an arm around her in a comforting hug.
"I know daughter, it has been too long since..." Dr. Sumdac said sadly and then he sighed. "I miss her too Sari, terribly."
Sari sighed deeply and then, almost as soon as it was gone, her smile was back.
"She'd want to keep on living as joyfully as possible. When do we arrive? Are there gonna other kids?" Sari asked vibrantly.
Dr. Sumdac smiled.
Always looking on the bright side, just like Rebecca.
"Yes Sari, my associate has told me that there would other children there. He didn't give me specifics but he told me you'd like them."
Sari squealed with joy. "Yay! I get to have new friends!"
Dr. Sumdac chuckled at her daughter's vibrant energy.
"Will Captain Fanzone be following us wherever we go?" Sari asked.
"Only for the duration of the trip," Dr. Sumdac answered.
"But what if we have to separate?"
"Then you'll either remain at the safehouse or at the base where my work will take place," Dr. Sumdac said. "Which would you prefer?"
"The base, definitely the base!"
"I thought as much," Dr. Sumdac laughed. "I think I'll be spending most of my time there anyway, I'll be quite busy."
Sari gave a mischievous smile. "Don't I know it?"
Both Dr. Sumdac and his daughter laughed together.
Then the jet's intercom sounded off, indicating the pilot had an announcement to make.
"Dr. Sumdac, we are bound to arrive at McCarren International Airport in roughly 30 minutes."
The doctor pressed a switch on his arm rest, activating the speaker function. "Thank you Captain Fanzone. Would you like me to take over for you?"
"No thanks Doc, you just rest up. I've got this. It may have been seven years since I flew a plane, but I still got it."
"That you do Captain, that you do."
The intercom sounded off, indicating the end of the conversation.
"Your work must be really important to need a police captain who happens to be a retired Marine and a licensed pilot," Sari said curiously. "Even more important if you're bringing me along dad."
As discerning as her mother as well.
Dr. Sumdac sighed. "Yes Sari, my work is very important. I cannot go into specifics but what I can say that it is important enough that I have Captain Fanzone with us, who was gracious enough to accept my offer, and free of charge no less. Of course, I wouldn't allow him to unless he accepted some form of payment from me. After some negotiating, he relented."
"Captain Fanzone wanting to do a protection job for free?" Sari said with a raised eyebrow.
"I wasn't surprised that Captain Fanzone would accept but to not accept any pay for it, at first anyway...well...I'm not sure what to say."
"I'm no cheapskate but I usually never do a job for so little, unless it's a noble cause."
Captain Fanzone's voice sounded out through the jet's intercom, startling both Dr. Sumdac and his daughter. Nervously, Dr. Sumdac spoke up. "Captain Fanzone?"
"Loud and clear Doc. Word of advice, if you and your kid are having a private convo, you should stop pressing the jet's intercom."
Dr. Sumdac looked down to see that he was indeed still pressing the switch. Embarrassed, he immediately released the button.
Sari giggled. "Maybe you should consider taking a break from working in the lab overnight."
Dr. Sumdac smiled. "We'll see Sari, we'll see."
Autobot Outpost Omega One - Jasper, Nevada - 10:15 pm
It seems so quiet now. Ironically, even with the new additions here.
Miko had retired to the base's open room which the bots use for lobbying or training so that she could be alone to sort out her thoughts.
"Miko!"
Miko looked up from the railing upon the elevated steel mezzanine where she stood. She saw Jackson Darby climbing up the ladder to the platform at a brisk pace.
"What's up?" Miko said.
Jack has just reached her before he continued.
"Want to have that talk now?" he asked, out of breath.
"Ummmm...sure."
Jack took a deep breath.
Miko raised an eyebrow. "You have been running?"
"Yeah," Jack panted. "I was looking for you. I couldn't find Bulkhead to ask where you were. Which reminds me, where did he go all of a sudden?"
"He and Bumblebee went out on an important mission. At least that was what Bulk said."
"Oh yeah?" Jack said. "What is the mission?"
"I think Bulk said that he was going to try and get a hold of Wheeljack," Miko said.
Jack nodded in understanding. "Because of the Autobots' lack of extra help? Especially since we got more humans here."
"I guess so."
"Why didn't he try to call Wheeljack from the main computer?" Jack asked.
"That's what I asked him before he left. He said that the call from the main computer could be picked up by Soundwave like the last time when Wheeljack first came here. It's how he was caught in the first place and how the 'Cons managed to get that cheap knockoff in here."
That's right. The bots would have to make the call through a secure line and in a way that Soundwave won't be able to eavesdrop on.
"The bots have a plan to send the call out without the 'Cons listening in?" Jack asked.
"Bulkhead said that they planned a way to do it and he says it will work," Miko said with confidence. "I think we'll be fine."
"I hope you're right."
Miko smiled. "Now...about that talk?"
"Oh, right right right right. Ok, first off, I'm so, so sorry for not answering your call the night before. My phone was charging in another room and I was already asleep."
Miko shook her head with a smile. "Jack, it's ok."
"If I'd known-"
"You would've done everything you could," Miko said. "You always do."
"That's not always the case," Jack said sullenly.
"Maybe."
The two said nothing. They just stood over the railing, looking over it but staring at nothing, both deep in thought.
"Some day huh?" Miko asked.
"You can say that again," Jack said with grim humor.
Miko grinned. "Some day huh?"
Jack gave her a look but smiled while doing it.
Miko giggled.
"Of course you'd make jokes at a time like this," Jack said equally amused.
"Seems like the best time."
And they laughed together. Good and long. It felt good. It was a welcome relief after everything that happened in the past 48 hours.
As the laughter subsided, Miko wiped her eyes as they were wet from tears.
"That was nice," Jack said. He was drying his eyes as well.
"Yeah," Miko agreed.
Then the same awkward silence occurred. Neither of them spoke, trying to avoid looking at each other.
"Miko?" Jack said, not looking in her direction.
"Hmm?"
"Were you at freshman homecoming by any chance?" he asked.
Miko could've sworn her heart stopped.
To be continued...
Boy oh boy. Can't believe it took me more than a week to finish this chapter. I hope ya'll enjoyed it. Tell your friends, especially those who adore TFP and what it should've been.
Love ya'll.