School started.
I'll try to update once a week or so.
Being homeschooled helps, but I still have a lot to do...
Enjoy!
"Prime?"
"Bumblebee. Is the girl safe?"
"Yes. She's eating ice-cream with Sam and Mikaela. Simmons stormed out and drove off."
"Ironhide saw him leave a few minutes ago. Good. I have some bad news, though."
"The Decepticons returned, haven't they?"
"Starscream returned to Earth about a day ago. I can't pinpoint his location, but there are others who are beginning to reveal themselves, and none so far are on our side."
"What are they after?"
"I'm not sure yet, though I believe the girl has something to do with it."
"I'll keep a close eye on her, then."
"Be careful, Bumblebee. The Decepticons are in hiding, just like us, and they could be anywhere."
"Understood."
Chapter Fourteen
"Did you have a nice day?" Mrs. Witwicky asked, passing Katrina the salad bowl.
"Yes, thank you," Katrina said, though she didn't meet the woman's eyes. The girl shot Sam a glance, but as he didn't mention Simmons, she took his cue and stayed silent.
"Mikaela came over and we went out for ice cream," Sam said, polishing off his second hamburger.
"That was sweet of you, Sam." Mrs. Witwicky smiled at her son, then turned to their guest. "Is your phone still working, Katrina?"
Nodding, Katrina speared a piece of tomato with her fork. "It's fine, thank you." She popped the tomato into her mouth, hoping to prevent more questions if she ate.
"Well, I'm off. The boys and I planned a poker game tonight at Jim's." Mr. Witwicky left before his wife could protest. Instead she shook her head and started collecting his dishes to put in the sink.
"I rented a movie today; thought you two might like to watch it with us, well, me," she amended, frowning toward the front door, which had just closed behind her husband.
"What movie?" Sam asked, looking up from his plate.
"The Return of the Pink Panther."
The teen groaned. "I'm going to my room."
"I'll watch it with you," Katrina offered.
"Thank you, Katrina. It's a detective comedy. I'm sure you'll love it."
The girl smiled, ignoring the vibrating phone in her pocket. Something was up, and her friend knew what was going on, at least part of it. She'd get the whole story out of Morse, and soon. Standing to help with the dishes, Katrina ignored the message Morse was sending again and again.
Danger. Danger. Danger.
***
Katrina flopped on her bed, exhausted. The movie had been hilarious, and there was still popcorn scattered across the floor. Mrs. Witwicky had sent her off to bed, insisting the mess could be cleaned up in the morning.
"The dog'll eat it before then," she muttered, rolling onto her stomach. The girl dug the phone out of her pocket and dropped it on the blanket in front of her. "Talk, Morse," she hissed. "What's going on?"
The spider scuttled back and forth, tapping with its front legs. Danger. Danger. Danger.
"Yes, danger, I get it! What danger? Why? Morse, you have to tell me what's going on." Katrina slammed a fist on her pillow, trying hard to keep her voice low. "What's going on?"
No tell.
"Tell me, Morse. Please." Katrina bit her lip. "Does it have something to do with the talking car last night?"
No tell, no tell. No allow.
"Who doesn't allow? Is it Simmons? Morse, who?"
The spider folded up into the cellphone. When she flipped it open, the screen was blank. Katrina flipped it closed and tossed it onto the dresser, then buried her face in her folded arms.
What am I going to do? Why won't Morse tell me anything? What was Simmons doing here? He said the government would leave me alone. What did he mean? Am I in danger?
Countless questions swirling in her brain, and the few answers she had only led the way to more questions.
"I want them to just leave me alone." Katrina sniffled. "It's not fair."
Morse rang, and the girl's head shot up. It wasn't his normal code ring, but the real ring of a telephone. Katrina snatched him up, staring at the lit screen. The caller ID was blank, so she hit the TALK button.
"H-hello?" she whispered.
"Good, the phone still works like it's supposed to."
Katrina dropped the phone like it was a hot coal. Simmons, again.
"Katrina? Are you still there?" The man's voice sounded loud in the relative quiet of her room, she picked up the phone, covering the ear piece with one hand.
"What do you want?"
"Merely checking to see if you're all right. Have you changed your mind yet?"
"I'm not going back to the government, ever!" Katrina snapped the phone shut and almost threw it across the room before she remembered it was Morse. It rang again, but she shoved him under the pillow. The ringing stopped, then the spider came scurrying out.
Stupid man. No like.
"Me, neither." Katrina yawned. "Night, Morse."
Night. There was a long pause, then, just as the girl was about to fall asleep, the spider tapped one last message.
Car want talk.
Katrina snapped awake. "What?" she gasped. "What are you talking about?"
Car live.
Remembering the events of the night before, Katrina groaned. "Oh, no. I really overdid it, Morse, didn't I?"
No. Dead. Now live.
"Huh?" Katrina shook her head, confused. "What do you mean? Cars can't be dead, then alive."
No car. Want talk. Go.
Katrina bit her lip. "Are you sure that's a good idea? It might be dangerous."
You safe.
"What do you mean?"
Go. The spider tucked its legs under itself and settled down, as if falling asleep.
"Morse?" Katrina poked the spider, without any response. "Morse? All right, sleep if you want, but you're coming with me. I'm not going to talk to a car by myself."
Three minutes later, she sneaked out the front door, closing it quietly. Thank goodness the hinges don't squeak, she thought, slipping across the lawn. She'd forgotten shoes, and the stone path was cold on her bare feet.
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea," she muttered. Sam's Camaro was parked right next to the sports car, she she had to use the front passenger's door. Katrina got in, closed the door, then gave Morse a shake.
"Now what?" she hissed.
The spider's eyes blinked open, then shut again. Talk, it beeped.
The radio made a crackling noise, and Katrina flinched.
"H-hello?" she asked, her voice wavering. "You can talk, right? You wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes." The voice was quiet but unmistakable. "Thank you for bringing me back, however you did it."
"You're welcome... Bringing you back? What do you mean? Were you...alive?"
"I have a question."
That's why Morse brought me out here? Katrina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Just one?"
"Three, actually. Who are you? Where are my comrades? Where is Megatron?" The last question was practically shouted, and Katrina covered her ears, grimacing.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I mean, I'm Katrina, but I don't-"
"My communication is down. I can barely speak to you. It took most of my strength to transmit to that little creature you're holding."
"Morse? Why were you...transmitting to him?"
"Never mind. Do you know what date it is?"
Katrina thought, then shrugged. Unsure whether the car could see her, she said, "I don't pay attention to the calendar much. It's summer."
"Do you know a Samuel James Witwicky?"
"Uh, I know a Sam Witwicky. This is his house."
The car gave an irritated shake. "How long have I been gone? I feel like every joint's rusted."
"Gone?" Katrina gritted her teeth. "Where did you go? Who areyou? Who's Megatron?"
"That's not important. Can you fix my communication signal?"
"I-I don't know. I..." Katrina was tired, and she was getting a headache. "Look, I'll come out to talk to you tomorrow night. I'm too tired right now."
"But-"
"What's your name?"
The car was silent for a moment, and Katrina shook her head. "Good night. I'll try to come out tomorrow." She got out and ran for the house.
Slumping onto her bed, Katrina set down Morse and closed her eyes. Now she had even more questions.
"Morse, who is Megatron?"
Car tell name.
"What?"
Car-
"No, I heard you the first time." Katrina yawned and rolled over, tucking her hands beneath her head. "That's nice. What is it?"
Jazz.
"Jazz?" Katrina blinked. "Okay. Thanks for telling me. Night, Morse. Don't wake me up unless there's a fire."
Okay. The spider curled up next to the girl and slept.