Chapter Fourteen: I Scream, You Scream

Mila sat in her room, bored as bored could be. It was hot out – nearly ninety degrees – and everyone was holed up in their rooms or offices. So that left her with nearly nothing to do.

'Maybe someone will be out of their room,' Mila thought as she stood up from her bed.

She made her way into the hallway, grimacing at the heat that assaulted her. Didn't the blasted ship have air conditioning? Or any way to regulate temperature? Apparently not, Mila realized.

Mila made her way to the main room only to find it empty save for one mech. Hot Rod, Mila recalled his name to be. She hadn't talked to him in a while, maybe he'd be willing to keep her company? It was worth a shot, Mila decided.

She walked over to Hot Rod, who didn't notice her approach. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Mila cleared her throat. "Uh, hi," she greeted.

Hot Rod looked nothing short of stupefied, yet that shock soon morphed into a friendly smile. "Hi Mila, how are you?"

"Hot." was her flat reply.

Hot Rod laughed. "You and me both! Although it's a new thing – usually the ship has temperature control."

"Then why isn't it on?"

Hot Rod shrugged. "Beats me. I think Perceptor might know, though."

Mila frowned, "Who?"

"You've never met Perceptor?" Hot Rod gawped. Mila shook her head 'no'. "Then let's go meet him... and ask what's up with the temperature!"

"Alright," Mila agreed as she stepped into Hot Rod's offered hand.

Hot Rod walked through a few hallways and passed a multitude of doors until he found the right one. It was the same as all the other doors – salmon – and had no words to give a hint as to what lay behind it. Hot Rod didn't see the 'Do Not Disturb' sign, though, so he figured it was safe to go in.

He pressed the access panel and the door slid open with an audible whoosh. The first thing Mila saw was all the scientific equipment. Beakers, test tubes, chemicals, circuitry, the works. And in the middle of it all was a red microscope.

"Hey Perceptor," Hot Rod greeted. Mila looked around, yet she saw no one.

Then the microscope shifted into an Autobot. "Hello, Hot Rod." Mila noted that Perceptor's voice had a regal quality to it.

"It's been brought to my attention that you haven't met Mila!" Hot Rod then displayed the girl in his hand for Perceptor to see.

Mila was slightly annoyed by Hot Rod's antics and more than a little embarrassed. She didn't need to worry though, because Perceptor seemed positively enthralled by her.

"Fascinating," he mumbled. "I have never met a human female other than Carly. Tell me, why do you look different than her?"

Mila was confused by the question. "Um... because she's older than me."

"Fascinating," Perceptor repeated.

"Uh, yeah," Hot Rod shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like Mila being treated as a science experiment. "I also wanted to know why the temperature control isn't on."

Perceptor looked at him like he was an idiot. "It's broken. I am attempting repairs now."

Hot Rod nodded. "Then we should let you get back to work, right Mila?"

"Uh... yeah."

Hot Rod waved, bouncing out of the room. Once the door was closed Mila looked up at him. "What just happened in there?" she frowned, hopelessly lost.

Hot Rod chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Perceptor confuses everybody. But not me, of course," he added hastily. Mila raised an eyebrow but didn't comment on the narcissistic comment.

Silence was threatening to overcome them, so Mila broke it with, "...It's still hot..."

"I could take you to get something cold, if you'd like," he offered.

Mila considered the offer. It was hot, and she hadn't had ice cream in who knows how long. "If it isn't too much trouble," she finally decided.

Hot Rod grinned. "Not at all!" he put her down and transformed, opening his passenger side door. Mila climbed in and the door closed behind her. Hot Rod gunned his engine and asked, "Where to?"

"Have you ever been to Carvel?"

People stared in awe as the pristine sports car pulled to a stop outside a Carvel ice cream shop. Mila exited Hot Rod's vehicle form, uncomfortable with all the stares she immediately got.

Hot Rod transformed, causing the people who had gotten too close to scramble back. "Make sure you don't get anything messy," he warned.

Mila nodded – she had kind of figured – and entered the store. She managed to block out most of the stares she was getting and ignore the whispers of gossip. She walked up to the counter, looking at the teenager on duty.

"What can I get for you?" he asked with a smile. His name tag read 'Sam'.

"Um..." Mila read the list of products. "A small cup of vanilla ice cream with sprinkles, please."

Sam nodded, getting her order. He placed it on the counter and typed it into the cash register. "Five forty, please."

Mila reached into her pocket and pulled out a five dollar bill, then the change. She was thankful that Ms. Green had always taught her to carry money, as she had forgotten to get some before they left.

"Thank you and have a nice day," Sam said as he took the money.

Mila picked up her ice cream and exited the store. Hot Rod was back in his alternate mode, and he opened his passenger door when he saw her coming. Mila got a few jealous glares as she climbed in, but she didn't let them bother her too much.

As they drove back, Mila ate the ice cream. When she finished the small cup, she had a startling revelation.

She wasn't anorexic anymore.

If she was, she wouldn't have even dreamt of eating something like ice cream. She was really changing for the better.

When Hot Rod and Mila got back to base, they were relieved to find that Perceptor had fixed the temperature control. Mila got out of Hot Rod's alternate form and he transformed.

"Ah," Hot Rod sighed contentedly.

Mila tossed out her trash in a human trash can, one of the many that Sparkplug had placed throughout the Ark.

"Where have you two been?" a voice demanded.

The two turned to see a very incensed Prowl. His arms were crossed and he had a disapproving look on his face.

"Um... we went for some ice cream," Mila answered.

Prowl's anger seemed to melt away. "Just tell someone next time, alright?"

Mila and Hot Rod nodded. Prowl turned and walked away, leaving Mila and Hot Rod to hang out together.

Prowl knew that Mila was on the right track, and that's why he didn't get mad. He was going to make sure Mila stayed on that track, no matter what.