Author's NB:
Sorry for lack of update, I've been out of the region away from my computer.
On a more subdued note, my favourite English teacher died recently from a heart attack, sounds like it was caused by a DVT after a long haul flight.
So, Rest In Peace Mrs. C.
My prayers for her family, friends, colleagues and students past and present.
Its also gives one moment to pause and consider just how precious and fleeting life is, since my final year of secondary school in 1999 three of those teachers have passed, and all of them were under the age of 65.
ooOOOooo
Chapter Twenty Six
"So, Wendy, how long do you think its been since the bombs?"
Prowl asked, if only because he generalised that humans didn't like prolonged silences.
"Hah, why does it matter how long its been, you got a job interview you have to be at?"
She laughed.
"But I am already employed".
He obviously didn't get the joke. There was an awkward silence between them.
"I was just trying to make conversation".
The Autobot responded.
"Sorry".
The human replied.
"So… what's the deal with that hippy pulling the corvette?"
Prowl, or rather Josh, appeared surprised, a little taken back.
"Just trying to make conversation".
She grinned.
"Besides, does he really think it's worth something? Maybe sell the mag's on eBay?"
"I'm starting to realise you have a peculiar sense of humour, Wendy".
"Some people say its "dry".
She chuckled.
"You humans have some odd expressions".
Prowl realised what he had said and he realised just as quickly that he couldn't take it back.
"You said you were living on a farm, right, what sort of things did you grow there?"
He tried to avoid the previous comment's suspicions.
"Relax, Josh, I know you're an Autobot".
"What?"
"Come on, you really think I couldn't recognise an Autobot insignia when I see one? Sure there's the odd nut job who plasters that symbol all over their ride to grab attention, but I've never seen it on a police car, and I've never seen it decked out on the inside. Not to mention the hippy you apparently "just met" and the corvette he's pulling, they both have those same little red faces pressed into the metal. Which, I might add with bad grammar, is another thing, humans, we just tend to use sticker or painted versions, you guys actually brand it into the metal".
"You're very observant".
Prowl replied.
"Is it why you asked to come along with me, because we're Autobots?"
"Would it offend you to the point you think I was using you if I say yes?"
"No".
"Than yes".
She threw her head back and laughed.
"So, is your name really Josh?"
There was definitely an odd sense of humour in this human's personality structure, the Autobot contemplated.
"Prowl".
"What an appropriate name for a police car".
He wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic, and was about to ask her so when he suddenly lost control on the rugged landscape they traversed. She gave a small cry of shock before grabbing on with both hands to her seat beat, uttering a series of profanities as Prowl told her to keep calm and he was regaining his traction.
The Autobot did so and came to a juddering halt a metre away from a downed tree.
"Holy shit, Prowl! What the hell was that all about?"
"I lost traction on the road, which is only logical given the condition its in, subsequently, I'm surprised it hasn't happened more often given the circumstances".
"Prowl? Are you alright?"
Skids pulled up next to him, having slammed on the brakes momentarily as he had watched the officer lose grip.
"I am fine, Skids".
"Skids, that's a pretty Transformery name".
Wendy smiled at the Autobot.
"She knows, Skids, she figured it out from our insignias".
"Oh. Clever".
He transformed and walked back to the road.
"This isn't right, Prowl".
"You continue to remind me of that fact, Skids".
The officer drove over to where Skids stood.
"No, I mean, look".
He crouched down and pointed to the hole in the road.
"This hole wasn't created by the blasts or any damage from it, it was dug recently".
"A trap perhaps".
Prowl mused to himself as his CPU started to calculate the odds of both it being a trap and why it would be a trap.
"Well, its pretty obvious that eventually survivors are going to start banding together to attack other groups for things".
The human female added.
"Most probable. In which case, I strongly suggest we depart the premises immediately".
The most logical expressed.
"Exactly, we've had enough excitement for one day".
Again, with that strange humour.
"Humans are odd".
Prowl said, not caring if she took offence, she just laughed.
Watching from inside a well sealed Prowl she watched as Skids transformed down into his vehicle mode.
"What's it like?"
She asked.
"What's it like being human?"
The Autobot countered.
"I mean being a transformer? Being able to be a walking humanoid thing one minute and a car the next? Being human is all very well and good but to change your form so easily"
"I guess its determined on our own life experiences and opinions. I can't understand being human because I am not, just as you can't understand being a Transformer because you're not".
"Yeah, but just because you can't be something doesn't mean you can't understand it".
She noticed something off in the distance near a smouldering building, but she said nothing, as she wasn't sure if it was her imagination.
"Well, do you understand what its like to be male? It is my observation of human culture that males and females have difficulty understanding each other".
"Well, yes and no, but that's a different kettle of fish all together".
"What does a form of marine life and a kitchen appliance have to do with the understanding of a gender opposite your own?"
"It's a figure of speech, Prowl".
She noticed that something again. Still not sure what, and given the whole nuclear war situation, she decided whatever it was, it was of little concern, especially given it was so far from where they were.
"I don't know what it's like to be human, because I am not, but I would understand that it would be a difficult life to lead given your frailty. The recent events on your planet are testament to that. Being a Transformer is all I know, because I have been nothing else, and there is no logic in contemplating upon the purpose of being something I can never be".
"I suppose you're right".
She coughed slightly.
"Just trying to make conversation".
She giggled.
He chuckled in response.
"Ah… Prowl, I don't want to sound paranoid but I think there are some people following us".
"What makes you think that?"
He asked, increasing power to his damaged scanners in the hope the increase could pick up on any danger.
"Well, a few moments ago, off in that direction…"
She pointed.
"…I saw something, movement, behind that building, or whatever. I just shrugged it off as a trick of the light or a wisp of smoke, but then I noticed a shadow of what I'm pretty sure was a person running across in front of the light. And just now, I noticed a few more movements, it was too… intentional, I guess would be the word, to be anything other than someone".
"Skids, Wendy has expressed concern that there has been movement. Are your scanners picking anything up on an eastern heading?"
Prowl called over their radio.
"My scanners are still not operating at any decent efficiency, but I haven't noticed anything that would be out of the ordinary".
"Alright, but given the construct of that pot hole, I suggest we take extreme caution and remain close, we'll continue along our current heading".
Prowl didn't sound convinced that there was anything to be concerned about, but then he knew from experience that if one let their guard down, that's usually when problems arose. His CPU re-calculated the odds and scenarios with Wendy's added piece of imagination, well; he hoped it was an imagined movement.
Wendy kept her eyes locked on where she had seen the movement, wondering if it could be a good thing to run into more people, more humans. Prowl said something, and his voice brought her back from her considerations.
"Whah? Did you say something Prowl?"
"I was asking if you were comfortable, I can increase or decrease the internal temperature if you are not acclimatised to this particular level of warmth".
"Nah, its just fine, Prowl".
She turned back so her eyes were on the shambles of a road that lay ahead of them. Sighing, she realised she was actually bored. The entire planet, or at least North America was a smouldering pile of radioactive rubble.
Wendy was about to say something, she opened her mouth but instead of her words came the sound of a large explosion that tore through the road behind them. The Autobot officer lost control and zigzagged off the road.
ooOOooo
Author's NB: And am I the only one who's noticed Fanfiction has changed its formatting slightly? They tend to take a lot of the spacing out. It makes it look messy and cramped. T_T