Chapter 27

"Your dad lives here?"

Sideswipe was rather unimpressed. It was a small town in the middle of nowhere. For a big city kind of car, he didn't enjoy it. Maria, however, smiled as they drove past the little wooden and brick houses. She nodded lightly, pointing at some of the buildings and commenting about them. Eventually Sideswipe stopped just outside of town to discuss with Maria about their next stop.

"Actually, my dad lives a mile or so out of town. He didn't like talking to people unless it was completely necessary," Maria explained.

"Great," groaned Sideswipe. "Can I at least transform and stretch before we arrive?"

"At the halfway point, buddy, promise," nodded Maria, starting up the engines again.

"Okay," sighed Sideswipe, taking off down the dusty road.

It didn't take as long as Sideswipe expected. Shortly, they saw the small two story house. It looked like something out of a movie. White paint, red roof and door. It could use a descent dust job though, thought Sideswipe. There was a small garage attached to the side, but the lock snapped onto it seemed rather odd.

"Just stay put, got it," ordered Maria, leaving the vehicle.

"Be careful!" called Sideswipe.

"It's my dad we're talking about," smirked Maria, marching up to the door and knocking.

The door opened slowly after a series of clicks and snaps. An elderly man peered out. Seeing Maria, he threw open the door and embraced her in a tight hug. Maria smiled, glancing at Sideswipe. The old man released her, showing his fleeting hair line, big rimmed glasses and overalls. Maria blushed lightly, smiling none the less.

"My little, Maria!" he hummed. "Come in, come in!"

"Thanks, dad."

Maria entered the house like entering an old memory. It smelled of test tubes and science, with a hint of mystery and decay. The walls were worn, littered with paintings, posters, and photographs. There were signs of fires stained across some of the walls, but Maria knew better than to ask of ruined experiments. She followed her father into the study. It was a small room, larger in length than width, with a large desk, covered in old papers, in the middle. Maria found the spot she often sat in as a kid, finding her favorite fiddle item as well, an old microscope from her father's work.

"I was shocked to hear from you after all this time, Mary," mumbled her father, looking over the photographs along his office wall.

"I was little too, believe me. I just had something really important that I needed to talk to you about," nodded Maria, setting the microscope down.

"Oh? Oh! By the way, how's work? And have you heard from your friends this year? Tony and what's her name…"

"It's Toni and Ian, dad. Actually, yeah, I have heard from them. More than I care for actually. That's the reason I need to talk to you, dad. It's about those old gems you found. You know when I was little."

Maria watched her father stop a moment, staring at one photos on the wall. He sighed, regaining his smile and turning to face Maria. He took a seat in the large office chair, leaning back and holding onto the microscope himself.

"You know I brought this back from that expedition. It's a good little microscope, isn't it?" he hummed.

"Dad, about the gems. I need to know exactly where you found them," Maria sighed.

"Found them? Hmm…do I remember that? I remember twenty-three. That's what I remember. Twenty-three miles."

"Dad, I'm serious!"

"I know, I know. You and your friends need this information and such," he waved off, handing her the microscope. "Hold this."

"Dad…"

"Hold it. I'll handle the door. You go to the garage…" he offered, standing up.

"No one's at the-"

Suddenly the doorbell rang followed by a hard knock. Maria looked at her dad, completely bewildered. He had lost his smile and looked at her sternly. He held a finger to his lips, glancing at the door. There was another knock and ring.

"I think your friend is here, Maria. You shouldn't be here when I let him in," he whispered.

"How did you…" mumbled Maria.

"I know more than you think. Now take the microscope and get to the garage. Priority one, got it."

Maria slipped past her dad and he headed for the front door. The garage door was stained with black handprints and opened into a dark and rather damp room. A car took over most of the room. Setting the microscope on the roof, Maria dug for her phone from her pocket. After a moment of debate, Maria pressed speed dial three.

"Maria!"

"Sideswipe, chill…" Maria ordered quickly.

"Where are you? The house is surrounded by Cons!"

"The Decepticons are here…Ian must've had the same idea we did…"

"Decepticons? Here?"

Maria stopped, nearly dropping her phone. Turning around, she found the car on and the microscope pointed at her. She whimpered slightly, backing against the wall. She could still here Sideswipe howling over the phone.

"We didn't mean to startle you. We are Autobots, if that makes any difference," offered the Microscope.

"Oh, please. Why can't I just live a normal life with normal cars and planes and things," pleaded Maria, sitting on the floor.

"I am an Autobot scientist, Perceptor. This is my partner, an inventor by the name of Wheeljack," the microscope explained.

"Right…right. Wait…why are you here and not with the other Autobots?" questioned Maria.

"We're here to protect Arthur," answered the car.

"My dad…" Maria sighed.

"He knew the location of the gems," sighed Perceptor.

"Knew?"

"Anyhow, we don't have time for stories! Wheeljack, we have a priority one! Open the tunnels!"

"Tunnels!" gasped Maria.

The two machines began to click and shift in a way Maria was growing familiar with. Eventually two Autobots sat crouched before her, one red and one white. The white car tapped a button on the wall that was disguised under black sooty prints. Maria yelped, as the floor beneath here began to slide downward. The wall opposite the large, locked garage door opened up into a deep tunnel. Lights activated slowly, revealing the true length of the tunnel. Maria gulped, nearly slipping down the slope into the tunnels. Perceptor caught her, placing her on his shoulder.

"These tunnels lead back into town. They open up halfway if you want to make another call?" he offered.

"I need to call my partner, Sideswipe. Do you know Sideswipe?" Maria asked.

"He's a fine soldier, last we heard. We haven't heard much after we were assigned to Arthur," answered Perceptor.

"He's going to be so pissed," Maria sighed.

"Best get going…" offered Wheeljack, taking the lead into the tunnels.

The garage shook, and gunfire howled outside. Maria could just make out the sound of tires squealing and a man shouting in retaliation. She heard Ian's voice as well. She glanced back at the garage door as Perceptor slowly slunk into the tunnels after Wheeljack. A thought occurred, and she quickly turned to Perceptor.

"What about my dad? We're not leaving him are we? Are we!" gasped Maria.

"Priority one," whispered Perceptor. "That's all that matters right now."

"And what exactly is priority one?" snapped Maria.

"Protect at all cost Maria Hillcrest," answered Perceptor, glancing at Maria.

Maria offered a puzzled look to which Perceptor didn't argue. As they continued down the tunnel, Maria couldn't help but look back. The wall had closed behind them, preventing anyone from following them. Including her dad.