Arrival

June 5th, 2007

South Gate, CA

Mikaela Shooter-Watson knew that she hadn't lived an ordinary life.

Her father had died when she was a baby because he may or may not have been a car thief. She had two mothers during an era where being gay was still such a strange thing for society that no one honestly knew how to handle it. Her mama did interior design while her mom ran several salvage yards all because she'd befriended an old man when she was 17. While most little girls had gotten princess-theme birthday parties her biggest desire was to see Aerosmith in concert.

No, she hadn't lived an ordinary life.

Yet even she found talking to five massive robotic aliens that could turn into earth vehicles to be a touch overwhelming.

"So you understand why it is so important that we retrieve those glasses before the Decepticons do," the aliens' leader, the biggest and most powerful of the robots named Optimus Prime, rumbled with his deep yet also somewhat soothing voice.

"No hey, I get it," Sam said, managing to stay just on the edge of having a panic attack which for him was rather impressive. "Believe me after dealing with that psycho cop guy-"

"Barricade," Jazz said. "Nasty piece of work."

"No, ya think?" Sam said sarcastically. "Did the bruises on my bruises not clue you in?"

"My scans do not show such a phenomenon," Ratchet declared. "I do detected bruising upon your tailbone-"

"Figure of speech Doc," Sam grumped. "But believe me, I get that it is much better you guys get those glasses than the Decepticons. At least you ask politely."

"Then where are they?" Ironhide rumbled.

"Back at my house. I can go and get them and be right back-"

Optimus held up his hand. "I'm afraid that it is fair too risky for you to go it alone, Sam. The Decepticons are hunting you."

"But Bumblebee took out that cop… Barricade… so that bought us some time, right?" Mikaela asked.

"Not as much as you'd like, little lady," Jazz stated. "He now knows that Bumblebee is protecting Sam so he'll not hesitate to call in for others."

"Big others," Ironhide stated. "And some Decepticons can travel very fast."

"Well that's just great," Sam groaned. "You know all I wanted was a car to drive around in, maybe impress girls with? I didn't need some rampaging murderbots to decide to hunt me to the edges of the Earth!" He began to pace, running his fingers through his hair and pulling on his locks.

"The best way to protect you is to remove the threat," Optimus said calmly, kneeling down so he was closer to the two of them. But even doing that made him still tower over the teens, making both acutely aware of just how small they were not just in size but in the grand scheme of the universe. For them a year was a long time… a year till they graduated, were able to seek out new opportunities, be seen as adults. But the Autobots had been fighting for millions of years. Sam and Mikaela's lives were… a brief bit of dust blowing past them. "With the glasses in our possession the Decepticons will turn their attention from you onto us. We will lead them away from you and allow you to return to your lives."

"But with them chasing after you now we can't risk you going alone," Ironhide stated. "Can't even trust ya with just Bee… if one of their heavy hitters like Skywarp or Octane happen to be on this planet they'd tear him to pieces."

"I'm better THAN THAT AND you know it IronHIDE." Bumblebee said through a series of clips.

"Really?"Ratchet said, walking over and tapping Bee's neck. "Maybe but we both know what happened the last time." The yellow bot lowered his head, optics dimming for a moment.

"The best course of action is for all of us to go," Optimus said. "That way we can protect you."

"Uh, no offense," Mikaela said, "but that is a really dumb idea." She waved her hand in Optimus' direction. "Let's ignore the fact that you guys, even if you are transformed, aren't exactly subtle. I mean, maybe Bumblebee and Jazz, possibly Ironhide… but Optimus, Rathcet? You two are both out. But you just said that the Decepticons are hunting Sam and want the glasses. And they clearly know who he is."

"Yeah," Sam said. "Killer Cop knew my eBay handle… oh no. No no no no!" Sam began to pace again. "They know my address, don't they? They know where I live!"

The Autobots didn't say a word and that was enough of an answer.

"We have to call my parents. We have to call them now and tell them to get the hell out of there-"

Mikaela grabbed Sam and shook him. "We do that and we tip them off!" She forced him to look at her. "They think you must have the glasses on you so they haven't gone to your house. And they probably know if they attack then you'll run. They are counting on you returning home, to grab the glasses and then head to meet up with you guys. And if we roll up with you five…"

"Game over man, game over!" Bumblebee's speakers cried out.

"Exactly."

Ratchet frowned. "Then what do you suggest? You clearly have a plan in mind."

"I do. My parents own a salvage yard. I call them and tell them that we have a problem… make up some story about some freak trying to run you off the road Sam or something like that. Get them to take you home since Bee is having engine problems. You can make it sound like your sputtering, right?" Bumblebee let out a sound that sounded like a motor on its last legs. "They drive us in their car, we grab the glasses while Ironhide and Jazz follow behind and Optimus, Bee, and Ratchet circle. We toss them out to Jazz and you guys race back here. Sam come by tomorrow to "pick up his car" and we figure out how to get you guys out of town."

The Autobots looked at each other.

"It is… a better plan than what we currently have," Jazz admitted.

"I do not like risking any more humans than we already have… but you are correct in your reasoning that if we aren't careful lives will be affected… or lost." Optimus stood to his full height. "Very well, Mikaela… lead on."

After that things went pretty smoothly. The Autobots transformed and Bumblebee began to shift his form, transforming from a 70s Camaro into a small yellow VW Bug. It was comfortable enough for the two of them and a rev of his engine proved that he'd still be able to put rubber to the road if trouble arose. Jazz and Ironhide followed at a safe distance while Ratchet and Optimus took alternate routes, both to avoid detection and to keep the Decepticons from noticing their progress.

About thirty minutes later Bee pulled into the salvage yard, Mikaela letting out a sigh as she saw her parents' car.

"You didn't tell them what kind of car I got, did you?"

"No, thank god," Mikaela said, getting out and waving to her mama and mom.

"Are you two alright?" Rebecca called out, leaping out and hurrying over to check them both over. "I can't believe someone would do that to two kids… you didn't cut them off or something, right?"

"no, no," Sam said quickly. "Obeying the rules of the road and all that."

"You sure?" Charlie asked as she got out of the passenger side of her car and stepped into Bumblebee's headlights. "Because if… you…" She froze, eyes going wide as she stared at the VW Bug.

"Mom?" Mikaela asked only to jump when she heard Bumblebee's engine roar. She turned in time to see him transforming, his body much smaller and compact than he had been before but she got the sense that what he lacked in height he made up for now in armor. Rebecca screamed and pulled Mikaela and Sam back as the yellow Autobot rose to his full height.

"Bee!" Sam exclaimed. "What are you doing? We said-"

"Charlie?" Bumblebee's speakers called out.

Mikaela turned and was floored to see her mother walking forward, tears falling down her cheeks even as a smile graced her lips. She took in a shaky breath as she approached the Autobot with no fear, reaching up as he leaned down and stroking his helm. Bumblebee lowered himself and Charlie brought her other hand up to cradle his face as he reached around and carefully gave her a hug, their foreheads pressed against one another's.

"Hi Bee," Charlie whispered.