Transformers: Prime - Positron Fusion

AN: First to everyone who has ever read my fan fictions because I write (active tense) for the character of Cody Hida in the Digimon 02 anime, let me assure you that I'm not abandoning that character or the opportunities I find to write for him before, during, and [possibly even] after the context of the 02 canon. Even now, I am working on updating my Christmas story from last year. New readers, let the fact that I'm working on Christmas in August inform you about the time I have for hobby writing. Though I am decades removed from being nine years old, I am not Japanese, and have never picked up a shinai for kendo in my life Cody Hida will always be a kindred spirit to me in the experience of personal loss at a young age, the early intense desire to do right things as well as they could possibly be done, and the innocent idea that surely most people would want to do things the best way if they understood properly. Nothing is going to change how special writing that character is for me. Still, in my surprising enjoyment of Transformers: Prime as a smart, sleek update to a childhood staple, I found I could relate to another undersized, and underestimated quiet smart kid. That, as they say, sparked an idea. Enjoy this as the experiment that it is. It might go over well, it might go over like Tolstoy writing sci-fi. Either way, thanks: BMillsWrites

General Disclaimer: Transformers: Prime and all related characters does not belong to me in any way shape or form. Their use in the following fan fiction is meant for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 1: An Academy That Isn't

Bumblebee, the Autobot scout was immediately concerned when he saw his young human friend and charge, Rafael Esquivel, emerge from the youngling's educational facility. This afternoon Raf bore the weight of his backpack as if Bulkhead was inside it. The youngest of the Autobots also observed that their youngest human ally carried a tri-folded piece of paper with an extended arm, as if the paper or whatever it communicated was both important and dangerous. Surely quiet, little Rafael had not been subject to the disciplinary notices that young Miko seemed to collect like prizes. The mech was glad to think he would know soon enough as he let Raf play out the covering fiction of knocking on the passenger side door of the Autobot's vehicle mode. Bumblebee buzzed happily and intentionally oversold a distracting greeting ::What's up dude?":: To everyone on this planet except other Autobots, and Rafael Esquivel himself, the question would've only sounded like ::OT - UP - OO - DAH::

Very early in knowing the Autobots, the three kids had found it very funny that they had to teach massive living machines that could take the form of cars what the word "backfire" meant in human usage. At the moment though, Bumblebee's question backfired poorly. It just seemed to upset Raf more as he climbed into the opened passenger door and buckled into the corresponding seat while the door closed behind him. "Like you don't know yet, huh Bee?" The Autobot code named for an earth insect was stung by the fact that his assigned human child sounded angry with him.

::Raf ... what is it? ... what have I done ... whatever it is, I'm sorry. I'd never want to do anything to hurt you. ... You know that right?::

"Bee ... oh Bee, you really don't know about this do you? I'm sorry too Bee, OK? I'm just so mad about this and I didn't know how many I'm going to have to be mad at, and how it's going to hurt to be mad about this, but at least it's not you ... at least I'm not going to lose you over this." Raf was leaking that saline based fluid that protected his organic optics and the pitch of his own tiny voice box faltered with sputtering.

Now the Autobot was mad too, mad that anyone or anything could make someone under his protection feel like the boy felt now. Bumblebee worked to keep his coolant flowing for Raf's sake ::Hey, whatever it is we'll take it on together. You can't lose me Raf, I'm too big and you're too smart. ... So tell me what's wrong, OK?"

"You can still use your overhead light to scan documents into your memory, right?" Rafael asked. Sharing his problem seemed to make whatever it was less awful.

::You bet I can! Just hold the document up and look away, shielding your eyes.::

"Thanks Bee, I'll be careful. Uh, We better at least drive out of the parking lot, before someone starts to worry about why my ride hasn't left yet. We can head for the base, but take a long way there at first, you'll see why in a second. It was no problem for the disguised Camaro to safely handle both driving and document processing. Raf unfolded the creased paper, which was the human form of communication known as a letter.

It took mere earth seconds to scan the message, and even less time for Bee to process its true meaning. However, Bumblebee nearly rebooted at the very line of code that suggested believing what the letter indicated. ::Raf ... why would they do possibly do this to you? This has to be a trick. This has to be the Decepticons ... or MECH."

Rafael Esquivel shook his head sadly from side to side. "No, Bee, it's not either of the bad guys. The pre-teen quickly took off his glasses and wiped at the trickle from his eyes again. This morning he'd gotten up with a clear sense of who good guys and bad guys were, and now that clarity was pretty wasted. Tonight the sun was going to set on part of his childhood, and he'd never get it back. It's no wonder people only grew up once, they'd never live through it a second time. "It's too traceably legitimate for MECH's style, and Decepitcons would see the obvious human cooperation in it as completely beneath them."

::Rafael, do you really think -?:: Bee started to question hesitantly,

"What else am I supposed to think, Bee?!" Raf questioned back. He was upset again, and it tinged toward anger. "Sorry ... I'm sorry Bee, but you read the letter - well sort of. My principal's been told that I'm supposed to be transferred to a new school - a boarding school for gifted kids with the potential to benefit national security. That boarding school happens to be called Prime Academy, Bee - located somewhere between Washington, D.C. and Langley, Virginia. Langley is where Agent Fowler is assigned out from. Get this, if I go the school here gets a finding grant and my family gets a tax free payment that's as much as my Mom's going to make in a year. Finally, I was told to report to the dean of this Prime Academy, O. Ryan Packs at the start of the next school week.

::Optimus Prime's pre-name: Bumblebee acknowledged reluctantly to his human youngling.

This time Raf nodded. "I know it is, Bee. That's why I know this whole Prime Academy thing is a lie. There is no such place. Oh sure there's a web site and everything, but Optimus and Agent Fowler have to know I'm smart enough to know how to spot a shadow site. They've got to know that I'm on to them , and they're just setting up a cover story to isolate me from my school and family for some reason.

:: But why?:: The Autobot asked the question that still equally plagued his small passenger's mind.

"I don't know Bee, but I'm through with being hopeless about it like a little kid. Now I'm - no - now we're going to find out! It's time to ask Optimus Prime that question, and a whole lot more. Now, you can head to the base the usual way, and for once you can do just above the speed limit if you want to."