Transformers: Prime – Positron Fusion

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.

[A.N.: This has been years in the making – bits and pieces at a time (literally). All things in the fullness of time, I suppose. Enjoy! – BMillsWrites]

Chapter 6: Recoveries

Rafael Esquivel's usual experience with waking up from a sound sleep involved school day mornings. In that experience, sleep itself usually gave way to the preteen's normal motivation for getting up and doing the absolute best he could academically: because it was expected, because it was possible, and because it was fun. However, the gifted youngster's current attempt to return to consciousness felt a long-way removed from "usual." He felt sluggish, his throat was dry, and he was more than a little bit nauseous. Raf's head throbbed – but he was pretty sure that was from the rising dismay of having to tell Mama that he was suddenly sick at the start of a school day. Then, the falseness of the imagined scenario jolted him. Wasn't it really supposed to be Friday evening – just about dinnertime? Hadn't he just been talking to Mama – as well as his brother and sisters? In fact, didn't that conversation get interrupted by – "Primus," the boy groaned quietly. The hoarse sound of the boy's voice brought someone. Some adult, supervising, authority was at his side even as a sudden rush of adrenaline allowed his memory to flash back to the necessity of groundbridging his family out of their dining room. When Raf sprang up into a sitting position, a pair of hands steadied him from falling face forward. Even without his glasses – and through blurry, half-open eyes, Rafael could see the hands belonged to a woman. He turned his head suddenly in the direction of the muddled face – for now, not caring how dizzy the effort made him – desperately wondering aloud, "Mama?"

"No Raf, it's me … Mrs. Darby." The nurse let the boy process just that much information.

"Where? How?" He scowled quickly about not being clear-headed enough to get the right interrogative out. "Is she … and all my family OK Mrs. Darby?"

She answered while getting Rafael to lie back on the slightly elevated upper half of a basic hospital gurney. It was the same one that Raf had recovered on after being "treated" for Dark Energon poisoning. The youngster became slightly more aware of his surroundings – just enough to realize that, if he was in the Autobot Base at all, it was a part that he'd never been to before. "She's fine Raf, they're all fine, and they're in another room here. Right now, they're all more than a little confused, but mostly your family is worried about you."

"Worried is strange synonym for angry, Mrs. Darby," Raf noted without a trace of humor. "Any part of my Mom having to meet the Autobots is going to start with a really brief hello, move quickly to the fact that I'm grounded for the rest of my life, and then finish with a completely permanent goodbye from all of us." The anxiety flared his headache and he gripped his temples with both hands.

June Darby focused the distressed child with soothing words delivered as medical instructions. "I know you're anxious, but you have to relax Raf – nurse's orders. You're only making yourself feel physically worse."

"But..." Raf intended to emphasize the severity that Mama would surely and justly impose. Instead, Mrs. Darby's insistence actually prompted him about just how physically bad he felt. "I wasn't feeling this rotten before I fell asleep. What's happened? Is it the Positron – some kind of reaction starting?" He looked down to his hand, for the ring he was wearing to absorb excess Positron. It was gone! Raf would have jolted into a sitting position again, but the nurse kept him still with a grip on his shoulders.

She explained quickly, "Ratchet took it, and its container that you had pocketed. He said it was completely overloaded, and he wants to know how that happened in a matter of hours. He'll have to wait his turn to ask you that. Agent Fowler needs to talk to you before you see your Mom and family. But first, you need to recover from the gassing that you got. Do you remember the gas canister Raf? Honestly, I don't know what Agent Fowler was thinking, using gas that had been stockpiled for so long. Thankfully, none of your other family members seem to recall it – or the groundbridge opening that delivered it. For whatever reason, you've been the slowest to revive and recover."

Raf nodded, and considering the difference between his recollection and reaction compared to Mama and the rest, he said more than he intended to say in reply, "I remember it. I guess the reason is that the others were still all stuck in the … never mind, OK Mrs. Darby?" A clunky change of subject was the best that Raf could do after that. "Could I please have a drink of water?"

"I can get you some water Raf," Mrs. Darby told him with an unsettling assurance, "You'll need it to put out the fire of the heat I'll bring down on you if you don't tell me what I'm supposed to never mind about. What exactly had your family 'stuck'?" There's more than one Mom for you around here at the moment, pal, so out with it – now."

The boy gulped air down his dry throat and complied. "We experienced a temporal anomaly – a disruption in time and place – caused by Primus. Do you know who Primus is Mrs. Darby?"

June Darby saw how Raf was very careful with the name that she had heard before – but only a few times. "I'm still not as up to speed about Cybertronians as you, Jack, and Miko are. Isn't Primus supposed to be their ultimate being … the Zeus of the Cybertronian Olympus? I'm pretty sure you'd know a temporal anomaly when you had to, Raf, but are you sure it was Primus causing it?"

Raf nodded, though he thought the Greek comparison was inadequate to describe what he'd experienced. "He and I … we … interacted – to stop the people coming to attack my house. It's complicated, and I really need to talk to Optimus and Ratchet. Can I do that first? It's important." He actually tried to raise himself up on his arms to insist. Dizziness struck again and flattened him, and the effort made his headache worse.

Mrs. Darby immediately raised and locked both side rails on the gurney. "Sorry Raf, but you're not going anywhere or seeing anyone until we've got those gas side effects under control, which I'm guessing are headache, disorientation during exertion, and an unsettled stomach, right? He nodded weakly, and she continued. "Fortunately, I've got your mother's permission to administer some medicines that I have professional samples of. I'll get that water you asked for. If you're a good patient, we'll give the treatments thirty minutes, and then see how you feel."

"Could we give them twenty minutes instead Mrs. Darby, please?" Raf bargained.

The nurse crossed her arms and sighed – but she understood his urgency. "Fine, twenty minutes – and no less."

Twenty minutes later, an improved Rafael Esquivel was given his glasses and allowed off the gurney, then eased over to a seat in a folding chair next to a card table. There was another chair on the opposite side. Honestly, the recovering boy thought he being handled too delicately, but telling Mrs. Darby that would be both ungrateful and way too dangerous at the moment. The arrangement of table and chairs was apparently supposed to be a makeshift conference spot, but June Darby had other thoughts in mind as well. "I'll go get Agent Fowler," Mrs. Darby told him, "but while I'm at it, I'm going to bring you some plain food. You've got to be starving, so far past dinner. A couple of pieces of toast, or even a few crackers will settle your stomach."

The youngster frowned and shook his head sideways, "No thanks Mrs. Darby, I'm not hungry. I guess it has been pretty long since my after-school snack at home, but I don't want to risk trying to eat anything either. I feel like I'd just lose it the hard way. Don't worry, maybe I'll be up to it after talking with Agent Fowler."

For a moment, the nurse just looked at him. Somehow, he resisted the unspoken command to change his mind. Then she bluntly noted, "I'll be right back with Agent Fowler. You do NOT have permission to stand up out of that chair, Raf, much less walk away from it, got it?"

The twelve year-old had run out of resistance, "Yes, ma'am." While she was gone, Raf did, at least, look around him. It was enough to reassure him that this was some part of the Autobot base, but it had to be a different floor. Though the dimensions and contours of this room were a lot like the ground-level central area he was familiar with, the ceiling was much too low for the Autobots to transform out of their vehicle modes. This was definitely a humans only part of the structure. The place on this floor where the others were couldn't be that far removed either, because Mrs. Darby and Agent Fowler were back in just a few minutes.

The big man greeted the boy with a well-meant but awkward casualness. "Glad to see you up and about, Raf. By the way … sorry about the whole sleeping gas thing. It was a tough call in a tight spot."

"Agent Fowler, I appreciate that you're being nice, because I know that rescuing my family blows the Autobots' secret. You can level with me about how much more trouble I'm in on top of what my Mom is going to do to me." Raf lamented as maturely as possible.

"Just slow the assumption truck down a minute, son. The situation's not like that at all." Agent Fowler continued, sounding relieved himself, "Thankfully, we've still got cover on this. That's what I need to go over with you – your part in the play-along that keeps your family out of the Autobot loop." June Darby chose that moment to clear her throat for the special agent's attention. He nodded specifically to her, making the boy wonder what the adults were up to until Agent Fowler spoke again, "But first … Nurse Darby tells me that you won't take any food, even though you need it, is that right?"

"Yes," Raf admitted, "but I don't feel like eating and I'd rather know what's going on and talk to the Autobots about what happened at the –"

"– Understood, Raf." Agent Fowler nodded, but brought up like an afterthought, "Say, maybe you just need something more substantial than toast or crackers. I can get you a stockpiled MRE. The taste takes some getting used to, but they're pretty filling. The large man hunkered down close to the boy's face, which was now noticeably puckered with a greenish tinge. "Yes sir, sometimes there's nothing more satisfying than being full of salty freeze-dried meat and chalky, powdered gravy!"

Suddenly Raf felt his stomach heave. It had been a while since his snack – so long, in fact, that Raf couldn't regurgitate what was left of it. He simply doubled over in the chair and wretched dryly. June Darby knelt down next to Raf's chair, placing one hand on his nearest shoulder and the other on his back. When the reflex passed, the nurse eased the boy back into a sitting position. Raf felt weak, but his stomach wasn't sour anymore, and it was obviously empty. He scowled at both adults for their combined ploy. "Sorry about that, Raf. That was your last treatment for gas side effects," the nurse soothed. Agent Fowler nodded his agreement.

"OK," Raf acknowledged, "but that was mean. Can I have that toast – and maybe some juice now, please?"

June Darby smiled, "Good. I'll get that while Agent Fowler fills you in on the rest." When Mrs. Darby returned she had a small tray with her. As she approached, she overheard Raf trying to talk his way through what Agent Fowler was revealing.

"So … my Mom and family think that the Base is just part of a government program called Project Omnivox, and that includes 'Bee – at least as Cameron Bana –whose supposed to be a secret bodyguard for me, and that's what the after-school 'science club' has been about all along?"

"Right, that's what your Mom was thinking about from the get-go when you introduced her to the Bana alias. By the way, that was smart – really smart, but it's also the kind of thing I'd have liked to have known about before today."

Raf, meaning no disrespect at all, but simply exasperated by how the day's situations involved him but did not include him, propped an arm on the little table and rested his head in the attached hand, "Welcome to that club. … Wait, I'm sorry Agent Fowler. It's out of line to be sarcastic to a grownup."

Bill Fowler smirked, "You don't quite have the whole 'teenager' thing ready to go yet, huh? Well, don't sweat it, Raf …"

"… Because if you did," said Nurse Darby, "I'd have to find something with more electrolytes than this sports drink for you right now." She set the tray, with four triangles of plain toast and a sports drink of somewhat dubious orange flavor on the table in front of the boy. "Here, Raf. As dinners go, this is very bland, but in this case, that's a good thing. Tolerate this first, and you'll have something more substantial later. I'll just stick around to make sure you eat this all." The nurse advised in a way that left no doubt that Raf needed to do so. She didn't really need to worry about that. With one cautious bite, Raf realized he was actually craving food. Only minding his manners kept him from cramming the toast into his mouth as fast as possible, and he needed the drink so badly that it tasted great.

The hefty agent gave the young Esquivel the little time that was needed to finish his bland snack off to the nurse's satisfaction. "What this comes down to is that your Mom believes she has to tell you about Project Omnivox secretly trying to protect you recently, and having to come to the rescue today when the 'bad guys' tried to attack your house."

"They were from MECH." Raf declared. Strangely, neither Agent Fowler nor Mrs. Darby looked surprised to hear MECH get blamed. What apparently surprised both adults was the certainty in the boy's voice.

"That's been our guess around here too, Raf," the government liaison acknowledged. "I'd tell you that it's a really good guess, only you don't sound like you're guessing. All signals in and out of your location were being jammed – until they suddenly weren't, so it doesn't seem like you had a chance to hack them with your laptop. Seems like I need to ask you to tell me just what went on at your place."

Raf knew that he now probably felt as good as these supportive adults could help him feel in the current circumstances. He also believed that every known complexity about what was going on had to be shared if Team Prime was ever going to sort things out. "We were having a family meeting about my transfer to 'Prime Academy' when Primus called a time out on everything and everyone."

Now Agent Fowler grimaced like he was the one not feeling well, "Another Cybertronian super being, just great. Please tell me that Primus sounds enough like the Prime – as in Optimus Prime – to be a good thing for us."

Raf adjusted his glasses, a reflex of consideration that proved he was feeling better and getting his bearings, "I hope so Agent Fowler. I wouldn't be here with my family without his help in stopping MECH. He needed a way to scale himself down and effect their equipment and systems, and that's what I agreed to. I was his capacitor. That's why I know it was them."

"That means he used your family's situation to corner you into that agreement, Raf – and frankly, I don't like that at all." June Darby insisted.

The boy understood the woman's concern, but he believed he at least owed Primus a fair presentation. "I thought about that before I said yes to him, Mrs. Darby. I knew that he didn't have to do anything to help, and I also knew that if he had to use me in order to help, he probably didn't need my permission – but he asked for it anyway. In fact, he made my permission necessary."

Agent Fowler wondered, "If Primus charged in to help rescue you and made sure you were OK with it, then what he wants is more like what he wants from you, Raf. As a representative of an Earth authority that you're a citizen of, I'm not reassured that he's acting in your best interests."

"The only thing I think I really know about what he wants is that he does want something," Raf admitted. "I think he wants to tell the Autobots something – some kind of legacy. I know it was risky, but I did what I had to do to keep my family safe."

June Darby was quick to reassure, "Of course you did, Raf. Maybe it's enough that the Autobots know that Primus is aware of Earth. Personally, I hope he's moved on from using you like that."

A number sequence popped over-brightly through Raf Esquival's mind –::9:: ::18 5 13 1 9 14:: ::16 18 5 19 5 14 20:: – again, fluidly converting to words – :: I REMAIN PRESENT:: "Not this again!" Raf covered his ears with both hands, as if the alien declaration had actually been sound. He swayed in his folding chair, but managed not to fall out of it. Sensing the fresh alarm from the two adults, he explained, "It's Primus. He shows me number strings, and I understand them as words, only, he's forgotten to tone them down – I'm OK."

June Darby knelt down quickly and made sure of eye contact with the boy. "Raf, can he hear what other people say without it having to go through you?" After a less distressed flinch indicated that the Cybertronian entity was adjusting in some way, the young Esquivel nodded. "Good. Because he's about to hear plenty from me." The woman stood up, and though direction probably didn't matter, she directed blunt words to the sky. "Now you listen to me, Primus. Leave this boy alone!"

Raf held up his hand like a radio operator signaling to others that he was focused on receiving an incoming message. The boy frowned and sighed in the same way he would if he had to tell his own mother something she wouldn't like hearing. "He wants me to tell you his reply exactly the way he said it. He said, 'Only the youngling Esquivel designated Rafael can process my essence in human thought – which is sufficiently miniscule for the necessity of discretely interacting within the physical confines which the Cybertronians designated Autobot currently occupy. No organic harm to the youngling is intended, and his organic risk will be …, '" Raf gulped, but finished translating, "… 'minimized.'"

"Sounds like High-and-Mightymus can't or won't zero out your risk, so I'm still not sold." Agent Fowler determined.

Nurse Darby agreed, "You shouldn't have to be his microprocessor or his megaphone either, Raf. He can find another way to contact Optimus that doesn't invade you."

Raf winced – not from any pain – but from the merest senses of frustration and conflict that were not his own. Then, the boy's look flashed surprise, "He says that he … apologizes." This revelation surprised the adults too, but they listened as the youth continued for the Cybertronian deity. "Primus said, 'Finding basic words for human organic understanding conveys the wrong impression as unfeeling. Cybertronians have been on this planet far longer than a distinctly human organic species. The odds that Cybertronian energies would ever become a detectable factor in human organic natural selection – much less advance to the point of cross-communication at will were … improbable. Yet, that improbability is the youngling Esquivel designated Rafael. Moreover, the unforeseen reunification of Positron in the one organic human capable of being that bond – it is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.'"

"The thing we don't want Positron to waste is the rest of this boy's life," June Darby asserted to Primus. "Unless I miss my guess, his interacting with you has already overloaded the device that Raf was wearing to protect him from Positron build-up. Going on like that just isn't safe for him. If that can't be helped then he's going to get a big no vote from me about helping you."

Bill Fowler stood up and nodded, "Make that two no votes – and mine comes sanctioned by the U.S. of A."

The reply came a few moments later. "He reminded me of something he told me back at my house. He said that he can help facilitate the cortical patch that Ratchet wants to do to keep Positron … from replicating itself in me."

"Providing the technology we need to pull that off safely without having to set up the Cons in order to ambush Soundwave would be big help," Agent Fowler noted excitedly.

The boy only had to process Primus' reply – and the distinctive mitigation of Raf's own tone to it at least indicated that the interaction was easier on the youngster now. The answers themselves, not so much. "That's a way that he says he won't interfere. He says that the Autobots and the Decepticons are … his divided children, and he won't give one side what the other side has on its own. What he says he will do is … help Ratchet design and make an interface that allows him use what we get from Soundwave to safely patch with an organic – me. He also says that he will … influence to guarantee that Soundwave doesn't reject my decoyed binary code. He said that without his influence any chance that our plan would work was just 'intangibly feasible'. I guess I'll take that as a compliment." Raf turned in his chair more specifically to Mrs. Darby. "Primus only needs to interact with me like at my house to … 'bestow a one-time boon' on the Autobots."

"And what about making the Positron increase – Primus? Tell me you can interact through Raf after we ensure that Positron is no longer a danger to him." June Darby inquired and insisted. Even as she asked, the young Esquivel was shaking his head sideways.

"I can answer that already, Mrs. Darby," Raf explained with a reluctant dispassion – knowing the adults would not be pleased. "It has to work like it did before, so the patch has to be after – but if it's really soon after, the increase won't matter." The young genius paused and made sure his look took in Agent Fowler too. "I think it's the best deal we can get."

The nurse was just as resolute with a negative reply, "This isn't a negotiation Raf."

"Right," Bill Fowler agreed. "Our answer is still no."

Rafael Esquivel took in a deep breath, remembering not to shout childishly at elders. "Excuse me – both of you please – I'm sorry if this makes you mad at me, but please listen. The answer isn't 'ours' to give, it's just mine." He saw them both check an urge to say something overriding. He really appreciated that they held off, it helped him confide what he said next. "You both know – I hope – that I'm not like Miko, and I'm not like Jack either. I'm not saying that this decision is just mine on impulse for the thrill of being the one to make it. I'm also not stoically cool enough to make it alone just so nobody else is burdened with the problem. What Primus said about me likely being the only human being on the planet who can do things like understand 'Bee and store up Positron really scares me. I mean, on one hand why does it have to be me, and on the other hand what right do I have being the only one? I didn't ask to be special – ever – about anything, but most times like it and sometimes not, I am special. That just means I have a responsibility to do needed things if only I can do them. So, you're right Mrs. Darby, this isn't a negotiation. I have to decide this for myself if I'm ever going to live with the consequences of saying either yes or no. I want to agree to help Primus, because he helped my family, and helping him will help the Autobots in some way. There are some things I also want to be more sure about first, so my yes is on hold until I check those things off – like letting my Mom know that I'm OK, and getting some advice from Optimus."

June Darby bent down next to the seated boy. "I think you just showed us – again – why you're truly special, Raf. You care about what's right, and about who and what you love with every bit as much intensity as Miko does anything. Thankfully, that's usually without her impulsive streak. It makes me proud that you think so much of Jack, but I can tell you that when he was twelve-going-on-thirteen, he wasn't as "big picture" as you are now. Instead of yelling at Primus or dictating orders to him like an adult parent or official would, you've established a relationship with him." She stood up and smiled at the obvious gratitude on the young, round face. "You handle Primus your way, then, and I'll help you check off your to-do list. We both will, right, Agent Fowler?"

Bill Fowler had listened silently throughout Raf's declaration and Nurse Darby's response. Although the kids had seen Agent Fowler awkwardly at what could only politely be described as less than his best, he was still physically imposing and a legitimate authority figure. Raf sat up even straighter as the big man came forward when Mrs. Darby stepped back. The young Esquivel also knew that the man's surface bluntness and patriotic bluster reflected his real bravery and friendship. When the agent bent down and stared with firm intensity, the boy met the gaze unflinchingly. "Yeah …" Fowler acknowledged gruffly, then added, "What she said." He smirked quickly and put a big hand on Raf's small shoulder. "Just let me know if your new friend starts to have problems about you being in charge. If I'm not enough backup, I'll set Miko loose on him. You ready?"

Raf supposed that Agent Fowler looked like a coach who'd just given a player a rousing halftime pep talk. The boy looked over to Nurse Darby for medical clearance. When she nodded, he stood up from his assigned chair. "Hopefully as I can be, Agent Fowler. I still don't know how my Mom would ever believe that this 'Project Omnivox' setup covers everything, up to and including 'Prime Academy'. I hope I can hold up convincingly to listen to her tell me about it. That's going to be strange. All I can do is my best." The youngster supposed that strangeness could hardly be a complaint from a kid who had Cybertronian friends.

Agent Fowler seemed to ponder the boy's concern about facing maternal scrutiny – but in such an exaggerated way that Rafael began to suspect a new adult ploy for his own good. Finally, the big man asked "What if both your Mom and your Dad were revealing it to you and your whole family, Raf? In this setting, with your Dad agreeing that all of this is part of Project Omnivox, would your Mom accept it with his backing?"

"Maybe …," the young genius grudgingly admitted, "Don't underestimate her ability to see through put-ons. Besides, …" and the boy's voice became sadly resolute. "... there's no way that you can find my Dad in order to pull that off. Since you're a government agent, you might know that my Dad stopped living with us the same year I started grade school – I was six, that was before I started moving up to grades with older students. My Mom has told us that she and Dad have problems to work out – and that he's got a good job as a tech-consultant in another state. He calls and sends gifts on our birthdays, and for Christmas – and sometimes he even comes to spend a special day with us – but he's always gone early the next morning. That's the story, Agent Fowler, but I know the truth." Raf's voice was halting now, as he fought back the hurt he was feeling to continue. His eyes were closed, he was determined to shut everything out until he admitted a shameful responsibility. He felt the presence of Mrs. Darby, who came to his side and put a supportive arm around his shoulders. "I know my Dad is involved with the government too, only whatever he's involved in – call it Project Omnivox if you want – it's the kind of program they don't tell other government agencies about. We aren't allowed to know my Dad's exact location. It would be super hard to find my Dad by hacking back channels. Though I could probably do it, I won't. It's the one subject my Mom has forbidden me to research. More than that, she begged me to promise her not to – for the sake of the whole family – because it's also super dangerous. If I ever did, and anyone found out, we'd have to leave Jasper and the calls and visits from Dad would stop for keeps. I can't hurt my Mom or my brother and sisters like that. It's bad enough that Dad being gone is my fault anyway. I-I showed my Mom and Dad what I could understand before we realized what might happen – and someone bad found out. My Dad had to make a deal to make sure I wasn't taken away. Dad took my place. That's why he's not home where he should be."

Raf was shaking with trembles that threatened to erupt from his chest and emerge as sobs. Though he could knowingly converse about alien technology with actual aliens and secret government operations with an actual Special Agent, the emotions of his own vulnerabilities made him feel so dumb sometimes. How could Agent Fowler, Nurse Darby or anybody ever really take him seriously if just admitting to his mistakes made him cry as if he were just a scared little kid? He still had his eyes closed – wanting to compose himself before looking at anyone. Now he felt June Darby's hands on both his shoulders. She probably thought he needed a hug, and he'd accept it because it was a nice thing to do – but it would embarrass him. However, she didn't hug him. The nurse turned him completely around instead, and another set of hands replaced hers on the boy's narrow shoulders. The new hands – obviously bigger, heavier, and stronger – had to belong to a man. It couldn't be Agent Fowler. As stealthy as the big agent claimed to be, Raf knew that he'd of heard or felt someone that big move behind him. One of the hands on Raf's shoulders – the unseen man's right hand – lifted. Raf felt his chin gently raised, then two fingers from the same strong hand just as gently walked in steps of light touches up the sad face: the boy's chin, the tip of his nose; and finally a tap on the bridge of Raf's glasses complete with a 'boop' sound effect to playfully activate the youngster's vision. Raf gasped. There was only one man who'd ever … the boy's eyes flashed open and he was staring into the smiling face of his father! "Papa?" He asked. When the man nodded to confirm the reality of his presence, Raf matched the smile and declared, "Papa!" The joyous shock gave way quickly to potential consequences, "I-I didn't go looking for you Papa, I promise. I don't want to mess anything up … I never wanted to, I … I'm s-sorry for what I-I've done to our f-family! Raf wrapped his arms around his Papa's waist and cried so hard that he couldn't stand.

Tomas Esquivel let his smile fade and knelt to acknowledge his son's undeserved pain. "No mas, mi muchacho," the man whispered in the boy's ear. Mr. Esquivel held Rafael with steadying strength, while assuring in a clear voice, "No more of blaming yourself for my being here now, or where I've had to be. Your friends brought me to you. They can be very persuasive – especially the nina. They will think that I upset you, and be displeased with me." Over his father's shoulder, the younger Esquivel saw Jack and Miko. The Darby teen gave him a look of determined accomplishment. The Japanese girl definitely looked like she had a wild story to tell him later.

"Jack and Miko are great friends, Papa, all these people are." Raf attested, finally composing himself with introductions. "The lady who was consoling me is Jack's Mom – Mrs. Darby, she's a nurse. Over there is Special Agent Fowler, but maybe you've met him already."

Mr. Esquivel frankly observed, "I can't say that I've had the pleasure – which is probably a good thing. Rafael do you trust these people, particularly these adults?"

Raf nodded instantly. "Yes, Papa, I trust them with my life. I know I can – because I already have."

His father nodded and stood, "Then I will trust them too." He hugged Raf to him, pleased to keep one arm around the boy's shoulder for solidarity in the developing circumstances. "Agent Fowler, this is obviously a government installation. I have no idea how my son came to be involved with it, but whatever goes on here is not Project Omnivox. There are too many ways I would know."

"No sir, it is not. I hope you'll understand that I can't tell you everything – and I want to be clear that Raf's involvement – like Jack's and Miko's – was initially accidental, and only maintained for their protection. You should also know that Raf has been obligated to keep his involvement with this operation a secret even from his family, which he has done with more honesty than I ever wanted him to."

June Darby confirmed, "Certainly more than Jack at first – and I'm sure a lot more than Miko."

"Mom …" Jack groaned.

Miko huffed, "Some people just don't have the gift."

Bill Fowler interjected to get his redacted explanation back on track, "At any rate – rather than be bystanders, all three of them have contributed to what's going on here. You can and should be very proud of what your son does here. You've probably had your fill of the 'patriotic interest' spiel. Well, Raf has contributed to the safety of the entire planet. Just believe me when I tell you that the non-government regard for Rafael Esquivel is out of this world."

Tomas offered a cagey look and the adult version of Raf's half-smile, "Is that because such regards come from alien life forms, perhaps, sentient robots who can take the form of vehicles – like motorcycles?"

"What – or who – makes you ask something like that, Mr. Esquivel?" Fowler asked. His slim chance at plausible deniability was undercut by a weary glare at Jack and Miko … mostly at Miko.

"No, no – not either of them," Mr. Esquivel verified. "I've learned to be very observant when unusual things are happening. For example, the female voice communicating with the young man knew far too much about our situation in real time to be coming from a remote location. However capable Jack may be as a driver, some of the motorcycle's handling did not match his reaction time. Most of all, this place is surely near Jasper, Nevada where my family lives. They have not known my location, which has a very different climate. Though I was asked to wear a helmet with a blocked visor before approaching some kind of bridge, instant relocation over miles from one climate zone to another is not yet a technology humans are capable of. Believe me when I say that I would know."

Bill Fowler sighed, "Well, it looks like another parent needs to meet the 'science club' – but we need to keep it to one parent each. Miko, please tell me you don't want to get one of yours in too."

Miko snorted indignantly, "Do I look like I want to up the boring factor around here? Pass!"

The agent was at least relieved about that. "Mr. Esquivel, we think it's best that your wife and other children remain out of this loop. With your help, we can blame all the disruption for your family today on Project Omnivox and probably bring some of its overbearing requirements – including claims on Raf – to an end. Would you be interested in making that happen?"

"Very interested, Agent Fowler. Rafael, do you believe that your involvement with your friends – all your friends – must continue?"

Raf nodded emphatically again, "Yes, Papa. I can't say that I haven't been in danger. I can't say that I'm not in danger now, but we have a plan – and I'll be alright. I'm part of this team, and … they need me Papa, they really do."

"Then do all you can muchacho, as you believe you must." Tomas Esquivel agreed, "Agent Fowler, I'm worried for Rafael, of course – but Therese can be very … over-protective when surprised. It's better and only appropriate that she blame Project Omnivox for complicating our lives – especially Rafael's. I'll trust his dedication to this program of yours, but an aspect of Project Omnivox has done more to him than he realizes. It would like to do the same to others, and that must stop now. For that, I will give all the help I can, and take all the help I can get."

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