I'm using Bulkhead's human name for his holoform from Aliens in Jasper, Brody. Also, the title is a play off of THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London.
Mace's POV
I walk over to Malachi and Isabella. Both refuse to let go of Orion as they continue to cry. After fighting for a few minutes, Matias comes over to help.
"Malachi, Patricia is your cousin, but you two act more like siblings. That is perfectly fine," Matias says.
"Really," Malachi sniffles as he turns his head towards my brother.
"Yes, because as you grow up, Patricia can give you advice, and she'll always have your back no matter what," Matias says.
"Isabella, you and Tracy were always a family. It doesn't matter how you two are related. The bond family members share is something that no one can ever take away from the two of you," I say.
"Daddy, can I still call Tracy, Sissy?" Malachi asks.
"Of course, you can," I reply.
"Daddy, will Ricky and Cici hate you, mommy, and Uncle Matias when you tell them about this?" Isabella asks.
I know they'll be mad, which they have every right to be. But, hate us? We'll have to wait and see.
Normal POV
"Tracy, you should tell Matias about what you told me earlier," Arcee says.
"Look, Arcee, telling him about it now won't change a thing. All I know is once the rest of the family finds out that I'd rather open a dance school, instead of getting a medical degree, it will break their hearts." Tracy says.
"That's not true, sis. I've seen a few of your videos. You becoming a dance instructor and opening a dance school is your destiny," Ricky says.
"Thanks, Ricky, but it was hard convincing myself of that since every single one of my teachers throughout middle and high school instantly thought because I look like Dad...Uncle Mace, that I inherited his intellect and was going to get straight A's just like him and become a doctor." Tracy says.
"Sis, my teachers did that to me too," Ricky says.
"So, just because we are genetically similar to our parents doesn't mean we have to do everything they did and be clones of them," Tracy snaps.
She moves her arms up and down so fast that a pen shifts in her purse, and it hits her phone's screen. Unknown to her, Matias' number was dialed. Matias picks it up and hears the rest of the conversation.
"Besides getting a medical degree and getting into that line of work is the only path I'm allowed to take," Tracy says
"No, Sissy, please become a dance teacher instead of a doctor," coming from her purse. Tracy's heart nearly leaps out of her chest, and she quickly takes out her phone and hangs up.
Mace's POV
"Mace, when I allowed you to raise Patricia, I thought we agreed that you'd allow her to be her person and choose her future career -not force her to go down the path our family has traveled," Matias says.
"I'm sorry, bro, I thought she wanted to become a vet since animals were drawn to her," I say.
"Mace, Honey, I only think that happened because she has Mary's kindred spirit. You are aware her anxiety causes her to overthink and instantly list off the worst-case scenario in certain situations," Addison says.
"I know," I sigh.
"Daddy, why is Cici such a great dancer? Did her dance teacher make her one?" Isabella asks.
"So, sweetheart, Tracy also inherited her mother's dance skills as well," I say.
"Why did she become a nurse?" Malachi asks.
"Aunt Mary loved helping make others feel better more than her passion for dance," I say.
Tracy's POV
"Scrap," I exclaim.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day where I hear you swear," Ashley jokes.
"Very funny, Ashley, but my phone just called Uncle Matias... Dad, and that's a bad thing," I say.
"Why?" Wheeljack asks.
"It just is," I say.
"We have another problem," Ratchet says.
We turned around to face the monitor. My heart started to thump in my chest when I saw the deception signals were approaching Optmius' signal was in Michigan.
"The cons are going after Isabella and Malachi," the twins say.
"Who?" The Autobots ask.
"They are our little cousins," Ricky says.
"Don't worry, partner, bulk, and I will save them," Wheeljack says.
"I'm coming too. The cons need to learn that they need to keep away from my family," I say.
"Tracy, I know you want to protect your family, but if you try to help now, you'd be putting them and yourself in danger," Ivan says.
"Ivan is right. One of your stitches could rip," Ricky says.
"Not to mention you've been exacerbating your jumper's knee by walking on it as much as you have," Ratchet adds.
"I don't care. This time I can control the outcome of this situation. I can prevent something bad from happening to those I care about. You aren't going to stop me." I snap.
Wheeljack's POV
I see that same look in Tracy's eyes when we are on the Cons ship, and she wanted to get her Energem back.
"Doc, she is coming. Once she gets that look in her eyes, it is hard to persuade her to do anything else," I say, placing my hand on Ratchet's shoulder.
"Fine, Tracy, don't be too reckless. I know your father will be furious with me if you don't come back," Ratchet sighs as he turns on the ground bridge.
Optimus' POV
Mace permits me to take the children to the park down the street. The children cheer as Isabella drags me to the back door. Everything is going well until I see Knockout and Breakdown pull into the parking lot. Knockout's holorform walks over to Isabella. She quickly jumps off the swings and runs over to me.
"Stanger danger, Mr. Orion, help," Isabella shouts.
I run over to help, but Breakdown's holoform grabs my arm spins me around and kicks me in the stomach. I fly over to the monkey bars, and my holoform begins to fail.
"Don't worry, Optimus, we have your back," Bulkhead says as his and Wheeljack's holoforms sprint up.
Normal POV
Brody (Bulkhead's holoform) runs up to Breakdown's. He yanks him off the ladder to the big metal slide and throws him to the ground right before he has a chance to grab Malachi.
"Mister, are you are going to hurt me too?" The confused and scared Malachi asks.
"No, buddy, I'd never do that. I'm friends with Orion. My name is Brody," Bulkhead says.
Tracy and Ivan are sitting inside Bulkhead in the backseat. They spot Fury and some Vivix sneaking up behind Bulk.
"Ivan, we need to step in," Tracy says.
"How there isn't a safe place to morph," Ivan says.
"Don't worry about that. No one here knows you, so you are safe. We need to help now," Tracy says as she climbs over into the driver's seat and opens the door.
Ivan reaches around and grabs Tracy's wrist," You can't go out there. Ratchet instructed you not to do anything reckless,"
Tracy yanks her hand away. A massive adrenaline rush, along with her maternal instincts kicking into high gear, dulling the pain in her knee as she steps out of the car. Her morpher appears in her hand before running over to Bulkhead.
