Chapter 2
A/N: A word of warning this is a plot-driven chapter with no action.
P.S. Last of the QQ Chapters. You guys are free to comment and discuss :)
She was human. Asia could tell just from her gut feeling. She knew the older woman was human because she could tell who was not. Lady Raynare and her fallen, 'Outrider' if that was her rescuer's name, and that man who she began to have regrets saving.
The first thing the woman said after Asia and 'Outrider' got inside was huff and cross her arms. "It is Kaa-san. Kaa… san."
"Ms. Hyoudo-"
"Do I make myself clear Outrider?"
"...crystal… kaa-san."
Outrider's self-declared mother smiled, "and who is this? Did you finally bring a girl home?"
"He brought a girl home!?" An older male voice shouted behind her, "Let me see!"
A spindly middle aged Japanese man stepped out. The man adjusted his glasses and looked at her up and down.
"She is a keeper!" He exclaimed, "Oh Thank God and Primus for Grandchildren!"
"First," Outrider muttered, "I am only her rescuer, second it is biologically imposs-"
"Love finds a way!" The man shouted in defiance, "Isn't that right Miki-chan!?"
"Hai Gorou-kun!" the woman shouted back with the energy of a girl half her age.
"...They seem nice." Asia smiled at Outrider sincerely.
"And of a questionable state of mind." Outrider grumbled, "Ms-er… Kaa-san you said the food was cold?"
"Of course it's cold!" Miki Hyoudou replied, "It's Sushi!"
"Do you like Sushi?" Outrider turned to ask.
The nun who lived all her life in an isolated monastery blinked, "What's Sushi?"
The answer was very delicious food. Asia fumbled with the chopsticks but in the end she for the first time tasted something that wasn't stale bread, thin soup, or flavor-less salad. The conversation was animated with both Hyoudous poking and prodding him over school, friends, and strangely enough fixated on the fact he had brought her to their home. She didn't understand much of it as the exasperated Outrider bickered with them in high speed japanese and some other unknown language.
There were some times that she could speak about her life before; the life she had in the church and the little things and moments that made her happy. And for once, in what seemed like months of fear and worry after her trial and excommunication, she was starting to feel a genuine smile on her face.
When the moon hung the highest it could in the sky the Hyoudous were the first to head for bed. They whispered something in Outrider's ear and responded back with a scowl. When it was time for her to sleep she was led to a small bedroom in the corner. It would be cramped for anyone but a petite girl for her and looked like it was more fit for a nursery than anything else.
"This is the guest room." he explained, "It's bare and converted but it will have to do for now."
"Outrider?"
"Hmm?"
"What are you?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
Asia nodded earnestly.
"I am what the few earth-natives that know of us as Transformers," he explained bluntly, "living machines from the planet Cybertron."
"An … alien?" she realized, "You are an alien!? Does that mean your parents are also aliens!?"
"My spons-" He bit his lip, "My parents are human and were my caretakers since I was just a Protoform Hatchling.
What you would call an infant."
"How did that happen?"
"That…." he paused, "That I don't want to talk about."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not offended." he interjected, "Why don't you get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"What happens tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is when you'll meet another Transformer. He can help you get you on your feet."
"H-how?"
"Because Asia, he was the one who sent me."
Despite his sleek red motorcycle form Outrider didn't speed all the way to the meeting point. They reached the outskirts of Kuoh at a steady pace with time to spare. The sun had only just dawned and most of Japan was still sleeping in their beds. Asia herself was still yawning and rubbing her eyes.
The clearing itself was no different than any other, just a patch of grass surrounded by trees and bushes.
"There aren't many of us around." Outrider explained, "Most of us follow the advice of Rung. Have been for centuries."
"Rung is your people's elder?"
"More like a living artifact." He corrected her.
Half an hour later Outrider's friend arrived. It was the most bland and unexciting vehicles possible: it was a Segway.
Like his holographic 'driver' the Segway transformer was an awkward and gangly humanoid with bulbous goggle-eyes that matched his projection's thick goggle-glasses. If Outrider was the average for his race then he was pathetically lacking.
"Morning Outrider!"
"Good morning Rung. This is-"
"Asia Argento!" Shouted Rung, "I've been meaning to meet you!"
"N-nice to meet you Mr. R-rung."
"You're scaring her Rung." Outrider grunted.
"I scare a lot of people, my young friend!" He huffed with pride, "I AM a God after all!"
Outrider ignored that piece of insanity, "From you and Asia have told me is reason enough for anyone of us to rescue her Rung. But why me exactly? If anything it should be one of the The Knights."
"Oh definitely!" he concurred, "Unfortunately they have a larger mission. Bigger fish to fry, more chickens to pluck and all that."
"What about the rest? Red Tail? Wind Talker?"
"Nope."
"Revive? Blue Tear?"
"Nada."
"...Nitro?"
"Nitro is Nitro my boy." he declared, "He is true to himself. And that leaves you to save this very important person from very dangerous people."
"M-Mr Rung?" Asia stammered.
"Please," Rung dismissed, "Call me Rung!"
"I'm grateful you saved me b-but i'm only a healer. W-why am I important?"
"Trust me." he grinned. "You are. Everyone is important to someone. Outrider," he turned to the Bike Transformer, "for the time being I'm trusting you with protecting her. I'll be needing to pull a few strings before I can get some help heading your way."
"What does she have?" Outrider questioned, "I-We both need to know."
"Right! First of all: The box."
Rung held his hand out and the hand-sized container with all that had been looted from the church changed exchange Rung handed back to Outrider another equally sized container.
"Think of this as a surprise."
"What is it?"
"Oh that is simple-HEY LOOK OVER THERE!"
Outrider shook his head, "You can't possibly think that will..."
Rung was gone.
"...work."
"..."
"..."
"...He seems nice."
Outrider sighed, "Let's just head home."
Outrider had school tomorrow and had to make the effort to look like an idiot.
A/N: Just to be clear Outrider is not his 'human' name.
