Chapter 3: The Jig Is Up And The News Is Out
The following morning at the Academy, Whirl, Wedge, Hoist, and Medix were in Chase's class, where he was giving a lesson on how human law enforcement agencies use forensic science to solve crimes.
"As you can see here, these detectives are comparing two fingerprints, one from a crime scene and the other from a suspect, to see if they match." Chase explained. "If they do, then that is proof that the suspect was at the crime scene when the crime was committed."
While the other students were eagerly listening to the lesson, Whirl was just sitting at her desk quietly. This caught Hoist's attention.
"Have you guys noticed that Whirl's not like herself?" he whispered.
"You're right." Medix agreed, whispering himself. "She's usually very enthusiastic about Chase's lessons, but not today it seems like."
"And she hasn't spoken much to us today." added Wedge. "Especially when we asked her where Hot Shot was."
It was then that Chase noticed this conversation.
"Excuse me, am I interrupting anything?" he asked as he went over to them.
"Sir, something's wrong with Whirl." said Medix. "She's been unusually quiet today."
"Yeah, and she's almost said nothing to us." added Hoist. "Not even when we asked if she knew why Hot Shot isn't here."
Chase looked over at Whirl and saw that she looked very pensive.
"So I see." said Chase. "Whirl?"
"Yes, sir?" Whirl responded.
"Is everything okay?" Chase asked. "It has been brought to my attention that you have been unusually silent."
"Oh, that." said Whirl. "Well, um, uh..."
Chase got down to his mentee at eye level.
"Whirl, if you have a problem, you need to tell me." he said. "I'm always happy to help anyway I can."
"So are we." said Hoist.
"Thanks." smiled Whirl. "But, I'm okay, really."
"Are you sure?" asked Wedge.
"Positive." nodded Whirl.
"Alright." shrugged Chase. "Well, if you do want to talk, just come and find me."
"That goes for me, Wedge, and Hoist as well." added Medix.
"That's right." agreed Hoist.
"Oh yeah." said Wedge.
"Okay." said Whirl.
With that, class resumed, and afterwards, while the boys went out to the courtyard, Whirl went to find Chase, and found him in his office reading a book.
"Chase?" she asked. "I'm ready to talk to you. And I think I'd like to talk to the other Professors, too."
"Alright." nodded Chase. "Let's go to Heatwave's office and ask him to call the others in."
With that, after Chase closed and set down his book, he and Whirl went to Heatwave's office, and Heatwave called Blades, Boulder, Bumblebee, and Grimlock into his office. Cody also came with them.
"What's up, Heatwave?" asked Cody.
"Well, Chase told me that Whirl has something she'd like to tell us." replied Heatwave.
"Oh, okay." said Boulder.
Heatwave and the others then looked at Whirl.
"Well, Whirl?" Heatwave asked.
Whirl tried to put her words together, but she wasn't having much luck.
"Well, um, uh, I..." she began.
"Whirl, if you don't tell us what's wrong, how can we help you?" asked Blades.
"I'm sorry, Blades." Whirl sighed. "I'm just a little nervous. I've never been called or brought into Heatwave's office like this before."
Chase put his hand on Whirl's shoulder.
"I understand." said Chase.
"So do we." said Boulder. "In fact, this is how I see it; you just tell the truth, you've got nothing to be nervous about."
"That's right." agreed Bumblebee with a nod. "You know you can talk to us about anything."
"Yeah, what Bee said." nodded Grimlock. "If you ever have a problem, you can always come to either of us."
"Indeed." added Chase. "In fact, I can tell you're troubled about something right now, and we need you to tell us so we can help work out a resolution."
"But first, I have a question." said Heatwave. "Have you seen Hot Shot today? I've been wanting to talk to him."
Well, Heatwave's answer to his question came in the form of Whirl dropping to her knees and bursting into an oily flood of tears.
"I can't take it anymore!" she wept.
It should go without saying that Cody and the others present in the room were caught completely by surprise at this spectacle. They had never seen Whirl cry before, let alone any of the other Recruits.
"Hot Shot's gone!" Whirl cried.
Cody and the Rescue Bots, especially Heatwave, were shocked and confused at this announcement.
"What do you mean by "gone"?" asked Boulder.
"I mean...he ran away!" Whirl sobbed.
Heatwave and the others were horrified when they heard this second announcement.
"HE WHAT?!" Heatwave roared.
Whirl nodded.
"He made me promise not to tell you guys!" she sniffed as she wiped a tear away. "That's why I wasn't talking to anyone today!"
Chase knelt down and pulled Whirl into a hug.
"There, there." he said.
Heatwave couldn't believe what his audio sensors had picked up.
"I'd like you all to leave." he said. "I've got some thinking to do."
The others nodded and escorted Whirl out of the office. All, that is, except for Bumblebee, who now looked angry.
"Bumblebee, you were right." Heatwave sighed. "You were right all along. I was too hard on Hot Shot."
"Dang right you are about that." said Bumblebee. "I hope you're happy, Heatwave, because thanks to you, Hot Shot is missing and we don't even know where the heck he is! Optimus is not going to be happy when he hears about this. I'm gonna go tell him right now."
Heatwave felt his spark jump when Bumblebee said those words, but decided it was no use trying to argue.
"I understand." Heatwave nodded solemnly.
Bumblebee then left, leaving a very guilty Heatwave behind.
"What have I done?" Heatwave sighed. "Oh, Primus, what have I done?"
Heatwave then went outside the building and gazed out into the open.
"Hot Shot, I am so sorry." he said in solemnity. "Wherever you may be, I hope you can find it in your spark to find your way home and forgive me just like I forgive you."
End of Chapter 3