I suppose it's been a while. But I have been pretty busy. Running the Planetarium here on campus and fixing up my new apartment, and a bit of everything over the summer. But in any matter, I finally have internet at my apartment! Hizzah! Ergo, I have decided to spend this extra time due to a canceled class posting this. So just in case you thought I have left this place, I'm still here. I'll finish it all eventually.
I don't really have any other updates to mention here. I haven't actually been writing for a while. Or rather, I've been writing original stuff off and on, but FF, not so much. So if any of you want to read those original stories I've been working on- they're about as long and in-depth as my average FF here -then I can put them up on another website. I might eventually, but I'm not really intending to do that too much right now. Though, reviews have been a wonderful resource and motivation source for my FF.
Anywho, here is the next chapter. I don't own Transformers.
The next morning, Dad had cooled off from last night and asked me what I'd thought I'd seen. I passed it off as a meteor, and he confirmed that one had fallen last night. But it was smaller the way he described it, and he admitted that he should have told me about it. Then he decided I was only grounded for the week, I can't go into town, before he drove off for the university.
I waited ten minutes after he'd gone before rushing down to the garage and putting in the code to open it up.
Big Guy was sitting up in there, looking rather comical with several of Mom's old English text books laying open. But her laptop in the corner was also open with a dozen files open all at the same time. When I came in, he looked over and gave a familiar smile.
"Good morning, Samuel." He greeted in perfect English. I blinked in surprise.
"What, you know English now?" I gaped, not coming any closer.
He chuckled. "Yes, these files have been of much use." He gestured to the computer, which was now shutting down after he withdrew something from it. "Thank you, for this place to stay for the night."
"No problem." I just stared. He sure learns fast. Carefully shifting the laptop shut, he started to come out of the garage before pausing. "So, tell me you have a pronounceable name now?"
He chuckled. "I am Optimus Prime." I nodded, accepting this one. I can totally remember that one. "Is the other human here already gone?" He asked.
"My dad? Yeah, he's off to work." I stepped aside so he could come on out and stand. He was huge.
"Good. I apologize for the entire situation, and if fate is in my favor, I will not be here very long." He looked around. "And I apologize for having already brought you into this. I was hoping to find the Allspark and leave the planet before a lasting impression was made."
"Why are you here?" I asked, glad he'd learned English. No matter the methods.
"I search for this." He held up the hologram of the cube again. "The Allspark. A large, powerful object that gives off immense energy. Do you know of any such thing in this planet?"
I stared at it once again, and shook my head. "No, sorry."
"It's alright." He sighed. "I've already started searching using the World Wide Web." He mused. "I fear it's presence here will bring as much misfortune for this planet as it had ours. The sooner it's brought back, the better."
"Well, I'll help." I volunteered. "I don't know how, but I'll help."
He looked at me skeptically. "Judging from how the other human took you last night, whom you now identify as your father, he does not want you being out."
"Naw, it's just he doesn't like me being out at night. Or in the forest any time." I shrugged it off. "Or, pretty much anywhere off the property right now, 'cause I'm grounded..." I trailed off.
He chuckled. "I'd rather you stayed far from this struggle as possible, Samuel. But I thank you again for your assistance thus far."
"You're welcome." I blinked. "Good luck."
"Thank you."
I watched him drive away, rather satisfied. I'd helped him, and at least I'd gotten to know an alien. I mean, how many other kids can say they've met an alien? Well, truthfully?
That's how I got to be sitting in the living room, bored to death and wishing I'd have known more about that Optimus Prime. Like, where'd he come from? What's the Allspark? Why was it on Earth? What misfortune was he talking about? Why is he so frantic to find it so quickly? Who was he? He told his name, but, who was he? Was he really such a good-guy as he came off? So many questions, and here I was, sitting in my living room like some lazy kid.
Pretty soon, as afternoon settled in the air and I finished my homework- yes I was that bored -I heard an engine pull up to the house. They pulled up quicker than Dad normally would, but it sounded about as large as his, so I assumed it was Optimus come back.
I rushed outside, wondering why he was back, but stopped short when the heavy-duty, green SUV started to change shape the same way Optimus Prime had.
I took several steps back, staring with wide-eyes as his red ones locked on me.
"A-are you a friend of Optimus Prime's?" I asked, unsure. Whoever he was, he just laughed and spoke that alien language before grabbing me. I winced in pain, feeling my ribs creak in strain. Something tells me that's a no.
The next thing I knew, everything went black.
When I came too, the first thing I felt was deja vu. This is the second time in twenty-four hours that I've been knocked unconscious. My head hurt horribly this time, and so did my ribs.
The next thing I managed to take note of was the pain all around my ribs. I groaned and clutched at them, wondering why I always seemed to be waking up hurt.
Then, the alien voices hit me. They were angry, and they were directed at me. When I managed to sit up and look around, I was met with the green one with red eyes glaring at me. He paused in his rant, as if expecting something of me, before hitting the ground just before me and growling angrily.
A grey one with the same eye color said something behind him, and they got into some sort of argument. I scooted back slowly, heart beating a million miles an hour. The alien I first met was by no means a 'take over Earth and commit human genocide' kind of alien. But these guys, I could buy it from them.
"I'm going to assume you aren't friends of Optimus Primes..." I shuddered, when they both stopped abruptly. They stared at me, then the grey one looked away. They were listening intently, but it didn't last much longer.
They exploded into another argument, in which the green one grabbed me and they started running out of whatever abandoned building we'd been in. I whimpered at the pressure on my already aching rib cage, and clutched my arms around my head to avoid whiplash as I was swung around. Keeping my eyes shut tightly, I waited for the motion to stop. Just... what's going on here?!
There was an explosion nearby, and everything settled to a stop. I heard a new voice speak that alien language, and I frowned. That voice... it was familiar...
Bug Guy- I mean, Optimus Prime! I opened my eyes and found my new friend standing there, a very large gun for a hand, aimed directly at the aliens that had kidnapped me. He didn't look very happy, either.
They exchanged a few words, the one holding me laughed and squeezed. I shouted out and tried to push at his fingers, but he didn't relent. Optimus Prime said something, and without warning, he fired.
The grip on me loosened considerably, before it tightened again and I threw my arms up to avoid whiplash once again. From what few scenes I dared to open my eyes for, mere seconds at a time, I gathered that they were fighting. The grey one disappeared off somewhere.
All of the sudden, the green one fell backwards, onto the ground. I heard an 'OAHF' of sorts, before I was thrown upwards.
Another hand caught me, I heard several shots fired, before a very odd thing happened; I was suddenly in the cabin of a vehicle very much resembling Dad's truck. Only... newer.
Two or three minutes later, I realized I wasn't hearing anything not because no one was talking, but because my head was still swimming from what just happened. Blinking, my brain started to finally catch up and I gasped, falling forward to hit my head on the dashboard. I was in the middle of the seat, narrowly avoiding the steering wheel- which shifted to it's own accord -with my face. My arms wrapped around my middle.
"Samuel!" Optimus's voice finally hit me, and I got the idea this wasn't the first time he'd shouted at me. "Can you hear me?"
"Uhhhh, yessss." I moaned.
There was a silence, and the speedometer lowered slightly. I heard what was surely a sigh, before he spoke again.
"Thank Primus. Pick a side, Samuel. Buckle in."
Without questioning him, or the situation, I obeyed and slid to the passenger's side automatically. That's where I sit with Dad's truck, so I didn't even think about sitting behind the wheel.
"What... just happened?" I finally asked, gripping the seat belt for dear life.
"I'd foolishly assumed my association with you had gone unnoticed, or would be ignored. I'm sorry, Samuel." He sounded regretful. "I hadn't expected them to go after you."
"Them who?" I demanded. "Who was that? Why did they go after me?"
"They are the Decepticons, and they seek the Allspark also. They must have traced my own signal to your home and realized we were associated. They were trying to use you against me. I am very sorry."
"Would you stop apologizing and give me an explinatio- where are we?"
The scenery outside was nothing I'd ever seen. There were no forests, or ponds, or small towns. We were in a big city, and I've just seen two of the same fast-food joints in the last two minutes.
"South Gate." He answered promptly. "Sixty-eight miles west of your home."
I moaned and fell forward again, pressing my forehead to the dashboard once more. Only this time, it was intentional and wouldn't leave behind a new bruise.
"Are you alright?" He demanded quickly, speeding up again.
"I'm fine." I lied, clutching myself around the middle. I'm sure happy I knew this guy, even if this all happened because I knew him.
"You need a medic." He denied. "You've got two fractured ribs and a concussion."
"I don't want to go to the hospital." I moaned, not removing my head from it's rest. My eyes were clenched tight, and I had this itchy, hot feeling spreading through me. I wanted to go back to sleep.
"I'm not taking you to a hospital, Samuel." His voice was a bit off. "More of my men are scheduled to land tonight, including my medic. The Decepticons have also infected you with a slow-moving energon-based acid. No human doctor will help now."
"You've got to be kidding me." I breathed. I felt the air kick on, chilled air hitting my skin raised goosebumps.
"This is all my fault. I never, ever intended for anyone to get hurt in this. I've done a terrible job in repaying you for your assistance."
"..."
"Tonight?" I shot up quickly as something he said earlier hit me. I hissed at the pain in my ribs and he sped up again.
"Yes, some of my men will land then. We're on our way to the landing sight now."
I looked out the window, recognizing dusk in the sky. Dad should be home by now, and he's going to be so angry when he realizes I'm not there again.
"Dad..."
"Your father has already been informed of your absence. I left a message on the communication's device at your home's signature explaining you would return tomorrow."
"Did you say what happened?"
"I thought it to be something better explained in person."
"Did you say who you were?"
"I doubted that would help the situation."
"I'm going to be grounded until I die." I moaned, leaning forward once more. He slowed to a stop, and judging from how he idled there without moving, we'd hit a red light.
"I apologize again, Samuel."
A minute passed by, and he started to roll forward again. I heard a siren bleep behind us, and I looked up. A cop car was flashing us.
"You've got to pull over." I stated in a passing, figuring he probably didn't know what the cop wanted.
Without a word, Optimus Prime pulled to the side of the road, and the cop car stopped behind us. Only after I heard the door behind us shut did I realize there was no one sitting in the driver's seat.
But, by the time the officer tapped on the driver's side glass, there was a man with short brown hair, probably about forty or so, sitting behind the wheel. He didn't move, having already been looking out the window, but it rolled down on it's own.
Is it a hologram? It looks so real.
"Do you know how fast you were going back there?" The officer asked.
"Ah..." Optimus wasn't sure how to respond.
"Twenty miles over the speed limit. Don't tell me you didn't know." He glared. I opened my mouth to help, but a cough came out before words could. The man sitting beside me jumped, looking over quickly with an expression of concern. That in itself surprised me, and I kept my mouth shut a moment longer.
"What's wrong with him?" The officer demanded, voice softening a little.
Optimus hesitated a moment, before turning back out the window. "My son is hurt. I was taking him to the hospital."
The officer was obviously surprised, and I hid my own by pressing my head back down on the dashboard. Leaning over like this helped the pain in my ribs.
"I see. You should have called an ambulance, rather than acting like your own. I'll let you off now, he doesn't look too good." Did I really look that bad? A cop letting us off scotch free like that? "I'll escort you to the hospital, then."
"That won't be necessary." Optimus responded quickly. "We're almost there."
The cop looked away, I'm assuming in the direction we were headed. "Right. Then, get him in the ER, then. And call an ambulance next time, or abide by the speed laws."
He walked away, and when the flashing lights behind us shut off, I lifted my head to see the world starting to disappear behind us again.
"How'd you do that?" I wondered, coughing a bit more. That terrible, warm feeling- which I assumed was the acid he'd mentioned earlier, was giving me an antsy feeling that I couldn't sit still. And yet, if I moved, I wanted to cough my lungs out, which only made my ribs hurt worse.
"A quick search on the World Wide Web on Earth road customs, and location of local medicinal buildings." he responded. The man sitting beside me disappeared. "How are you feeling?" He knew the coughing hadn't been fake.
"Like pit." I moaned again. This time he didn't speed up, but he didn't say anything either.
As he sped on, and the short distances and quick turns faded into longer stretches of straight road, I assumed we'd left the city. I knew I should probably resent him, or be angry with him, because not only did his presence cause me to get kidnapped by giant, alien, psychopaths, but he also just kidnapped me. But all I could think about was how grateful I was that I'd made friends with a nice alien, who happened to be pretty badass back there to save me from those red-eyed ones.
He didn't seem the type to anger quickly or anything, but those guys back there sure pissed him off.
Please, tell me what you think. Most of the time, I get around to posting a new chapter because of reviews/favorites/follows. And because I can, and it's a partial inspiration for this story, you should all attend a planetarium showing. They're beautiful, wonderful, and if they're like ours, they do videos. Full dome videos are amazing, and it's just a great experience. Many showings are free, by the way. If you're in the area, check out Peterson Planetarium.