So sorry for how long it's been, guys. But, I'm currently in my senior year of college (the first one) and let's just say that junior year sucked. So, now I've sort of got a system. I currently have six stories I need to complete, and all six of them will be completed. I'll still probably be posting new ones during this time, though.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. I don't own Transformers or the characters!
"Here we are." He announced, and I felt us pull to a stop. I sat up again, to find us in the back of some old building, in the middle of nowhere. The passenger door popped open as I reached for the seatbelt. By the time I was standing out there, trying to stand upright, I gasped and heeled over, wrapping my arms around myself again.
I heard him transform, and he lifted me up again.
"Careful, there." He insisted. I'd flinched when he picked me up, but relaxed again when he didn't hold me nearly as tightly as the red-eyed ones had. He held me up with cupped hands.
The sun was down now, and I took a deep breath.
"Thank you." I hunched over again, relieving the pressure on my bones.
"You shouldn't thank me." He denied. "Once you are healed, you'll return home. This will not happen again."
"I sure hope not." I winced, before realizing he'd stopped. I looked up, and he pointed towards the sky. I followed his gaze to see a few white lines in the sky. Four of them, streaking, not disappearing, and coming closer.
"That's them?" I wondered. He didn't answer; instead, there were four Earth-shaking explosions in quick succession on three different sides of us.
"I've already informed my medic of your condition, and he's preparing a procedure to cure you of the acid, and set your other injuries right."
"Just how much about human medicine does he know?" I questioned, skeptic of this.
"He's researching it now."
I would feel a bit more concerned about this, but I convinced myself that they were, after all, advanced alien robots. How would I know if this is a bad idea?
This is probably a bad idea.
I did my best to avoid moving too much as he carried me towards a wooded patch. But I wasn't doing very well, evidence in my throbbing tongue between my teeth.
From out of nowhere, another alien- with blue eyes also -came up to us from behind. He spoke quickly in that alien language of theirs, gesturing to me. Optimus Prime responded, shifting his hands to hold me a bit more securely. I hissed and doubled over.
"Easy there." Optimus Prime murmured, looking down to me.
The other alien spoke quickly, looking closer. He was shorter and monochromatic black as opposed to Optimus Prime's red and blue.
Optimus responded again, and they fell silent again.
"So, who's this?" I wondered, taking a deep breath. We were in the trees by now, headed towards one of the nearer landing sights.
"Ironhide, weapons specialist." He answered. I looked up at the new arrival and nodded.
"Hey there."
He said something in their language to Optimus, who in turn spoke in English.
"Once my medic, Ratchet, has a chance to look at you, I'll start on transferring what I've learned on the language to the others." He didn't expect an answer, as he kept talking even as we slowed. I could see another large alien through the thin trees, about a dozen yards ahead of us. "Ironhide greets you also." He nodded.
Honestly, I was the one in pain, but he seemed more shaken about the situation than I was. I was about to comment on this, when the sudden intake of air sent me into another coughing fit, which sent me wincing and whimpering at my stupid ribs.
Ironhide and Optimus Prime came to a stop in front of the new one, whom I assumed was the medic. Optimus spoke quickly and briefly, and the medic- Ratchet -answered, gesturing to me. Optimus Prime answered shortly, and held me up.
A light fell over me, and I jumped in surprise- thus further harming myself.
The medic looked irritated, and spoke directly to me, which I looked to Optimus for help.
"He asks you to hold still." Judging from his tone, I didn't suspect the medic had said it so politely. So, I took the hint and tried my best not to move as the light rose goosebumps along my arms. It was a strange, tingling sensation that I could actually feel seep through my skin and pass through me completely.
When it left, more words were shared and I was handed over.
"Ratchet knows very well what he is doing." Optimus spoke to me confidently. "You can trust him."
"I've barely known you long enough to trust you." I pointed out, and received another sharp word from the medic, who poked at my back and shoulder so I sat up right.
I gasped in pain, and went to hunch over again, but whatever he said, he obviously didn't want me to do that. Making me sit up again, he started to take a tool of some sort, which looked rather big and scary.
Then he gave a quick rant to Optimus and Ironhide, obviously angry for some reason, before dropping the tool in frustration.
Optimus responded quickly, gesturing to me and sounded rather concerned while saying it.
"What's going on now?" I questioned through my teeth, making an effort to remain sitting up. Oh, but it hurt.
"He's only been on Earth for a minute, he isn't used to such a small patient." Optimus Prime responded. "I'm working on the language files now."
I decided not to respond as Ratchet made for the tool again, and started to modify it. I let out a breath, and sucked in again. I winced, but the pain in my ribs had started to dull. That warm, antsy, and now more painful feeling was spreading. That would probably be the acid.
Ironhide stepped closer, saying something, but quickly backed off when Ratchet went off on him. During my short time here, I'd already decided on how scary this medic was. I was not about to get on his bad side, and I was really hoping he didn't mind having to fix me after being on this planet for a total of two minutes. I hope this situation isn't upsetting him too much.
He seemed done with the modifications and held the tool up. My eyes widened and I scooted backwards. He snapped something and made me sit upright again.
"Easy there." Optimus didn't step any closer, and wasn't too concerned about the giant needle-like object his medic was now pointing at me. Ratchet had taken several things off from around it, and broke part off the end even before he seemed somewhat satisfied with it.
"Is this really necessary?" I questioned, looking up at him quickly.
"Energon is highly acidic to organic matter. We're lucky this isn't raw energon. No Earth medicine has been developed to combat energon, as it's not a natural substance found on this planet. Ratchet knows what he's doing."
The medic in question gave a clipping statement to Optimus Prime, who nodded and glanced at me quickly. Wait a minute, what did he say? What?!
Ratchet started to come closer with it, scanning me with the light again. He brought it down towards my arm. I pulled back quickly, automatically. He said something irritably and grabbed at my arm to hold it out. He said something else, and before Optimus could translate- as he was about to -he stuck my arm with the needle-thing.
I winced, received a *bop* on the head, and felt an odd coolness quickly spread through my arm. Like there was ice inside, and it started to go numb. He released me, and I tried to flex my fingers. Move my arm, it worked fine. And Ratchet hadn't gone in nearly as deep as I'd expected. If I were him, I probably would have gone all the way through. Then again, I'm not a medic.
Then, the coolness started to spread, and the itchy-hot feeling was swept into the icy-numbness.
"That's it?" I wondered.
Ratchet looked to Optimus quickly, and Optimus Prime spoke shortly. Ratchet answered, taking more time than he had earlier. He didn't sound quite as rushed or impatient now, which made me relax a bit. When he stopped, Optimus turned to me.
"The Decepticons have used a similar poison on us, in which it was only a poison and did not carry the effect of an acid. The antidote that Ratchet had come up with before applies perfectly fine in this situation, eradicating the energon ingredient and rendering it useless. However, because you are organic and have already sustained this 'acid' for a few hours, you should feel weaker for the next several solar cycles, and have trouble breathing. But the damage is self-healing, even for a human and will not last longer than a local lunar cycle."
A month and I'll be fine. Great.
"Where did you find him anyways?" A new voice asked, and I jumped in surprise, turning around quickly. Another had arrived, this one was silver and the shortest thus far.
The medic complained at me in that alien language and wacked me upside the head, making me sit upright as I'd been once more. The new arrival laughed at me.
"He's a control freak, don't worry about him. I'm Jazz." He seemed interested in me.
"Jazz." Optimus shook his head, disagreeing.
"It's true." He shrugged. "How did you two meet? Not going to tell me or what?"
"This, I'd like to hear." The black one- Ironhide -crossed his arms. They both seemed amused, despite the situation. By now, half my body was numb, and the itchy-hot feeling was gone.
"Not now." Optimus denied quickly. "I'd rather go through this once, and Ratchet won't touch the language file until he's fixed the boy-"
Speaking of fixing 'the boy', Ratchet suddenly ripped half my shirt off and wrapped it around my ribs. I squirmed, wincing, trying to get away, but he growled at me. I held perfectly still, biting my tongue hard. I don't know how he got it to stay, or what else he did, but he certainly did something to my ribs because now it was painful to hutch over and fine to sit upright.
"Where is Bumblebee?" Optimus Prime asked Jazz.
"He was spotted by some locals, so he had to take a detour. Should be here any minute." Jazz shrugged.
Now Ratchet was scanning my head. He stopped quickly and pressed a finger to my forehead. I flinched- I had a bruise there -while he said something to Optimus Prime. Optimus, in turn, started to inch away. He wasn't quick enough, however, because Ratchet smacked him and gave him an earful.
When he was finally done, Optimus asked a question... twice before Ratchet decided to respond.
"I'll take your slagging language file, there isn't much else I can do. You're so concerned about some human's health, and you let him bang his own head up? I'd expect more from you, Prime." He muttered.
"Thank you, Ratchet." Optimus Prime said simply. "The boy is fully healed, then?"
"Humans aren't Cybertronian, Prime. They require time to repair for all injuries. The energon is gone, but his ribs will take at least two local lunar cycles to take the brace off. And I highly recommend finding something more suitable than torn cloth." He pointed at me.
"I am only grateful you could help him, Ratchet. I accept full responsibility for what's happened to this boy." Optimus Prime stated dutifully.
"You're the only one getting blamed! You should know better, leaving an ally, especially one so vulnerable, unprotected while the Decepticons are known to be watching you!" Ratchet went off again. "If I have to treat him for another Decepticon kidnapping..."
"That will not happen again." Optimus stated easily. "We will not be on Earth much longer. Not us, nor the Decepticons. You won't have to put up with our war again, Samuel." He turned to me.
"That's great, but it's never going to happen unless we get moving." Jazz pointed out. "Do we even have any leads?"
"Yes." Optimus Prime nodded but glanced down at me. "I'm not leaving him unprotected again. The Decepticons already know how to use him against us, and I don't want anyone else getting hurt for this. Bumblebee!" He greeted the fifth and final arrival. He was a yellow one, with the same blue eyes as all the others, but was even shorter than the silver one. Not by much, but a little.
'Bumblebee' blipped and saluted in greeting, before looking down to notice me. He tilted his head to one side, curiously, before looking back up to Optimus.
"He's alright now." Optimus answered a question I hadn't gotten at all. Bumblebee hadn't spoken their alien language, he'd just made an odd bleeping sound and looked. "And it won't happen again. Until we manage to leave the planet, will you ensure his safety?"
Bumblebee nodded and looked back to me curiously. Optimus crouched before me, and I raised my chin.
"Bumblebee will be your guardian. Until our war has left your planet behind, you are at risk. I accept full blame for what's happened, and I will take the danger from you as quickly as I possibly can. Until then, Bumblebee is one of my best scouts. Will this be acceptable?"
"Y-yeah." I nodded, and wondered what on Earth I got myself into.
Why didn't I just listen to Dad and not go into the woods?
By dawn the next day, I was fast asleep in the passenger's seat of a yellow Camaro, speeding down the high way and back towards the house. It was just Bumblebee and I here, as the others had gone to follow Optimus Prime's lead on the Allspark. They'd found what they suspected to be coordinates on some old guy's glasses; I don't know. It sounded ridiculous to me, but that's all they had.
Seven A.M. found me waking up as we idled in front of the house. Bumblebee had found a way to communicate through clips of music and talking through the radio, and I wondered why he couldn't talk.
"Gotta go- just talk to him- Another one bites the dust!" He played. I sighed, and started to reach for the door handle.
"He's going to be sooo angry..." I started to talk myself out of leaving the cab of this nice, safe, alien robot friend. Leaving a place I know to be safe, or going into a house where I might be killed. Hmm...
"If you want to- help is on the way- I'm here."
"Yeah, introducing him to a giant alien robot might not help my case..." I mused. "Well, no. Maybe he'll think he's dreaming and I can convince him I've been here this whole time?"
"Just get out there- Samuel." The last one, my name, was actually a recording of Optimus Prime. I started for the door handle again, just as the front door swung open and my Dad stood there, pissed off and red faced. I quickly pushed the lock down and yanked my arm back.
I flinched when the quick movement jostled my ribs.
"Sit up. -doctor's orders-" He insisted, popping the door open on his own.
"Samuel James Witwicky!" Dad stormed down the steps. Oh, shoot. I scrambled out of the vehicle, opening my mouth to start with the first of my pathetic defenses. But he cut me off. "What's gotten into you lately? First you start wandering in the trees, and now you're running away? Have you found some girl? Bad influence friends?"
"Well, they are friends..." I started, backing up as he advanced. He didn't hear me.
"Do you realize what you've done? Running off, especially at this time? You're grounded until you die." He growled at me.
"But, Dad. It's not really my fault." I put my hands up, still stepping backward.
"What have you done to your shirt?" He demanded.
"About that... it's really a funny story..."
"Where the hell have you been?" He seemed to realize how beaten up I looked.
"Umm, with some bad influence friends?" I tried. He raised his eyebrows, not coming at me anymore, and was waiting. He was just waiting, watching me and clearly, I had shaken him up. "I'm sorry, Dad. But I didn't really mean to disappear like that. Really. But, ah… do you remember that meteorite I told you about? Well, he's a pretty cool guy. And, he's got these really cool friends, but he's also got these enemies that decided it was a good idea to kidnap me because they thought they could use me to hurt him."
"What are you talking about?" Dad demanded, exasperated. "Sam."
"I don't know a lot about what's going on, but I know it's going to be alright. So, please don't freak out. They're only here to look for this thing that comes from their planet, and they really don't want to hurt anyone. At least, the ones that are my friends. I swear. Ah…" I glanced back to the yellow 'car' behind me, then back to Dad. "I want you to meet Bumblebee. He's my guardian right now."
I knew when he transformed. Not only could I hear it, but I also saw the shocked look on Dad's face, slowly rising from the height of a car to the height of a giant alien robot. A few heartbeats of silence passed, and I had no idea what was going to happen now.
So there it is; the chapter that's been about 95% completed for at least four months. This one took me so long because (other than school) I really didn't know what the main plot of this was going to be. Now I do, so there's that.
I am adamantly against Michael Bay. I always write my FF in the Bay-verse, because I love the concept and the setting, but I really don't like Bay as a director. I haven't even seen his last two or three TF movies because I didn't think I could stomach it. However, I'm super excited about Bumblebee (directed by Travis Knight) though. I haven't seen it yet, but you can sure bet I will. So, anyone who has seen it, without providing spoilers, what do you think? I'm rather excited.