I don't own Rescue Bots, Pacific Rim, or Transformers.
This one takes place the day before Mourning. Mari's first day in Griffin Rock. She's been in Hong Kong for six months, helping in the re-booted Kaiju War, as a Field Medic, all while preparing a place for Bumblebee and Optimus to stay once Optimus retuns, and forging life-long friendships with Raleigh and Mako.
Griffin Rock
6 months later (March)
I climb off the ferry, wearing a black V neck tank top with a red belt, gray slacks, red stiletto heels, a red bracelet, a black flower pendant, and carrying a red leather trench coat and a black toat. Since I lost my Guardian, I've refused to wear much color. Usually, my ring is all, but I don't want to look Goth—not until I find the people I'm searching for.
I instantly scoff when I see a police car chasing after some kind of machine. "Apparently, the cops don't have anything better to do here than chase machines." I shake my head. "Oh well. This place is safer than the Shatterdome, and I do remember hearing of a team of Autobots stationed here. Optimus told me about it before giving the others their orders." I blink when I picture the blue and white police car in my mind, complete with an Autobot logo. "Oh. Right. The Autobot is chasing the machine…" I scoff. "That makes sense." I sigh before tapping into the comm frequency. I've got the ability to control tech, and I'm the only surviving bot who can tap into comms. The only think I'm missing now is a minicon.
"You will be compensated for any damages, citizen."
"Attention, rescue team. Robo landscaper out of control! Could use a hand here."
"It might be a while, Dad."
"So that's why an Autobot's chasing a machine."
"Who's this?"
I sigh heavily. That could have gone a little smoother—more like a lot smoother. "Sheyenne. I was raised by the Autobots from age fourteen. I'm an army ranger."
"Any way you could help out here?"
"Not on this mission, because I just got off the ferry and I don't know anyone yet, but once I get settled in, sure!" I smile. "I'm a field medic, for both bots and humans, but I've gone into the field too."
Garage
"That's just too bizarre. They're alive, but we're supposed to ride inside of them?"
"Don't be a wimp Graham, they're just vehicles."
"Hey, I can hear you, you know."
"Hurry up, Blades, we have to go."
With Me
'Blades…' I blink back tears at the name. 'Oh, Blades… The last thing I need right now is to be reminded of the P-bots. Not…not after losing Ratch… I can't…' I take a deep breath and force myself to stay stoic. I know it's not him—I know it's not Defensor's right arm—it can't be. There's never one of a gestalt. 'But…but if he had the strength… Oh, Mari, stop it! It's hopeless, and you know it! You'll never see them again. He doesn't even sound like…' I take a deep breath, and let it out shakily. 'Like Aid's brother… He…he sounds like Aid…'
Town
"No sign of the suspect. What now, sir?" The landscaper suddenly appears behind him. "I advise you to hold on, sir." He flips over it, and grabs the landscaper. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can be used against you." He throws the landscaper into the dumpster. "And you will not be compensated for any damages!"
Dani looks down from the roof. "We missed it, didn't we?"
Charlie looks up to her before turning to Graham. "What kept you all?"
"Our rides wouldn't let us drive. They're slowing us down."
Heatwave transforms. "Fast enough for you?"
"Let me out. I'm gonna hurl." Charlie crosses his arms at him. Heatwave transforms and opens the passenger door. Kade tumbles out, followed by Heatwave tossing his hat out. The hat lands crooked. "Never again." He fixes his hat.
"Look, I know we're all adjusting to being a team, learning about each other, but it'll go a lot smoothly if we'll work together."
"I signed up to rescue people." Kade points back to Heatwave with a thumb. "…not make nice with machines." He storms off.
Charlie turns to me. "You're welcome to stay at the firehouse with us."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Charlie, please."
I nod. "Charlie."
Command Center, Cody's POV
"These humans don't even realize they're on a team."
"Don't worry Heatwave, I'll talk to him."
Bunker Room
I change into a black long sleeved yin-yang T-shirt, dark blue jeggings, black socks, and black tennis shoes, then head upstairs. I've got my bags down here, and I can unpack whenever—maybe once everyone else settles in. I won't be able to without either a crap-load of Mountain Dew—I don't drink, but it'll give me the placebo effect—or Tylenol—again, don't do drugs—but the pain's too much to sleep.
Kitchen, Normal POV
I lean against the counter as Kade pulls a bag of popcorn out of the cabinet.
Cody walks in and leans against the fridge. "Hey, Shey!"
"Hey." I turn to the cabinet. I know I need to eat something—I haven't eaten since yesterday at noon—but I can't bring myself to. I'm just not hungry. I sigh before turning back around, but not before rubbing the center of my chest in a vain attempt to ease the pain.
"Hey, Kade, can I pop that for you?" Cody takes the popcorn and presses a button, causing it to pop. "You know, it's pretty amazing you get to be partners with an alien.
Kade takes the popped bag. "Oh, yeah, amazing, I have to ask my ride to roll down my own window." He starts for the stairs.
"But you and Heatwave have ton things in common. He—"
Kade starts up the stairs to his room. "It's not a "he", Cody, it's a truck."
I sigh as I turn to Cody. "Not going well, huh?"
"Nope." He turns to me. "Want to help?"
I shrug. "Why not? Nothing better to do."
Outside, With Dani
Cody and I look up to where Dani is climbing her rock wall. "And back home, Blades had wheels. He never flew until he got to Earth."
"That's why he is so bad at it."
Cody shrugs. "Plus, he kinda hates heights."
"Blades is my partner, he better learn to love them." She reaches up and rings the bell.
Cody frowns.
'Definitely not P-Bot Blades…' I cross my arms over my chest. "Dani, this isn't how you go about give and take, you know? You gotta give a little."
Garage, With Graham
Cody sits on top of a machine, handing tools to Graham while I watch, one hand over my chest. I'm trying the inferno now. I have to fight through the pain. They need me here. "Boulder is crazy about Earth. He wants to soak up everything he can."
Graham sits up from under a machine. "And I'd love to learn about his planet's tech." He takes a wrench and lies back down.
"See, you're the perfect team, you can teach each other—"
Graham stops working and props himself up. "Cody, Boulder is an alien from a highly-advanced society. How am I gonna teach him anything?"
I scoff. "These people are hopeless." I turn to Cody. "I'm going down to the bunker, Cody."
He follows us down the pole. "Why did you want a room down here anyway?"
"Because, I grew up with the Autobots from fourteen. I feel safer down here…"
Command Center, Bunker
I ditch Cody when I realize the bots are in their command center. Once at the door, I see Heatwave pacing in front of the screen, and the others standing back to give him space. "This isn't working, Optimus. Our partners don't want anything to do with us."
Chase holds out a hand. "Actually, Chief and I get along quite well."
Heatwave growls. "How are supposed to complete your mission to help humans, if they won't let us?"
"I'm certain you will find the way, Heatwave. Remember, learning to communicate with humans is also part of your mission."
"My partner communicates loud and clear." Blades touches one of his audios. "Especially loud."
Boulder raises one arm. "Well, Cody's been trying to help us fit in."
"Then take guidance from Cody. I have found that the young of this species are the most valuable allies. I will be out of comm range for several of that planet's years. I ask you to answer to our young Star Healer. I am sure she will bring a light to your team, as she has with us. She is quite determined, as well, and eager to learn. I would not be surprised if she rejoined me as a rescue bot herself."
"Make friends? With all due respect, Optimus, that's all you have to say?"
"Not entirely. Rescue Bots, good luck!" With that, the comm switches off. Heatwave's left with his mouth hanging open. He sighs and crosses his arms before looking down to me.
I look up to Heatwave. I have to be what Optimus said, even if I don't feel like it. "Wave, it's—"
The door opens with a clang. "Guys— Wow, I didn't know the bunker had a secret room!"
Blades looks down to him. "How did it go, Cody?"
He sighs. "New plan. Kade, Dani and Graham don't know you like I do, right?" Blades kneels to Cody. "So, you all just need to bond."
"What does "bonding" entail?"
I smirk. "Definitely not what it does for you."
Bunker
Cody drags the three down the elevator. "This is the amazing thing we had to see? The bunker? We've been here thousand times."
"Not in years!" Dani turns to her stuffed elephant. "Oh, I used to love to play on here." She hugs it before turning to Kade. "Remember, you get lost in the tunnels, Kade?"
Graham walks over to a game. "Wonder if I could beat my old score."
Cody backs up to the bots and I. "You're on."
"I'm going to my room." They all give me a look. "I have to unpack!"
They all start arguing. "First—"
"I don't wanna go—"
"We could go by height—"
"I let me go—"
They finally push Blades out. "Hi!"
The three turn to us in varying degrees of shock and frustration. "Really?"
"Don't freak. I invited them, too." The others step out, with me on Heatwave's shoulder. "I thought it would be cool if we all hang out together. You know, just the ten of us."
Kade storms away. "Come on, Kade. What're you afraid of?"
Boulder jumps in. "Is this an Earth game? May I try?"
Graham nods. "Sure. You pull this to start."
He breaks off the plunger. "Oh, fun! Now what?"
Blades looks at some kind of cue card. "Lovely weather we're having today, isn't it?"
Dani is sitting beside him, still hugging her stuffed elephant. "Perfect for flying!"
He leans down, almost wilting. "Or not." He glances back to the card. "Oh, do you have any hobbies?"
"Flying."
Kade and Heatwave are sitting on either side of a corner, in the same position. It's almost laughable. Kade glances to him, then stands and walks off. "I think, we're done here."
Chase steps over to Cody, Blades, and I. "That went quite well."
The alarms go off. The three older kids run over to the screen. Kade presses a button, followed by Charlie's voice. "We have a situation on main in park. Sewers are overflowing."
"So call a plumber."
"With lava." At that moment, one of the manhole covers blows, and lava explodes through the hole. At the sight, two cars collide. "This can get ugly pretty fast. I need the whole team out here. Cody, get on the command center comm-link. Your siblings will need some help working with their partners."
"Wanna come with us?"
I shrug. "Better than moping around this bunker."
Town, Charlie's POV
Chase and I are directing traffic around the lava when Haley drives past us and into the growing pool. "Chase, help her."
Chase reaches down and allows her to climb into his hand. "Next time, citizen, please follow the rules of the road. It's not just a good idea, it's the law."
With Dani, from the Command Center
"Can you be a little more—Ow!—gentle with that?"
"Soon as you learn how to fly."
"Dani, be nice, remember?"
"Blades, buddy, I know, this is hard for you, but you can do it. So do it already!"
"That's not what I meant."
I roll my eyes. "Duh." I pat the seat. "You'll get there."
"I hope."
Command Center
Cody turns to the screen following Boulder and Graham.
Boulder pushes one last concrete barrier up to the lava, then transforms before turning to Graham. "Do you think this is enough to hold the lava?"
"You're right. It must seem such a primitive solution to you."
"Graham, Boulder's not dissing you, he's trying to help.
But you gotta tell him what you're thinking, first."
He turns to the screen watching Kade and Heatwave.
Heatwave pulls up and transforms, then prepares to start spraying a fire, only for Kade to start with his old truck. "I've got this covered. You can move on, partner." Heatwave turns and walks away.
"Kade, you have to work together!"
"No time for chit-chat, Cody." Kade takes off his comm link and flicks it away. Under the truck, another manhole cover blows, flipping the truck and knocking Kade out.
"Kade! Kade! Are you okay? Kade!"
The lava shorts out the comm. Heatwave suddenly shows up and starts spraying the approaching lava. "You're welcome, partner."
Charlie's face comes on the monitor. "Cody, we've cleared up the most of the downtown, but the lava won't quit. If we can't block the leak soon, I'll need you to send out island-wide evacuation order."
"You got it, Dad, but let me call someone first." He ends the comm and contacts Doc Greene. "Doc Greene, you there?" Doc appears upside-down, causing Cody to smack the screen.
"Do not adjust your monitor. I'm upside down over here, too. I'm testing my theory that I can solve equations faster when all my blood is collected in my head."
"Doc, is there a volcano on the island we don't know about?"
"No, but there is one we do know about. Mount Magma, built for the world's fair of 1939. That's when we invented deep fried cotton candy, you see, the sugar felt in the hot oil."
"Doc, how could a fake volcano spill real lava into the sewers?"
"Well, the volcano is fake, but the lava isn't. When Mount Magma was moved here, the engineers sunk the pipe deep into the Earth's core. Pent up pressure in the core could push lava back up the pipe. But the top of the volcano is sealed, so the lava would come out wherever it could. Like the sewers. The pressure would keep forcing lava out until it covered our whole island. That would take about 4.7 hours." He pulls out a timer. "Oh, saved a full second of my calculation time! Hanging upside down really does work!"
"Doc, this is for real."
He flips himself right-side up, then turns back to us. "Then you have to get rid of the lava pressure immediately." He climbs off his contraption and grabs a soda bottle before shaking it. "Think of a volcano as a giant fizzy bottle. To get rid of the pressure, you open it a little at a time." He starts to slowly open the bottle. "A small controlled eruption should take care of your lava problem, but don't open the lid fast or…" The soda explodes out of the bottle.
Town, with Charlie
Blades lowers a concrete barricade as Chase directs him. Heatwave and Boulder each place another around the sewer grate. "All right, team. Just got off the comm with Cody. He says we can stop this lava, but we have to erupt a volcano to do it."
Blades lets Dani and I out, then transforms, before turning to Charlie. "And that's the safest option?"
"It's the only option. I won't lie. Things might get hairy. If the volcano goes up too fast, we could get caught in the lava." He walks over to the bots. "I'll understand if you don't wanna be a part of this mission. It's dangerous. Griffin Rock isn't your home."
Heatwave turns to him. "If you go, we go."
Graham steps forward. "You'd risk your lives for us?"
Boulder looks down to them. "That's what being partners means."
Chase continues. "Wherever there is an emergency there are Rescue Bots. Ready to serve, save and protect."
Blades finishes. "We didn't have the chance to save our home, we won't let you lose yours."
Charlie smiles up at them. "Glad to have you on board." He turns to his family. "But for this plan to succeed, we'll all have to put aside our differences and work together as real partners. Understood?" Everyone but Kade nods. Kade steps forward and smiles, then nods as well.
Mount Magma, Normal POV, with Blades
"You're almost there, guys. Boulder, I'm sending you with schematic of how the volcano works."
Graham studies the schematics. "Yes, I see."
"Graham, you have to tell Boulder what you're thinking."
"Oh, right. Sorry." He turns back to the diagram. "Okay, from this diagram, it looks like the volcano's ON-switch should be inside the mountain nearby." They stop, and Graham climbs out. "But I don't know where exactly."
Boulder lifts his shovel. "That's where I can help." He slams it down, sending out seismic waves. Graham flinches from it. "Found it."
"Whoa, you have seismic imaging?"
"Of course."
Cody turns to the screen with Charlie on it.
"Head back to town, please. It's about to get hot around here."
"Oh, no."
"We've planned this picnic—"
Chase steps up behind him. "Okay, right away."
"Yes, sir."
With Heatwave and Kade, Command Center
The two firemen are almost bored to tears. "What's going on, Cody? When do we get to see some action?"
We glance at the screens. "Blades is moving into place now." We turn back to the screen with Blades.
Normal POV, with Blades
Dani lowers the wench hook. "Blades, we're attaching you to the switch of volcano's lowest setting." Graham hooks it to the switch. "When you fly up, the volcano will turn on and blast out the lava. Get clear as quickly as you can."
Dani quickly replies. "Blades and I have it from here. Shoo you two." They pull up on the switch. "We did it."
"Now, let's just get out of here."
The ash cloud covers Blades and Dani. "I can't see!"
"Blades, go higher! We have to get out of this."
"Which way is higher?"
I stroke the seat lightly. "Just relax, Blades. It's okay."
"Dani, talk nicely."
Dani sighs. "I know, I know." She turns her attention to Blades. "Blades, I'm not going let anything happen to you, I know you can't see, but I can read your instruments clear as day." An explosion comes from the volcano, causing Blades to panic. "I'll guide you. You're right side up. Just take us as high as you can, it's okay if you go slow.
"Here goes nothing." He flies up and out of the ash.
"You did it, Blades!"
I lean back in the seat. "Oh, thank God."
"I did it, Dani, I did it!" His rotor suddenly jolts. "Um, excuse me. I think my rotor just hiccupped."
"It must be the ash. We better take you down." We land on a nearby cliff.
Cody turns to check on Kade and Heatwave.
The two start hosing down the lava as Charlie comes over their comms. "How does it look, Kade?"
"This lava isn't going anywhere."
"Good. Chase and I closed all the mountain roads just in case. Sounds like crisis averted, team."
"Way to go everyone. I'll be waiting for you in the bunker."
Field, Normal POV
Dani looks through her binoculars and gasps when she notices the lava is flowing back into the volcano. "That's weird. The lava is disappearing."
I simply glance to Dani, doing everything in my power to not rub my chest.
"Wasn't that what we wanted?"
"Not like this." She turns to her comm. "Uh, you, guys. The lava over on my side is draining in some sort of hole in the rock."
Graham groans. "Oh, that's not a hole, it's a tunnel."
Boulder looks down at Graham, a worried expression on his face. "A tunnel. Like the ones that all lead to the firehouse bunker?"
Heatwave looks down to him. "Wait a minute. The lava is flowing towards the bunker?"
Kade continues. "But that's where Cody is."
Heatwave quickly activates his comm. "Cody! Cody, can you hear us?" He lowers his hand. "Must be offline and underground by now."
Kade turns to yell at Graham. "Why didn't you warn us Cody might be in danger?"
"I-I didn't know! There's no tunnel on the schematic!"
It's more than obvious Kade is more angry with himself than he is with Graham. "We're supposed to be heroes and we can't do anything!"
Heatwave transforms. "We can do plenty if you stop complaining and get in!" He turns his attention to Graham as Kade climbs in. "Graham, are there any other tunnels near which intersect that with the lava?"
"I don't know. None of these diagrams are up to date." He turns to his partner. "Boulder, can you map the tunnels below us?" As Boulder does, Graham taps his comm. "Dani, we're gonna need water. Maybe we can cool this lava and slow it down.
In Blades
"I'll see what I can do."
"Got it."
Dani turns to me. "You okay?"
"Fine, Dani."
"You seem… off. You're nothing like what Optimus said…"
"I'm fine, Blades."
Graham turns to Boulder. Okay, here is the lava, if you take the tunnel below you might have the time to stop the flow before it reaches Cody. But you have to make it to this crossing before the lava does."
"We will."
With Dani
"I see water tower. But there is no way we can get there on foot." Blades suddenly takes off. "Whoa! Uh, Blades! Oh, no, we can't fly in this ash it might freeze your rotors."
"And it might not. If it means helping Cody it's worth to few hiccups. Excuse me in advance?"
Dani winks. "Anytime, partner."
I turn in my seat to where I'm looking out the window, my fear of heights beside the point.
With Kade
Graham comes over the comm. "The intersection should be straight ahead."
"No, no, no!" They stop at a wall of rocks blocking the tunnel. Kade jumps out and starts moving rocks. "We'll never get through!"
"Get in!" Heatwave slams through the pile of rocks.
"How did you know that would work?"
"I didn't." He stops and lets Kade out.
"Like Graham said, if we can cool down the lava we can stop it from reaching Cody."
"Not if it's just keeping coming."
They start spraying the lava.
With Dani
Dani, Blades, and I fly over to the lava with the top of the water tower. "Anybody ordered a drink?"
"What? No, we're taking this to the lava. Oh, I get it. Earth humor."
I sit there in silence. Funny or not, I can't bring myself to care.
Dani turns to me, a worried expression in her eyes. "Sheyenne?"
I look up before glaring at the canopy. "What?"
She turns away. "Nothing."
With Kade
"The lava is moving too fast."
They back into the roof of the cavern. "Good place as any to hold our ground."
Suddenly the water stops. "What happened?"
"We've exhausted my water reserves." He looks down to Kade as he retracts the hose. "Go, save yourself!"
Kade turns, then turns back and lays a hand on Heatwave's leg. "Fat chance."
Outside
Graham looks up to Blades. "OK, Blades. Drop the water, now!" The water tower explodes on impact.
Inside
The lava is about to melt Kade's boots. He raises his boot nervously, and cringes, as the water reaches them in the nick of time. "Yes, the team up top came through!" He looks up to Heatwave. "You know, this doesn't mean we're best friends or anything.
"I was thinking the exact same thing."
Bunker, Third POV
Cody looks up when Kade and Heatwave pull through the door to the tunnel. "Hey, how did you guys get in here?"
Kade runs over to us and hugs Cody. "Don't you ever scare us like that again!" He then walks away.
Heatwave transforms and looks after Kade before turning to Cody. "Yeah, what he said."
"What did I do?"
The Next Day, Morning
I stumble upstairs in a black Batman T-shirt, dark blue jeggings, black socks, and black tennis shoes, and fix some tea before sitting at the table with it.
"Looks like you had a hard night."
"Something like that." I mutter to my tea. Between flashbacks and spark break, I barely slept last night.
"Anything I can do?"
I shake my head. "Not really."
She sits beside me. "You look…sad. What happened?"
"My biological family is full of abusers, and my adoptive family is…off-planet…"
"We'll take you in. It's no problem."
"Maybe for you. I'm autistic, Dani. I'm not normal."
"You were good enough for Optimus." She smiles. "You could just…use something like that for your cover."
"Distant cousin, then—just in case."
"In case of what?"
"In case I fall for your younger brother." I stand before pouring my tea into a travel mug. "I'm going back downstairs."
Afternoon
Cody runs into the living room, dragging me. "You guys! You got to come check this out!" We all take the elevator to the bunker. Cody has to push Kade off it once we stop. He turns him toward the wall, where the bots, Charlie, Cody, and I had painted the rescue bots logo. "What do you think? I mean, this is their home now, too. Right?"
Kade slaps an arm around Cody with a smile on his face. "Sure looks that way."
