After two days of being cooped up in the Autobot base, she decided to disobey Optimus's orders and left. She didn't tell anyone where she was going. She had to get out and see people. Her body had started to change inside. Some of her important organs were no longer there. In place of them were circuits.
She ran quickly out of the base and down the hill before someone could catch her but that was short winded when Sureshock came up behind her. He quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from running.
Alexis stopped and bent her head, knowing who held her arm. "Sureshock. I need to do other things then sit in the base, waiting for the pain to come. I want to do some things that I haven't had the chance to do yet. Please let me go."
-Only if I go with you- he beeped.
She turned to her Mini-Con. "I'm always up for company but you'll have to remain in vehicle mode. I'm going into town."
Sureshock nodded and transformed. Alexis smiled and got on her scooter and sped off before she was seen again.
High above on the mountain, she was spotted. But her watcher did nothing to stop her. He felt that she needed a break from the base. He knew that Optimus would disapprove.
He jumped into the air, transforming into vehicle mode before speeding off high into the air so he could keep an eye on the girl without her knowledge.
-
Alexis strolled into town on her Mini-Con, which nobody knew it was actually an intelligent being. They all thought it was a regular scooter. She had put on a fake smile, pretending nothing was wrong.
"Alexis!" someone shouted.
Alexis looked over on the sidewalk and saw an old friend of hers. She quickly maneuvered Sureshock over to her friend.
"Sandy," Alexis said. "It's been awhile."
"Yeah. You haven't been at school lately. Why?"
"I'm moving," Alexis lied. But in a way it was the truth. She was sort of moving, moving in with the Autobots. "My Mom and I are moving out of town to another district. But I'll still be around once in awhile."
"Moving? When is this happening?"
"I'm not sure. I've also been sick too."
"Are you feeling better know?"
"Depends. Sometimes I get a real strong pains."
"Have you seen a doctor about it?"
"Yes. Would you like to do something?"
"Sure. I was just about go shopping. Would you like to come?"
"I guess," Alexis saddened. She knew she would never have the need to shop again. But there were still things she could still get like CDs, DVD's and such. All she would need to do is download them to the Autobots computer.
High in the sky, a red jet soared through the air, heading back the way he came. Where Alexis was going, he couldn't follow. He decided it was time to head back to the base and explain Alexis's absence to the others. Optimus had a right to know that she left and why.
-
"Where's Alexis?" Optimus asked.
"Not sure," Hotshot said. "I had seen her earlier outside."
"Sureshock and Starscream are missing too," Red Alert said. "Sureshock must be with Alexis but what about Starscream?"
"It's not like he can stroll down the streets," Sideswipe said.
"I'm not worried about Starscream. It's Alexis that I'm concerned with. Her spells are happening more frequent. Eventually she will no longer be human size. We have to find her now."
"That won't be necessary," Starscream said as he walked into the room.
"Starscream," Optimus said. "You know where Alexis is?"
"Yes and I did nothing to stop her. She needs a break. She has been cooped up here in the base and soon she will no longer be able to do human things. I did follow her for a while but she has gone shopping with her friend. I overheard them talking."
"Is Sureshock with her?" Hotshot asked.
"Yes."
"Thank you for telling me," Optimus said. "When she gets back, I want to speak to her. I'll be in my quarters reading over some data from Cybertron."
"You still haven't gotten through the files?" Jetfire asked.
"Dealing with Hoist's damage, Starscream joining and now Alexis's situation, I haven't had much time of anything." Optimus turned and left.
The others meanwhile headed off to the hanger where the ship was being built. The ship was now near completion, which Red Alert was pleased about.
-
At the mall, Alexis and Sandy were out shopping. Sandy was getting a bit confused as to why Alexis really wasn't looking at much but passed it off until they came to a computer shop. Now Sandy was really getting confused. Alexis would never turn down the chance to check out the latest software.
"Alexis, something is wrong," Sandy said.
"What gives you that idea?"
"Well for one, you are not doing any window shopping of any kind and we just past a computer shop that you always like to look at."
"I haven't been myself lately." That's an understatement for Alexis. "I don't really want to move but I have to."
"I can see that. You are leaving your friends. Plus you almost moved away with your father."
"Mind you there are a couple DVD's I wouldn't mind getting a hold of."
"Well lets go," Sandy said in her cheery voice. "To cheer you up a little better, why don't I treat you to an ice cream."
At the sound of ice cream did not spark her interest and she realized that her desire for food was starting to fade. Alexis placed a fake smile. "Sure why not. I haven't had a triple chocolate fudge sundae ice cream in a while." That ice cream was her favorite of all times. It was an ice cream but had the taste of a sundae.
Later when the girls were ready to leave the mall, Alexis felt a little relieved that she was heading back to the base. She knew Optimus probably would have been worried. "Sandy, I'm sorry I haven't been much of a companion today."
"That's ok. Maybe I could come by the house sometime before you leave."
"I'm not sure that will be possible but we'll see." Alexis got on to Sureshock, who waited patiently for her outside the mall entrance, and drove away.
-I was starting to wondered what was keeping you- Sureshock said.
"I know," she said sadly.
-What's in the bag-
"A couple DVD's that I'm going to download into the computer so I can watch them."
When Alexis arrived at the base, a concerned Blurr greeted her. "Where on Earth have you been?"
"Trying to get a feeling of what's left of my humanity," she said. "I'm sorry for being out for so long."
"Optimus wants to speak with you in his quarters."
"Blurr, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Are you angry with me?"
Blurr was taken aback by her comment. "Just concerned. If you were to take another painful spell, we could be exposed."
"I never thought of it that way but I needed to get out. I have been cooped up here with no other friends to talk to other than you guys and the boys."
"I can understand why that would be difficult. When I first arrived, I didn't want to be near anyone. I just wanted to do my job and that was it."
"Really? What changed?"
"The fact that you kids never stopped and I watched how the others communicated. They did their jobs and in their spare time, relaxed and played with you guys."
"There's a saying, 'all work and no play makes it a dull day'. I would never be able to live if I always had to work and never made time for relaxation. Well I better go and find out what Optimus wants." She started to head off
"Alexis," Blurr said. "He already knows where you were."
Alexis turned back around. "How?"
"I'll let him explain that." Blurr then turned and walked away.
Alexis then continued to Optimus's quarters. When she reached the door, she heard a sound and then Optimus saying for her to enter. When she was in and the door was closed, she saw Optimus at his desk, working.
Optimus looked up from his work. "Going through files from Cybertron is not an easy task."
"Optimus, I can explain my absence."
Optimus held up his hand. "You don't need to. Starscream has already filled me in on where you were."
"How did he know?"
"He watched you leave and then followed."
"Starscream knew I left? That's why for a short while I felt like I was being watched. I needed a break from here," Alexis rushed on.
"I know and understand. But I wish you had told someone before heading off. We were worried about you until Starscream informed us of where you were. I fear the Decepticons may attack and we are vulnerable right now. The sooner this is over, the sooner we can train you and be prepared for the next attack."
Alexis walked over to Optimus as he continued. "I do wish this wasn't happening to you but there is nothing that can be done but help in any way possible."
"You are doing the best that you can. I know when I fought Megatron, he seemed pretty mad. He could be making plans right now to try and get rid of me."
"That is what I fear most. Right now he doesn't know anything and I want to keep it that way until it's over and we can be alert."
"Is my mom here?"
"Yes, she's in the lounge reading up on Cybertron."
"Thanks. I think I'll go see her now." Alexis moved towards the door and left.
-
Mrs. MacDonald was sitting at one of the tables reading on one of the Mini-Cons data pads, which was about Cybertron. At first she did not notice Alexis had walked in until she was right beside her.
"This is pretty interesting," she said as she looked up.
"Yeah. Where are Rad and the others?"
"They couldn't make it today."
"Doesn't surprise me. I saw Sandy today and lied to her about why I haven't been around."
"What did you tell her?"
"That we were moving to a new district. But what disturbs me more is that she wouldn't mind helping."
"It has been hard to think in the past few days but I have decided that I was going to move."
"Where?" Alexis blurted.
"Optimus has offered me to live here in an uninhabited part of the base so I would be protected if there's an attack. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if I would be comfortable here."
Alexis sat beside her mother. She placed her hands on her knees and hung her head. "Where would you go?"
"Maybe back to Mom and Dad's farm. I did inherit the farm when they passed away."
"But that's in another state."
"Yes but I would be safe from these Decepticons and be able to keep this secret. No one knows of you out there in Maine."
"But that's far away."
"And you will be able to visit me from the Warp Gate."
"Who gave you the tour?"
"What's his name...he's mostly green."
"Scavenger."
"Yeah that's him. What's his story?"
"He was once a Decepticon but joined forces with Optimus and became good friends. He also trained Optimus. Later, he went undercover to spy on the Decepticons."
"They all seem to care about your well being."
"Yeah, they've got attached to us. More so with me in the last few weeks."
"Why don't you come home with me and pack?"
"I'll have to see what Optimus says. He doesn't really want me to travel too far." Alexis hoped that he would let her go. It would give her more time out of the base and be with her mother. She knew her mother would help anyway possible, if there was another spell.
In her mind, Kiaudica thought maybe that wasn't a good idea but she understood that Alexis wanted to be around her mother and she thought it was quite amazing to see the world from the human's point of view. The best part she liked was looking at all the different colors of material. It was an adventure that would not be forgotten and would be treasured, just as her relationship was with Starscream.
Thinking on Starscream, she had a feeling of how he felt about Alexis. She had to concentrate hard to make sure that piece of information couldn't get out. At first she wasn't sure if she liked the idea of that but what could she do? Nothing. She was dead as far a body was concerned and there was no way back. She only could take control of Alexis's body for a short time, then retreat back to her little void. There was no way she could become a Transformer permanently.
When Alexis arrived back at the base after her outing with Sandy, Blurr had said that Optimus was waiting for her. Kiaudica thought the Autobot leader would give the human the third degree. She remembered one time she left the base without saying anything and Optimus had given her the third degree about not being careful. As much as she missed being a Transformer and couldn't wait to be back, she did enjoy her time in a human body.