Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Animated. I only claim to own my OCs, Jak Skeller and Kreon.
Hello again! ^-^ I hope you all enjoy this chapter, ad our newest character.
By the time they had reached their destination, night had begun to fall. Shadows mimicked their moves as they strode closer to the ominous, empty warehouse. Jak eyed the place skeptically as she walked next to Sari. This was definitely going to need some work...
"You guys need a home base," Sari started as she stopped and turned to look up at the Autobots, "And a ship at the bottom of Lake Eerie is just...way to far away. Then I remembered this place, my dad got it in a merger. He doesn't even know he owns it!" she said smugly.
Jak sighed and shook her head.
"Sari, maybe you should have told him..." she trailed off as blinding lights flooded the place. For a moment, both girls were a bit dazed, but came to their senses after a few moments of adjusting to the light. The lights roamed around the base, none of the Autobots saying a word as they surveyed their new home.
"So... What do ya think?" Sari asked, breaking the silence.
"I think... This what you organics call a real fixer upper," Bumblebee said skeptically as he looked around. Bulkhead then took it upon himself to make himself comfortable as he groaned, backside coming to meet the concrete floor as he relaxed.
"Anywhere where I can power down for a few megacycles is okay with me," he reasoned with a smile on his lip plates.
The wailing of fire engines and police cars caught the attention of everyone, causing them to turn and look out the enormous doorway.
"Sounds like someone needs help," Optimus stated, his tone serious. "Autobots-"
"I know, I know," Bulkhead cut him off as he pushed himself up, "Transform and roll out." he groaned.
Without a seconds thought, the Autobots transformed into their vehicle modes.
"Yo, what about us?" Jak said as she placed a hand on her hip. "You just gonna leave us here?"
Optimus sat idle for a moment, before venting out a sigh.
"Get in. When we get there, I want both of you to stay out of the way. Got it?" he said sternly, his doors opening by themselves.
"Yes sir," Jak said as she saluted playfully.
"I'm riding with Bee!" Sari called as she sprinted towards the yellow car as if her life depended on it.
Jak shook her head and chuckled as she climbed in, sitting carefully so she wouldn't jostle her ribs.
As soon as both girls were safely inside, they sped off, lights ablaze and sirens wailing. They sped to the scene, looking no different than any of Detroit's other emergency vehicles.
It was easy to tell where the site of the emergency was. You could see the flames from blocks away, licking the edges of the buildings nearby by and smoke billowing from the windows and top of the building. Screams of terrified citizens were easily distinguishable amongst the incongruous sounds of emergency vehicles and the high pressure water being shot at the flames.
Sari and Jak were dropped off far away from danger, safe behind the lines of police men and saw horses.
The Autobots set to work helping people get out of the building, and keeping the flames down. Optimus shot some sort of fire retardant into the flames, successfully calming them in some places as Ratchet used some sort of ray to hold a piece of the building in the air.
Bulkhead caught another piece of falling rubble, while Prowl used the jets on his shoulders to blow back the flame to allow people to pass. Soon, everyone was safely out of the building, and the fire was beginning to die down. The Autobots turned around and strode back towards the group of citizens and emergency officials, earning the applause of every person there, including Sari and Jak.
"Good God, it's one thing for you to tell me they kick butt...and a whole 'nother thing to see it live," Jak said in amazement.
Sari nodded in agreement, clinging to her arm childishly as she watched.
"Yup! They rock don't they?"
Jak nodded in response, eyes widened slightly in wonder, before realization dawned on her. It was night, probably around 8 o'clock, and Professor Sumdac wanted Sari home tonight by dark... She was so dead.
"Sari, I think we need to get back to the tower..." Jak said with a slight grimace.
The eight year old frowned and narrowed her eyes. She placed her hands on her hips as she leaned forward slightly.
"Do not!"
"I believe you do, Sari," Optimus said as he knelt down to look at Sari. "I know you don't want to go home, but you need your rest. We all do."
Sari gave him an unconvinced look before sighing irritably.
"Fine, but you all have to come back to the tower with us. Okay? I want you guys to stay the night, just for tonight! The tower is even within walking distance!" Sari whined, putting on her best convincing face. Her eyes were big and her lower lip was jutted out, making her look like a cute, sad animal of sorts. Jak melted on spot as she resisted the urge to 'awww.' Despite the fact she'd know the girl all her life, there was no way anyone with a heart could disagree with a face like that.
Optimus let out a defeated sigh as he blinked.
"Alright, alright. Just stop making that face..."
"Aww, but it's cute!" Bumblebee protested as he leaned forward, servos pressed to his knee plates.
Sari's face instantly lit up as she punched the air triumphantly.
"Yes, yes! Bee, I'm with you," she said as hopped into his hand, which was extended towards her, and curled up happily there.
Jak smiled and shook her head at the girl's antics. Typical Sari. She could have anyone wrapped around her finger within a seconds notice. Bumblebee started walking in the direction of the tower, to which Jak followed suit.
She was stopped a few moments later by a large hand placing itself on the ground in front of her. She looked up, meeting Prowl's optics questioningly.
"You're injured. Are you not?" he questioned with the quirking of an optic panel.
"Yeah..." Jak started before sighing and climbing into his palm.
The ninja bot right himself and strode after the others, his optics looking straight ahead as he carried her.
"You know, you don't have to do this..." Jak started.
"Do what?"
"This," Jak motioned with her hand before resting her palm on his, resting her weight on it. "I'm a capable adult, even if I'm organic."
"Your recent injury proved otherwise," Prowl countered stoically, his gaze flickering down to her for a moment, becoming interested in what sort of argument she could come up with.
"Yeah, well, when you aren't twenty feet tall and made out of metal, it's easier to get hurt..." she said softly. "I just don't want to be a burden."
"Are you trying to protest against my helping you?" he countered, an optic quirking again.
"What- no! Fine, I'll just be quiet now... Just, thanks." Jak said, a defeated sigh escaping her lips as she slumped.
A barely audible chuckle escaped Prowl's lips plates, not to be heard by anyone but him.
Organics... Such amusing creatures.
They reached the tower within five more minutes, much to Sari's dismay. Jak could hear her griping from where she was.
"Come on Sari! You'll see us tomorrow!" Bumblebee tried to reason with the girl, who was now stomping around on the ground in front of him.
Jak sighed and rubbed her temples, eyes shut as she tried to block out Sari's ranting. The next second, her feet, which had been hanging off of Prowl's servo, were touching the ground. She sent him a grateful smile before hopping off and heading towards Sari.
"Okay kiddo, it looks like it's time for us to go to be-" Jak started, only to be cut off by a loud banging and thundering footsteps.
She turned her gaze towards the entrance to the building, where one of the side entry ways was hanging open on one hinge. A greyish blue blur was heading straight towards her, moving at a speed that almost made it unrecognizable.
Thinking that the incoming creature was a threat, the Autobots pulled out their weapons in a flash, aimed to protect the girl.
"No, no, don't! He's a friend, a friend!" Jak cried frantically as she threw out her arms to curb their attack.
The screeching sound of metal on concrete was heard as the offending blur came to a halt, and not a second to soon. It's sides heaved, blue eyes wide in confusion as it surveyed the giant robots standing before it.
"Easy boy," Jak said soothingly as she reached out a hand to pat the creature. "I'd like to introduce you to Kreon," she said, her look calm as she smiled.
Standing mere inches behind Jak was a large horse, its pelt a splotchy blue roan with white patterns and patches scattered randomly. Its hooves were not visible beneath the mass amount of feathering, and white capped its legs, leading up to black and then blue roan.
Kreon pressed his pink muzzle to her shirt, flaring his nostrils in concern as his blue eyes continued to watch the Autobots. His black forelock covered an eye as he shook his head and stepped forward.
"What is it?" Bumblebee asked with confusion as he looked down at the horse, head cocked.
"He's a horse... Sort of." Jak said as she threaded her fingers through the draft horse's white mane.
"I don't detect an organic body," Prowl mused as he knelt down, a servo outstretched.
Kreon cautiously stepped forward, muzzle outstretched to gently bump the ninja bot's hand.
"Yeah, that's because he doesn't have one... He's a robot."
That got their attention.
"A robot?"
"He doesn't seem like one of us," Bumblebee said.
"That's because he isn't!" Ratchet said irritably, causing the stallion to spook and side step away from them. "There's no spark in that thing!"
"Hey, he isn't a thing," Jak said as she wrapped her arms around the robot equine's neck. "He's my baby."
"A baby?"
"You know, smaller organics," Jak said as she looked pointedly at Optimus and then Bee.
"You said you weren't that kind of human!" Bee pointed accusingly at her, causing Jak to roll her eyes.
"I'm not. It's metaphorical. Kreon is like my baby because I take care of him. Humans tend to form bonds with animals that can result in maternal feelings and attachment."
"Even if he is a robot, he sure acts like a real horse," Sari grunted as she attempted to climb onto the horse's back.
The massive draft turned his head to nuzzle her leg as she struggled, as if trying to encourage her. Jak decided to intervene, and cupped her hand in a make-shift stirrup for the girl to use.
"You actually let her sit on that thing?" Bulkhead questioned as he squinted his optics.
"Yeah, he's perfectly safe. It's in his programming not to freak out when someone is riding him. I should know, I designed him," Jak said, trailing off at the end as she reached up to scratch the horse's neck.
"I don't get it... He's a robot, but he acts like an organic?" Bumblebee questioned as he rubbed his chin.
"Yes, the whole point of the Skeller ANImal is to make them as realistic as possible without making them dangerous. They react like a real animal does, but they are programmed to consider the people in their vicinity and act occordingly," Jak explained.
The Autobots glanced at one another, as if confirming what they'd heard.
"This is all too confusing," Bumblebee moaned irritably.
"Stop whining!" Ratchet retorted, optics narrowing in annoyance. "You're acting less sophisticated than a protoform!"
"Protoform...?" Sari questioned from atop Kreon. "What's that?"
"Essentially, protoforms could be the equivalent of babies, though protoforms must be brought to life by a spark. They are not created by two our kind, coming together in a manner that resembles you organics form of reproducing." Prowl explained, his arms crossed.
"So you guys don't really get to have kids?" Jak questioned as she leaned on Kreon's shoulder.
"Oh sure we can. But they're called sparklings, not protoforms. Protoforms are empty till you fill 'em with a spark," Bee chirped.
"This is way too confusing." Sari groaned as she leaned forward, burying her face into Kreon's mane.
"Of course it is. You're too tired, I think it's time we get you upstairs." Jak suggested as she rubbed the girl's back.
Sari mumbled a protest, but her eyes drooping in fatigue. Jak smiled before glancing over at the Autobots.
"Good night guys. Have a nice night."
The Autobots voiced their goodbyes as Jak grabbed a lock of Kreon's mane. For good measure, she threw her hand up in a wave as she lead both sleeping girl and robot into the tower.
R&R please! I've only gotten ONE review on this whole story... -.- And I know that you guys are reading it. The Traffic Stats don't lie. So until I get two more reviews, I won't be posting.
As for who Jak will get paired with, we have one vote for Prowl! Lemme know who you want her to end up with!