A/N
I have completely forgotten to work on this, probably cause the last chapter only got like one review. Thanks a lot. It takes one person to finally get fed up waiting and go onto another one of my stories asking for an update. That's how I know I've left something abandoned for far too long. That and the update date was from last year. Not even December last year, man. Anyway, here's chapter 18.
Chapter 18: Computer Logic
"How do you work this thing?"
Sam twirled the laptop in her hand. None of the buttons made sense, and the screen was still a cold black. Freddie tried countless times to retrieve the laptop but Sam refused to let go. Carly sighed at each of his attempts. The Autobots slowly walked behind them with Ironhide carrying Perceptor over his shoulder and Prowl helping the injured Bumblebee stand.
"Where are we going again?" Prowl questioned.
"The Groovy Smoothie," Carly replied. "We hang out there all the time."
"Couldn't there have been a better place?" grumbled Ironhide.
"It was either this or Freddie's house," Sam snapped. "And you do not want to meet his mother."
"She's worse than a Decepticon," Freddie mumbled, trying again to snatch the laptop. Sam stomped on his foot.
"Can we stop for a moment?" Bumblebee whimpered.
"Sure," smiled Carly.
They stopped on one of the benches near the bus stop. Even though most wouldn't say it or express it, they were all glad for the break. As Bumblebee regained his breath from bruised rips, Freddie finally managed to get hold of the laptop from Sam, who was bored keeping it away from him. Opening it up, Freddie examined the keys. Though it had the layout of an average laptop, the letters and such weren't in anything resembling English. He motioned for Prowl.
"Do these symbols mean anything to you?" he asked.
"Cybertronian," Prowl answered, "Basically, out native tongue. You kids won't be able to get much use out of it."
"Well, using common logic about how a laptop works…" mumbled Freddie, looking over each of the keys. "This one should the power."
He hesitated pressing it, but with everyone looking over his shoulder, he hit the small circle button anyway. The screen came to life slowly, turning a faded blue color with a fuzzy Autobot logo trying to remain visible in the center. Eventually it faded and the blue screen began displaying random assortments of the symbols around a shattered looking circle. Prowl groaned, standing up straight in thought.
"What is it?" Carly gasped, looking back at him.
"It's the vortex tracker than Perceptor had. He was the only one tracking it, though," mumbled Prowl. "I can't make sense of his notes."
"Somebody wake him up then!" snapped Sam, motioning to the unconscious scientist. "Or I'll do it…"
"Sam," pleaded Carly.
Sam jumped to her feet from the bench, marching over to Perceptor. She pulled, seemingly out of nowhere, a sock with something heavy weighing it done. Freddie shut the laptop quickly, scooting away. Carly groaned, turning to face Sam, and snatching the sock away. Sam looked angry and disappointed as Carly argued, "You can't hit him with the butter sock!"
"Oh, come on!" shouted Sam, slapping Perceptor anyway.
"What!"
Perceptor sat up abruptly, looking around hastily with bright eyes. Catching sight of each of his friends, he settled down. Sam, satisfied with her work, took back her seat between Carly and Freddie, the latter still trying to get some distance as Carly handed back the sock. Prowl took the laptop from Freddie, handing it to Perceptor.
"Can you tell us what this is saying?" Prowl grumbled.
"Uh," hummed Perceptor, opening the laptop. "Hmmm. It's the vortex study."
"Yeah, we got that!" snapped Ironhide, crossing his arms in a huff. "What do the notes on the side mean?"
"Well, they're my tracking notes. They find where the energy signatures strongest and where the opposing force that causes the vortex is located," Perceptor explained.
"And the two forces would be where?" perked Bumblebee.
"Wouldn't one of them be Percy?" asked Carly.
"And the alley way!" cried Freddie.
"No, actually only one of those assumptions is correct," Perceptor looked at the screen in confusion, trying to make sense of the tracker. "The alley way is no longer the strongest counter energy source."
"Why does it matter?" sighed Ironhide.
"Because," smiled Perceptor, "With this energy level, if my opposing energy could be brought within close proximity, well, we might be able to create anything vortex. We could go home!"
Every Autobot perked at those final four words. The humans, however, looked at each questioningly. What ifs were beginning to spring into their minds about losing their new friends. The Autobots, cheering silently at the thought of leaving, looked over Perceptor's shoulder at the laptop's screen. Perceptor was tracking the location of the energy source.
"We could finally go home," whispered Prowl.
"But…" Carly mumbled.
"But what, kid?" hissed Ironhide.
"What if it doesn't take you home?" Freddie offered.
"And not all your friends are here," added Carly.
"And you are not leaving us with a bunch of crazy cons!" shouted Sam, pulling Prowl by the collar down to eye level. "You got that?"
"Yes, ma'am," Prowl offered a false smile.
"You're right," Perceptor nodded.
"What do you mean they're right?" gaped Ironhide.
"They're right about one thing. We're not leaving without the others, especially Optimus!" agreed Bumblebee, crossing his arms.
"Perceptor, elaborate," Prowl ordered.
"The vortex most likely won't take us back home immediately. Probably take us to our friends who were also affected or to different worlds that may need these portals closed," Perceptor explained. "What we've done, going through worlds and placement like this is damaging these worlds' integrity."
"So basically, we go through this portal and wind up anywhere. We stay there until we either find our friends our fix their portal and continue onto the next one. This could go one forever!" cursed Ironhide. "I ain't going!"
"You have no choice," Prowl snapped.
"Got it!" Perceptor smirked. "I have the locations, just outside of town."
"Then let's find a bus," Freddie nodded, standing up.
"We're already at a bus station, genius," mocked Sam.
"Right," he sighed, sitting down again.
"What about the Decepticons?" Carly whispered.
"No doubt they're following us. If not, combining the two energy sources will probably signal to them an exit from here and another chance to find their leader," Prowl nodded. "Am I close?"
"Very," hummed Perceptor, closing the laptop.
A bus stopped directly in front of them, doors opening slowly. Few people got off and the driver waited not so patiently for them to get on. After a quick exchange of looks, Bumblebee finally got up and boarded the bus. Prowl followed, then Carly, Freddie, Ironhide, Sam and Perceptor got on last, giving one last look around. He sighed, bidding farewell to the tall apartment building not too far off. The bus doors closed behind him.