Dreams and Reality

Sam strode down the forest path whistling. He glanced around to make sure he was alone before stepping off the path and into the forest. He continued into the heart of the forest now humming a tune that he had made up. Eventually he made it to a large clearing in the middle of the forest. Boulders the size of houses laid scattered everywhere, the remnants of a giant mountain that once stood there. It was a perfect hiding place for anyone or anything.

Suddenly from behind one of the boulders a huge creature began to stir. Massive feet began to pound the ground as it began to move in Sam's direction. It sounded like a massive dinosaur was on the move. Sam really wouldn't have been surprised if a T-Rex stuck its head around the boulder. Before he would have thought it was impossible. But ever since he met robotic aliens who could transform into cars and stuff, well, nothing seemed impossible now.

Sam waited for the creature to come around the boulder, preparing to run if it was indeed a dinosaur. A huge human shaped creature appeared. It was made of silver-gray metal and towered high above Sam's head. He could barely make out glowing red eyes. It looked more like a walking tank than anything else. The creature paused and stared at the human.

"Boy," Megatron said in his harsh voice, "I have been waiting for you!" In one single leap Megatron jumped the distance separating him and Sam.

"No!" Sam cried. Before he could say anything else or even attempt to run Megatron pinned him to the ground. Next second Sam was being tickled by the giant robot.

"You said you would come yesterday," Megatron growled. "You better have a good reason for not coming sooner!"

"I was busy with Mikaela," Sam gasped between laughing fits. "I couldn't just ditch her!"

"Well, if you were with Mikaela I can forgive you," Megatron muttered. He released the laughing human. "Just don't stand me up again."

"I wasn't going to," Sam said. "You just don't say no to human females. Especially when they're your girlfriend and she wants you to do something. They get mad and stay mad for a long time. Then they hold it against you for even longer. There just was no safe way out." Megatron sighed but said nothing. "Look, you're my best friend. In fact, you're the greatest friend that I have ever had."

"Thank you Sam," Megatron finally said. "That means a lot to hear you say that."

"I also want to say this. It's not the same as the way that I feel about Mikaela but I love you. You are like the brother that I never had and I never want that to change." Sam strode forward and hugged Megatron. Megatron gently patted Sam on the back with a huge clawed finger.

"AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGHHH!" Sam screamed jerking awake.

"Sam!" Optimus cried. The huge Autobot jumped due to the human's sudden outburst, hitting the tree that they had been sitting against. The tree gave an ominous crack. Optimus turned his optics on the young human who was now was pounding his hands against the sides of his head. "Sam, what is wrong?" The human didn't answer but continued to pound on his head. Optimus hesitated wondering what he should do. If Sam was an Autobot Optimus would believe that he was malfunctioning. He would get Ratchet to fix him but Sam was human so that would not work. Optimus had learned from the worldwide web that humans sometimes went insane and that they sometimes could not be fixed. Perhaps the stress of the Mission City battle caused Sam's mind to break. "Sam, I am going to get a doctor," Optimus worriedly. He started to get to his feet when Sam spoke.

"No, I don't need a doctor. I'm fine."

"Sam, you appear to be ill. I think a doctor should examine you."

"No, I really am fine. Just had a bad dream. No, it was more of a nightmare. I'm fine," Sam repeated. "I'm sure you also have had bad dreams."

"I think Autobots dream the way humans do. Sometimes we let our spark wander. It brings up past memories of how things went or how we wish it went. They can be good memories or bad ones."

"Yeah, that sounds like dreaming," Sam muttered.

"I have discovered recounting bad dreams often makes one feel better. Do you wish to try it?"

Sam hesitated. He never told his dreams to anyone, not to his parents and definitely not to a giant talking alien robot. But Optimus made him feel safe and he trusted the giant Autobot with his life plus he didn't think that Optimus would laugh. Sam did want to forget about his dream. So he told Optimus everything. "Then I told him I love him like a bother and then we hugged. Oh god, I can't believe I said I loved Megatron and then hugged him on top of everything else." Sam smacked his forehead with his palm and groaned.

Optimus was silent for a few moments. "I admit that your dream is one of the strangest things that I have ever seen or heard. Do all humans dream such strange things?"

"I don't know. Maybe," Sam answered dully.

"Well, Megatron is dead so you don't have to fear, ah, hugging and saying you love him," Optimus said reasonably. Sam laughed. "In addition the real Megatron never would have let you so near him or be gentle with a human. Your dream could never become reality."

"Thank God," Sam said laughing again. Even Optimus chuckled. "By the way you were right. I feel a lot better now that I told someone."

"Indeed. It is nearing daybreak. Ratchet should be done restoring Bumblebee soon."

"Well, then let's go see him!" Sam cried jumping to his feet. Optimus stared at the suddenly energetic human in surprise. Where humans suddenly got great reserves of energy he did not know. It was one of the mysteries of humanity that Optimus had yet to figure out. As Optimus began to get to his feet Sam spoke again. "Wait, Optimus. Please don't tell anyone about my dream. It's, um, embarrassing for me to dream about Megatron like that. Everyone would laugh especially Lennox and Epps."

Glowing blue eyes met soft brown eyes. "You have placed your secret with one who will never reveal it," Optimus replied. Sam smiled gratefully. Together they made their way back to the base.

Ratchet did not appear to be done yet with Bumblebee. As they walked pass the repair room they heard a technician say, "Dude, that is the coolest thing that I have ever seen!" They made their way back to the corner where Mikaela still slept and Ironhide still stood. Sam gently shook her awake and told her that Bumblebee was almost ready. The four of them waited in silence for almost thirty minutes.

Suddenly from Ratchet's repair room music blasted out. "I get knocked down, but I get up again! You're never going to keep me down!" Bumblebee emerged with both legs reattached. Sam and Mikaela cheered. Ironhide and Optimus smiled. A tired Ratchet appeared beside Bumblebee followed by the five technicians.

"As you can see I was successful," Ratchet said gesturing to Bumblebee. "I even added more weapon capabilities to him. He is now stronger then he has ever been before."

"Isn't it amazing?" a technician blurted out. "We helped! Coolest thing I have ever done!" His fellow technicians beamed clearly pleased with themselves.

"Best work you've done in a long time Ratchet," Ironhide said. Bumblebee nodded in agreement. Suddenly dance music began blasting from his speakers and Bumblebee began to dance to it. He punched the air, twisted, turned, and twirled around. Sam and Mikaela cheered him on. After exchanging startled looks the technicians began to cheer as well. Military men and women soon gathered to watch the dancing Autobot. Ironhide was clearly amused while Ratchet looked amused but clearly disapproved of Bumblebee's antics. Ratchet glanced at Optimus who merely shook his head. He was not going to ruin Bumblebee's excitement. For the first time in a long time the Autobots could celebrate about something. Optimus would let them celebrate for as long as they wanted to.