From Good to Bad
So far the day was a good one. Sam had been shaken awake by an excited Mikaela. The government was releasing her father from jail. She was leaving in a few minutes to go meet him but wanted to say goodbye first and thank Sam for being the one who manipulated the government into freeing him. Mikaela, with a mischievous wink, promised Sam that she would repay him later. Sam felt his face burn and could do nothing for a couple of minutes except grin stupidly.
The next good piece of news came from Simmons. Sam had been daydreaming about Mikaela while the Autobots argued about the likelihood of more Decepticons coming to Earth. Daydreams and arguments were interrupted by angry shouts.
"You can't do this!" Simmons howled. "Decades of work destroyed! I won't let you do this!"
"The order came directly from the President," Keller responded. "There is nothing you can do about it. Sector Seven will be shut down."
"For generations my family has worked for Sector Seven! My great-grandfather removed N.B.E.-1 from the Arctic. My grandfather and father made sure we were ready for when more N.B.E.s came to Earth. You can't erase my family's legacy! Everything we worked for can't be destroyed!"
"Simmons," Keller said sternly, "I told you that you can't change this. The decision has been made. The President wants an agency that works with the Autobots not one that wants to destroy every alien out there even if they are the good guys. Sector Seven no longer fulfills the goals of The United States Government. I'm sorry."
Simmons looked around desperately. His eyes fell on Sam and the Autobots. "It because of them isn't it?" he asked pointing at the Autobots. "It's because I pissed off the transforming truck. Or is it because of him, that kid with the criminal girlfriend?" he asked, this time pointing an accusatory finger at Sam. "That's why you're shutting me down. It not right. You should stick with fellow humans not alien robots."
"That's enough Simmons," Keller said impatiently. "Go and collect any personal belonging you have at your office. You no longer work for the government. No more questioning the President's decision." Simmons looked like he was about to explode with anger. His hands balled into fists and his face turned bright red. He shot one last venomous look at Sam and the Autobots before walking away. Sighing, Keller followed him.
Ironhide sighed happily. "We are finally rid of that irritating human." Ratchet chuckled.
"Ironhide, Ratchet, the man just lost everything that he worked for. Try not to act to happy," Optimus said.
"He captured Bumblebee, arrested Sam and Mikaela, and insulted you. He and Sector Seven never did anything good."
"They kept Megatron frozen," Optimus replied. "They tried to hide the All Spark. The war might have been lost if Sector Seven hadn't done those things."
"Optimus, why do you defend that human? Even you did not like him," Ratchet said.
"Because we want to form a friendship with the humans. We are more alike than we are different. That means we must be kind even to those that are a nuisance if we want a friendship between our two races." Ironhide and Ratchet sighed but Bumblebee nodded in agreement. "Shall we tell Sam, old friend?" Optimus asked him. Bumblebee nodded again.
"Tell me what?" Sam asked, quickly snapping out of the daydream that he had fallen into again.
"Well, Sam, Optimus and I have been talking and we think that you should do something…"
***
Sam paced back and forth in the military base in front of four building sized Autobots. Occasionally he would pause to stare at them. Each time he stopped he would open his mouth, apparently wanting to say something, but would close it again when he could not find his voice. He would instead start to pace again. His day, which had started out so good, had just become bad.
Bumblebee turned to look at Optimus. Optimus returned his gaze and merely shrugged his massive shoulders. He then turned his glowing blue optics back on the young human pacing in front of him.
Sam finally spoke. "This is crazy. This is even more insane then all the things that happened since I met you. I mean, me fighting building sized, shape-shifting, robots was crazy. Me throwing a cube into Megatron's chest and killing him was insane. But what you want to do now… it's the icing on the cake!"
"Icing? Cake?" Optimus asked aloud, confusion on his face and in his voice. "I don't understand." Sam didn't answer. He continued to pace, muttering under his breath. It was now the leader of the Autobots turn to glance at Bumblebee. The yellow and black Autobot simply tilted his head to the side. It was his way of saying that it was a 'human thing' and that he didn't understand any better than Optimus.
Sam spoke again. "I just don't think it is a good idea. We almost died in Mission City but we just got out of there alive. If you want to tempt death again in just-"
"Sam," Optimus replied cutting across him, "your parents deserve to know the truth. They were taken by your government because of us and our connection to you. Do you not think they deserve to know what their child went through? We will, of course, leave the final decision up to you but I believe that you should tell them."
Sam scowled at the looming Autobot. "I told you before that my mother has a temper. She would flip if she found out how many times I was almost maimed, squished, shot, or killed. Dad would not go better, especially when he finds out that it was you who destroyed his lawn. You're asking for trouble!" None of the robots said anything but Optimus gave Sam an odd look. Sam immediately felt like a small child being reprimanded by his parent for a wrongdoing. Still scowling, but slightly red in the cheeks, he muttered to his feet, "I'll introduce you to them and we can tell them all that happened. But if they do go ballistic, you can't say that I didn't warn you!" He looked up just in time to see the Autobots smile.
"You made a wise choice, Sam," Optimus rumbled in his deep voice. "Only I and Bumblebee will come. Ratchet and Ironhide will remain here in case a Decepticon appears. For the three of us our next destination is your house." Sam merely looked like he was going to be sick. Both Optimus and Bumblebee backed up. In a whirl and clatter of twisting and folding metal both Autobots seemed to fold in on themselves. In a matter of seconds a truck and car sat gleaming exactly where two humanoid robots had stood before. Bumblebee opened the driver's door for Sam. When Sam was secure inside of Bumblebee both Autobots exited the military base and drove off.