Reckoning

An awkward silence had once again descended upon the humans and Autobots. Ron and Judy Witwicky were still too shocked to say anything. Bumblebee and Optimus Prime were clearly uncomfortable about the situation and Sam was still trying not to break into giggles over the insanity of the whole situation. Optimus glanced at Sam almost pleadingly, asking the boy with his optics to help him out. Sam wanted to help the Autobot out but a deeper, darker, part of him wanted to let the Autobot dangle in the wind for not listening to him. Surprisingly, it was Ron who broke the silence.

"S-Sam w-who are they? W-What are they?"

That dark thought of letting Optimus suffer immediately left Sam. "They're friends, dad. They are the good guys."

"We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron. We call ourselves Autobots. As Sam said, we are friends," Optimus added.

Ron stared silently at Optimus. Even though Optimus was speaking English, Ron didn't seem to understand a word that he said. He focused on his son. "Sam, they're good guys? Look at them. Look at their size! They just destroyed the lawn! My lawn destroyed, trashed, gone!"

Optimus answered. "Normally we don't tend to make this much damage. We just had an accident." At this statement Bumblebee shifted guiltily. "I assure you we meant no harm. I admit the first time that we were here damage was caused…"

"Damage? What damage?" Ron asked.

"He means the night we were arrested by that weirdo man. The night when my flowers were crushed, the fountain was smashed, the electricity was knocked out, and we had those earthquakes. That was you, wasn't it?" Judy demanded. Optimus nodded. Judy tightened her grip on her broom. "You are a menace! Go away!" She swung the broom at Optimus.

"No mom!" Sam cried. He was too late. There was a loud thud as the broom collided with Optimus metal leg. The force caused Judy to fall backward. The broom fell from her hands as she fell to the ground. Sam ran forward and threw it across the yard before Judy could pick it up again.

Optimus looked aghast. He glanced at Sam. "Sam, perhaps we were too hasty coming to your parent's house," Optimus murmured, his glowing blue optics following Ron as he helped Judy to her feet. "They do not seem to be taking our presence to well."

"Oh, no, you're not backing out now," Sam replied. "Besides, they were doing well until you two came tearing around the corner." Optimus blinked in reply but Bumblebee nodded in agreement.

"Sam! Get away from those things!" Ron yelled. "I'm calling the cops!"

"No! They are friends, friends!" Sam cried desperately.

"Sam, you are hurt. You said humans didn't do it. Those are the only alien, whatever they are, things around. They did it!"

"No, mom, they didn't! They saved me! Bumblebee's my guardian!"

When Ron and Judy didn't move or speak Optimus added, "The reason we came to Earth was to find the All Spark. Your ancestor Archibald Amundsen Witwicky had the information that was need to find it. When he discovered Megatron in the Arctic the location of the All Spark was burned into his glasses. He then began to see Cybertronian symbols."

"HA!" Ron said triumphantly. "I told you he wasn't insane!" Sam and Judy merely shrugged. "But how did you know about the glasses?"

"We found out about the glasses through the worldwide web. They were on the website "eBay," Optimus replied, clearly pleased about how he had found out about the glasses and that Ron and Judy were no longer yelling or trying to whack him with a broom.

"On eBay," Ron repeated, "on eBay…" Sam flinched. "Sam, you were selling our priceless family heirlooms on eBay! I don't… where is your Witwicky pride?!"

"Well, I need money for a car. No car means no girl. Plus, I always thought he was lame. Of course I don't anymore," Sam said quickly after seeing the dangerous look on his father's face.

"We knew that your ancestor could no longer be alive," Optimus said, steering the conversation away from dangerous waters. "I sent my scout, Bumblebee, to Earth to locate the living descendents of Archibald Amundsen Witwicky. But I believe Sam can tell the rest of the story better than I can…"

So Sam spoke of everything that happened since he brought home the disguised Bumblebee from Bolivia's Quality Used Cars and Petting Zoo. Occasionally Optimus and Bumblebee would fill in some more information. After he was done, Sam and the Autobots waited for Ron and Judy's reaction. Darkness had fallen and the only noise came from happily chirping crickets.

"You really did all that?" Ron asked. Sam nodded. "That's incredible!" Sam and the Autobots jumped and the sudden outburst. "You upheld the Witwicky pride!"

"Oh, my brave little Sammy!" his mother exclaimed. Both parents ran forward to hug their son. Sam, Optimus, and Bumblebee all exchanged startled looks. None of them had expected it to turn out like this.

"I never would have imagined that a Witwicky would be the first to discover alien life! My son was the first to befriend aliens!" Ron turned to beam at a startled Optimus and Bumblebee.

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry that I attacked you with that broom," Judy said. "First time I have ever done anything like that before. I promise I won't melt you down into scrap metal."

"Scrap metal," Optimus repeated shaking his head. Sam merely smiled. "Sam, I must return to the military base. Bumblebee will remain here with you."

Ron and Judy look less pleased about this statement. "He has to stay here?" Judy asked, pointing at Bumblebee. "But why? Don't you want to leave and go back to your Cyber place?"

A haunted look appeared in the optics of Optimus. "Our planet is now dead," Optimus said. "There is nothing left for us there now." A silence fell between them until Optimus broke it. "Bumblebee will remain with Sam in case a Decepticon comes wanting revenge for the role Sam played in our war. Bumblebee will protect you." The yellow Autobot nodded.

"Do you, er, think it will be likely a Decepticon will come," Ron asked tentatively.

"No, it most likely won't come to pass. But, as your old Earth saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry." Ron and Judy seemed to accept this. Optimus now turned to the young human that he owed his life to. "Farewell for now Sam. I know that we will meet again soon. I will never forget that I owe you my life."

Optimus now turned to Bumblebee. No words were spoken between them. Optimus merely gripped Bumblebee's shoulder before nodding to him and then to Sam and his parents. The leader of the Autobots then transformed back into a truck then took off into the night.