Chapter 4: Act First, Think Later
Darby House/Riding in the Desert:
"BEEP BEEP BEEP" I heard my alarm clock rang out. 'Ugh I forgot to turn that stupid thing off!' I thought to myself. I turn myself over in bed to hit the off switch and even though it was too early for anybody to get up, I rolled out of bed because I would never go back to sleep anyways. Today was Saturday and I typically would be getting ready to go out to my Gramma's house to ride my horse, but with the events that happened in the previous two days, my plans have changed. With that in mind I decided to go out and get the paper for mom so she could have something to read before she goes to work. I headed out the front door to the driveway, normally I would go through the garage, but with a pissed off Autobot in our garage it is best to avoid at this time. Reaching for the paper I heard a hiss and then I felt a sting on my left leg, I looked down to see Mrs. McHenry's stupid cat running away from me. "That's the second time this week you stupid cat and you're lucky that I won't skin you alive…yet!" I shouted to the cat, not caring if it woke the neighbors. 'Ugh that's just great now I have to go to the garage for the first aid kit!' I thought to myself slowly walking into the house and to the garage. I enter the garage to see Arcee in the same place she was last night, but she didn't say a word to me and vice versa.
"Now where is that stupid first aid kit? Ah there it is!" I said pulling it from the shelf. I lifted my leg up to wrap it when Arcee finally spoke up, "What happen to your leg?" "Oh just our stupid neighbors cat decided to attack me. It's no big deal really." I said casually to her. A long silence went by until Arcee came up to me, "Hey Jordyn, I just want to apologize for what I said last night to you and Jack. It's just…I was close to Cliffjumper and I was angry that the cons took him, that I kind of took it out on you two by mistake. I'm sorry." She finished with an apologetic tone. "It's alright Arcee I forgive you. I understand that when you lose someone so close to you that you can be snappish and rude. I've been down that road before with my cousin Ethan." I said to her, choking at the mention of his name. "Thank you Jordyn. So if you don't mind me asking, what happen to your cousin?" She hesitated. "He died in a plane crash ten years ago in New York and I still miss him to this day, but life goes on and you have to keep living it to the fullest. It's ok to mourn for awhile, but then you have to pick yourself back up again for the sake of your family and for the one you have lost." I said to Arcee as I was heading back inside, hoping my words would help her with Cliffjumper. As I went back in the house I saw Jack standing next to the doorway of the garage and muttered something to me, "Well done Jordyn." He smiled and then went to the shower as I went to go get dressed.
Two hours later I heard a "Vroom Vroom" sound from Arcee and Jack went to the door and said, "Shhh are you crazy?! You're gonna wake up our mom!" I put head through the door with Jack and Arcee said, "You two grab your helmet its go time!" Jack sighed, "Aww but its Saturday!" "You can watch cartoons back at base with Bumblebee!" Arcee told him. "Cartoons I'm sixteen!" Jack muttered and moved from the doorway when Arcee yelled, "And leave a note for your mom she worries!" "I'll handle it since I'm the best writer in the house!" I said with a smile. After I finished the note, Jack handed me my helmet and we got on Arcee and took off. Most of the ride we sat there in silence and until we got to a stop sign is when Arcee yelled, "Tighten your grip you two!" Arcee then took off and did a wheelie, scaring the living crap out of me! "H-hey what's with you Arcee? Jack and I said in an surprised tone. "Thought you might enjoy the ride when you're not being shot at."Arcee said remembering what happen the first time. "Oh bring it!" I said challenging her. The ride itself was amazing with all the fast turns and speeds, it was awesome I have to say! Then we drove onto the road that led to the base. As we were getting close we caught up with Bulkhead, Miko, Bumblebee, and Raf and by the looks on their faces, it seems the others went out this morning as well. All of us then entered the base waiting to see what will happen today…
Autobot Base:
We all entered the room to be met by Optimus and Ratchet, Arcee then let us off and transformed to greet the others. Optimus then went up to the bots and said, "Autobots prepare to…" Something must've happened overnight because we just got here and Optimus is already giving orders to leave. "To roll out?" Arcee asked Optimus. "To remain here and watch the children while Ratchet and I go on the mission. We will be out of communications range for sometime so Arcee I'm putting you in charge of the others until I return." Optimus explained to all of us. "Dude your biggest you should be in charge." Miko address her much larger guardian. "Uh he never picks me." Bulkhead explains to Miko "Optimus, bodyguard is one thing, babysitting is another!" Arcee said to Optimus as I saw Jack walk away from Arcee but I stayed while Arcee continued, "Besides Ratchet hasn't been in the field since the war." "My pistons maybe rusty, but my hearing is as sharp as ever!" Ratchet said with an insulted look on his face. "For the moment its only reconnaissance." Optimus explained to Arcee. "Then why do I hear an edge in your voice?" Arcee asked in a concerned tone. "Arcee much has changed in the last twenty four hours and we all need to adapt. Ratchet bridges us out!" Optimus finished as he walked through the Groundbridge.
"Okay chief what's on the activity list?" Jack asked as he went up to Arcee. "I'm going on patrol!" She said as she was walking away. "But Optimus told us stay!" Bulkhead spoke up to Arcee. "When you're in charge you can make the decisions! Bee with me." Arcee ordered Bumblebee. "Booooop beep." Bumblebee said in a defeated tone. "Bulkhead you're in charge!" Arcee said as she quickly drove off with Bumblebee. "So what's on the activities list?"Bulkhead said a little nervously to us. Before anyone of us could answer a loud echoing screech emitted from Miko's guitar and nearly busted my eardrums! Ouch! "How about band practice?" Miko asked eagerly. "Count me out because the last time I played with you, I almost had to have reconstructive surgery on my eardrums!" I reminded her. "Right forgot about that sorry! So what about you two?" Miko then addressed Jack and Raf. "Umm keyboard?" Raf said timidly to Miko. "Hmm that'll work for extra sound effects! What about you Jack?" Miko turned to Jack for an answer. "I used to play the harmonica." Jack admitted. "Yeah and we all know how that turned out Jack!" I said while laughing at the memory. "Do I look like I do country? You just cover yourself in fake blood and jump around screaming! And Bulkhead your percussion" Miko ordered. Then she proceeded to play her screeching music and it was so loud that it made even Bulkhead cringe. During Miko's supposed solo, the proximity sensors went off and we barely heard Bulkhead tell Miko to stop playing. "Proximity sensors, everyone hide!" Bulkhead ordered us as we went to hide behind his leg.
We heard the elevator stop and open with Agent Fowler already yelling. "Prime!" Bulkhead then spoke up, "Agent Fowler! Optimus isn't here right now! Nobody is, except me of course." "Well where are they? Wait don't tell me, they're out pan caking a mini mall!" Agent Fowler said accusingly. As we all stood behind Bulkhead, Raf then decides to peer from behind Bulkhead to see, but Jack and I pulled him back from sight. Agent Fowler was continuing his rant, "Prime said he would handle the Decepticons, but blowing a hole in the middle of Nebraska is not what handle means on Earth so you tell Prime-!" Fowler stopped ranting to notice Miko's guitar making noise and then asked Bulkhead," I didn't know you bots were electric?" Finally we came out from behind Bulkhead, seeing no reason to hide anymore after Miko's guitar blew our cover. "Hey."Jack said trying to act casual. "Contact with civilians! Team Prime has really gone off the deep end this time. Let me guess you're running a daycare center?!" Agent Fowler said in frustration and anger. We all decided it was time to intervene, "We are all interns!" Jack explained. "Student interns taking courses in…" Raf said while Miko named off a course,"Robotics!" Then Jack said, "Mechanics." While I said, "Engineering!" Fowler wasn't convinced with our explanations so he started to walk towards us demanding, "Alright let's move. I'm taking you all into protective custody; it's for your own protection." Just then Bulkheads foot slammed down right between us and the Agent and said, "Were protecting them!" 'I'm glad that your standing up for us big guy, but that wasn't the wisest of moves!' I thought to myself while I looked up to him and down back to Agent Fowler. "Is that so? Well then if you won't let me then I will have to call my superiors at the Pentagon." Fowler threatened while he headed for the phone, but before he could use it, Bulkhead then got the idea to crush the phone. "Don't use that phone it's out of order!" Bulkhead said to the Agent. 'Oh Bulkhead I think you just dug your own hole there!' I thought to myself. "This isn't over two ton not by a long shot!" Agent Fowler threatened the green Autobot and he made his way up the elevator.
"Way to go Bulk! You stood up to that guy! Thank you!" Miko said proudly to her guardian. "Not that he didn't deserve it, but Bulkhead I think we just gotten ourselves into a scrap load of trouble. And if Optimus finds out…let's just say it won't be pretty." I said, worried. "I know it was a bad idea to make him mad, but I didn't know what else to do I panicked!" Bulkhead said frantically. "H-hey Bulkhead calm down! We appreciate what you did and that you protected us, but Jordyn is just saying we should be prepared for what comes next." Jack said as he was trying to get the big guy to calm down. "Your right Jack! Sorry Jordyn I didn't mean to snap at you like that!" Bulkhead apologized to me. I waved it off and said, "It's alright Bulkhead trust me! Arcee snapped at Jack and I way worse yesterday so don't feel bad." I looked up to him with a smile. He smiled back and Miko said, "Besides you shouldn't be scared of a person that is ten times smaller than you! You can take on anybody big or small!" Miko then hugged Bulkhead's foot. All of us smiled at that and then before anyone else could say anything the alarm system went off in the base.
"It's an SOS from Fowler!" Bulkhead explained to us and tried to type on the computer, but it seems he doesn't know how to use it. "We lost the signal! Oh well guess he is on his own." Bulkhead declared to the rest of us. "Oh well? Your just going to ignore the call for help?" Jack and I asked Bulkhead in disbelief. "Fowlers a jerk! Who cares?" Bulkhead said in a childish tone. "It doesn't matter if you like the guy or not he could be in serious trouble!" Jack shouted to the bot. "He's right Bulkhead the cons could do who knows what to him to get information about you guys!" I tried to explain to him. Raf then spoke up, "And Agent Fowler knows your location! Our location!" Raf finished that sentence with fear in his voice. "And didn't we not just witness how fast Fowler backs down from a bot? The cons will totally make him squeal!" Miko said in a warning tone of voice. "But we lost the transmission; Fowler could be anywhere!" Bulkhead pointed out. It was Raf who broke the silence this time, "Maybe I can narrow it down. About five years ago the U.S. government started micro chipping their agents you know like owners do with pets!" I looked at him and said, "And you know this because?" Raf looks back at me, "What I saw it on TV! Anyways if I can hack into the Feds mainframe maybe I can find his location!" Raf explained to all of us. "You know how to hack? But you're like two years old!" Miko said in a surprised tone. "I'm twelve actually…and a quarter!" Raf said proudly. We all watched as Raf typed on his computer at lightning speed until he said, "I found his location!" "Raf you are genius!" I exclaimed. He looked back at me and smiled and then told Bulkhead the coordinates. The Groundbridge opened up and Bulkhead said, "I need you guys to stay here while I go check it out!" Miko with a disappointed look on her face said, "Aw don't break up the band!" "Uh Jack, Jordyn you guys are in charge!" Bulkhead gave out one last demand before leaving. Jack then turned to Raf and I and said, "Well I guess us four have the run of the place!" Then we all looked around and I'm like, "Umm where's Miko?" We all looked around for her, but then Jack said, "She must have ran through the Groundbridge!" "What should we do? Bulkhead may not have known that she followed him!" Raf said, panicking. "Calm down Raf we'll find a way to get her back here!" I said to him trying to get him to relax. "Jordyn, Miko has never seen the cons in action we have. She has no idea what's she's getting into!" Jack said to me while looking at the Groundbridge. "I know that Jack, but we have to do something!" I said with worry creeping up in my voice. "Then I guess we have to follow her and Raf you have to remain here though." Raf typed in the coordinates while Jack and I headed for the Groundbridge leaving Raf in charge. We were about to go through when it came on, but Raf insisted on coming with us though.
Area near the Decepticon Warship:
When we got off the Groundbridge we saw what we believed would be the Decepticon's ship and it is huge! "Does anyone feel like their bones are vibrating?" Raf asked in a shaky tone. Before me or Jack could say anything, we heard the familiar sounds of blasters firing up and pointed directly at us…
Uh oh it seems like those three are in a whole world of trouble now! This is what they get for hanging out with Bulkhead for a day! Will anyone come to help them? Bulkhead maybe? We'll see what happens in the next chapter. So like always please read and review! See ya later!