'Thoughts'
'Bumblebee'
"Talking"
"Communications link"
Calypso's POV:
It was quiet for a moment before Optimus begins to talk again. "And since you know now of our existence, I fear as that of yesterday the Decepticons know of yours." "Got it. If we spot any strange vehicles, call 911. Can we go now?" Jack asks.
I stare at Jack, "What?" I ask Jack, shocked. "Are you insane? I'm living the ultimate dream here in Botsmainia. And I will not let you or anyone else shatter it!" Miko says. I nod, agreeing with her. "It is best that you four remain here, under our watch. At least until we can determine our enemy's intentions." Optimus stands up while he's talking.
"Optimus, with all do respect. The human children," Ratchet begins. "Children?" I ask, obviously offended. Ratchet looks at me for a moment before continuing. "Are in as much danger here as anywhere. They have no protective shell. If they get under our feet they will go… Scwish!" Ratchet stomps his foot, trying to scare us. I giggle while the others back up.
I stare up at him, 'Ratchets pretty cute… For a giant robot alien… That just makes it even cooler!' I think to myself. "Then for the time being Ratchet, we must watch where we step." Optimus says. Suddenly and alarm goes off. The Autobots turn towards the giant computer.
"What's that?" Jack asks, 'Proximity Sensor.' I nod, "Proximity Sensor, someone's up top." Raf says, explaining it to Jack and Miko. "It's Agent Fowler." Says Ratchet. "I thought we were the only ones who know about you guys?" Jack asks.
"Special Agent Fowler is our designated lesion to the outside world. As he tends to visit only when there are… issues. It may best if you do not meet him at this time." Optimus advises us. Jack, Miko and Raf hide behind the wall, giving them a good view of the main room.
I look around the room for another place to hide, I notice a hallway that just suddenly ends. 'I wonder why the hallway just suddenly ends?' I wonder, I notice a giant computer. I quickly hide behind it. "Is he really that bad?" I ask, Ratchet snorts at my comment and walks over and stands beside the computer, helping me hide better.
I watch as the light from the elevator comes down, reaching the ground floor. A man steps out, he was short, fat and wearing a suit. Not what I was expecting.
"Seven wrecks, 34 fender benders, a three hour traffic jam. And a particular note, many reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make and a black and yellow custom muscle car." Fowler says, as soon as he left the elevator.
I quietly snicker as Arcee and Bee just look at each other. "So, anything you want to get off your tin chest, Prime?" Fowler asks. "We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler." Optimus says, trying to calm Fowler.
"They're back, aren't they?" Fowler asks, "If you are referring to the Decepticons, I have doubts they never left. Your planet is much to valuable." Optimus answers. "Then it's time to wake up the pentagon." Fowler suggests.
"Hear me Agent Fowler, we are the best possibly your only defence against the Decepticon threat." Optimus says. "Says you." Fowler snaps. "Hey fleshy," Bulkhead says, interrupting Optimus and Fowler's conversation.
"Did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team prime knows when to use force." Bulkhead grabs an important looking machine as he talks. "And how much to use." Bulkhead crushes the machine in his hand. "Bulkhead, I NEEDED THAT!" Ratchet yells at him.
Bulkhead looks at the machine with a guilty look. I silently laugh while this whole ordeal is happening. "Enough," Optimus says, he turns back to Fowler. "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condemn widespread human causalities. Agent Fowler, I however cannot."
"Then do us both a favour and handle this Prime, under the radar." Fowler finishes and walks back into the elevator. "Or I will." Fowler says, right before the doors of the elevator close, sending him back to the top. We all come out of our hiding spots as Bulkhead walks over and stands beside Optimus.
"Pretty big bearings, for a human." Bulkhead says, "Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead. As he should be." It was quiet for a moment, the Autobots deep in thought. I stare up at Ratchet, somehow I feel connected to him, I don't know why but I just do.
The computer makes a weird pinging noise. "Blasted Earth tech! Cliffjumpers signal popped back online." Ratchet says, staring at the computer, annoyed with it. My eyes widen as I recall Arcee mentioning a Cliff yesterday. "Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asks.
The Autobots ignore her. "How is that possible?" Optimus asks. "It isn't, another bug. The system is shock full of them." Ratchet tells Optimus. "If there is any chance that Cliff is online," Arcee begins. Optimus nods, thinking the same thing.
"Ratchet, prepare a sick bay. We may need it." Optimus tells Ratchet and turns to leave. "Hey!" Miko yells, Optimus turns and looks at her. "What can we do?" She asks.
Optimus stares at us for a moment. "Remain with Ratchet." He finally tells us and walks away. "Awww…" Miko whines, "Awww…" Ratchet mumbles. I look up at him in shock. 'Are we really that bad?' I thought to myself. I turn towards Optimus, just as he pulls on some type of lever.
The hallway that just ends suddenly starts glowing green and some sort of portal opens up at the end. Optimus, Bee, Arcee and Bulkhead walk into the hallway and suddenly disappear once they reach the green portal thing. "What was that?" I ask Ratchet, amazed.
"Optimus transported them to the designated co-ordinates by the ground-bridge." Ratchet tries to explain, but just succeeds in making me even more confused. "What's a ground-bridge?" Raf asks.
Ratchet sighs, "A scale down version of a space-bridge technology. Since we don't currently posses the means or the energon required for inter-galactic travel." "Your stuck here." I say, finishing Ratchets thought.
"With the likes of you, yes." I stare at him, for some reason his words hurt me. "But I constructed the ground-bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet." We all stare at the now empty hallway. "Wow, does it work for humans?"Raf asks.
"Naturally," Ratchet scoffs. "You mean I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asks. "Within moments. In fact, allow me to send you there immediately, all four of you." My eyes drop to the ground, his words hurting me even more.
"Watch it Ratchet." Miko says, I look up and watch as Ratchet raises an eyebrow at her before turning back to the computer. Miko scoffs, "What a jerk." I look back at the ground with a crestfallen face. It was quiet as the Miko, Jack and Raf notice my broken expression.
They give me a confused look before Jack walks over and pulls me into a hug. Looking over Jack's shoulder I notice Ratchet staring at us through the corner of his optics, a weird look on his face. "What's this?" Miko asks as I pull away from the hug.
I see her pointing to some weird metal box thing. Ratchet notices what she was pointing at and walks her way. "Broken, don't touch." Ratchet simply says as he passes her and walks across the room. Miko reaches to touch something else. "Don't touch that either." Ratchet says without looking.
I snicker as Miko looks away, pouting. Jack walks over and puts his arm around me, me and Jack had always been close. "Is there anything in here we can touch?" Jack asks. Ratchet shakes his head before noticing our position, he stares at us for a few moments before something pops up on the computer.
Ratchet looks up at the window and sighs. "How come you guys are using human computers?" Raf asks. "It certainly isn't my choice. It was handed down from the previous tenants when we inherited this former missile silo. I make modifications as I see fit." Ratchet says, explaining.
The computer makes a few more beeps and the screens are covered with a bunch of error windows. Ratchet sighs and tries to fix the problem. I pull away from Jack, "I think I can fix that." Ratchet turns to me, "Really…" He asks, sarcastically. "You know this is complex technology."
I ignore him. "Can I borrow your laptop?" I ask Raf. He nods and grabs his laptop from his bag. I grab it and plug the router into the bigger computers USB port. "I mean it's no child's toy." Ratchet says to me. I ignore him again and continue typing commands into the laptop.
I finish typing the last command into the laptop. I look at Ratchet when I'm done. "Now try it." I tell him, Ratchet huffs and turns back to the computer. He presses a few buttons and the error windows disappear. He stares at the screen before turning to me.
I shrug, I unplug the router from the USB port and give the laptop back to Raf. Suddenly we hear Optimus' voice. "Ratchet, bridge us back. Use the arrival co-ordinates." Ratchet moves over to the machine. "NOW!" Ratchet pulls on the same lever and the ground-bridge activates.
I run to the rail and watch the others drive in with what looks like a blast from an explosion right behind them. Ratchet closes the ground-bridge just as they reach the main room. "Wow…" Raf breaths as they all transform. "Cutting it close, how about Cliffjumper?" Ratchet asks. They other Autobots look down.
Miko runs down the stairs and over to them. "What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I come with next time?" Arcee growls. "Look!" Arcee begins, obviously angry. "Hey, hey, Miko. Lets go see what the bots go hide in their sock drawers." Jack says.
"Seriously." Miko mumbles as Jack pulls her away from the bots and back up the stairs to where the rest of us are. We all couldn't help but overhear what bots were talking about, we all are curious about what happened.
"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asks. It was quiet for a moment, I fought the urge to look over my shoulder. "Not Cliff, at least, not anymore. He was mutated, butchered like something from those Con experiments during the war." I hear a clank and look over my shoulder to see Arcee down with Bee trying to help her back up.
"I'm fine, just dizzy." Arcee tells him as she gets up on her own. "Robots that get dizzy…" Miko says. "Robots that can be injured…" Raf mumbles. "Robots with emotions…" I say softly. "Robots that can… die." Jack finally concludes.
Bee helps Arcee to one of the scans Arcee, he looks at Arcee's hand. "What is this?" He asks. That's when I notice the purple liquid on Arcee's hand. "I don't know," Arcee says, holding up her hand, peering at the purple substance.
"Cliff was covered in it, leaking it." Ratchet takes a sample. "Go take a decontamination bath, NOW!" Ratchet tells Arcee. Bee helps Arcee get up and they head down a hallway.
"Optimus, I hate to bug, but no bars." I blink and grab my cell, true enough, no bars. "A security pro-caution, the silo walls isolate all radio waves." Optimus says. "Well if I don't call my mom, like now, I'm pretty sure the cops will be out looking for Cal and me." Jack says.
Optimus stares at Jack and I, confused. "Have you two broken a law?" He asks. My jaw drops and I begin to laugh. "Curfew. It's after 10." Jack explains. My laughter quiets, "Wow, the day just flew by." I mumble. "I better get home too, or I'll be grounded for a year." Raf says.
"Earth customs, I hadn't considered. But the issue of your safety remains." Optimus looks around and sees Bulkhead. "Bulkhead, accompany Miko home." "Awesome! My host parents will freak!" Miko exclaims. "And maintain convert surveillance, in vehicle form." Optimus finishes.
"Curb side duty. Got it." Bulkhead says, "Awww…" Miko whines. Optimus turns to Bee, who just walked into the room. "Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf." Bee nods. Optimus looks at Ratchet, "Ratchet, "Busy." "I know, for now you shall finish with your findings but you will also be Calypso's guardian."
Ratchet sighs and glances at me. Arcee walks back in. "Arcee, you'll accompany Jack and Calypso home, just for now until Ratchet is finished with his business." Optimus says. Jack rubs his head, a nervous habit. She gives a dermic sigh. "Still dizzy." She says.
"Your fine." Ratchet announces. "Says your doctor. Besides, if I'm getting dragged into this, so are you." Arcee gives another sigh. Bulkhead, Bee and Arcee transform down into their bi-petal form. Me and Jack climb onto Arcee, just as we are leaving, I glade at Ratchet before we turn around the corner and he disappears from my view.
The ride home is quiet, nobody talking because me and Jack know that Arcee doesn't want to do this and we didn't want to aggravate her. We finally make it home about 20 minutes later. Arcee drives into the garage, Jack and I climb off and Jack walks to stand in front of Arcee.
"Arcee, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss." Jack says. "What could you possibly know about loss?" She asks. I feel an emotion I haven't felt in a long time, anger, and it was growing. "What, you think your the only one with problems?" I snap. She transforms, "I'm not sure boy problems counts." She snarls and my anger intensifies.
"Our father left us when I was 10. One day he just got up and left, I have never seen him since. I know what its like to lose someone close to you!" I finally lost it and yell the last part, tears flowing down my face. Jack walks over and brings me close.
"My mother and Jack are all I have." I mumble, staring at her. She stares at us, at a lose for words. "Cal, I-I'm so sorr-" She begins, but stops when we hear a vehicle. "Decepticons!" Arcee says, her hands turn into guns. "No, its just our mom!"
Jack runs outside, I give a final glare at Arcee before following Jack out. "Jack?Cal?" Mom asks as she gets out of her car. "Mom!" Jack cries, "Haha, don't freak, I can explain." Jack says, "Can you?" She asks and walks into the garage.
"Jackson Darby and Calypso Darby, we've talked about this." She says, referring to the Autobot in disguise. "Yea, I know."Jack says, relived that Arcee wasn't in robot mode. "You don't know, I worry about you two enough when your not here. Now I have to worry about you two on a motorcycle!" Mom says, obviously disappointed with us.
"I'm 16 mom and Cal is 18, we can't keep riding 10 speeds or driving around your van forever." Jack argues. "How did you even afford that?" Mom asks. "Its used." Jack says quickly. I roll my eyes, "And I helped pay for it, too."
Mom gives me a sharp glance. I sigh and continue, "The point is, we may have been a kid when Jack bought these." I hold up our helmets, Jacks is black while mine is white. "But we're not anymore. Hell, I might even go to university next year if I'm ready, You were always trying to tell us to make responsible choices. Well, Jack chose her."
"And I'll be responsible. I promise." Jack promises mom. She stares at us before looking at Arcee. "Her?" She finally asks, I shrug. "I didn't think Jack would be bringing home girls just yet." I laugh at moms comment.
"I like to think she brought me." Jack mumbles. "Well, I'm glad you two finally have a reason to wear you helmet. Every single time you ride!" Mom points a finger at Jack then at me, then asks. "You will take me for a spin every once in a while?"
I smirk, "We'll see, she's kind of temperamental." I say and shut off the light and close the door behind me, leaving Arcee in the darkness, alone. "Night everyone!" I say before making my way upstairs and into my room.
I yawn and change into my pi's. I lay down under the covers and think about everything that has happened today, from meeting the Autobots to the weird connection I feel around Ratchet. 'Oh well, tomorrows a whole new day!' I thought to myself before closing my eyes and falling into pitch black.
The next morning rolls by quickly. My alarm clock wakes me up at 6:30, I take a shower and get dressed into my usual outfit. I grab my books and run down the stairs. I quickly notice that Jacks not here.
"Weird, he's always down before my. Oh well." I plop my stuff down at the table and decide to make myself some toast. Just as I was putting the toast into the toaster I hear Arcee rev her engine in annoyance. I sigh, I walk over to the garage and open the door.
"What's up?" I ask her, "Where's Jack?" Arcee asks, I shrug. She revs her engine again. A moment later Jack burst into the garage. "Shh… Are you crazy! You'll wake up our mom!" I give Jack a weird look, 'Mom's at work, shell-for-brains.' I say to myself.
"Grab your helmets, it's time to go." I stare at her, "What about school?" I ask. Jack gives me a funny look, "Cal, its Saturday." I blink, 'That would explain why Jack said mom was sleeping.'
"Really," I mumble. "I guess meeting the Autobots totally made me forget." Suddenly Jack groans. "But it's Saturday." He whines. "You can watch cartoons at the base with Bumblebee." Arcee says, Jack ticks, "Cartoons… I'm 16."
I snort, "And yet you watched cartoons before you went to bed last night." Jack glares at me before walking away. "And leave a note for your mom, she worries." I look at Arcee, surprised at what she said.
"Calypso-" I interrupt her. "Cal, I prefer Cal." "Okay, Cal, I'm truly sorry about last night, I-I didn't know." She apologizes. I smile lightly, "You couldn't have known, besides I let my anger get the best of me, it's been difficult for us since our dad just walked out on us." I say sadly.
"How about we start over, friends?" She suggests. My smile grows. "Friends." I say. Jack walks in and grabs his helmet, then he notices my smile, "I'm guessing you two made up?" He asks.
I nod and grab my helmet before putting it on my head. We climb onto Arcee and we begin our way to the base. At the end of the block I remember something, "Um… Guys, I accidentally left my toast in the toaster."