'Thoughts'
'Bumblebee'
"Talking"
"Communications link"
"~Broadcast~"
?'s POV:
"Come on girl! We're gonna be late!" A girl about the age of 17 says as she drags another girl, slightly smaller then her, through the mall towards JC Penny's. "I saw some CUTE wedges and I'm just dying to try !" The other girl just rolls her eyes at the girls antics but lets the other girl drag her along.
The first girls clothing consists of a red Chicca Style Kimono top, a short white jean skirt and red high heeled sandals while the other girls attire consists of a blue short dress with a brown belt accenting her waist, brown wedge-heeled sandals and hanging from her shoulder is a brown bag.
Suddenly the girl in the blue's phone rang. "Hello?" She says into the mouth piece. "Really? Right now... Fine." The girl hangs up her phone and puts it back back into her brown bag. "I'm sorry, something came up and I have to head home... Is that alright with you?"
"Of course!" The first girl says. "Family comes first."
The other girl smiles. "Thanks your the best, Eva." Eva just smiles as her friend and the girl who she thinks of as a sister leave. Evelyn Paige Bay is her full name. She has loving parents who are never home and spoil their daughter senseless to make up for their absence.
Eva sighs, here best friend has been acting weird for the past few weeks. Eva smiles evilly, she quickly makes a beeline in the direction her friend headed in. Once outside the mall she spotted the blue dressed girl a few blocks down. Eva quickly follows, making sure to stay out of the other girls sight. Finally they made it to their destination. Eva's second home or her best friends house.
Eva watches her best friend walk into their garage. The garage door is wide open so Eva peeks in and spies her bestie talking to her younger brother. "So, explain to me why the bots want us back at the base?"
Eva becomes confused. 'Bots?'
"Something to do with increased Con activity in the vicinity or something." He says. Her bestie sighs.
'Con? What the hell are those two talking about?'
"It's a precaution."
Eva's eyes widen. 'Did her brothers m-'
"Optimus is worried. Since the Con's know about your alliance with the Autobots that puts you in potential danger. They could be searching the area for your residence or something else. And if they find you then your in trouble."
Eva then decides to make herself known and get some answer. She walks in, all eyes turn to her. "Um... Caly. Why is Jack's motorcycle able to talk?"
"Slag." Was the only response she got.
That was a week ago. And let me say, Eva somehow wormed her way into the bots sparks and now spends as much time on the base as the rest of us do.
I smile and look over to where she was, on the couch doing her homework from the day before. As if sensing my gaze she looks up and snickers at me. I huff and look away. Eva is the only one I have told about the strange feeling I get when I'm around Ratchet. After explaining Eva finally concluded that I had a crush on the grumpy medic bot. At first I rejected the thought but the more explaining she did the more I started feeling she was right.
So here I am, sitting on my new found crush's shoulder as he monitors the screens of his HUGE computer. I hear Miko and Bulkhead talking about some some monster truck rally. Suddenly the screen blinks.
"Optimus," Ratchet says. "I'm receiving a signal on a restricted band. It appears to be coming from a Starship inside this solar system." Ratchet types a few things into the computer. "It's an Autobot identification beak-on." I can't help myself but blush at the sound of his voice, being so close, it sends vibrations through my body.
Jack looks at Ratchet. "So there are other bot's out there?" Jack asks, I'm wondering the same thing. Eva walks over to the rail, obviously interested.
"The mass is scattered throughout the galaxies when Cybertron finally went dark. But Con's have been known to bait traps with false beak-on's"
I nod. Ratchet opens a communication link with them and Optimus addresses the unknown bot. "Unknown vessel this is Autobot output Omega-One. Identify yourself."
"I've had warmer welcomes from Decepticon Combat Brigades." A voice says, coming through the static filled communication link.
"Wheeljack!" Bulkhead exclaims. I look over my shoulder as Bulkhead walks over to stand near the computer. "You old Con crusher! What are you doing all the way out here?"
'Wheeljack's' voice catches my attention. "Bulkhead? That's you? What's with all the security?"
"The rock we're on is crawling with Con's. How soon can you get here and even the odds?" Bulkhead asks.
"Sometime tomorrow. If I put metal to the petal." Wheeljack informs us.
"Another bot's coming here, how cool is that!" Miko says, Eva nods quickly.
"Wheeljack." Optimus says, in thought. "I know of him by reputation only. Can you verify his voice print?"
"He is one thousand percent the real deal, Optimus!"
Optimus nods at Bulkheads words and turns to the computer. "We will send landing co-ordenates, Wheeljack. Safe journey."
"See ya soon buddy! I'll make sure you get a proper welcome." Ratchet ends the link after Bulkheads words.
Arcee walks up to Bulkhead and asks the question everyone is dying to hear. "Soo, who's the boyfriend?"
"Me and Jackie go way back." Bulkhead explains. "We were part of the same war unit, The Wreckers. Which means the Con's wish he had never found us."
A bell chime comes from Jack's phone. "Well, it's almost curfew and we need to get going." I sigh and jump onto Ratchet's hand. He lowers his hand to the second level and I jump off as I wonder what Wheeljack is like. I look at Eva and notice she's thinking along the same lines as me. I smile, maybe it's time to play match maker again.
The next day came to fast. One minute I'm curled up into a ball on my bed, about to fall asleep, and the next, it's early morning and i'm in the base waiting for Wheeljack to land.
Everybody watches the computer monitor, waiting for Wheeljack's starship to appear in the Earth's atmosphere. "Wheeljack's ship is approaching the landing zone." Arcee states as his signal appears.
Miko gasps. "You think he's here to visit?" Raf asks.
"Maybe he'll stay!" Miko says.
"He may be here for a visit or he can stay. It's not our choice."
Miko completely ignores me and continues, "Hmmm... Have to find his own human though."
I snicker. "Already found one he can have." I say as I pat Eva on the back. She scowls at me.
Ratchet types in the landing co-ordenates into the ground bridge and activates it. "Ground bridge cycling up." It sparks and goes dark. Ratchet hits it and closes it down. "Blasted scraplets! The equipment hasn't been the same since the infestation."
"Scraplets?" Eva asks.
"I'll tell you later." I mumble. "So, Wheeljack's going to land, halfway around the world and then you'll bridge him here?"
"We can't risk revealing the location of our base. Just incase the Decepticon's are tracking Wheeljack's ship." Optimus explains.
Miko runs over to where the ground bridge is, watching Bulkhead pace. "Dud! I've never seen you so stoked."
"Oh! You're gonna love Wheeljack. We were like brothers. And tonight, we are gonna party!" Bulkhead exclaims, while raising his fist into the air.
"Sweet!" Miko says.
"Party!" Eva exclaims. I shake my head at them, those two hit it off the moment they met.
The Decepticon alarm suddenly goes off. I look at the screen and see 5 Decepticon's following Wheeljack's ship.
"Boggies. Closing fast on Wheeljack's position." Arcee states.
"Con scum!" Bulkhead yells. He runs over to the ground bridge. "Open the bridge Ratchet! We're missing all the action." Ratchet pulls the lever and the ground bridge activates, without any sparks this time.
"I'll prepare sick-bay." Ratchet says, just in case.
"Who for? The Con's? This is Wheeljack we're talking about." Bulkhead laughs and he and the others disappear into the green light.
I look up at Ratchet, "Soo... What's Wheeljack like?" Out of the corner of my eyes I notice Eva interested to.
Ratchet sighs and turns back to the ground bridge lever. "I have no clue. But if he is anything like Bulkhead, I fear for the worst." I laugh at his words, he lightly chuckles too. My heart flutters at the sound of his laugh, I couldn't help but stare up at him.
"Here they come!" Eva's words brings me back to reality. Ratchet closes the ground bridge behind them but it fizzes out again.
"Aww..." I giggle at Ratchet's reaction. We turn to stare at the newcomer.
The Autobot's walk in, "Jackie, come here. Meet my other best buddy. Miko." Bulkhead gestures to Miko who is walking down the stairs. "She can wreck with the best of us."
Miko waves. "Hiya."
Wheeljack walks over. "You keeping Bulkhead out of trouble?"
Miko shrugs, "I try. But trouble finds us anyway."
"We're gonna get along just fine." Wheeljack states as he looks back at Bulkhead. I watch Eva stare up at him with wide eyes. I could definitely tell that she likes him. Footsteps sound as Optimus comes to greet our guest. Wheeljack turns around. "Optimus Prime. It's a privilege."
"Likewise, soldier. What have you report from your long journey?" Optimus asks.
"Been bouncing from rock to rock. Searching for signs of friend of foe. Now, I find both." Wheeljack says.
"We are few. But strong. We have suffered losses. But we have grown. And we would relish welcoming a new member into our fold." Optimus states. I smile at his words, knowing that some of them are directed at us.
"I would be honoured."
"Then lets get this party started!" Bulkhead hits Wheeljack on the back causing him to stumble forward. Wheeljack turns around and they bump chests.
Ratchet sighs and shakes his head. "Oh, joy."
I smile at him, "Oh, come on Ratchet. It's not too bad." He looks up and gives me a look. I scratch the back of my head sheepishly.
Ratchet begins his repairs on the ground bridge. I roll my eyes. "Can I help?"
He looks up at me. "I-I may need a hand to handle the more delicate wiring within the circuitry." I smile. I look over at Eva and she gives me two thumbs up. I roll my eyes but help Ratchet begin the long process of fixing the ground bridge.
After a while I look over to see Miko playing her guitar and Bulkhead and Wheeljack throwing a ball of twisted metal around while Eva watches them. But mostly Wheeljack.
"Come on Jackie. Show me what you got!" Bulkhead says with a grin. Wheeljack throws the 'ball' and Bulkhead catches it, sliding a good 5 feet backwards in the process. "Hahaha...Nice lob." Bulkhead throws the 'ball' back to Wheeljack who then throws it back to Bulkhead.
"Soo... What's that about?" I hear Jack ask.
"It's called Lobbing. It's a favourite pass-time on Cybertron." Arcee answers. I shake my head and continue helping Ratchet with the ground bridge repairs. We are soo close to having it fixed.
"Come on Raf! Show is some moves!" Miko says.
I look over as Raf agrees. Raf starts doing the robot. I laugh, how ironic. "The robot Raf, really." I say. Ratchet looks over to see what I'm laughing at. He sighs and shakes his head as Bee and Eva join in on the dance. I look around and realize Optimus isn't there. "Hey, Ratchet. Where's Optimus?"
"Went for a drive. Primes don't party." Ratchet says.
"Oh... Well he should. It's a good way to relax and just have fun." Ratchet stares at me for a moment before returning to fix the ground bridge. I roll my eyes at his attitude and turn back to work.
"Coming at ya." I hear Bulkhead say behind me. A few moments later I hear a crash, I look up and see the 'ball' falling towards us. Ratchet quickly grabs me and moves out of the way before the 'ball' hits us. Instead of hitting us the 'ball' lands on the ground bridge lever causing it to spark.
Ratchet turns to Bulkhead while putting me on his shoulder. "You know what! I am attempting to preform sensitive calibrations here!" I knock on his head. "I mean WE are trying to." I smile. I hear snickering and find Eva, I should have known. Eva points to Ratchet, then makes a heart with her hands then points at me. I blush and shake my head. Ratchet wouldn't feel that way for a human.
"Sorry Doc." Wheeljack says, he grabs the 'ball' from behind us. "Guess we're a little charged up." He starts walking back to the main area but stops when Ratchet starts a defrag, hoping it will fix the bridge. "You built this bridge from scratch. Huh?"
"I did." Ratchet says, sounding proud of himself.
"That's quite a piece of engineering."
Ratchet looks up surprised. I'm wondering if this is his first compliment about his engineering skills. "Yes, it is."
"Something wrong with it?" Wheeljack asks.
"I didn't care for the way it sounded this last jump. I put it in shut down." Ratchet explains.
"What if you need to use it?" I look over to Wheeljack, he seemed to be asking a lot of questions. He was staring at Ratchet with this kind of dark look on his face, suddenly I get the same bad feeling I had when me and Raf found the scraplet last week.
"Woo... I can't disrupt the defrag process without causing irreparable damage."
"Soo, ah... How long will the defrag take?" Wheeljack asks as he takes a step forward.
"A few hours. If we're lucky." Ratchet says, and turns around to face Wheeljack. I grab on to his ear-fin-things to make sure I don't fall off. "Maybe longer." Ratchet turns back to the counsel to monitor the defrag sequence. I continue to watch Wheeljack.
He turns around and heads to the main area. I watch him go, making sure he doesn't do anything. After I notice he wasn't going to do anything other then hang around with Bulkhead I turn to Eva, she seemed to not notice anything so I decide to turn back to the monitor.
I watch Ratchet for a while as he checks the defrag process and monitors other damaged parts within the counsel. Every once in a while Ratchet would find a frayed wire or a disconnected wire that needed to be fixed. He tried to fix them himself but sometimes I would need to crawl deep in the counsel to fix the damage.
After fixing about my fifth wire I climb out just in time to hear part of Bulkheads war story. I push myself off my knees and wipe myself off. "So there we were. No communications, low on energon, surrounded by Con's. Soo, what does Wheeljack do!" Bulkhead pauses. "Tell em' Jackie!"
Wheeljack hesitates. "Well! What I do best..."
Bulkhead laughs. "He chucks his only grenade smack to the primary heat exchanger."
"Yah... Seemed like a good idea at the time..." Wheeljack trails off.
"The joint went supernova!" Bulkhead throws his arms up, trying to make it seem bigger then the explosion really was.
"Awesome!" Miko gasps.
"Soo cool!" Eva says, practically drooling.
"Yeah... I'm still picking scrap metal out of my backside." Bulkhead says, rubbing the area.
"I'm not surprised. Given the size of your backside." Arcee says. I snicker while Bee laughs in beeps which makes him even cuter. The counsel makes a noise, alerting us that 1/2 of the defrag process is done. I notice Wheeljack look in our direction. The bad feeling grows stronger as he gives Ratchet a look.
Wheeljack looks away and stares at nothing as Bulkhead starts talking again. "There it is. Jackie's signature. One grenade, one shot." Bulkhead notices Wheeljack's black expression. "Hey, you alright?"
Wheeljack snaps out of it. "What...?"
"You don't seem like yourself..." Bulkhead states. Causing the bad feeling in my gut to intensify.
Wheeljack gets up. "What do ya mean?"
"I don't know... You seem quiet."
"Aww... I've been stuck in a can to long. I should go top-side before I go stir-crazy."
"I have patrol in the morning. You can come with!" Bulkhead says, excited.
Wheeljack turns around, "Well, lets go now!"
"And break up the party! Come on! The gangs loving you! You gotta tell them the battle of Dark Mount Pass!" Wheeljack turns back to Bulkhead.
"You tell them. Your better at it." Wheeljack says as he turns and stares down at Miko, Raf and Jack. "How about if Miko and Eva here shows me the rest of your base?"
"Eh... Yeah! Sure Jackie. Um... Go ahead." Bulkhead says as he stares at Wheeljack weirdly.
Miko jumps off the box she was sitting on just in time for Eva to grab her hand and start dragging her down the hallway. "Tour starts now. Do you play any instruments? Can you fly? Have you thrashed more Decepticons then Bulkhead?" An Miko just goes on and on, asking questions until we can't hear them anymore.
Bulkhead watches them leave, a weird look on his face. "You alright...?" Arcee asks.
"Yeah... Just, out of sorts I guess. Don't tell me your... jealous." Arcee says.
"That Miko is making a new friend. Come on! Something... Somethings just not right about Wheeljack." Bulkhead says while staring down the hall where Eva, Miko and Wheeljack disappeared.
"Bulkhead, really. He's travelled galaxies. You haven't seen him for several centuries. He could just be rocket lagged or... well, bots do change you know..."
"Not Jackie." Bulkhead said firmly.
Things cooled down after a while and I decided to watch Ratchet monitor the process. "Almost there." Ratchet mumbles after a few minutes.
I hear Bulkhead behind me talking about Wheeljack. I quickly tune into the conversation.
"Look. I know Wheeljack better then anyone." Bulkhead states.
Suddenly we hear footsteps coming down the hallway. "Hey." Wheeljack says as he, Eva and Miko step out of the hallway. "What are you guys talking about?"
"I was just telling the guys all about you and me... At the battle of Dark Mount Pass." Bulkhead says, seeing how Wheeljack reacts.
"Thats ah... Heck of a story." Wheeljack states.
"Yep! Tell it." Bulkhead says, staring at Wheeljack.
"Talk! Talk! Talk!" Miko says. "How about after we go off roading?"
"Miko!" Bulkhead says, getting mad at her. "Stay out of this."
"Bulkhead." Arcee warned. "Easy..."
"I'm not sure I-" Bulkhead cuts Wheeljack off.
"Tell it!"
Wheeljack stares at Bulkhead. "Fine! You want to live in the past Bulkhead." I turn around, fully interested in what is going on. "The Wreckers were trapped between a Decepticon patrol and a smelting pit. The Con's were vicious. Baring down on us with everything they had. Me and Bulkhead engaged the enemy. Left them for scrap. Then I made us a way out. Using their backsides as stepping stones to cross the molten metal. Isn't that how it happened?"
"Yea... That's exactly how it happened. Except for one little thing." Wheeljack looks surprised at Bulkheads words. "I wasn't there." Ratchet turns to stare at the exchange in shock as did everyone else. 'Wheeljack' glares at Bulkhead. "I had already left the Wreckers to join up with Optimus. But you wouldn't know that if all you did was access Wheeljack's public service record."
"Bulkhead." Miko says in a small voice. "What does that have to do with-Whoo!" Miko shouts as she was lifted off the ground. 'Wheeljack' pushes through and runs over to the ground bridge. Ratchet tries to grab me before Wheeljack could but he was pushed out of the way. I yelled as Wheeljack grabs me with his other hand.
"Stay back!" 'Wheeljack' says. holding Miko and I in front of him. "Or I'll squeeze them into pulp." I struggle, trying to get out of his hand but it was hopeless. He was holding me to strongly. The others all stare at us in alarm, trying to find out a way to get us without hurting us in the process. I look over to
Eva to see her staring at me with a horror filled expression. Who could blame her, she has a thing for some Con pretending to be Wheeljack. I also notice Ratchet staring at me with a worried look on his face.
"Wheeljack! What are you doing!" Miko asks.
"Decepticon coward!" Bulkhead says angered by the situation. "Let the girls go and face me!"
"Don't fret. Plenty of fighting will come." 'Wheeljack' says, using a different voice. Probably his real voice.
"It there a real Wheeljack!" I ask as he swings me around, still holding me tightly.
"Oh... Indeed, and I expect Lord Starscream has been making sport of him..."
Suddenly the ground bridge pings. Indicating the defrag process has been finished. "About time!" 'Wheeljack' says, sounding irritated. He puts me and Miko in the same hand and types in some co-ordanents into the bridge. He pulls the lever and the ground bridge activates.
'Wheeljack' walks over to the ground bridge, still holding Miko and I. I look behind us, staring into the ground bridge, believing he is going to take us with him as hostages. Suddenly a bot looking exactly like the one holding us runs in and jumps onto 'Wheeljack'.
Miko and I go flying from 'Wheeljack's' grasp. I close my eyes and hold back a scream as the ground comes closer. I feel something enclose around my body. I open my eyes and realize Ratchet caught me. I look around a see Bulkhead placing Miko on the ground near Eva. I also notice the false Wheeljack was knocked out and was leaning against the wall.
Ratchet stands and holds me close to his chest plates. I look up and find him staring at something. I look to where he was staring and found myself staring at a exact copy of the fake Wheeljack. 'Is he the real one? Or another fake.'
"I'd shut that whole before the stink comes through." He says. Ratchet walks over and closes the ground bridge. Suddenly the fake Wheeljack gets us and pulls out his swords. The real Wheeljack does the same. Bulkhead steps in but the real Wheeljack blocks him with his sword. "Ugly's mine." The two Wheeljack's continue to circle each other.
"If the real Wheeljack calls the fake Wheeljack ugly... Doesn't that mean he's calling himself ugly?" I ask Ratchet. He snorts but doesn't say anything.
The fight starts. They both attack, dodge then attack. I keep my eye on the real Wheeljack, making sure I didn't loose him in the confusion. I hear the others wondering which one is the real Wheeljack, though I just ignore them The real Wheeljack loses his sword but then he grabs the fake Wheeljack, knee's him in the face, takes his sword back then delivers a punch to the fake Wheeljack's face. Successfully knocking the fake Wheeljack out. He puts his sword in front of the fake, making sure he doesn't get up.
"Thats my Jackie." Bulkhead says from across the room.
After Wheeljack makes sure the other one is out cold he removes his mask and turns to Ratchet and I. "You. Hit the switch." Ratchet doesn't argue and opens the ground bridge. "It's time to take out the trash." Bulkhead walks over and stands beside Wheeljack. "All yours, buddy." Wheeljack says, referring to the Con on the ground.
Bulkhead grabs the Con and throws him into the bridge, knocking the Con's drones who are trying to come through back through to the other side. Wheeljack walks up to Bulkhead who is standing in front of the ground bridge. "Nice lob." I shake my head at them. Ratchet closes the ground bridge and goes to welcome the REAL Wheeljack to the base.
Ratchet is once again fixing the damage to the ground bridge as Miko, Eva, Jack, Raf and Bee dance in the main area. "Huh... It's like a recurring nightmare." I laugh sooo hard tears are falling from my eyes. Ratchet just glares at me and huffs as he goes back to work.
I listen into Bulkhead, Wheeljack and Optimus' conversation. "Now that your on team Prime we need to pick a vehicle mode for you. I have some idea's."
Instead of answering Wheeljack looks around the room. His eyes land on Eva. In the past little while the two of them have gotten pretty close. I guess I wasn't the only one with a crush on a giant alien robot from the planet Cybertron.
"Wait! Are your leaving?" Miko asks because of Wheeljack's silence. Everyone stops dancing and looks at Wheeljack.
"Wheeljack. Know you will always have a haven here." Optimus says.
Bulkhead hits Wheeljack on his back. "Jackie never stays. But he always comes back." Wheeljack smiles and looks down, deep in thought. Ratchet activates the ground bridge and grabs me before I could move. I look up and blink at him. We walk through the ground bridge and find ourselves in the desert. I look down to see how Eva was holding up. She's staring at the ground and I could tell that she was close to tears.
Wheeljack is quiet as he walks over to his ship. The engine starts and it's quiet for a moment. Suddenly there is a beeping sound.
"Slag!" Arcee says as she grabs Eva and Jack and ducks for cover. Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bee do the same while grabbing their charge. Wheeljack's ship goes up in a cloud of smoke and sparks. I get up and hear someone sobbing nearby. I crawl out of Ratchet's grasp and wrap my arms around Eva's body as sobs rack through her body. I stare at the now dismembered ship where Wheeljack had just walked into and wonder how this could have happened, and how this could happen to Eva.
Ohhh! Cliff hanger! My fingers hurt from typing so much...
Poor poor Eva :( Wheeljack will be missed. R.I.P Wheeljack