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Chapter 2: An Alien World

Journal Entry #3: Pet Shop?

Ok, now I know I am not on Earth. I took a closer look at one of those buildings. It had writing on it, but it was not anything I could recognize. If I stretched my imagination, I may have been able to pull off passing it off as some form of Japanese or Chinese. But I knew it was not either of them.

That, and the door was huge! If I had the tallest stilts known to man-kind I would not be able to reach the controls for the door. Plus, who puts a keypad next to a door on what appeared to be a pet shop?

Yes. A pet shop.

~Mina Castina

I blinked, staring up at the large creature in the window to the building I had been inspecting. It stared down at me as well. I narrowed my eyes behind the visor, which I had quickly replaced on my face once I had realized I was not on Earth anymore. My iPod was safely in my pocket. I could not believe it. One moment I was walking home from school/work and the next I was on an alien planet.

I continued looking at the alien pet in the window. It was mechanical looking and was vaguely reminiscent of a cat, with its pointed ears, long tail and other feline-like features. What do you know? A robotic cat. With glowing yellow eyes. On an alien planet. It was all so absurd and intriguing at the same time. The scientific side of me wanted to take the creature apart, but it was quickly quenched when I reminded myself that it was very likely a living being, despite its mechanical appearance.

Despite the fact that the alien creature obviously intrigued me, the adventurer part of me won out and I went to go explore my new surroundings. It was not as if I could get a closer look at the creature anyway. Do not get me wrong. I was kind of afraid of exploring this unknown place. I mean, what would happen if I was discovered by the locals? What were they like? All I could really gather so far was that they were definitely way bigger than I was and had pets that were also a lot bigger than I was.

But the adventurous side of me would not let me cower in any place. Fear was not one of my road blocks, at least not one that could stop me. At least, in this case it was not one. I was too curious to be afraid. If nothing else, this would make for a good story when I got back home. If I ever got back home. I had no idea how I got here to begin with anyway. But at that particular moment, I was more focused on my surroundings than thoughts of home.

I heard footsteps and spun around, seeking out where the sound was coming from. It did not take long to locate the source. Coming from the way I had been walking from were two giant mechanical beings. And I do mean giant. They didn't even notice me as they walked by and when one of them put a foot down right next to me, I could tell that I was just short of being up to their ankle. I stared after the retreating forms, listening to the clicks and whirls that were obviously part of their language.

"Well, if this is not strange, then I do not know what is," I said to myself silently, hoping the two mechs, cause I somehow got the impression they were male, did not hear me.

I sighed when they continued on, clearly oblivious to me. The next thing I did was to continue with my exploration, now keeping close to the side of the buildings. After all, I did not feel particularly up to getting squished by the locals when they walked by without noticing me. No, I wanted to keep my life intact. And getting squished would set that goal so far back that it would fail miserably. Of course, that was obvious. But when in a strange and unknown situation I tended to note obvious things as much as not-so-obvious things.

One thing I noticed was that all of the mechs and the few females, what would be the term for them? Anyway I noticed that all of them were not really smiling. I heard nothing that sounded like laughter. And I also did not see any of what would probably be the equivalent of children. Did they not have children? Or were they simply not out and about? Were any of these guys happy?

As if in answer, I finally heard somebot make a noise that was different from the chattering around me. It was almost musical to my ears. It made me feel cheery and I immediately searched around for the noise, figuring I finally was hearing the joyous sound of laughter. I perked up when I found the source, a silver mech was standing next to a red, blue and silver one, body language telling me that it was him I had heard laugh. A grin was plastered on the mech's face as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder as he said something to him.

And then his attention wandered and he stopped, looking directly at me. He said something to his friend as I tilted my head. My view of the two got cut off a few times by the feet of passing mechs, but I knew the silver one had at least seen me. I could see them start to close the distance and I did not know what they intended to do. So instead of hanging around to find out, I took off as fast as my legs could take me. I could faintly hear what might have been a protest, followed by sounds that clearly meant at least one of them had picked up pace.

I felt a pain start to form in my side from running so hard already. I could endure though, I have done so in the past. I ignored the pain, something I could do hat my mom had asked me to teach her how in the past, and pushed myself as I dodged through the crowd of legs.

~Normal PoV~

Orion Pax did not have much excitement in his life. He spent his days sorting through data and communications in the DataNet from his cubicle in the Hall of Records. It had not been his choice to be a data clerk, but there was not a bot on Cybertron that had a choice in their lot in life. It was decided for them by the guilds. He sorted data, he did not analyze. Because that was his job. It was Jazz's job, as a cultural investigator, to analyze. Which was why he was meeting with his old friend now.

"I found those files you requested," Orion told the mech as they exited Maccadam's Old Oil House.

"Thanks, OP," Jazz said. "Now I just have to analyze it and we'll have that troublesome mech in no time."

"Jazz, have you ever wondered about what is beyond Cybertron?" Orion asked his friend as they began walking down the street.

Jazz laughed, unknowingly catching the attention of a small alien. "Orion, a Cybertronian hasn't been off Cybertron in over a millennia," he said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Curious about other worlds, huh?"

"I have found many references to a time when such a thing was not unheard of," Orion said, though he noticed his friend's attention had wandered.

"Orion, do you see what I see?" Jazz asked, staring at the small creature he had caught sight of.

He knew it just appeared there a few klicks before he detected its presence. It may have been small, but he knew when he was being watched. The creature was very small, not quite coming up to several of the mechs' ankles that were walking by, oblivious to the creature's presence. It had brown strands of hair on its head, some cloths covering its body and what appeared to be a visor with a bright green frame over its optics, hiding them from view. It also had something blue on its back.

Orion Pax followed his friend's gaze and spotted the small creature across the street. He barely had enough time to study its appearance before Jazz spoke again.

"Come on," Jazz said, starting forward.

Orion stopped him before he could take more than a step. "What are you doing?" he asked, hesitant to make any kind of move toward the fragile looking creature. It's so small, he thought to himself.

"I'm gonna see if I can talk to it," Jazz explained like it was something he did on a daily basis. "Come on, OP. You are curious, aren't you? Besides, it could get stepped on standing around like that." He pointed out the fact that in watching the two of them, the creature seemed to have forgotten the mechs bustling about.

Orion could not protest that logic. He was curious and he knew he could not talk the silver mech out of it. Not only that, but he was also worried the small creature might get stepped on by the oblivious mechs around it. He had to wonder just what it was, and why it was here. Maybe if they took it to a better suited place, they could find out why it was here and he had other questions he found he wanted to ask it. If it was a sentient being, anyway.

However, as they moved to close the distance so they could subtly pick the creature up, it realized they were moving to intercept it. It then made a mad dash down the street, dodging through the legs of mechs without so much as brushing them.

"Hey!" Jazz protested this turn of events and took off after the small creature.

Orion quickly followed after, worried the creature would only land itself in trouble. They followed quickly, finding it difficult to keep up in the mass of bodies. Orion was sure that if it were not for Jazz, he would have lost the creature by now. They followed it as it dashed down an alley way next to a pet shop filled with Cybercats and Glitchhounds. That was when he realized that his fear of the creature getting into trouble was proved founded.

When they turned the corner after it, they were not pleased with what they found. The poor creature had come across what appeared to be a hostile stray Glitchhound. The smaller of the two creatures looked quite calm at first glance, but Orion thought it only looked it with the visor covering its eyes. It was frowning and if he looked close enough he could tell it was shaking as it took a cautious step away from the growling Glitchhound. It said something in a language Orion had never heard before, holding its small hands up as if they would protect it from the much larger being.

"Shoo, shoo," Jazz said, waving his hands in demand as he moved ever closer to the Glitchhound.

As Jazz worked the Glitchhound away from it, Orion cautiously moved toward the small creature they had been following. He moved slowly, not wanting to startle the already frightened whatever-it-was. Once he was close, almost just behind the tiny creature, he knelt down and extended a finger to the small creature. He held it next to it until it took notice of it and turned to looked at him. He could not see its optics, but he could tell it was wary nonetheless.

"It is alright, I will not hurt you," Orion said in what he hoped was a reassuring enough tone. He rotated his hand, holding it out palm up as an invitation for the small one to climb on.

~Mina's PoV~

I looked up at the large red, blue and silver mech warily as he held his hand out in obvious invitation. I then turned my attention to the creature that was comparatively small compared to both mechs who had apparently followed me and the silver mech that was trying to shoo it away. Eventually the animal, or the equivalent of, fled and the silver mech turned to look at me.

The larger mech that had his hand next to me said something and I turned my attention back to him. I looked into his eyes, which shone blue and contained a kindness I rarely saw in people back home, much less on an alien planet. He spoke again, in that alien language I was not familiar with, and his tone sounded almost comforting. It was definitely reassuring that he was giving me a choice in whether I climbed into his hand or not.

"Well, it is not like it could harm anything," I muttered to myself. "I mean, the worst that could happen is that he decided to squish me." I looked at the mech. "But you do not seem to want to do that."

With that decided, leaving the two no doubt confused as to what I was saying, I hesitantly and cautiously climbed slowly into the mech's hand. Once I was settled, he stood up straight, bringing the hand with me in it close to his chest as I grabbed onto his thumb. I peered over the edge of his hand once he was standing fully straight. It was a long, long way down and I gulped, moving back and closer to the mech's chest. His fingers curled around me in an almost protective manor as the silver mech said something. The one holding me responded and they began walking, the mech holding me placing his other hand lightly over me. Whether it was to be sure I was not about to fall off his hand or keep me out of sight was anybody's guess.

As the mech carried me, I remained sitting. I was feeling the pain in my side from my hard running and my shoulders were also killing me from carrying the weight of my heavy backpack. I should not have taken extra things to school/work with me. I yawned and rubbed at my eyes underneath my visor, realizing how tired I really was. As soon as the excitement calmed down a little, I was going to take a nice nap.

It was some time before we entered a building, stepping off the busy street outside. I was not released from the mech's hold, however, for what felt like at least five more minutes. We entered what I assumed would be the equivalent of an apartment and he lifted the hand he held over me, allowing me to see our surroundings. The first thing I noticed was that they were watching me, possibly to try to gauge what I thought of this development in my little excursion.

Or is it a big excursion? I wondered as I peered around at the giant sized apartment.

The mech moved forward, I assumed when he realized I was not going to say anything quite yet. He moved to what appeared to be a desk and held the hand he held me on just above the surface. I cautiously crawled off his hand, careful not to pull a clumsy moment and fall onto my face or butt. I turned to look at the two mechs as the one that had carried me here sat in the chair in front of the desk and leaned forward so our eyes were on the same level. The silver one simply leaned against the side of the chair his friend sat in. I took another look around before I spoke, wanting to try to confirm my suspicions.

"So," I said. "This is your home?" I asked, tilting my head at the mechs.

They both just stared at me for a moment before the red/blue/silver one said something, clearly directed at me.

It was my turn to just stared at them. The silver one then said something to the larger mech that was possibly something like "I don't think she understands you". The larger mech said something back before turning back to me as I tilted my head. He said something, but I still just stared in confusion from behind my visor.

"What?" I asked, getting slightly frustrated with this language barrier already. Of course, it was ridiculous to think that beings on another planet would speak English, huh? Too bad I did not have one of those universal translators you sometimes see in sci-fi films.

He said something again and this time I caught something slightly familiar.

"Orepon?" I asked, tilting my head.

He shook his head and repeated it while gesturing to himself. This time he took what I now assumed to be his name really slowly.

"Ori…Pan?" I tried again, but he only repeated himself. Listening very closely, I hoped my next guess was the correct pronunciation. "Orion Pax?"

He finally nodded, saying something almost cheerfully. My face brightened as I realized we were doing introductions here.

"So you are Orion Pax," I said, finding a small half-smile on my face. Orion, like the constellation. I did not know anything by Pax though. I looked to the silver mech. "And who are you?"

I doubt he really understood me, but he probably deduced what I was asking from his friend's action that had led to this point. He pronounced his name in enunciated syllables as he pointed a digit at himself.

"Ja-azz," I repeated softly to myself. I said a little louder, looking at the mech, "Jazz?"

He grinned, though Orion looked almost sad I understood his friend's name faster. It was not his fault his was more complicated though. Orion said something and from the current topic, I knew he was probably asking for my name. I gestured to myself as I tried to articulate my name as well as they had theirs.

"I am Mina," I said.

Orion tried to repeat my name, but failed.

I shook my head. "Mean na." I pronounced each syllable as if they were their own word.

"Mean nah," Orion tried.

"Mina," I repeated.

"Minah," Orion said now.

I grinned, nodding. "Good enough at least," I said.

Jazz extended a digit and said something I was sure was along the lines of "Nice to meet you Minah". I figured I was going to have to get used to the slight mispronunciation of my name. I smiled and grabbed hold of the offered finger, glad there was at least common ground when it came to body language.

When the two mechs started conversing, possibly trying to come with a solution to the language barrier, I decided now was as good of a time as any to relieve my shoulders of my backpack. I sighed in relief when I set the heavy thing down on the surface I was standing on. I could just see the slight concern in Orion's eyes, or would they be called optics, in the corner of my eye as I rubbed at my sore right shoulder with my left hand. Once I was sure my arms were not going to fall off, I stretched them in front of me as I yawned.

The mechs must have realized I was tired, because Jazz said something to his larger friend, who then disappeared from the room for a few moments. Orion returned a couple minutes later and placed something made of cloth next to me. I looked at him in question and he only smiled encouragingly. Upon inspection, the cloth was soft and felt like it would be warm to sleep under. I smiled appreciatively up at the mech and then wrapped it around myself as I laid down right there and then, using my backpack as a pillow. I was unconcerned that it was not the best sleeping arrangement. I certainly slept with worse before. Besides, it was not like it was everyday an alien showed up in these mechs' lives.

That still floored me. Here, I was the alien.

I shivered a little and curled into a tight ball, hoping that aliens were not treated here as the movies always said they were treated back home.

Journal Entry #4: Feeling Small…

I could not help but wonder at how big everything was here. And then I wondered at the fact that to the mechs that had found me, all of this was normal-sized and I was just tiny.

Everything was so huge to me! And I thought I felt small and insignificant back home. This gives a whole new meaning. I was so small compared to everything. I could not affect anything here if I tried probably.

The last thing I was aware of as I drifted off to sleep was the pronounced feeling of being small and helpless. It was not a feeling I liked.

~Mina Castina