NSNV: Ch.6
FACEING THE MUSIC
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As Sam cleared the camaro upon reaching the top of the look-out, Bee drove a little ways off and transformed, while the large form that was Optimus Prime stepped forward ,his attention clearly focused on the human teenager. Sam managed to put on a cheesy smile that somehow didn't manage to reach his eyes or brighten his pale face all that much.
"What's up?" he asked feeling sheepish the moment he said it…like a eight year old caught by his father with a baseball bat and a broken window instead of the almost eighteen year old he was. Of course anyone in this particular situation would feel small.
Optimus settled into the one-knee position much as he had with Mikeala a while ago, but when he spoke this time there was more firm command and less comforting encouragement. "Samuel Witwicky…" The autobot leader started speaking and Sam felt his heart drop into his toes…Uhoh…something tells me he knows everything Sam thought the smile on his face wavering and then melting away all together to be replaced by seriousness.
"Um. Yes Sir?" he found himself reflexively responding like he would to his father if caught doing something he shouldn't have of on the receiving end of one of the many 'responsibility' talks the elder Witwicky was so fond of.
"Mikeala told me you have been feeling ill since the battle, is this a true fact?"
Sam hesitated only a moment, pressing his lips together before responding. "Yes." He said but then was quick to add "But I'm doing MUCH better, so it's not…" he faded off as Optimus was not looking convinced or amused in any manner.
"Yah." He repeated simply and glanced over at Bee who was standing with his arms folded watching …nope… there would be no support from that corner. Not that he actually expected there to be considering the situation.
Optimus leaned over slightly from his kneeling position, much the same as he had the first time they met searching Sam's face and body language silently. Sam forced a small brave smile "It was just your normal type of stuff, honest."
Ratchet raised an optic slightly an obvious expression of skepticism "Mikaela said his symptoms included dizziness, headaches, join pain and tossing of cookies." The medic informed Sam in a dead serious tone, reminding Optimus…who probably needed no reminder.
Sam did a double take at the last part of Ratchet's comment and started laughing despite of the stress, or perhaps because of it. But the line 'tossing of cookies' coming out off the medic's mouth in such a serious deadpan tone was so overwhelmingly funny that even in this situation he had to laugh…if only for a moment.
Mikeala had winced upon hearing her name, then repositioned herself more securely behind the tree to make sure no part of her could be seen while smacking her face with one hand at Ratchet's repeating her slang comment for vomiting. Sam didn't think too much of the mention of Mikaela's name, after all she probably told them at an earlier date so the boy wasn't looking for his girlfriend to be there at that second.
Sam stopped laughing and nodded at Ratchet then looked back at Optimus "Yah, normal Flu problems."
Optimus didn't shift his focused attention "Where there any symptoms that would be considered odd?"
Sam shifted a little from foot to foot "Define Odd." He requested keeping in mind he was talking to a nearly forty foot transforming robotic alien entity. If that wasn't a type of 'odd' he didn't know what was!
Prime frowned slightly, although one would have to be accustomed to his expressions to pick up on the subtle shift "Anything outside of the normal range for standard human illness." he clarified as requested in an even and firm tone allowing Sam no virtual wiggle room to avoid the question.
Sam fought to keep himself from nervously shifting again, but Ratchet's sensitive sensors…many of which were currently focused on the teenager, registered a rise in his stress levels, heart rate and other key indicators.
"Sam, your stress levels have just risen by twenty percent." He pointed out softly causing the boy to internally curse the freaking sensors and wondered on the edge of panic just how he could answer that question safely.
The ground shook slightly as Bumblebee settled into a cross-legged position and placed one hand on a knee and pointed with the other hand at Sam's back pocket. Sam, who had turned to see what the shaking was about, knew what his guardian was saying even without any words spoken. The teen had a sinking feeling back at his house that Bee had seen the baggie and might have know what was inside it.
"Well, yah…there is that…" Sam turned back to Optimus and took a breath reading himself to bring up the big 'event' in the park when Ratchet broke in sounding slightly apologetic but determined as well.
"My apologies Optimus, but Sam…are you aware that Lead such as found in your gloves, is dangerous to humans when in contact with them for any extended length? The medic asked with dead seriousness.
"I.." Sam started only to be cut off by Bumblebee this time. A clip from a John Wayne movie sounded out clearly as Bee slapped his palm against the ground softly and pointed at the boy's back pocket once more 'Watch it pilgrim'. Sam sighed, understanding at once what his friend was trying to get across…he wanted Sam to spill it about the watch in the park, NOW.
Looking at Optimus Sam grudgingly admitted that something odd had happened in the park but in typical Sam fashion tried to downplay the event by adding that it was probably a one time event leftover from all the battle weirdness and he didn't want to say anything and get everyone worried over what was likely nothing long term.
This earned a dismissive snorting noise from Bumblebee, who caught Sam's gaze and gave his charge what could only be a warning look. Realizing that the camaro-bot was not about to let Sam get away without giving out every detail of the days events he twitched and steeled himself for what was likely going to be a story that got big reactions out of his even bigger friends.
Raising an optic once more at Bee's blatant sound of disapproval and indication that their human friend was being less than forthcoming Optimus sighed softly "Samuel. Tell me what happened in the park." He ordered causing Sam's eyes to widen slightly. The boy noticed that the Autobot leader was using his full name, instead of the shortened version he had adopted since the battle.
That realization caused Sam to flinch slightly guilt leaking in for keeping things from Optimus this long, he didn't like that feeling and somehow it made him feel smaller than ever. He decided to be fully honest about the event and calming himself for a moment Sam then spilled everything that had happened at the park earlier that day.
How he had gone to the park to meet with Mikeala, how Trent (the Dick, as he called the jock while venting a bit to the Autobots) had showed up to make him look bad, and how after the jackass left he had punched the tree…and his watch then leapt off his wrist and attacked them.
And finally he talked about how while he was chasing it Bumblebee must have sensed something wrong, came running...and accidentally stepped on the thing without knowing it. Sam finished with the admission "But it only happened once more after that. Don't worry." He felt ridiculous the second the comment left his mouth. Don't worry? I only made my accessories attack me twice so don't WORRY about it? Gah…even he didn't buy that..
Bee snorted again and said "The Baggie Sam."
"That would be the once!" Sam clarified defensively shooting Bee a glare. He had already admitted that it happened once after the park, and was fessing up…Bee didn't have to help in THAT department!
"I would like to see these remains Sam. They are in the baggie in your back left pocket correct? Please place them on my palm if you would." Ratchet said moving forward and lowering his hand in front of Sam…who blinked stunned that Ratchet had picked up what he had in his back pocket, heck that it was IN his back left pocket at all..without him having turned around this whole time. It was almost creepy actually.
"Sure.." Sam muttered pulling the baggie out carefully and placing it on Ratchet's palm where it looked ridiculously small against the large metal appendage. Ratchet's optics shifted and dilated as Sam assumed the medic ran scans or whatever on the remains of his mothers Pedometer turned terminator.
After a moment Ratchet slipped the baggie into some randomly shifting 'pocket' that opened in his arm and then closed as the medic turned to Optimus before speaking "I found traces of Cybertonium and residual spark energy." The medic confirmed what most had already been suspecting would turn up.
Turning after a brief nod to Ratchet Optimus then asked if anything else 'odd' had happened since the battle, and Ratchet was quick to bring back up the issue of lead laced coverings being bad for humans and the fact Sam was currently sporting a pair of lead lined gloves. Sam had rather hoped that his hands had been forgotten during the revelation over the watch and the contents of the baggie.
Hearing the gloves mentioned once again Sam reflexively found himself moving his hands behind his back, the motion in itself drawing attention despite his wish to do otherwise. Optimus didn't miss this action and drew his brow down slightly fixing Sam with the 'Look' that said 'don't even try that with me.'
Sam winced and sighed "You want me to remove the gloves hu?"
"Affirmative." Came the clipped response.
Sam turned around and glanced down at his hands with a grimace before starting to work on the right one. This was going to hurt. Getting the gloves on and off always stung something nasty, and he didn't want to show his pain to the autobots…they were getting enough worrisome information as it was.
Of course, turning his back would hardly keep the transformers from knowing when Sam was in pain. Faint sounds of sudden intakes of air, or holding of breath, his heart rate increasing and the sweet that broke out on his skin spoke as loudly as any cursing or grimace would possibly have. Ratchet picked up on these signs loudest of all, and shot Optimus a concerned look that did not go missed by the leader.
After a second Sam removed the right glove as well, but the pain caused his eyes to sting dangerously and his arms to threaten to start shaking. Once they were off he had the new pain of throbbing palms while his hands struggled to adjust being out in the open air. Turning around Sam held out his left hand for inspection…keeping the right one lip at his side.
Optimus raises both optics and rumbled "I want to see your 'hands' was a plural request Samuel." The leader pointed out dryly. Causing Sam to sigh in a defeatist manner and bring out his right hand as well. Lifting them both up he held the appendages palm down and looked from Ratchet to Optimus then back again.
"They were burned during the battle at Mission City. At the end…when I was holding the cube and it dissolved. The gloves are to protect my skin while it heals, burns hurt something fierce. Infact they sting real nasty right now with the air hitting them." Sam explained, and infact his face was a little flushed from the discomfort.
"Flip them."
It was a command , a firm order with a slight steely edge that jolted Sam like a shock causing the boy to turn his hands palm up so fast it almost hurt. Sam had no time to hesitate or wonder how to get his way out of showing the nasty burn marks and branded symbols on his palms. He had never heard that tone from Optimus before…certainly not in his direction anyway!
Optimus almost smiled internally at the response his tone had gotten from the boy. If Sam was going to act like a young Autobot Soldier trying to get out of trouble, than Optimus the commander would treat him as such. It seemed younglings were similar no matter their species.
"I know it looks bad. But they are a ton better than a couple days ago. Like I said the gloves help." He muttered softly at the end "That and they kept me from blowing up household appliances most of the time." Now the marks from the All-spark were plain to see and impossible to over look. The last part of Sam's speech was spoken with obvious irritation forgetting that no mater how softly he grumbled the autobots would still hear him loud and clear.
"You failed to mention that in your report." Prime stated dryly letting Sam know he wasn't letting the boy get away with anything, and that yes he HAD caught that thank-you. Ironhide smirked slightly and placed his hands on his hips. It was always enjoyable to watch prime keep the younger ones in line. Order and respect were important to run things smoothly!
Bumblebee shook his head and covered his faceplate with one hand. It seemed Sam was learning the hard way not to try and keep secrets from Optimus Prime. Oh well, better he learned it now than later in a more dangerous situation! Optimus was in fact, far from all cuddles and rainbows.
Optimus was a PRIME. A military commander and leader of the autobots, sometimes Bee knew that for newcomers, those who hadn't spend many, many millennia around the 'bot…it was a lesson hard learned and difficult to keep in mind at first. Especially when they grew to know the soft, peaceful, Mentoring side of Optimus first.
"Samuel, I would like to conduct a small test." Leaning back on his heals a bit Optimus turned to address his weapons specialist "Ironhide." Sam's eyes nearly bugged out. Just what kind of 'small test' did Optimus have in mind that involved Ironhide?! He was almost sure he didn't want to know! "uhh.." Sam weakly started to protest but didn't actually interrupt, clinging to the belief that the autobots wouldn't try anything dangerous with him…right?!
Ironhide opened a compartment and removed a small computer monitor, placing in on his leader's hand. Optimus turned to face Sam, placing the monitor carefully on the ground between himself and Sam with two fingers.
"Why were you carrying around that?" Sam asked Ironhide, genuinely curious as to why the autobot was toting around an old computer monitor.
"Mikeala donated it to our cause." Optimus clarified "I want you to try and…bring this item to life, as you did before with the watch and pedometer."
"Figures." Sam muttered in reference to where the monitor came from, it seemed Mikeala had been very 'HELPFUL' this evening. "But I don't know HOW I did it before! I just…did! It happened from like nowhere when I got pissed at that dick in the park!" for the moment Sam forgot about the second attempt with the pedometer because he didn't know how he managed it that time either.
Ironhide spoke up for his position slightly farther back and to the left of Optimus "Well then, I would suggest you try to recreate what you felt. Simulate what you felt with the Dick and the actions that angered you at that time." He suggested helpfully thinking nothing of what he called Trent…after all for all the weapons specialist knew the jock's name was DICK or the Jock had the ranking of 'dick' as Sam had referred to him as one earlier that evening.
Sam blinked at Ironhide, choosing not to try and correct him about the Dick thing…after all Trent really was one where it counted. He figured it might be worth giving what Ironhide suggested a shot. After all, it was as likely to work as anything else he could come up with. Walking up to the monitor Sam hesitated as a rather freaky thought nagged at the back of his mind and he looked at Optimus.
"Are you sure about this? Sam said loosely clenching his fists despite the pain "The last two times I did this, they didn't exactly come out all friendly..actualy both times they ended up homicidal and everything. And that was when they were smaller than my fist."
"I've got it covered." Optimus reassured the boy settling into his kneeling position again with one hand braced on the ground and the other resting clenched in a fist resting loosely on his knee. "Go ahead Samuel."
"Ok…." Sam focused on the monitor and tried poking it. Nothing happened. He tried slapping it, but other than making his hand sting..nothing happened. IT wasn't working and as the second ticked by Sam grew more aware of the expectant silence and embarrassment growing in his chest.
Damn it! Why couldn't it work when he wanted it to?! Even thinking about Trent wasn't doing the trick. He didn't want to be here, didn't want to be doing this! F! Sam finally exploded and brought his hand down in a fist planning on smacking the piece of trash hard…but his hand never made contact.
Instead of striking the monitor, his hand spasmed open with fingers spread and palm down when it came about eight inches from the surface. Wide eyed Sam watched as time seemed to slow for him and tiny arcs of blue-white energy danced across the surface of his hand from finger to finger before joining into a thin luminescent strand of energy that leapt from his hand to the electronic for a moment joining the two by way of the glowing tie.
Then time jerked back into reality with normal speed and Sam found himself staggering backwards holding his right wrist with his left hand as the former shook and felt hot and cold at the same time, and the later protested the contact. But more importantly was the fact that a now familiar haunting sound of metal shifting against metal was coming from the monitor as it transformed and a disturbingly Frenzy-esque looking transformer eyed Sam right back.
And then attacked, shifting wicked blade looking items out of its forearms. The doomed thing never made it farther than three feet as Prime's fist came down like the wrath of the gods creating a foot deep indent and obliterating the little Decepticon effectively.
The force of the hit caused Sam to stagger backwards a little, and as Optimus raised his fist again the remains of the monitor twitched and a distinctive 'Ohhhh Shiiiiiiiitttttttttttttt' could be heard before all life flickered out permanently.
"SHIT" Sam said falling onto his rear and scooting back a little "IT SAID SHIT!" He yelped looking around in shock. "They never did THAT before!!!" he announced fervently, the realization that he had created something capable of speech sending Sam into shock. How the crap was this happening?! A wave of sickening dizziness crashed into Sam making his vision blur and threaten to black out for a second.
Sam thanked heaven that he was sitting because he would have probably fallen down otherwise. A stabbing headache threatened to make an appearance as needle like pains pressed into the area around his temples making Sam mutter a sick kind of "ugh…ok…not fun." While paleing.
Ratchet frowned and scanned the sitting boy, who yelped a bit and opened his eyes to focus on the medic. This did nothing to make the 'bot feel better, and infact only seemed to concern him further. "Sam, I strongly recommend that you take care not to simulate those kind of emotions around any electric items. Nor do any strenuous activates until further notice."
Prime nodded "Indeed. You will do as Ratchet advises Sam, correct?" again phrased as a soft but firm command instead of a request even though ended in a rhetorical question. And once more it got an immediate and desired reaction from the teenager.
"Yah. I mean Yes Sir." Sam nodded carefully getting to his feet.
"And do not put those gloves on again, I will work on crafting suitable non-hazardous coverings that will offer more effective suppression than your current attempt." Ratchet commented softly, knowing that after that comment from Optimus Sam would listen carefully to everything he said.
"Ok, I got it." Sam nodded again, suddenly feeling really sick and wanting to just go home and crash for a good while.
Prime turned to Bumblebee "Bumblebee, take Sam and Mikeala home." The yellow bot gave a respectful salute and then shifted into car mode popping his doors open. Sam blinked and then stiffened as Mikeala walked out guilty from where she had been listening behind the tree.
Sam frowned and turned his back on his guilty looking girlfriend, she had been hiding back there the whole time…just listening?! She hadden't had the guts to come out and face him….not that he didn't see why after doing what he had begged her not to only hours after asking it of her!
"Samuel, she has done you more good than you have done for yourself. Do not be angry at a comrade for having your well being in mind. They are far too precious for that." Optimus chided gently causing Sam's stiff shoulders to fall forward slightly.
"I know.." he whispered knowing Optimus could hear him, again feeling guilt but this time for a very different reason Sam slipped into Bee a moment before Mikeala. It was a very quiet ride home…or it WOULD have been if Bee had not chosen to play 'Can you feel the love tonight' over…and over…because they refused to talk to one another.
As soon as Mikeala had gotten out of the car, and Bee pulled away Sam thwapped the dashboard lightly "Gaw, Bee enough already! QUIT IT! Play something else for the love of…" Sam was relived when the radio went silent for a moment…but not for long as "Listen to your heart' started up and the teen keeled over with a groan resting his head on the dashboard in defeat.
Back at the lookout Optimus starred out over the road a long time after Bumblebee's taillights faded into the night. He heard and sensed Ratchet approach after a few minutes and stand next to him over looking the road.
"Optimus…" he started hesitantly, obviously not wanting to say what he felt he must "He is already showing traces of…"
Optimus cut his medic off raising one hand "I know. We may not have much time Ratchet. Sam… may not have much time."
"Understood. I'll get to work at once" Ratchet said softly before turning around and walking off. Optimus continued to look out over the road, and in the distance the city…contemplating the possible course of future events, and troubled by that which may lay in store.
And on what they all may be called upon to do.
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------NOTES----
Gah...another chapter in two days! Got to love me!! (Seriously I stayed up till four am in the morning for you guys!) I wan't to thank my readers ( I read EVERY review and truely people they keep me going...thats why you get another chapter so soon! Remember that!), my beta-readers and most of all Justin, a friend of my who is a life-long transformers fan who has helped me to keep facts in line and characters in well...character! (PS. I honestly don't care if there are spelling/grammer issues. I Spell check and go over it..and thats enough! Please just enjoy the story :p )
COMMING UP NEXT! Chapter 7 - Good Cop, Bad Cop. A farmilar Decepticon makes his move for revenge, having potentaly fatal results while a new-to-some and not-so-new to others arrival makes it's premire onto the scene!