DISCLAIMER: FOUND ON PREVIOUS CHAPTERS
A/N: Sorry huge writers block for a while from point A to point B but either side had ideas just how to get there, there was a block. Sorry if the last part was boring but that is what happens when your brain goes at mach 2 and cant slow down enough for you to process what is going on.
THE LOST CHILDREN OF CYBERTRON
Chapter 19: Distress Signal and Meet the Family
Sam stared surprised at Skeeter as he stared out the window at the yellow camero parked just outside of Miles's place. They had just finished dinner when the cell phone wandered over to the window and asked to speak to Bumblebee.
"Can I meet him please!" he begged
"Why? Aren't the Decepticons and Autobots enemies?" asked Miles.
"I guess this doesn't apply to kids," said Sam as Skeeter hopped up and down on the window sill insisting on meeting the camero.
"Alright fine! We will meet my car," Sam said smiling as he picked up the phone and looked at the time.
"I have to get home anyways my curfew is almost in effect," he said as he picked up his completed paper and walked out along with Mikaela.
As they stepped out into the cool night Sam walked up to Bumblebee.
"Hey there buddy," he said and the car did not respond.
"Look Miles knows already because someone exposed himself on accident." Sam said
"Miles had asked his mother if it was alright to sleep over Sam's place for the night and after a quick phone call from Sam to his parents it was alright.
Mikaela had to go home due to her father being out of jail and wanting to spend time with his daughter.
The three of them walked over to Bumblebee and gotten into the camero and Sam started the car.
"Hey friend we are heading towards the lookout," he said out loud to Bumblebee and the Camero roared as it headed down the road.
As they drove down the road Skeeter popped his head out of the bag and stared into the interior.
"Cool! His interior is sooo sweet!" Skeeter said from his place in the bag.
Bumblebee was shocked to see such a tiny bot in Sam's bag he could not help but yelp.
"What is that thing?" he said and Miles jumped from where his seat is.
"I will tell you when we get to the lookout," Sam said.
They drove for sometime till finally they reached the designated lookout. It was on a hill overlooking the town of Tranquility. The city lights shown brightly over the distant horizon. Sam walked out of his car and towards the cliff's edge. As he walked there the others followed. Bumblebee stayed where he was not moving.
"It is alright buddy you can transform Miles knows about you," he said and slowly the camero transformed into the familiar Autobot scout.
Bumblebee looked down at Miles and the boy gulped as he was inspected by the cool blue optics.
"Cool!" another voice interrupted and Skeeter popped his tiny head out of the bag staring back at the yellow Autobot.
Bumblebee stared back in shock at the sight before him as the tiny Decepticon sparkling was held up by Miles.
"Um Bumblebee meet Miles and Skeeter," said Sam and did the same for the reverse.
Miles waved his hand at the camero and the car did the same.
"Cool," he said
"Pleasure to meet you Miles," said Bumblebee
Skeeter looked up with his tiny red optics and Bumblebee had to lean in really close to get a better view of Skeeter. The tiny phone crawled onto Sam's shoulder and then onto his head his legs are gentle not to hurt the human.
"A Decepticon Sparkling!" he said surprised by the boldness of the small one.
"Well what do you expect Megatron?" replied Skeeter as he stared up at the Autobot.
"Well I am nearly an adult not much older then yourself anyways but how old are you?" he asked Skeeter
"I am 24 earth years old," Skeeter replied.
"Slag! You are not even a vorn old and you are alive! I thought I was the last one?" Bumblebee replied back
"Nope! There are ten of us total five Autobots and five Decepticons," Skeeter said and began to tell his tale of his origins.
When he was finished Bumblebee stared at him in awe. Here was a survivor from the massacre that killed nearly all of Cybertron's young and female species. And yet there are two from each faction still alive and young. The only other females that he knew were those that were left behind on Cybertron to guard the computer known as Vector Sigma. But that computer was destroyed years ago by Unicronians and so the females were scattered throughout the galaxy.
Yet here on this planet they have a new chance. Two females or femmes are here and what made it better is that they are still young. Though true they have to wait a few centuries before they are sexually mature but they are still female. Bumblebee was excited to finally meet a female closer to his age then anything else. The only other female closest to his age was Arcee but she is no longer here.
Skeeter was living proof that there are still some survivors of the purge, but he has no memory of it because he was only a spark at the time. When he was activated here on Earth that made Bumblebee know that Skeeter is one of the first Cybertronians born on this planet along with his siblings.
Skeeter kept staring up at him in wonder because he had never seen an adult or nearly adult transformer in his life. This got Bumblebee feeling like he was some sort of celebrity.
"Well I bet Sam explained to you about how I got here right?" he said and both Skeeter and Miles nodded.
Skeeter was about to reply when his internal phone began to ring.
The others looked at him as he suddenly began to play music and cursed forgetting that he left his comm. on.
The music being played was 'Citizen Soldier' from 3 Doors Down and the tiny cell phone had to turn his speaker phone one.
"Skeeter here," he said
"It is about Slagging time I got a hold of you young mech!" the scolding voice of Frenzy came online and Skeeter winced at his tone.
"Do you have any idea how worried we are?" he said and Skeeter yipped a 'yeah'
"Well when you get back here young mech you are grounded!" was the hasty growl.
"Sorry Uncle Frenzy but I gotten into the wrong bag," Skeeter said sheepishly.
Sam, Mikaela, Miles and Bumblebee stared at the phone in shock as he was being scolded by none other then Frenzy. It was then that a deeper much more familiar voice filled the phone lines.
"Don't mind him Skeet he is just mad that you did not call us like you should have done in the first place," it was Alex this time on the phone.
"Alex Pakele?" said Mikaela
"Mikaela Banes? Is that you?" was the question
"Yeah so Skeeter belongs to you?" she said out of curiosity pretending to just meet the girl.
"Yeah he is mine along with my car Zenith and my computer Stitch," was the reply.
"Um we have Skeeter here and Bumblebee Sam's car," Mikaela said figuring that Alex would not know about the Autobot since she has a Decepticon Sparkling in her possession.
"Oh him I knew he was an Autobot from the day you took me to the mall," was the reply.
"So what are you doing right now?" said Mikaela
"Where are you by chance I am coming up right now into town to get some supplies maybe you can meet up with me," was the question.
"We are at the lookout overlooking the city," Mikaela said
"Alright I am coming up right now with Barricade and Frenzy," with that Alex hung up
"Um I hope there is no fighting involved," Miles said not wanting to see two robots duke it out here on the lookout.
"I highly doubt it Uncle 'Cade does not like fighting unless he has to," replied Skeeter.
Now that was something new that not even Bumblebee knew about.
It was not long before the lights of a police car pulled up and Alex jumped out of the passenger's seat. Frenzy followed her as well as he raced up to the phone in Sam's hand and ignored Sam for once and began to scold the phone in Cybertronian.
All three humans minus the one that just arrived stared at the rather sheepish looking Nextel phone as he was being scolded for getting lost in the first place. Even Bumblebee was being ignored for once.
Barricade walked up to Bumblebee after transforming and placed a clawed hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks for watching him," he said and Bumblebee was stunned.
As he watched another car pulled up and he tensed but seeing as Barricade never even flinch he knew then that they are in the presence of another Cybertronian. As soon as the car parked and Kekoa exited the vehicle the car transformed into surprisingly for all the three seniors present an Autobot. The Autobot symbol was present on his forehead as he stood. In a way the new comer reminded Sam and Mikaela of Jazz with the way he transformed and how he looked. But his head reminded them a bit like Bumblebee.
He was dark blue that much they knew from his alt mode in the parking lot as he walked slowly up to them, but kept his distance.
"It is alright Zenith they won't bite," said Kekoa as he walked up to where Frenzy was still scolding a now crying Skeeter.
Shaking his head Sam was now locking eye to optic with Frenzy as he stared at him. Feeling nervous he took a step back and was met with the optics of another cell phone like Skeeter on his other shoulder.
Recognition instantly went to his face as he recognized the phone and the phone did the same.
"I remember you!" they said at the same time.
"Um Scrappy how do you know these two?" asked another metallic voice and everyone turned to the other newcomers. There was one that had spikes up his back an on his head that resembled Frenzy to some degree but lack the sharp mandible teeth.
"Scrappy knew them from when first activated by the Allspark!" was the happy reply as he leaped from his perch and hugged Mikaela.
Mikaela hesitantly hugged back the cell phone carefully remembering the phone in the glass box.
"Don't worry Scrappy is not going to shoot you he has been disarmed." Said Kekoa as he started to laugh.
"He won't shoot us?" said Sam as he finally released Skeeter who stopped crying.
Miles was stunned as he came closer and then looked up at Barricade.
"Hey man I remember you! You are the same cop that busted Trent last week for smoking weed behind the school!" he said and Barricade smirked
"Well I was board and since I was not on duty I wanted to have some fun." He smiled wickedly showing his fangs.
He then sat down shaking the earth as he did so wanting to laugh at the looks the Autobot and his companions gave him.
"What can't a retired war veteran find some peaceful job that does not involve shooting someone," he said
Bumblebee was startled beyond belief, "Have you gone soft?" he asked
Barricade wanted to laugh more then anything as he still watched the stunned look on Bumblebee's face.
"I have always been soft you just haven't seen it," he replied and the yellow Autobot then sat down next to the Decepticon and they watched the humans and the children play.
From what Bumblebee observed from them he also took pictures but he sensed that there was one more of them that has not revealed themselves.
As the night wore on and the children getting tired it was Zenith who suggested that they all go home.
Just as they were about to head towards their respective cars/guardians there was a call from up above.
"Deceptibot base this is Goliath come in Deceptibot base!" he said his voice was hoarse and scared as Barricade answered.
"Barricade here go ahead Goliath," he replied
"Uncle 'Cade, Rodan and I are coming in for an emergency landing we have an injured bot and requires Alex's attention immediately!" he said and it was then that Kekoa took over using Scrappy.
"Kekoa here from what vector are you two coming in?" he asked
"Coming in eastbound from 11 o'clock northwest heading southwest we have an injured with us that requires assistance immediately." His voice frantic
"I am sending Radon to assist and guide you in," he said and waved his hand and pulled out what appears to be the top of a recorder flute and began to play it like a whistle but in a different signal.
"Understood," was the reply before the sound of jet engines could be heard and Sam, Mikaela and Miles turned to see an F-22 jet fly above them towards the signal.
"Well get in guys I guess the night is over," said Bumblebee as he transformed.
"Bye guys it was fun meeting you," said Skeeter as Alex picked him up and headed towards a now transformed Zenith.
Barricade was already transformed with Frenzy in his passenger cab and lights blaring. They raced down the streets towards home and with Bumblebee now trailing them Barricade felt that the more fire power needed to protect the kids the better. In a way he was glad it was an Autobot and not another Decepticon because at least there would be a balance of principals to be taught.
---IN THE SKY---
Radon raced as fast as her turbines would let her as she turned in mid air and shot towards Goliath and her twin's signal. As she came closer she noticed that another very weak signal was coming from Goliath and Radon knew that must have been the injured bot that they are carrying.
As she neared she could make out on her visual the outline of the space shuttle and the F-15 Eagle. Radon shot towards them well aware that Goliath was very tired and without recharge as he and Rodan struggled to stay airborne.
"It is alright guys you will soon be at the base just follow me it is a 15 minute flight," she said and the two followed her.
She guided them gently and slowly seeing as Goliath and Radon both tired and weak from their journey had been trying to stay well above radar. She flew just on the right side of Goliath while Rodan flew on the left and they each held a wing with their own trying to support him and the cargo that he carries.
----AUTOBOT HEADQUARTERS-----
The massive amounts of injured were taken immediately to the medical bay and poor Ratchet along with the current medical staff and those that came from the Nemesis and those that were on staff from the Nemesis were worn out. Ratchet insisted that they get some recharge and he would call them when it was the ending of his shift.
Many were taken into account including the seekers that bailed the prisoners out. Some Ratchet was surprised turned out to be Femmes and others well they could have seen better years.
His team worked around the clock doing repairs and transfusions to most of the critically injured ones but the one that eluded him was the one they have been searching for.
For quite some time they could not find any traces of Starscream even after the ship crashed into the ocean. They searched until Shockwave reported telling those two strange Autobots about Starscream and they took off after him. That was as far as Ratchet had heard and from what they were telling him he was in critical condition.
He let air pass through his intake valves as he sighed. He was very worried about any bot and search parties have been going around for quite sometime now.
He just hoped that they can get to him because Starscream has valuable information that they need to determine this new threat to both worlds.
---HITACHI RESIDENCE---
After much scolding on the part of Marie to Skeeter they raced around the base setting up the emergency medical bay. Barricade and now the stunned Bumblebee raced to help them get everything ready while Zenith cleared the runway.
The smaller bots and the humans were busy making sure all the tools they would need would be ready for when Goliath, Rodan, and Radon arrived with their charge.
The kids were running around the old airfield trying to prepare for the emergency landing as they set up sling shots that would stop the planes from crashing but to stop a space shuttle they need triple the amount. They had extended the runway as best they can as they saw the dots approach.
---IN THE AIR---
Goliath began to really show his exhaustion as Radon tried to help keep his nose up while Rodan too started to sway in his flight.
"Stay with me you two we're almost there!" Radon shouted her exhaustion from holding up Goliath was showing.
She could see the airfield ahead of them as the others scrambled to get it ready.
"Alright Goliath I need you to pull up in about five minutes ok?" she said to the shuttle and felt him shutter weakly.
As they came closer Rodan began to really sink down.
"Don't you pass out on me too Rodan! Keep your nose up we're almost there!" Radon shouted
"I am so tired," he complained
"I know brother, but you are going to have to keep your nose up!" she encouraged.
As she counted down towards the ground she saw that they were coming in too fast.
"Goliath lift your nose up now!" she shouted and separated herself from him and he lifted his nose up as best he could for landing. The weight of his passenger getting to him as he touched down on the ground with his hind wheels and they squealed in protest before the weight of the passenger nearly sent him nose first into the ground.
"Boosters now!" Radon shouted as he fired his reverse boosters to slow him down along with the parachute that all space shuttles carried to help slow his momentum.
As he did so Goliath shot out his parachute that he always carried being a space shuttle in all. As he slid and fell trying to control his speed the things on the runway helped a bit too from the emergency stopping cables to the spikes on the tires. Unfortunately Goliath stumbled and fell causing his charge to fall from his back as he rolled and transformed at the same time. He slid on his belly towards the hanger and when he finally stopped he was out cold his exhaustion overtaking him.
Rodan came in second as he started his decent towards the ground. Falling he tried to steady himself but nearly ended up with his nose cone on the ground. Luckily Radon swooped down like she did and caught him. He crashed into her chassis and both slid with Radon ruining her boosters as she landed on her back and slid down the runway. Rodan was already out cold by the time she stopped and the incredible pain in her back was all that she could feel before she too passed out.
---SOMETIME LATER----
Sam stared in wonderment as Barricade and Bumblebee actually worked together to get the injured into the base. Bumblebee still felt apprehensive when it came to Barricade but the Decepticon ignored him instead worked with Kekoa and Mikaela on repairing Radon. Rodan was just exhausted and so is currently sleeping with Goliath in recharge. Radon having to rescue her twin was currently in stasis with Barricade working on repairing her boosters.
Bumblebee watched this with wide optics as he saw the Decepticon doing something other then killing Autobots. After a time slowly Radon's optics came online as Barricade finished the repairs on her boosters.
"How does that feel?" he asked and Radon twisted around a bit before firing them up to give them a try.
"Feels much better," she said as she turned to stare at the other two.
"How are they doing?" she asked Barricade
"They are just exhausted and all minor repairs have been made," he said and Sam watched as Radon got up to inspect the two. Her clawed hand gently went across Rodan's face.
"It is getting late Sam," Bumblebee said as he shifted back to car mode.
Mikaela and Miles emerged and soon Bumblebee made to leave but not before Bumblebee promised to return to the farm the next day. Barricade soon had to go and resume his patrol of the town while the others stayed. He and Frenzy also returned to patrol duty for the police and so escorted Bumblebee home.
Sam felt strange on the way home and thus had to ask Bumblebee about it.
"I don't know Sam I mean all this time I thought I was the last youngling alive," he said
"Yeah and to suddenly find out that for a long time there was more of my kind somewhere that have never been activated yet makes me wonder." At that Mikaela patted Bumblebee's dashboard.
"Don't worry so much Bee I'm sure a good night's rest will set things right," she said and the Autobot laughed before he turned into Sam's driveway with his father waiting for them on the porch.
"I was beginning to wonder when you would get home," he said and Sam paled.
"Don't worry so much Sam, Mrs. Hitachi called and said that you had stopped to help her and forgot your phone that is how she got our number." He said and Sam, Mikaela and Miles breathed a sigh of relief as the night sky loomed over them.
Luckily it was Sunday and so Ron Witwicky guided them into the house for some rest.
Mikaela on the other hand had Bumblebee drive her home and when he returned he breathed a sigh of relief as he used Sam's computer to let them know that Mrs. Hitachi called her house to let her father home with the same lie that she had given Sam's parents. She ran to her room to get changed for bed. Living in a trailer park she had some advantages with the extensions that her grandmother built.
When Bumblebee drove back to the house he noticed that both Sam and Miles were fast asleep. The day's events wore them out as they slept the rest of the night and part of the day away. Bumblebee felt strange to have to deal with all of this as he settled into recharge. As he finished settling in he felt as if something big was going to happen, something that involves these sparklings and the rest of the Cybertronian race.
He sure as pit hope that was not the cause.
TBC