Crash and Burn
Chapter 2-Reflection
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
SASF Agent Ian Graham watched as the last of the NEST personnel headed home for the holidays climbed aboard the waiting C17. He was in charge until Major Lennox returned from spending time at home with his family. Not that he minded. It was his job as the human second in command to step in when needed. He would head back home to Scotland after the first of the year, to see his parents. For now, he had a job to do, and he would keep things running smoothly.
Except he didn't turn around when he heard familiar footsteps coming up behind him. Or notice the large alien foot poised high over his head for a fraction of a second before it was set down.
"Optimus," Graham said, never missing a beat.
The Autobot leader looked down at the human, who was standing at attention, hands behind his back as he watched the back of the plane close up and taxi down the runway.
"Agent Graham," Optimus said. "Is that the last of them?"
"Yes," Graham said. "And I know that's not the only reason why you're here. I'm sorry I didn't realize such a simple holiday tradition would create so much trouble."
"Your apology is appreciated," Optimus said. "But don't let it happen again."
Graham didn't move as he heard the Autobot leader walk away. He waited a few moments, turned around.
"I know you're there," he said.
A tall white and blue form appeared in front of the human. "How'd you know I was here?"
"Lucky guess," Graham said.
"Yeah, well, you're the lucky one. When Prime walked up behind you, he was poised to make you one with the pavement. He's still peeved about the mistletoe thing."
"I apologized," Graham said.
"He might've accepted, but it doesn't mean he's calmed down any," Mirage said. "And he's gonna be even more peeved when he saw what Ironhide did."
Graham closed his eyes, sighed. Lennox wasn't even gone 15 minutes and it was starting. . .
"What?"
"Hung the stuff everywhere he could," Mirage said. "Look, Prime probably won't notice. It's a tiny, tiny plant. But it was a big crate Sideswipe ordered off the Internet. . ."
"Mirage, just stop, please," Graham said. "How did Sideswipe get it shipped here? Wait, I don't want to know. This is one of the most secure military bases in the world. . And what would Hound say if he knew?"
"Money talks," Mirage said, transforming. "C'mon. I'll take you back."
Graham took one look at Mirage's sleek Fort GT form glistening in the setting sun, climbed in. It was going to be a very long two weeks.
-----
Tranquility, Nevada
Sam Witwicky was happy. A couple of weeks with no school, he got to see his family and Mikaela and more importantly, at the moment, he was in his own bed, with his dog curled up beside him. Bumblebee was out in the garage, and all was right with the world. So far.
"Samuel James Witwicky, get down here NOW!"
What? He pushed the covers down, rolled over, looked at his alarm clock. 8:30 a.m. What was his mother on?
"Leo!"
Hah. He wasn't alone.
"Look at my backyard!"
Sam picked up Mojo, looked out the window. There were skidmarks on the tiles around the pool. He thought about climbing out the window, getting to the garage and Bumblebee, maybe they could make it out alive? He heard steps coming up the stairs. His door was shoved open. . .
"I should make you go down there and scrub off those marks with your toothbrush," Judy said.
"Uh, Mom, I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation. . ."
"Yeah. Your wild femme bot left tire tracks all around *my* pool," Judy said.
"There are only two marks," Sam said. "And they'll come off with a powerwasher."
"Then later today you are gonna go rent one and clean it up," Judy said.
"Mom. . ."
"Don't argue, Sam," Judy said. "I'll have your dad take care of it, but keep the damn robots from wrecking the yard."
"Yeah. Like that'll be easy," Sam muttered.
"I heard that," Judy said. "C'mon downstairs. "Breakfast is almost ready and Mikaela will be here any minute."
Sam followed his mom down, Leo came down behind him.
"I hope you intend on keeping that promise you made," Judy said, turning to look at Sam. "You better, because if you don't, I'll kick your butt."
"Yeah, I am," Sam said. "We're meeting Miles out by the lake this afternoon."
"We?"
"Me and Bee, Mom," Sam said. "Arcee is gonna give Leo a ride to go Christmas shopping while we're gone."
"You're going to trust that crazy femme bot?" Judy said. "She left skidmarks all over. . ."
"She's not so bad," Sam said. "Just curious about everything. Maybe if you'd go talk to her, and ask her to not destroy the yard, she'll be more careful."
"I'll try," Judy said. "Eat. You boys have a long day ahead of you."
-----
Diego Garcia
Graham made a quick glance inside the Autobot hangar before heading for his quarters for the night. They were all accounted for--with the exception of two. The rest were sitting in their vehicular modes, powered down for the night. Two of the newest were parked side by side--Mirage and a gunmetal grey NEST Hummer pickup, his mate, Hound.
The two were a bonded pair. That was something no one had been expecting. At least Ratchet explained it, and human conventions did not apply to an alien species. Anyone who thought so could stuff it as far as Graham was concerned.
Also parked side by side were Ironhide and Chromia; Sideswipe, Jolt, Ratchet, Moonracer were also present. Optimus Prime was absent. But then again, he spent most evenings outside, staring up at the sky. This night was no exception. The Autobot leader would return later, but there was still one unaccounted for. Graham felt a vein in his temple start to throb. If this was what it was like to be in charge of NEST all the time, Lennox could keep the job. No, he'd worked too hard for this posting to give up on it and the chance to do what he was doing. And working with the Autobots. . .there was nothing else like it in the world.
A shot. Just one shot of any alcohol would help. But it was, of course, contraband material so Graham would have to settle for a couple of aspirin and a good night's sleep.
"Keeping a stiff upper lip, agent?" Sideswipe asked.
"Stow it 'Sides," Graham said. "I should send you out. . ."
"Go ahead. It beats sitting here all night," Sideswipe said.
"I wish I could," Graham said. "But you know what Galloway will say. . ."
"Doesn't matter what he thinks," Sideswipe said. "We answer to you and Prime."
"You have a point, but no. I think Optimus will take care of the problem himself," Graham said.
"He will. When he's had enough," Sideswipe said.
"Or not," Ratchet added. "Agent Graham, go get some rest. The problem will take care of itself."
"I hope you're right," Graham said. "'Night all."
They waited until he was gone.
"Yeah, like that problem will take care of itself," Sideswipe said. "Come off it Ratchet. The only thing that'll fix that is a fist to the face."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Ratchet said. "We'll let them sort it out on their own for now. A pity Prime is being so stubborn."
-----
At the moment, the stubborn Prime was standing on one of the island's beaches, staring up the stars, hoping more Autobots would arrive soon. It was his ritual, and a chance to relieve some of the pressures of leadership. And to contemplate the developments from the past few months.
He'd died. He didn't remember much of the experience (thankfully), but he'd died. He was now the guardian of his race's most precious artifact, the Matrix of Leadership, which he carried within himself. Three new Autobots helped shore up their ranks in the time since the battle with the Fallen. Not much, but any new arrivals were better than none. That it was Hound and Mirage was a blessing. Two experienced, steady fighters who helped keep up morale. Their bond made it possible. Hah. A bonded pair. Explaining that to the humans was a fun experience. Oh yeah. Ironhide and Chromia. They couldn't keep their hands off each other, and if they kept it up, there would be more than just a bond to explain. They were trying to produce a sparkling, partly to see if they could, but also because they had finally renewed their relationship. If a bonded pair could create an offspring, it meant their race still had a chance, that Megatron was wrong. Prime fervently hoped his brother could be proven wrong.
Then there was the other issue he was dealing with. A personal matter, a complication he did not need at the moment. Optimus was flattered by the attention, but he would never in a million years admit it. To even give a hint of reciprocation would just serve to further enflame the other bot's efforts and interest. He had too much to deal with, and a personal relationship would only send things into further disarray. At least that was what the Autobot leader kept telling himself. And how could anyone who had only been on Earth, near him, for a couple of months, be certain of anything? But that was a falsehood. He'd known this bot a while, but still. . .no.
And he was pretty certain the jackass was out there somewhere in the darkness, running around loose when they were supposed to be in the hangar with the other Autobots. He'd deal with it in the morning, as he would everything else. For the moment, his time was his own, and Optimus Prime wasn't going to let anyone take that away from him.