Chapter 2: Job Hunting

(Optimus POV)

The moment I heard Marie crying, I immediately wake myself up. I saw her crying while looking around, she crawls towards the door while saying 'Papa'. That was then I remembered, she was looking for her sire, but he is already with Primus. I was taken back to reality when she opens the door, my holoform appeared behind her to catch her when she was about to fall. She turns and saw me, the lubricants filling her optics are gone and a smile forms on her lip plates. I was taken back when she gave my holoform a hug and spoke 'Papa' again. This sparkling called me her sire? She is mistaken, I am not her sire and I cannot let her stay with me. I will only put her in danger, but it hurts my spark to see her sad.

"I'm sorry, but I am not your father." I said

She looks up at my face as lubricants are forming in her optics again. Primus, I cannot stand to see a sparkling cry. I did only the best thing to do, my holoform's servos wrap around her, pulling her into a hug. "Shh…don't cry little one…"

"Papa…."

I vent out another sigh, she really thinks that I am her sire, but today I will take her to the orphanage. I became too attached to her, and she as well to me. The moment I leave her there she will continue to cry and worse, run away from the place to look for me. Marie jumped in my arms when a knock came to my door; I look through the window to see the same police officer looking at me.

"Sir, may I have a word with you?"

"Of course." I said

When I let go of Marie, she whimper while gripping tighter on me. She was shaking her head, pleading me not to let her go. I sigh and look back at the officer. "One minute." I said, he only gave me nod. I open the door then gently carry Marie down first before me. As soon as I was on the ground, Marie instantly held my leg, she is small so she can only reach my thigh. "Is there something wrong officer?" I ask as I look at him.

"We will be taking the child to orphanage today, you said you are coming with us, aren't you?" he ask

"Well…"

"Yes?"

I look down at Marie, she was still whimpering while hugging my leg. "Is it alright if she can stay with me for a while?" I ask as I look at the officer. He seemed to be surprise with my answer; he cups his chin as he thinks.

"You are willing to take are of her?" he ask me. Of course I am willing; this sparkling is too terrified to be separated from me. I gave him a nod, my optics filled with determination. "To tell you the truth." He looks around before looking back to me, a wide smile on his lips. "Not many people here are as caring as you are, around these parts I doubt anyone is willing to take care of her. She can stay with you, as long as you like, because I know for a fact that she might not grow up properly without a parent. Judging by the look of her gripping your leg, there is no doubt that she wants to stay with you. I'll clear this case, so you don't have to worry." He said

I could only blink at his response; this human is letting me take care of her and he is even risking his job to let this be forgotten. "Thank you officer." I thank him; he only gave me a nod.

"Be careful, some other police officers like myself, isn't as kind as I am. Take good care of her." He said

"I will, may I know your name?"

"Joseph Manyag, just call me Joseph."

I nod and smile. "Thank you Joseph."

"Anytime." He turns around and walks away.

I look back down to see Marie looking up at my face. "It is alright, you are safe, and from now on, you will be staying with me and you may call me Papa as well." I said

She perks up as she smiles widely. "Papa!" she squeals while hugging my leg even tighter. Still, I am not yet out of my problems yet. I will need to find a job to earn money, so I can leave this country and head to a small town called 'Tranquility' in California.

I was again pulled away from my thoughts when Marie tugged my shirt, I look down to her again then look to where she is pointing. I could see she wants to lubricate, a sign that says 'Restroom' is on the door. I nodded and went there; I stop to let her go in. When I saw she wasn't going in and was only looking at me, I begin to get confuse. Does she not want to lubricate?

"What is wrong Marie?" I ask her.

Once again, she doesn't understand me; I sighed and begin to translate my question. I look back to her. "Ano ang problema?" I said. She looked at me with wide eyes, and also surprised. Saying it is so hard, the pronunciation is hard to pronounce.

"Sama ka…(come with me)" she finally answer me. She wants me to go with her in there? But…that is…embarrassing? I cannot go in a femme's restroom! I saw her starting to whimper and trying her best to hold her fluids. I groan and walk in the male's room with her instead, of course I survey the area around me to see if someone is around. Fortunately, there was no one inside. I went to one of the stalls while Marie walks in there. I waited for her for about 10 earth minutes she has not yet gotten out. I was starting to worry, so I knock on the door gently.

"Marie?"

"Hindi ko kaya Papa." (I can't do it Papa)

I open the door slowly to take a peek inside; I saw her standing in front of the toilet seat while whimpering. I sighed before going in the stall and locking the door after closing it. I then realize that she was having a hard time pulling down her…codpiece…I reach it slowly and pull it down for her, with a feeling of embarrassment. She quickly sat down on the seat then gave out a relived sigh as she lubricates. I turn around to let her do her business. After about a minute, I felt a tug on my shirt making me turn around to see her finished and her codpiece in place, thankfully.

"Okay…" she said

When we walk out of the stall, three men walk in. They look at us, I was still embarrassed that I entered a stall with a little girl. I sighed in relief when they shook their head and went to do their business. After we got out of the restroom, we went back to my alt form, but after I picked up a newspaper nearby. I will need to search for a job after all, after we are inside my form. I quickly open the newspaper then read all of it. Until my optics landed on a page that shows job opportunities, and most of them are about businesses. "Hmm…might as well give it a shot." I muttered.

~One Week Later~

I held Marie's hand as we wait for my turn for an interview; the others seemed to be nervous. Marie was only playing with the dirty doll I found in her old house, we went there to see if there was anything I can salvage some things for her, so far I was able to find some money nearby and two sets of her clothes. Sadly, it wasn't much to buy a location for us to stay. "Mr. James?" I heard a femme call my fake designation.

"Yes, that is I." I spoke

Marie look up to me, I only gave her a hug. "Marie, stay here, alright?" I look at her.

"O-Okay…" she said.

I smiled then gave her a kiss on her forehead, she is beginning to learn English slowly, but she only knows four words. 'Okay', 'yes', 'no' sadly, and 'hungry'. I pull away and head in the room; I was instructed to sit on the chair in front of three people. "James Peterson, tell me about yourself, except your name and personal life."

"Of course…"

~After a while~

"Papa?" I lift my head up from my palm, Marie was looking sadly at me. I gave her a sigh and slowly ruffle her hair.

"I'm sorry Marie, but I did not get the job."

She scoots closer to me then gives me a hug; I smiled before giving her the hug back. What I would give to have my men here, this is the fifth time a job suits well for me slips. "Papa?" I look back to Marie, she seemed to have picked up a poster. When I took a look at it, I was again hoping to get this job. A construction worker, the salary doesn't look bad; it is more than enough to rent a room in a motel.

"Alright, I will try this." I said.

She smiled even more and gave me another loving hug, I stood up from the bench then Marie slips her small hand into my large one. I held it firmly as we walk back to my alt form. We went to the location, but once we got there, there was only a small shack from what humans call them. I got out and went to a man nearby, he seemed to be ordering some of the workers so he may be the person I will need to talk to. "Excuse me…"

"Ano! (What!)" He shouted.

"I was wondering if this is the place." I show him the paper, ignoring his rudeness at me, and watch him look at it.

"Foreigner eh? Okay, you're in!" he said

What? I am…hired? "Excuse me?"

"You want da job? You got da job!"

"Of course, thank you."

"Yeah, yeah." He waves his hand on me. "You start tomorrow. Bawal tamad dito! (Laziness is not allowed here!)"

"I understand, thank you." I said then left him to his work. "That went well…" I said

~Tranquility~

(Bumblebee's POV)

I woke up from my recharge when my comm.. link went off.

:Bumblebee, can you hear me? This is Ironhide:

:Ironhide? What is it? Can't you see I'm recharging…:

:Later kiddo, we got a major situation:

:What's wrong?:

:We can't contact Prime, and we don't even know where he is right now:

:What! B-But, he did mention going to earth before you guys so he could help me with the search:

:Yeah he did, but apparently we can't contact him or locate him, so we need you to look for him in your area:

:Okay, I'll look for him, I won't let you guys down!:

He chuckled before answering me. :I know you won't kid, Ironhide out: Then the line cuts off. I vent of a sigh before relaxing in my spot. Optimus is missing, and I have to look for him in this area. I guess I can put my main mission aside for awhile and prioritize Prime first. Hope he's alright, this place is really confusing to me, I totally need to get used to this.

~Philippines/ Manila/ Next Day~

The first day of my work, they showed me the ropes and I understood the process soon enough. Thankfully they let Marie stay in my alt form; I was able to buy her a drawing pad and crayons just for her to be occupied. I also turned my radio on for her to listen to music as well, to keep her relaxed. My shift ended soon, and I was paid with 3,000 PHP. I thanked my boss before going back to my form, it was a tiring day but it was worth it at the same time. When I opened the door, Marie jumps out to me, I quickly caught her and gave her a hug.

~Hours later~

I was woken up by my communication link because it went off, and I could barely hear someone.

:…P…ime?...come..n…Pri…!:

:Ratchet? Ratchet! Can you hear me?:

:Ca...'t…hear…you…spe…up!:

My comm. Link is broken as well; I couldn't understand Ratchet because of the static. But I did try to send in my location, hopefully they will be able to receive it. I felt someone squirming in my holoform's arms, Marie was disturbed from my sudden movement. I held her closer to me and kiss her head to make her go back to sleep, she did so then I heard her soft snores. I smiled before going back to my recharge and holding Marie very close.

Thank you for reading, reviews are again very much appreciated