Chapter 3: A New Friend

Two weeks have past, and I noticed the changes of my salary from my job. It is getting lesser and lesser as each day pass. Now, I have earned 20,000 PHP. Still not enough to get out of this country, I have been getting messages from my men but my communication link is still broken. I have been spending this money to buy Marie food and water, as for myself, I have been scavenging the needed materials and ingredients to make Energon. Not the best but it is good enough to keep me going. This country isn't as rich as I had expected. So many civilians with no shelter but cardboard boxes, they don't even have the money to buy their own food. But they do try begging for money, or food. I suppose I was lucky to get a job very quickly.

"Papa, hungwy…"

I look down when Marie spoke, and then I remember that I was going to buy her food. I give her a nod before walking in to a market. After buying her food and water, we went back outside; then I heard some humans whispering as we pass them.

"Ugh…baho naman ung bata niya…(Ugh…his kid is so smelly)"

"Oo nga…amoy na amoy ko siya hanggang ditto pa lang. (Yeah she is…I can smell her already from here)"

I wanted to give them a look, but I don't want to start a fight, especially since I had taken a child in illegally. When we came back to my alt form, I quickly look at my sparkling. "It seems that I will need to give you a wash dear." I said.

"Why?" She looks at me.

"I have not yet given you a bath since I found you, we will need to go to Joseph's house and ask him to borrow his wash room."

"Okay Papa."

Once I help her climb in my form, I quickly looked for Joseph's address, and after I found it I drove there. His home looks like it is far away from the city; it took an hour for me to get there, and a gate blocking my way with two guards. When one of them approaches me, he looks up to face my holoform, his uniform is different from the police. "What brings you here sir?" he asked.

"I came here to see Joseph Manyag."

He motions for the other guard; it looks like he is going to let me in because he motioned for him to open the gates. After the gates are open, I gave the guards thanks and continue on to Joseph's house. I will have to admit, this neighborhood is rather decent and clean, the residents here are talking to their neighbors, unlike the ones in the city. I parked at the side in front of the house, I instantly saw Joseph tending to the plants. He quickly notices me when my holoform climb out with Marie.

"Oh welcome, it's been a while since we saw each other. I see that the little girl is doing good."

"Yes it has, Joseph, I hope I am not a bother to you."

"No, no, not at all. Come inside my home, a much more comfortable place to sit and chat."

Joseph motions for me to sit on the couch, Marie beside me as always, as he sits on another chair. The interior of his house is quite simple, a few portraits and pictures of him and his family on the wall. Some plants at the corner, and others. "What brings you here my friend?" he asks.

"I am wondering if you can help us."

"Of course, how can I help you James?"

"Well, we don't have a place to stay, but I do have a job. However, my salary is not enough to give even rent an apartment anywhere. Marie hasn't been given a bathe for a few weeks now, and I don't know where to find a place to wash her."

"I see, I see. I am telling you right now, you are very welcome to my home, and you can stay here as long as you want."

"Are you sure? I mean, won't we be a bother to you and your family?"

"Of course you won't be a bother to us. My wife won't mind for you and your daughter, staying here. We have an extra room upstairs; you can make use of it for your bedroom."

"Thank you so much, how can I ever repay you from what you have done to us?"

He shook his head then gives me a smile. "No need, but, try to mind my wife's garden. She is very overprotective of them. One time I accidentally stepped on her daisies, she threw a fit at me, I almost had a heart attack when she lifted her fists." he chuckled, as did I.

"I will be very careful of it."

I went back to my form to get Marie's clothing, then I went back to Joseph. He led me to our new room for us to stay in while Marie was busy playing with Joseph's daughter Catherine. She is two years older than my sparlking, and she is very friendly. Joseph flicks the switch for the light to be turned on; the room was a bit spacious. A bed close to the window, a closet on the opposite side, and a desk with a chair behind are beside the bed.

"Make yourself at home, we treat all our guests a part of our family."

"Thank you again Joseph."

"You're very welcome James."

I placed the clothes in the closet before hearing Joseph's wife, Arlene, shouting. "Dinner's ready!". Joseph and I went back down then went to the dining room.

"So…tell me James…how did you ever get stuck in our country?" Arlene asked me.

"I…can't seem to remember…I'm sorry." I lied, even though Joseph has helped me a lot, I still cannot trust them my real identity. Joseph and Arlene seemed to have felt sorry for me. "When I woke up, I was in my truck, the only thing I could remember was my name."

"That is…I'm sorry James, really I am." Arlene frowned.

"No, it is alright Arlene, my memory might return soon, so all I need is patience." I said

"Daddy, can Marie and I play at the park tomorrow?" Catherine looks at her father.

"If Marie's father say yes."

"Papa can I?" Marie looks at me. I smiled and pat her head.

"Of course, but be careful. I don't want you to get yourself hurt."

"Okay!" She giggles, we all talked a bit more as we eat and finish our meal.

I helped Arlene with the dishes after we ate dinner; it is the least I can do to repay this hospitality they gave me, I don't want to be rude to them as well. "James why don't you go on, I can take care of the rest."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am." Arlene smiled as she took the sponge from my hands.

I gave her a smile back and I went upstairs in my room. When I got there, Marie was fiddling with her dirty hair, that was then I realize that I was suppose to give her a wash tonight. I went to the closet to grab a towel, and then went inside the shower room. Quite surprising that this room has it's own wash room. I turn the valve to fill the tub with warm water, by the time I was done researching about creators washing and cleaning their sparklings on the internet, the tub was almost full. "Marie! Time for your bathe." I called out to her; she walked in with her doll. I took the doll from her small servos and placed it on the sink. "Don't worry sweetie, after your done with your bathe, you can have your doll back."

"Miss twuck!" she squeals while pointing at the doll.

"What?"

"Miss twuck! Miss twuck!" she kept on squealing those words while pointing at the doll, it took me a few klicks to realize that she was referring to the name of her doll.

"Okay I get it; you can have Miss twuck back after your bathe." I chuckled while patting her head.

She stood in front of me then I started removing her clothes, until it was only her codpiece. I know my holoform's cheeks are getting red again when I was removing her codpiece, up to now I was still not used to removing her codpiece every time I take her to the restroom. After the last piece of fabric was gone, Marie starts to get in the tub with her grip on my jacket's sleeve. When I didn't follow her, she looks at me with those pleading optics of hers. "What is it sweetie?"

"Ligo(Bath) with me?" she said

"T-Together? Marie I…I can't do that…I will stay here and wash you." When I saw her optics starting to get filled with lubricant, I knew I was going to have to get in with her. It is so…in appropriate! What if she sees my interface cable? I groan silently while taking of my clothes, she on the other hand was squealing and waiting for me. Before I take off the fabric that was covering my holoform's interface cable, I turn Marie around then I quickly get in just in time for her to turn back around. "Happy now?"

"Yah!"

I can't get the redness off my holoform's face, but I had no choice, so I sighed while I took the soap on the side of the tub. Then I begin rubbing the soap on her body, I stopped when she splashed water on my face. I wipe off the water on my face then give her a stern look, she only giggles at me and splashes again at my face. So she wants to play then, alright, I'll show her. I gave her a smirk before splashing her face. She yelps then backs away slightly to wipe off the water on her face. Her wet hair was covering her eyes, I reach for her face then pulled the hair away from her eyes and tucked it behind her ears.

"Papa…" she giggle while wrapping her servos around my waist, her servos are small so her hands only landed on both sides of my waist. I gave her a loving hug, and then kiss her forehead. "I wuv you…"

"I love you too; now stop playing so I can finish washing you." I said

She gave me a nod before I begin washing her, first coating her body with soap, making sure there is no more dirt, and then rinsing the soap off. She then takes the soap from my hand and rubs it on my chest, I smiled and let her do so. Although I did stop her from going any further down. After our bath, we dried ourselves up and pull out her sleeping outfit; it is only a shirt and a pair of shorts. Humans have so many types of clothing. They have shirts, pants, undergarments, dresses and others. It is so confusing; do these humans need that many clothing? I was then done with wearing my holoform's clothing, I reach over to 'Miss twuck' then give it back to Marie.

"Come on little one, time for bed." I said while picking up Marie and went to the comfy berth. It was so comfortable, I almost fell into recharge after I laid down beside her.

"Night Papa." I heard her yawn after whispering to me, a few nano seconds later she was already in recharge. I gave her forehead a kiss before I followed her.

(Normal POV)

~Outside Joseph's House~

An F-22 Jet was fying over; a slight growl came from the speakers after spotting Optimus real form, parked near Joseph's car then spoke. "Optimus Prime is here on earth as well…" The jet continues to fly around the neighborhood as it continues to scan the house and the semi truck. "Hm? Well…it seems that he has found a little fleshling…this will be interesting…very, very interesting…" The speakers emitted a dark chuckle while it flew away before anyone would notice it.

Joseph was walking outside his own house, pulling out a stick of cigarette and placing it between his lips; he pulls out his lighter to light the cigarette. That was when he notices an F-22 jet flying away. He rose an eyebrow. "Hmm…nah…baka flight test lang (probably just a flight test)." He mutters while he went back to smoking.

(Optimus POV)

~Next Day~

The sound of the creatures known as 'birds' made me woke up from my slumber, it was a new day and right now I need to go to work. The first thing I saw when I open my optics was that Marie was gone, I quickly sat up and look around while calling for her. "Marie! Marie where are you!" I was in a panic state, my daughter was gone. I got up and ran out of the room, only to bump into Joseph. "Joseph, hav you seen Marie?" I quickly ask him.

"She woke up a bit earlier and went outside the backyard, playing with Catherine." He said.

"I see…thank goodness…"

"Calm down James, as long as she's in this neighborhood she's safe." He reassures me with a pat on my back.

"Yes, thank you for reminding me." I was given a nod and he left me as he walks down the stairs. I sighed before I went down to the living room. I sat down on the couch then tilt my head back as I relaxed. Something is bugging me so far, last night I received a signal nearby before it disappeared. I have a bad feeling about this; I need to find a way to get out of this country fast before danger arrives. Joseph and his family shouldn't be involved anymore, Marie has already been involved and each time she is out of my sight I get paranoid as humans called it. I soon got up again to prepare myself for work, I need to prioritize my mission rather than sit here and do nothing.

Thank you again for reading a new chapter! I appreciate all your reviews.