Chapter 4: Tragedy Follows

"Ano bato! Ang baba ng sweldo namin! (What is this! Our salary is low!)"

I turn my head to see one of my co workers arguing at the head, he was furious about our low salary that it is now 1,500 PHP a day. Another joins him, arguing about it.

"Hmph…tanga ang mga ito…buti nga nagbibigay pa ng sweldo eh, kay sa naman wala (Hmph…these guys are total idiots…at least we're still being paid, rather than nothing)" A worker beside me mutters.

I will have to agree with him, but, I still feel a bit depressing to them. I know they have a family to feed, since they did told me about it, I only told them that I have a daughter and they all look at me like I am some kind of fool. Humans and Cybertronians are not that different I suppose. As soon as the sound of the bell rings, our shift was over and we were lining up to get our payment. That was then, I heard the workers behind me, gossiping about a flying jet.

"Hindi kaya yung AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) nag tetesting lang sila? (Don't you think the A.F.P. are just testing them?)"

"Testing? Hindi, baka naman may nagnakaw ng eroplanong yun. (Testing? No, maybe someone stole that plane)"

"Mali naman kayo…! Hindi lumilipad ng mababa ang mga F-22's! Baka alien yun…! (You're all wrong…! F-22's don't fly that low…! Maybe it's an alien!)"

I continue to listen to them intently, a jet flying around the city, either it was stolen or the military is testing it. Or….an alien jet…hmmm…no it can't be a Cybertronian, must be the military indeed. These humans are very strange when they see a very strange phenomenon. After I received my payment, I quickly went to my form where Marie is waiting for me. But when I arrived, she wasn't there, I was about to run and search for her but I felt a tug on my pants. I look down and relief washes over me, Marie was there, safe and uninjured. "What wrong Papa?" she asks me.

She is learning fast, I suppose English is her best subject. It was a good thing for me that she is learning English from Arlene, I owe her and Joseph a lot, I wish I could repay them somehow. Thanks to her lessons, Marie is beginning to understand me, but only a few words, still it was good enough and I was thankful for that. I carried her up in my arms and give her loving hug, as usual, she giggles as she gives me the hug back. I smiled then climb up in my form.

"Shall we go home?" I ask her.

"Yah!"

"Alright then." I chuckled.

~Arriving at the Manyag's household~

When I enter the gates, I could see police cars driving past me. I feel curious while driving towards Joseph's house, but when I arrive there, I was curious no more. There I could see Catherine crying in front of Arlene's body, dead body covered with white cloth. There was blood all around her, and a pool beneath her. What could have happened? I need to ask the residents here.I could see that Joseph was fuming in front of the other police; I parked in front of his house and look at Marie. "Stay here."

"Why Papa?"

"Just…stay here." I told her again.

"okay…" she spoke sadly.

My holoform got out then approaches one of the bystanders. "What happened?" I ask her.

"You must be the one that man was looking for." She said

"What?"

"A man came to Arlene's house, then I heard them talking about you, he said he was a very close friend of yours."

"A close friend of mine? No, I never have a friend who kills people."

"Who knows, why don't you talk to the police? I think you need to talk to them." She said before going back in her house. I was now curious about this mysterious man, he is pretending to be my friend, but what brings him to this place? I need to ask the other residents first before approaching Joseph. He is very upset about this, the death of his wife weighs very heavy on his shoulders. I ask around about it, and they only gave me the same answer as that woman before. Finally, I went to Catherine.

"Catherine?" I said softly

She looks at me and quickly hugs my waist. I stroke her back softly then knelt down in front of her, with my hands on her upper arms. "Uncle James…*sniff*…that bad man…killed…my mommy…" she sobbed. I stroke her head softly and wipes her tears away with my thumb.

"Shhh…I know…he killed Arlene…"

"Daddy is so angry, he didn't even bother to look at me."

"Yes…he is…Catherine. Were you here when the incident happened?"

She shook her head, I sighed. "No uncle, I was at school, when my school bus take me back home. I only saw the police taking picture of mommy…I ran to her and I saw that she wasn't moving…or even breathing…uncle I'm so scared…" she cries, I wrap my arms around her and pull her into a hug.

"Calm down Catherine…we will find the man who murdered your mother…and we will bring him to justice..." I said to her while gently calming her down. It took me a minute before she stopped crying, but she was still sniffling.

"Uncle, daddy is scaring me…he is really angry right now…" she whimpered while clinging to me.

"I know Catherine, I will talk to him so I want you to go to my truck and get inside, then stay there with Marie alright?"

She nods then ran towards my form, I saw her climbing up inside and closes the door. I turn to Joseph and approach him, I can see he was still enraged but I still approach him nonetheless. "My wife is dead! Hindi niyo ba nakikita! (Can't you see!)" He growls.

"Lt. Manyag, we can see that, but you need to calm down."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN! I CAN'T CALM DOWN WHEN MY WIFE IS DEAD YOU IDIOTS! PUTANG INA NIYO! (YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!)"

I grabbed his upper arms to stop him from throwing his fists on one of his comrades, he turns to me. Anger evident in his eyes. "Joseph you're scaring Catherine…calm down." I told him.

"You! You don't know about my family! And don't you even dare tell me what to do! Because of you…my wife is dead! DEAD!"

His fist connected to my jaw, I could not feel any pain because it is just my holoform, but I can feel his pain as well as guilt that I could not prevent his wife's death. The police officers grabs him and pulls him away. "Joseph…I'm sorry…" I whispered before standing up.

~Hours later~

I placed the last box inside my form, I sighed heavily while laying down beside Marie which she is sleeping on the bed inside my cab. My arm wrapped around her small frame, guilt was still in my spark. Joseph's only wife was killed by a murderer. I had asked the neighbors if they saw the culprit, they saw a man built like an athlete while wearing a black trench coat and his eyes were red. They said he was a friend of mine and was looking for me, I had assumed he was upset to see me gone so he poured his anger to Arlene by murdering her. Catherine was in school while Joseph was at his work. Only one thing came to my mind, a Decepticon, he knew I was here and he was looking for me. This is bad, I don't want to involve the people around here anymore. I need to leave this country fast! I don't want anything to happen to my daughter, she is so fragile and vulnerable. I wish there is a miracle for me right now, because that's what I need to assess this situation.

"Mr. James Peterson!"

I heard a voice calling to me; I sat up and carefully tuck Marie on the bed before going out to see who it was. When I look out, I saw a police officer; his optics were looking at me with suspicion. I have a very bad feeling about this. "Yes?"

"According to the neighbors, the murderer of Arlene Manyag is a friend of yours?"

"I don't know him sir." I said

"Can I ask you a few questions?" he asked, ignoring my answer. These must be the kind of police officers that Joseph was referring to, just my luck. I heard him clear his throat, clearly not in the mood to wait. I shook my head then look back to him.

"Okay." I said while opening the door, then climbed out.

"Where were you at the time of the crime scene?"

"I was working at a construction site, near the city."

"I see, tell me, do you really know this man?" He pulls out a picture, showing a captured scene of the said man talking to Arlene at the door, his looks are just what the neighbors described him.

"No."

"Then how is it that he knows you? If he was trying to rob the Manyag's treasury or things, he should have done so but he was only looking for you. Can you please come with me back to the station?"

This is very bad, I have heard things such as this from Joseph. If they ask you to come with them to go back to their HQ and involved with a case, there is a chance that they will arrest you. I can't, I already broke a law, I don't want to be separated from Marie. I need to think fast. I look around to see that we are the only ones here at the park away from that neighborhood and the city. That was when I got an idea. "One minute officer." I said

"Alright, but please be quick."

"Of course…" I said

I quickly went back inside, then quietly but with haste, I carried Marie with her things out of my form through the passenger's side. The officer is on my driver's side so he cannot see what I am doing. I was soon done. Marie is a few meters away from me, with her things beside.

"Mr. Peterson, please, I don't have time."

I did not reply, but I only transformed in front of him. I saw him look at me, he fell down on the ground and backs away. He pulls his gun out, but I quickly flick my fingers on his hand so the gun was thrown away. I also grab him by the shirt; he looks at me, in fear and pleading to me to not kill him. "I will not harm you human." I said

"T-T-T-Then what are you!"

"I am a being from another planet."

"I…I…" I saw him pass out from stress and fear.

I sighed then carefully put him down. I was about to transform back, but I heard a whimper behind me. I turn around and saw Marie looking at me, here eyes wide with fear as well. Her legs were shaking, tears starting to pour down from her optics. I knelt down in front of her and wipe off the tears on her face with a steady finger. "Shhh….Marie it is only me…" I spoke softly.

She sniffles but still immobilize and whimpering. I scoop her up carefully, and then held her close to my spark chamber. "Marie, don't worry, it is me…" I softly coo to her again.

"P-Pa-Pa…?" she sobs.

"Yes…it's me…your Papa." I said.

She looks at me and I look at her with my optics, we stare intently at each other, and reassuring her from my optics. After a few klicks, she buries her face on my chassis. I held her closer to my spark, my thumb softly stroking her back. "Shh…"

"Papa…" she whispered.

"Calm down now…"

We were silent for another few klicks, then I heard a giggled from my chassis. "Papa…you big…" it was so spark warming to hear Marie giggle, I made a soft chuckle before lifting her to my face.

"I am indeed big."

Marie looks down and yelps, I stopped her from backing away any further to prevent her from falling on the ground. Then I slowly being to set her down, after she was on the ground, she watch me transform to my alt mode. I activate my holoform in front of her, I could she was rather amazed at my transformation. "Wow!" she squeals.

"Come on little one, let's go somewhere else." I said

"Okay!"

I grab her things and place it back in my form, I carry her inside and I start my engines. I left the unconscious police officer in the park; I hope that when he wakes up, he won't remember a thing. Now, I must begin finding a place to hide before I plan for my leave. Just a little more money and I have earned enough to finally get out of this country, a boat will do, that way it can carry my alt form. I look back to Marie before looking back on the road and drove to a motel that is a bit far from the city.

~Tranquility~

(Bumblebee POV)

I was searching the whole town for Optimus, and with no luck, I didn't find him. He is no where to be seen at all, I vent out an annoyed sigh before parking near a junkyard. I then open my comm. Link to Ratchet.

:Ratchet, this is Bumblebee. He's not here:

:Don't worry, we found him:

:Really!:

:Yes, but…:

:I knew there's going to be a but, what's the problem?:

:He is very far away from your location:

:Really? Then I'll go there:

:No I mean, really, really far away. He is in another country Bumblebee:

:…WHAT! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!:

:His navigational systems must have damaged along with his communication systems from entering the atmosphere, or maybe from a crash:

:That's just great…how the slag is he gonna get here?:

:I don't know Bumblebee, but he is our leader, he will find a way to get there. Maybe rendevouz with you before us, I still don't know:

:Alright…if he ever gets here first I'll meet up with him and contact you guys:

:got it, and Bumblebee:

:Yeah?:

:If you rendevouz with Prime, tell him that I'm in the mood for a whacking:

:Uh…okay…:

:Good:

:One more thing Rathcet:

:What is it?:

:Did you whack Ironhide with a wrench again? Cuz I can hear him groaning in pain from here:

There was no response, and then the line went dead as he cuts it off. Oh yeah, he is definitely in the mood for some whacking. Thank Primus I'm on Earth and not with them. Though, I kinda feel bad for the others, oh well. I started my engine then went back to my mission. I hope Optimus can find his way here soon.

Short I know, but thank you for reading this new chapter and for your reviews as well. Also, if you are wondering if I am going to only cover the first movie, no I will include all three movies in this story with a few changes of their plots.