Chapter 6: Danger Lurks

~Morning/Motel~

(Marie POV)

The smell of bacon and eggs as well as the sound of sizzling of the meat on the frying pan, made me pull out of my dream. Then I felt dad licking my face…wait a minute…dad doesn't lick my face when he's waking me up. My nose twitched when I heard a bark. Dad doesn't bark either, he only vents his hydraulics like a snore that's for sure. This time I heard dad from behind.

"Marie it's time to wake up."

"Right…" I squinted my eyes then open one, the first thing I saw was a nose. "Ah!" I jolted up awake and scuttle away from whatever that thing is. I kept backing away until I stumbled on the floor. "Ow…" I groaned then sat up.

"Bark!"

I blinked when I saw a puppy, it was a Chow Chow breed, and he was wagging his furry tail. I heard dad chuckled behind me while walking towards us, I could smell the bacon and eggs from that frying pan he was carrying. "Good morning to you as well sweetie."

"Yeah, morning, uh dad?"

"Yes?"

"Why is there a puppy here?"

He chuckled again then serves my breakfast at the table. "My birthday gift to you darling." He said. Birthday gift? My birthday is still two days away, so why is he giving his gift to me now?

"Right, dad, my birthday is still…"

"Two days away, I know." He cut me off while putting the frying pan in the sink. "I remember you asking me if we could have a puppy, so, while you were sleeping I went to a pet shop to buy you one. Don't you like my gift?" That last part I heard his disappointed tone, I shook my head and stood up. I ran up to him with a hug.

"Thank you daddy!" I hugged his waist even tighter, he let out a grunt then gives back the hug.

"You're welcome dear, now go get your toast and eat your breakfast. I'll be outside if you need me." He gave my forehead a kiss. "Oh, and here is your allowance for today." He hands me five hundred PHP. That's kinda a lot…usually he would only give me a hundred.

"Wow dad, this is…a lot."

"That comes along with the puppy."

"Oh okay, can I go out? Go shopping?"

He paused in his tracks, then for a while, he looks at me and nods. "Alright, do you have your phone?" I nod. "Fully charged?" I nod again. "Good, keep it with you, and mind the streets alright?"

"I will dad!" I gave his cheek a quick kiss before running towards the shower room.

(Optimus POV)

I watch Marie running towards the shower room, excited to go out to the mall. I then look back at the puppy. I was not surprise to see it transform to a minibot, he slumps down and looks at me. "Sir, are you sure that I am to be her guard dog?"

"Yes Teletraan I, and I want you to make sure that she is safe."

"Understood Optimus sir." He nodded before transforming back to an animal, just in time for Marie to get out of the shower wearing a towel; she went to the wardrobe and wears her clothing. I on the other hand went outside to see if my energon has been refined. Thankfully it has after opening the case besides the refrigerator.

I went outside to my alt form and open the hood; I look for the opening to where my tanks are located. I soon spotted it and begin pumping the energon to my tanks. I felt refreshed as it pumps in the energon. Marie walks out of the motel, with Teletraan I in his alt mode, and approaches me. "I'll be off dad."

"Be back by lunch time, there's something we need to discuss after meal." I said

She raises a brow. "What discussion? Is it about my behavior in school?"

I shook my head. "No, it is something else, now go on and have fun at the mall." I nudge her towards the bus terminal. I don't want to let her be off on her own, but I need to prepare for our leave tonight. I went back in to start packing our things.

~Mall/ An hour later~

(Marie POV)

"I get the feeling that dad is hiding something from me, don't you think so Brownie?" I look down at my puppy; he barks at me and wags his tail happily. "Huh…I wish we could understand each other, oh well." I pick him up and placed him in my back pack, but it was slightly open so his head could pop out and be able to look around.

I got in the mall then walked in the clothes shop and browsed a pretty sexy top; I browsed another one and another one until I got about ten of them. Then I browsed some pants too. After I got bored on browsing I went out then walked to some more shops. "Ooh~ bags!" I went in the shop then browse some bags. Okay, so window shopping some bags wasn't that fun when you could only browse a few.

After an hour or two, I got bored and went to the food court to buy me some ice cream. Brownie was looking around, he didn't bark or woofed while I was window shopping. This must be some smart dog. Dad got me a really smart dog! Alright time to stop thinking about smart dogs.

I then saw something that caught my eye, a shop that I knew that dad would kill me if I go there, unless he saw it. I quickly got up then walked in the shop that I was interested at. A gay guy walked up to me, smoking. I thought smoking isn't allowed in the mall?

"Hey there honey, wanna piece of metal on your nose? Or maybe on your ear." He said, this guy must be an American. There were some Filipinos here, and Americans too. Well maybe not just Americans.

"How much is it?"

"Which one you want honey?"

"A belly ring."

"250 pesos babe, the cheapest you can afford in this place." He blew out smoke again, I resisted the urge to blow the smoke back to him.

"Okay, deal!"

~Half an hour later~

I was groaning against my folded arms, a belly ring was not a good idea to get, I lift my head up then look down at my belly button. When I lift my shirt a bit, I could see that it was starting to get infected. Dad is so gonna be pissed when he saw this! I pull the shirt back down and went to the pharmacy to buy cotton, a box of bandages, and hydrogen peroxide. After paying them I quickly rush towards the restroom. I pulled the things from the pharmacy and started soaking the cotton with hydrogen peroxide. Then I life my shirt up and started cleaning my belly button. Brownie barked and stares at me.

"Yeah, note to self, piercings are not good. I'll admit, I'm really stupid when it comes to these things." I mumbled.

Once I was done I threw the used soaked cotton in the trash can, then put the things back in my bag. I didn't put Brownie back in my bag cuz he might beg exposed by the chemicals in it. So I continue walking round the mall, window shopping, then when it was almost lunch time I went back to the bus terminal to hitch a ride back home. I notice the rumored flying jet to be flying around the area. I shook my head while putting my headphones on and my iPod played Mr. Brightside by The Killers. Brownie was growling at the flying jet, that was still around, and barked through the window. I quickly hushed him.

"Don't worry boy, it's just a jet, no big deal." I said while scratching his ears.

He gave me a whine but I scratched his ears again, this time he was wagging his tail and licks my face. I giggled then hugged him. "Good boy." I said, nuzzling his brown soft fur. His fur was really comfy, I almost fell asleep in the bus, if it weren't for the conductor shouting that we were at the terminal. "Come on boy, I think dad made us something delicious." I said while getting off the bus.

As soon as I approached the motel, I saw dad rushing outside and went to his form. I was curious and wondered what was going on, before I could ask him he immediately grabbed my arm and nudges me to climb up in the cab. "Dad wha-"

"No time sweetie, we need to leave fast." He said, after I was inside he then went to the driver's seat.

"Daddy what is going on? Why are you in a rush and why are we leaving?"

"He's here." Was the only thing he said before revving his engines up and we drove away from the motel. I was surprise to see one big luggage that carries our things inside in the cot, are we moving somewhere? I saw the same jet flying around us; I heard dad snarled under his breath before looking at me. "Marie, when I tell you to get out, get out. Understood?"

"Daddy I don't know what's going on?"

"Please, just listen to me! I don't want anything happening to you!" His voice raised, it was strict and demanding, almost like a command. I wanted to say something, but I knew he won't answer me, so I only nod stiffly. He grabs my face gently and caresses my cheek after noticing the tears forming in my eyes. "Marie, I am only trying to protect you."

"From what daddy?"

"From Starscream."

When he mentioned that, I felt my gut ready to turn around, but I held it down. He looks at the jet and points at it. "That's him?"

"Yes, and I know he is after me. Remember the moment you get out of my form, I want you to run as far as you can." He said, now my face gathered in his hands. I nodded but I couldn't stop the tears leaking from my eyes. He kisses my wet eyes and places his forehead onto mine. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you, I will find you as soon as I dealt with him. Do you understand?" I nodded. "Good, get ready sweetspark, get that luggage." He gave me one kiss on my forehead before his holoform disappeared. I grabbed the luggage inside and waited for dad to give me the signal. We were slowing down towards a forest, and then he opens his door for me. "NOW! GET OUT AND RUN!" he shouted, and I jump down with the luggage and ran towards the bush. I heard the shifting of metal behind me, then another shifting of metal was heard. Brownie was running by my side. I couldn't resist myself from hiding behind a bush and watch the scene that was happening. Brownie was tugging my shirt but I continue to watch.

The same rumored jet was there, facing my dad with his weapons ready. I was so nervous and afraid, my legs were shaking from fear. Then I heard the jet, or Starscream, talked.

"Well, well, well Prime. I see you have a fleshling." Hearing him cackle made my body shiver.

"I will not let you touch my daughter!" Daddy growled while his swords was drawn and his battle mask too.

"Your daughter? Ahahaha! How foolish! If Megatron were to be here, he would have squished that fleshling that you called your own child if he sees her."

Daddy didn't said a word as he lunges towards him, his sword swinging at the 'Con. He landed a scratch on Starscream's armor, making him hiss in anger. I held my breath when he shoots his gun on daddy, thankfully he was tough so he endured the shot and lunges back again. When Starscream was thrown near me, he instantly spots me.

"You! Come here!" he then tries to reach for me, but I shot up and ran away. "Get back here!" he growled as he chased me.

"Marie!" I heard daddy shout. "Get away from her!" he growled, when I look back I saw him tackling Starscream on the ground. Then I accidentally tripped on a log, and I fell down the slope. I screamed in pain when I felt my left lower leg to be injured when it hit the log. I slump down the ground, crying in pain because of my ankle. Brownie came running to me and tries to help me up, but when I was about to get up, the pain from my ankle engulfed me forcing me to slump back down on the ground.

I continue to cry while hearing metal clashing on metal, then I heard heavy footsteps getting closer to me. I lift my head up to see Starscream approaching me, a devious smirk on his lips. I crawled away from him, and screamed. "DADDY!"

"Get over here fleshling!" he reaches for me again, I continue to crawl away from him until I saw a ball of light shot him on the back. "What the frag!"

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY DAUGHTER!" I saw daddy lunging towards Starscream, then he sliced off his arm. He schreeched and dad was about to slice him to bits, he grabs his servo and retreats. Dad vented before turning to me, he withdrew his sword and kneels down. "Marie…are you alright?" he asked me softly, softly rubbing his steady finger on my cheek.

"Daddy…" I sobbed before I closed my eyes and fell asleep from too much tiredness.

(Optimus POV)

My spark almost stopped when Marie fell on the ground, I scanned her and sighed in relief when I saw that she was still breathing, although her left ankle appears to be injured. I sighed again before transforming to my alt mode and activate my holoform, I carried Marie inside my form then gently set her on the bed. I went to her injured ankle to rip the sleeve open. I winced when I saw the skin to be purple and a large bloody wound. I went outside to look for the luggage, not for long I was able to find it and bring it back. I pull out the first aid kit then started cleaning her wound before wrapping it with a roll of bandage. I will need Rachet's expertise to tend to this, I only cleaned her wound so there won't be anymore infection.

"Teletraan I, watch her while I drive towards the port." I said

"Understood." He went to Marie's side and sits.

I grabbed a towel to clean Marie's face; her face had dirt all over. Then gave her a kiss on her head before driving towards the port, where our boat is waiting. Everytime I was stopped by a street light, I would take a glance to Marie just in case. I nearly lost her earlier if it weren't for me. Starscream must have picked up my signal after I have arrived on earth, and now that he knows about Marie, I know the Decepticons will use her against me.

Thank you for reading once again along with your reviews.