Chapter Two - A Day in the Life

Transformers: Rescue Bots does not belong to me.

"Is he awake? Do you think he's awake? This won't work if he's not awake."

"Since when did you become such an expert on human customs?"

"Since I started watching those "reality shows" on the TV! You really should try it, Heatwave, you could learn a lot about them – "

"Shut up, Blades."

"Oh, quiet down, bots! I think he's waking up."

Cody groggily pried his eyes open, his vision blurry and head swimming with all the familiar voices. Once he rubbed his eyes and cleared the remains of sleep fogginess, he found his father and siblings lined up around his bedside, beaming down at him in their pajamas. Gaping, the boy turned his head and found the Autobots and crowded around outside his window. "What's—"

Cody's family, bots and all, abruptly broke into song before the boy could finish his question, singing "Happy Birthday" at the top of their lungs.

Even with Kade and Heatwave's rather half-hearted singing and Chase's caterwauling, Cody couldn't keep the enormous grin off his face, especially when his father produced a plate stacked high with his infamous chocolate chip pancakes, dripping in syrup with a candle in the middle, and placed it on the boy's lap.

As the singing died down and Cody blew out the flame, Chief Burns clapped a hand onto his son's shoulder. "Happy thirteenth birthday, Cody." Dani and Graham wasted no time in enveloping him in a choking embrace, careful to avoid his sticky breakfast, while Kade only fist-bumped the struggling boy.

"Thanks, guys," the boy wheezed, and his siblings soon released him so he could turn to the Autobots outside. "You too!"

"Aw, it's was nothing," Blades crowed, waving a servo in giddy, falsified embarrassment.

Dani rolled her eyes at her partner's antics. "Blades, stop being such a ham. C'mon, let Cody finish his breakfast in peace." The boy's family did as they were told, filing out of his room one at a time. Before Charlie closed the door, though, he turned back to his grinning son.

"Again, happy birthday, champ. Once you're done with breakfast, we'll be waiting downstairs with your presents."

Once the door was closed Cody instantly set to devouring his pancakes, the bots still watching curiously from the window.

"Why do you take joy in consuming this?" Chase inquired, critically observing the pancakes that Cody was inhaling. "By my calculations it contains more sugar than the recommended daily intake for humans. Are not sweets detrimental to your health?"

Cody swallowed what he'd been chewing before answering. "Well, a lot of sweets can be bad for us, Chase, but Dad only makes his chocolate chip pancakes on special occasions!"

"Oh," Boulder began, optics wide with understanding, "So they're enjoyed sparingly, right? Like Graham with his video games?"

Cody chuckled around another piece of pancake in his mouth. "Exactly, Boulder."

"I don't see the point of these 'birthdays'," Heatwave opined gruffly, folding his massive arms over his chassis, "celebrating the day you humans were…'born'? I don't see any reason for it."

Cody paused in his consuming of his breakfast, tapping his fork against the nearly empty plate in thought. "Well, weren't Autobots born too, Heatwave? Sort of. Chase explained it to me before…"

"It's not just Autobots," Heatwave grunted, "'Cons were 'born' this way too."

"How?" Cody asked, celebratory pancakes momentarily forgotten.

"We come out of the Well of AllSparks," Blades offered.

Cody only blinked. "The Well of what?"

Heatwave shoved the helicopter-bot aside. "Now you're just confusing him."

"The Well of AllSparks is where our deity, Primus, supposedly forged our race, Autobot and Decepticon alike. It's also where we go when we go offline," Boulder explained gently.

Cody was silent for a moment, digesting the new information. "So it's like the human equivalent of…heaven? Where you come from and where you go back to?"

Boulder took a few seconds to remember what he had read on the subject of human religions. "Yes, in a way."

"Huh," Cody murmured, before the meal in his lap caught his attention gain. As he was close to finishing his breakfast, Chase spoke.

"What do humans commonly do on these days of birth, Cody?" the police-bot asked, peering in through the wide window.

Cody shrugged. "Well, since it's supposed to be our special day and everything, on most birthdays they get presents, a party with a bunch of friends over and whatever they want all day."

"And how do you celebrate it?" Heatwave muttered, pretending to act disinterested.

Cody placed the last bit of pancake into his mouth as he answered. "I usually get a little party with my family and a few friends, and a couple gifts. Back when we had the old squad car, Dad would let me go on patrol with him." He climbed out of bed, attempting to fold the blankets and, failing miserably, left them a tangled lump on his as he walked to the door, empty plate in hand.

"I need to go downstairs real quick—I'll meet you guys down in the bunker, okay?"

The bots nodded in unison, heading back towards the massive doors that led into the garage with a few farewells. As soon as his friends had gone, Cody bolted out the door and down the stairs, until he reached the kitchen. On the table, surrounded by his still pajama-clad family, was a small pile of presents.

Cody grinned. "Noble!"

Cody had just finished opening his last present, a remote controlled helicopter from Dani, when the telephone rang.

The family of five exchanged uncertain glances before Chief Burns stood to answer it. There was a pause as whoever was on the other side pled their case, before Charlie concluded, "Yes. Yes, Mr. Mayor, we'll be there right away. Your welcome." There was beat of silence before Chief whirled around, clapping his hands together sharply. "All right, Kade, Dani, Graham, get dressed. We need to get into town now!"

Kade groaned lethargically, leaning back into the couch. "What is it? Mrs. Neederlander's cat in a tree again?"

"No," Charlie declared, "there's a reckless driver in the middle of town."

"Doc Greene's solar powered car?" Graham questioned, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "But the Morbot turned it to scrap metal."

"It's got nothing to do with Doc," Chief interrupted, "the mayor already called him. We think it may be a driver who's intoxicated or under the influence with how much damage he's causing. We can't waste any more time talking, about it, go get ready!"

As his siblings scattered, Cody brought his helicopter back down with a small sigh, head lowered in what he had hoped was unnoticed disappointment. However, Chief Burns easily recognized his son's change in demeanor and kneeled beside the boy, placing an arm over his shoulders. "I'm sorry that we had to cut the festivities short, son," Charlie lamented, "but as soon as we nab this guy, we'll have a big ol' barbeque and we'll invite Doc Greene and Frankie over."

Cody smiled weakly. "Its fine, Dad. I still get to use the Com Tab, though, right?"

Chief Burns squeezed his son's shoulder, grinning comfortingly. "That's my boy. Now get dressed quick, we'll need you when we're out there."

"All right, Dad," Cody nodded, standing and jogging up the stairs. Charlie stood alone in the living room for a moment, before glancing down at his baggy t-shirt and striped pajama pants.

"Huh. I guess I'd better get changed too."