A/N: So how POed is everyone? Been awhile huh? I'm not gonna lie, I know where I want this story to go, It's in my head, I just don't know how I want to write it yet. So after this chapter I don't know how long it will take for the next one. I'm really sorry, but I'M NOT GIVING UP!! I refuse to. Time after time I've read awsome stories only to have people give up on them a leave me hanging. I hate it and I refuse to do it myself. I will complete this story.
Whew. Okay. There's my little speech. I edited this myself so I hope it's okay. Let me know what you think and once again I'm really sorry for taking so long. I don't know if this will make up for it, but I hope so. Thanks for all your patience and support and please enjoy. I did have fun writing this one.
I don't own Transformers.
Twin Times the Fun
You Shouldn't Watch Too Much TV
The news was a great asset on this planet. Just turn on the nearest television, find the right channel and one could see what's happening all over the world. Of course, one had to be careful what stations they chose. Some were too conservative and some were too liberal, but this one was pretty reliable.
Watching the news was a habit he had taken to shortly after the incident in Mission City. Since their stay on Earth was going to be a permanent one, he saw no problem in adapting to some of their habits, and watching the news every morning was one of them. Sam often referred him as to being an 'old man' with nothing better to do than wait for the mail and watch the news in the mornings and evenings. While he was old in human standards, he wasn't getting any older for a very, very long time.
The thing was, even Ironhide and Ratchet, who were both older than him, thought his small addiction was unhealthy, especially when he started channel surfing. He couldn't help himself. Some of the ideas humans came up with were just to intriguing to turn off. There were all varieties of shows for every age group; cartoons, crime dramas, movies, comedies with life audiences, and even shows about average people. Though, honestly, he didn't actually trust reality TV.
Besides the news, the other programs that really caught his attention were the crime dramas like Law & Order and CSI. Murder was an unfortunate part of society, but it sure made and interesting program. The other genre was the children's programs on Nick Jr. or Noggin. Captain William Lennox often brought his daughter around the former Sector 7 base of operations, much to the delight of Bumblebee, who thought the infant was most interesting thing in the universe. Ironhide was in the same boat, but the hardened warrior would never admit it.
It was always a treat to see Annabelle Lennox. From the very beginning she wasn't afraid of any of the Autobots, merely curious. She was in the crawling stages of her development so at least one of them had a constant eye on her, mostly Ironhide.
He would learn the hard way that Annabelle had particulars to what stations he would flip to if she happened to be watching the gigantic screen that had been set up for them in the Hoover Dam. The only show that could keep her attention, however, was The Wonder Pets. She would giggle and clap her hands excitedly, maybe from just seeing the talking guinea pig, duck, and turtle and the songs that were sung. Unfortunately, he didn't need to look up the lyrics on the World Wide Web to have the words ingrained into his processor. On more than one occasion he found himself mauling over the lyrics in his head. It wasn't very pleasant.
But she was an infant and it was hard to be annoyed with her and her large eyes that looked up at him so innocently. The other show they endured was Little Einsteins. While The Wonder Pets preached the advantages to teamwork, Little Einsteins was an educational show that discussed various subjects. It was a show, even Ironhide tolerated, because of the knowledge Annabelle was receiving. Unlike him, Ironhide was able to draw the line at Wonder Pets. Maybe he was just a pushover.
"You shouldn't watch too much TV," a familiar voice said, "you'll rot your brain."
Optimus Prime looked down at the young Samuel James Witwicky the seventeen going on eighteen boy that had saved the world from the Decepticons and nearly lost his life in the process. The boy hadn't changed much in the months they had spent together, but the boy had undoubtedly matured. Mikaela Banes, the young human girl that also aided greatly in the battle by saving Bumblebee, was currently on the other side of the room with Bumblebee and Ratchet. Bumblebee's vocal processor had been repaired, but still a little strained so Ratchet was merely doing a diagnostic.
Optimus returned his attention to Sam, his face lighted with amusement. "I do not believe my processor is in any danger, Sam."
Sam shrugged. "Still, you're a TV junky," he laughed, "What was I thinking when I thought you guys could use one. I've turned you into a genuine couch potato!"
It took Optimus a second to define what a 'couch potato' was exactly, but ultimately decided he was definitely not one of them. "There is nothing wrong with watching a little television."
"I take it you didn't have TV on Cybertron then," Sam observed.
"We had equipment similar, but it designated for different purposes. There wasn't much time for creativity in times of war."
Sam's expression went from an amused smile to grimace. Talking about Cybertron was still a touchy subject with all the Autobots. It was understandable. Without the All Spark there was no hope in restoring the doomed planet to its former glory, before the Great War. Cybertron was dead. And he took away the only hope his new friends had when he shoved the Cube into Megatron's chest. He tried telling himself that he did what he had to do, that it was necessary. Optimus had even ordered him to shove it into his own spark if he was unable to defeat Megatron, but that didn't make him feel any better. He had single handedly ended a race.
"Sam," Optimus said sternly, "I do not want you to blame yourself for what has happened. You did what was necessary to save your planet, your family and even me. Never regret what you did." Optimus' massive hand came around behind Sam, resting on the ground like he would pat him on the back. "We have made Earth our new home and we will fight to protect it. We have lost Cybertron, but we will not lose Earth," a gentle expression came to his face, different from the stern expression he usually bore. "Remember when Megatron knocked you off the building and I caught you?"
Sam scoffed, "Kinda hard to forget something like that."
"When we landed, you told me something. Something that is very true and real to our situation. I believe you refer it to be the 'old Witwicky motto'."
Sam looked up. "No sacrifice, no victory."
Optimus nodded. "Yes. We made the sacrifice and now the war has ended. We did what we had to do to survive. Neither I nor the other Autobots are angry with what you did. In fact, we are indebted to you. You saved us, Sam Witwicky. We could never be angry with you when you did the right thing."
"It doesn't feel like the right thing sometimes," Sam admitted, "Isn't there anything you can do for Cybertron? Or your race? Are you guys just gonna die out?"
"All species meet an end eventually," Optimus stated, "It's the way of life. Cybertron is gone, there is no changing that. As for our race," he bowed his head, "without the All Spark new sparklings cannot be created, in fact, Bumblebee is the last one."
Sam spun around quickly to look at his car. "Holy…Really?"
"Yes. While he is very old by human standards, by our own, one could assume that he is about you're your age, maybe a little older."
"Bumblebee's a teenager?" Sam squawked, "Okay, now I'm seeing him in an entirely different light," he shook his head, "Weird."
Optimus allowed himself a short laugh. "So while there will be no more of us born, those that remain will still be around for a very, very long time."
Sam sighed and nodded in acceptance, though he still felt guilty. Optimus supposed that even with time, Sam always would. Sam played the tough guy, but no matter how he tried the hide it, he was a caring boy with a bigger heart then he probably liked.
A pair of thin arms suddenly snaked their way around Sam's waist. "Hey, Optimus, sorry to interrupt," Mikaela smiled, "but I gotta steal my boyfriend for a minute."
Optimus smiled at both Mikaela's statement and the red hue that crept up on Sam's cheeks. It was truly amusing to watch Sam squirm when it came to Mikaela. They were young, but near death experiences tend to make a person grow up and Optimus didn't think that they would find anyone that could relate to them on varying levels.
Sam smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, big guy," he said as Mikaela started to drag him away, "Don't watch too much TV! It changes the best of us!" he called.
Optimus returned his attention to the large screen before him. The latest hype in US was the kidnapping of a young human woman named Hannah James. She was a thin girl, with thick eyebrows and bushy hair, nothing too special concerning appearances. She had a kind smile in her photo, however, a truly gentle creature she seemed to be. It was very unfortunate for what had happened to her.
They suddenly showed two Lamborghinis, red and yellow, racing down the highway, the footage obviously caught by a cameraman in a helicopter. The two sport vehicles were weaving in between cars, expertly, the police struggling to keep up. Optimus leaned forward and hit a button on a large control panel next to the screen, turning off the mute so he could hear the whole report.
"Police identified the victim, Hannah James, before she entered in the red vehicle and this startling chase began. These two men are considered highly dangerous using their cars as their weapons. Now, this could come as a shock. Watch them closely."
And Optimus did. He stared intently at the two racing Lamborghinis. Fire erupted from their exhaust pipes and they shot off like rockets, the cameraman in the helicopter immediately losing them. The two cars could eventually be seen in the distance as little dots still weaving through traffic before disappearing completely from sight.
Optimus' face was in a deep frown as they replayed the footage a few more times. He understood it would be hard for human eyes to pick up the sudden burst in speed, but not for him. No Earth vehicle could move that quickly even with all possible modifications made to it.
They were Cybertronians without a doubt.
His first speculation was Decepticons. Kidnapping humans was a big no-no for the Autobots and he relayed that in his transmission. There were still Decepticons out there, maybe not in action, but more than likely in belief. With Megatron dead they were divided and unlikely to establish leadership for a long time because of chaos and disagreement amongst the ranks. Perhaps the Decepticons could reestablish themselves, but Optimus didn't think it would happen for a long time.
If more Decepticons crash landed on Earth he wouldn't put it past them to taking a human hostage. The AEAC, or the Autobot-Earth Alliance Committee, was keeping tabs on all alien life on the planet, which meant the Autobots. He couldn't quell a little suspicion as to why he hadn't been told yet. AEAC was essentially a less intimidating way of saying 'Sector 7 wasn't disbanded! They only changed the name!' Keller was hesitant in this agreement, seeing that the Autobots helped save the entire planet, they shouldn't need chaperones, but Optimus accepted it. It was not their planet and if the humans felt safer by keeping tabs on them it was understandable.
Ironhide didn't like it though.
So why hadn't he been informed? A Decepticon threat was the Autobot's business as well.
But that was a suspicion, not fact. These two weren't Decepticons at all. And as soon as he saw the aliases of the kidnappers, he knew exactly who they were and his face contorted into shock and even a little bit of terror.
"Oh, no."
Hannah returned from the gas station with a map, glancing it over precariously. Climbing into Sides when the door opened, she held the map so his hologram could see it too. "Okay, we're here," she pointed to a spot on the map, "and we need to get there," she pointed again
Sides shrugged causally. "Doesn't seem too difficult."
"Did you happen to forget we're wanted for kidnapping?" Sunny said through the radio.
"Well, the highway would be the quickest way to get there, but…" she sighed, "you'll probably get spotted."
"So what are we gonna do?"
"Let's just take the highways," Sunny said, "There's no way they can keep up with us."
"We can pick alternate forms," Sides suggested.
Hannah raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
"The night we crashed, we scanned that Lamborghini across the street remember?" Sides reminded, "We could just pick a new form."
"I like this form," Sunny stated, "It looks good on me."
Sides rolled his eyes. "Well what do you wanna do, bro?"
"How long will it take to get to Tranquility from here?"
"Well," Hannah mused, "the straight directions from before said about three days, maybe a little less. But from here, we'll have to go through Missouri, a little into Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah if we make a straight shot for Nevada. Probably a little more then a day."
"Do you think we can make it?" Sides asked.
"I think we can. I'll try not to hold you guys up."
"Then let's get going."
Sideswipe pulled out first followed by his twin. Hannah kept the map out as she directed Sides how and where to get back to the highway. Hannah grabbed a bottled-water and a chocolate bar in the gas station to tie her over until they could get back onto the road without the worry of being spotted.
Her mind went back to the event at the rest stop, how Sides came back for her saying that they were friends and he wasn't gonna leave her behind. She was rather surprised Sunny hadn't attempted to kill him like he said he would.
Casting a look at the hologram's out of the corner of her eye, she tried not to stare for long. No one had ever made her feel so wanted before, not even Ken. She loved her best friend dearly, but Sides had displayed a certain loyalty that she had never experienced before. It made her heart swell to know that even someone outside his own species meant something to him and that it was her.
"You're smiling. What's up?"
Hannah hadn't realized that she indeed had a smile on her face. She looked at Sides, whose expression bore curiosity. It made her smile widen.
"Nothing, really. I still can't believe you came back for me."
Sides frowned. "Why not? We're friends, right?"
Hannah nodded confidently. "Yeah, but still. I know I'm slowing you down, I know that you're in trouble because of me. You'd be a lot better off leaving me at somewhere. I wouldn't have said anything about what you are."
"I know," Sides shrugged, "But it didn't feel right leaving without you."
"You haven't known me for very long," Hannah pointed out softly, "You shouldn't care so much."
The look on the hologram's young face became angry. "Shouldn't? Why shouldn't I care? That's stupid, Hannah and you know it."
Hannah bowed her head. She hadn't meant to make him angry. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize. You say sorry too much," he retorted.
What should she say to that? The words came out before she could stop her self. "Sorry I say 'sorry' too much?"
Sides looked back and forth between her and the road, becoming amused again at the helpless look on her face. He laughed and shook his head. Hannah knew he was laughing at her, but she wasn't offended. She had been told she said sorry too much by others. It wasn't something she could really help.
"So I haven't known you for long," Sides started, "Not even an orn, but who cares?" He fixed with a hard stare, one she would associated with an over-protective older brother, "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you Hannah, okay? You stuck with us now."
"But I have to go home eventually," Hannah stated.
"What for? To a mother who doesn't give a frag about you? C'mon Hannah. You know you don't have to. You can stay with me and Sunny. Like I said, I won't let anything happen to you. I'll take care of you."
It should be easy to accept that. She could just let herself go and stay with them until she died, but she wasn't used to happy endings. She never got anything she wanted and she gave up on trying. Who's to say that something wouldn't take them away from her? Maybe they found more, better looking humans to hang out with? She didn't think she could handle being abandoned like that. Not again. Maybe she should just distance herself now, before she became more attached than she already was.
Her mother's voice filled her head.
"No one wants you. You good for nothing father didn't want you and I sure as hell don't either. Everyday I see you I ask myself why I didn't get rid of you. Why are you still here? You're nothing, you'll never be anything. Just nothing."
And she was right. Look at where she was in her life. All her dreams as a child were dashed. She couldn't afford to go to school. She didn't have a job and her mother blew her paycheck on drugs and alcohol. What good was she to the world?
Sides became angry again. "Don't think like that."
She was startled by how empty her voice sounded. "How do you know what I'm thinking?"
"It's all over your face. You're helping me and my brother even though you didn't have to. We owe you everything for helping us meet up with our comrades."
"More like holding you back."
"Stop it, Hannah! Take a compliment!"
Surprised by his outburst, she looked up at him. Maybe she should just stop beating herself up. It wasn't really her fault how things turned out. She did all she could for herself and her mother even though she never was praised for it. Maybe she was a good person. Maybe she deserved a little something for herself for once. Sides seemed to think she did and the other night at her mother's when Hannah told her how she really felt, Hannah seemed to think so too. But did she really?
She sunk in her seat, keeping her large eyes focused on Sides the entire time, trying to find a glimmer of regret in his eyes or disgust, anything to prove her point, but there was nothing. He offered nothing but friendship and she was looking a gift horse in the mouth.
She needed to except her weaknesses as well as her strengths. She was only human, she needed to eat and Sunny and Sides would have to stop in order for her to do so. If they wanted her to stick around, Sides at least, they understood this. She'd still feel bad about slowing them down, but anyone would.
She needed to stop being so paranoid about her abandonment issues. She needed to trust Sides when he said he would leave her behind.
This whole conversation was like coming up to the pearly gates and hearing the angels singing a heavenly chorus. Life was offering her something great. A once in a lifetime opportunity and she wasn't gonna turn it down. She may not be able to stay with them forever, she still felt like she needed to return to Jersey, but she was gonna live this moment like it was her last and she was gonna be selfish and think of herself for once.
Halle-frickin-luiah.
A smile pulled at her lips as her face flushed. Taking it as a good sign, Sides grinned and reach over to ruffle her hair. Hannah squeaked and pushed his hand away, trying to fix her frizzy hair.
"You sticking with us till the end, then?" he asked.
"Yep," Hannah nodded determinedly, "You're stuck with me now, too."
He could murder his brother at the moment and no one would think wiser. Sideswipe was risking everything for this human woman; their secrecy, their comrades, their lives and for what? So a pathetic, self-conscious female could feel better about herself? So she wouldn't be alone?
Sunstreaker thought it wasn't worth it. It was one insignificant human in a world population of more than 6 billion.
Sideswipe seemed to disagree. Over the past couple days, he had grown attached to the human and not in the sense of pet and master like Sunny had assumed. Sideswipe seemed to genuinely care about her.
And it pissed him off.
They had no time for this. They were now being hounded by human authorities because of the human girl and yet Sideswipe went back for her, knowing full well the implications of his actions. The entire country could know what they look like and now everyone would be looking for them.
It wasn't just that that aggravated him.
Sideswipe made a point to leave his shortwave radio on during every single one of his conversations with Hannah. Sunny knew this was deliberate. Sides knew how Sunny felt about the human and it was his way of allowing Sunny to learn who Hannah was as well. Hannah was oblivious to this.
The girl had an abusive upbringing. Not a war, but a hostile home where as a sparkling she was beaten, ridiculed, and neglected until she was old enough, by law, to live on her own. Even now, she allowed her mother to push her around for money for her substance abuse which Sunny had learned about from one of the conversations Sides and Hannah had on their road trip thus far.
He pitied the human. That was it. He didn't want friends, he didn't need them. Sideswipe was his brother, his twin, which was extremely rare in their species, and he was all he needed.
Hannah didn't belong in their world. Humans were their allies, but they lived in secret. Sides had this absurd notion that Hannah would stay with them once they reached Nevada. Sunny would see to it that she went back to her side of the country and out of their lives forever.
"You cannot be serious," Ratchet seemed to plead.
Optimus sighed heavily. "Indeed I am, old friend."
"Of all the—How could—What did I do to deserve this?"
The watched mutely as Ratchet stalked off, throwing things as he went, a tantrum befitting of a two-year-old. Optimus sighed heavily and shook his head at the older mech's behaviors. Both Ironhide and Bumblebee decidedly stepped aside to let the seething medic by since they valued their lives.
Sam looked at Ratchet strangely and maybe even a little worried. "Um, wow. What's his problem?"
Optimus looked down at the boy. "It seems two more Autobots have arrived on Earth."
"That's good," Mikaela said, "That's what we want, right? What's Ratchet crying about?"
"I'M NOT CRYING ABOUT ANYTHING!"
Optimus shifted on his feet as his arms crossed. "…Yes, well, the circumstances could have been better."
Neither teen missed how he seemed to be nervous, more so than they had ever seen him. "What's wrong than?"
"We had hoped we would have more time to…prepare...before these certain two arrived," Optimus explained.
Ratchet started mumbling curses under his breath, both Cybertronian and human, as he paced irritably. Who knew Ratchet could use human curses so effectively? At least he wasn't throwing his tools around anymore.
"I take it Ratchet doesn't like these guys, huh?" Sam pointed out.
"One could say that."
"Well, what are their names?" Mikaela asked.
"Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. The twins. Their young and rash, and very reckless, but are excellent warriors and loyal to their comrades, more so to each other."
"They sound cool," Sam shrugged, "What's they problem then?"
Ironhide's optics narrowed darkly. "You will see…"
"But right now, they're on the run from human authorities," Optimus said, "It seems they have been accused of kidnapping a human girl."
"That's not good," Sam said obviously.
"No it isn't, but I wouldn't put it past them. They won't harm her, that is for certain, but this woman may not have gone with them willingly."
"Did you try calling them?" Mikaela asked.
"Yes, but they haven't responded. Either their communications are turned off or they're not functioning. I'll go with the latter. The twin's maybe unruly, but they would respond to a call from me."
"Unruly?" Sam questioned, "What do you mean?"
The answer didn't come from Optimus. "Those slaggin ingrates are completely uncontrollable and do nothing but cause mischievous and mayhem," Ratchet hollered, "They pull idiotic pranks with no regard to the safety of others! They have no regard for authority, minus Optimus, and don't anything their told. If you thought you planet was doomed with Megatron, WELL THINK AGAIN!"
Sam and Mikaela bore opened-mouth stares at the medic as he threw a large tool resembling a welder across the room. Optimus cringed. He really couldn't blame the medic for getting so angry. If anyone could hold something against the twin's it was Ratchet.
"They know that humans are not to be harmed," Optimus said, "What they are doing with this girl is a mystery to me, but I don't believe it is not without cause. We need to get to them before the humans do, for everyone's sake."
A/N: So now the other Aubot's are in on the game. Hannah's character's growing a little and the AEAC are being jerks (Simmons!) so hopefully they get that all straightened out. So Sunny's being a little devious huh? Let's see if he'll succeed in getting rid of Hannah, well not if Sides has anything to say about it.
Thanks for reading and sorry about the wait. I will update as soon as I can.
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