Author's note. First off let me tell you the meanings of Rad's, Carlos's and Alexis's names.
Radical- departing from tradition, a fundamental change, and social reform.
Wild- lacking discipline, strong emotion and very enthusiastic. Racer- operates at excessive speed.
Celestial- positioned in the sky or outer space. Sun- the star round which the earth orbits, the light or warmth received from the sun.
Since Celestialsun is a bit of a mouthful, Alexis will mostly be referred to as Celeste. After all some of us have really big names so why can't transformers have names that are usually shortened.
I've just realised I made a mistake with one of the Autobots, Hoist should've been called Smokescreen as this is set before the discovery of the Requiem Blaster. Oh well, I'm sticking to Hoist. Also just to clear up any confusion that may have been caused when I said not all Mechs take a mate, there is no slash in this story.
Enjoy and please review.
"So what do you think of your new names?" Optimus asked, his optics twinkling. The other Autobots waited for the kids answers.
"They're brilliant, Optimus," said Radical excitedly before looking sheepish and saying. "I mean sir."
"Yeah, we love them," Wildracer agreed while Celestialsun nodded.
In response to Radical's hasty correction, Optimus chuckled while Scavenger looked very approving.
"I'm glad to see you know what to do already," the old Mech said with a smile. "Now the first thing we need to think about is training you kids up."
"And keeping this from Megatron for as long as possible," added Blurr. "We don't want him finding out until you kids are ready to fight."
"We'll focus on fighting techniques for now," said Optimus firmly. "Then you kids can get a feel for your chosen alt forms. Speaking of which, you'll need to scan some from our computer."
"How are you guys going to be able to go to school?" Fred asked.
"Umm, Fred we won't," Wildracer replied as Billy whacked Fred's arm. Wildracer grinned.
"Hey no more school, this is great."
"We're still going to have to study," said Celestialsun sternly. "Billy and Fred can bring in our holiday homework so that we don't fall behind. And we'll need to learn everything there is to being a transformer."
"Aww Celeste, don't spoil it," Wildracer groaned. Radical smiled.
"She's right Racer, you don't want Cyclonus knowing more than you," he said gently. "Besides, I'm sure it'll be fun."
"We'll try to make it fun," HotShot said eagerly. "You kids have been great teaching us all about Earth, now it's our turn."
"Indeed," said Optimus before turning to Sideswipe. "Sideswipe, would you mind taking Billy and Fred home?"
"Not at all, sir," Sideswipe replied saluting. "Come on guys" he called to the two human kids who followed waving goodbye to their friends.
As they disappeared out the door, Optimus turned to his charges.
"First we'll arrange your quarters, you can have three joined rooms and then we'll work out what to do from there," he said.
"Cool," said Wildracer as Celeste looked a little sad.
"Just when we'd got our room all nice and cosy, we've got to move into new ones and start over."
"Never mind Celeste," said Radical comfortingly. "At least it'll be there for us when we change back."
Celeste brightened at this and she left the room with Optimus, HotShot and her two brothers. Blurr shook his head slowly as Scavenger looked thoughtful.
"Will we be able to turn them back?" Blurr said aloud while Hoist looked worried t this statement. Scavenger shook his head.
"If we can discover the technology that transformed them in the first place from their human forms then maybe we can. But for now we have to assume that they are stuck as transformers."
In the Computer Room some time later.
After being shown their rooms, the kids were taken to the Computer room. In no time at all the kids had found and chosen suitable forms. Radical was a sleek blue sports car with two white racing stripes. As Optimus had thought, Wildracer was a motorbike, with red and black colourings. His small horns become part of the bike's handles when he transformed, though he didn't really resemble Sideways. Celeste was a slightly smaller version of Starscream in his jet form and of course she was pink rather than red.
Transforming for the first time was very weird but they were sure they'd get over the feeling. For the present they had to really focus on transforming but Optimus assured them it would become almost second nature to them. Apparently transformer children did not transform until they reached a certain age, so Optimus knew what he was talking about.
Once they had admired each other in their new vehicle forms, the kids were led to the Training room. Here Scavenger was waiting for them. They lined up as he spoke.
"Since you've only just acquired these bodies, I'm going to cut you some slack. We'll just work on you getting used to the feel of your new forms and then we'll start some real training."
He gave them very serious stares as he continued.
"Work hard and you'll do fine. I will push you to achieve your best so that you can survive against the Decepticons. Make no mistake, they have millions of years more experience than you and this will not be easy."
His serious face broke into a small smile as he now said.
"But we will help you and as long as you obey orders and work as a team, you'll be fine."
"We'll do our best," Radical said seriously while Celeste and Wildracer nodded firmly.
"Good kids," Scavenger said before continuing. "Blurr will be in charge of training you to use rifles and guns. Hoist will teach you about mechanics while Red Alert will teach you transformer first aid. Tomorrow, Hotshot, Jetfire and Optimus will teach the three of you how to manoeuvre in your new vehicle forms, the sooner you learn the better. Alright, let's get started."
Several hours later, the kids were in Radical's room, wanting to talk before they went to bed, or berth. They discussed the workout Scavenger had set them, learning to really use their body with almost yoga moves. Before finishing they had even managed a few kicks and punches. The boy's jaws had dropped when Celeste recounted her conversation with Optimus.
"Dude that is so not cool," Wildracer said, not sick at the mention of Thrust and Megatron, while Radical looked grim.
"Don't worry, we'll protect you," he said rubbing her shoulder. She smiled at him before saying
"Thanks guys but I have no intention of letting them do anything. I'm going to learn how to defend myself and then they'll all think twice about messing with me."
"Yeah, they'll think twice about messing with any of us," Wildracer said firmly. "We three are a team, look out Megatron, because we're going to kick your ass, I mean aft."
"Too right," Radical laughed. "They'll never know what hit them."
The next day, mid afternoon.
"Well done, Celeste, you're doing great," Jetfire encouraged as the young Femme hovered nervously in the air. After spending the day practicing new moves that would eventually led to self defence, Optimus had decided they could try out their alt modes. While Optimus had taken Radical, Hotshot and Sideswipe were both with Wildracer and Celeste was being taught by Jetfire.
So far he was just teaching her to hover and get used to the feeling of flying. Already, she loved it. The feel of the wind on her lovely wings was something else and she couldn't wait to soar above the clouds. Since she was a novice and they didn't want the Decepticons spotting them, they were sticking close to the ground. But it didn't matter, Celeste was having too much fun.
"Okay, Celeste why don't we try transforming.."
But before Jetfire could finish, he heard the distant sound of jets high above them, beyond the clouds. Jetfire nearly went numb with horror, of all the rotten luck, Starscream was about to stumble over them.
In a swift move he seized hold of his charge and quickly raced to the ground to conceal her in some trees, warning her to keep still with her systems powered down. She obeyed and he quickly leapt back into the air, there was no way he could hide because of his size and Starscream would detect him in any case. A moment later the red Seeker swooped down from the clouds and stopped to hover just above Jetfire.
"What's going on here?" the Seeker asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," Jetfire replied nervously, painfully aware of the hidden Femme, and if Starscream discovered her, they were slagged. "Just stretching my wings, you know."
"Nothing," repeated Starscream slowly scanning the whole area with his optics. "Why are you so jumpy?" he demanded in his raspy voice.
"Jumpy? I ain't jumpy, I told you I'm just stretching my wings. Why, what are you doing Starscream?"
Starscream gave him a tight smirk.
"Stretching my wings," he sneered before taking off with a roar of his jets. Once he was sure Starscream was gone, Jetfire gabbed the pink Femme and quickly warped them out of there.
"We're in trouble," was Jetfire's last thought before the Warp gate activated.
Aboard the Decepticon Moon Base, mid afternoon.
Megatron stood in front of a window which gave him a complete view of the Earth. His hands were behind his back as he contemplated the blue planet. He frowned slightly, wondering what was happening with the Autobot down on that small planet. His men had been watching the monitors and Wheeljack had been scouting down on the planet itself.
But what was making him think was the fact that none of the human children had gone to their learning centre like they normally did, he knew they had a set number of days they went and today was one of those days. But neither they nor the Autobots had been seen once and he didn't like it.
He had a feeling, a feeling he associated with the Autobot leader. Optimus Prime was up to something, he could feel it in his processor. Megatron growled softly, whatever Optimus was up to, he was going to find out. Just then his Comm went and he answered.
"Yes?"
"Sir," came Starscream's voice over the link. "I ran into Jetfire a short while ago and he was acting very strange. It was as though I had caught him doing something but as far as I could tell he was just hovering about. And I'm pretty certain there are no Minicons about."
"How did he act," Megatron asked, his attention caught. "What was your impression Starscream?"
"He was very nervous as though I had interrupted something," Starscream paused for a moment. "I was as like he was trying to hide...someone from me. I'm couldn't find anyone but then could have warped away before my scanner detected them. I'm sure that was it but I can't understand why he would be like that. Surely he didn't have one of those kids with him?"
"Unlikely," said Megatron thoughtfully. "Prime would not let them out of his sight and that shuttle certainly wasn't nervous the last time you faced him with one of those brats. Never mind, Starscream, you've done well. Keep scouting for a little while longer then return to base."
Starscream acknowledged the order before cutting the link. Megatron continued standing, wondering about this new piece of information. At that moment, Demolisher approached him.
"Sir, we've detected the presence of Optimus Prime in a deserted area of desert."
"Thank you Demolisher," said Megatron, turning to face his solider. "I think I will go and investigate."
Back on Earth.
"Well done Radical," Optimus was just saying to the young bot who had just transformed back to his robot form, when Optimus's comm. went off.
"Prime, Decepticons in your area and nearly on top of you," came Red Alerts' panicked voice.
"Rad, get under cover now," Optimus said urgently spinning to face his young charge. Radical quickly bolted, ducking behind a very large boulder.
No sooner had Radical gotten undercover than Megatron appeared from behind the cliff side. As his optics focused on Optimus, they narrowed.
"Hello Optimus," greeted Megatron as he advanced towards Optimus.
"Megatron," Optimus returned before saying. "What are you doing here, there's no Minicon in this area."
"I was about to ask you the same thing, Prime," Megatron said glancing around suspiciously. Radical pressed himself further against the rock, praying that Megatron wouldn't detect him. Optimus meanwhile shrugged.
"Just getting some air, me and my men enjoy exploring this planet," he said simply.
Megatron glared at him.
"Don't play me for a fool Prime, I know you're up to something. Why else was your solider so skittish when he ran into Starscream?"
"I don't know but I'll be sure to look into it," Optimus said before adding. "Your paranoid Megatron, some of us like to unwind once in a while and that's what I'm doing. Or at least I was till you arrived."
"Tell me Prime, how are those human children you call charges?" Megatron said, ignoring Optimus's last statement. "It was very alarming wasn't it? Not a nice thing to have happened to those kids."
"No it wasn't," Optimus said coldly. "But you'll be pleased to know, they've recovered from the attack and are completely functioning."
"Funny, I didn't notice them going to their learning centre," Megatron pointed out.
"They suffered an ordeal yesterday, Megatron," Optimus said stiffly. "They need time to recover."
Megatron now moved so that he was barely a metre from Optimus and with narrowed optics said.
"It was unfortunate that attack, wasn't it. Particularly as it wasn't meant for them but for you Prime," Megatron hissed softly. "That attack didn't just hurt them, it scanned the lot of us. Why?"
Optimus was silent for a moment, and then he said, gazing into Megatron's blood red optics.
"You know that Sideways was behind the attack?"
Megatron nodded, waiting for Optimus to continue.
"He meant to weaken us but the kids foiled his plan," Optimus broke off as Megatron narrowed his optics even more.
"And what was his plan, Prime? And what has it done to those kids?"
"You'll know soon enough Megatron," Optimus said firmly and in a tone that showed he wasn't going to say anything else on the matter.
Megatron glared at him for a full minute then abruptly spun on his heel and started walking away. Once he had gotten a certain distance away, he paused and without turning said.
"Watch your step Prime, seems I'm not the only threat around here."
He seemed to consider something for a moment before saying in a voice of warning.
"I'd hate for anything to happen to those children before I'd had a chance to deal with them."
And with that he warped from view. Optimus stood with his fists clenched at the threat Megatron had just given. But he knew he had to take them seriously.
"Let's go Radical," he said quietly and the two warped back to base.
Author's note. The kids continue their training until they come face to face with the Deceptcions. Till next time.