Chapter 3
Sentinel had sent us a little gift by the time we got back. An annoying, barking, whining, tail-wagging gift that he had found on the outskirts of Autobot turf.
I gave the mutt a week before it annoyed Roxy so much that she ate it.
Unfortunately it took an instant liking to me, and Optimus insisted that I name him. In the end I gave up arguing with him and just named him the first thing that came into my processors.
Digger.
Digger wasn't the type of Cybertronian animal that could talk, like Roxy, but he was smart enough to understand that it was his name. Unfortunately, he didn't understand that I didn't want him following me all around the ship, and decided it meant the world to him to do so. Jazz had 'stuff' to do, so eventually Optimus got tired of my complaining and asked me to take the sparklings home, and explain to their parents where they had been for the last two days. Something Jazz had neglected to do before he took them with him.
On the bright side it would give me the chance to get a vehicle mode and a holoform, since I hadn't needed either one before.
Thankfully it was late, so no one saw me as I watched the road. I didn't have to wait long before I saw what was probably the only vehicle I could transform into. An 18-wheeler of some sort.
Hey, I'm a femme. I don't know cars.
Still, I was seriously tempted to pick the tank, just to freak out Jazz...
By the time we'd reached Gracee's house, which was closer, I'd settled on a temporary holoform. I would need more time to find one that I was happy with, but this one would do for now. She had short blond hair and green eyes.
Scars on my real body appear on the holoform as well, so the scars on my wrists stood out silver against my pale skin.
I allowed Gracee to lead me into her bungalow while the twins waited in the cab.
What I saw of Gracee's bungalow seemed homey and warm. It was a nice change after spending so long on Cybertron in the icy cold. Sure it was a little weird that there was a large car in the spare room, but ... Gracee's father was a little bit ... eccentric, I guess. He didn't want any sort of explanation as to where Gracee had been. He was fine with her being out and about.
The two insisted I come back and visit for a little while after taking the twins home, which I reluctantly agreed to.

Alex and Andi's parents were a lot less accommodating.
They were the kind of people who expected perfection in everything around them, and they weren't exactly happy about their only children having disappeared for the last two days.
"Who are you?" Their father demanded of me as soon as we walked through the door, the twins near being suffocated by their mother, she was hugging them so tightly.
"Clara Reid." I replied, giving them the first surname that came into my head. The only real 'surname' on Cybertron is Prime, and I didn't dare give myself that one.
"Um ... She's one of the staff at a new study group we've joined." Alex cut in.
Their parents relaxed slightly. I was grateful to Alex for getting me out of that one.
"So where were they these past two days?" Their father challenged.
"It was an educational visit." I told them, "I'm sorry you weren't informed of it earlier. My colleague, Jazz, who picked them up, was supposed to let you know, and he said that he left a note, since you weren't in. We didn't have a number to reach you on."
Their father sighed and nodded, grabbing a sheet of paper from the table and writing down three numbers on it.
"See if you can get us on one of those next time," He said, handing it to me, "And I would appreciate it if you didn't take Alex and Andi until you got our permission."
"Okay." I replied, "Thank you." He nodded. "Um ... I should be going now. I'll see you later."
I left, and the twins' parents watched as I got the holoform into the cab and left. I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I'd turned the corner at the end of the street.
I was a couple of blocks away when Jazz radioed.
"What do you want, Jazz?" I asked.
"We need you back here." He replied.
"For what? Is there a problem?"
"Not really. But we want to talk to you for a while before Optimus gets back."
"'Back'? Where has he gone?"
"He's gone to give Sentinel his report. Get back here quickly, it's important."
"Yeah, okay, I'm coming." I told him, changing my course.
I would have to explain to Gracee later on. Still, I didn't have a clue what Jazz wanted. If this was a prank I would murder him, if only for dragging me back to Muttley.
"So what do you want?"

We were all gathered in Jazz's room. I don't know why Jazz wanted us there. He said it was so that Optimus wouldn't find out about what we were talking about. It was pointless though, as we were going to tell him anyway.
"We need to get Optimus some anger management." Jazz said in response to my question. "Before he kills someone. Or gets us all killed because he's smashed up something important."
"Buy him a stress ball." I suggested, shrugging.
"Is that what you do when you get angry?" Roxy asked me.
"Sometimes," I replied, "Most of the time I just run until I cool off."
"Well that won't work with Optimus." Jazz cut in. "It would do the job but we need him with us."
"So, what?" I asked him.
"Clara." He replied, "You are clearly the one with the most disregard for their own life in this group."
I frowned at him.
"Jeez, Jazz, did you have to bring that up?" I asked him, trying to sound hurt, "What's it got to do with anything anyway?"
"It means that you're the one that's gonna do Optimus' anger management with him." Jazz replied, smirking.
I shrugged.
"Okay, fine. Was that all you wanted me back here for?"
Jazz blinked, surprised, and nodded as we heard Optimus come in, and Digger started barking happily in the Main Control Room.
"If you'll excuse me, I need a word with my teacher." I said, leaving.

This episode's shorter - I decided to leave it at that so I could fit more into the next one. Sorry.