Here we are at chapter 21!
I am very happy with how popular this has become...it was a pleasant surprise.
This chapter won't be so dark this time...I swear..bwahahaha!
Onward!
Chapter 21
I didn't sign up for this!
Darkness.
That was the sight that greeted the Decepticon communications officer. His whole fram felt stiff and cold.
What was going on?'
'Ahh...Velcome back...' The voice of Scalpel reached his audio receptors.
'Is he online yet?' The familiar impatient voice of Starscream rang through, rattling his processor.
'Patience!' Scalpel snapped angrily. 'You cannot vush art!'
Finally coming out of stasis completely, he felt his optics come online and than he felt himself rising into a vertical position. 'Functional.' The monotone voice croaked out a few kliks later.
'The human girl has been located on Earth...' Starscream began. 'I trust you know what to do.'
'Soundwave acknowledges.' He replied, detaching himself from the various wires and cables.
Transforming into a black satellite, he took off toward that insufficient planet where that accursed little human was. And this time, he was going to finish what he started. Disguising his signature, he landed where he thought the human girl and her worthless Autobot guardian would be.
But instead, he felt the all too familiar signature of the one and only Optimus Prime.
'Daughter of Prime still online?' He muttered quietly to himself. 'Not possible.'
Making sure the Prime couldn't see him or sense him, he continued to listen to the Autobot leader's anguished thoughts. After a few more moments, he than smirked as the oblivious leader drove away.
'Girl's location found.'
Weeks passed since that day, and Tai was finally getting back to her cocky, smart ass self. Sam never thought he would say this but thank god! It sucked when Tai was depressed.
Optimus had come to accept the fact that his daughter was now human; in fact, he loved it with every fiber of his being. And that was a lot considering how big he really was compared to Tai. When he had returned to the base, he immediately went out in search of Tai. He got a hint when he called Blurr via comlink and he told him that she was with Jazz.
'Of course.' He muttered darkly to himself. He had a feeling he was going to have one of the 'Talks' once he found Tai.
Once he did, he smiled at what he saw. There she was asleep on Jazz's arm, an empty cup falling from her grasp as she sighed. Jazz started from staring at her to see who was behind him. He relaxed at noticing it was just his leader.
'Hello Jazz.' He greeted, transforming and smiling. 'Is she alright?'
'Oh yeah...she's jus' sleeping...' He grinned, looking down at his sleeping human lady. She looked completely relaxed, despite she was being held by a giant robot. 'She's 'ad a helluva day...'
Optimus nodded as he kneeled next to his friend and now his newly found daughter. 'Maybe we should take her home.' He suggested.
'Or maybe back to the base..?' Jazz asked hopefully, his blue visor glowing brighter than usual. When Optimus gave him a pointed look, he quickly explained himself. 'You know, for comfort reasons...'
Prime knew it was because Jazz didn't want her to leave but than again...neither did he. 'Very well...I will take her...no arguments...' He added when he saw Jazz open his mouth. Transforming back into his truck mode, he popped open the door so Jazz could gently place her inside his cab.
Tai had awoken a while later, and she looked around in confusion. 'Whoa, did I sleep drive again?'
She than noticed she wasn't outside with Jazz anymore, she was in an unfamiliar room on a large cushion of some kind with a sheet covering her.
'Ahh good...you're awake.' A deep baritone voice said from her left. She leapt up off the cushion and landed in a karate stance. 'Relax dear, it's only me..' She relaxed when she noticed it was only Optimus. She scowled lightly. 'Oh it's just you.' She stood straight and straightened her vest. 'Can I help you?'
'I understand you must be angry with me.' Optimus sighed. 'I did not mean to just walk away, I was very confused...'
'Well how do you think I feel huh?' She snapped, her arms crossed.
Optimus nodded and sat down on the chair in front of his desk, so he was facing her. 'I know...I am truly sorry for giving off the impression I didn't believe you. I do, in fact, believe you.'
Tai calmed down at his words and sat down on the desk, crossing her legs Indian style. 'She clearly learned how to absorb from her mother...Elita had the same gift, being able to blend into her surroundings.'
Tai's eyes shifted downwards as she listened, she didn't want to admit it but she was hoping with every molecule of her being that he would accept her for who she was.
'But now I have the one thing back, the one thing that kept me going and fighting in this war...'
Tai looked up with her blue eyes, now shining with tears. 'What's that?'
He than placed his hand down on the desk, which she climbed onto carefully, and brought her up to his face. 'You...' He than smiled kindly. 'I'm sorry it took me so long to find you but from now on, you are no longer alone in this life...I know I can't replace your human father but I will do my best...if you'll let me...'
She just smiled the biggest smile she had ever smiled in her whole life.
'You know, that sounds really rad.'
That's when they formed the very same bond that Tai had with her human father.
She had also moved out of the Witwicky house, much to Sam and Judy's disappointment, and moved into a studio apartment on the base that Ratchet and Ironhide built for her. It had everything she needed; living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Not to mention, it had more space than she really needed but she didn't complain. And she could decorate it however way she wanted. And also, she didn't have to pay rent, or electricity, or the water.
Just for her groceries.
Being the only human thing living at the base made life for her very interesting.
Psyche seemed to enjoy her new life on the base with her new big friends. She had plenty of space to run and play, her new Doctor friend always gave her a treat, and her Tai would always drop whatever she was doing and play with her. Also she had the biggest and softest dog bed known to man.
Ratchet was an amazing mech.
He always volunteered to watch Psyche whenever Tai had to go to work at the new coffee shop that just opened up.
For some reason, Optimus placed Tai in charge of the two spawns of unicorn. Tai could've sworn she felt her left eye twitch for twenty minutes after hearing that sentence. Sideswipe was looking forward to it, he liked Tai; he thought she was a riot. Sunstreaker on the other hand, well it was safe to say...
He hated Tai with a burning passion.
And she clearly felt the same exact way.
'Okay Pops, listen...I don't mind Sideswipe, he's cool, he's rad, and all that good stuff...but him!' She pointed to the yellow twin with a glare. 'He is the total opposite of rad...I'd rather throw myself into a wood chipper feet first than be in charge of him.'
'Now Tatyana...I would really appreciate it if you would help me with this...' Optimus said with his usual patient tone as he gave her a fatherly smile.
She groaned and slumped down on a chair, her head in her hands. 'Fine...just for you Dad, just for you...'
She and Jazz were officially a couple now and were completely in love with one another. And of course, Optimus and Ironhide and Blurr had simply told Jazz that if he broke her heart in any way, there would be hell to pay. Jazz didn't argue with the three large overprotective mechs.
'How goes collage hunting?' She asked Sam over the phone as she worked in Ratchet's medbay with him; Once again, the twins got into a bit of a rumble with one another and Sunny ended up getting his beloved paintjob scratched.
'It's going alright...don't know which one to go with...'
'You do so...you just don't to be to far from Mikky...' She laughed as she gave Sunny a swift kick in the side. Ratchet was forced to put him under sedation, when he found out that Tai would be helping out, he started yelling and thrashing. Tai simply walked over to him and pressed a switch in the back of his head.
'Oh shut up, you big pansy.' She muttered, smirking up at Ratchet who simply nodded with a smile of his own and got to work.
'Okay you got me...' He grumbled as Tai laughed.
'OH!' Tai yelled out as Optimus came in. 'Gotta go...keep looking!' She clicked her phone off before Sam could protest. 'What up, Pops?'
'Hello sweetheart.' He greeted with a warm smile. 'What happened now?' He than asked, noticing the unconscious Sunstreaker and the smirking Sideswipe.
'Same as usual.' Ratchet grumbled, finishing up repairing the red twins leg. Sideswipe just shrugged with an apologetic grin. 'He started it!' He than pointed to his unconscious twin.
'If I had a nickel for every time I heard that...' Tai muttered, finishing up Sunny's scuff marks.
Her eyebrows rose as a very amazing yet terrible idea hit her. 'Hey Ratch, you have any black paint?'
Ratchet gave her a look of confusion. 'Of course, why?'
'Revenge!'
After finishing up her amazing work of art, she headed to her apartment to change. She decided to wear a ¾ sleeve black and green shirt with skinny faded jeans and her black converse. Heading into the Rec. room with a mountain dew and a bag of beef jerky, she settled next to Jazz and ended up watching a Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie. She couldn't help but start smirking.
Any minute now, Sunny would come out of recharge...and yet, he had no idea what was in store for him.
'Oh, Sunny's up...' Sides said, sipping on his cube of Energon contently. Tai than started giggling as the yellow twin walked in groggily.
'Man, how long was I out?' He grumbled, stretching out his large arms.
'Welcome ba...' Jazz cut himself off when he turned and got a look at Sunny's face. Confused, Blurr turned and sputtered in shock. Sideswipe ended up doing a spit take, the bright blue liquid spraying all over the wall, before turning to look at his twin with wide optics.
Sunny was now beyond confused. 'What?'
'Sunny...' Jazz said slowly, one of his claws pointing to his face right under his nose. 'Your face...'
'What about it?'
Sideswipe, madly fighting back laughter, grabbed his twin by the shoulders and lead him over to a large reflective surface. Sunny's optics widened.
Painted right on his forehead was the words, 'Point at me and laugh.' in black paint. On his cheekplates were big black freckles and right under his bottom lip, appeared to be a cartoony tongue of some sort.
His optics darkened as he finally figured out who did this.
'That's it! I'm gonna kill her!' Sunny made a launch at Tai, but was immediately grabbed by both Sideswipe and Jazz. Blurr quickly scooped up Tai and held her protectively against his chest. 'I don't care if she's Big O's kid...I'm gonna obliterate her!'
'Let's dance douche bag!' Tai yelled back as Blurr tried desperately to shut her up.
'What is going on here?' The voice of Optimus yelled from his office.
'Look what that little bitch did to my face!' Sunny yelled, stomping over to Optimus, with Jazz clinging to his arm. Ironhide got a look at his face and immediately started wheezing with laughter.
Even Optimus was having trouble keeping a straight face.
'Now who exactly did that?' He asked, his voice shaking slightly.
Sunny pointed a large finger at the smirking Tai, who simply smiled sweetly when Optimus gave her a look mixed between amusement and disapproval.
'Did you do this, Tatyana?' He asked.
'Yeah.' She said with a grin, shrugging.
'May I ask why?'
'Because I thought he deserved it.' She than laughed. 'He's put me through so much shit, I needed revenge.'
Optimus sighed through his vents at her language but decided against scolding her. What good would it do?
'Sunstreaker, just go clean the paint off.'
'Oh sure, take her side...' The yellow twin grumbled angrily, storming away.
Tai continued to laugh slightly and checked her watch. 'Oh shitake!' She gasped, gesturing for Blurr to put her down. 'I gotta get to work...but first I have to stop by Sam's...I left my apron there!'
Blurr nodded and was about to transform but Tai held up her hand. 'No, it's okay Blurr...I'll just ride my bike there, you stay here and take a break...'
'Yousure?' He asked worriedly.
'Yeah...no worries...I'll be fine...!' She grinned and headed to her little apartment to get her bike and her bag. Psyche was lying on the couch, but perked up when Tai walked in.
'Okay Psyche Wyche...you be a good girl okay?' She cooes, stroking her dogs ears.
'Are you sure you don't want one of us to take you, sweetheart?' Optimus asked for the thousandth time. 'It really is no trouble!'
'Pops, I'm telling you, I'll be okay...you guys have important work to do...I'll be back in a few hours!' She blew a kiss at her new Dad than at Blurr and than at Jazz, climbed on her bike and started down the path.
'Do you think she'll be alright?'
Jazz chuckled. 'Prime, you worry too much...relax your processors! Tai's a big girl; she can look after herself just fine...'
Blurr listened to his friend and his leader talk as he gazed out the hanger door after his charge. Even though he knew she would be okay, he still had a bad feeling in his processors.
Something bad was going to happen.
Tai sighed as the cool autumn air whipped through her hair as she rode down the wooded road. 'I fly like paper, get high like planes...If you catch me in the border, I got visas in my name.'
She sang loudly, peddling side to side.
She stopped quickly when she saw a tree in the middle of the road. 'Well that's just great...' She murmured, looking around for another way around the tree. Spotting a path leading into the woods, she peddled her bike in that direction.
'Pursue her.' A deep voice said from behind a large pine tree.
A large feline growled lightly, his optics glowing brightly before quietly slinking after the unsuspecting girl.
'Prepare to be extinguished, Tatyana Topaz Witwicky.'
Well everyone, this has been one hell of a ride.
But sadly, three more chapters until Meet the Cousin will come to an end.
But don't worry, there will be a sequel set in Revenge of the Fallen!
Review!