~Chapter 2: CHANGE

How could this be?

How could I have become human?

How is this even possible?

What happened to my armor?

What happened to my troops?

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?

Question after question flooded his processor as he emptily stared into the glass, seeing only a human man staring back.

He was tall, broad chested and worn. The years on him showed that he had been through some rough times. He was a large Caucasian with dark black hair and mustache and wide, dark sapphire blue eyes.

Looking away from the window, Optimus slowly let his gaze move to his hands, which strangely were shaking. They were the hands of human who worked. Old, worn out, cut, bruised and callused.

Moving his hands to his cloths, still looking at the refection he took into careful detail of the fabric he now bore on his body. A casual red plaid t-shirt. Tight blue boot cut pants. Dark brown leather boots. This entire dress attire was the same kind that Optimus had previously seen in an old western movie that Jack, Miko and Rafael had watched at the base many nights ago. Or at least that what he reminded himself of.

Was all of this a dream? This couldn't be real. It just couldn't…

Could it?

Moving away from the glass window Optimus slowly dragged himself along the busy sidewalk. So many humans…and none of them paid any attention to him. If he thought he was a stranger in this world before all of this…boy did that feeling suddenly get a new definition.

"Hey buddy, Move it or lose it!"

Feeling someone shove past him Optimus moved over only to run into a women on her cell phone.

"Hey you cluts, watch where you're going!"

Stuttering Optimus moved over as far as he could…a little too far.

All of a sudden the sound of tires screeching and horns honking filled the air.

Whipping around Optimus came face to face with a taxi cab, which from human perspective looked a lot bigger. The driver leaned out of the window and bellowed.

"Hey dumbass! How's about you move outta the way!"

Optimus did. Just in the wrong direction.

Again the sound of horns honking and tires screeching filled the air as Optimus frantically tried to dodge heavy traffic. Then the truck horn came. Optimus stared up at the grill of a truck as it closed in too fast to dodge. But suddenly a force pushed him out of harm's way.

It all happened so fast that Optimus wasn't quite sure what had happened. He thought that maybe he was dreaming. That or he was dead.

"Are you fucking insane? You're damn lucky I saw when I did or you would be dead!"

Opening his eyes Optimus then realized he wasn't dead and he wasn't dreaming.

"Hey? Can you hear me? Are you alright?"

Looking up Optimus froze. Staring back at him was a young woman. A human female. She had to have been anywhere in her middle 20's to her early 30's. She was Caucasian and had long, dark brown, wavy hair that stopped at her shoulders. Her face and bodily features were gentle matched perfectly proportionate to her overall size. Her eyes were deep brown with hints of yellow and glistened in the light. Her hair drifted over her face as she leaned over him asking questions. She was wearing a purple and blue scrubs suit. The same that most human nurse wore.

"Hey? Can you hear me?"

Nodding slowly Optimus swallowed hard. "Yes."

Brushing her hair back from her face behind an ear she gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Does anything feel broken? Or does your head hurt?"

Confused Optimus looked at the ground and shook his head. "No. Nothing hurts."

Reaching into her pocket in her shirt she grabbed a flash light and shined it in Optimus' face. "Okay, I need you to follow this light."

Flashing the light back and forth between his eyes, the women watched as Optimus' eyes intently fallowed. Turning the flash light off and placing it back in her pocket, she then held up three fingers.

"How many fingers do you see?"

Glancing quickly at her hand Optimus then looked back at her. "Three."

The women then proceeded to snap her fingers by Optimus' ears which he responded to easily.

Sighing in relief, she sat back on her knees. "Well, the good news is you have no broken bones and you are not suffering from a concussion. So with that out of the way—."

Suddenly the women smoked him upside the head. "What the hell were you thinking? Running into heavy traffic like that? You could have been killed!"

Holding his head where she had hit him, Optimus stared blankly at her, stuttering to find the right words.

Rolling her eyes she stood up and brushed the dirt off of her pants. "Will you stop your stuttering, you sound like a child."

Looking away Optimus sighed. "I-…I am sorry."

Looking up for only a moment before standing up straight, she looked Optimus over before speaking.

"You're not from around here are you?"

Slowly Optimus shook his head. "No, I am not?"

Offering a hand out to Optimus, she scoffed. "So…where ARE you from?"

As he took her hand and slowly stood up, Optimus thought carefully before answering. "Jasper…Jasper Nevada."

Lowering her glance slightly she huffed. "I know where Jasper is. It's about a two hours' drive from here."

Pointing to the earth Optimus raised an eyebrow. "We are still in Nevada?"

Looking the strange man over again, the woman leaned closer to him and lowered her voice. "uh, yes we are. Umm…are you sure you're feeling okay?"

Nodding quickly Optimus backed away nodding. The woman continued to look him over and then had to ask. "Do you even know where you are?"

Looking the woman in the eye, Optimus soon found himself shaking his head.

The woman rested a hand on her waist and shifted her weight from one leg to the other. "You're in Phoenix, Arizona."

Looking around Optimus couldn't help but feel concerned, and apparently the woman could tell.

"What's your name?"

Turning Optimus looked at the woman. "Pardon?"

Crossing her arms over her chest the woman repeated. "I asked what your name was."

Thinking for a moment, Optimus looked up to meet the woman's eyes. "My name is Optimus. Optimus Prime."

With a mixed look of surprise and disbelief, the woman tried to hide a smile. "Ummm…okay. Optimus. If you don't mind my asking; what kind of a name is that? Is it German, Swedish or even Norwegian?"

Rubbing his head Optimus shook his head no. "Well not exactly…"

Looking away she brushed her hair out of her face again. "Well, Optimus… it was a pleasure meeting you. But I have to go. Try not to get yourself killed and please, try to stay out of the streets."

Reaching a hand out Optimus quickly spoke. "Wait! You did not tell me your name."

Smiling as she gathered her things she shrugged. "I usually make a point of not telling strange men my name."

Optimus' gaze lowered as he sighed.

She smiled warmly returning the shrug. "But since you told me your name I guess it's only fair. My name is Jacklyn. But everyone just calls me Jacky."

Lowering his gaze Optimus smiled sheepishly. "Well, I thank you Jacklyn for your kindness. It seems that you are the only being that has shown me kindness since I arrived."

Lifting an eye brow, Jacky looked Optimus over. "Since you arrived from Jasper I'm guessing?"

Optimus slowly nodded. "You could say that."

Jacky slowly nodded in return as she looked around, then up then at her watch. "Oh shit! Listen Optimus I have to go, and you better get back to your hotel before dark. This really isn't a good part of town to be hanging around in after the sun goes down."

Looking down confused, Optimus shook his head. "I'm not staying in this 'hotel' in which you speak of."

Looking up Jacky scowled. "Then where are you staying?"

Optimus simply shook his head no and shrugged.

Scoffing and groaning loudly, Jacky dug through her purse and then cursed softly. "Look, Optimus, I'd help you out if I had the cash…but I'm barely making ends meet as it is. I'm really sorry."

Optimus remained quiet because he did not know WHAT to say. It had only been a matter of a few hours and so much had already happened.

Suddenly a crack of thunder boomed through the air. Looking up Jacky cursed even louder when the sight of ominous thunderheads were within view. Looking back at Optimus her hardened gaze seemed to soften. There was something about this man; his face kind of reminded her that of an old stray dog sitting on your front porch that your kids beg you to keep. Just something about his personality seemed to be saying that he wasn't hostile. But could he be trusted? Looking him over she sighed loudly. "Oh God have mercy on me for being raised to help others."

Looking at Optimus scowling she pointed a dangerous finger at him. "Alright fine. Since it's going to start raining…I'll let you stay at my apartment. BUT JUST FOR ONE NIGHT! And if you try anything funny I'm warning you now I'm a black belt in martial arts and I WILL call the police."

Sheepishly fallowing Optimus was quiet. "You have no need to fear me. I merely need a place to rest and then I will be gone by morning."

Turning to watch him catch up Jacky smiled mischievously. *Humph* "We'll see about that…"