Where the Heart Is 5 Rafael
A Transformers Prime Fanfiction
Set During the Events of "Darkest Hour" "Darkmount NV" "Scattered" "Prey"
Deep within the caves of the South American nation of Chili a young man was frowning down at a set of blueprints. The old and cracked paper declared that there should have been a mine shaft angling straight down into the rock but reality was stoutly denying the existence of such a thing. Pedro de'Lance heaved a tired sigh and rubbed his eyes. This was his ninth hour down here today and he really should be getting up but if he could find the old copper shaft-
Tink. Tap.
His train of thought derailed abruptly as the rock in front of his face shifted and a slinky copper tube shot out, flashing by his face as the impossibly long form landed on the cavern floor beside him and began a swirling dance. He watched as fascinated as ever as a spindly-legged creature formed out of the mass and glared up at him arms akimbo.
"Why you not-"
Green orbs stared up at him demandingly.
De'Lance gave a laugh and reached out to rub the warm metal helm.
"I was just finishing up. I'm coming up now."
The creature huffed and stuck out his glosia; making it clear that he had caught the half fib.
"Where is Thing Two?"
"I-"
"Oh, sorry Thing Two. Where is Thing One?"
The little mech tilted his helm to one side and his emerald optics flashed brightly as he connected to the multi-gestalt. One long finger pointed at an angle and he chattered out a set of coordinates before looking back up at the young man expectantly.
Kicking himself mentally for asking the question in the first place Pedro ran the calculations in his head. This late in the day that was painful. Coming to a conclusion he squinted down at the copper form and spoke hesitantly.
"Three meters below the lowest safety cavern and headed north-northeast and up?"
"Close but-" Thing One said as he scrambled up the miners powerful shoulders and shifted into a passable backpack.
"Okay, let's get up top," the human replied grateful that the little test was over.
The gestalt had reluctantly accepted that absorbing a fully adult human into the bond was impossible. However they saw no reason that De'Lance should not be able to communicate with them on their level. Thus the constant efforts to get him thinking like a 'proper miner' in their terms. What that amounted to in Pedro's estimation was a cross between an astrophysicist and a diehard spelunker. His brain hurt when the sessions were done but he had to admit it was making him better at his job.
They reached the mine cart and the human climbed in and started up the engine. The slow steady machine began the laborious climb up the sloped tunnel. A bit later there was a hum from the wall to their side and a stubby copper drill burst out and landed in the seat beside the young man. Thing Two transformed and Thing One dropped down beside him. They were soon chattering away in their high pitched, sing-song language. The miner listened with half an ear as they discussed the explorations of the day, the letters they had received from their humans, and their plans to contact them tonight. Suddenly the chatter stopped and both mechs sat rigid in the hard vinyl seat holding hands as their optics twitched and flickered.
"Driver is-"
"Right; odd."
"What's odd?" De'Lance frowned, not liking the look on their faceplates.
"Not to-"
"Worry, am sure-"
"Is perfectly-"
"Safe."
"Who is perfectly safe?" he demanded stopping the cart abruptly.
"Raf is,"
"Probably safe."
"Probably?" the man demanded dark eyes flashing in the yellow electric lighting, before forcing himself to calm down and not startle the little Cybertronians. "What's going on?"
"Thin," they spoke together.
"What is thin?"
"The bond."
"Is that bad?"
There was silence and the human got the impression that they were communicating with the gestalt; pulling intelligence from the collective. Finally Thing One looked up at him sharply.
"Driver says that there is little we can tell at this point. It would be advisable to form a full bond so please continue to the surface as soon as possible."
The human nodded and restarted the cart. He was gradually getting used to the disconcerting changes in the mechs' intelligence levels, but it still unnerved him a bit. The rest of the ride passed in a blur as his mind whirled over what might be wrong with his little cousin. He knew that if Driver was really in a hurry he would have summoned the two scouts immediately, not let them ride up in the cart. But the fact that they did not want to leave their organic partner did not bode well either. It meant on some level they were nervous and reluctant to leave any member of the team alone. He left the car in charge of the mechanics while the Things slipped silently into the shadows and followed him into the side cavern the gestalt had claimed as home base for this job.
In the center of the cavern sat a living machine. It resembled nothing so much as a clockwork stalagmite; gears and formed metal spoke of man's invention, but the form seemed to blend in with the cave as naturally as any other rock. Without hesitation the final two joined and the gestalt began to transform. The frames shifted and flowed like water while never quite leaving the form of a rough organic cone. Sounds that were not quite music rippled through the cavern and lights danced across the living sculpture. Suddenly there was a change in energy and Pedro stiffened. The noises they were making now, they only made those when one of their number was in danger. Smoothly three forms pulled out of the merge and transformed to stand next to De'Lance. The largest one whose dusky red armor blended well into the cave nodded slightly.
"Rafael Esquivel is off planet," Shift stated with puzzlement on his faceplates.
Pedro stiffened and opened his mouth in shock.
"He is off of the planet?" the human demanded trying to wrap his mind around the concept. "How is that even possible? Did the Decepticons take him to the Nemesis again?"
"No," Driver offered as the merge dissipated and each mech took his own form. "This was not a flight on a space ship. He bridged there."
"Bridged where?"
"We do not know exactly," the lead mech stated his wide white shoulders hunching slightly in thought. "As you know we are only able to communicate with our littlest brother partially. All we are able to sense is that he is alive and very far away."
"You don't seem particularly worried," was all the man could think of to say.
"He is under the protection of a true Prime," the mech shrugged as the rest of the gestalt moved away to resume their night work. "Optimus will let no harm befall him," but there was still a trace of fear in him.
"I, I wish I could be so certain," Pedro frowned.
"What bothers you?"
"It is illegal," the human replied.
"Illegal?" Driver frowned down at him.
"To move a child across state lines without a parent's permission is forbidden," the miner explained. "I know that Bee and Optimus have arranged for permission to take Raf on 'field trips' with Mama but I do not think that the Prime or Bumblebee would condone talking him off world without telling her. They have too much respect for family."
"But they cannot tell her," the mech pointed out.
"Exactly."
"You think that the Decepticons are behind this."
"It is a possibility."
Driver growled low in his chassis in frustration clearly thinking over his friend's words. Suddenly he stiffened and relief flickered across his faceplates.
"What?" Pedro demanded.
"He is returned! Back at the base."
"But?" the human pressed not liking the look in the silver optics.
"Shame," the larger miner muttered wincing at whatever he felt over the bond. "He is feeling deep shame and refuses to speak to us."
"That does not sound like Raf."
"It is unusual," the mech started again and hummed low pressing a servo to his helm in the universal gesture for 'I'm talking to someone else'.
The silence dragged on for far too long and suddenly Pedro jumped as he realized that the entire gestalt had reassembled and were crouching close together watching their leader with unreadable expressions. Finally Driver spoke aloud.
"Go with the blessing of Primus little Brother. Be assured, we will determine whether your family is safe."
"What is going on?" Pedro demanded frantically.
"The Decepticons did kidnap the children," Driver explained grimly. "Optimus rescued them but the Nemesis has found the base. They are evacuating. Each Autobot is taking their charge and bridging to a different part of the States."
The man gaped at the mech unable to fully understand for a brief moment. Then his mind cleared and he spun on his heal.
"We need to contact Mama Esquivel and-"
"NO!"
The order barked out and vibrating from nearly a dozen voices stopped him in his tracks.
"Soundwave is monitoring the human airwaves by now," Driver explained. "We must consider carefully what we say and do least we give away that Rafael is still alive and where he is."
"Do you know where he is?" Pedro demanded.
"Yes, he and Bumblebee are currently in Montana."
"I can get the cargo plane ready in an hour," the man promised unfolding his phone.
"My friend."
The human glanced up in shock as the massive hand folded around his. There was pain in the voice and suffering in the silver optics and the miner suddenly understood.
"You are not warriors," he said softly. "We cannot ask you to face the Decepticons again. I will go alone."
"No, Pedro, please understand," Driver pressed, not releasing his hand. "If there was anyway our facing them again would help our brother we would do it in a spark-pulse but for now he is safely out of the knowledge of the Decepticons. If we travel, if you travel, you will draw attention to his location. You are known to be related to him. Soundwave could find our brother through you."
"Then what can I do?" the man nearly shouted. "I have to do something!"
"We promised Raf we would check up on his family," the mech stated. "See if they were safe. There would be no suspicion in that. Already the news is thick with word that Jasper had to be evacuated due to a meteor shower. Call Mama Esquivel and get the details and we will share them with our brother over the bond."
"The bond is safe right?"Pedro asked.
"No mech alive can trace or hack it over a distance," he was assured.
The man nodded and shifted as his mind whirled over the problem.
"I could send him something," he said thoughtfully.
"Safely?"
"Yes, Big Rock Mining Company is the major funder for this project and they have offices all through Montana. I could ask them to put together an emergency kit and wire some cash as if I was just doing a regular resource transfer. You could tell Raf where to pick it up over the bond. No way for this Soundwave to connect the dots."
"That would work," Driver agreed hesitantly.
"But?"
"Bumblebee keeps a week of emergency supplied in his storage at all times; food, medical, and clothing," the mech explained. "He also keeps cash and an untraceable debit card."
"Oh," the human stated feeling suddenly a bit useless.
Driver's optics flickered and Pedro waited patiently until the mech focused on him again.
"He says that they are set for most of the basic needs but he does not have enough money to purchase a," the miner paused and frowned, "hot spot?"
De'Lance burst into laughter and shook his head.
"My kid cousin is on the run from an army of aliens and he wants an internet connection."
Then he frowned and glanced up at Driver sharply.
"I can get him one easily enough through a requisition order but will it be safe?"
"Rafael is incredibly mature for his age," Driver offered as he waved the rest of the gestalt back to their work now that the immediate danger to the youngest was understood and there were actions they could take. "I have no doubt that he will not endanger himself or his guardian."
"I'll send out the resource order immediately. No, I'll have one of the admin ladies do it," he corrected himself. "That way there will be no way to connect it to me."
Driver suddenly transformed and Pedro looked at the cavern entrance. A frantic old man came running in panting.
"De'Lance! Bad news from your old hometown! Unbelievable news! But your family is safe! Your aunt wishes to speak to you!"
"Coming Diaz," the younger man replied curtly.
He cast one last glance back at the battered white pickup and jogged after the old-timer. Half an hour was spent on the phone reassuring his aunt that Raf was no doubt safe; perhaps with the Darbys or one of his other computer club friends, probably Bee. She seemed a bit calmer when he hung up and the young man immediately darted over to the administration building. It was time to schmooze up one of the draconic old ladies that made certain the mine ran on budget. While it did sound like Raf, the competent little planner, had what he needed already there was no harm in sending along a few extras, right?
A sleek black and yellow Urbana 500 pulled up of the loading bay of a nondescript but busy warehouse in the middle of a dense forest and popped open its back doors. Massive dirty dump trucks lined the chain link fence and the gravel parking lot was hard packed. A worker finally noticed the car and pointed it out to the foreman. They walked over to investigate and saw a neatly printed note detailing an order number. The foreman barely batted an eye and called out a few commands into his radio. Within moments three men appeared each hauling a large cardboard box. There was some confusion on how to fit it all in but soon the supplies were packed into the car and the men were sent back to work. As soon as the foreman left Bumblebee drove back to where he had left Raf at the edge of the road. The mech let out a whistle of amusement as the child climbed in.
"Yeah," Raf replied with a grin. "It does look like he over did it."
Another series of curious beeps filled the cab as the seats shifted to allow Raf the best angel to root through the boxes.
"Yea, I know you can't transform with all this in here. Just pull up to the first thrift shop you come to and we'll donate what we can't fit. Dried food, medical supplies, books? Well I can sit on them to seem taller in the driver's seat. Ah ha! Here it is!"
He triumphantly pulled the small device out of the box and skillfully cut through the hard plastic packaging. Within moments the screen of his laptop began to flicker with information.
"Let's see what the internet has to tell us Bee! If anyone has seen the rest of them it will be on one of the usual conspiracy sites before you can say Ratchet's wrenches!"
The mech chirped happily and rolled out onto the empty highway.