Chapter 18

I'd like to give a shout out to SunstreakersSquishy2.0 for the plot twist you have suggested to me. I'm sorry for the long wait guys, I promise the next chapter will be sooner. Thank you for reading please review love to hear your views.

Samantha strolled down the hall of the museum following the miniature decepticons, which were leading them towards the shrink ray, with the autobots right next to her. All she could think about was how the decepticons had agreed to help them find and retrieve the shrink ray and return to normal size but they refused to switch to their side. For they did not want to be on the receiving end of Megatron's fury. As everyone knew he would be very unhappy that his own soldiers had turned against him.

However Sam wanted them to reconsider so that more of them would see the truth and turn against the evil con but she knew it was a long shot.

"So how do we know you aren't leading us in to a trap" Stated Hot Shot

Everyone just seemed to look at him as though they knew he was going to say it.

"We want to be normal just like you too, and we have seen the truth"

"Still doesn't mean this could be a trap"

Having faith must be something they were all lacking, Sam was scared that the decepticons would come and kidnap her and kill her friends. While Optimus was concerned with her safety too.

The end of the hall came closer and closer one step at a time until they reached a door that seemed to be heavily locked, Sam tried opening it but it wouldn't budge.

"So how did you get in there before?"

"We had soundwave to hack the network and open the roof"

"Wait the roof opens up"

The decepticon nodded. Sam noticed some sort of device where you have to swipe a card. After time thinking it came to her that the professor could probably have access here. Samantha grabbed her phone from her pocket and called Omega.

"Hey Omega, access the professors office try and find a key card lying around on his desk and get here ASAP"

She hung up the phone and sat down on the floor.

"What makes you think the professor will have the key card to this door?" asked Wing Saber

"He's the curator of the museum, the question being why wouldn't he have the key card?"

Waiting for Omega was boring but there was no other alternative, they needed access to the room hidden behind the door. But the more Sam thought about the situation she was in the more she noticed that she had never been to this part of the museum before and she had been from corner to corner with the amount of times she used to come with Poppy. It struck Sam that the professor never had anything to hide, he was always the one the girls went to when they needed help or advice. So why was there a hidden part of the building? Why was there a door that was restricted? The professor's office is restricted and the Sam had been in there many times not because he had invited her in but she sometimes broke in to his office so that she may get away from her so called home life. Her phone started to go off she was receiving a text message from Jeeves.

"Sam your father left this morning after visiting your mother and wishes that you go there too"

Samantha just put her phone back in her pocket the last thing she wanted was to think about her dad leaving her again. It hurt her that know seemed to notice how she was feeling apart from the autobots but she had kind of hoped that they would catch on a realise that their careers seem to be put blocking her from her parents lives.

"Why don't you answer him?"

Sam looked down at Scattershot thinking if she should or not but it hurt her head to think about it because she knew that she really didn't.

"Because if I did answer him he would probably start asking questions, its best that I don't answer him. He seems to have an interest in why I am more outgoing all of a sudden."

"You didn't go out that much?"

"No I went out occasionally with Poppy and when I had to go in my parents place to events but apart from that I hide myself away"

As soon as she had finished her sentence Omega came flying down the hall in his bird form with a key card in his beak. His mechanical wings supported his weight in the air as he swooped down on to Sam's shoulder and dropped the card right in to her hand. Sam held it tightly as she stood up and swiped the card in its slot, making a loud beep to confirm the card was valid and then the door slide open. Giving way to a huge dark room where as soon as they walked in the lights turned on one by one revealing what they had been searching for. Sam's eyes widened at how real it was and big, her heart raced at its size for something so alien to her it was so beautiful. In the middle of the room it hovered as though it was dangerous for it to touch the floor, shaped like a circular shield its golden plating reflected the light shining down from the skylight in the ceiling. It was smooth with no rough surfaces or chips in its sides, it was a masterpiece to be proud of something beyond art. Sam's mouth hung in amazement this was something she never thought she would lay eyes on.

"This is the shrink ray but it doesn't look like cybertronian design"

"No one knows who built it, we only found it"

"So…How does it work? We need to get you back to normal as soon as possible"

Sam placed her hand on the golden metal before it shrunk itself down to a size that a human could use. It was a though it was created for any species to use be it big or small.

"The device takes your thoughts and processes it in to actions, all you must do is think about it turning us back to normal size and point it at us and it will obey"

Sam did as instructed by the decepticon, she pointed it at her friends and started thinking about them growing, she closed her eyes hoping that if she thought hard enough something would happen but she heard nothing as though the device was not active. Sam opened her eyes but did not find her friends on the floor the size of a tennis ball however she did see large mechanical feet and as she panned her head to look up there they were stood in front of her. It was as if they had never shrunk to begin with. She looked up at them in surprise that such an object exists to do such an amazing thing, but then it hit her in the wrong hands it could be dangerous and misused which had already been demonstrated. While the autobots checked they were still alive and still in one piece Sam restored the decepticons to normal.

"It's good to be big again" said Hot Shot

Bumblebee buzzed with agreement, he was happy he could do his job of protecting Sam properly now.

"You guys realise that you'll have to drive carefully through the museum and will probably have to use the loading dock to get out"

"Autobots transform and roll out!"

They all did as commanded and Sam just held tightly on to the device as she saw Bee's passenger door swing open, signifying for her to get in. She jumped in and immediately the door shut on its own and the seat belt wrapped around her. The vehicle moved slowly through the building following a big red and blue truck in front. Bumblebee was quite curious of the golden device his friend was holding and had so many questions and used his radio to ask the one that had been on his mind for a while.

"So who built the shrink ray?"

"That is unclear Bumblebee, but I'm sure a little research will help us answer that question" answered Optimus

After many twists and turns they reached the loading dock where Sam used the professor's key card to open the main door for them to get out, she closed it again from the outside and decided to keep the card just in case she needed it again. It would also help there cover of a break in so that no would know they had been there. The decepticons went their separate ways once outside while the others went back to the base. Sam suddenly remembered that they had left Poppy in the base with no means of communication or escape which means she would have to explain herself when she got back.

Once back at the base Sam hopped out of car watched as they each transformed and walked towards the command centre. Sam gave the shrink ray to Red alert who took it to his lab to run tests on it with Scattershot in tow. Wing Saber took down the communications block at once and Sam rang Poppy's mobile to find out where she was but as soon as it started ringing Poppy jumped out on Sam from behind scaring her.

"Sammy you left me here all on my own with nothing to do but wonder around the corridors"

Sam looked at Bee for a little support but she could see that she was on her own on this one.

"I'm sorry Poppy but we had to go and you had wondered off so o thought leaving you was best"

Poppy's facial expression did not get any better.

"You thought it was best, I was left alone!"

"It's not like we could have taken you with us Pops, besides I got the guys back to normal"

"Why couldn't you have taken me with you? I'm not useless you know, and when did all of a sudden you become best buds with these aliens?" shouted Poppy

Things were getting out of hand easily and it wasn't that hard to see Sam was losing the argument.

"Perhaps when I needed someone to be there for me when I was going through a rough time instead talking about herself and telling me my parents will never change"

This now made Sam angry, once again Poppy was putting herself first. She knew it was a matter of time before Poppy would bring up the fact that her dad was moving them away.

"Your parents WILL never change, and you need to accept that Sam not to mention you never told me about these aliens, you said you weren't friends with anyone else"

Sam was about to but in but the bombshell dropped.

"My parents want to move, how do you think I feel. I mean…"

Poppy was suddenly silenced as Red alert came in to the command centre and grabbed Poppy, before she could speak another word he sprayed a small amount of gas in to her face which made her fall asleep. Sam just watched him as he placed Poppy down on the floor.

"I just knocked her out with a gas I developed that wipes the mind of the previous 24 hours, she won't remember that she met us"

Samantha smiled now she didn't have to worry about Poppy remembering this argument or wanting to come along with the autobots.

"She was too loud anyway" said Red alert as he headed back to the lab

Hot shot approached and looked down at Poppy on the floor "And you choose to be friends with her"

"She has her good qualities, obviously alien robots is something she can't handle" Sam laughed

"Hot shot take Sam and Poppy home please" instructed Optimus

Hot shot nodded and transformed while Sam dragged Poppy in to the back seat of the sports car. Sam then sat in the front passenger seat as they drove off.

"Actually hot shot can you drop us off at the hospital?"

"Why?"

"I want to visit my mum before the day ends and it would make sense to make Poppy believe that she fell to sleep while I was visiting my mum"

"Okay but how you going to explain you dragging and unconscious girl in there"

Sam Smiled at his remark "I'll just teleport us"

With that said hot shot increased his speed but slowed down a bit when he remembered what happened when he first met Poppy in the middle of the road.

At the hospital Sam had teleported Poppy and herself to her mother's room where she was being treated and placed Poppy in a chair at the opposite side of the room. Sam went over to her mother and held her hand hoping that she would know that she was there even though she was still unconscious from being tortured by the decepticons. Next to the bed her mum was lying in was a vase of fresh flowers obviously from her dad and a note for Sam.

Samantha opened the note and read it carefully

I know I has been hard for you Samantha but you need to be strong, if not for yourself but for your mother too. I'm sorry I have to leave but this is something I cannot ignore and I know that you understand. I want you to know how grateful I am that you are able to visit your mother at any time as she will need you by her side. I will come and visit as much as I possibly can.

Love dad

Samantha's felt warm inside she always thought that her parents preferred their jobs over her but now she realises that it wasn't true that she just made it up as an excuse so that she could blame something. She still wished that her parents had more time for her and realised that Sam was slowly fading from their lives. Just then Sam heard poppy groaning as she was waking up.

"What Happened? Where are we?" she questioned

"You don't remember pops, you came to the hospital with me when my dad had to away again. You've been asleep all day"

Poppy looked confused at her best friend, she could not recall the day's events. She didn't even remember waking up let alone coming to the hospital.

"It's quite late now you can go home if you want"

"What about you?"

"I want to stay with my mum for the night, I'll be fine" Sam smiled at her mum

"Jeeves and Emily will want to know where you are Sammy"

"I'll deal with them tomorrow, right now I want to be with my mum"

Poppy couldn't really understand what her best friend was going through but decided that it was best that Sam stay with her mum for a while. It would do her some good.

"Call me tomorrow Sammy, Amy is back from her holiday tomorrow so we could meet up with her" suggested Poppy

"Sounds good"

With that Poppy left and went home, she was still hoping that she could convince her dad to stay in the city instead of moving away for a better job. Sam grabbed the chair and dragged it next to her mum and sat down, she found it peaceful watching her mum sleep. Even though the decepticons put her in this situation. After about 5 minutes Sam began to hear tapping on the window and went over to see what it was, to her surprise it was Omega hovering by the window. Sam slide it up to let him swoop in. Once in he transformed in to robot form and looked down at the woman lying the bed, Sam went back over to her chair and sat down.

"This is my mum Omega. She's in this condition because the decepticons tortured her"

Sam began to cry and Omega tried comforting her. It was hard for him as he was learning new things and trying to understand human emotions and relationships. He was listening carefully to people's speech so that he would be able to pick it up and talk for himself. He pointed at Sam's mum.

"Mum"

Sam looked at Omega in surprise she did not expect him to start talking so quickly but then again the autobtos did say that he was learning.

"That's right that is my mum"

She smiled as he said it again, their small conversation was cut short when her phone started ringing. Sam looked at her phone and saw the autobot insignia, immediately she picked up to her Scattershot on the other end of the phone.

"Sam we have had a chance to scan and assess the shrink ray and have come to the only conclusion possible"

"Wait what are you talking about Scattershot?"

"We are researching in to how the device came to be, we looked under the plating and it mostly revealed what we needed"

Sam was trying to figure out from the tone of his voice if it was good news or bad.

"The shrink ray is completely different from anything we've seen on cybertron but there are cybertronian parts in it to make it work"

"What are you saying Scattershot?"

"The shrink ray is of human design and not cybertronian. We were wondering who you knew at the museum that would have access to this kind of technology and has the know to make something this powerful and dangerous"

Sam thought hard about it. It would have to be someone that worked at the museum but most of the people there wouldn't know how to build such an object as well as use alien parts.

"It would have taken the human a long time to construct the shrink ray so they must be there all the time and very dedicated to the work" stated Scattershot

At once Sam's mind went in to shock she could not believe it. Silence took over the conversation just for a moment.

"Sam… Do you know who it is?"

"I think I do but… but it can't be. I trusted him. Poppy trusted him. We all did."

"Who Sam who?"

Sam was scared to reply now she felt like she had put her trust in the wrong person, someone that seemed so innocent to build such a dangerous weapons.

"…The….The…The professor…The professor created the shrink ray"