Sorry it took a month to update this story. I was busy working on 'Broken Souls', I didn't have time to work on this one. Not only that, I also had writer's block on this one.
I came up with an idea on doing a halloween theme for this chapter and I planned on finishing this before halloween, but failed.
Note that the italics are BumbleBee talking.
And so please enjoy this chapter and I apologize for not updating this for so long.
Chapter 5: Enter the Scraplets?
It's been 6 years since Sam and Jack became best friends. The two have become inseparable. They would always hang out together during school and never even bother to make any more friends or being social to any other kids. Sometimes, Mrs. Darby would take Sam along with them to eat at a restaurant or buy some clothes for Sam, much to his protest. So today, Mrs. Darby took Sam and Jack out shopping for some halloween costume. Mrs. Darby decided to take Sam to his very first Trick-or-Treating, with the permission of Sam's 'Father' through the phone.
Unbeknownst to the Darbys, they were being followed by three Autobots. One is the Overprotective yellow Chevrolet Camaro, the other is the green powerhouse truck, and the last one is the talkative Red Dodge Challenger.
"Ya know," started the powerhouse truck, "Sam's fine with me tagging along so why don't you guys just go back to base and let me take care of Sam."
"Oh, no! I am not letting you be alone with Sam so you can win his spark, Bulkhead." argued Cliffjumper. "I already have Sam call me his favorite Uncle, I don't want him to call you his favorite and me the rust-beat uncle. So, why don't you and Bee head back to the base while I go and take care of Sam myself?"
Bulkhead's engine began to rumble. "No, I'm gonna take care of Sam!"
"No, I am!"
"I am!"
"I am!"
BumbleBee let out an electronic sound effect that sounded like a sigh. When will they ever learn that he's Sam's guardian and brother, which means that only he gets to be with Sam. No one else. By 'no one else', he means only Cliffjumper and Bulkhead. BumbleBee saw the traffic lights turn to yellow and got a mischievous idea. He picked up speed, leaving both Cliffjumper and Bulkhead behind eating his dust.
Cliffjumper and Bulkhead saw the red light and screeched to a stop. They saw BumbleBee had already cross the road, leaving the two behind.
"Damn it, Bee! You are not going after Sam! Get back here!" yelled Cliffjumper through the comm link.
'Scrap me!' He gave a laugh and a raspberry at the two. 'Now if you don't mind, I have to get back to Sam. He's gonna need me.' BumbleBee drove away out of the view of the two Bots that are left behind.
"This is all your fault, Bulkhead!" yelled Cliffjumper.
"Me!? How is this my fault!?"
"If you would've gone back to base with Bee like I told you so, none of this would've happen!"
"I was the one who told you to head back to base with BumbleBee! So that means it's your fault!"
"No, yours!"
"Yours!"
The two Autobots continue to argue back and forth, causing a huge commotion and huge traffic.
June have found an empty parking lot after searching for one for five minute. The three humans got out of the car and began to head for the entrance to Walmart.
As they continue to walk, Sam spotted a familiar yellow Camaro in the parking lot. "Mrs. Darby? I'm going to go and talk to my brother over there. I'll be right back."
June looked at where was Sam pointing at and saw the Camaro. "Alright then. We'll wait for you at the entrance. Don't take too long."
Sam ran up to BumbleBee and gave a quick hug. "Bee, where are Cliff and Bulk? I thought the three of you were following us?"
'I left them behind.'He replied proudly and happily.
Sam walked in front of BumbleBee and crossed his arms. "Why did you leave them behind?"
BumbleBee moved forward and rubbed against Sam. 'They've been fighting over who gets to be with you. As your Guardian/Brother, only I can be with you. No one else.'
"What about Optimus, Arcee, and Ratchet?"
'Optimus is our Prime so he is allow to be with you, Arcee is your sister and a female so she's okay, and as for Ratchet, he's the medic and really scary.' BumbleBee shuddered in fear.
"Ok, but what about Cliffjumper and Bulkhead?"
Bee continues to rub against Sam. 'No! They are bad influence and always wanting to steal my baby Sammy away from me.' he stated protectively and possessively.
Sam giggled with a small hint of pink on his cheek. "What am I going to do with you, Bee?" He asked rhetorically.
'Maybe you can give me a car wash when we get back at base as a reward for being the best brother ever?' BumbleBee asked hopefully.
Sam just rolled his eyes. "Ok, then. When we get back to the base, I'll give you a nice car wash." BumbleBee chirped happily with anticipation. "Now I need to get back. Can't keep Mrs. Darby and Jack waiting."
'Ok, but don't have too much fun. I don't want you getting tired when we head back to base.'
Sam gave an okay and met up with the Darbys at the entrance.
To say, Sam was completely fascinated. Not once has he been inside of a 'mall', as June Darby called it. Of course, due to him living in secrecy with the Autobots, he can't go into a huge social place without an Autobot accompanying him.
Sam's excitement faltered when he saw that the whole aisle only has clothes, but that changed when June told Sam that the store has three floors. The first floor has clothes, second has groceries and house supply, and the third has electronics and video games. Sam's face immediately lit up at his favorite words, electronics and video games. He begged Mrs. Darby to have them go and check the third floor, in which she agreed when Sam gave her the adorable look that can get anyone hook, line, and sinker.
Sam ran up the escalator to the third floor, followed by Jack and Mrs. Darby, and headed directly to the games section. He checked all the games that they have until a particular game caught his eyes. The Silent Hill franchise that everyone seems to talk about over the past years. When Sam heard about this game four years ago, he thought it might be an interesting game since it's rated M, whatever that means. But Ratchet stated it's a waste of time because apparently, to him, the word Silent Hill means that the game is about hills that are silent.
At first, he believed Ratchet about the game, but when he overheard people talking about the game being scary, he asked Fowler to buy the game for him. Fowler told him that it's not for little kids. Sam felt sad that he couldn't play the game, but then became happy that he's willing to buy the game when he's a bit old enough. That was four years ago, and right now, the game has reached to Silent Hill 4.
Once they have finished checking around the third floor, they headed back to the first floor to shop for halloween costumes.
Almost two hours have passed and the only costume they got was for Jack. Sam had tried to look for a great costume, but not one caught his interest.
"There isn't anything you like, Sam?" asked Jack.
"None."
"We'll check another store for some costume tomorrow morning. Your father wants you home by sundown." said June
'You mean Ratchet wants me home by sundown.' thought Sam.
June bought the costume for Jack and left the mall. She offered a ride home but he quickly decline. He pointed out that his brother was waiting for him so they could head back home together. The three said their goodbyes and went to their respective vehicle.
Bee and Sam are now heading back to base until a loud honking got their attention. BumbleBee checked his rear side mirror and saw two familiar vehicle coming in fast. Bee recognized the two and he could tell by their driving that they are really pissed. 'Hey, guys. Where were you all this time? I was beginning to worry.'
"Wipe that smirk off your faceplate, BumbleBee." growled Cliffjumper.
"Yeah! We're mad at you for leaving us behind and hogging Sam the whole time." grumbled Bulkhead.
'As his guardian and brother, it is my right to be with Sam the whole time, so don't hate.'
"Well, as his uncle, it is my right to be with Sam as well."
"Same goes for the favorite uncle!"
And so, the three Autobots began to argue about who has the right to be with Sam all the time. As for the said human, he's just kicking back at BumbleBee's driver seat, enjoying the heated argument between his brother and his silly uncles. He loves it when they are fighting over him, it makes him love the three even more.
Even when they came back to base they still fight over him. Ratchet had enough of their idiotic behavior, so he came and snatched Sam and took him away much to the fighting Bots's surprise. They tried to argue Ratchet, but they kept their mouth shut when he glared at them. That's when Sam got an idea for a costume. He quickly ran to his room and told Bee that car wash is going have to wait after Halloween. Another argument began, this time, it's about getting a car wash from Sam.
Ratchet glared at the grinning Sam. "What on Earth are you wearing, boy?" Ratchet ignored the snickering from the green and red Bots.
"What? This?" Sam displayed his costume to the glaring medic. "It's my costume. You like?"
"Oh, yes, I like it." He replied with sarcasm. "But, mind telling me what's with that hideous mask you are wearing?"
"Ya know, if you are calling the mask hideous, you're calling your faceplate hideous."
The two snickering Bots couldn't hold it anymore as they began to laugh hysterically, along with Bee. Arcee smiled and tried to hold a laugh.
"First of all, my face is not hideous. Second, that mask does not look like me!"
It's Halloween and Sam got on his new costume to go Trick-or-Treating with the Darbys. He made his costume out of metal and designed it himself. He then showed it to the Autobots about his new costume that resembles Ratchet. At first, Ratchet was happy that Sam wanted to go as him for Trick-or-Treating, but that all changed when Sam put on a mask that suppose to resemble Ratchet's face. He was certainly not happy about that.
"Actually, it does. But only when you get angry. Like that!" Sam pointed at Ratchet's angry face to try and emphasize his point.
"He's right there, Doc. You do have an ugly face when you get mad." Cliffjumper said in between breaths.
Ratchet just glared at Cliffjumper and got very annoyed. "Just go out and do what the humans do this day, Sam." He went back to his Med-Bay and began to do whatever it is that he works on.
"Aw, don't be mad, Ratchet, you know I'm just teasing ya." All Sam got was a wave of a hand from Ratchet. Sam sighed and turned to the rest of the Autobots. "So, who's is gonna take care of me for this whole day?"
"I AM!" The three Bots glared at each other.
Arcee rolled her optics at her friend's childish behavior. "I'll take you, Sam. It's about time that I should accompany you for today." Sam nodded in approval. Arcee transformed into her motorcycle mode and activated her holographic driver. The driver's appearance has a blue helmet covering her whole face and wears a blue jumpsuit. Sam got on the back seat and grabbed hold on the seat. He can't grab hold on Arcee's hologram since he can't touch. The two left the base, ignoring the yells coming from the three Bots.
"Mom, is that Sam?"
June squinted her eyes and confirm that it was Sam. But she never met the person he's with. She walked up to Sam and the new person and greeted her. "Hi, my name is June Darby. What's yours?"
"Sadie." Arcee quickly replied. She can't tell the humans her real name.
"Hi, Sadie. I'm June Darby, Jack's mother. Care to join us Trick-or-Treating?"
"Can't. I have work to do. But I'll be back to pick him up later. Have fun, Sam." Arcee drove off and hid behind dark alleys in order to keep an eye out on Sam.
"So, Sam, who's she?" asked Jack.
"She's my older sister."
"You must have one big family, huh?" Sam hummed in affirmative.
"That's a nice costume. Where you get it?" asked June
"I made it myself."
"Wow, I'm impress. What is it?"
"A mean, angry robot."
"That's cute, Sam. Now, shall we get some candies you two?"
Jack and Sam nodded and ran to their first house and Sam's first Trick-or-Treat.
It's been such a long day for Sam. It felt like he just walked around Jasper for the whole night. He never knew going out to get candies could be so tiring. Sam and Arcee are heading back to base to retire for the next day.
But all is about to change. When they got to the base, lights flicker on and off, communication are down, and GroundBridge's controls are down as well.
"What is going on here?" asked Arcee.
"We have a Scraplet infestation!" cried out Bulkhead.
"A what?" Sam asked in confusion.
"A Scraplet are a Cybertronian version of Earth's termites. But instead of eating wood, they eat metal, like us." explained Ratchet as he fixes the main computers.
Sam cringed at the information about the Scraplets could eat a living Cybertronian. "How does it looks like?"
"They are small creatures with many sharp razor fangs that can chew any kind of metals. They are very dangerous to us."
"Wait, how on Earth did they got here on Earth and here at the base?"
"I don't know. But we got to find them before they could do any damage."
"Wait. Where's Optimus?" Sam realized he hasn't seen Optimus when he left for Trick-or-Treating.
"Optimus is out scouting. Good thing too. It would be best for Optimus to stay away from the base." Everyone knows what Ratchet is talking about. The Autobots would crumble if they were to lose Optimus. It would mean victory for the Decepticons.
"Alright. We need to split up in order to find the Scraplets. Be careful, everyone. We don't know how any there are."
All the Autobots split up. Each and every one of them went to search on their own, except for three stubborn Autobots.
"Ya know, Ratchet said we all have to split up. Why are you three with me?" Sam asked the three Autobots who are right behind Sam while they all searching the corridors.
"There is no way I'll leave my baby nephew all alone with those evil Scraplets. What if they attack you and eat you?" The other two agree as well.
"Uncle Cliff, they won't attack me. Scraplets eat metal, I'm not made of metal." Sam grew a grin when he figured out why they are here. "Or is it that you guys are afraid of them to fight by yourselves, you needed me to be there for you guys."
The three Bots's metal faces heat up in embarrassment as Sam laugh at them.
"It's not a laughing matter, Sam."
"I know. I'm sorry, Bulk." As much as he likes to tease them, he knows he can't laugh at something serious.
They continue to go down the corridors in silence until the light went out and a loud 'girlish screams' can be heard.
"Did you guys scream like a... little girl?" Sam turned to see a hilarious pose. During the small blackout, it would have seen Cliffjumper had jumped on Bulkhead's arms, something that you would see on a Scooby-Doo cartoon series where Scooby jumps on Shaggy's arms when they get spooked.
Bulkhead and Cliffjumper looked at each other before realizing their awkward position. Bulkhead dropped Cliffjumper in which landed on his aft before regaining their composure. "Not. A. Word." The two said in unison, ignoring the sniggering from BumbleBee and Sam.
"Only wish I had a camera. Perfect blackmail material."
Before anyone can say another word, small running footsteps can be heard. Cliffjumper and Bulkhead reacted fast in fear and began to shoot randomly while BumbleBee sheltered Sam from the crazy shooting. The last blast caused some overhead cables to land and tangle them, making them scream girlishly again as they franticly fought off the cables.
Sam peeked out of BumbleBee's hand and gaped at the scene. "Now that I think about it, instead of laughing at them, I'm beginning to feel embarrass of having two big strong uncles getting scared by a bunch of cables." Sam spoke to himself. "You guys, it's just a bunch of cables."
That got them to stop and glare at the other two. "Once again, Not. A. Word." They said in unison again.
An hour have passed and the Autobots have regroup at the main control room.
"Anything?" asked Arcee. Everyone shook their heads.
"But we did heard small little footsteps running about." said Bulkhead.
"Same here as well." said Arcee. "Now what?"
They began to think of a next plan of action until Sam spotted something running behind the GroundBridge control. "You guys, I spotted the Scraplet!"
"Where?"
"It headed right behind the GroundBridge control."
The Bots advanced to the control until they all stop simultaneously. Sam, who was in front of the Autobots, stopped and looked back at the Bots. "What?"
"Why don't you go and check while we wait here?" asked Cliffjumper.
"You're serious, right. I mean, it was just one Scraplet I just saw."
"Just one!?" yelled Ratchet. "Scraplets comes in a large groups. It must have met up with his buddies, ready to ambush us."
Sam rolled his eyes but complied anyways. He quietly began to tiptoed with a wrench in his hands. He looked back at the controls and let out an aww. "Aww, how cute!"
"CUTE!?" boomed Ratchet in which everyone sworn they have gone deaf. "You call those little devious creatures, cute!? Don't you dare pick it up, boy!" He ordered when he saw Sam bend down.
"But Ratchet, it's just so cute and it's basically asking me to pick him up."
"DON'T YOU DARE PICK UP THAT DAMN SCRAPLET UP!"
"Why would a baby desert cottontail be a Scraplet?" asked Sam confusingly.
"A what?" Everyone asked in unison.
"A baby desert cottontail." Sam walked back to the Autobots and showed a little baby bunny that fitted in Sam's little hand.
"Aww, it really is cute." Cooed Cliffjumper.
"It would have seem that our little Scraplet problem was just this little guy." stated Sam.
"How can you be so sure."
"I saw him chewing the cables connected to the GroundBridge control. Poor guy must be hungry."
"I just fixed that!" yelled Ratchet.
"But, how did it got in?" wondered Arcee.
"Maybe it must have snuck into an air vent."
"Can we keep him?" Sam asked hopefully.
"Sam, you know Optimus won't allow it."
"Allow what?" the said mech asked. All heads turned towards their leader. "Ratchet, I tried to contact you but you wouldn't answer."
Ratchet growled in anger "That little fuzzball must have chewed on the communication lines again. And I just fixed that!"
"Mind telling me what's going on?" And so, the Autobots told Optimus all that happened during his absents. Sam has begged Optimus to let him keep the cottontail until he's all grown up. He couldn't let a baby animal out on the cruel world all by itself. Optimus agreed to let Sam keep him. But he must agree to let it free in which Sam sadly agree but understood. Every single living being deserve freedom.
"Oh, and Sam?" Sam looked up at Optimus as he knelt down with a closed hand in front of Sam. "Agent Fowler asked me to give this to you." He opened his hand and Sam gasped.
"A Playstation 2 system with all the Silent Hill franchised! Even the first one was converted into a Playstation 2 game!"
"Agent Fowler told me you'd asked him for this few years ago. So he bought this as your late birthday present."
"Thanks, Optimus. Tell Grandpa Fowler I said thanks as well." Sam ran off to his room, ready to set the whole thing up and start playing.
"Are you sure that's wise, Optimus?" asked Ratchet. "I had did a double check on the games, and it falls on the horror category."
"Don't worry one thing, Ratchet. I'll go and keep Sam company. After all, he needs someone there for him to jump on when he gets scared." said the smug Cliffjumper.
Bulkhead and BumbleBee glared at Cliffjumper. "Fat chance, Cliff. It will be me he jumps on when he's frighten."
'I'm his brother, so he has to go to me when he gets scared.'
The Bots ran to Sam's room to keep Sam company and hold him if he gets scared.
"Glitch-heads." grumbled Ratchet.
Midnight has fallen and the Autobots retired to their room. Optimus laid down on his berth and was about to fall into recharge when he head a knock. "Come in." The giant door opened and small footsteps entered the room. Optimus sat up when he saw the visitor happens to be Sam in his pajamas and covers at hand. "Sam, what is it?"
Sam looked down on the floor as he struggled with his words. "Can I... sleep with you tonight?"
For some strange reason, Optimus felt his spark jumped from inside his spark chamber when Sam asked if he can sleep with him tonight. "Why? Is something wrong with your room, Sam?"
A small blush appeared on Sam's face as he remembered what happened an hour ago. "You see... I got scared playing the first Silent Hill game, so I turned it off. My room was so dark, I couldn't see a thing. As I went to fetch the light on, as soon as the light turned on," Sam's blush covered his whole face, "Cliffjumper and Bulkhead jumped out of nowhere and I uh, sort of scream like a girl." Sam heard Optimus chuckled a little. "It's not funny, Optimus."
"Sorry, Sam."
Sam huffed. "Anyway, it is alright to sleep with you? I now suddenly develop a fear of the dark thanks to those scrap metals. Too bad Bee wasn't there, or else he would put a hurt on those two."
"Alright, Sam. Come here." Optimus lowered his hand to let Sam jump on. Once he's on, he laid down on his berth with Sam on his chestplate. Sam snuggled near where his spark chamber, seeking for its warmth. Optimus's spark began to race for some unknown reason once again, but ignored it again. Sam wrapped himself with his cover he brought with him and Optimus's hand found itself covering Sam's whole body in a protective, yet with a vey small hint of possessiveness, manner.
Sam sighed in comfort and began to doze off. "Goodnight, Optimus, and thank you."
"Goodnight, Sam, and you're welcome."
The two drifted off to their sleep. Sam slept with a smile on his face and Optimus slept with a small smile on his faceplate. Both clearly enjoying each other's company and presence.
Hope you all like this chapter. Once again I'm sorry for not updating this for so long.
I would like to dedicate this chapter to 'shadow visor'. Because of his/her request for an update, I began working on this none stop for the past week. So everyone, if I haven't update this story for so long, do not hesitate to send a review or a PM for a new chapter as I will focus my attention to my other story 'Broken Souls'. I will get on writing a new chapter for this story ASAP.
So sorry for the wait and hope you enjoy this chapter, and that special little ending that I wrote. This will put on hold until I finish my other story or request an update for this story if it's been too long since I've updated last.
Till next time! :D