Strange neighbours
Chapter Seven: Secrets uncovered
Bumblebee listened patiently as Sam expressed all his troubles.
The boy paced back and forth in front of him, turning when he got to where the shadows met Bumblebee's headlights.
"I feel bad Bee, you're an Autobot. You're meant to be out with the others fighting Decepticons and doing what you do best. But all you are doing is staying in my dad's garage guarding me from a Decepticon attack that's pretty unlikely to happen. There hasn't been any Decepticon activity in months. I'm not a target anymore."
The boy stopped to rub at his face then continued his rant,
"All I want is a normal life Bee, and I can't have that because of all these secrets I have to keep. I can't even get a girlfriend now! And now things are getting more difficult with Samantha living next door. She knows I'm hiding something and she's not going to leave me alone until she finds out what it is. And what lie can I tell her? I've got no alibis. I was lucky enough that she didn't tell her parents the truth about the accident." Sam stopped pacing and faced the car.
Bumblebee transformed and crouched down to place a large digit affectionately on Sam's shoulder.
"Listen fella…I understand your troubles…but…I can't leave…you're my responsibility…and my friend…You always will be…a target…from what you know, there's never any escape…What I do best…is not…fighting…I'm not a killing machine…I'm sorry but…it's a war…and you're part of it now…there's no chance…for a normal life now."
Sam wiped a tear from his cheek, hearing what he knew was the truth out loud really hit him hard.
"I didn't mean to say you're a killing machine, I'm sorry Bee. I know you hate the war but I also can tell you miss the others. It would be easier for both of us if I didn't have to hide you all the time!" Bumblebee's door wings drooped in sadness and he stood up.
"I understand that…you want a normal life…I get that you don't want me around no more…but I can't…leave…who's going to protect you when I'm gone?…It would be all on me if you…got hurt."
Bumblebee hung his head. He was upset with himself for causing Sam's stress and sadness, he felt he was failing his one mission of protecting the boy. He looked back up at Sam then continued.
"As for the girl…I'm sorry it was…completely my fault…I'm glad that you didn't get…blamed for my mistake…She's the reason…you want a normal life…isn't it?"
Sam couldn't bring himself to make eye contact with the mech. Bumblebee was right. If he did get attacked and killed Bumblebee would never forgive himself despite it was Sam who was pushing Bumblebee away in the first place.
It was true. He was starting to like Samantha regardless of their rocky friendship. He wanted to be normal so he could get close to her but now, with all his secrets, there was no way he could let her in.
"Bumblebee, what do I do? She isn't going to leave it, she wants answers that I can't tell her."
Bumblebee was about to reply when his scanning systems suddenly picked up a signature and his battle computer instantly analysed it as a serious threat.
His battle computer kicking in more he spun into a defensive stance, thoroughly scanning the area and gently nudging Sam, who immediately knew what was happening, behind him. His chest lights flooded the scrub searching for the signature. Finding nothing he turned to check where Sam had moved to when he heard footsteps.
He turned back and saw a figure running away from behind a log. Battle computer now fully online he took off hearing a cry of fear from the figure when they realized they'd been spotted. His battle computer cut off all unnecessary thoughts and emotions as it processed the best attack course to take.
Precisely calculating possible procedures and outcomes to find the highest success rates his battle computer found the attack course with the highest success rate and sent it to his processors. He transformed revving his engine and driving up next to them before swinging around and cutting them off. They stumbled blinded by his headlights and he transformed then swatted them. They were knocked back several feet and Bumblebee had already transformed when they'd gotten back up to run.
He drove up right behind them and rammed them taking out their feet. They fell back onto his hood where they tried to climb off but Bumblebee spun his tires ripping grass out of the ground and he took off. He drove back to the clearing where Sam was waiting swerving none too gently around trees with the terrified person clinging onto his hood screaming in fear.
Bumblebee skidded to a halt and waited for them to get off his hood. They didn't move so he angrily revved his engine. They still didn't climb off so Bumblebee began to transform with them still clinging onto his hood. They finally let go and tumbled to the ground where Bumblebee crouched over them, one hand on the ground and the other in cannon mode wavering threateningly above them. They whimpered in fear.
Bumblebee suddenly heard Sam's voice calling out of the dark
"Bumblebee! Stop! Don't hurt her!" He looked up to Sam, who was running out of the dark towards him. He looked back down at who was pinned to the ground shaking in fear and realized who it was.
Samantha.
He could see the girl lying there completely and utterly terrified and he knew she was no threat to Sam but his battle computer had shut down his circuitry that processed emotions and rational thinking. His battle computer was still analysing her as a threat.
A battle computer starts up when a danger or serious threat is recognized.
It shuts down circuitry that could weaken a transformer during battle.
In small cases it will only shut down the circuitry that processes emotions and rational thought patterns so they can fight ruthlessly and won't falter at a critical moment during battle. But in extreme situations the battle computer can also shut down the entire frame's sensory systems so if the transformer were to have its arm ripped off during a one-on-one brawl it could still fight to the best of its ability without feeling agonising pain from the dismemberment. When the threat or danger is no longer immediate or serious the battle computer will begin to shut down automatically.
Bumblebee crouched over her emotionless, his battle computer had malfunctioned. It wasn't shutting down. He knew the girl. He knew she was no threat. He knew he was terrifying her but he was not processing emotions or rational thoughts and his battle computer was not assessing that the threat was non-existent and wouldn't shut down.
Sam ran up between Bumblebee and Samantha and shoved his cannon away,
"Bumblebee! What are you doing?! Stop!" Sam was furious and distressed. He stood there angrily staring down the robot hidden behind the battle mask. A few tense moments went by.
Finally Bumblebee began to process small fragments of panic in his circuitry. He was finally processing relief as his battle computer completely shut down.
Sam turned down to Samantha when Bumblebee's stance changed his battle mask slid up. He stood up and backed away retracting his cannon and making noises or surprise, relief and shock before he finally managed to speak.
"What in the hell is she doing here!"
Bumblebee stood uncomfortably a few meters away from the girl.
"Shut the hell up Bee, I don't know." Sam crouched down next to Samantha and gently touched her arm.
"Samantha, are you okay?" The girl sat up, her eyes not leaving Bumblebee's frame. Sam took off his jacket and wrapped it around the girl's shivering shoulders. As he did this Samantha looked at Sam then wrapped her arms around his waist and broke down into tears pressing her face to his chest and clinging to his shirt. He held her in attempt to comfort her.
"Sam…"
Sam looked up at Bumblebee,
"What the hell was that Bumblebee? You knew she wasn't going to hurt you. Why did you point your cannon at her?! Why did you stand over her so threateningly Bee? That was so not necessary." With Sam's words Bumblebee felt worse and worse. He had to see Ratchet immediately, he needed the medic. He needed to get his battle computer fixed before it caused more damage.
"Sam…I can explain…sort of…My…systems are failing…we gotta get to the doctor…Ratchet…right away."
Sam stared at Bumblebee for a few moments and saw the panic and guilt radiating off the mech's frame until he looked back down to Samantha.
"What are we going to do about her?" he asked. Bumblebee took a few steps towards Sam and Samantha then knelt down as non-threatening as possible. Samantha looked up from where she'd buried her face in Sam's chest and stared at Bumblebee for a moment. She was still shaking and clinging to Sam but her tears had dried up.
"It was going to kill me." Sam only just heard her whisper and Bumblebee's door wings dropped at her words.
"Samantha I promise you he won't hurt you. He didn't…realize it was you. He thought you were…a threat." Sam was struggling to structure his sentences without using technical 'transformer' language so she'd understand.
"Why did it want to shoot me?" Samantha spoke just above a whisper but her voice sounded dry and hoarse.
"It was for intimidation, he wouldn't have fired his weapon. If he had recognised you earlier he wouldn't have acted so viciously. I don't know why he didn't move when he did recognise you though." Sam was very confused and distressed by Bumblebee's violent actions but he wasn't going to make things worse by freaking out and abusing Bumblebee in front of Samantha and creating further panic. He needed to calm Samantha down and figure out what to do about the entire situation.
"My…circuits are malfunctioning…I need…repairs."
"So it's actually friendly?" Samantha was now more leaning into Sam than clinging on to him.
"Yes, he is my guardian. He was only doing his job of protecting me."
"Why does it talk through the radio?"
"His vocal systems were damaged in a fight."
"Oh." Samantha had calmed down and now just stared at Bumblebee.
"Do you promise it won't hurt me?" Sam smiled slightly,
"I promise he won't hurt you."
"He?" she looked over Bumblebee's frame.
"His name is Bumblebee."
"So it was actually him that I hit when I was roller-skating the other day?"
"Yeah, that was him."
"You weren't even in the car were you?"
"No." Samantha took a long breath as she thought things over.
"Hey kid…I'm real sorry for all the trouble I caused."
Bumblebee rubbed at his helm and shrugged slightly. Samantha stood up and put Sam's jacket on properly before taking a few steps towards Bumblebee. He moved forward onto his hands and lowered his head to be at roughly the same height Samantha was. He knew this was a make or break moment of getting some kind of trust her trust.
When she standing in front of Bumblebee's face within touching distance she stopped and held her hand out, palm facing towards Bumblebee. She exhaled when he moved forward and her hand touched the top of his head. Her heart was racing and when Bumblebee raised his head to gaze at her she gulped.
"You know, you're an absolute asshole for scaring me like that. But I understand you were just doing your job." She said to Bumblebee
"I really am sorry about what…I did…there's a problem in my…circuits."
She was silent for a moment then looked over to Sam who had shadowed her over to Bumblebee,
"I'm sorry Sam, I really shouldn't have followed you out here tonight." Sam smiled slightly at her,
"I guess if you hadn't come out tonight you still would have bugged me and followed me until you got answers." Samantha realized he was right, if she hadn't followed him out tonight she would have kept snooping around until she got answers. She removed her hand from Bumblebee's helm and he stood up.
"Sam…I need…to see doctor…Ratchet…he will know what to do…it's urgent...we must make haste."
Sam looked up at Bumblebee then down to Samantha.
"I guess we'll take you home now; Bumblebee and I have to go." Samantha turned to face Sam with a glint of anger in her eyes,
"like hell I'm going back home right now! I'm going with you." Sam sighed,
"I don't thin-"
"I've been hit, tossed, chased down, rammed and pinned to the ground by your car holding a cannon to my face! All in one night! And I've also lied to my parents for you. I'm not going back home, I'm going with you Sam." Samantha stood staring Sam down, missing Bumblebee's door wings shake as he silently laughed at Sam. He could tell the girl had a fire within her and knew Sam would have his hands full if he challenged her. Sam sighed in defeat,
"fine, get in the car then." He gestured to Bumblebee who transformed and opened his doors for the two.
Samantha's eyes widened,
"hell no! I'm not getting into that car!" Sam sighed again then walked past her and got into the driver's seat.
"If it helps I'm the one driving, not him." Samantha took a few breaths then walked over to the car and got in. She jumped slightly when the door closed itself and she sat rigidity and uncomfortably in the seat as Sam drove off.
They drove in silence until Bumblebee radio voice broke the silence,
"I ain't no pet…of…Sam…sweetheart."
Samantha was stunned and stared at the radio for a moment before breaking out into laughter much to Sam's confusion.
After more driving in silence Samantha turned from looking out the window to talk to Sam.
"Does talking to Bumblebee ever get tricky because of his…weird radio voice?" Sam laughed at her description,
"it used to be a bit tricky understanding him at times but not as much anymore."
"Are there other robots like him?" Sam was silent as he drove,
"well I'm not sure I should say…ah screw it, you've already fallen down the rabbit hole. Yes there are others on Earth. That's where we're going. To his…I guess you could call them his brothers."
"How many more are there?"
"Three that I know of."
"Oh cool, am I allowed to know why they're on Earth."
"I'm probably not the best person to answer that and Bumblebee wouldn't be able to find the right words using the radio. One of the others might tell you when we get there."
"How long before we get there? Wherever there is" Bumblebee answered for Sam,
"Approximately…5 hours and…37 minutes."
"What are you serious?" Samantha whined,
"Affirmative."
Samantha huffed quietly and carefully lay back into the seat ignoring Sam chuckling at her. Long trips weren't really that enjoyable to Samantha. But after a while of conversation Samantha had relaxed into the seat and slowly went to sleep leaving Bumblebee and Sam to talk.
"Bumblebee can you take over driving? I really want to get some sleep."
"Sure thing partner."
Sam drifted off to sleep leaving Bumblebee to drive and the mech sent a message to the other Autobots of the situation and where they were.
He increased his speed and jammed any speed radars that he passed along the way. He hoped they'd arrive in 3 hours tops assuming Samantha didn't wake to see Sam sleeping in the driver's seat and to find they were speeding.
A/N: This chapter I found pretty hard to write, nothing would flow properly and it was so frustrating and that's why it took a few more days to get finished than previous chapters. Ugh so frustrating, Next chapter I'll being getting back to Megatron. Sorry for any grammar mistakes etc. but I wanted to get this chapter up for all you wonderful readers.