Strange neighbours
Chapter Twelve: Early morning light
Bumblebee sped along back roads into the next state. His battle computer was still fully online, processing and analysing every turn, every change in his systems, every changing external factor and every human he passed.
Bumblebee tried to keep well away from humans but there were times when he couldn't avoid passing them on the roads and he thanked Primus each time his battle computer analysed them as a low threat and didn't throw him into an attack when he passed them.
As soon as he had retreated into the thick cover of the woods Bumblebee's battle computer had forced his comlink, communications and locational systems into shut down so he couldn't be picked up on scanners, and location pings that the other Autobots could use to find him. The human satellites could still be used to locate Bumblebee so his battle computer analysed constantly being on the move was the option with the highest success rate of the humans losing track of him.
He was starting to wonder if the whole situation could get any worse when his power systems started lagging, and red alerts began flashing and blocking up his vision. He was getting close to crashing and didn't know how much longer he could go before he did shut down into a stasis lock.
…
Lennox stared at the two teenagers sleeping on the single bed entwined in each other's arms, the scene lit up by the light shining in from the corridor.
"You've got to be kidding me. Sam wake up!" the boy opened his eyes and looked around tiredly before his eyes settled on Lennox.
"What time is it?" he asked gently pulling his arms away from Samantha. Lennox flicked the light on and crossed his chest over his arms,
"4am. This better not be what it looks like." Sam realized what he meant and sat up, Samantha moved and rubbed her eyes, she was beginning to stir.
"What? Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no. I get what it looks like but it's not that-what?" Sam asked stopping his own nervous rambling when he saw Lennox had his eyebrows raised with a deadpan stare at Sam.
"Your lack of shirt makes it a little harder to believe 'nothing happened'." Lennox said. He wasn't angry, but he kept his voice neutral until he was sure what was really going on.
"I always sleep with no shirt on."
"I've never seen you sleep Sam."
"Ah. Good point but I swear-"
"what's going on?" Samantha asked cutting off Sam.
"The team has returned from the mission, you two need to get up and come with me." Lennox said just as Epps's head popped around the frame of the open door,
"What's going on here?" he looked at Samantha then at Sam. He studied the teenagers for a moment then looked at Lennox,
"Nothing happened here man, trust me." He said before disappearing into the corridor.
Lennox turned and followed him,
"What the hell do you mean 'nothing happened' how could you possibly know that?" he asked a little stunned at Epps.
"Calm down, trust me. I've got daughters and I know a guilty boy's face when I see one." He said with a cheeky smile. Lennox stared at him for a moment before laughing and slapping his friend on the shoulder before turning to walk back into the room. Epps walked into his own room to change into something more comfortable.
Samantha got out of the bed and walked out of the room mumbling something about getting changed. Sam jumped out of the bed and pulled his shirt on quickly followed by his shoes and jacket before Epps returned from his own room. Samantha came back wearing a jumper over her shirt and her trousers were rolled up so her shoes were completely showing, she yawned then ran a hand over her hair,
"Okay let's go."
…
Opitmus scanned over the Intel from the mission and prepared himself to speak to Sam. As Bumblebee was Samuel's guardian by Cybertronian law Optimus was required to tell Sam what had happened to his guardian.
He was not surprised to see Samantha walk in behind Sam, she had her arms crossed over her chest and yawned tiredly as she leant against one of the large crates inside the hangar. Sam walked straight up to Optimus with the one question on his lips that Optimus knew the boy was dreading to hear the answer too.
"Did you find him?"
"I'm sorry Sam but we could not find Bumblebee. He had travelled too far and too fast for us to find him and our team was not equipped for a long distance mission. Our only option was to return to the base and plan out another mission." Optimus said with his head hung a little. Sam stared up into Optimus's optics, the smallest glimmer of hope still in his eyes.
"Do you know where he is?"
"Yes, we've been using the NEST satellites to track his movements." Opitmus said projecting a map from his optics highlighting Bumblebee's movements. The humans studied it before Samantha asked what state he was in since she was unfamiliar with American soil.
"He's currently in Utah." Epps said pointing at the highlighted path on the map.
"He has also shut down his comlink, communication and location systems meaning we cannot use our methods of tracking him. We can only use the NEST satellite to track him" Ironhide said from where he sat on the floor cleaning one of his cannons. Perceptor stood next to him glancing every so often at the warrior work single handed.
"Lennox didn't you say the NEST team only had one chance to find Bumblebee and bring him back?" Sam asked and Lennox nodded,
"Yes but there will be a meeting where the NEST officers are going to try to convince the President to let our team find and catch Bumblebee rather than him give clearance of other methods to contain the 'runaway Autobot' as the President himself put it. According to our Intel Bumblebee hasn't attacked anyone or anything since leaving the base which could convince the President to give us clearance."
"But because he has crossed the border that could also be the only reason the President needs to not allow us to find Bumblebee." Ratchet said to the group, Sam's face fell.
"I fear his power systems are running low, if his battle computer is still running he won't be able to rest and he'll be forced into a stasis lock if his levels become too low."
"A stasis what?" Sam asked Ratchet.
"A stasis lock is similar to what you humans call a coma. Our frames and processors will shut down due to a life threatening injury or if we continue to run until our backup power supplies have been used up. We cannot wake up from a stasis lock until our backup supplies have been recharged or until we are repaired. Finding and restraining Bumblebee while he is in stasis lock will be simple and no one will be attacked but I'll have to get him out of stasis lock before we can repair his battle computer which in itself presents some complication." Ratchet told the boy. Sam shut his eyes and his face was etched in worry and fear.
"So what's the plan? How are you guys going to get him back?" Sam asked worry making his voice waver a little.
"If we have your President's clearance we plan to track him down and isolate him from any towns and civilians before immobilizing him and bringing him back here to repair him. If he is in a stasis lock the mission should go a lot smoother." Optimus said directly to Sam.
"How long will it take to get him back?"
"I cannot answer that Sam. I don't know." Sam was silent for a moment before his face lit up in a thought and he spoke slowly, thinking carefully as he spoke.
"I'm not sure how much longer I can stay here, my parents are probably starting to wonder where I am and Samantha's too. I want to stay here until Bumblebee gets back but if you can't say how long it'll take to find him, I don't know what to do."
"Sam we will not send you or Samantha home unprotected. When we get Bumblebee back you'll be brought straight back here to see him."
"If you have the permission" he mumbled sadly,
"Permission which we will get" Lennox said placing a hand on Sam's shoulder,
"I will be one of the men speaking on behalf of NEST."
"Please do all you can Lennox." Sam said to Lennox with plead etched in his voice.
Lennox nodded at Sam before Samantha spoke to Optimus, she spoke shyly still uncertain about the red and blue leader.
"Since I can't leave without Sam and he needs a guardian before he can leave, who is going to be that guardian? My parents want me home before my birthday which is five days from now."
"I will assign one of my mechs to be Sam's temporary guardian." Optimus opened a comlink channel with Perceptor as Lennox went over what he needed to include in his message to the President.
:Perceptor how would you feel about being Sam's temporary guardian if I assigned you the task?:
:I'm not much of a warrior Prime, wouldn't you rather Ironhide to protect the human?:
:I would rather assign you this task as this is a unique chance for you to have some time to get to know humans and because Samantha also needs to be guarded. I've noticed she does not appear as fearful of you as she does of the rest of us:
Optimus waited patiently for Perceptor's answer, he sensed the mech was thinking it through thoroughly. Finally he got an answer.
:Optimus, I will accept the task of temporary guardian to Samuel Witwicky:
:Thankyou Perceptor:
Optimus listened to the current conversation going on between the humans. Samantha was discussing with Sam what they would be telling their parents when they got back. He slid into the conversation with precise timing so he wasn't interrupting anyone.
"Sam, I am assigning Perceptor to be your temporary guardian. Once he has a new alt mode he will be ready to take you and Samantha back home." Sam looked at Optimus surprised
"I don't want to leave yet, I can't just leave Bumblebee."
"I understand your worries Sam but it would be safer for you to go back to your home while we repair Bumblebee. Once he is back and repaired Perceptor will bring you back to see him." Samantha touched Sam's arm a whispered to him
"It will be okay Sam they'll bring him back." He nodded to her then looked back to Optimus,
"Okay, we'll go back home when Perceptor is ready." Optimus could see going back home was the last the boy wanted to do.
:Perceptor I hope you're ready to become a Triple changer:
Ratchet spoke through an open comlink. Perceptor's head snapped over to Ratchet surprised.
:I get to keep my microscope alt mode?:
:Of course, I'll need to transfer some codes so you have the storage capacity to keep your original alt mode:
"What options do I have for a new alt mode?" Perceptor asked to the group and Ironhide stood up with a huff,
"Come with me we'll find something for you." The two walked out of the hangar and Ratchet followed them to transfer the codes to Perceptor. The humans were confused at the sudden strange question but turned back to their own conversation without much pause.
"You guys can go back to your rooms and get some more sleep if you want, I'll be in the cafeteria if you need anything." Epps said as he absently cracked his knuckles. Sam began walking towards the door muttering about sleep and Samantha and Epps followed him.
Optimus watched the three leave the hangar then sat down and vented. He took the time alone to relax himself and send a prayer to Primus. The situation was stressing all the Autobots more than they were letting the humans see.
If they did not have the clearance to find and capture Bumblebee the Autobots were not just going to sit back and let him be killed by the humans they were protecting. Optimus prayed to Primus that they would get the clearance the NEST team needed because if they didn't his only option was to betray the American Government to save Bumblebee.
…
Ironhide drove along the highway looking for an alt mode with Perceptor in his tray in microscope mode.
:You're lucky you're getting a selection 'Ceptor, I had to choose the first car I saw:
Ironhide used Perceptor's old youngling nickname which he'd never really stopped using since the scientist had gotten the title.
:This model suits you 'Hidy:
:I haven't been called that since…since I last saw you:
Perceptor laughed through the comlink at the stunned mech happy he didn't grumble at the old nickname.
:It's been too long:
:It has, I cannot word how happy am I that you're here 'Ceptor:
:I almost didn't believe it was you hugging me, I was speechless:
The two Autobots had a long history and only a few other Transformers actually knew it, and less would realize it unless they'd been around when the two were growing up.
The two mechs had grown up as childhood friends. They considered each other as brothers and nothing had changed when they chose their own career paths as scientist and warrior or when the war broke out and they became separated for thousands of years. What the two shared with each other they considered unbreakable and irreplaceable and both mechs would take a bullet for the other without question or hesitation.
:There's not much selection at the moment since it's too early for most humans to be out driving. You might just have to choose the next one we see:
:The vehicle approaching appears acceptable:
An Alfa Romeo 4C sped past and Perceptor quickly scanned the model. Ironhide pulled over and Perceptor transformed into the car model.
"Honestly, I think you look good." Ironhide said eyeing the deep red of Perceptor's new armour design after a moment of silent.
"Thank you, I'm happy it was this shade of red. Shall we see who's faster then?" Perceptor said with slight grin
"Let's burn rubber!" Ironhide yelled swiftly running to the other side of the highway and transforming. Tires span leaving black lines on the road and the two mechs began their race back to the NEST base.
…
Samantha huffed and sat up in her bed annoyed that she couldn't get back to sleep. She walked into the cafeteria to find Epps casually lying on a row of seats that'd been lined up close together reading a book.
"Hey Epps." The man looked away from his book and saw Samantha walking towards him. He sat up and smiled,
"Hey there Thaya, what are you doing up?"
"I can't sleep" she said sitting on the chair where his feet just were,
"I've got too much energy. Surprisingly." Epps put his book on the table and stood up,
"Come with me then." Samantha followed Epps warily only to find him take her out the building to the tarmac which had been cleaned up and was half way through repairs.
"Do you jog at all?" Samantha looked at Epps confused
"Like exercise jog? Yeah sometimes."
"Good, come on then, 2 klicks."
"I don't know how far that is but don't tell me or I'll give up half way through. Let's just run." The two started jogging towards one end of the base, staying closer to the lit areas so they could see where they were running.
As they jogged Samantha began telling Epps about her trust issues with the Autobots and how when Ratchet had shielded them from the blast she became so confused about everything.
She was beginning to feel a form of trust towards Ratchet after he protected her, was terrified of Ironhide and the way he seemed to loom over her, wary of Optimus but could see he was kind at heart and she didn't trust Bumblebee but still was worried about what had happened to him.
Epps gave her his opinions and advice about everything and even told her what his first one on one experience with Ironhide was like.
He agreed that Ironhide seemed to loom over everyone but once he'd gotten to know the mech the looming stopped and when he was in a good mood Ironhide acted just as most of the other soldiers did except he was about '47 times bigger than them' as Epps had put it. Samantha had to stop running she laughed so hard at Epps.
The two got back to building N3 just as Ironhide pulled up with Perceptor behind him. Samantha, hot and sweaty from just running what Epps had told her was about 1.2 miles which she later figured out was 2km, stared at the new sleek car that pulled up and transformed.
"Wow Perceptor you look awesome." The Autobot looked down at her,
"Thank you Samantha, I'm ready to leave when you and Sam are." He said cheerily.
"Ratchet wants to see you before you go Perceptor. I assume he just wants to check how well you're adjusting to being a triple changer." Ironhide said to Perceptor and gently put his hand on Perceptor's back and pushed him in the direction of the medical ward. Ironhide looked down to Epps and Samantha as the red scientist walked away,
"Morning Epps. Samantha." Epps smiled and nodded at Ironhide
"Good morning Ironhide."
Samantha silently stared thinking about what Epps had said about Ironhide and realized he wasn't really looming over them at the moment, probably because it was only herself and Epps.
"Morning Ironhide" she said trying not to sound timid. Ironhide looked down at her and nodded with a smile.
"Samantha could I ask a favour of you?" Samantha stared at Ironhide suspiciously,
"What is it?" she asked cautiously and much to her surprise Ironhide chuckled at her,
"I've been asked by Optimus to get Sam as he wishes to speak with him before you both leave. Could you go wake him for me?" Samantha smiled crookedly at the thought of Ironhide crouched on his hands and knees tapping with one finger on Sam's window trying to wake him. Personally she thought his style of waking someone would be more like smashing the wall down and flipping the mattress at 6am on a Saturday.
"Yeah sure thing. I'll go get him now." She mock saluted Ironhide and Epps then she walked to building N3. Samantha found Sam sleeping in his room, face down in the pillow with one foot slightly hanging over the edge. She was tempted to actually flip the mattress on him but quickly shook the thought away and just gently rubbed his back. Sam stirred but didn't wake up so she sat on the bed and began to trace her fingers up his spine and then over his neck.
"Sam. Saaaaam." She said softly. He twitched then his head shot up from the pillow with a quick inhalation,
"Optimus Prime wants to talk to you, Ironhide is outside waiting to take you to him." Samantha stood up as she spoke and heard Sam get out of bed. She leant against the door frame and watched Sam put his shirt on then walk out to the corridor.
Once he was out of the hangar Samantha turned and went to the showers to wash. On the way there she realized that she probably smelt really bad when she'd woken up Sam.
Oh great, that's exactly what I wanted to do, wake up the cute guy when I smelt like absolute crap, could I do anything more embarrassing today? She thought annoyed as hot steaming water cascaded over her body.
…
Sam walked out of the hangar with tears pouring down his face and Optimus's words still spinning through his head.
I'm sorry to tell you this Sam but as Bumblebee is your guardian I must. If the NEST team is denied permission to go find Bumblebee then the Autobots will have to break the Alien/Autobot Cooperation Act and go rescue Bumblebee from being killed. We cannot lose him and we will not let humans destroy one of our own. If the Act is discontinued and the NEST team is shut down or if Bumblebee is killed by humans I will have no choice but to leave Earth with the Autobots. We will not be able to return to Earth without starting a war with the humans. While they may not trust us we will still continue protecting Earth from Decepticons but we will not set foot on Earth again unless we are destroying Decepticons. I'm sorry Sam, for everything, but I promise I will make sure Bumblebee will be repaired.
Sam felt the weight on his shoulders get heavier with every step he took. The realization that he may never see Bumblebee or any of the other Autobots again after today burned him. Bumblebee was his best friend and the last thing Sam had talked about with him was sending Bumblebee back to stay with the other Autobots, he'd wanted a normal life and felt like Bumblebee was stopping him from having that.
Now Sam would give a thousand normal lives just to see Bumblebee one more time.
He walked to the showers to wash away all his sorrows and sadness. He found Samantha waiting in the cafeteria with Epps after he'd cleaned up the room he was staying in and was finally ready to leave.
Sam noticed Lennox was nowhere to be seen as he walked over to them. The three walked silently out to the tarmac and sadness hung in the early morning light as Sam hugged Epps good bye telling him to say good bye to Lennox for him.
Samantha found herself wrapped in Epps's bear hug, which crushed her lungs a little but she still managed to whisper a strangled good bye before she and Sam got into the new red car and drove off back towards home.
A/N: So sorry for this chapter taking longer to upload than the others. My holidays are over now (lame) so I'll still be working on the story but the chapters are going to take longer to write and upload.
As usual thank you to all the wonderful people that have favourited this story and reviewed, it means a lot to me to know that people are enjoying this story.