This chapter contains three separate POV sections, but only two different speakers. I feel like this story moves much faster than most of my others, but I kind of like it. It's nice to focus less on suspense and plot building, especially since I have a monster of a story in the works. Speaking of my monster-story, I have it 3/4 of the way done, and I'm going to want a beta to go through it before I ever post the first chapter. I haven't decided if I want to start working with a beta before or after I finish, but if anyone is interested, I'm open for people to apply. I don't really want to give anything about this story away plot-wise, but I'm willing to reveal things like central focus, story length, and other stuff. If you do become a beta for this story, I'd have to ask not to give anything away to anyone. It might not be as epic as I hold it to be, but I've been working on it for years; it's the finest story I've ever written.
Anyways. If you're interested, PM me. I want someone that has read a couple of my stories so they can hold it in comparison, and someone very good at catching grammar and syntax errors.
I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Wh- who are you?" I demanded, completely terrified. Of all five of these sparks, I didn't recognized a single one. I didn't know what to expect. Was I kidnapped? Does that mean the threat of Megatron's anger isn't enough to make them fear hurting me? Oh... oh no.
"Samuel?" The unfamiliar voice made me stop and my heart ceased for several beats. That name... it sounded familiar...
"What do you want?" I trembled, hands searching around. What sort of bumpy counter was I on? It wasn't very large, no, these were hands! But, they didn't grip around me. Why not? "Who are you?"
"We are the Autobots, Samuel."
"Don't call me that." I moaned, slamming hands down over my ears. Samuel, that used to be my name. But, everytime I said it, they'd hurt me.
"I'm sorry." I blanched. What? "We are the Autobots," the voice was closer now, "And I am Optimus Prime."
I think I've heard that name before. Yes, during Megatron's rants when he's furious. "Oh, no. He hates you. When he gets me back, he'll be pissed off. No..." I was starting to tremble. I don't know what to expect from these aliens. Were they like the other aliens, who just didn't care? Are they like Starscream? Are they like my master, Megatron?
"He?" A new voice asked.
"Megatron." The one named Optimus Prime answered. I flinched. I sensed him turning back to me. "You're safe now. He won't hurt you again."
"Who do you think you are?" I demanded. "I- I'm getting out of here." I made a dash to roll off the side of the ledge, angling myself to hit the ground from unknown heights safer than before, when Megatron threw me from the desk.
"Catch him!" Someone shouted. Hands, smaller than I'm used to, wrapped around me, and I was shaken by the absence of pain that came with it.
All was silent as I was raised back higher into the air.
"Samuel, you're safe here. We are the Autobots, and none of us would ever hurt you." Optimus Prime spoke again. "We only want to help. Megatron will never get his hands on you again. I promise you."
"You can't promise that. You don't own me, he does!" I wrinkled my nose.
"No one owns you." He insisted. "You're safe, you're free."
"Then let me go now. Let me walk out there right now, and never come back." I challenged. "Leave me to make a normal life here."
"How'd you know we were even on Earth?" Someone, a voice I'd heard earlier, asked.
"There's wind, and it smells like gasoline in here." I scoffed. "Not going to do it? That's what I thought."
"Samuel, you're injured and handic-"
"I SAID DON'T CALL ME THAT!" I screamed, trembling and ducking my head down. It hurt from avoiding the whiplash and from the strap in the med bay.
The hands around me shifted, covering me and tucking my against something warm and hard. It felt like metal.
"Calm him down or I'll sedate him again!" That other voice shouted, and my heart skipped a beat. I hated being sedated!
Wait. What's that? When my heart restarted, that faint sound had gone. But, I knew which direction it came from. I leaned in that direction, until the entire side of my face was pressed to the warm metal. I closed my eyes, letting them rest, as I forced my breathing to shallow.
There it is again. The thrumming.
Calmness washed over me and I felt safer than I ever remember being, other than a little bit ago when this sound washed in on me from every direction.
"What did you do? His vitals have all neutralized."
"Nothing." A new voice, right above me, answered. This was the one that held me, and his voice blocked out the thrumming for a moment.
"Samuel?" Optimus Prime asked, and I hummed in acknowledgement. My mother used to call me that... And Dad...
"Are you still with us?" Another voice wondered, in awe. I hummed again.
"I don't know what you've done, but, you're his guardian now. Until further notice, Samuel, Bumblebee here will be caring for you. Will that be alright?"
I hummed again, wanting them all to shut up so I could hear the thrumming better. But, I was no longer afraid.
"Who are the other three?" I asked, curiosity biting at me.
There was a moment of silence. "Only Ratchet and Jazz have spoken. Ratchet is my chief medical officer, and Jazz my first lieutenant. Ironhide is weapons specialist." Optimus Prime answered, and I flinched inwardly.
I'd gone eight years, easily hiding my secret from the aliens, and now I almost lose it after knowing these other aliens for ten minutes? It's that thrumming, it's putting me ill at ease, and sloppy.
"How long have you been blind?" Ratchet asked. I assumed it would be the medic to ask such questions.
"About a year after I got there."
"What happened?"
"I don't know." I started to tremble at the memories, the sound of the thrumming having fallen from me. I can't hear it anymore. Too much noise out here. "I don't know."
"We'll go to the Witwicky house in the morning." Optimus was turned away from me again. "In the meanwhile, Bumblebee, I want this boy in the best condition we can get him. Make sure he is well fed and rested for the morning."
"Of course." My 'guardian' answered, shifting me. Guardian. To me, it sounds like someone who's supposed to keep me from my master. They all seem rather nice, and, the fact I haven't felt an ounce of pain amongst them made me trust them... against my better judgment. Nevertheless, I just doubted it was at all possible that they'd keep me from Megatron forever. Empty promises.
This will only last so long.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
He ate well enough, as if he hadn't eaten in years. I doubt the sustenance the Decepticons provided was very good. When no one actually addressed the boy, he didn't speak much at all. He constantly waited for approval when doing something he wasn't used to, which was pretty much everything here on Earth.
He had an obvious resentment towards us all. And yet, now, he slept just as contently as could be. When I brought him close and covered him completely, it was like something completely new came over him. He was calm, content, and relaxed. Trusting, even. So now, in a desperate attempt to get him to sleep when he refused to at every turn, I lay him upon the armor encasing my spark, near the place he'd sit against when I tried to calm him. And now he slept as if brought from a life of luxury.
"What secrets do you hold?" I wondered to myself, lightly touching the boy's head. He was only a youngling, and he'd been with the Decepticons since he was a sparkling. I was only surprised I was able to gain his trust at all.
Even though he couldn't see, he seemed to have no trouble getting around. As if he had a second sense, telling him where things were, if not what they were. It's uncanny, but, unsurprising. He would have developed some sort of ability to cope with blindness by now. But still he fascinates me. So distrustful and spirited, yet the very thought of Megatron or returning there reduced him to rubble. I'd already vowed by now to never let him back into their hands. The poor boy, he's had a terrible life thus far.
But what secrets does he hide?
"Bumblebee." I looked up as Optimus approached. We'd taken refuge under a deserted bridge, where it was unlikely any humans would happen upon us. "How is the boy?"
"Sound asleep." I answered lightly, not wanting to wake him. "Optimus, I've been thinking... what are we to do with him when we find the Cube? We can't stay on Earth with it, that will only bring war."
"I'd hoped that we'd be able to repair the boy enough for him to live here." he answered, but even I could tell he didn't believe his own words. A few days wasn't enough to repair eight years.
"You'd hoped?" I urged for the more likely alternative. This youngling human was starting to grow on me, and ... I kind of wanted to keep him. I wanted nothing more than to see him back to perfect health, physically and mentally.
Optimus sighed. "I think we'll speak again on the subject when the time comes." he allowed. "Does he trust you?"
"I think so." I hummed, looking back down at the youngling. "At least, I think he knows I won't hurt him. That's the first step."
"Yes. I know it probably won't be well enough to ask of the boy, but, I'd still like to know why they kept him. Why him specifically?" Optimus was watching him too. "After we leave his house, I want Ratchet to give a follow up check up."
I nodded, and he walked away again, to speak with Jazz. Ironhide had already powered down, and Ratchet was attempting it now. I decided to follow suit, preparing for tomorrow. Infiltrating a suburban home that hadn't been entered in years, in the middle of an unsuspecting population, without arousing suspicion. It would be difficult, and that's why we chose to wait until the morning. Less suspicion during the day.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Will you go in with us?" Bumblebee asked. I was in his alternative form right now, and his voice came from just in front of me, to the right.
"Sure." I shrugged, still holding the 'wheel' in front of me. He'd said this was to avoid suspicion from onlookers. I vaguely remember cars from my old home, here on Earth. People driving, going wherever they wanted... I'll assume they don't have self-driving cars yet.
"You know where we're going, right?" he asked. I think he's started to grow attached to me.
"Yes." He let it be at that. My old home, the house on Earth. Apparently, my great-grandfather discovered something, went crazy, and now they hope something of his would show them where that something was. Cube, or whatever. I don't really care that much.
I sensed the sparks ahead of us, and behind us as we went down the road. I could hear other vehicles going past, in the opposite direction, but they held no spark. Judging from how warm it is compared to last time I was awake, and how much warmer one stretch of my skin gets if I hold it still in a certain position as opposed to, say, my legs, I would say it's day time, probably summer or spring. Or, just warm autumn. Probably not winter.
And, from the slowing of the engine, I assumed we were there.
I opened the door and stepped out, aware of the tight parking as I carefully walked between the vehicles. Doors shut and I jumped, startled. What's this? I don't sense anything coming out of their alternative forms.
Something touched my arm, and Bumblebee's voice came from out of thin air to my left, just as I cleared the driveway.
"Are you alright?"
"What is this?" I turned my face about, trying different angles to hear footsteps or... anything.
"Holoforms." Ratchet's voice came from nothing also, and it was moving. Closer to the front door. "We can transfer our sensory relays to artificially bent light to create the illusion of a human walking in our place. I've recently perfected them, and now they are solid to the touch."
"But not otherwise?" I blinked, a habit that I've retained, if not used more, since I've gone blind.
"When solid matter comes within close proximity of the visual forms, the holoforms may mirror the solid object in appropriate form." he continued. "Now, how to get in?"
"Careful." Optimus Prime's voice sounded behind me, still inside the line of vehicles. I shook my head and started walking again. It was unnerving not to be able to sense something, that I might bump into something, or in this case, someone at any moment. I felt this nervousness only when I first went blind, and had yet to get used to using the sensory I had.
Sure enough, my shoulder hit something, and a hand touched my arm again. "Just me." came Bumblebee's voice. I shook my head, and tried once more. The door mat, under my feet. To the left was a bush, and under the bush... a rock. And in the rock...
"A key?" Ironhide asked in surprise, making me jump. He was right behind me!
My foot came back down on the edge of the porch, and I lost my balance, nearly falling into the bush. But, a hand caught my arm, pulling me back to stability. "Are you alright?" Bumblebee asked.
"I'm fine." I contemplated something, and decided to go for it. Assuming he hadn't moved since he scared the slag out of me...
I hit in the direction Ironhide's voice came from. Of course it wouldn't hurt, but the point was clear.
"Hey! He just hit me!" Ironhide whined.
"Suck it up." Jazz was laughing, and so was Bumblebee, by my side. Back on the Nemesis, I'd get a broken rib for trying something like that.
"May I?" Optimus Prime's voice was full of amusement too, and I felt a slight tug on the key in my hand. I relinquished it, and stepped back, hoping no one was there. If they were, they moved out of my way.
There was a quick click, then something turned, and a door squeaked open. Bumblebee, who's hand still touched my arm, started forward. I followed, stepping through the door first.
It's cooler in here, and it smells like dust and mold. I sneezed.
"If he catches a cold, somebody's getting 'bed rest'." Ratchet threatened nearby.
"I'm fine." I shrugged it off.
"Right. Ratchet, Jazz, take the downstairs. Ironhide and I will take the upstairs, and Bumblebee, you take the attic." Optimus instructed, and I heard the stairs creak under an absence of footsteps.
"What about Sam?" Bumblebee asked. I flinched at the name, but held my tongue. They weren't going to stop, no matter how much I asked.
"He'll go up with you." We were walking again, towards the stairs. I started up, remembering this place far less than I expected. The railing was shorter than I expected, and the top of the stairs came quicker. Also, I thought the trap door to the attic was to the left, not the right.
Up there, it was even cooler. Almost enough to start me shivering. I crawled over the rafters and groped around for that pile of boxes.
Everything was organized, but I knew not how.
"Do you know what to look for?" Bumblebee asked, from the other side of the attic.
"He's got a box with glasses in it, and one of those old-timey sailing tools with a funny name." I tried to remember. When Dad went through it with me, an eternity ago, I remember giggling at it. Funny how I can remember all that, but I can't remember their names, or what this place actually looked like. I just remember... what was there. You know what I mean?
The next several minutes went in silence, as I felt into each box around me. There were books, Christmas decorations, baby toys, stuff I had no idea what was, and stuff that made me remember so far back, I wanted to curl in a corner and never hear anything again. By remembering back to my days with my parents, I had to go past the first, worst year of it all. When I could still see all the horrors around me.
"Sam?" I flinched, but stopped moving my hand around in one box. "I think I found something." he was coming closer. "Could you tell me if these were his?"
Something was pressed into my hands and I felt over them, closing my eyes as if to get a better angle. They were glasses, very old, and very cold. I felt dust smear into my fingers, and the metal tap against itself as they folded and unfolded.
"I think so." I didn't hand them back over, however. I kept feeling over the glass of the right eye, then the left. There was something... fishy about them. They weren't quite smooth, but the cracks, if that's what they were, were too close and contracted to be normal. Something about them, when I ran my thumb over them, sent shivers down my spine.
There was a bump from downstairs, and voices.
"What's that?" I dropped the glasses. I heard them shift as he picked them up. I bumped into him again when I stood.
"There are people here." he stated. "We can just let our holoforms disappear, but, I need you to get back to the driveway, alright Sam?"
I stopped, unmoving. This was their chance to drop me off with other humans, but, he was insisting upon getting me back to his altform in the drive.
His hand holographic hand was on my arm, pulling me over to the trap door.
"Who are you?" someone, human, demanded. "What are you doing here?"
"Just going through some things for Alex Witwicky." Bumblebee lied fluently. My uncle?
"Alex Witwicky? He didn't tell me anyone was coming over. Why are there so many vehicles, you all come from somewhere different?" the voice demanded. I couldn't feel them as strongly as I could the five aliens outside, but I could still feel the three humans here.
My clothes were brushed from two different directions, telling me that Optimus, who was the tallest, and Jazz, who would pat me on the back before anyone else, were there.
"What's wrong with him?" someone demanded, no doubt looking at me.
"My brother, he's blind." Bumblebee explained. "We're actually parting ways, after this."
"I see." suspicion was dripping from the humans' voice. "What's that you've got?"
"What Alex wanted us to grab." Bumblebee answered, and I heard the glasses hit themselves as he raised them.
"Glasses?"
"Yes." there was not a hint of doubt in any of their voices. I couldn't help but to smile. I almost believed them.
"What about you, kid? How do you know Alex Witwicky?" they addressed me. I stayed silent, looking straight ahead. Perhaps acting the ignorant blink kid role would make us even less suspicious. "You, the blind one."
Things are escalating quickly. I obviously won't linger long for fluff and side-trackings here. Either way, I wonder if this story is too transparent or if you guys haven't figured it out yet. I hope it isn't too easy, at least. Please, tell me what you think The Big Reveal will be. Or if you just want the next chapter faster, that's alright too. I've got a couple chapters after this one written, and the first half of the last chapter done. So only one or two left to write.