When Jack, Miko, Raff, and Bulkhead walked back into the control room they paused in the doorway. The atmosphere of the room seemed vary tense. Arcee was standing in the corner, arms crossed, looking like she was ready to blow a fuse. Ratchet off to the side and was mumbling to himself while typing away on the keypad harshly. Bumblebee was fidgeting with some device looking like he wanted to say something but was unsure of what to say to make things better. Even Optimus seemed stressed! His grip was tight and his shoulders seemed ridged as he stood by the cat walk.
When they walked in Bumblebee perked up and dropped what he was messing with as he hurried over to them.
"Bumblebee! I needed that!" Ratchet snapped as the interment lay in two pieces on the floor. Bee quickly apologized and snuck away on over to Raff. He picked Raff up and they began quietly talking away over in the corner.
Jack and Miko looked at each other warily. Nervously Bulkhead walked over to Optimus, "You alright Prime?" Bulkhead asked.
Optimus sighed and relaxed his frame, "Yes Bulkhead, I'm fine. It's just that the Decepticons presence here is being underestimated and if we do not soon prove just how dangerous they actually are to humanity Agent Fowler may do something he will come to regret."
Miko walked up between the two up to looked up at Optimus "Sounds like you have a lot on your plate...You know what you need Op?" They both looked at her strangely. Jack followed her over and stood beside her looking equally confused.
"Op?" Bulkhead snickered. Jack actually face palmed with a loud smack. Bee carried a smiling Raff over to them so they could listen in. Arcee also walked over seeming semi interested in what was going on.
"Duh! Optimus Prime~!" She held a finger up on each hand "You take two and two and wallah! Op!"
Arcee smirked and lightly punched Bulkhead on the arm. "Everyone knows that Bulk."
Bulkhead frowned at her and pretended to rub his arm as if he was hurt. "Sure they do..."
Raff smiled. "Bulk?" He asked from Bumblebees hand. Bumblebee said something causing Raff to laugh. "True, I guess I cant talk since my name is shortened too."
Miko waved her hands to get there attention, "Can we get off of nick names please!" Quickly they quieted down. So she continued, "Now as I was saying! You need some R&R. Rest and Relaxation! Something fun to do Optimus! Not to strenuous, not to boring! Something that will take your mind off of things! Everyone has something they enjoy. Take it from me." Miko pulled out her sketchbook from her bag. "I like to draw or play the guitar whenever I'm stressed."
Jack spoke up "She's right Optimus, even I need some down time now and then. I usually watch a good movie."
Bumblebee sat Raff down besides them and he piped up. "And I like to solve quantum equations!" He said excitedly. Jack and Miko looked at him strangely causing Raff to fell embarrassed. "What? I think they're fun."
Miko shrugged "To each there own...Anyway, there has to be something that you like to do. Maybe a good movie to watch or a book to read? You do have books where your from right?"
Optimus nodded his head and looked at them all amusingly. A corner of his mouth twitched as he tried not to smile, "Yes we have books although we call them data pads. I use to work in a large place that you might consider to be... a library. That is the closes term I can translate it to. So the thought of reading is still quite enjoyable to me."
"Perfect! We can take you to the library then!" Miko exclaimed but then she looked downcast, "Although the library would probably be closing by now...And I doubt you could fit though the doors anyway...Much less find a book to read that's your size."
Optimus quietly chuckled, "It's the thought that counts Miko and I'm sure I can find a data pad hear somewhere. Thank you for trying to make me feel better."
Miko grinned. "Anytime Op! Now what was it that you wa-" Loud beeping interrupted what she was about to ask.
"Blasted earth tech! Cliffjumper's signal popped back online!" Ratchet snapped angrily. They watched as pressed a few buttons on the monitor trying to get the alert to stop.
"Whos Cliffjumper?" Miko asked. She hadn't heard his name before?
Optimus turned away from them and walked over towards Ratchet. He had a serious expression on his face that Miko was surprised to see. Earlier when they had first met him, he had seemed serious but this just seemed to be on an entirely different level! "How is that possible?" Optimus demanded.
Jack, Miko, and Raff looked at each other. They quickly ran over to the catwalk and up the stairs so that they could get a better look at what was going on. Miko couldn't make heads or tales of all the buttons Ratchet was pushing or what the monitor was indicating. "It isn't! Another bug! The system's chock-full of them!" Ratchet complained as he finally got the noise to stop.
Arcee walked over to Optimus with a devastated expression "If there's any chance Cliff's alive!..."
Optimus expression darkened as he nodded. They all jumped when Optimus activated a lower face mask and it clicked into place with a loud lock. His eyes shown brightly in determination, "Ratchet! Prepare sick bay, we may need it..." Every bot except Ratchet began heading towards the stargate looking thing.
Quickly before they could leave Miko ran over to the railing. Her eyes went wide as she watched the stargate begin to power up. She, Jack, and Raff gasped as a green and blue swirly portal formed down the small tunnels runway. "Hay! What can we do?!" She asked excitedly, wanting in on whatever was going on. Something really serious was happening here and she was dying to find what.
Optimus paused in his step "Remain with Ratchet." He ordered looking at them all seriously.
"Awwww!" Miko said as she slumped onto the railing sulking.
"Aw..." Ratchet slumped sounding exasperated. Mikos's eyes darted over to Ratchet and narrowed. Really?! They weren't that bad!
"Autobots! Roll out!" Optimus ordered before transforming into an awesome looking truck. Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead transformed and they all raced into the tunnel, tires screeching, after Optimus before disappearing. Miko couldn't help but grin, it wasn't every day you saw something as cool as that.
The machine turned off and she herd Jack exclaim, "What just happened?!" Really? Didn't He ever watch any science fiction movies? Miko though.
"I transported them to the designated coordinates via the ground bridge." Ratchet replied with a sarcastic attitude.
They all looked confused. "What's a ground bridge?" Raff was the one to ask.
Ratchet sighed, "A scaled-down version of space-bridge technology." He turned around to the computer and began typing, "Since we don't currently possess the means or the energon required for intergalactic travel..."
Jack walked closer towards the railing seeming to realize something, "Your stuck here...On earth."
"With the likes of you, yes" Ratchet finished unhappily. Miko's eyes widened and she glanced at Raff who had the same shocked expression on his face. "But I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet!" Ratchet boasted proudly.
Miko blinked, Anywhere?! So she could say go see her favorite band that was playing in Tokyo and be back for lunch in a blink of an eye! Oh this place was just going to be soooo much fun! She thought. They all look at the machine in amazement. "Wow! Dose it work for humans?!" Raff asked sounding awestruck.
Ratchet put his hands on his hips and smugly replied, "Naturally!"
Miko was practically jumping up and down with excitement! All that came to a screeching halt though when Jack asked, "You mean that we could just shoot on over say... to Miko's parents house?"
"Within moments!", Ratchet replied looking like he was actually considering it.
Miko deadpanned before looking at both of them with an annoyed expression. Why in the world did Jack chose her house of all places?! Someone tugged on her shirt making her looked down at Raff who was looking at her with wide innocent eyes.
"Where do you live anyway?" He asked then looked embarrassed "I-I mean not to be rude but only I noticed you around school recently so you must not have started that long ago right? Did you move here? You have an accent so I was just wondering." Jack and Ratchet looked vary interested in her answer.
She couldn't help but flinch from the question. Raff didn't know her history that she had with her parents and if she could she would keep it that way. She tried not to think about them at all if she could. "I'm originally from Japan." she simply replied.
Ratchets eyes lite up and he leaned in closer to her, ginning wickedly, "Perfect! Allow me to send you there immediately, all three of you!"
Miko's temper flared, she pointed a finger at Ratchet, "Watch it Ratchet!..."
He was about to reply but suddenly the control panel beeped. They all froze as the screen flashed on and off several times, then they herd a loud pop!...Ok that didn't sound good. A small plume of smoke rose up from the back of the machine that they all knew meant bad news. "Scrap!" Ratchet cursed.
He quickly ran over to the computer causing Jack, Miko, and Raff looked at each other. They quickly ran down the stares and watched as Ratchet drug the computer out far enough so that he could reach the back cover and remove it.
Jack and Miko hoped up onto a metal container so that the would be out of the way and get a better view. Much to there surprise Raff walked over to Ratchets knee were he was knelling. Ratchet was muttered to himself as he tried to find the problem while Raff leaned in closer to examined the computer. A surprise look came over his face as he suddenly exclaimed "Hay, half of this stuff looks almost like human technology! How come there not all components from your own home world?"
Ratchet jumped in surprise, almost dropping the panel in the process. He looked down at Raff, who was looking at him sheepishly, and sighed. Slowly he put the panel down safely off to the side obviously being carful with how close Raff was.
Miko snickered at Ratchets reaction until Jack finally elbowed her in the side. Of course she elbowed him back even harder causing him to grunt. "It certainly isn't by choice!" Ratchet scowled as he reached back into the control panel, "Unfortunately we could only take a limited amount of supplies with us when we fled Cybertron. When we arrived here this missile silo was handed down to us from the previous human tenants. I made modifications as I see fit but there is only so much I could do with what little supplies we brought."
He was still digging around in the computer when they all herd a loud snap! Miko wrenched at the sound...Ratchet broke something. Growling to himself, Ratchet groaned and pinched his nose in aggravation with his free hand that wasn't holding the broken peace. Raff looked up at Ratchet with pity "I think I can fix that."
Ratchet scoffed, "Really~ You know this is complex technology don't you? I mean it isn't a child's toy." He laughed. Raff took a step towards the computer system but Ratchet blocked him with his hand. "Eh! Yap! Yap! Yapp! Don't even think about touching anything! It took me forever to get this system back up and running." Ratchet put down the broken part and replaced the cover before sanding up. "I'll be right back. I'm just going to go down to the storage facility and see if we have another one of these...things."
"You three stay put and don't touch anything!" Ratchet looked over at Miko who looked up at him innocently.
"Aww Ratchet don't you worry! We'll make sure to keep our hands off the equipment until you get back!" She said with an all to perfect smile. He looked at her with confliction before finally walking out of the room. Miko waited a few moments as Ratchets footsteps faded away. Quickly she jumped down from the crate grinning like the Cheshire cat. "Ok! Lets go explore again!" She exclaimed excitedly.
Jack jumped down and scoffed, "Didn't you just tell Ratchet that we wouldn't go anywhere?"
She shook her a finger in front of Jacks face "Nooo~ I told him we wouldn't touch any of the equipment. I never said anything about not wandering off! Besides don't you want to see this place without someone standing over your shoulder?" She smirked and began to wander off down one of long the hallways.
Jack and Raff looked at each other, "I better make sure she doesn't get into trouble. You coming?" Jack asked.
Raff shook his head, "I'm going to stay here, I just know I can repair this computer! There's lots of stuff in their that it doesn't need to be. It should be an easy fix."
Jack nodded "Well ok than...Good luck." He said before quickly taking off after Miko.
Miko grinned when Jack jogged up besides her. "Decided to join me did you?" She looked over her shoulder as she continued walking "Where's Raff?"
"Staying behind..."Jack replied. They traveled down the hallway not knowing what to say to one another. Occasionally they would look into a room but didn't find anything interesting. Jack finally decided to brake the silence and said to her, "So your from Japan!...It must've been hard having to adjust to a different culture."
Nervously, Miko bit her lip, "It was at first but you get use to it." she replied. Her back was to Jack so hopefully he wouldn't see her expression.
Jack shuffled behind her "So do you like it here? I-I mean I know Jaspers not the best place to move and all. Its such a small town!" He nervously laughed.
She glanced at Jack, "Well it wasn't really my choice to come live in Jasper...But its ok I guess, especially now that I know the bots are here and all."
They stopped to look into a room. It was full of crates that where locked so they didn't go in. She thought she herd some shuffling in the back and realized that Ratchet may be near here so she quickly moved on. Jack raised an eyebrow at her as he followed, "Yeah I guess...So why did you move here then? Parents decision? I cant imagine wanting to moving to Jasper of all places. Was it because of there work?"
She stiffened, her parents where the last people she wanted to talk about, slowly replied "No, my parents didn't move here with me...I'm here by myself." Not finding anything interesting they began walking down the hallway again.
Jack was quiet as he walked besides her. He seemed to be thinking about her response when he began to look at her skeptically. She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. "Soooo your on honor student or something? I'm not trying to be rude but you don't look the part..."
Miko snorted "Really? An honor student? That's the best you could come up with? No, I'm not an honor student."
"Then why-"Miko came to a screeching halt and Jack almost ran into her. "Hay! What are you-...?" he began to snap.
Slowly she turned around and faced Jack. He nervously shuffled his feet from the look she was giving him. "Jack, I appreciate that your trying to get along and all...But there are just somethings that you just shouldn't ask. If your not offered an explanation, I would appreciate it if you would just drop it..." She glanced down the hallway when she heard a loud clang. "Come on we should get back before Ratchet dose." She hurried off, not giving him a chance to reply. He was left standing in the hallway dumbfounded.
Her heart clinched in her chest painfully as she all but ran back to the command center. She just couldn't let anyone find out...What would they think of her? They would probably look at her like she was a freak or something...But she just felt so lonely. She didn't know how much longer she could hold out not talking to someone who was trying to examine every word she said...She shook her head. No, she decided, it would be better to leave them wondering about her than to have to deal with more hurtful words and being shoved away again. Better to be an outcast than become an outcast.
Someone cleared their throat in front of her and she came to a screeching halt in surprise. She looked up to find a scowling Ratchet with his arms crossed staring down at her angrily while tapping his foot. When had she arrive back at the control room?! "Didn't I tell you to stay put!" He yelled, "...And you specifically said you wouldn't go anywhere!" Slowly Raff peeked out behind Ratchets foot that wasn't tapping. He gave her a pitting expression.
Miko looked up at him sheepishly, "Uh no, I remember telling you we wouldn't touch any of the equipment...And I didn't...Not in this room anyway." Raff wrenched and began sneaking away trying not to be noticed as he walked up to the catwalk.
Ratchet growled and his eyes flashed angrily. Miko gulped when he stomped his foot that was a little to close for comfort for her. He unfolded his arms and clinched his fist as he yelled at her in anger. "You specifically disobeyed me! Prime put me in change so that you lot would be safe! Yet you disobey me and in doing so not only did you disobey my orders but Primes as well! I should weld you three- Wait! Where's Jack?"
"He's -" A loud beeping interrupted her answer. Ratchet ran over to the control panel and Jack came up behind her gasping for breath. "What's going on?" he asked in a wheezing tone.
Suddenly Optimus's loud voice broadcasted over a speaker yelling while explosions could be heard in the background. "Ratchet! Bridge us back! Use the arrival coordinates now!"
They rushed out of the way and up the catwalk as the ground bridge powered up. A second later the bots flew though the portal! Optimus hightailing it behind them but there was a massive explosion almost upon him. At the last second Optimus transformed with a flip, landing on his feet and hand with a loud crash. He came to a screeching halt just as Ratchet shut down the ground bridge in the nick of time.
All three of them gasped at the bots entrance. "Wow~. Cool!"
"Cutting it a bit close. How about Cliffjumper?" Ratchet asked as he wondered over to them. All the bots looked away seeming vary upset.
Jack, Miko, and Raff looked at one another with worried expressions. Optimus turned to Arcee sadly "Arcee, what did you see?"
Arcee hugged herself and looked away. Her voice cracked as she tried to explain "Not Cliff...At least, not anymore. He was mutated, butchered li-like something from those 'con experiments during the war!" She gasped and suddenly started to fall over. Grabbing onto a crate, she caught herself just as Bumblebee rushed forward worriedly. She held up a hand to stop him "I'm fine, just dizzy."
Shocked Miko looked towards Raff and Jack, "Robots who get Dizzy?" She whispered.
"Robots with emotions", Raff replied in fascination.
"Robots who can die!", Jack answered in awe. He looked slightly concerned as Ratchet walked over and began scanning Arcee to see her condition.
Ratchet hummed to himself as he got the results. They watched as he focused in his san on Arcee's servo. A dark purple splotch of something that seemed like it was almost glowing and burning stat on the back of her hand. "What is this?" He asked sounding disturbed.
"Don't know" She replied weakly. She held her head with her other hand like she was dizzy again. "Cliff was covered in it, leaking it!"
Ratchet carefully took Arcee's servo once more and scraped the purple goo off with a large knife. "Go take a decontamination bath now!" He ordered her seriously. Bumblebee carefully helped her to her feet and guided her away.
Miko noticed as Jack watched them go with a concerned expression. After a moment he flipped out his phone, looking surprised. He looked up at Optimus and held up his phone sounding worried, "Optimus I hate to bug, but no bars."
Instantly Miko flipped out her own pink phone, noticing the time. 10:19pm! Her eyes widened as she remembered that she had run away from Catherine earlier today...She bit her lip, she was so dead when she got home! Might just as well curl up and die right then and there!
Optimus walked over and stood in front of the catwalk, "A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radio waves." He explained.
Jack began to try to dial his phone, "Well, if I don't call my mom, like now, I'm pretty sure the cops will be out looking for me."
Optimus's expression turned to one of seriousness. Frowning, he leaned in closer to them and asked "Have you broken a law?" Yeah, Miko thought, your law Ratchets laws...But I wont mention that little detail right now...Or ever for that matter. She cringed, or that Catherin is going to kill her.
"Only curfew." Jack explained. "It's after ten p.m."
Raff had a worried expression as he said "I better get home too or I'll be grounded for a year."
Optimus nodded in understanding, "Earth customs, I hadn't considered, but the issue of your safety remains." He stood back up and turned to Bulkhead. "Bulkhead, accompany Miko home." He ordered.
Miko squeaked in delight "Awesome! My host parents will freak!" And I'll be able to prove them what happened without them disbelieving me, she added in an after thought.
"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form." Optimus quickly ordered in an afterthought.
Bulkhead looked at Optimus nervously and Miko watched them in confusion. Somehow it was like they where having a silent argument that they where leaving her out of. Finally, Bulkhead seemed to give into whatever they where arguing about. He sighed slightly in relief as he said, "Curbside duty. Got it!"
Miko's joy deflated and all chances of her getting out of punishment went clear out the door. She slumped in defeat, her death was signed "Awww."
Optimus turned to Bumblebee, "Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raff." Bumblebee beeped in excitement and Raff smiled happily.
Optimus turned towards Ratchet. Jack tensed beside her. "Ratchet-" "Busy!" Ratchet interrupted before Optimus could assign him. Miko herd Jack let out a breath of air in relief. She gave him a sympathetic smile that he returned and Raff giggled at.
Arcee just happened to get done with her bath and was walking by when Optimus called her name, "Arcee, you'll accompany Jack." Jack went ridged and grimaced. Poor Jack, Miko thought, dodged a car and got thrown under the buss.
Arcee sighed dramatically and pretended to sway, "Still dizzy~"
Ratchet raised his hand and waved her away, "You're fine, says your physician." Arcee glared at Ratchet then sighed.
Miko hesitated before running down the steps. Shure she was chop liver when she got home but their was still the drive to look forward too! Excitedly, she stood next to Bulkhead who smiled nervously down at her. "Well I guess we should get going, huh?" She nodded eagerly and he took several long steps back away from her. He transformed into a large hummer that she had gotten a brief glimpse of earlier.
He popped the passenger door open for her and Miko tensed. She was really excited to be able to talk to Bulkhead again but she wasn't looking forward to the scolding of her life that awaited her at home.
Bloopers-
Ratchet growled and his eyes flashed angrily. Miko gulped when he stomped his foot that was a little to close for comfort for her. He unfolded his arms and clinched his fist as he yelled at her in anger. "You specifically disobeyed me! Prime put me in change so that you lot would be safe! Yet you disobey me and in doing so not only did you disobey my orders but Primes as well!"
Miko's eyes widened as Ratchets hand suddenly came down and snatched her up. She screamed in fear at the top of her lungs and Ratchet carried her away in a tight fist, never to be heard from again.
Thank you to all who favorited this story! I really didn't expect so many of you to like it so quickly! Your the reason that this next chapter is out THE NEXT DAY NO LESS! I had a day off and decided to spend it writing. I probably won't be able to get the next chapter out for a few weeks :'( No promises but I'll try. My other stories are crying and I have to go back to work. I hope you liked it and will please review just like anime-roxxx and unicoron1000. Thanks for the review peeps! P.S. Did you know you can comment on your own story?! I tied because I was curious and now I feel so dumb! LoL It's 11pm and I'm going to bed! Goodnight readers!