So, a part of me wants to write maybe a couple of chapters before posting so I can go back and edit, but we'll see how that goes. I'm pretty impulsive.
Also! I have now watched Rise of the Beasts twice. I'm...not sure how I feel about it. I do know I still like the first 3 the most by far. Bumblebee was a little too small scale, but I liked the emotional depth. ROTB was the opposite for me. And that tie in at the end...ugh. not happy about it. AND I WANT STEVE BACK FOR THE SCORE! I've been listening to the score for TLK for probably over a year now and this new one pales in comparison.
Anyways...enjoy!
A Family Visit
…
After a couple of days of deliberation, it was decided that Optimus and Ratchet were to go to the moon. They took a rocket called Ares V. It was originally lined up for a different mission from what she gathered, but Mearing was able to hijack it with a day's notice. After only a minimal amount of begging, she managed to watch the launch from the backseat of Ironhide's alt form.
And so Optimus and Ratchet were in space…while she was in her kitchen listening to Ironhide go on about Sentinel while trying to make an omelette.
"He was the one who made Optimus a Prime—an honor above all others," he spoke as he deftly chopped an onion.
Aria stood aways away, near the open window. "So Optimus was his successor after he took the Arc with the secret weapon that even you guys don't know about?"
"Yes. He'd already proven himself to us, so we naturally turned to him for leadership."
"Did you know Sentinel personally?"
"I did. I met him when I was still a Decepticon." He began chopping a red pepper. "Sentinel ambushed my team. Though it was our first meeting, I had already heard the stories. I knew we had no chance. At the time, our ideologies clashed. We didn't believe he was a Prime and we didn't believe in his plan to save Cybertron. I told my team to stand down, and in turn, he didn't attack. He told us his plan and said if we interfered, he would kill us all to save the planet."
"And what was his plan?"
"Our energy source was fading. He believed the way to save it was by finding a long forgotten relic and recharging it with a star."
"Wait, relic? Would that be the Allspark?"
He nodded, a proud look on his face. "We did not believe in the existence of the Allspark, nor did we believe that teleporting a star into our solar system wouldn't end in our immediate demise."
Aria almost dropped the entire egg in the pan. "Sentinel can teleport stars? Like, as in our sun?"
Ironhide took the egg from her hand. "He was working with Wheeljack to create the technology. My team and I attacked Sentinel, but Optimus was able to hold us off for Wheeljack to initiate transport. Next thing we knew, there was light and we felt strength return to us immediately."
"The same Wheeljack that's here?"
Ironhide inclined his head and put the lid over the omelette.
"But why didn't the star destroy the planet? At least it would have affected the gravity."
"Sentinel and Wheeljack took care of that. The teleportation tech also functioned as an anti gravitational device. It completely offset the gravitational forces of the star while maintaining its relative position within our galaxy."
"Wow. You guys really are on a different level."
"What was your initial indication?"
Aria tilted her head and crossed her arms. "Hm, well if it wasn't the Blackbird transforming into an old man, it was definitely when a Chevy pointed his cannon at me."
"If it makes you feel any better, I do that to most humans when I meet them."
"Way to make me feel special."
When the omelette finished cooking, they sat at the table. She complimented Ironhide's cooking to which she received a smug reply.
Sentinel sounded like a godsend to the Autobots. Someone who could actually put an end to the Decepticons, especially if he truly was a descendant of the Primes. Jetfire had gone on about them and practically worshipped Optimus. Ironhide didn't dare challenge Sentinel either, which was something to be said in of itself. Of all the Autobots she'd met so far, Sentinel may be the greatest…if he was alive.
And if he did return and he did defeat the Decepticons, that would mean that Mearing's secret weapons program wouldn't be needed. She would never have to tell Ironhide or reveal to the Autobots that Mearing wanted to give soldiers Decepticon sparks powered by the Matrix. These were their souls and nothing good could ever come from it.
What would Ironhide think if he found out? His personal decision to give her a piece of his soul to protect her was only allowed because it could be used for weapons research. Because it could be used for war.
And all the Autobots wanted—all Ironhide wanted, was to be done with war.
"Is something wrong, Aria?"
"Just an eggshell." Aria smiled at him. "I'll let it slide this time."
The doorbell rang. Ironhide made the face of a man who'd never heard the sound before in his life as Aria went to go see who it was.
She looked through the peephole of the door. On the other side, her mother stood, leash in hand. Behind her was her father who was inspecting Ironhide's alt form parked beside her motorcycle.
Aria unlocked the door and swing it open. She was immediately assaulted by Sirius' affection.
"Surprise Ari!" her mom said. She maneuvered around the excited dog to give her a tight hug.
Her dad then greeted her with a squeeze and a strong pat on the back.
"John dear, lovely to see you too."
Aria turned from her father to see Ironhide now being embraced by her mother. Despite his visible confusion, he returned the hug.
Why didn't he disappear? She could have come up with some sort of excuse for his alt form outside.
"Long time no see, John." Her father gave him a handshake.
Everyone sat down at the dining table. Her mom and dad were next to each other, while Ironhide sat adjacent to them. Aria put her plate away and brought out coffee cups, putting them in front of her parents and one more for her. She poured everyone's coffee and sat down, petting Sirius who hadn't left her side.
"Not a coffee guy, John?" her dad asked.
Aria went to answer for him, but he beat her to it. "Too bitter."
"That's what cream and sugar is for, dear. You should give it a try sometime," her mom said with a smile.
Her dad remained straight faced. "Aria, you don't have a computer here, do you? I want to show you something interesting I saw the other day."
"Oh yeah, I'll go get my laptop." Aria got up.
"Honey, there's no need for that." Her mom looked between her and her father. "This is just a nice little visit, no need for your conspiracy theories."
Aria paused, her eyes going to Ironhide who was glancing back at her.
"No no, it's just something interesting I'd like to share with Aria and John here. No big deal."
Aria went up to her room and unplugged her laptop while her parents maintained their polite argument downstairs.
"Ah, perfect. Thank you, Ari," her dad cut off her mother as he saw her enter with the laptop.
He took it from her, opened it and quickly typed something in. After a minute, he turned it so she and Ironhide could see the screen.
"The real effing deal," she read slowly. It sounded familiar…
Ironhide leaned in too. "What is this video?"
It was blurry. Most likely taken on someone's cellphone. Shaky footage showed a group of vehicles speeding across an overpass before the video shook violently and a blur of blue, red, and tan fell in front of the car onto an underpass below. Then the video cut as the phone dropped.
The blue and red Autobot was unmistakable. Optimus and a Decepticon? When had this happened? Her eyes landed on a time stamp. June seventh, 2007.
"What is this supposed to be?" Ironhide asked.
"You didn't see it?" Her dad half turned the laptop and scrolled down. When he turned it back, the screen displayed a series of blown-up stills from the video. The one in the center was of a black GMC Topkick. "Look familiar?"
"If you are implying the truck outside is the same one, you are mistaken."
"Why's that? You said you're military, didn't you? Special forces?"
"Honey!" her mom interjected.
"Dad, this website's fake. I know a boy who went to school with the person who made it. He's just a conspiracy fanatic."
"It's quite the coincidence then." Her dad sat back. "The break in at the museum that ends in a missing Blackbird that ends in you being detained for an entire week. The mysterious gas leak that destroyed not just our home, but half the neighbourhood while this website shows reports of a miliary aircraft in the area. And all the while you now have a boyfriend in special forces that drives a truck I've seen in multiple videos."
"You don't seriously think—"
But Ironhide cut her off. Not with his voice, but by the way he was looking at her.
"We will tell you everything you want to know, on the condition you come with us to Aria's home. It's the only place I can prove it to you."
Aria gaped. "Jonh!
But he was already getting up along with her father who was thanking him for his sincerity.
She and her mother gave each other a look before following suit.
Was Ironhide really going to tell them the truth, or did he have a different backstory to throw her parents off them?
Aria took Ironhide's offered hand as he helped her up into the passenger seat. He kissed her on the knuckles before closing the door. Her parents were getting into their vehicle after agreeing to follow Ironhide there.
It wasn't until they pulled out of the parking lot that Aria finally spoke. "You're not actually going to tell them the truth, are you?"
"I am." Was all he said back.
"And what if anyone finds out? They might not be able to do much to you, but I'll go straight to jail."
"No one is going to find out. Your parents are good people, I trust they won't tell anyone for your sake."
"That doesn't mean it won't accidentally slip out. Or worse, get them into danger just for knowing."
He looked at her for a moment, then dropped his gaze. "I don't want to be a secret anymore," he finally said. "I don't mind being in this form for you, but I see what you meant now."
"What I meant?"
"When you said my holoform is a different person to you. The more I use this body, the more I feel like I'm becoming two different beings. One that can do anything and one that can do nothing."
She took his free hand while his other remained half-heartly on the steering wheel. "Okay. But we should break it to them slowly. Maybe explain everything that's happened first before you reveal yourself."
He nodded but hesitated before speaking. "Do you think they will accept me?"
Aria let out an anxious breath. "I can't say they won't be shocked at first. But I think they'll be okay once they realize that we love and care for each other."
Ironhide smiled at that.
…
Her parents had been to the wreckage before. They'd come the day after Starscream's attack, attempting to salvage anything they could for Aria.
Still, her mother's eyes brimmed with tears.
They walked past the front of the house where roses still bloomed through the rubble of the front steps. Aria walked next to Ironhide. Her parents followed behind still looking at the wreckage. Sirius was going around stiffing everything he could find.
The burned and gouged marks in the ground once again filled in with fresh grass. The lawn itself was up to their shins, disguising much of the debris that littered the ground.
They came to a stop at the back of the house where Ironhide used to transform or park to pick her up.
"Well," her dad said, "are we going to find out what really happened here?"
She and Ironhide looked at each other. She was the first to speak. "I should probably start at the beginning of all this."
Ironhide gave her an encouraging nod and she took a deep breath. "I was never detained for a week after the museum incident. I was actually a part of it—Not intentionally!" her mother relaxed. "I just finished changing for work and came out to one of the security guards laying on the floor. I was calling him an ambulance when I heard shouting, so I went to go see what was going on. There was a group of people around the blackbird, like something was leading them to it. Then I saw the strangest thing; a little remote-controlled truck with them suddenly transformed into a robot."
"I knew it," her dad exclaimed. "They are making advanced robots!"
"Dad, just wait. So yes, the little robot surprised me, but it was nothing compared to what I saw next. The Blackbird transformed too! Into a huge robot that resembled an old man who called himself Jetfire." Ironhide smirked at that. "Next thing I knew, he shot a missile out of his arm and broke down the doors that led to the airfield."
"No—Aria!" her mom said in disbelief.
Her father had a face of stunned silence while Ironhide looked interested. She'd never really told him the full account. Only anecdotes of it here and there.
Aria put up a hand and continued. "I followed them outside. The group of people wanted information from Jetfire, but nothing he said made any sense, especially to me. By then the people knew I was following them and told me to leave, but I didn't. Then there was a bright flash and next thing I knew…I was in Egypt."
Now her mom's face matched her father's. She found a block of wood and heavily sat down.
"The people didn't know I was teleported with them, so I was left behind. Turned out, Jetfire was still there, so I talked to him. He told me that he was an alien from a different galaxy, from a planet called Cybertron."
"They're aliens?" Her dad looked between her and Ironhide.
"Yes Dad, they're aliens. But they are just as sentient as us, just as smart as us—well actually they're way smarter. Jetfire told me they were at war though, Cybertronians were divided into two factions: Autobots and Decepticons. Jetfire was a Decepticon that changed sides."
"Autobots are on the human's side, Decepticons are not," Ironhide said, answering the unasked question. "Autobots are and have always been working with the government to protect Earth from the Decepticons." He then gestured for Aira to continue.
"Jetfire later took me to go see the leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime. What he didn't tell me is that he was in the middle of a warzone. Jetfire looked out for me but ultimately didn't make it. After the battle, we were taken back to the States on an aircraft carrier. It was there that I met the other Autobots. They were very nice to me." She decided to leave the storm out of the story. "I was told that once we got back, I wouldn't be allowed to talk about anything that happened and that I'd never see the Autobots again. However, one of the people from the museum, Sam, told me their new secret base would be in D.C.
"When I did get back home, I immediately started trying to find the base, and thanks to a couple of mentioned increased military activity on the news, I figured out where it was. So, I went there and I did find them, even though I couldn't actually get in. I was happy though, so I started to go back home, and that's when I ran into one of the Autobots outside, Ironhide. He wasn't the friendliest," she said with a little laugh," but he let me tag along. From there I met the colonel who eventually gave in and let me see the Autobots again.
"For a long time, I was happy. I had a job, was practicing for the opera, had alien friends. I even had one living with me—the little one from the museum—Wheelie. He stayed in my old bedroom.
"But, uh, it kind of all went south one day. I was sitting outside with John when a jet came out of nowhere. I—it happened so fast. One second, I was being pulled away from the house and the next, everything was gone. The jet was a Decepticon who wanted to kill me. He's the one who broke my leg. But before he could finish the job, Ironhide came and chased him away. After that, the government moved me to my new place and nothing's really happened since."
Nothing but the chatter of birds and the wind through the leaves filled the silence for the next few minutes. Her parents were deep in thought, no doubt processing what they'd just heard.
Ironhide was completely stiff. He knew what the next part was but didn't make any indication he was ready for it.
"So the truck…" her dad began, "is that?"
Aria inclined her head. "The truck is Ironhide."
Her mother panicked. "The truck is one of those things? Ari! It's not safe!"
"Mom. Did you hear what I told you? Ironhide saved my life multiple times now. When he's with me, I'm the safest I can be."
"You work with them then?" her dad asked Ironhide's holoform. "Do you vouch for them?"
Ironhide sent Aria a fleeting glance before answering. "I am one of them."
His body flickered blue for a split second then completely disappeared. Her mother screamed and her dad jumped in front of her in an instant.
"Aria, get over here!" he reached out his hand to her.
She shook her head and instead took a step towards the house. The rumble of Ironhide's engine grew louder as he drove around the house. He parked not far from where his holoform stood seconds ago.
When he didn't immediately transform, she walked over and put a hand on his fender. "There's no turning back now."
She backed away when the metal shifted under her fingers. The black truck twisted and contorted in thousands of different ways until nonother than Ironhide stood there.
"Nice to meet you."
Her mom peeked from behind her dad. "T—that's John?"
"Well, more like John is Ironhide."
"But, honey, I thought John was your boyfriend."
"I am," he said, confidence returning to his voice.
Her dad seemed to shake it off. He approached Ironhide. "You really do love her?"
"The same, if not more since we last spoke of it."
"Then John, or Ironhide, you still have my approval—and my thanks for protecting my daughter."
Ironhide knelt on one knee and held out a finger. He and her father shook hands.
The overcast afternoon darkened as evening set in with a wash of amber clouds.
"You should have seen him with your bow, Dad! Never used one in his life and boom, bullseye!" Aria sat on Ironhide's hand that rested on his knee.
Her parents now both sat on a log by the trees. Sirius was napping in the shade nearby. Topics of conversation darted from space travel to culture. Her parents took meeting a Cybertonian in stride.
"From 40 yards? Impressive."
"Only after Aria's instruction. She is quite skilled."
"That she is! And back on a motorcycle too, no less. She's finally getting out more."
"Yeah well, the bus was getting old."
"You know, 'Hide, when Ari was little, she used to tell me 'Daddy, I never want to drive a boring old car'!"
"That explains why she chased after me," Ironhide said with a smug grin on his metallic features.
"Oh Mom, did I tell you Ironhide enjoys poetry? Big Shakespeare fan."
"Oh really? And what would be your favorite work of his? I prefer his sonnets, but Hamlet is my favorite play."
"Romeo and Juliette is his favorite for sure. He even recreated the balcony scene with me once."
"You were the one reciting poetry."
"You asked me too!"
"Whatever you say, honey."
"Don't call me that!"
"As you wish, punk."
…