Chapter 7:
Just because I couldn't have a tour of the entire base, didn't mean Miko wouldn't try to do a tour.
On the ground level she couldn't show much (not even the giant tank in the corner), as Rachet constantly interrupted Miko with the occasional, "Don't touch that!" or "Up-pup-pup!" Before he finally tired of us snooping in his stuff and ordered us to "Shoo! Go elsewhere!".
That left the entire second floor. Oh what joy. And I had the even greater joy of hobbling up the stairs with my crutch.
The second floor of the main hangar consisted of concrete slabs surrounded by yellow railing, with one more raised level at the back that held only an elevator. To the left of the stairs was a comfy makeshift family room, complete with an old yellow-greenish couch, with a matching chair, a wooden coffee table underneath which was a tan rug, an old tube TV with two antenna at the wall, along with two stereos, and some shelves next to and underneath the TV. There was trash everywhere, the tell-tale sign that teenagers used the space.
"I wouldn't challenge Raf to any of the racing games, he's actually really good!" Miko exclaimed after informing me of the recently installed game system. It was of another brand I had never heard of, but Miko took it in stride (like she seemed to do with everything else) that I had no idea of the game system.
The right side, past the elevator, was mostly empty, but next to Rachet's niche was where Raf had set up a station of his own. He had Cybertronian data screens as well as human desktop monitors and his laptop out. There was a bunch of tech stuff on the desk.
Said child genius was currently sitting on a chair on that side with Jack, and talking to Bee and Arcee. We went over to them, so Miko could begin pointing out some of the tech.
"This activates the groundbridge so we can help the Bots in case they need back up!" She indicated to a small, human sized version of a lever near Rachet's niche.
"Uh, didn't Rachet say it was in case someone needs an emergency groundbridge and he wasn't here?" Raf asked.
"Only if you want to be boring," Miko said rolling her eyes.
"What are you working on Rafael?" I asked, curious of all the graphs and information scrolling on his screen.
"Well, I was thinking, if you came from an alternate reality, that must have displaced a large amount of energy. It must have been the source of the spike the sensors picked up. I was just looking into what information can maybe be gathered from the readings," Raf replied, clearly focused on trying to unlock this puzzle.
"Boring!" Miko exclaimed as she twirled her hair. "Come on, I have to introduce you to my favorite bands!" She then took my hand and pulled me back towards the couch, and I struggled to keep myself from face planting due to Miko's pace. I looked back towards the group begging with my eyes for someone to help me, but Jack just shrugged, Raf was already preoccupied, Bumblebee whirred lowly, and Arcee smiled at my misery with a sort of sadistic 'well that's Miko for you' look in her optics.
Apparently I learned heavy metal isn't my thing. Especially heavy metal with screaming in my ears at max volume for two hours.
My ears are permanently damaged now. I'm sure of it.
I heard loud thuds approach me and Miko (a good sign my ears are okay), just about when I had gotten Miko to talk about a band instead of being forced to listen to it. I turned around to see Bulkhead as the source of the noise.
"Miko, I think it's time for you to go home," his bellowing voice contrasted his gentle words.
"Really? So soon? If Rache's staying, why can't I?" Miko argued.
"Because your foster parents will worry about you, and we're in disguise? Remember Miko?" Arcee jumped in. I felt there was a reference here that was going over my head.
"Ugh! Fine! See you later Rachel." Miko threw on her purple and black backpack next to the couch, and then continued her angry stomping tirade until she reached the bottom of the stairs where Bulkhead transformed into a big car (in comparison to his robot form, it was incredible he could fit into such a small form). Miko got in and slammed the door behind her, and I watched as they drove off, lifting my hand in a goodbye.
I looked around, noticing Rachet in a corner soldering something. Jack and Arcee were talking near the desk, not seeming to have moved much from when I last saw them. Bee and Raf were nowhere to be found. I took myself over to them.
"Hey, where'd Raf and Bee go?" I asked.
"Left while Miko had you preoccupied," Jack responded. "So what do you think?" He asked hesitantly.
I took one of the office chairs and dropped down onto it with a sigh. "While I don't mind the music, it's a bit too intense for me. The volume was so loud I'm pretty sure my hearings permanently damaged now."
He laughed and shook his head. "Yeah, but no, I meant what did you think of the base?"
"Hm, wasn't much to see considering I'm practically only allowed to see this floor." I stomped my left foot to accentuate the floor I was referring to. "What time is it anyway?"
Jack took out a black flip phone with white edges.
"6:20. Me and Arcee will have to head out soon too."
"I see…"
"Sorry, but, you know, my mom worries if I'm not home by the time her shift ends." He rubbed the back of his neck.
How about my own parents? Would they be worried? A memory came to mind of how once when I was in highschool, my mom had called the police because I had stayed after school for an essay and my phone battery died without me noticing. I couldn't imagine what must of been going through my parents minds at the moment. For their child to just disappear with no trace for two days? My mom would be past worried sick, she'd be in damn right panic mode at this point.
"Hey! No worries! We'll find a way to get you back to your home!" Jack comforted noticing my sudden mood change.
"Jack's right Rachel. We'll get you back home." Arcee nodded with a serious look in her optics. She said it so matter-of-factly, I almost believed her.
And I did want to believe, so, so badly.
"Any idea when Fowler's coming back?" I changed the topic.
"No idea. That man come and leaves when you least expect it," Arcee informed. Well that was great news.
"And I have to stay here until he comes back?" I asked flatly. Arcee smiled and shrugged in a 'what-can-you-do?' way.
"Will you be coming back after you get Jack home Arcee?" My eyes couldn't help but travel over to Rachet who was typing something on a screen. I kind of didn't want to be alone with the grumpy old bot for any extended period of time. Arcee gave a knowing smile.
"Bumblebee and Bulkhead should be getting back soon. And who knows? Maybe you'll get along with Rachet." Rachet was apparently not as engrossed in the project as I previously thought, as he immediately scoffed at the idea.
I looked around once again as another question came into my head (I was certainly asking a lot of questions), after noticing the distinct lack of a serious character.
"Where's Optimus?" I asked.
"Out on patrol. He won't be back for awhile." Arcee explained. I couldn't help but feel disappointed. There were questions I'd like to ask him. About Cybertron, his relation to Megatron. Which reminded me…
"So tell me about yourself Jack. How'd you meet the Autobots?" I turned to ask Jack normally. It was normally, right? I wasn't being suspicious?
"It wasn't that exciting I'm afraid. Though at the time it was far too exciting. Witnessed Arcee and Bee take down some Cons- me and Raf, that is- and we were taken into their protection. Miko… well Miko tagged along I guess." Jack seemed engrossed in the memories. I nodded.
"And Megatron?"
Arcee held a fist out. "Space debris after his space bridge was blown apart." She opened her servos to demonstrate an explosion. "Now Starscream's the leader of the Cons," she said in a clearly mocking tone.
"Hmm." So we're definitely past the first few episodes introducing the show, and if Megatron was assumed dead and Starscream was in command, we must have still been near the beginning of the first season.
"We'd better hurry home Arcee, I'd rather not find out what happens if we're not there by the time mom is. It was good to meet you Rachel," we shook each others hands, and he got up to walk down the stairs.
"You'll be back tomorrow?" I called down just before Jack got onto Arcee.
"All day tomorrow, it's Saturday so were off," he affirmed. I watched as Jack put on a helmet and held onto Arcee's vehicle mode as they sped out into the world.
And then there was two.
I sat back onto the chair and rolled it over to the rail, peering over at Ratchet. His fingers danced across the foreign keyboard typing in a foreign language, as information quickly darted across the clear green screen in front of him.
"So what's the update Doc?" I asked as he shook his head, optics still focused on the screen.
"There's no record of this item anywhere in the Cybertronian database, nor in the Iacon database like I assumed it would be. From what I can make of its properties, it seems to be a transformable weapon, like a Decepticon Hunter, yet it most certainly is not one. It's incredibly durable, trying to disassemble it only led to my tools breaking!" He was obviously very distressed about his tools breaking. "Without being able to look inside of it I'm afraid research is at a stand still." Well, isn't that wonderful information?
"Once Bumblebee or Bulkhead returns I'd like to run some tests concerning the artifact and its effects relating to you." He had a concerned look on his face...plate.
"What's the matter?" I asked, confused. It wasn't like it could kill me, right?
"The item forms a bond with its user to be able to form what is desired. For a Cybertronian, it wouldn't have any adverse effects, but for a human?"
"Whoa, wait Doc," I halted him with my hands out in front of me. "Are you saying I could die from using the thing?" A horror began building in me as I processed what Rachet had said. It would make sense for the rod to be made to fit Cybertronians, but it had worked fine for me in the forest. I had felt fine, I think, but then at the hospital it didn't do as I said. The whole thing was confusing.
"I need to conduct more research, but it would be best to avoid using it until it's heath effects have been determined." With that Rachet returned to his work leaving me to do as I will.
I leaned back into the chair and stared at the dark abyss above me. I tried to think back. What had it felt like to hold it? Was it radiating me with a poison? And if it did affect my health, what could I do about it? It was stuck to me, so I couldn't get rid of it. Considering it hadn't teleported back into my hands already, I assumed there was a range to it, which is well and good, but I'd rather not have to stay in one place the whole time I'm in this universe just to avoid a teleporting stick.
I hobbled over to the couch and turned on the TV. A sitcom was on with a family of four eating dinner. I layed down onto the couch and watched as the little girl said something and a laugh track sounded. Soon a soothing calm washed over me and sleep overtook me.
Author's Note: Sorry!
Sorry I know I said I'd post this yesterday but a lot of things caught up and I didn't manage to finish the story in time. I'm not so satisfied with this chapter I'll admit, but I needed a good transitional chapter.
Comments appreciated.
Also note: I do not own Transformers. Rachel just asks too many questions.
