Chapter 2: I'd Like To Get To Know You

A.N. Hey, all, me again. I never really clarified what genders the Junior Protectobots are other than Patch, so I just thought I'd get that squared away now. Besides Patch, Quench and Reach are girls and Copper and Sky-High are boys. With that out of the way, we now return to the story.

Soon, Hot Shot and the rest of the Junior Rescue Bots were in the Earth Museum with the Junior Protectobots, who were all very amazed at all the human artifacts on display.

"Boy, Hot Shot, this is some room you guys got going on in here." said Copper.

"I'll say." agreed Quench. "I mean, look at all this stuff!"

"We definitely haven't seen anything like this before." said Sky-High. "At least, not in person."

"Yeah, Hot Zone and the other Protectobots have taught us a bit about Earth culture back at our base on the moon, but we've never seen any of this stuff up close before." Quench added.

"Definitely not." said Patch. "Humans sure do have a lot of neat stuff in their culture. In fact, humans are just so...awesome!"

"You got that right, mate." said Brushfire.

But while the other bots in the room were gabbing away about their surroundings, Wedge was quiet. He just stood there staring at Patch like he was in some kind of a trance. This failed to escape the other bots' notice.

"What's up with Wedge?" Hoist asked. "Ever since Patch and the others showed up, he hasn't said anything, except just stare at her."

"Yeah, I've noticed that too." said Whirl. "I hope nothing's wrong with him."

"Maybe we should take him to Uncle Ratchet and have him get checked out." Medix suggested. "Just to be on the safe side."

"Good idea, Medix." said Hot Shot. "Hey, Wedge, I don't know if you can hear us, but we're gonna take you to Ratchet, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Wedge said monotonously, not even making eye contact.

And so, Hot Shot and Medix took Wedge to Ratchet's quarters, where the senior medic gave him a check-up, but everything was normal.

"Well, everything checks out." said Ratchet. "I can't find anything wrong with him."

"That's strange." puzzled Hot Shot. "If nothing's wrong with him, then why is he acting so strange? He wasn't like this before Patch and the other Junior Protectobots got here, but now that she is here..."

But then, Hot Shot figured it out.

"Oh my gosh, it all makes sense now!" he said.

"What does?" asked Medix.

Hot Shot then looked at Wedge.

"Wedge, let me ask you something." said Hot Shot. "Do you have a crush on Patch?"

That finally got Wedge to snap out of his trance.

"What?" he asked. "What did you say?"

"I asked if you have a crush on Patch." Hot Shot replied.

Wedge sighed, knowing there was no way out of this.

"Yes." he said. "I do have a crush on her. I don't know why, but something about her just made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside."

"Thought so." said Hot Shot.

"But what should I do?" asked Wedge. "I've never been in a relationship before."

"Just tell her how you feel." said Hot Shot. "Who knows, she might have something for you."

Wedge knew Hot Shot had a point, so he agreed.

"Okay." Wedge nodded. "I'll tell her."

"Atta boy, Wedge!" grinned Hot Shot.

Unknown to either of them, Hot Zone happened to be at the door, and he couldn't help but overhear what Wedge said, and he was not pleased at all.

"I hope that guy knows that if he knows what's good for him, he'll stay away from my daughter." he told himself.

Later on, both groups of junior bots were in the lounge, talking.

"So, Hot Shot, what was it like for you and your friends when you first came to Earth?" asked Copper.

"Well, it was definitely not like anything I saw back on Cybertron." said Hot Shot.

"That actually goes for all of us." said Medix. "In fact, I've heard Uncle Ratchet talk about his experiences on Earth. It was actually him who recommended me to join Hot Shot and the others back when Optimus Prime was seeking out new Rescue Bot recruits."

"Wow." said Hot Shot. "Even I didn't know that."

The next to bring something up was Wedge.

"Say, I've got something to show you guys." he said.

"What is it?" asked Sky-High.

"I'll be right back." replied Wedge.

Wedge left and room, and later came back holding a book of some kind, which he then opened up.

"Behold." he said. "My Heroes Of Cybertron cards."

Patch could not believe what she just heard.

"You collect those too?" she asked.

"Yep." said Wedge. "I guess you're a collector yourself?"

"That I am." nodded Patch. "I even brought my collection with me."

"Ooh, can we see it?" grinned Whirl.

"Sure." replied Patch. "One second."

With that, Patch got up and left the room. She soon returned with an album just like Wedge's, and when she opened it up, the other junior bots noticed that every page was filled with cards.

"Wow." gasped Wedge. "And I thought I was serious."

But then, Wedge noticed something.

"Hey, isn't that Hot Zone?" he asked, pointing to the card.

"Yep." said Patch. "I have cards of all the known Protectobots, even Groove. I also have one of Defensor, as a matter of fact."

"Very fascinating." said Medix. "It seems you two already found something in common."

"Yeah." nodded Wedge.

Just then, Wedge thought of something.

"Say, Patch, there's something else about me you don't know." he said. "That goes for the rest of your squad too."

"What is it?" asked Sky-High.

Wedge took a deep breath before he continued.

"I was originally a Decepticon." he said.

The Junior Protectobots were indeed surprised to hear this.

"You? A Decepticon?" asked Copper.

"Yep." said Wedge. "But Optimus Prime believed I had the potential to do good."

"Well, he was wrong." said a voice.

It was Hot Zone. He had been watching the whole thing. Hot Zone went over to Wedge.

"Listen here, bucko." he said sternly. "I could care less if you're around Copper, Reach, Quench, or Sky-High, but for your sake, I better not catch you around my daughter. Do you understand?"

"Um...sure?" Wedge replied meekly.

"Good." said Hot Zone. "I'm watching you. You too, Patch."

And with that, Hot Zone left while doing an "I'm watching you" gesture at Wedge and his daughter.

"Sheesh." huffed Wedge. "What's his deal?"

"Let's just say he's super protective over Patch." Copper replied. "Ever since our mom died."

The Junior Rescue Bots' faces fell at this revelation.

"Your mom died?" asked Whirl sadly. "How?"

"Cosmic Rust." replied Copper. "She came into contact with it while she, Dad, and the other Protectobts were responding to an S.O.S. from another group of Cybertronians in an area that was plagued by it. The mission was a success in the sense that they got those who hadn't already been affected safely evacuated, but during the evacuation, Mom somehow came into contact with it. When we got her back to our original base on Cybertron, First Aid tried his best to cure her, but he had difficulties obtaining corrostop, the only known cure for Cosmic Rust."

"And let me guess." said Medix. "By the time he finally got it, it was too late."

Copper just nodded before continuing the story.

"Dad was devastated when he heard the news." he went on. "And shortly before she was interred in the Autobot Mausoleum, Dad swore he would do everything he can to make sure me and Patch were kept safe from any harm, especially Patch."

"But the thing is, ever since he became a single parent, he's been nothing but a pain in the afterburner for me." complained Patch. "I mean, I know he means well, but sometimes, it feels like he's constantly getting in my way. Like, he always has to know where I am at any time, and he always insists I ask for his permission to do something on my own. Not only that, but he doesn't even want me having a boyfriend right now even though I'm old enough to start dating."

"That would explain why he told Wedge he doesn't want to catch him around you." said Whirl.

"Yeah." sighed Patch.

"Well, to be fair, he is only trying to look out for you like a responsible parent." Hot Shot pointed out. "You know, not wanting you to get hurt."

"However, I do admit that it does seem he might be taking it a little too far in that regard." added Medix. "I mean, doesn't he have any kind of sense of being more trusting towards you?"

"We've all tried convincing Hot Zone to loosen up a little around Patch." replied Reach. "But every time, he gives the same answer, that being that "it's for her own good"."

"Well, at this point, the best advice I can give you is to just give him time." said Hot Shot. "Who knows? Maybe one day, he will loosen up some."

"I hope so, Hot Shot." said Patch. "I really hope so."

"Hey, I have an idea." Hot Shot then said. "How's about we head on over to the Action Matrix for a game of Cube?"

"Sounds good to me." nodded Copper. "I've always wanted to learn how to play."

The rest of the Junior Protectobots agreed.

"Hey, how about a "boys versus girls" game?" Sky-High suggested.

"Good idea." agreed Hot Shot.

"Although, we do have a problem." said Quench. "We have six boys and five girls."

"Oh, yeah." said Hot Shot. "That might be a problem, because now we're not evenly matched."

"Not for long." Medix chimed in. "If you want, I can keep score. I don't mind not being directly involved in the game."

"Fine by me." agreed Hot Shot. "Okay, gang, to the Action Matrix!"

And with that, Hot Shot and his friends paraded to the Action Matrix for their game. As they were making their way there, Patch took her cousin's words into consideration.

"Maybe Hot Shot is right." she said to herself. "Maybe Dad will become less strict with me. It sure would be nice if that happened. The question is, however, when?"

Only time will tell, Patch. I can tell you that much.

End Of Chapter 2