This chapter took nearly all day as well. It was fun and emotional.
As a fan of Transformers Prime, I must say it ended too soon. If only Hasbro had the funding to continue.
Trials, Tribulations, and Transformations
7 hours ago
Darby Residence, Jasper, Nevada - April 23rd 2011, Saturday - 9:00 am
Man, I slept like a log.
Miko Nakadai sat up in bed and stretched as she gave a great, big yawn. She slept well, much better than she could remember.
It had to have been months since I slept this good.
As Miko was about to kick off her sheets, she paused as she noticed something strange to her.
These aren't my covers...wait...
Miko took a moment to look at the room she was in.
Hold it, this isn't my room. And it's definitely not my host parents' room. They never let me-
Miko stopped mid-thought as her eyes landed on something, no, someone.
Ms. Darby?
June Darby was fast asleep in her armchair, wrapped in a blanket, with her feet up on a footstool.
What am I doing in her house?! Her room?! Her bed?!
Then it hit her. Disappearing after school. Bawling her eyes out. Vince finding her. Vince nearly getting run down by Bulkhead. Get patched up and counseled by Nurse Darby. Crying like a baby in her arms all the while.
Miko felt her heart sank.
Oh my God! I practically spilled my guts to her! I told her everything! About homecoming?! About Jack?!
Jack.
Miko immediately blushed, covered her face with both hands.
She knows now.
Peeking through her fingers, Miko looked at Nurse Darby, making sure she was still asleep.
Did she really sleep in that chair and let me sleep in her bed?
Miko sniffled, beginning to cry. She furiously rubbed her arm in her eyes, preventing her tears from falling.
I think I had enough crying to last a lifetime.
I gotta get out of here.
Miko slipped out of bed as quietly as she could.
Now where are my boots?
Miko found her boots in the closet, right where she left them. And her thigh-high socks in the bathroom.
Wow, they really do stink.
Miko noticed her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She grimaced upon seeing her newly-formed bedhead, a tangled mess of dark brown and bright pink.
I'll fix when I get home. I need to hurry before Ms. Darby wakes up.
After getting dressed, Miko grabbed her remaining belongings (which consisted of her hair ties and her alien belt accessories) and tiptoed towards the door. She opened the door and...
"AHH!" Miko cried.
"WHOAAA!" cried out the unexpected newcomer.
Alarmed, Jack accidentally dropped a breakfast tray that was in his hands.
Equally surprised but on pure reflex, as she dropped her things and Miko immediately grabbed the breakfast tray before its contents could spill over.
"Wow, good catch," Jack said, smiling.
"Thanks," Miko said, returning his smile. "Well um, here's your breakfast."
"Oh, that's not for me."
"Your mother?" Miko asked.
"Nope, her's is right here," Jack said, motioning to the breakfast tray on the kitchen cart right beside him.
"That one's yours," Jack said pointing at the tray in Miko's hands.
Miko looked down at the breakfast tray and saw that it consisted of a plate of eggs in a basket, three slices, with an apple and a glass of orange juice (which spilled slightly due to it being dropped).
He made me breakfast, in bed no less? Dear God, he's so sweet.
Miko raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you just roll both of them in the bedroom and then pick them up by hand? That could've been a big mess."
Jack scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was going to knock."
"You mean knock with one hand and the other carrying the tray?"
"I guess I didn't think it through that time," Jack said, his face turning red.
So cute.
"And you're usually such an astute sort," Miko said with a lopsided grin.
"Astute? So you have been paying attention in English class," Jack said, returning her half grin.
Miko uttered a mocking gasp, carefully placing her tray down, and then socking Jack lightly in the arm.
"Ow, hey!" Jack said, nursing his arm.
"I'm not one you want to mouth off to Darby," Miko said grinning.
"As spritely as ever Miko," said an amused voice.
Miko froze and slowly turned around to see Nurse Darby smiling slyly at her.
"How-how long have you been awake?" Miko asked nervously.
"When both you and Jack screamed," June answered, slightly amused, rising from her armchair.
Miko giggled nervously and Jack simply bit his lip.
June looked Miko over, seeing her dressed and then saw her belongings on the floor.
"Are you going somewhere?" June asked.
"Well...I..." Miko stammered.
"Miko," June said sternly. "We still have things we need to talk about."
"What more is there? I already spilled my guts last night," Miko said surly.
"There's still one thing we need to clear the air about Miko," June said.
"And what is that mom?"
"Why you hurt yourself the night before," June said.
Miko said nothing. Jack looked at her with growing concern. June did the same, albeit more sternly.
"It was an accident," Miko said, barely above a whisper.
"Miko," June said unconvinced. "Those puncture wounds on your arms don't just happen, that's deliberate."
Miko was again struck silent.
If I don't come clean, I could get away at the funny farm or worse, get banned from Team Prime. Or even worse, get sent back to Japan!
"What happens now?" Miko said, no longer resisting.
June's stern expression became softer and she placed a hand gently on Miko's shoulder.
"First, eat your breakfast. Then we'll talk."
Miko said nothing. She just nodded sullenly.
Jack left the room and quickly came back in with the kitchen cart which his mother's breakfast tray.
"I'll just live this here then," Jack said.
June smiled sweetly as she hugged her son and kissed him on the cheek.
"You're so sweet honey, thank you," June said.
"Sure, sure," Jack said hurriedly, wanting to leave and not have to be a open display for affection in front of his lady friend, who was stifling a laugh.
"I'll just leave you two be then," Jack said, right before looking at Miko.
"Miko?"
"Yes?"
Jack placed a hand on Miko's shoulder, which caused her to stiffen a bit. He didn't seem to notice.
"I'd like to talk to you later, ok?" Jack said, his voice brimming with gentleness.
Miko's heart melted.
Keep it together, keep it together!
As though it were an answer, Miko mumbled something, so softly that Jack didn't catch it.
"I'm sorry, what was that Miko?"
"I said...sure, I'd like that," Miko said, her voice almost breaking.
Jack smiled and then walked out of the room.
Smirking mischievously, Miko pokes her head of the room.
"Nice boxers by the way," Miko said cheekily.
Jack immediately stiffened up as though he were struck with lightning. Feeling his face getting hot, he looked down, only to find he was wearing his bed slacks.
"Gotcha!" Miko said, giggling like a madwoman.
Sporting as ever, Jack would not let her have the last word.
"Yeah? Nice bed head," Jack said, smirking as he pointed at Miko's hair.
Remembering the state of her hair, Miko uttered another mocking gasp and then reached back to grab an apple from the kitchen cart with the intention of chucking it at Jack.
Before she completed her throw, she felt the apple slip from her grasp. Looking at her hand to find the apple gone, Miko turned around to see it being held by Nurse Darby, who looked unimpressed as ever.
"No throwing things in the house," she said sternly. "And this is my breakfast."
"Aww," Miko whined as June closed her bedroom.
Later...
"I think I'm beginning to understand now Miko," June said from her armchair, sipping from a mug of coffee.
"Yeah?" Miko said, lying on June's bed.
"You're a thrill-seeker, you wish to live life to the fullest, even if it's dangerous. Correct?"
Miko nodded. "Totally," she in a deadpan tone.
"But you also feel a strong desire to help others, even if it is dangerous. Such as that time in that mine, when you tried so desperately to dig a way out for Bulkhead."
Miko shuttered a bit. Not the happiest memory she ever had.
"And you blamed yourself Miko?"
June asked.
"For what?" Miko answered.
"The cave-in? The fact that both you and Bulkhead were in there? That Jack and Arcee were down there?"
"Um yes, of course I blamed myself," Miko said, as though it were obvious.
"Why do you think so?" June asked.
"Why?!" Milk exclaimed, but keeping her voice down. "Because I rushed into that mine. Bulkhead went in because of me. Arcee and Jack went in because of me. I practically put them in harm's way."
"Miko, you're wrong," June said with finality.
"Really? How so?" Miko said, almost defiantly.
"Because you did not cause the cave-in. It was Megatron, not you," June said.
"But I went in and Bulkhead came in after me."
"Miko, that mine was abandoned for years or else by all appearances, it was supposed to be. There was no sign of danger. Perhaps you shouldn't have gone into that mine but you were not the one responsible for the danger that ensued after. If anything because you rushed in, you helped spare your friends from coming face to face with Megatron."
"Huh?"
"Arcee told me that Megatron and his second-in-command arrived at the mine shortly after you all went in. She knows that because there were no signs that either of them went in before them. Giant robots means giant footprints. And there's no way Arcee would've missed that."
Miko's eyes lit up.
So I indirectly kept the bots from facing Megatron?
Whoa, I never thought of it like that.
"But I didn't know Megatron was coming," Miko said.
"Neither did the bots. Megatron would've come upon you unawares and you'd be in even worse trouble than being in that cave-in."
Miko shuttered at the thought. Getting crushed in a cave-in sounded preferable to being at the tender mercies of the Leader of the Decepticons.
"I still messed up though," Miko said.
"Because you went into a cave without asking? So what?" June said firmly.
Miko said nothing.
"Not convinced?" June asked. "Alright, how about that little train incident?"
"Geez, has Jack and Arcee been telling you everything that's been happening in the past few months?" Miko asked.
"Only where Jack, you and Raf are concerned," June said simply.
Of course, you're practically our emergency healthcare since Ratchet is practically usele-I mean unqualified to treat us.
"What about all this being classified?" Miko asked.
"Let's just say, according to Fowler, I'm unofficially enlisted as a field medic. So I'm at least due to some knowledge of what has been happening, especially to those under my care."
Fair enough I guess...wait...if she's unofficially enlisted, what does that make me and the boys?
Wishing to move on from the topic, Miko said, "Ok, what about the train incident?"
"You and Jack volunteered in order to keep a nuclear device out of MECH's hands," June said.
"But we didn't actually do anything. All I did was take a fire ax and say 'You want a slice of this?' And Jack, he had-"
"A fire extinguisher, I know," June said, slightly amused. "But you're forgetting a few minor things Miko."
"Like what?"
"Because Jack was on that train, he was able to coordinate Raf's efforts in hacking into the railway system and cause the train to go onto another line, thus shaking off MECH and giving Optimus the time he needed to catch up.
And if I recall correctly, Jack told me it was your idea to run some quote on quote 'human-on-human interference.'"
Jack told her that?
"Yeah, it was my idea to put myself and Jack in the crosshairs of a group of psycho mercenaries," Miko exclaimed.
It was like Miko was trying desperately to convince June that she was a liability and a nuisance to the Autobots. June could see that but she wasn't done, far from it in fact.
"Miko," June said. "You don't see the bigger picture here. If this MECH got their hands on that...what did Fowler call it?"
"Dingus, acronym's D-N-G-S for Dynamic Nuclear Generation System," Miko said, as though quoting a lecture.
June stared at Miko, and she smiled. "Now that was astute. You're smarter than you give yourself credit for Miko."
"Heh, Bulkhead told me something similar."
"Did he now?" June said. "Moving on, if MECH got their hands on this D.N.G.S, who knows what they could've used it for. Maybe level a major populated city, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or even our nation's capital.
Heck, they could've used it to attack a neighboring country, even a country not friendly to the US, such as Russia or North Korea. MECH would've had the means to start a war. Such an act would cost millions of lives. And you and Jack helped prevent that. You may not have stopped MECH yourselves but you gave Optimus enough time to catch up. Direct or indirect, what you did helped save millions of live. And let's not forget that it was your idea to run interference.
And a few honorable mentions: taking a picture of the technical readout of the Decepticon spacebridge on their warship, a photograph of the wall painting at that excavation site in Greece, might I go on?"
Miko was almost speechless. It was as if June was listing all of her reasons to hate herself and was systematically tearing them to pieces.
"You're a hero Miko," June said, smiling. "And I'm very proud of you."
Miko was struck dumb once more. Proud of her? No one had said anything of the such to her in...she couldn't even remember. And a hero? Her?
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.
"Don't cry Miko," June said.
"Ok," Miko said, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry, it's just no one has ever said those things to me."
"Please don't apologize Miko," June said. "No one has ever said they're proud of you?" she said, sounding a bit shocked.
"Not since...well...my parents in Japan, but that was years before I left for the states," Miko said, close to tears again.
"And your host parents?" June asked.
"They're never home because of their work. And whenever they do call or have time to talk, it's almost always to tell me about what I've done wrong or I haven't done enough of this or that, or how I should be more like some of those preps at school," Miko said in angry tears. "They even said that I should be more like Tina Dzienny!"
"Who's she?" June asked.
"She's one of the top preps and the self-entitled, narcissistic blonde big-lipped bimbo who went with Crowson to homecoming! She was party to Crowson's little private joke on me!"
June felt her blood thunder in her veins, feeling more angry than she ever felt in a long time.
I see. Her host parents must not have spent much time at all in her life if they don't know about their charge's ordeal at homecoming, how she was publicly humiliated and almost driven to suicide if my son had not intervened. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with them.
"Miko?"
Miko turned her head to look at June, her face scrunching, looking both hurt and angry at the same time, trying so hard to keep from crying again.
"Yeah?" Miko answered.
"I love you and I'm so proud of you, and you should too," June said.
Miko could've sworn that her heart skipped a beat and sank at the same time.
Miko covered her eyes, choking back sobs. She felt so embarrassed and vulnerable. She has never cried so hard and so often in her life, and in front a woman who wasn't blood and yet...
How...how is she doing this?
Oh God, I'm pathetic.
"Ok, Miko. I don't want to see you cry, come here," June said.
Miko uncovered her eyes to look at June, who had her arms opened wide, inviting her for another embrace.
Miko laughed a little. "Is it Free Hug week or something?"
"If you want it to be," June said smiling, still holding her arms out. "Now get over here."
Miko quickly got off the bed and rushed into June's arms.
June held her tightly, as though it were last hug.
This is still new to me...but I could get used to this.
"Thank you," Miko whispered. "For everything."
"You're welcome," June said.
God, why isn't she my host mother?
Meanwhile...
"There."
"You found another Raf?"
"Yup, commencing scrub and replace."
Jack and Rafael were sitting on a couch in the living room of the Darby Residence. Rafael was on his laptop, searching the Internet for possible pics of alien life, especially Cybertronian.
In this case, it was another picture of Bumblebee (in His vehicle form) driving right by a convenient store in Mesquite, Texas. In the pic, it is zoomed in to show that there is no one visibly operating the vehicle, making it clear to anyone viewing this picture that the car was driving by itself.
Our bots should either consider getting holograms or tinted windows and windshield.
Jack looked at the time on Raf's laptop and saw that it was almost noon. Miko and his mother have been talking for almost two hours.
I guess that's a good sign, judging by the fact that nothing has gone wrong I left them alone. And she seemed to be in better spirits, even if she was resisting to talk more.
"How do you think they're doing?" Rafael asked.
"Knowing my mom and what she does in her line of work, I'm sure it's going well," Jack answered.
"Jack! Raf!"
"Yeah mom?" Jack answered.
"We're heading to the base, you coming?"
June just entered the kitchen (which was visible from the living room) packing some things into her knapsack.
"Uh, sure. I'm in," Jack said, then he turned to Raf.
"Raf?"
"Yeah, I'm up for it. I'm done for now anyway."
Miko.
"Hey mom, how's Miko doing?"
"DOING SWELL JACKRABBIT!"
Jack jumped and immediately turned around to see Miko standing just inches behind him.
Sheesh, sometimes I don't know she's in the room until she's right behind me. Should I be worried?
"Miko, please don't sneak up...on-"
Jack trailed off.
Wow. She looks so radiant.
It was true. Miko looked happier than Jack has ever seen her. Miko had a huge smile on her face, a smile that seemed contagious to Jack.
Other than that, it was clear that she just washed up and did her hair. It shined and was well-kept, as though she took good care to make it look good.
And her eyes, they just shined and sparkled. They were so full of life and seemed to say 'I'm ready for whatever life throws at me.' Those golden-brown eyes, like honey.
Her eyes, I can't believe I didn't notice how much they look like honey.
"Anyone home Jackie Boy?" Miko asked, waving a hand in front of Jack's face.
"Huh? Oh sorry," Jack said, turning around to hide the heat rising in his cheeks.
What was that about? Why am I so jumpy all of a sudden? It's only Miko.
"You ok Jack? You looked like you went somewhere for a second," Miko asked.
"Don't worry about it, I just spaced out for a second," Jack said, trying to dismiss the subject. "Anyway, let's go. I'll see you guys at the base.
And like that, Jack hurried out the door.
What is wrong with me?
"Hey partner, you doing ok? You've been oddly quiet," Arcee asked.
Jack was riding along the road, leading out of the main town of Jasper, which lead to Jasper's city limits. And from there, the path leading to the secret base of operations for the Autobots.
"I'm fine, really. Just processing things is all," Jack answered, not taking his eyes off the road. Even though Arcee could drive herself without Jack's guidance, it was learned behavior which is difficult to unlearn to mind to mind the road. But it was more than necessary in order to maintain Arcee's cover (and Jack's), it was playing it safe.
Two pairs of eyes is better than one.
"Is about Miko? She doing better?"
"A million times better actually," Jack said, making his relief plain. "I don't think I ever seen her so happy, so full of life, so radiant-"
"Radiant?"
"Uh...Yeah," Jack said, trying not to stammer. "She was practically glowing."
"Ooookay," Arcee said, not quite understanding. "So she has been exposed to radiation?"
"What? No!" Jack cried out, flabbergasted. "I mean glowing as in-"
"Relax partner, I'm just, how you humans put it, 'pulling your leg,'" Arcee said teasing him.
"Oh."
She's learning fast. A while back, she wouldn't give two hoots about variations in human speech.
"Now then, we're heading back to the base, right?" Arcee asked.
"That's right, that's the plan," Jack said.
"Alright," Arcee said. "And the others will be there?"
"Yup."
"Your mom included?"
"Yup, you know about that?" Jack asked.
"She said she'd be coming by to hang with us since today is her day off."
"Right."
"And Miko?"
Jack said nothing at first. Arcee could detect Jack's rise in temperature through his palms on the handlebars.
"Uh yes of course she is. Why?" Jack asked, slightly flustered.
"Oh nothing," Arcee said before laughing.
"What's so funny?" Jack said confused.
"Hahaha, nothing, hahaha."
Is there something I'm missing?
Autobot Base Omega One, Jasper, Nevada - 2:05 pm
The Autobot base went about its business as usual with a few minor differences of course.
Optimus was absent from the base. When inquired of his whereabouts, Ratchet simply said that he went for a drive, which was over an hour ago.
Ratchet was at his lab station making modifications to certain pieces of equipment needed for tracking Energon sources.
Bumblebee was peering over the couch watching Rafael at his laptop, who was searching for evidence of alien activity (Cybertronian) and doing his school-work on the side.
Arcee was practicing her form in the training room, doing sweeping kicks, back-flip kicks, spin kicks, etc.
Bulkhead was training as well, by squeezing a lob ball over and over again, as though one would work a stress device.
Both Autobots were visibly steaming from their workout, which is the Cybertronian equivalent of human sweating.
Jack, Miko, and Nurse Darby were observing from one of the catwalks above the training room.
Even though June had already seen Arcee in action, she was still in awe of it.
"It still amazes me how living machines can move like that, with such agility and speed, as though they were flesh and blood," June said.
"I know right?" Miko said.
Miko glanced sideways to look at Jack and she saw that he was not watching the Autobot training in progress. He was simply looking downward, eyes narrowed, and his hands folded behind his back. Miko knew that Jack was in deep in thought because his body language was almost always the like of such or close whenever they were in a situation that required quick thinking.
He looks so intense. Kind of reminds me of Optimus. Makes sense I guess. He has on many occasions taken command of a situation.
"Um, hey?"
Miko snapped back to reality as she looked back at Jack, who was looking back at her.
Miko turned away immediately, nonchalantly twirling her pig tail.
"Miko?" Jack said.
"Hmm?"
"Want to have that talk now?"
"Oh. Um sure."
While she did not look directly at the two youths, June Darby listened and watched by looking through the corner of her eyes. She smiled as the two had their awkward but sweet moment.
"JUNE!"
Alarmed but acting quickly, June turned her head to look at the speaker.
"What is it Arcee?! What's wrong?!"
"Ratchet just called! He says he needs your expertise in the command center immediately!" Arcee shouted.
June nodded firmly. "Tell him I'm on my way."
"I'll take you there, it'll save time," Arcee said as she transformed into her vehicle mode.
Bulkhead reached out to June, who did not resist as he placed her on the ground level. June got on but before they raced off...
"Mom! Your helmet!" Jack called out, holding his mother's helmet over his head.
June got off so Arcee could transform. She held out a servo, motioning for Jack to toss the helmet. He did so and Arcee caught it with ease.
Arcee handed June her helmet, she put it on and they raced off towards the command center.
Jack took a deep breath, startled by this sudden turn of events.
Someone's hurt. Must be Fowler again.
"Hey Jack, wake up!"
Jack felt something hit him on the arm. It did not hurt very much but it got his attention.
By the time Jack realized who it was that hit him, she was already halfway down the ladder.
"Miko?" Jack called out.
"Let's go see what's happening already!" Miko said, running after Bulkhead who was heading to the command center.
Guess our talk will have to wait.
Jack followed after them.
Jack rushed as fast as he could towards the command center. Upon seeing the room ahead at the end of the massive hall, Jack could see that a groundbridge has already been opened and then closed.
Jack could hear much activity happening up ahead, including Ratchet who sounded quite upset.
"Three human children wasn't enough Optimus? Now we add two more to the base?!"
Two more?
Jack finally made it to the commander center to see Optimus laying Agent Fowler on a medical gurney, which was already prepared by his mother.
"What happened to-"
"DARBY!"
Who the-oh no...
With growing dread, Jack turned his head towards the sound of the new voice that called him.
It can't be...
In the fraction of a second, Jack saw that it was Vince Raider, the school bully, looking mad as Hell and rushing straight toward him.
Oh scrap.
To be continued...
Hope ya'll enjoyed that one.