So props to SailorNova007 for being the first to correctly guess that the Carter from the last chapter was Carter Grayson from Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. I did say there would be other Habsro properties referenced in this.

Like I said at the beginning though, don't worry. This is primarily a Transformers and Percy Jackson crossover story, and that isn't changing. The cameo from Carter and Dana is just part of this little crazy shared universe I'm building.

I don't own Transformers, all other associated Hasbro properties or the Riordanverse; they belong to their owners.

And as always, all credit to canon dialogue goes to Rick Riordan.

Chapter 23: I Wipe My Dad's Mind.

The female medic, Dana Mitchell, attended to my dad. She and the firefighter Carter Grayson's Autobot friends, the Protectobots, began to clean up and fix the area.

Me and Thundercracker took the moment to sit off to the side and catch a breather. We had some catching up to do.

We just sat there in silence for a minute, unsure of what to say.

"Piper. I'm sorry," said Thundercracker.

"I'm sorry too," I said.

"You've got nothing to be sorry about," Thundercracker said shamefully. "I didn't tell you the truth about me because I was scared. You had a right to know, and I should have told you far sooner."

"And I should have understood that!" I protested, "I shouldn't have pushed you away like I did."

"Well, you don't have to worry about me being a Decepticon anymore," Thundercracker said.

"What do you mean?"

"I quit."

"You... what!?" I asked.

"You were right. It was simple. I just had to stop being evil."

"But now they'll hunt you down or something, right?"

"Yeah, they will. But I'm done running from who I am." Thundercracker declared, "I'm not going to bury my head in the sand anymore and act like everything I do is okay."

"Thundercracker, you don't have to do this if you want me to be your friend again," I told him.

"This isn't just about you, Piper. I'm doing the right thing now. No matter what the consequences are," he explained, then pointed at me. "You taught me that."

I smiled. It was good to have my friend back.

Thundercracker's expression took on a more serious tone: "And Piper, while we're being honest with each other, I have to tell you something. Jane helped kidnap your dad."

"Yeah, I know; Medea told me she used charmspeak on her."

"No, I mean—Wait, Medea!? The Medea!?"

"It's complicated..." I muttered.

"...Right... Anyway, Jane helped her willingly." Thundercracker explained, "Jane wanted your Dad out of the way so she could put the final preparations in place."

"Final preparations for what?" I asked.

"To ruin him," Thundercracker said, and he explained that he had managed to stop an attempt by Jane and a few others to ruin my dad. They had been messing with my dad's finances for years, in case I ever became a problem.

I couldn't believe this. Not just the fact that Jane knew the truth about my mom this whole time, but that she did this at all. She was always mean-spirited, but still...helping ruin my dad?

"There's more," Thundercracker said shakily.

"What?" I asked.

"Jane said—she said that they planned this out carefully. That if they succeeded, Tristan would still have his father's old cabin. You probably would have moved in there."

The dots slowly started connecting in my head: "So... So if this went through... no more Dad being a celebrity? No more mansion? I could have had a normal life?"

"Yeah." Thundercracker said sadly, "I'm sorry."

I was silent for a bit, contemplating all this.

"Piper?" Thundercracker asked.

"...I wouldn't have wanted it like that." I finally said, "It wouldn't have been worth it.". I meant it too. As much as I hated that mansion and how Dad couldn't be there for me all the time, I also knew how important and proud of his career he was. He deserved to be happy just as much as I did.

Thundercracker smiled. "That's what I told Jane."

Before we could get any further, Dana walked up to us. "He's well enough to talk to you now," she said.

"Thanks," I said.

"By the way, is he Tristan McLean the movie star?" Dana asks.

"No," I said, using my charmspeak. "He only looks like him; forget it."

Dana just stood there in a trance for a moment. "Only looks like him-" she blinked. "What was I talking about?"

I really didn't feel comfortable manipulating people like this, but we didn't need the extra attention right now.

"Her father was good enough to talk to?" Thundercracker asked.

"Right. That."

Physically, Dad looked better on the stretcher. However, mentally, he still appeared pretty freaked out.

"Dad..." I said, walking up.

Dad weakly turned his head, "Pipes? Thundercracker?"

"It's us, Tristan..." Thundercracker said, kneeling to Tristan's level.

It took all my willpower not to cry: "It's gonna be okay, Daddy." I said comfortingly, "Everything is gonna be okay..."

"Monsters..." Dad muttered, "Not aliens from another planet. Actual monsters, from the stories Grandpa Tom told me, He looked at me again; his eyes were like broken glass. "They told me you were a demigod; your mother was-"

"Aphrodite, Godess of Love..."I finished.

"Isn't that great, Tristan?!" Thundercracker asked excitedly and clearly, not reading the room properly, "She didn't leave you for no reason after all!"

Dad just stared blankly at Thundercracker with a broken expression. "...Yeah. Great," he said, trying to give a smile but failing.

I never liked to watch Dad's movies, but right now, I'd give anything for Dad to be the suave action star he was in those films.

Dad turned to me. "You're a hero, Piper," he said in a trance, shivering. "Not playing a part in a movie, but a real hero." He smiled as best he could, "I'm so proud of you."

I smiled back. "I couldn't have done it without my friends or Thundercracker.".

Dad's smile faded as he stared off into space again. "Your mom never told me..."

"She thought it was for the best..." I said lamely. I remembered what Aphrodite said in that dream about how Dad wasn't ready yet, but for now, some relief would be good for him.

I saw what she meant. It wasn't just the revelation that the gods and monsters of the ancient stories were real; it was the torture, physical and mental, that he had been through. He would never recover from finding out this way.

"Monsters..." Dad muttered, a tear passing down his cheek. "I live in a world of monsters..."

Thundercracker seemed to catch on to the mood in the room, and he took Dad's hand in his oversized one. "I'll protect you from the monsters, Tristan," he said.

"Thanks..." Dad said quietly but appreciatively.

"Dad-"

"I failed you, Piper. I'm sorry," he said.

"No, you didn't!" I insisted.

"The things they showed me, Piper-"

"Dad, look," I reached in my pocket for the vial Mom had given me and handed it to him. "Mom gave me this for you. It will take away your recent memories. Make it so none of this ever happened for you."

Dad just stared, trying to process all this. "But I'll forget you're a hero," he said.

"Not forever," I told him, forcing myself not to break down. "Mom told me one day you'd be ready to know. Whenever that is, then we can talk about all this and laugh."

Dad just looked at the vial, and then he closed his eyes sadly, "When I'm ready. You make it sound like-like I'm the one growing up. I'm supposed to be the parent.". He took the vial nonetheless. "Piper. I love you. And I promise, when this is over, I'll spend more time with you without Thundercracker needing to help out."

Thundercracker scoffed. "Well, glad to see my services aren't appreciated," he said in mock offense.

The three of us laughed at that.

"I love you too, Dad..." I said, and then my eyes jolted open as I realized something: "Wait! How will you remember your promise if your memory is wiped?"

Dad gave a genuine smile for the first time since we rescued him. "I'll remember," he said assuringly. "I can feel it.". He drank from the vial, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed back onto the stretcher.

Me and Thundercracker just stood there, unsure what to do. I was vaguely aware of Jason, Leo, and Hedge walking behind us.

"So, uh, what now?" Leo asks.

"Your father needs some time to rest." Dana recommended walking up, "Should we take him to the hospital or his home?"

I thought about it: "Uh, his home, I think." I said, and I told her the address.

"First Aid!" Dana hollered.

The white and red Autobot walked up and saluted, "Yeah?"

"We need to get this guy a ride to Miami stat!" Dana ordered.

"Got it!" First Aid responded, and he transformed into his ambulance mode. Dana moved the stretcher Dad was on into the back.

"Anyone coming with?" Dana asked.

"Yeah. Me," I said.

"Piper no!" Jason protested, "We still need you."

"I can't just leave him!" I protested back.

"Your dad would understand, Piper." Thundercracker said assuringly, "You know that."

I just stood there, unsure of what to do.

"I'll take care of him." Coach Hedge said.

I stared at him; he was the last person I expected to offer help. "You?" I asked.

"I'm a protector." Hedge said, "That's my job. Not fighting..."

He looked a little crestfallen; I guess getting knocked out in battle must have shaken him.

Then he straightened, "Of course, I'm good at fighting too!" He glared at us, daring us to argue.

"Yes," Jason said.

"Terrifying." Leo agreed.

"I'm trembling," Thundercracker confirmed.

"The point is you need to carry on and finish this, Ms. McLean," Hedge said.

I nodded. "Take good care of him." I pleaded.

Hedge nodded back and got into First Aid with Dana.

"I'm coming too!" Thundercracker said.

"Not so fast, buddy," Hot Spot said as he placed an arm on Thundercracker's shoulders. "You may have gone nice, but the Autobots still want a word with you."

Thundercracker hesitated for a bit before finally nodding. "I understand..."

I suddenly got a bad feeling: "What are you going to do to him?" I asked.

"For now, my bosses just want to talk to him." Hot Spot explained.

"Okay..." I muttered, uncertainty.

As First Aid drove off with my dad in the back, I finally let myself cry. I'd been holding it in for too long. Jason hugged me, and Leo offered me some Kleenex.

"Your Dad is gonna be alright, Piper," Jason assured me.

"Thanks, guys—all of you," I said, smiling through the tears.

"Now come on. I got a message from Thalia while you were busy with your dad." Jason explained, "We gotta get to the Wolf House in Sonoma Valley."

"How are we supposed to get there?" I asked.

"I can't do much flying with no wing..." Thundercracker pointed out.

Leo looked around before his eyes locked on one of the Protectobots. "Uh, hey!" he called, "Helicopter guy!"

"Names Blades."

"Yeah, you. Can you give us a ride?"

Blades turned to Hot Spot.

"Go ahead, Blades," Hot Spot said, "call us if there's any trouble."

"Yes sir!" Blades saluted, and then he transformed into his twin-rotor helicopter mode.

Jason and Leo got in right away, but I stayed behind for a moment to talk to Thundercracker.

"I'll see you again soon?" I asked.

"Count on it," Thundercracker promised.

I gave him a thumbs up and raced over to Blades.

It was time to finish this quest.

Thanks for reading. As always, please leave a review!