Hello! This is my first Fanfic, so please be patient! I don't own Transformers or any songs referenced in this or Jeep. Please read and review! Constructive critisim is welcome!
Ch.1: Second guesses
About a month after the Battle at Mission City
Optimus drove down a street in a city called "Detroit" by the humans, Captain Lennox sitting in the passenger seat. The patrol had been quiet; The remaining decepticons hadn't been seen since the battle. Optimus couldn't help but think that they all hadn't wanted to get off the planet, like many human leaders wished.
"These unyielding patrols worry me. The decepticons may be preparing for another attack." Optimus commented.
Lennox nodded, agreeing. "I doubt they all left, but there's nothing left here for them."
Back at the autobot base, Bumblebee exploded with laughter as the shrill beat of an alarm echoed through the base, looking down at his angry human friend.
"It's not funny, you tricked me!" Sam said as his guardian continued his hysterical laughing.
Sam had fallen for Bumblebee's prank. Bumblebee tricked him into sounding the alarm, telling him it was a light switch, which prompted Ironhide to come pounding down the hall to see what was going on and Ratchet to come around the corner. Ironhide glared at Bumblebee who was still doubled over with laughter.
"WHAT IN PRIME'S NAME DID YOU DO?!" Ironhide shouted.
Bumblebee stood up straight and silently, taking the smallest step back he could. Ironhide looked angry.
"You can't play with alarms, they aren't toys." The weapon's specialist growled.
Bumblebee pointed at Sam with a smirk. "It was his fault"
"IT WASN'T! YOU TRICKED ME!"
"I DON'T CARE WHOSE FAULT IT WAS!"
The room fell silent.
"This is Lennox calling autobot base. Requesting back-up" A call came in, interrupting the silence.
Ratchet walked over to the main computer to answer while Ironhide scolded Bumblebee and Sam.
"I read you Lennox" Ratchet answered. "What is your location?"
"Transmitting coordinates"
"Ironhide and myself will come as quickly as possible" Ratchet told him.
"Understood, out"
Bumblebee looked expectant, looking from Ironhide, to Ratchet who had his back turned.
"Since you obviously don't know how to behave properly, you get to stay and guard the base with Sam" Ironhide's tone was gruff and cold.
20 minutes later, Bumblebee stood by the computer, Unable to contact anyone. He hated computer monitoring more than decepticons. Bumblebee looked over at Sam, who was ignoring the world and laughing at his phone. Rolling his blue optics, he looked back at the computer screen.
Ratchet and Ironhide met Optimus in the heart of Detroit. The city had tall skyscrapers that flanked the side of a large river, promptly named Detroit River.
Optimus debriefed them quickly. "One of the con's escaped and is in one of the towns near the city. 3 of them are still in Detroit. Ratchet, I want you to pursue the one trying to leave, Ironhide and Lennox, spread out and search the area."
Ratchet transformed and sped down one of the streets, paying close attention to his radar and monitoring several police frequencies knowing that the decepticons often broke traffic laws and caused havoc. Finding a call of interest from a nearby small residential town, he changed course.
After some time, Ratchet found the decepticon. Transforming and taking out his buzzsaw, he sliced into the decepticon's armor. It jumped away, grabbing a truck and throwing it at the medic, who stepped to the side, barely avoiding the huge truck which was thrown. It exploded behind Ratchet. Taking out his powerful gun, he fired at the 'con. He realized he had not met this decepticon yet. The decepticon vaguely resembled Starscream, its wings from his huge plane mode stuck out on his back that didn't make him look as triangular as Starscream, and had a cockpit as his chest, but that was about all they shared. This huge decepticon stood 35 feet tall and his jet mode red, white and blue. Yet his eyes were a bright and non-threatening blue. Ratchet found himself deeply confused. If this was a decepticon, then why were his eyes blue, and why did he seem so careful not to hurt the humans around him? He realized his confusion must have been obvious on his face.
The decepticon met his gaze
"You seem confused, autobot" He hissed. "Is there something wrong?" Although the question seemed like it was meant out of good-intent, something about this new decepticon's tone that indicated otherwise.
Not offering a response, Ratchet still was trying to figure out what was happening.
The decepticon transformed and flew up into the sky, Ratchet jumped up and grabbed the wing of his jet mode. Something about this decepticon seemed odd- as if he were an autobot trapped in a decepticon's body. If he didn't have the honor he seemed to have, then he may have used an underhanded move when the medic had paused, Ratchet realized. He took out his buzzsaw, and sliced at the decepticon.
"Ow" it squealed.
The decepticon tried to loosen Ratchet's grip on its wing with a renewed energy. Gripping the jet's wing's, the decepticon swerved in an attempt to shake the autobot medic. Ratchet looked down momentarily. The ground was a several hundred feet underneath him, a fall that far down would do serious damage. The decepticon realized this as well, and transformed. Ratchet lost his grip and realized in an instant what was happening. He fell through empty air. But not for long. Suddenly everything went black.
Agent Simmons sat at his desk in a government base, organizing everything. He was angry with how the secret government organization, Sector Seven, had been terminated. The door opened, and an FBI agent walked inside his office.
"Don't leave just yet, Simmons. Uncle Sam needs you to help with our new little alien friends." The agent set four manila folders on his desk. "These have a bit more about each one- as much as we have on file, that is."
"I'll do it. What is it that you want me to do?" He asked
"There's been an accident in a town near Detroit." The FBI gave him a sheet with all the details, and left the room.
"How surprising." He muttered while reading the sheet. Setting it down on the desk, he turned his attention to the folders. Shifting through each one, he read the bold print on the front of each folder.
Optimus Prime- Autobot leader
Ironhide- Weapon's specialist
Ratchet- Medical Officer
Bumblebee- Scout
"Time to say hello to some old friends. This'll be fun." Simmons smirked.
Autumn Copperhead pulled her hand-me-down Jeep Wrangler that had been her older sister's into the driveway of her family's house. Her mom needed something to make her famous spaghetti, so Autumn drove to the store and bought it for her. It was summertime, so Autumn had a lot of spare time. She walked inside, greeted by the family dog, a sweet Greyhound pup, Misty.
"Hey Mom!" She said to her mom, handing her mom what she'd needed. "Is dad home?"
"Not yet" her mother said.
Stroking her dog, she smiled as her younger brother walked up to her. He was 12, almost exactly 4 years younger than her. Their birthdays were only two weeks apart. Autumn had a few friends at school, but her brother was her partner in crime. She also had an older sister, but Savannah was only a week away from 20 years old, and home from college for the summer. Savannah was always telling Autumn what to do; It frustrated her to no end.
"Hey, Hunter. What pranks are you planning?" She asked, unable to resist the smirk spreading across her face.
Misty barked, running toward the window.
"Can you take her on a walk by the river honey, she hasn't stopped barking all day." Her mother shouted from the kitchen.
"'Course mom!" she called.
Grabbing a leash from the hook and a flashlight, she clipped the leash to her dog's collar and walked out the door, finding her way to a park she walked Misty in often.
When she got there, nobody was there, as the sun was nearly disappeared, fading in the sky. She played with Misty, throwing sticks for her. Misty started barking at something, and Autumn followed her down the trail she bolted down. Although it was dark, but she could tell something was there. Holding the flashlight, she walked closer to it, Misty on her heels. Flashing it on the thing, she gasped. It was a very big, bright yellow robot. She walked toward its head, stopping in front of it. Then a pair of glowing blue optics opened, its face only a foot away from her face. She nearly dropped the flashlight in surprise.
"What are you? Who are you? And why are you in a park?" She asked, breathless with shock and surprise. It looked down at her.
"I am Ratchet, Autobot medical officer. I-" He paused. "can't remember how I got here. My memory core is damaged." He responded.
"I'm Autumn." She told him her name.
Autumn got a good look at Ratchet; he looked as if he'd been in a terrible fight- and lost. If there was a way of helping the autobot, she realized, she would need light- and a hose to clean off the dirt. But there wasn't any in the middle of the woods.
"Stay here." She ran toward the exit of the park, toward where her Jeep was parked. She knew she could find something, even it was just a water bottle, to get the dirt off of Ratchet.
I don't have much of a choice Ratchet thought to himself. He realized his memory core wasn't the only thing broken; His legs were badly damaged, he realized that they must have been what broke his fall and slammed into the ground first. His scanners were also in a similar state, so he couldn't scan his injuries to find out how bad they were. He struggled to remember what happened. Ratchet remembered Ironhide scolding Bumblebee, the next thing he could remember was falling. He knew he'd fought a decepticon, but couldn't remember what had led to that. Autumn came back around the corner a moment later, holding a water bottle and a towel. Ratchet met her gaze. She looked as if she were around 16, brown hair, brown eyes, and slightly shorter than average human teenagers. She didn't seem scared of him, either. He found himself somewhat surprised, most humans feared the transformers.
He watched Autumn carefully as she gently rubbed dirt off of him. Ratchet flinched when her hand grazed one of his injuries, and she stopped. He gripped the gash in his armor near his wrist, letting go when the pain subsided.
"How badly are you hurt?" Her tone was gentle.
"I don't know" He responded "My scanners have been damaged as well"
"Is there any way I can help?"
Ratchet thought for a second. He knew his wounds would need repairing. He doubted that this human would know much, but she seemed intelligent. With guidance, she might be able to repair his damage.
"I will tell you how to repair me." When he responded, she nodded.
"Ok. I hope I don't make it worst." she murmured in a gentle, quiet voice. Her dog began to bark and growl. Autumn tensed and looked around anxiously
Ratchet looked around, remembering from experience that this was a way dogs raised alarm if something was wrong.
"Young Lady, I believe you have been involved in a National Security issue."
He turned his head to look at the owner of the voice, and at Autumn who was backing up fearfully from an all-too-familiar person. Agent Simmons walked toward her.
"What happened here?" He asked, his gaze flitting from Ratchet to Autumn.
Not the one I was hoping to see Ratchet thought.
"I was just taking my dog for a walk in the park!" Autumn cried. Her dog growled.
"Do not harm her, Agent Simmons." Ratchet warned him, although he knew his words were lost on the sector seven agent.
"I wasn't going too" Simmons said in his most matter-of-fact tone which often irritated Ratchet to no end "I have a job to I need-"
Simmons didn't get a chance to finish. "I remember perfectly well what happened last time. It will not happen again." Ratchet retorted, his frustration increasing with the arrogant agent.
With a smirk, Simmons walked toward Ratchet to face him. "It looks like you had a heck of a fight." Simmons told him.
Ratchet held his stare but said nothing.
"What's going on?" Autumn asked in one of the most genuinely confused tones he had ever heard.
"This doesn't concern you" the agent turned facing her. "You shouldn't even know about this"
Autumn looked fearful, but Simmons seemed not to care. He glared at her. "I'll have a ton of paperwork to fill out because of you."
Ratchet couldn't hold himself back from snapping at the agent any longer. "Autumn was going to help me." He replied angrily, any patience he had with the government agent was gone.
Simmons looked up at him. "I doubt she knows enough to help. And what kind of a name is Autumn?"
Autumn only backed up slightly.
Simmons looked up at Ratchet. "You, my alien friend, failed to check in with the base."
Ratchet's patience was starting to ebb. "My comm-link was damaged. Enlighten me, Simmons, how am I supposed contact anyone if my comm-link isn't functional." He snapped in a sarcastic tone.
Simmons glared at him. "I can point out several ways, beginning with going back to base." His tone was taunting. "Speaking of which, is where we should be."
Ratchet knew that the damaged state his legs were in, they wouldn't support him, neither could he transform. Simmons could see this clearly, he knew.
"Oh, that's right, I didn't notice." Simmons sneered, then turned to Autumn. "As if there aren't enough people from the outside world knowing about this. What'll happen with her?"
"I will be her guardian" Ratchet murmured. Autumn smiled at the same time that Simmons frowned.
Back in the middle of the raging battle in Detroit, Ironhide fought a decepticon between the large skyscrapers. Ironhide fired his cannon at the nearest decepticon, taking it down. Suddenly a huge, white, red and blue jet swooped in, it transformed to stand a staggering 35 feet tall. The decepticon met Ironhide's gaze.
"Why are his eyes blue, if he's a decepticon?!" Lennox exclaimed from behind Ironhide.
"I am Skyfire, human, I will not hurt you. Only the evil autobots should fear me." The decepticon replied.
He paused, confused. But his pause was only momentary. He charged at the decepticon, throwing strong punches. Although the decepticon parried some of his blows, Ironhide was able to gain the upper hand on him. Ironhide fired his most powerful cannon. The decepticon fired a powerful double barrel gun. The shots flew toward him, barely missing as he leapt out of the way. Ironhide ripped up a tree and threw it at the decepticon, knocking him back.
From behind Ironhide, Lennox shouted over the loud firing of both his weapon, and Ironhide's own. "Watch out!"
Ironhide felt something big, strong and powerful smash into his back.
Starscream, He thought
He was flung forward from the impact, his feet knocked out from underneath him.
"Terminate this human, Skyfire." He snarled.
"Why? It hasn't done anything."
"That is an order from your superior!" Starscream snapped
"No. I will not destroy the innocent." Skyfire took a threatening stance.
"Fine." Starscream fired a missile at Skyfire. "You are no longer one of us!"
Ironhide fired his own shot at the missile, causing it to explode harmlessly before it reached anyone. Torn between shock and disbelief as Skyfire offered Ironhide his hand to help him to his feet, Ironhide steadied himself and met Skyfire's gaze.
"Why didn't you listen to Skyfire?" He said to Skyfire.
"I have no wish to harm those who are innocent, human or transformer."
"You would make a fine autobot." Ironhide murmured to the former decepticon. he looked around the battle field. He noticed the morning light began to bring the sky to life. He realized Lennox noticed the same thing.
"We've been fighting these guys all night." Lennox mused.
Ironhide nodded.
Optimus was walking toward the group, curiosity in his optics.
"Who are you?" The Prime asked.
"I am Skyfire. I wish to join you and your team." Skyfire responded.
"Starscream wanted him to kill Lennox but he refused, not wishing to kill any innocent life." Ironhide told him.
"You were a scientist before the war, were you not?" Optimus asked, recognizing his name.
"Yes, but then I crashed here when exploring with Starscream. I was frozen in ice at in the arctic until Starscream freed me, but he has changed. He now prefers war over science and I only recently learned of his wishes to control this planet. I wished for no part of it, so he sent me here, wishing for me to prove me loyalty." Skyfire looked at Ironhide, to Optimus, to Lennox, and back to Optimus. "Much, much has changed during my absence."
"Optimus, its Agent Simmons. I have a situation." The comm-link buzzed. It prompted grumbles of frustration from Lennox and Ironhide. Skyfire looked confused until Lennox informed him about the irritating Sector Seven Agent.
"Go ahead, Simmons" Optimus replied, whilst rolling his optics.
"I found your missing 'bot. Ratchet looks pretty messed up though. And a little something to keep note of, I prefer it when you guys don't gallivant through public parks; it's less paperwork for me to-" A voice, a girl's, interrupted his "How is that my fault?!"
"Transmit your location. I will be there soon. Ironhide, Lennox, Skyfire, back to base."
Optimus transformed and began driving toward the location transmitted.
Have fun. Ironhide thought. If I never have to deal with that human again, it'll be too soon.
Autumn stood on the muddy trail, the sun setting like a bright fireball over the tops of the trees. It cast a red-orange shadow on the world.
"When Optimus gets here, all of you are in trouble!" Simmons said grumpily.
"I'm sorry that I'm getting you into trouble." She knew from how angry Simmons sounded over the phone that he was unhappy with how the battle had turned out for Ratchet. She sat down next to the injured autobot.
"It is not your fault" He murmured gently.
Autumn leaned back against her guardian. A moment later a loud roar filled her ears, accompanied with loud clanks. A 30-foot-tall robot stood in one of the park's trails. She couldn't see below his knees because short trees covered them, but he was blue and red, with a hint of orange. Autumn squeaked and pressed closer to Ratchet.
"Optimus will not hurt you." Ratchet's tone was soothing, but Autumn still felt her anxiety rise.
Simmons glared at her, then at Ratchet. He turned to face Optimus.
"Do you have any idea what could have happened if little Autumn here called the cops and told anyone about this?" Simmons sneered at Optimus.
He throws two year old tantrums She thought.
"Like anyone would believe me." She muttered.
"Are you giving me sass, young lady?" Simmons snapped.
Autumn stood up, and took a few steps toward him. "Do you think I am?"
Simmons glared at her. Autumn glared back.
"I do not believe we have been properly introduced, Autumn. I am Optimus Prime. Leader of the autobots." Optimus told her.
Wow Autumn thought.
"Optimus, just how many people do you want to know of your existence here on Earth?" Simmons voice was challenging.
Autumn turned back toward her guardian. "Does he always whine like that?"
Ratchet nodded. "Unfortunately."
"I've never met someone as annoying as him, and I have a younger brother." She murmured to Ratchet quietly, so Simmons wouldn't hear.
Autumn watched Simmons quarrel with Optimus. Optimus turned his attention to Ratchet and Autumn.
"Autumn, since you now know about us, and the decepticons would want to hurt you, you will need a guardian" Optimus said quietly.
"I will be her guardian, Optimus." Ratchet offered, and Optimus nodded.
Behind Optimus, agent Simmons was about to go nuclear.
"Another kid? What are you thinking Optimus! It-"
"My systems have been slowly recovering. I think I can transform now." Ratchet interrupted Simmons, who went silent.
Ratchet got to his feet, and transformed into a bright neon yellow search and rescue hummer. The door opened on its own.
Incredible! Autumn thought. Behind her, Optimus transformed into a huge semitruck.
"I've always liked big trucks!" Autumn said with a smile as she got inside. Ratchet chuckled as he pulled out of the park. She set her hands on top of the steering wheel instinctively, a moment later realizing there was no need. A silvery autobot symbol was in the center of the steering wheel.
"So where are we going?" she asked with excitement and anticipation.
"The autobot base, you will meet Bumblebee and Ironhide there."
Autumn felt like a little kid sitting in the back seat again, barely able to contain her excitement as the destination got closer and closer.
"This is incredible!" She said, her tone gave away how excited she was. One moment she was taking the family dog for a walk, the next she was riding in a huge transforming alien robot! "Must be awesome to be able to just go where you want to go!"
Ratchet chuckled. "Yes. Yes, it is."
Pulling into the base, Ratchet stopped, and the door opened with a click. Autumn hopped out and looked around while Ratchet transformed next to her. Optimus was standing in front of a tall black autobot. An excitable orangish yellow one bolted around the corner, chased by two other laughing people.
The girl stopped, noticing Autumn. "Who's this?" she asked.
"I'm Autumn." she smiled.
"I'm Michaela, that's Sam and Bumblebee"
There was a sudden crash. Bumblebee had knocked metal barrels over. Sam laughed at his klutz-y friend.
"Hi there!" came Bumblebee's reaction to every set of eyes and optics in the room being focused on him. Bumblebee looked at Autumn, who was unfamiliar to him and played a song.
"What's your name, What's your sign, what's your birthday
What's your wrist tattoo bible verse say?
Tell me this, do you kiss on a first date
Don't hold anything, don't hold anything back
What's your dream job? Girl where's your hometown?
Yeah, what makes your world spin around and around?
And are you down to get out of here too?
Tell me everything 'til there nothin' I don't know about you"
She smiled, recognizing the country song, 'I don't know about you' by Chris Lane. Autumn loved country music; Her parents played it all the time.
The black transformer and Optimus turned their attentions to the enthusiastic Bumblebee
"I'm Autumn" she told Bumblebee.
Feels like I've said this a lot the past 12 hours she mused, laughing inside.
"Hmph. Another one." The black autobot growled. "As long as you don't bring any rodents around that lubricate on me, we might get along just fine."
He walked away. Autumn looked up at Ratchet.
"Who's that?"
"That is Ironhide. He's a weapons specialist. Although he can be gruff at times, He isn't as mean as he wants you to think." Ratchet told her.
"What about him?" She pointed at a white, blue, and red autobot.
Optimus walked over to them. "That is Skyfire. He joined our ranks after the last battle, betraying the decepticons."
Ratchet suddenly staggered. Swiftly, Optimus reached out and steadied him before he could lose his balance and slam into the floor.
"My injuries are worse than I thought. Transforming only worsen them further." Ratchet said quietly.
Autumn met his gaze, anxiety twisted in her eyes. He smiled at her, then winced.
"I will be alright, with rest." He murmured.
Bumblebee walked over to where Autumn was standing with Optimus and Ratchet.
"She can hang out with us 'til you're feeling better Ratch'!" Bumblebee called, scooping Autumn up and carrying her away.
"Oh-okay" Autumn responded; her thoughts occupied on concern for her guardian.
