Chapter Thirty-Six
Unaware
Back at the base, unaware of what had taken place a few hours earlier, Bulkhead and 'Wheeljack' were throwing a large metal ball at each other much to Ratchet's chagrin.
Pandora and Michelangelo were doing some break dancing together to some upbeat music, and Bumblebee was watching curiously before trying to copy a few moves himself to which Pandora clapped and cheered for him.
Kemeko was sitting on the sofa on the raised platform with a sketchpad out and was drawing the scene before her whilst Monalisa was next to her watching her work as well as kept an eye on her daughter and adopted baby brother.
Donatello, April, Casey, Master Splinter and Raphael were sitting next to Arcee and Ironhide watching as Bulkhead and 'Wheeljack' were continuing to throw the metal ball at each other as well as observe Michelangelo, Pandora, and Bumblebee dancing.
"So, what's this all about?" Donatello asked with a raised eyebrow ridge as he watched the wreckers at play.
"Yeah! It's not much different from our ball games here on Earth." April commented.
"It's called lobbing." Arcee explained "Favourite pastime among the warrior class."
"Though more intense." Raphael added flinching a little as Wheeljack threw the ball quite hard at Bulkhead and the green guy was sent back a few feet, his pedes scraping over the ground.
Ratchet groaned and shook his head before turning back to the ground bridge controls wishing he was somewhere else and away from the madness, but he knew he had to fix the machinery.
"Hey, where's Optimus?" Raphael asked noticing how the large red and blue leader wasn't amongst them.
"Went for a drive!" Arcee replied casually.
"Primes don't party." Ironhide added.
"Prime's not the only one gone." Donatello said as he looked around the base, "Where's Leo?"
Splinter smiled softly.
"I believe your brother has decided he's not the only one who wanted space," he said.
Raphael and Donatello turned to the old rat in question.
"He's gone with Prime." Splinter answering before they could ask anything.
"Wow." Donatello exclaimed "Well, I've seen how close they were getting since we first met the Autobots, it doesn't surprise me."
"I think Leo's found someone other than Tyroth who understands him." Raphael said, "Which is a good thing I suppose."
"Same for Optimus." Ironhide added "Before you guys showed up, Optimus would often go off for a drive alone on many occasions."
"Can't be easy being the leader all the time, I'm sure." Donatello mused "One does need space."
"That is correct Donatello." Splinter smiled and looked to the entrance of the base.
As Splinter had clarified correctly, Leonardo and Optimus were driving alone on the long road in Nevada.
Leonardo relaxed in the passenger seat and crossed his legs as he looked out through Optimus's windscreen.
He had said to his sensei and his adopted daughter that he was going to take some time alone for a while and he had gone with Prime on one of his drives alone, for the two of them had gotten very friendly with each other as Donatello had observed.
"Thanks for letting me come with you Optimus." The turtle commented as he smiled at the wheel that was moving slightly as it drove itself.
"It is my pleasure, Leonardo." Optimus voice was heard from the dashboard "The roads can sometimes feel…. Lonely."
"Do you often go on drives alone?" Leonardo asked as he looked at the night sky, where there were many twinkling stars, and the full moon was out, making the empty roads and vast landscape glow a slight silver.
As there was no light pollution, Leonardo could almost see the different gatherings of stars, though he couldn't name them by heart.
"Fairly often, yes." Optimus answered, "It helps clear the processors."
"I can understand that!" Leonardo agreed patting the seat "I often retreat to clear my head when I need to, sometimes my brothers drive me to distraction, and Pandora can be a bit too spirited for her own good."
"Being a leader, no matter of who or what, is always a burden." Prime said.
"Too true!" Leonardo agreed then sighed "Don't get me wrong Prime, I take Pride in being Leader, but it can get to me sometimes."
"I understand Leonardo." Optimus said, "I have had similar experiences with both individual Autobots and certain groups, such as the Wreckers, whom Bulkhead used to be a member, and especially the Lighting Strike Coalition."
"The Lighting what now?" Leonardo asked curiously.
"The Lighting Strike Coalition." Optimus repeated "Their leader, Grimlock, decided on that name, though I have heard that the others thought it was a horrible name. I am inclined to agree."
"Grimlock?" Leonardo asked, "Who was he?"
"He was a…" Optimus paused "A troubled individual. He used to be a gladiator before the war, much like Megatron, though the two never fought each other. His strength far outmatches that of ordinary bots, and his brutality of battle that of most of the Decepticons."
"Wow." Leonardo exclaimed "Was he an autobot? Or what would you say…. a neutral?"
"He was an Autobot, though some would say 'just barely'. He and I did not see optic to optic, and he would often disobey direct orders." Optimus explained "He used to be a member of the Wreckers, but was discharged due to being too violent, even by their standards. Caution and mercy were the signs of a weak leader according to Grimlock. Still, he was an effective soldier, and his reputation had made his very presence a weapon of terror against the Decepticons."
"That's interesting." Said Leonardo "What happened to him?"
"I do not know." Optimus replied "During one of the Decepticons' last great offences, Grimlock and his squad abandoned their posts, and were never heard from again. But I knew that Grimlock had to have had a reason, so I sent Jazz and Cliffjumper to locate them, but they only found the stasis-locked body of Sludge, one of Grimlock's squad. They report that the tunnels where they found him later filled with deadly chemical wastes, and Sludge is presumed to have perished there. The same could be true for the rest of Grimlock and his squad."
Leonardo winced.
"Holy Shell." He said, "I'm so sorry about that."
"I am afraid that is such is the nature of war." Optimus sighed "Still, their trail led to a lake of energon, so I like to think that at least their deaths were not in vain, but it is a small comfort."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that Prime." Leonardo said then looked at the wheel as it weaved about by itself.
"I can't tell you how weird it looks," he said, "A truck with no driver, and only hearing your voice coming from the dashboard."
He looked out the window again.
"Do you think so?" Optimus asked in a musing tone, "Maybe I can do something about that."
Just then an approaching vehicle in front of them appeared with its lights on.
"Incoming traffic." Prime's voice was heard again "Seems I have to either way."
Leonardo looked over to the wheel and his eyes widened at what he saw!
There sitting in the driver's seat was a human man!
He was Caucasian with thick black hair that peeked from under a brown cowboy hat, a strong jaw with a dark five 'o'clock shadow and his eyes were icy blue to match Optimus's.
He was broad shouldered, and he wore a red short sleeved shirt with white detail and blue jeans which matched the Prime's colour scheme.
"Whoa!" Leonardo cried "I didn't know you could do that!"
"It's a hologram." Optimus replied, his voice coming from the mouth.
"Wow!" said Leonardo "Amazing!"
He reached out his hand to touch the shoulder of the man before him, but found it went straight through!
"Ratchet had us all outfitted with holographic human projectors, to help keep our existence a secret," Optimus explained "Though they do have a limited range, no more than a couple of meters away from our bodies. Most of the time, however, we get by with simply shading our windows, Arcee is an exception to this because of her choice of alternate mode."
"Amazing." Leonardo commented "And yeah, I get why Arcee needs to keep a hologram up, being a motorcycle and all."
Suddenly, a flash of blue lights caught the turtle's attention and he looked at Optimus's side mirror.
"Uh oh!" he gulped.
"What is it?" Optimus asked.
"It's the fuzz!" Leonardo said in worry, "The cops!"
He was right as the bright blue and red lights were flashing and the siren went off a couple of times, signalling Prime to pull over.
"Strange." Prime mused "I have not exceeded the speed limit, still, it is problematic, my holo-avator has no mass, physical contact will expose it as just an illusion."
"Damn!" Leonardo cursed "The problem with cops is they may stop you for anything, routine check…. man, this is awkward!"
"Unfortunately." Optimus sighed "I will have to comply with their laws, hopefully they will leave once they are done."
"You sure?" Leonardo asked with wide eyes, "They may try and ask you for documentation, or pat you down for weapons!"
"I will have to take that risk." Optimus replied, "Attempting to escape is guaranteed to draw attention."
Leonardo sighed as he agreed then he had an idea.
"Okay, I think I got a plan." he said "Though, I'll need to hide, the cop won't take too well seeing me, being a mutant and all."
"A sound Idea." Optimus said as he slowly pulled over onto the side of the road.
As he did so, the police car stopped behind him and a tall male cop with blonde hair got out and flashed his torch at Optimus's truck form analysing it then flashed his torch up at the side window on the driver's side.
"Hey you!" he called up to which the window was winded down and Optimus's Avatar leaned out slightly.
"Is there a problem, officer?" he asked politely.
"Please step out the vehicle sir!" the cop ordered.
Optimus internally scanned the cabin of his truck form, yet he couldn't find Leonardo, and he hoped his mutant friend was safe and hidden, yet a bit of worry filled his spark as he wondered how to handle this police officer.
"As you wish, officer" he said as he opened his door and his avatar stepped out in range of the holo-projector.
As he did, the cop flashed his torch at Optimus's holoform's eyes and Optimus squinted.
"May I see your licence sir?" the cop requested, and Optimus felt his spark beat faster in worry, but he kept his cool.
"One moment, please," he stated as he patted his pockets as if checking for the documentations the officer wanted, "It is in the truck".
His Avator then turned back to the truck, and he pretended to look for his licence, as well as try and think of how to shake this police officer off without blowing his cover, he also wondered what Leonardo's plan was.
"You're not from here." The police officer said suddenly making Optimus jump slightly yet he looked over his shoulder.
"One could say that, yes." he replied.
"How come your truck has no license plates?" the cop asked, "And what's with the weird symbol on the front?" he added.
Optimus cursed in his head, and it became all too clear to him that their disguises still needed some work and he needed to talk to Ratchet about it.
"Well?" the cop asked in an impatient tone "You got something to hide?"
"I cannot find my license." Optimus shrugged looking back at the officer to which the cop narrowed his eyes with suspicion anf flashed his torch up at Prime's Avatars eyes.
"Hmmm, likely story…" he said as he walked closer to Prime's Avatar, but before he could say anything else, he gasped and groaned before collapsing backwards much to Optimus's shock and he soon saw Leonardo appear behind the collapsed cop.
"Leonardo?" Prime questioned "What did you do?"
The blue masked turtle held up his right paw.
"Pressure points." He explained "I pressed a spot on his neck and knocked him out cold."
"So, he is merely unconscious?" Optimus asked "That is a relief. But will this not add to our problems?"
Leonardo shook his head.
"No, he'll think it was all a dream, I'll put him back in his car, he'll stay asleep for at least an hour."
"An interesting technique." Optimus mused, his avatar stroking his chin in thought as well as gave an amused smirk "I would like to know more about it, but that will have to wait until we are back on the road again."
"Sure thing Prime!" Leonardo agreed as he looked around and gathered the cop into his arms.
"Get back in the truck, I'll be right back, I'll get this guy back in his car!" Leonardo advised.
"Very well." Optimus agreed then watched as Leonardo ran back to the station wagon.
The Prime deactivated his holo-avatar, no sooner did Leonardo finish his task and jump back into his truck form than the duo took off back on the road.
Leonardo leaned back in his seat and wiped his brow.
"Phew! That was a close shave huh Prime?" he asked.
"That can be stated more than once." Optimus agreed, "And it would seem that our disguises need some additional details. Perhaps I should speak to Agent Fowler about it."
"Sounds like a plan," Leonardo said as he thought of the Autobot's Human liasion, "You know Prime, despite how he is with us, I'm pretty sure he's still not quite got over meeting me and my family." He said with a chuckle.
"One would think that after meeting an alien race of mechanical organisms, the existence of a group of genetically mutated earth creatures would be easier to accept." Optimus spoke.
"Yeah," Leonardo shrugged "But I suppose there is so much one man can take….
"Indeed. But I am certain that he will process it... eventually." Optimus spoke.
"Hopefully." Leonardo said, then another thought came to his head.
"Although, he still hasn't met Tyroth and the Mutopians yet, and if I'm correct, it won't be long before a chance comes where he will have to meet them, we've got to let them know about our alien friends sooner or later."
The Hamato Clan are still unaware, along with the rest of the Autobots that Wheeljack isn't who he really is, and the question is, will they find out eventually? Well those who have seen the show should know the answer to that one!
Also, hope you enjoyed that little scene with Leonardo and Optimus! I have to give thanks to Tyroth Darkstorm for that as this was a brainstorming session we did ages ago and had a lot of fun with!
As Leonardo said, it was a close shave that Optimus's cover and his own wasn't blown by that traffic cop! lol!