Chapter Ten
New Living Arrangements
After Ratchet bridged Ironhide and Bumblebee to Casey's Farmhouse, they drove up to the house which stood empty and dark against the starry skies.
Casey got out with April and sighed sadly.
April was equally sad as she looked at the Farmhouse that had so many memories for her and her husband along with their mutant friends.
"I do hope it's safe enough for us to return soon." Casey sighed "This place is part of my childhood as well as a place our friends have come to for safety or a break from the City and the trouble from the Foot."
"I know hun." April comforted "But until things cool off here, and those Decepticons move away from this area, we need to stay safe."
"And we better move quickly!" Leonardo said, "Go inside and get our stuff then hurry back."
"Good idea Green guy!" Ironhide's voice came from his vehicle mode which made everyone jump.
"Whoa dude!" Michelangelo said, "I'm still not used to a van talking, you know!"
"Sorry!" Ironhide chuckled "But then again, I'm not used to seeing a human sized walking talking turtle!"
"Touché!" Raphael laughed.
Bumblebee then bleeped and whirred.
"I know Bee, I know." Ironhide said "Seems humans aren't the only inhabitants on Earth."
"We'll discuss more on what roams the Earth later." Monalisa spoke up "Right now, we need to grab what we can from the Farmhouse and go back to the Autobot Base!"
"Right you are sis!" Donatello said, "Come on!" he led the way to the front door.
Pandora patted Bumblebee's hood affectionately before following her family into the house.
"Remain in Vehicle mode guys!" Leonardo said.
"Right you are!" Ironhide said as he watched the Hamato Clan go inside as well as scan the area around the house making sure no-one was watching.
"Ratchet will inform us if there's any trouble." He whispered to Bumblebee who bleeped in agreement.
Inside the Farmhouse, everyone ran into their respective rooms to gather their belongings, whether they be clothes, personal items, sheets, sleeping bags and pillows as well as some food from the kitchen, much to Michelangelo's glee.
After they had gathered everything, they took it down to the front porch ready to load into Ironhide and Bumblebee's trucks.
Casey and April were still sad to leave the house and they took a few minutes to gaze around the place.
"I do hope I can return to this place again soon." Casey lamented "It's been in my family for so long..."
"I know." April promised "But we will come back, once things have calmed down, and in a way, those Decepticons only attacked us in the woods, they don't know we live here, but we can't take any risks."
Casey sighed again and looked around more before walking to a chest of drawers and picked up some framed photos.
One was of him as a young boy with his parents in front of the house, another was of him, April, the turtles and Splinter, another was with Monalisa when she first joined the family, another with Pandora and Kemeko, and the others had Tyroth and Sephie, as well as the Chicago Knights and their friends when they came to stay at the Farmhouse.
"Just as Mementos until we can return again." Casey said as he placed them in a rucksack he carried.
April kissed her husband's cheek then they both walked to the porch to see the turtles, Monalisa and Pandora loading up Ironhide and Bumblebee with their possessions and essentials.
"Why by Primus, you brought a lot out!" Ironhide commented as he saw the bags as well as some blow up mattresses the turtles brought out.
"Everything but the kitchen sink!" Raphael commented as he started to load the bags into the back of Ironhide's Van form.
"You left the what?" Ironhide asked and Bumblebee whirred and bleeped in confusion.
"Kitchen sink." Monalisa said patting Ironhide's bonnet "It's an idiom, humorous Earth speech, It means we got everything we need or might not need imaginable, or 'we got all our resources'."
"Ah right, I getcha lass!" Ironhide said as he realised "Me and the guys need to learn more about the customs and culture of your planet."
Bumblebee bleeped in agreement.
As they were loading up, Pandora saw some lights in the woods, and she pointed towards them.
"Guys look!" she said to which the turtles, April, Casey and Monalisa looked also, and they saw blue lights flashing in the middle of the woods.
"What's going on there?" Leonardo asked.
"Looks like flashing lights of the emergency services, or the police!" April commented.
"If I didn't know any better." Donatello mused "The action from earlier must have alerted the authorities!"
"Aww Shell!" Raphael groaned.
"You mean they're investigating what happened with us and those giant robots?"
"Well they tore down a few trees and the debris from the Battle Shell and the Shell Cycle are there too!" Donatello said in a worried voice.
"Scrap!" Ironhide's voice was heard behind them, and Bumblebee once again bleeped and whirred with worry.
"We better move guys." Casey said, "Before they come this way."
"Yes lets!" Leonardo said, "Come on!"
At once everyone jumped back into Ironhide and Bumblebee and the two Autobots reversed and started to drive away so they could com Ratchet to pick them up.
Back at the Autobot Base, Optimus was listening to Splinter as he was talking more about his life as a pet rat back in Japan many years ago, and his life with Hamato Yoshi then meeting his sons and training them to be who they were now.
Ratchet was still at the Ground bridge controls, whilst Bulkhead and Arcee had gone to their quarters to rest.
After Arcee had taken her decontamination bath and was clear of the substance that had been splashed on her which Ratchet was planning to look at in the morning, she decided to head to her quarters to rest as well as reflect on what happened, and Bulkhead escorted her before going to his own.
All the while Splinter was speaking, Optimus listened intently, he was saddened when he listened to the story of Yoshi and Tang Shen, and how Yoshi had been murdered years later by the Shredder, yet he felt a warmth in his spark as he heard the happier parts.
"...they make me so proud." Splinter said dreamily "How far they have come and how I am confident they will carry on when I am no longer of this world."
Optimus gave a small smile.
"I can see why you proud of them, Master Splinter." He said, "I have spoken a lot with your eldest son Leonardo, and I understand how they look up to you."
Splinter nodded.
"I have done all I can to prepare them for the world, and we've been through many trials and difficulties, many I will spare the details until the time is right."
"Very well Master Splinter." Optimus said, "And I'm certain there will be time for more stories, as myself and my team have a few of our own."
As he spoke, he looked over to Kemeko who was dozing on the sofa.
"And given how tired your granddaughter is, it is best that when your sons, daughter, Pandora and the two humans return, you prepare yourselves for sleep."
"Thank you, Optimus." Splinter said bowing.
Optimus nodded and was about to speak again when Ironhide's voice was heard from Ratchet's station with the big screens.
"Ground bridge to our co-ordinates Ratchet!"
Ratchet almost jumped but he quickly started to patch in the co-ordinates and before long the ground bridge roared to life, and it woke Kemeko up with a start.
Optimus, Ratchet, Splinter and Kemeko looked over and they soon saw Ironhide and Bumblebee return.
"We're back!" Ironhide called out.
"I can see that!" Ratchet groaned at the obviousness, then he watched as the turtles, Monalisa, April, Casey and Pandora jumped out and started to unload their belongings from the two Autobot Vehicles before they could transform back.
"Ah that's better!" Ironhide said then looked down at the bags and items which the turtles, Monalisa, Pandora, April and Casey began to distribute amongst themselves and start to carry to the stairs to get to the raised platform.
"Ah, You got everything my children?" Splinter asked.
"Everything but the kitchen sink!" Pandora called up cheerfully.
Ratchet and Optimus looked a little confused until Bumblebee bleeped and whirred explaining it was an idiom and it meant 'all their resources'.
"Ah I understand." Optimus said then he knelt and held out his hand to Leonardo and Donatello who were about to pull a couple of bags to the stairs.
"Please." The Autobot Leader offered "Allow me."
The turtles, Monalisa, Pandora, April and Casey were surprised but they didn't hesitate to take Optimus on his offer to help.
"Why thanks!" Donatello said and placed his items into the Prime's giant servo and the others did the same and Optimus placed everything on the raised platform.
"Thanks Optimus!" everyone called up to him to which the Prime nodded his head.
"You have all had a long day, and I couldn't allow you to dispel your energy any more than you need to." He said, "I suggest you get yourselves some rest."
"Don't have to tell me twice..." Michelangelo said with a yawn as he climbed the stairs.
"Me too..." Pandora agreed "I feel like I've been running a marathon."
"it's the excitement dying down." Donatello said, "You were high as a kite but now you're ready to go plop!"
Monalisa chuckled.
"Come on guys." She said, "Let's all get our sleeping gear out before we all pass out!"
"On it sis!" Donatello agreed.
Whilst the Hamato Clan started to get their sleeping arrangements sorted, Ironhide pulled Optimus aside and started speaking in Cybertonian to him.
"Before we left the House, we could see humans investigating where we rescued the older mutants and humans." He explained "It seems the activities of the Decepticons when they attacked drew unwanted attention."
Optimus frowned.
"No doubt Agent Fowler will be planning another visit." He said looking towards the raised platform where the Hamato Clan had set up blow up mattresses and sleeping bags and the two girls were getting out their teddies.
Pandora had ninja bear and Cuddles whilst Kemeko had Geisha Bear and a stuffed Panda.
"Darn tootin' he'll be back, and on our tailpipes!" Ironhide said worriedly.
Optimus patted Ironhide's shoulder.
"We will deal with the situation when it arises." He said, "We can only do our best to remain undercover, but what the Decepticons do is not in our control,"
"True that Prime." Ironhide agreed "Those darn cons make a mess, and we get the slack for it!"
"Indeed my friend, as rather unjust as it is." Optimus answered.
"And when Fowler does arrive." Ironhide said "What are we gonna do about our new friends?" he gestured with his thumb to the Hamato Clan who were soon settling down to sleep.
"Again my friend." Optimus said "We will just have to deal with the situation when it arises, as of now, these Earthlings must be under our watch since the Decepticons are aware of them."
"I understand Prime." Ironhide said then looked over to Bumblebee who was observing the Mutants and humans as they snuggled into their sleeping bags and were soon fast asleep, although Pandora was still awake and was showing Bumblebee the bears she had whilst the yellow scout held up a digit to touch Ninja Bear.
"We've had these since we were kids!" Pandora explained as she held up Ninja bear "And tomorrow we'll show you the moves we got as Ninjas!"
Bumbleebee bleeped and nodded excitedly.
"Pandora." Raphael looked over to his daughter from his mattress with Monalisa "You can show our new friends tomorrow, but for now we must just some rest." He yawned.
"Awww." Pandora pouted.
"You heard your father, Geisha!" Monalisa rallied to her mate's side.
"No doubt you'll have plenty of time tomorrow my child." Splinter said as he made himself comfortable on the sofa "But sleep is important, especially after what happened today."
"Alright Grandpa!" Pandora agreed then lay back on her mattress "Goodnight, guys." She said "Goodnight, Bumblebee..." she said before her eyelids drooped and she drifted off to sleep.
Bumblebee watched her fall asleep then turned to Optimus and Ironhide.
Ironhide put a digit to his lips as Bumblebee joined them and Optimus looked over the Hamato Clan and saw they were all fast asleep.
"Let's leave quietly." Optimus said in a low whisper and looked up at Ratchet who seemed hesitant to leave his station, but he couldn't deny he was tired too and nodded before following the Prime, Ironhide, and Bumblebee to their own quarters in the base as quietly as they could so as not to wake their new guests.
The Hamato Clan have gathered their resources or as they've explained to their new friends 'Everything but the Kitchen Sink!' and have settled in the Autobot Base.
But from what they saw in the woods near the house, the Decepticon Attack has alerted the humans, so no doubt Agent Fowler will return demanding what happened!