july, 1993
…
A knock on a front door of a small house of a young woman in the early hours of twilight in a small town of Detroit, a female with straight strawberry blonde hair put down a bundle of blankets in a circular wooden basket without a handle onto the concrete step, a soft breeze blew as the hum of a jet in the distance made the woman startled. She ran away leaving the basket with the blankets shifting until a tiny porcelain hand of a baby broke through the plush blankets, the chilly breeze of the night brushed against the tiny hand, a loud distressed wail filled the open space reaching the ears of the mother. Tears dripped down the female's chin with her mouth twisting in pain, she continued to run, she had to keep going. She couldn't let them near the baby, she needed to be sure the baby would survive.
The owner of the small house opened the door, a 19-year-old woman that worked for the state in downtown, she had curly fire red hair, brown eyes and ivory pale skin, the young woman looked down at the dark wooden basket with a wailing baby girl with unnatural bright red hair. The woman looked around as she knelt and picked up the note that was resting on the tangled blankets. She read the contents on the small piece of torn paper, rushed writing but she was able to read it, she looked back down at the baby, dejected by the note. This woman couldn't believe this was happening, this woman was an orphan herself with it being close to two years of her parents' death from a car accident, and this baby came to her when she was sad and lonely. The words from the notes traveled through her mind again, and she made her decision, she was going to protect this baby. She was going to care for this baby, the person who wrote the note she immediately assumed was the mother begged for the person reading to care for her baby, protect her.
The note provided the baby's given name, her gender, her birthday, everything they needed to know about her in her short life. The baby was a year old, her birthday in April, the mother has been searching for her father but she hasn't and has been hiding with the baby since. She scooped the crying baby into her arms and began to soothe the baby. She picked up the wooden basket and walked back into her house bouncing the baby on her arm to soothe her, she closed the door and set the crying baby back in the basket on the floor near the loveseat. The woman immediately began to dress to run to store for supplies, and then she was out the door with the baby in her arms who quietened herself down into slumber.
The woman was Bella Williams, a woman who graduated high school at the age of 16 and completed college and had a bright future working with the state. Bella wasn't a relationship person, she wasn't attracted to anyone, not physically, mentally, emotionally, romantically, platonically, sexually. But she grew to love the baby quickly, the baby girl won her over within several hours, Bella was fascinated with her vivid blue of her eyes and as the years passed and the girl grew the vividness of her eyes stayed. The girl's soul bloomed beautifully, she was speaking full sentences before her fourth birthday, she loved the arts, music, dancing, singing, acting, instruments, arts like drawing, novels, graphic novels, comics, animes. All before she started school, Bella was nervous about her starting school, she didn't want to let the girl go.
She wanted her to stay small forever but that was so selfish, and this girl was growing beyond words, when she was due to start kindergarten. Bella explained to the girl she couldn't go by her given name and was to go by the name of Naomi Williams, Bella used spray on hair dye to cover up her red hair and explained to her things are different now. The girl understood at her youthful age. Arias Prime was Naomi Williams, daughter to Bella Williams until Bella lost her life while on summer vacation with Naomi in 2009, Naomi didn't see who it had done it. She had just heard the gun shots and the commotion of voices as they left the hotel room.
Upon going through Bella's things before they police arrived, Naomi left Texas on her own when she found letters Bella had wrote in case if this happened, she had to stay hidden because well that's how it's always been. Naomi knew she had to survive for her and obey her wishes she had programmed in her mind before she was able to understand anything else. Naomi relocated to Jasper, Nevada without going back to Detroit, an agent had found her at the beginning of the school year and all she did was provide him with the letters Bella left her and everything she told her. After that, she was regularly visited to make sure she was alive, and she planned to avenge her mother deaths, whether or not she was biological.
…
january, 2010
…
"So, there I am on the lookout when out of nowhere," A red muscle car with polished horns on the front of its hood began his story, this wasn't just any old muscle car. "These height beams light up my rearview. And then it hits me. I'm illegally parked!" Cliffjumper boosted a story to his partner, Arcee, via commlink.
"Another parking ticket?" Arcee sighed.
"Better. The Boot."
"Big metal tire clamp impossible to remove," Arcee guessed, smiling.
"Bingo! So, the local polies do their thing. I let them get all the way down the block. That's when I kicked off my new shiny shoe and. BAM!" Cliffjumper exclaimed, laughing.
"New York's finest soil themselves." The smile in her voice was loud.
"You know me, Arcee. You mess with Cliffjumper," Cliffjumper started the catchphrase.
"And you get the horns. Not sure how that complies with Autobot rule number one: keep a low profile," Arcee reminded her partner.
"What can I say? Patrolling for Energon out here in Dullsville is lonesome. Almost makes me miss the Decepticons."
"Like Jasper, Nevada's a party? We're alone wherever we travel on this rock, Cliff." Arcee said in a warm, relaxed tone turning a bend towards the said small town.
Cliffjumper's GPS navigation system started alerting him of a change in his perimeter. His screen changed from the road route of the area to a solar map.
"I'm getting a signal," Cliffjumper announced.
"Need backup?"
"Do I ever need backup?" Cliffjumper retorted with a soft chuckle before going off-road.
He drove towards the alerted location. When he arrived, he skidded to a stop at the edge of a ditch. He knew exactly what was within his sight.
"I just found a whole lot of Energon," Cliffjumper declared to Arcee before the sky darkened above casting shadows down over him, and transformed, "Decepticons!"
The Decepticon mother ship unfolded a gun and blasted down a shot behind making him fly into the air. He crashed into a pile of Energon. Cliffjumper managed to get back onto his feet recovering from the blast. A door under the ship opened and a group of Cons descended. Cliffjumper gritted his teeth upon the sight, he was outnumbered and sounded by explosive objects.
"Arcee, about that backup…," Cliffjumper trailed off.
…
"Fair warning, boys. I'm gonna put a few dings in ya," Cliffjumper vows before transforming into his vehicular form.
He drove up the ditch wall flying into mid-air and transformed into his bipedal mode and began descending in the air with a balled fist.
…
"Arcee to Optimus. The 'Cons are back. Cliff might be neck deep in scrap."
"Understood. Ratchet, do you have Cliffjumper's coordinates?" Optimus Prime asked Ratchet through the commlink.
"I've locked on his signal, Optimus. But our team is scattered across time zones," Ratchet informed Optimus as he skidded to a stop on the icy road.
"Arcee. Bulkhead. Bumblebee. Rendezvous back at base and prepare to Groundbridge," Optimus adjured.
…
One Decepticon landed an attack on Cliffjumper so roughly one of his horns detached from his head and sent him flying back into the ditch. He recovered quicker than before, he spat out Energon filling in his mouth. He felt alive, he was just complaining about being bored. He wasn't bored anymore; he was determined in seeing this through.
"You want the horns? You got them," Cliffjumper stated as he charged his cannons ready to fire.
The gun fight began and was over as quickly as it started as Cliffjumper was able to dodge gunfire, but he couldn't dodge the gunfire that collided with Energon and exploding. Knocking him clean off his feet and unconscious. Above within the safe confines in the mothership, a slimy Decepticon stood by and observed the events unfolding. He watched in frustration at the blue explosion and bright blue smoke.
"The Energon; it's worthless to me now," Starscream gritted his teeth, seething.
He turned around to his minions hauling Cliffjumper into the command room and made him kneel before Starscream.
"Starscream. It's been a while." Cliffjumper said his head after coughing, "Where's your master?" Cliffjumper asked cheekily as he coughed.
"That doesn't matter! I am my own master now," Starscream snapped shoving his clawed fingers into Cliffjumper's chest, "Any last questions?"
Cliffjumper replied with strangled gasps as Starscream pulled his hand from his chest, splatters of Energon falling onto the floor. He fell to his knees and collapsed in front of Starscream. Dead.
"Clean it up," Starscream ordered in disgust.
The mothership flew away into the Earth's orbit as a groundbridge portal opened at the site of the Energon ditch. The first to drop down was Bulkhead, then Bumblebee with his own battle mask covering his face, Arcee, Ratchet and then finally, Optimus Prime with his battle mask activated. All their blasters ready and aim at an empty and destroyed Energon site.
"An untapped Energon deposit," Optimus observed as they deactivated their weapons.
"What's left of it," Bulkhead corrected.
"The first Decepticon activity in three years," Ratchet remarked to his comrades.
"That we know of," Optimus retorted as his face guard unfolded, "If the Decepticons are scouting for Energon, they may be preparing for his return."
Immediately, Arcee and Bumblebee jumped their way down the rocks to the bottom to scout ahead. Arcee's observant pink and blue optic eyes picked out an object in the rubble. She picked up his horn, her face falling into despair as she looked up at Optimus with Cliffjumper's horn.
"Ratchet, can you track his position?" Optimus inquired turning to Ratchet hoping he could save his subordinate.
"No!" Ratchet screen on his arm for tracking Autobot life signals flickered offline, "Cliffjumper's life signal just went offline," Ratchet announced sadly.
…
"Soundwave. What is it?" Starscream demanded impatiently as the Decepticon approached him.
"Like Jasper, Nevada's a party? We're alone wherever we travel on this rock, Cliff." Soundwave replayed the recorded call with a visual effect on his screen face.
"The one called Arcee," Starscream sneered, "Why slay one Autobot while we still have the advantage of surprise?" He chuckled wickedly.
…
"We must not allow our anger over the loss of Cliffjumper to impair our judgement. As of today, only we five Autobots remain on this Earth. We owe it to ourselves; to the memory of Cybertron; to any Autobots in any galaxy seeking safe harbor; to humankind."
The Autobots stood in an open space of the desert where Arcee laid Cliffjumper's horn down upon the rock, they stood around as Optimus Prime gave a spark warming speech.
"And we owe it to the memory of our fallen comrade to survive."
"Arcee…," Optimus' voice trailed off watching the smaller femme walk away with a solemn expression on her face.
"If Cliff's gone, standing around here sulking won't bring him back. So, unless anyone minds, think I'll get back to protecting humankind," Arcee said bitterly before walking further away, "We still have a human girl to search for."
"Optimus, helping humans will result in more tragedy," Ratchet warned his leader.
"Your opinion is noted," Optimus nodded before gazing worriedly at Arcee's retreating form.
"Do you think we'll find Arias? Or Elita? It's been almost 18 years already," Bulkhead said, discouraged.
"No matter how many years pass, I won't stop looking for her until her expected lifespan is over," Optimus vowed, "I have a feeling she's closer than we believe. Until that day, let's not forget why we have been searching for her."
"The future ruler of Cybertron," Ratchet said distantly.
"Precisely, old friend," Optimus smiled softly at him, "My daughter, Arias, I know she's out there."
"She's a Prime, after all," Ratchet finished.
"Ew," Bulkhead mocked dry heaving, "Please stop that."
…
In downtown Jasper, Nevada, a sixteen-year-old boy working at the local fast-food restaurant named KO Drive-In, a mock restaurant of Sonic Drive-In from the East Coast. He had jet black hair and blue eyes. A normal teenage boy with a part time job, school and a worry wart for a mother. His headset dinged with a customer in the drive thru, the girl at the counter cashing out a couple. She had pin straight long reddish-brown hair that reached her lower hips and glistened under the lights of the restaurant with purple framed glasses without bottom lens frame, her name tag on her uniform shirt read, Naomi. turned to him as she closed the cash drawer. Her dark blue eyes met Jacks dark blue eyes.
"Can you take that for me, please?" She asked, politely, smiling apologetic.
Jack nodded at her, he touched his headset to accept the drive-thru order, "Welcome to KO Drive-In where the patties are a knockout. May I take your order?" Jack Darby spoke in the microphone in a very bored and forced manner.
Naomi turned back to the couple and handed them their change with a smile as she listened to the order, knowing the suffocating pain of fast-food service.
"Uh, two super combos, extra fries." The voice of a douchebag teenage boy greeted their ears.
"OK. Deus numerous deus. Anything else?" Jack asked as he began to assemble the orders.
Naomi and Jack worked greatly together, there were times when the two would run the place by themselves, no one was able to manage the pressure of fast-food service, if they weren't teenagers their boss would hand the keys over to them and take his retirement early with a peace sign.
"Yeah. Some advice. How do I get an awesome job like yours?" The boy tormented as the car laughed, Jack and Naomi both rolled their eyes simultaneously.
Naomi closed the cash drawer as she handed out the lobby order with the change on the tray. This wouldn't be the first time they heard this mocking laughter, nor would it be the last.
"So that's two not-as-funny-as-we-think-we-are combos with a side of bite-me," Jack sniped as he placed the bags on the counter.
"What'd you say!?"
"$5.59, sir, at the window," Jack said through his teeth having a challenging time maintaining his professional composure, he turned around to prepare to cash out the order.
The car pulled up to the window, the sound of crinkling bags and then shrieking tires of the car speeding off without paying.
"Hey!" Jack hung out of the window, he smacked the windowsill with a defeated sigh, "You have to pay for that!"
"I'll pay for it," Naomi said pulling a ten from her apron, and selected an option on the POS system and cashed out the order and left Jack the change.
"Hey, Nao, we still on for tonight?" Jack asked, swiping the change from the counter, with her back turned to him he dropped the change into her purse.
She turned back to him, smiling as she swept the grill area, "Of course, I still have need to kick your butt in COD."
"Cool cool," Jack replied nodding his nod, he turned to the lobby counter smiling professionally at a middle-aged man in construction gear.
"My usual, Jack, please," The man sighed tiredly.
"Another long day, Henry?" Naomi asked as she wiped down the available counter with a sanitary wipe.
"Always, Miss Naomi," He replied, "What you two kids up to tonight? A date?" Henry knew these kids for the past year and half now for as long as they worked in the joint, his question he asked every day. It was more of a joke than a serious question, he knew, and all the regulars knew that the two were power partners during rushes.
"If only," Jack smiled joining in on the joke, "Naomi keeps turning me down."
"Pfft!" Naomi laughed and the other two chuckled.
…
"Twins," Arcee chimed, turning her mirrors to see the two identical dark purple Cadillacs following her, she gained speed to evade them for now to get to a less busy area in case of witnesses.
Arcee pulled into the KO parking lot and parked as the twins drove past, she was clear for now.
"Take five, Sadie," Arcee advised as she deactivated her holoform, and turned off her engine.
Jack and Naomi walked out KO after clocking out as night shift took over; Jack pulled his ringing phone from his pocket and Naomi followed behind him as he talked with his mother.
"Hey, mom. I just got off. … No. I'm not going to the dance. Experience says I should never cut a rug…unless I'm installing carpet." Jack sighed before dropping his head into his hand and then lifted his head. "Mom don't worry. Nao's coming over tonight. Mom! You know it's not like that!" Naomi giggled at Jack's flustered expression knowing what June was saying to him. "…Be careful? This is Jasper," Jack scoffed before his eyes wondered onto the blue parked motorcycle, "I love you… Yeah. I love you too, mom. I gotta run. Mom says hi."
"Jack, that's not your bike," Naomi said as he began to caress the bike, "And he's being a bike pervert."
"Shut up. Hello, beautiful. Where have you been all my life?" Jack caressed the bike's curves, "Nice! It may take a few KO paychecks. But I am going to own a ride like you someday," Jack proclaimed as he felt the curves of the motorcycle and climbed on.
"Are you talking to your motorcycle?" Sierra scoffed before she and her friend laughed, Sierra a fiery red head and her friend had pale blonde hair.
Naomi choked on her Dr. Pepper, she coughed doubling over and wiping tears from her eyes.
"M-My motorcycle?" Jack inquired, then Jack recovered, he replied nervously trying to impress the girl, "No, uh, I mean, yes, yes. It's mine. But uh. W-Well, I'm-I'm not talking t- I'm talking to you," He face palmed fumbling for words. "I am," he sighed, and scratched the back of his head glancing at Naomi.
She gave him a pushing motion with her hands, she dropped her hands when Sierra and her lapdog glanced at her, she smiled at them forcefully kind. She didn't like these two, they hung around Lance and the others, Jack and Naomi were their prime subjects for classic high school torture and public humiliation.
"How's things, Sierra? Take you for a spin sometime?" Jack offered, nervously.
"Come on, smooth operator. Wrap it up," Arcee pleaded quietly turning her mirror to the Con approaching from behind.
Naomi shook her head as she stood near Jack and the motorcycle, crossing her arms.
"You know my name?" Sierra inquired, shocked, she was certain she had never seen him before.
"We're in homeroom together. I'm Jack. Jack Darby?" Jack asked hoping she noticed him.
The twins revved their engines and shone their headlights upon the group Jack.
"Scrap," Arcee cursed as the cars approached and the girls ran away shrieking.
Jack grabbed Naomi's arm, and she climbed onto the back of the bike as the bike came to life, speeding out of the parking lot mainly on the back wheel and speeding between Decepticons. The Cons followed Jack, Naomi and Arcee through the streets of Jasper.
"Do not let go!" Arcee advised Jack and Naomi.
"Who said that?" Jack asked, scared for his life with Naomi holding onto Jack for dear life.
The Cons surrounded their sides and Arcee knew she had only one option. With perfect timing Arcee braked making the Con collided together and sped around them and took off ahead. The Cons followed behind, catching up and reporting back to seething commander.
"Commander Starscream, target sighted with two human youths."
"Destroy them all!"
When Arcee had Jack and Naomi safe in an alleyway, she skidded to a stop and let the two off.
"What are you?" Jack demanded the motorcycle.
"I don't exist. Tell anyone about me and I will hunt you down," Arcee threatened Jack and Naomi, Jack grabbed Naomi's hand and led her away.
When Arcee saw the Decepticon cars approach her from behind she continued her way, she noticed that one took off in the direction that Jack and Naomi had taken off previously.
"Scrap!" Arcee exclaimed frustrated as she took off after them.
Arcee wheelies to jump over the oncoming Con and sped around the corner. In the alley, Jack and Naomi ran down they both looked over their shoulders at the vehicle approaching him, knocking trash and boxes out its way.
"I don't even know her!" Jack yelled.
"Go away demon car!" Naomi shrieked, pushing herself faster nearly losing her glasses.
That same moment Arcee drove over the car and sped up to Jack and Naomi.
"Hop on!" Arcee yelled.
Jack hopped on first and Naomi jumped on behind him, wrapping her arms securely around his waist. Arcee sped out of the alley onto the main road before turning onto the highway. Both teenagers yelped and ducked at the blasts of gunfire from the demon cars behind them.
"The demon cars are armed!" Naomi shrieked.
"Why are those guys shooting at us?" Jack demanded.
"There's no us, kid. And they are no guys," Arcee retorted.
Bumblebee joined them on the highway from behind them and rammed into the Decepticons. After spinning around the highway a little bit, Bumblebee regained control and immediately followed after Arcee, Jack and Naomi. Ready for another attack if Arcee needed him.
"Friend of yours?" Jack questioned.
"Family," Arcee corrected.
Naomi looked back at the yellow car, unable to understand the keen interest in the yellow sports car with black racing stripes and no driver. The insignia branded on Bumblebee's stirring wheel begin to glow in a blue light before flashing twice and returning to its silver shade, Bumblebee bleeped in confusion and shock as the same thing happened to the human girl's chest from what he could see from her angle. She was oblivious to what just happened, and Bumblebee couldn't believe her facial structure, two faces he had known well close to 18 years ago, their faces were mixed on her face. The shone on her in a way that made her brown hair glisten in a red shade and her dark blue eyes simmering. Bumblebee slowed down in shock and was blocked off by a Con, Naomi twisted more to look behind her, worry filling her chest over the yellow car.
Under the reconstruction highway bridge, a young boy with a thick head full of brown hair imitated engine revs of a muscle car holding a controller in his hands as he watched his remote car drive in his own designed racetrack lap.
"Hi, mama. Racing right up the street. Okay. Just five more minutes?" Raff begged his mother before hanging up and resuming his race.
On the bridge above Arcee neared closed off construction signs and made a sharp right turn off the highway onto the hill, speeding down the hill with Jack and Naomi shrieking, Arcee speed off the hill and onto the pavement. She kidded to a stop with a wide swing of her back tires and fully came to a stop.
"Whoa!" Raff gasped in awe, catching their attention.
"You have no idea," Jack retorted as he and Naomi climbed off with shaking limbs.
The three turned to the sound of engines, they watched as they transformed in mid- air and landed quite bit away. They stood in fighting stances, their blasters unfolding from their arms, ready to take fire.
"This ends here, 'Cons," Arcee declared as she transformed.
Naomi took off first to the opposite wall of the open space of the underpass, Jack and Raf followed her. She pressed her back against the wall, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her slim small nose.
"Cars transforming into giant robots," Naomi sputtered slipping onto the pavement as the battle begun before them as Arcee ran forward avoiding Con gunfire.
"What are they?" Raf asked looking over at Naomi on the verge of a panic attack.
"Talking cars that turn into robots… or the other way around," Jack guessed.
"Uh, your girlfriend is having a panic attack," Raf pointed out.
Jack looked down at him already knowing who he was speaking of, "She's not my girlfriend. Panic attack?" He looked over at Naomi with her hands in her hair, freaking out. Jack ran over to her and tried to stop the beginning of a panic attack; he had experience dealing with her anxiety attacks witnessing them at KO.
"This! *punch* Is! *punch* For! *punch* Cliff!" Arcee shouted at the Con she had landed solid left and right hooks into his face.
The Decepticon quickly recovered, turning his head back at her unphased and began firing at her. For the first few blaster fires, she successfully dodged them until the very last one that hit her square in her chest and made her fly backwards. She landed on her back skidding to a stop, the teenagers watched in shock with impending fear creeping up their spines. From above on the bridge a yellow sports car broke through the construction barrier, the car fell and transformed into a male robot and landed on a Con and right hooked the other. Bumblebee pressed his foot down on the Con and then stepped back a couple times before crunching plastic reached his audio receptors. Bumblebee looked down and lifted his foot to see a destroyed toy remote control car under his foot, he stepped back and looked over at the three humans. Bumblebee bleeped an apology which only Raf and Naomi understood.
"No problem. Really," Raf reassured him.
Bumblebee's optics shifted to Naomi's huddled form, sensing her distressed heart rate. He asked if she was okay in his bleeps, she perked up surprised, her porcelain cheeks tinting. Jack sputtered gaping at Naomi; Bumblebee was shot square in the chest. He flew backwards as the Cons descended on him.
"Leave him alone!" Raff yelled, his confidence fleeting once the Cons turned their blasters in their direction, "Please?"
"Bad call," Jack remarked, "Now might be the best time to run," Jack quipped pulling Naomi from the ground but she didn't budge looking after Bumblebee. "Naomi!"
Naomi scrambled to her feet with Jacks help and the three ran to drainpipe.
"Come on! Come on!" Jack shouted as they ran away from an approaching Decepticon.
They ran as far as they could into the drainpipe. Naomi shrieked as she pushed herself faster, her cross-country training kicking in, Jack and Raf pushed themselves faster as a robot claw reached out for them.
"Keep moving!" Jack yelled as they ran.
Naomi squealed in fear when he said that she went just a bit faster. The three turned to the clawed hand was sharply tugged away and the sounds of metal on metal before metal fell onto the pavement. Bumblebee's face came into view, Bumblebee bleeped a question.
"We're fine," Raf reassured him, smiling in appreciation, "Thank you," Raf thanked before Bumblebee beeped a reply and walked away.
"Don't look back," Jack instructed turning Raf around and Naomi was running again.
"What did we just see?" Raf asked as they started running again.
"No idea and I'm not sure I wanna find out," was Jack's reply. "Hey, Naomi! Wait up!" Jack yelled running after Naomi was further away into the drainpipe than before.
"Holy crap she can run," Raf commented picturing her as a retreating anime character.
…
The fight between Bumblebee, Arcee and the Decepticons dragged on. One involves Bumblebee getting kneed in his lower waist. As Arcee helped Bumblebee to his feet, the Decepticons slowly approached them ready to finish the job. Bumblebee and Arcee got into their fighting stances. An army green bulky SUV honked it's horn as it approached, the SUV transformed into the former wrecker, Bulkhead.
"Who's ready to rumble?" Bulkhead asked standing in position with his fellow Autobots.
The cons took one more look at the three Autobots before turning away and transforming, retreating.
"What took you?" Arcee demanded as Bumblebee doubled over still feeling the pain from being kneed in his mech regions.
"Traffic," Bulkhead replied as Bumblebee looked over at Arcee.
…
"And the 'Cons would've been scrap metal if I wasn't distracted by the humans," Arcee reported to Optimus back at the Autobot base with Bumblebee at her side.
"Humans?" Optimus repeated, Bumblebee answered in bleeps with three fingers raised.
"Two boys and a girl."
"I guess the third one caught us in action. I don't know. Was a little busy at the time." Arcee replied rather sour, the wounds of her fallen partner still fresh.
"If the Decepticon's are targeting us. Anyone perceived as our ally would be at grave risk," Optimus declared.
Bumblebee bleeped an announcement that shocked both Arcee and Optimus.
"On the human girl? How?" Arcee inquired, stunned her arms falling to her sides.
Optimus hummed thoughtfully.
…
Naomi found her way back to her house after spending a couple hours at the Darby residence, after kicking Jacks butt in COD multiplayer several times. She pulled her keys from her pocket as she walked up the sidewalk to the apartment where she resided in a small apartment. Jack refused to speak about what they witnessed, and she didn't push him, she left it again when he said the first time he didn't want to talk about it. She would've stayed for dinner at the Darby's but she wasn't feeling June's organic tofu tonight, she didn't notice that yellow sports car parked a few cars down watching over her.
She showered, an made herself dinner before she found herself at her living room window staring out at the darkened winter sky. The days heat was thinning into chilly desert night air the more she stared out at the sky with a clear mind. Bumblebee wasn't sure if what he was real, all the way on the third floor in the window he seen a girl that looked like Naomi with bright red hair looking out a window. But then her chest flashed signaling to him that it was her after his own insignia flashed, she didn't notice it. This was the girl they were searching for while battling the Decepticons, he just couldn't believe she had been here the whole time, he couldn't believe that she was aged to him.
Time passed on as Bumblebee weighed his options, he wanted to certain and if it was true, he wanted to be the one to tell her after Optimus spoke to her. But he knew one for sure, he wasn't about to let her out of his sight, he couldn't. What they had was rare and was sacred, she was his top priority now along with being knighted from scout to a soldier. Before she realized it, she was blinking and looking down at the muffled sound of an engine, she watched a yellow car drive down the street.
From there, she began to think about the transforming motorcycle and muscle car. She woke up several times throughout the night taunted by nightmares, nightmares of unknown figures torturing her, nearly killing her. A fire filled battle with falling debris and large unknown figures, voices she couldn't decipher, people around her trying to get her away that she couldn't decipher.
But one image she was able to decipher, a young man a year or two older than her with golden blonde hair and icy blue eyes staring back at her. Reaching out to her with open wounds across his torso with a dark battered t-shirt, bruises littering his pale skin. Bruises around his throat, cuts and bruises on his handsome face, reaching out to her with shaking hands and anxiety filled eyes. Calling her a name she hasn't been called since she was four. That image was branded in her eyelids every time she blinked staring at the wall across from her. That image in her eyelids as she dragged herself through school the next morning in an exhausted and delirious fog.
…
After school the next day, Jack was walked glumly down the concrete stairs to a tired Naomi leaning against the brick ledge, a Japanese girl sketching in a sketchbook perched on the ledge, waiting for him patiently. Raf waved over at them from the tree on the corner of the block catching the pairs attention, the two walked over to the younger boy.
"Raf. Hey," Jack greeted, scratching the back of his head, "Look. Let's just keep this between us and forget it ever happened, okay?"
"Jack!" Raf gushed excitedly as Bumblebee approached them.
"Not again," Jack moaned as Bumblebee opened its door and beeped at them, "It wants us to get in."
"No, just Naomi and I," Raf corrected, solemn.
"How do you know that?" Jack demanded.
"He said so," Raff shrugged carelessly.
"What?" Jack gasped in confusion.
"Yours is over there," Raf said, pointing over to Arcee parked in the parking lot.
"I really don't think that-," Jack was cut off by Naomi stepping around him and following Raf to Bumblebee.
"How's it going?" Raff asked as he climbed in.
"What?" Jack turned around to Raf and Naomi climbing into the car, Bumblebee closed his door once they were in, "Naomi! Wait! Stop!" Jack called after Bumblebee speeding away.
Jack looked over his shoulder at Arcee before sighing and walking away.
"Coolest… bike… ever," The Japanese girl, Miko, squealed as she drew Arcee. Her ringing pink phone interrupted her, she flipped the phone open to a picture of her host parents calling her, "Host parents? Ignore."
She looked up to Arcee gone from the parking spot, she looked over her shoulder to see Arcee driving down the street behind her, she followed after the bike. As Jack walked the alleyways, Arcee swung out in front of him and stopped in front of him.
"Relax... I just wanna talk to you," Arcee reassured him.
"Don't you mean you and your new friend?" Jack asked, bitterly.
"Kid, there's a lot you don't understand," Arcee told him as her holoform phased out.
"No. No. I get it. The first part about Robot Fight Club is you don't talk about Robot Fight Club. What you need to understand, I don't want a whole bunch of crazy talking vehicles following me around trying to get me killed!" Jack retorted as Arcee transformed behind him.
"Look, Jack, is it? Your personal safety is exactly why Optimus Prime has requested your presence," Arcee explained.
"Wait. Optimus who?" Jack demanded.
"You may be in danger because you are one of the few – one of the only – who have ever seen us," Arcee told him.
"Dude! What are you waiting for? Go with!"
The two turned to a Japanese girl who was observing excitedly.
"Scrap," Arcee sighed.
…
Miko cheered from behind Jack on Arcee, Bumblebee driving in front of them with Raf and Naomi in his backseat.
"And why exactly are we taking her?" Jack asked, annoyed.
"Rules," Arcee replied.
"Hey. Wait! Whoa!" Jack shouted as they drove past a stop sign, driving off road to a massive rock formation.
Mechanical doors opened from a rocky face, and they drove in to reveal a secret tunnel. As soon as Bumblebee and Arcee were inside the doors closed shut. Miko gasped in amazement looking up at the ceiling as they slowed down and entered the main room.
"Cool," Raf sighed dreamily as he admired the computers with Naomi at his side pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"Whoa," Jack and Miko gasped as they faced more of the Autobots.
Jack and Miko climbed off Arcee as Raf and Naomi climbed out of Bumblebee, Arcee and Bumblebee transformed behind them.
"I thought there were three?" Ratchet asked, recalling previous conversations.
"Haven't you heard? Humans multiply," Arcee stated dryly, walking away from the humans.
"I'm Raf," Raff introduced himself.
"I'm Miko," Miko piped in as she ran towards Bulkhead, "Who are you? Are you a car? I bet you're a truck! A monster truck! Do you like heavy metal? How much do you weigh? Ever use a wrecking ball for a punching bag?" Miko's questions came faster than Bulkhead could answer, making Bulkhead nervous.
"Wait a minute. If you guys are robots, who made you?" Raf questioned.
"Puh-lease," Ratchet scoffed.
"I don't think he likes us very much," Naomi commented to Raf.
"Precisely!" Ratchet confirmed.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Jack, Miko, Naomi and Raf were a little freaked out. Arcee, Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee weren't phased. Before the three humans knew it, they were standing before the commander of the little Autobot team, Optimus Prime. They looked up at him in awe.
"We are Autonomus Robotic Organisms from the planet Cybertron. Also known as Autobots," Optimus answered.
"Why are you here?" Jack asked.
"To protect your planet from the Decepticons," Optimus answered.
"The jokers who tried to bump us off last night," Arcee reminded Jack, Naomi, and Raf.
"The demon cars," Naomi recalled making Ratchet begin to seethe.
"Pfft!"
"Okay... Why are they here?" Jack asked.
"A fair question, Jack," Optimus complimented as he knelt before the humans, "In part, they are here because our planet is uninhabitable; ravaged by centuries of civil war."
"Why were you fighting a war?" Raf questioned.
"Foremost, over the control of our world's supply of Energon, the lifeblood of all Autobots and Decepticons alike. But in war, ideals can be corrupted. And it was thus that Megatron lost his way," Optimus explained.
"Is there gonna be a quiz?" Miko sighed as Naomi snorted a laugh.
"So, what does Megatron or any of this have to do with us?" Jack demanded.
"Megatron has not been seen or heard from in some time. But if his return is imminent, as I fear, it could be catastrophic," Optimus replied.
Naomi ran a hand through her hair, "That's intense."
Optimus' Autobot insignia on his right arm began to glow in the same blue light as it did with Bumblebee before flashing three times, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead watched stunned as it disappeared. But then the same spot as yesterday on Naomi's chest began to glow, catching everyone's attention and the spot flashed three times the equal amount of time as what happened to Optimus.
Naomi looked down at the light that reflected on Optimus' face to her chest, she watched it disappear and Optimus' optic's widened as it slowly began to dawn on him.
"Arias," Optimus breathed in relief as Naomi looked back at him.
"She was here the whole time!" Bulkhead exclaimed in disbelief.
"The human girl we've been looking for what... almost 18 years? She has been here under our noses?!" Arcee exclaimed.
"Wait, what?" Miko stepped forward speaking for the three teenagers.
"In 1991 Megatron had ahold of one of our relics that can turn our kind into the current plant's native species. My sparkmate and I were turned into humans, and we gave birth to a baby girl in April of 1992. She was born with unnatural bright red hair, and blue eyes, my sparkmate, Elita-One, ran away with her into hiding but she and the baby have been missing since 1993. During that time, I was turned back into a Cybertronian and have been searching for them both since. We all have been searching for her." Optimus explained.
"What's a sparkmate?" Jack asked.
"It's Cybertron equivalent of Earth's husband and wife," Optimus replied.
"Sweet!" Miko exclaimed, excitedly.
"Then what was that flashing blue light?" Raf asked.
"That was an alert of a familial bond between Cybertronian's and techno-organisms. There is also another alert like the familial bond but it's an alert of a future sparkmate, that alert flashes twice. These alerts happen every time within the presence of the connected bonds." Optimus explained.
"Oh that's going to be annoying," Arcee grumbled.
"So, when your wife went into hiding, it was because of Megatron?" Raf guessed correctly.
"Yes," Optimus replied, straightening up, his piston's hissing, "Megatron was set on extinguishing my family, and myself. Another reason for our search."
"Wait," Naomi put her forehead into her hand with Optimus' current words bouncing around in her head causing a panic attack to creep its way into her mind.
"Optimus, she's in distress," Ratchet reported from a beep from a screen on his forearm.
"Nao," Jack followed Naomi into a crouch as he placed a comforting hand on her upper back as she put her head between her knees, "Deep breaths, Nao, deep breaths. Just like we practiced."
"Is this normal occurrence?" Ratchet asked, scanning Naomi's form, "High levels of distress."
"Her anxiety attacks?" Jack questioned, "As of recently."
Optimus' words bounced around Naomi's head as the creeping sense of paranoia crawled up her spine, her breathing became more labored as it began to sink in, they gave unambiguous evidence of her heritage. That, she believed just by his explanation of what they witnessed, but having a being like them coming for her life? Set out on having her dead? Just like the robot who described her. Why would someone be so cruel to want people or beings dead?
Why was this Megatron so bloodthirsty?
Naomi focused on her breathing and soon she was breaking through the confines of a panic attack, she glanced up at everyone with her cheeks turning red from the pressure of eyes.
"You okay?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thank you." Naomi bucked her head forward for her hair to hide her face.
"You wouldn't be normal if you didn't react that way," Raf chimed.
"Unlike Miko," Jack retorted.
"Hey!" Miko snapped, offended.
"I don't think it'd be normal to react like Miko if a 40-foot robot was hell-bent on killing you."
"That's quite enough," Optimus interjected, "Let's not anguish the children. Our presence enough is to cause more reactions such as the previous."
"Wait, one last question," Miko raised a hand, "That future soulmate thingy. Were you the only one to find their sparkmate, was it?"
"It's extremely rare," Optimus answered as Bumblebee relaxed.
Raf and Jack noticed his relieved stature, they looked at each other, Arcee went to warn Bumblebee of the teenagers' sharp eyes when Jack cut her off.
"How rare is it?" Jack inquired looking up at Optimus.
Ratchet who didn't notice Arcee and Bumblebee trying to get the conversation to end answered, "Bumblebee did yesterday. It appears Naomi is his future sparkmate."
"Naomi!" Miko gasped as she ran over to the girl who fainted.
Bumblebee spewed bleeps at him as Ratchet turned around, "Oh dear."
Behind her eyelids, her mind tormented her with her nightmares and injured beautiful man.
…
"Those transmissions are aminating from deep space. I would hate to waste the Energon," Starscream sighed, "Unless you are absolutely certain."
Soundwave nodded his head in confirmation.
"Then lock on transmission coordinates and activate the space bridge," Starscream requested.
A Decepticon drone nodded and typed in the transmission coordinates in the computer. Within moments, the space bridge opened.
Way out of Earth's orbit, a space bridge portal opened. Breaking through the barriers of the portal slowly was a silver and purple fighter jet who transformed when he was free.
"Decepticons! … I have returned!" Megatron proclaimed with his twisted grin.
…
"And since now you know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours," Optimus explained once Naomi had recovered.
"Got it. If we spot any strange vehicles, call 911," Jack retorted.
"If only if we're that simple Jack," Optimus sighed.
"Can we go now?" Jack asked.
"Are you insane?" Miko inquired, "I'm living the dream here in Botsuana! And I'm going to allow you or anyone else to shatter it!"
"It is best you four remain under our watch. At least, until we can determine our enemies intentions," Optimus cut off their argument.
"Optimus, with all due respect. The human children are in as much danger here as anywhere," Ratchet protested.
"Children?" Jack and Naomi repeated, offended.
"The audacity," Naomi grumbled crossing her arms over he chest.
"If they go underfoot, they will go… pssh. Squish," Ratchet said, the word squish with a cringe.
"We must watch where we step," Optimus concluded destroying Ratchets hopes.
"Oh! Spider!" Miko exclaimed running over to a location.
"What?!" Naomi jumped three feet in the air before rapidly looking around her, "Where?"
Miko held up the spider in her palm near Naomi's face, "Here," She presented proudly, grinning.
"Miko!" Jack snapped when Naomi fainted again when she glanced once at the spider.
"Ah, arachnophobia," Miko hummed and then walked away with the spider to set it free away from Naomi's sight.
Alarms started going off startling Naomi awake and knocking her head into Jacks as she stood up, Jack fell onto his butt holding his forehead muttering unintelligent words. She looked over at Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead chucking at the exchange.
"What's going on?" Miko asked looking up at the Autobots.
"Proximity sensor," Raf answered, translating for Bumblebee, "Someone's up top."
"It's Agent Fowler," Ratchet announced pulling up security camera screens.
"Aren't we the only ones who know of you guys?" Naomi inquired as she studied Miko standing beside her.
Miko opened her hands to see her she was free of arachnid's, "Its gone, I swear."
"Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world. As he tends to visit when there are… issues," Optimus explained shortly before advising, "It may be best if you do not meet him at this time."
With that, the four began to scramble for a hiding spot. Bumblebee had taken his chance to scoop Naomi up and hide her himself before his back, he felt better knowing she was close after seeing her faint twice. She seemed more relaxed than she before and he was grateful for that, he would worry about her questions later. Jack, Miko, and Raf hid on the other side of the raised platform wall as the hissing of the elevator doors opened to scrawling heavy set man.
"7 wrecks, 34 fender benders. A three hour traffic jam. And on a particular note: numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make," Fowler listed the complaints as he walked across the platform to get a better visual of the Autobots, "And a black and yellow custom muscle car. So if there anything you want to get off your tin chest Prime?"
"We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler," Optimus replied calmly.
"They're back, aren't they?" Fowler asked.
"If you're referring the to the Decepticons, we have doubts they ever left. Earth is too valuable," Optimus answered.
"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon," Fowler suggested.
"Hear me, Agent Fowler. We are the best, possibly you're only, defense against the Decepticon threat," Optimus remarked, not willing to put human lives at risk.
"Says you," Fowler snapped, so ready to make that call.
"Hey, fleshy," Bulkhead called ready to defend Optimus' words, "Did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force, and how much to use," Bulkhead snapped while slamming his fist down on one of Ratchets things.
"Bulkhead, I needed that!" Ratchet yelled.
"Enough!" Optimus ended the argument before it started, he turned back to Fowler, "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human causalities, Agent Fowler. We, however, cannot."
"Then do us both a favor, Prime, and take care of this. Under the radar," Fowler advised while stepping into the elevator, "Or I will." With that the doors closed and he was gone.
Bumblebee brought Naomi from behind him and placed her on the raised platform, Naomi looked down at the other teenagers climbing the ladder.
"Better big bearings for a human," Bulkhead grumbled.
"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead." Optimus said looking down at the human teenagers, "As he should be."
"All this talk is making me hungry," Miko remarked after her stomach growled lowly.
"Blasted Earth tech!" Ratchet cursed while staring at an anomaly with surprise, "Cliffjumper's life signal just popped back online!"
"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko inquired.
"How is that possible?" Optimus asked.
"It isn't. Another bug. Systems shock full of them," Ratchet replied.
"Ratchet, prepare sick bay. We may need it," Optimus advised.
"Hey! What can we do?" Miko asked, excitedly.
"Remain with Ratchet," Optimus replied.
"Awww," Miko and Ratchet both moaned in disappointment as Ratchet activated the groundbridge.
"Haha," Naomi snickered sitting down in one of the computer chairs.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus instructed as they transformed into their vehicular modes and drove into the portal.
"What just happened?" Jack asked curiously.
"I transported them to the designated coordinates via the Groundbridge," Ratchet answered.
"What's a Groundbridge?" Raf questioned.
"A scaled-down version of Space Bridge Technology," Ratchet explained annoyed, "Since we don't possess the means or Energon required for intergalactic travel…"
"You're stuck here on Earth," Jack chimed in realization.
"With the likes of you, yes. But I constructed the Groundbridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet," Ratchet boasted proudly.
"Does it work for humans?" Raf asked curiously.
"Naturally," Ratchet nodded.
"You mean we could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko questioned.
"Oo, Tokyo," Naomi smiled crossing her leg over the other.
"Within moments. In fact, allow me to send you there immediately. All four of you," Ratchet offered hopefully.
"Watch it, Ratchet," Miko warned, "I don't think Bumblebee will like to know his wife all the way across the world."
Naomi choked, blushing profusely, "Miko, we are not married!"
"Not yet!" Miko taunted, Miko poked Naomi's red cheek, "Look at this."
"Miko, leave her alone," Raf swatted her hand away as he sat in the other computer chair next to Naomi.
"Or that Optimus' long lost daughter is all the way across the world," Jack added, smiling smugly at Ratchet who glared at him deadly.
…
"What is this, anyway?" Miko asked as she went to touch a piece of machinery.
"Broken. Don't touch," He answered, Miko went to touch something else, "Don't touch that either!" He had mom eyes on the back of his head.
"Is there anything in here we can touch?" Jack questioned.
"How come you are using human computers?" Raf asked Ratchet as one of the computers began to have heart attack.
"It certainly isn't by choice. It was handed down from the previous tenants when we inherited this former missile silo. I make changes as I see fit," Ratchet explained trying to fix his screens.
"I think I can fix that," Raf retorted plugging a cord into his laptop and into a console.
"Really? You know this is complex technology, don't you? I mean, it isn't a child's toy," Ratchet laughed as Raf typed away on his laptop.
"Now try," Raff invited.
Ratchet looked back at his screens and the pop-ups disappeared, Ratchet looked back at Raf in disbelief.
"Computer wiz," Naomi complimented smiling at Raf.
…
Ratchet, Naomi, Jack, Miko and Rafael turned to face the Groundbridge as they heard the explosions and the sound of engines breaking through the barriers of the portal. Once Optimus was out, Ratchet closed the Groundbridge, preventing the exploding Energon to follow them in and kill them all. Optimus transformed, back flipping away. Once he saw that his team, once he realized everyone was safe and sound he relaxed.
"Whoa!" Jack, Miko, Naomi and Raf gasped as they all looked on.
"Cutting it kinda close. How about Cliffjumper?" Ratchet asked, causing the four Autobots to lower their heads dismayed.
"What was that explosion? Can I come with next time?" Miko gushed.
"Look," Arcee growled, losing patience.
"Hey, hey, Miko. Let's go see what the bots hide in their sock drawers," Jack suggested as he led Miko away.
"Seriously?" Miko replied blinking.
Naomi and Raf both looked at each other while pushing back their glasses, they both chuckled at each other before turning to Bumblebee whom walked up to them. Naomi looked down at her chest with the blue light flashing twice as he approached, his own insignia flashing.
"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asked his second-in-command gently, as his Autobot insignia flashed.
"Not Cliff. At least… not anymore," Arcee answered, "He was mutated. Butchered like something from those 'Con experiments during the war."
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness wash over her. Arcee nearly fainted. Bumblebee beeped in worry as he swooped forward to catch her before she collapsed.
"I'm fine, Bee. I'm just dizzy." Arcee reassured him.
"Bots who get dizzy," Miko gasped.
"Robots with emotion," Raf added.
"Robots who can die," Jack piped in.
Immediately, Ratchet did a scan on Arcee's hand, the blue beam turned red. He noticed a purple substance, he scrapped it off with medical tool.
"What is this?" Ratchet asked himself.
"Don't know. Cliff was covered in it. Leaking it," Arcee replied, distraught.
"Go take a decontamination bath. Now."
Bumblebee guided Arcee to the decanimenation showers as Ratchet began to analyze his sample.
"Optimus, I hate to bug. But… no bars," Jack held his phone up for Optimus to see.
"A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radio waves," Optimus explained to Jack.
"Well, if I don't call my mom, like now, I'm pretty sure the cops will come looking for me," Jack explained.
"Have you broken the law?" Optimus asked worriedly as he bent down so he was leveled with his new human friends.
"Uh, curfew. It's after 10pm," Jack corrected.
"I'd better get home too. Or I'll be grounded for a year," Raf piped in.
"Earth customs. I haven't considered," Optimus hummed before speaking up again, "But the issue of your safety remains. Bulkhead, accompany Miko home."
"Awesome! My host parents will freak!" Miko cheered.
"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form," Optimus added.
"Curbside duty. Got it," Bulkhead nodded in understanding, Miko groaned in disappointment again.
"Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf," Optimus said turning to Ratchet, "Ratchet?"
"Busy," Ratchet waved him off as Arcee walked out of the showers.
"Arcee, if you feel up to it, you'll accompany Jack," Optimus decided.
"Still dizzy," Arcee informed Optimus, hoping to get out of it
"You're fine, says your physician," Ratchet butted in.
Arcee sighs in defeat.
"What about Naomi?" Miko asked.
"I will accompany Naomi," Optimus replied looking down at the almost adult girl.