TFP Emblem Chapter 6: Reunion

I slept fitfully. Dreams of Romanaf haunted me, and his words echoed in my mind. Everything he told me about my friends leaving me to rot and Optimus finding a new, better human to call friend. I dreamed that I was in the cell, the darkness closing in all around me. And Romanaf was right in front of me, toying with me. I whimpered and tried to say 'no' as an attempt to stop the horrific dreamscape. I finally woke up with a scream and gasped for air. Someone was calling my name.

"Madison, it's alright. Your safe now." Optimus said. I looked up at him. Optimus was sitting on a Med Bed close to the gurney. Even sitting, he still towered over me. My breathing slowed but I was still rattled. I tried to hide the fear on my face from my nightmare but Optimus had obviously seen it. He lifted an arm up and set his hand beside the gurney. I eased myself into his palm, then he carefully lifted me over the railing and held me at eye level.

"Is there something troubling you little one?" Optimus asked calmly. I sat down and hugged my knees to my chest.

"I had a nightmare about Romanaf." I said a shakily. I took a breath to try and steady my nerves.

"What happened in your nightmare?" Optimus asked. For some reason I began shaking uncontrollably as I took a deep breath.

"I'm in a dark room, and I can't escape. And Romanaf's voice is echoing all around me. Saying things." I said. I didn't make eye contact with Optimus.

"What is he saying?" Optimus asked. I shook my head and wiped a tear away. I knew I had to tell him, it would keep bothering me if I didn't.

"H-he's telling me how my friends would forget about me and leave me to rot in the cell.." I confessed. I was now crying. I swallowed hard. I didn't want to tell Optimus about the other part. Optimus was quite for a minute.

"That would never happen. I would never, ever forget about you Madison. Neither would any of your friends. You are not just another human, your my best friend. You have something that not many people have: the courage to be yourself no matter what other people think or say. I vowed to protect you as your Guardian and that's exactly what I intend to do. I know that experince must have been unsettling but I promise to never let that happen again." Optimus said. I looked up at him and sniffed. Optimus looked down at me reassuringly. I sniffed again and swallowed.

"Thanks Optimus." I said, my nose a litte stuffy. I hugged his thumb (it was the only thing I could wrap my arms around) to slow my breathing and to try and calm my body. Optimus put a finger to my back with his other hand and gently rubbed it. I closed my eyes and held on to Optimus' thumb. Everything seemed unreal. The fact that the Autobots and Decepticons even existed was a complete shocker, but the fact that I was here. Me, a Transformers Geek from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, living her dream of having adventures. I couldn't help but give a tiny smile. Who say's wishes can't come true? I looked back at Optimus and gave him a thankful smile. Optimus gave a encouraging nod.

"Do you feel well enough to walk?" Optimus asked. I nodded, then he set me back onto the platform. I caught my balance as I hopped out of his hand and walked in a circle. A small half smile crept onto Optimus' face. I smiled up at him. "I think I'll be just fine." I said. Optimus gave a small nod. I could see in his optics that he was still worried. I stretched, then I remembered something.

"What day is it?" I asked as I stretched my arms.

"Friday." Optimus said. I looked up at him in total shock.

"Friday?! I gotta go to school! Oh man, what about my parents? They'll think I ditched!" I said panicking. I began to breath fast and I was beginning to feel hot. "Easy little one. Everything has been taken care of." Optimus said calmly. Ratchet walked in.

"Your parents where told that you had to spend the night at Base because the road was blocked by a fallen tree and that you received your black eye and bruises by falling down the stars and hitting your head on a door knob. As for school, I created a holographic image of you that Scott will be able to monitor and control." Ratchet explained as he walked over to Optimus. I calmed down.

"Ok, but what about homework, and notes? I have to get them done. They count towards collage and I have to go to collage." I said. Only two days into the school year and I was already panicking about homework.

"Scott volunteered to take care of that. You need to rest." Ratchet said giving me a sideways look. I snorted.

"I've been asleep long enough. Once I'm up, I'm up. And I just wanna stretch right now.." I said walking around on the platform. As I walked everything popped and cracked. My ankles mostly, but they do that all the time. Optimus stood next to Ratchet. They where talking quietly to each other. While they where busy, I walked over to the Rec platform. I eased myself on the couch and reached for my art book. I started sketching a dragon's head when Ratchet's voice shook me from my concentration.

"Madison, you need to rest in Sick Bay! Not lounging on the couch!" Ratchet called. I groaned quietly. The couch was so comfy.. I walked back into Sick Bay and hopped back onto the gurney.

"How long do I have to stay in here Doc Bot?" I asked as I folded one leg over the other.

"Not that long. Your healing fairly quickly." Ratchet said while he grabbed something that looked similar to a iPad. 'A Data Pad.' I thought. Optimus nodded to me and walked out of the room. I sighed, I was already bored. My iPod Touch 4G was in my Art Bag. I badly wanted to get on it so I could play a game to pass the time but something occurred to me. If there was no cell phone signal, chances are that there was no Wi-Fi. What was there to do around here? A loud honking almost made me jump out of my skin. I gave a little scream that made Ratchet jump. He scowled at me.

"Calm down it's just Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee back with the others." Ratchet growled. I got up and leaned over the railing to look at them. Scott got off of Arcee while Mandy stepped out of Bulkhead and Dallas stepped out of Bumblebee. The other Autobots transformed and walked towards the main hallway while the other kids walked up to the Rec Platform. They where chatting while they set they're back packs down. Scott looked over at me and smiled. Oh my gosh! His smile made me feel so... Fluttery. He walked over.

"Look who decided to join the living!" Scott said jokingly. I smiled a little.

"Hey. Miss me?" I asked as Scott hugged me tightly.

"Yeah, so did the rest of the gang." Scott said. Just then, Dallas and Mandy ran in at full force and pounced on the gurney, knocking me, Scott, and the gurney over.

"MADDY!!" The cried in unison as we fell. I groaned and made a tiny squeak.

"Hey guys, I missed you too but your crushing me.." I breathed. Mandy and Dallas laughed as they got up. Scott gave a little groan.

"Jings Creig help me boab.." Scott muttered. We all looked at him.

"Come again?" Mandy asked.

"It's a Scottish phrase. Kinda like 'huh boy'" Dallas Explained.

"Oh" Mandy said. Dallas rolled off to one side while Mandy stepped over us. Scott had landed on top of me, I was blushing.

"Oops, um sorry." Scott said blushing a little. I laughed nervously as he got up.

"What's going on in here?" Ratchet demanded as he returned from a different part of Sick Bay. I stood up and rubbed the back of my neck. Scott pushed the gurney up onto all four wheels.

"We got a little excited and crashed into Maddy and Scott" Mandy said. Dallas nodded.

"And the gurney kinda fell over." Dallas said. Ratchet folded his arms over his chest.

"If you want to see a patient, you don't slam into them like they where a punching bag! You must be more careful, someone could get hurt. Again." Ratchet scolded.

"But the children where excited to see their friend, safe and sound. I see no harm came to any of them. But Ratchet is right, you must be careful." Optimus said as he appeared.

"Yes sir's." We all said in unison. The rest of the kids migrated to the Rec platform while Optimus returned to the screens. I hopped back on the gurney. Ratchet nodded in satisfaction as he looked at a Data Pad.

"I suppose you are well enough to lounge on the couch for a little while." Ratchet said. I smiled at him and ran over to the other kids. I was shocked by what I saw. A Nentendo Wii sitting beside a fairly old TV. Mandy, Scott, and Dallas where playing what looked like Mario Karts. Dallas was Yoshi, Mandy was Daisy, and Scott was Mario. Scott paused the game as I walked over.

"Where'd all this come from?" I asked as I sat in the recliner.

"Scott brought it. Cool huh?" Dallas said. Scott shrugged.

"Had an extra lying around. Wanna play as Peach?" Scott asked, waving a remote towards me. I smiled and took it. I was a little suspicious, but I would investigate later.

"Bring it!" I said. We played for about half an hour. I got 3rd place twice and 4th place three times. I'm not the best driver. Occasionally Bumblebee or Bulkhead came over and cheered on Mandy and Dallas. Arcee watched from a distance, beside Optimus. Ratchet watched too, but he said that 'He was just simply trying to observe Earth technology'. We eventually got bored of that, so we switched on the TV and watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Optimus walked over about 15 minutes into the movie.

"Madison, may I speak with you in private?" He asked. I looked up at him and nodded.

"Sure" I said. I got up and walked down the stairs. Optimus gestured me to follow him down the main hallway. We walked into a large room that looked like an old hanger of some sort. "Is something wrong Optimus? Did I do something?" I asked as I fiddled with my hands. Optimus held his arms behind his back.

"No, no. Madison, I don't like asking this, but we have to know. What happened?" Optimus asked kneeling down to me. I bit my lip and held my hands behind my back and told him what happened. My voice got tight when I told Optimus about when Romanaf hit me. But I continued.

"He wanted the Matrix of Leadership. But I wouldn't tell him. Instead, I told him it was in the Valley of The Kings." I said looking up at Optimus. Optimus nodded solemnly, he looked a little angry.

"Optimus? What's going to happen now?" I asked. Optimus looked at me.

"We will have to relocate. Smith will be able to find the Order. Madison, I am proud of you for standing your ground. But I am now more concerned for your safety." Optimus said. "Optimus, I know that I'll be safe. Your the best Autobot there is, and an even better Guardian." I said smiling a little. Optimus gave a small smile. He offered a hand and lifted me up to his shoulder. In a way, I guess that was his way to say 'I'll be there'. We joined the others and talked. I still sat on Optimus' shoulder as we watched Bulkhead and Bumblebee played basketball with a makeshift ball made of a bunch of scrap metal pressed together. I eventually remembered my homework and notes. Scott told me that there where no notes or homework due to a team building assembly that lasted through out the afternoon. I breathed a sigh of relief when Scott told me.

"Thank Primus." I said. Optimus set me down onto one of the main platforms.

"It's almost 10:30. You should be getting home." Optimus said. I nodded and collected my stuff.

"Bye guys, see you tomorrow." I said as I waved good-bye. The others waved back,

"Maddy wait!" Scott said. He ran up to me grasping a piece of paper.

"Here, it's a doctors note that explains your black eye." Scott said. I looked at it, it was signed by Dr. Smith. I couldn't help but smile a little.

"Thanks, night Scott." I said before hopping into Optimus. The drive home was quite. When I hopped out, Optimus stopped me.

"Madison, wait." He said. His glove box opened to reveal a small, chrome looking Autobot emblem. I took it.

"What is it?" I asked while I examined it.

"It's a beacon. No matter here you are, a Ground Bridge will be sent to your location and I'll be there. Tap it two times to activate." Optimus said. I smiled.

"Thank you Optimus. I'll carry it wherever I go." I said as I dipped my head to him.

"Good night Madison." Optimus said.

"Good night Optimus." I said. Optimus closed the door and drove off. When I walked through the door, my mom and dad didn't look surprised in the least bit.

"So what happened?" My dad asked. I took a second to remember what Ratchet said.

"Well, there was an accident where this huge tree blocked the road so I had to stay at B.A.S.E for the night with the others. They had some spare sleeping bag for us. Then I had to carry some boxes down the stairs and I fell." I explained. Dad snorted in amusement.

"Where the wasps acting up Goose?" Dad joked. He always called me 'goose' when I did something funny.

"No." I said before retreating to my room. I drew a little before falling asleep. The next morning I woke up early. I groaned. Saturday meant sleeping in. But I snapped my eyes open. Screw sleep! I have the Autobots! I got dressed at the speed of light.

"Bye mom! Bye dad!" I said as I raced out the door. Optimus had just pulled up at the bottom of our drive way.

"Morning Optimus!" I said hopping in. Optimus down the road and out onto the highway.

"Good morning Madison. Sleep well?" He asked. I nodded.

"Yup. So what are we gonna do today?" I asked.

"Well, Bumblebee and I where going to investigate some Energon in transit." Optimus said as we pulled off to a dirt road.

"Can I come? Please?" I asked hopefully.

"I fear the Decepticons are moving it. It could be dangerous. Next time, I promise." Optimus said. I nodded. We drove through the Ground Bridge and into Base. Mandy and Dallas where busy with what looked like, science fair projects with Bulkhead and Bumblebee. Scott was also working on something with Arcee. While Optimus and Bunblebee prepared for departure I wondered over to Scott and Arcee.

"Hey guys, whatcha doing?" I asked.

"Working on a project for Student Council." Scott said. He showed me a small poster that was decorated for Thanksgiving.

"But it's August." I said. "It's for the Thanksgiving Day Feast. I want to get it done now so I wont have to worry about it later." Scott explained. I nodded. I wondered over to Mandy and Dallas. Mandy was working on a model of our Solar System while Dallas made a baking soda and vinegar volcano that was a recreation of Pompeii. Ratchet was watching them as they worked. I saw that Optimus and Bumblebee where about to leave. I ran up to Optimus.

"Bye guys, I'll see you when you get back?" I asked as I looked up at him.

"Behave for Ratchet while I'm gone. I'll be back soon." Optimus said through his Battle Mask. Bumblebee beeped farewell. Then, they left. I walked up to the Rec platform and slumped on the couch. I could hear Ratchet's blow torch at work.

"Huh boy.." I muttered. I flipped on the TV and watched Ghostly Encounters for a little while. I was a little bored. I was anxious to see if Skyquake had been revived yet. I would find out soon. But something kept telling me that I was in for another adventure, very soon.
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[link] Chapter 1
[link] Chapter 2
[link] Chapter 3
[link] Chapter 4
[link] Chapter 5
[link] Chapter 7
[link] Chapter 8