Transformers Rise of the Beasts

Chapter 18, Part One: Alex

I joined the others as we followed Wheeljack over to some old rock foundations. From where I now stood on the cliffside, a bustling village could be seen below-one of the oldest villages in Peru.

"Wow, it sure looks busy," Noah observed surveying the town.

"That's because there is a festival going on," Wheeljack explained, his heavy spanish accent quite evident. "People from miles around come and celebrate the day with food, parades, music and dancing."

"Dancing?" Ray piped in. "I love dancing!"

Optimus sighed and shook his head. "This will complicate the job."

"The other half of the key lies in the Temple," Elena explained, one hand holding the strap of her backpack.

"Now the Cathedral is built over the old Temple ruins," Wheeljack pulled up a hologram in front of him and pointed at one spot. "Here in the back of it is where the old Temple specifically was."

There was a loud gust of wind. Airazor flapped her wings as she landed beside me. "We must not let other humans know of our presence."

"Uh...how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Arcee put one metal hand on her hip. "We aren't exactly going to be able to fade into the crowds."

"But we can," I spoke up quietly.

At once, all eyes swivel on me.

"We...we," I felt intimidated with everyone's attention on me.

"We will be able to easily slip in and out," Noah insisted. "We should be the ones going." I gave him a grateful look for backing me up.

"We cannot rely on you humans," Optims growled, arms folded. "Last time we did-Scourge got the key and I won-"

"No," I interrupted, my voice firm. ."Something in me snapped. "Scourge did get the key, but it wasn't because of us-it was because we were outnumbered and taken by surprise."

"Alex is right," Stepping up to my side, Ray spoke up firmly. She frowned at Optimus. "You can't blame us-we did our best. Nobody knew Scourge was coming-not even you, so yes." she gazed eye to eye with the Prime. "We are going."

Optimus was silent for a few minutes and I wondered what he was going to say. Finally he gave something between a growl and a sigh. Then he spoke. "Fine. But we will be in position to keep an eye out for Scourge. The slightest sign of him and we move in."

The Prime moved away as he began heading down the path which would lead to the city.

The rest of us began to follow, most uneasy at Optimus' silence.

Once again I realized how cold-how distrustful of humans he seemed to be.

Once again I wondered-what had changed to make him this way.

Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning I was met by the sight of Ray. She stood in front of me, her face slightly pink from the heat, wisps of her hair sticking out from underneath her bandanna.

"Alex?"

"Huh?" I was snapped out of my trance. "What did you say?"

"Alex," her eyes were concerned. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I stopped walking and she leaned closer to me, speaking in a quiet tone.

'When we get the key, Noah and I have decided to destroy it."

My eyes widened. "He can't-the autobots, they'll never be able to go home."

"I know," Ray chewed her lip. "But if we don't destroy it, Optimus will try to get the other half from Scourge and Scourge will take it."

I rubbed my hand through my thick brown hair. We could not let Scourge get it that was for sure. Yet it also felt wrong to destroy it and with it the only means for the autobots to go home."It doesn't sound right."

Ray sighed, folding her arms. "I know, but what other choice do we have?"

"Optimus is strong," I insisted. "He can beat Sc-"

"Haven't you seen?" A look of sorrow on her face, Ray cut me off. "this is the real prime–he's different than the movies. He's hostile. He hates humans...he would probably kill us if he didn't need us to help get the key."

"Well this takes place in the timeline even before he meets Sam Witwicky," I tried to reason with my friend. "Prime is just getting used to being around humans–we are like the first humans he has met; that's why he is hostile. I would be too if I were in a new place-meeting foreign beings."

Ray was silent and then she finally sighed again. "I wish it was like in the movies-I had always wanted to meet the real Optimus Prime," she glanced over to where Prime was with his autobots keeping a close eye on the humans. "But this Prime-he's," she shook her head.

"He just needs time," I put my hand on her shoulder. "I am sure soon enough he'll warm up to us. Maybe then we can talk to him about a new plan instead of heading straight to Scourge."

"No we can't!" Anxiously, Ray shook her head. "He won't understand-he'll want to save his home; he doesn't care about ours."

"Yes he does!"

"No-,I wish you would understand," Interupting me, Ray, her lip, an expression of frustration on her face. "But I guess you don't.'' Folding her arms, she sped up walking, catching up with Noah and Mirage.

At her words, I felt a slight pain go through me. It was true-we needed to keep Scourge from getting the key. Yes, if Optimus went after Scourge to get the other key-there was a large possibility Scourge would get the other key.

But if we destroyed the key to keep it from falling into Scourge's hands, the autobots' home would be destroyed...forever.