How To Belong {ROTB, 2023}

Chapter Three

   Noah and Porscha both turned at the sound of an approaching engine, Noah watching nervously while Porscha crossed her arms. As a yellow and black Camaro rumbled around a corner, Porscha grinned, "Bumblebee! He's a doll from what I've heard," Porscha tapped Noah lightly. He looked at her, his nerve-wracked look making him look like he was about to pass out. Immediately behind Bumblebee came a pink Ducati motorcycle that Porscha figured was Arcee, following him in smoothly. Noah turned slowly, looking out the entrance behind them as a semi-truck rolled up. Porscha turned, looking at the vehicle, "That's the boss, Optimus Prime," She whispered to Noah, "I hear he's a hard ass." She added. Noah gave her another stressed look as if begging her to just stop talking. As Optimus approached, he transformed smoothly, stalking toward them as he ducked under the door. "Is it just me, or does he look a little pissy?" Porscha murmured. "Stop talking," Noah hissed lowly. Porscha drew back, "Gee, no need to get in a tizzy. Worst they'll do is stomp on us," She muttered, which earned her another look from Noah.

   As Optimus stomped closer, Noah tossed the pipe past Porscha, letting it clatter to the ground. Porscha's eyes followed it, her head turning to look at the discarded pipe, momentarily unfazed by Optimus' approach. She turned back at the sound of grinding metal, looking at Bumblebee as he stood, "Well, well, who have we got there?" He looked at the humans. Arcee transformed, flipping herself up onto the scaffolding nearby with grace and agility. "I dig her already," Porscha whispered. "Mirage, what have you done?" Arcee stopped, crossing her arms. "Okay, less digging," Porscha whispered again. Noah nudged her hard in the ribs, giving her a hard look as she stepped away, muttering about him elbowing her. Both of them turned as Noah backed up, pulling Porscha with him as Optimus knelt down. "You brought a human here?" Optimus rumbled, sounding unhappy. Mirage stood over them, hovering over Porscha, "Optimus, hey! Looking good, man!" He greeted as Optimus rose, "Wait a second! Are those new rims?" Mirage pointed, still optimistic like always. "You were told to stay hidden!" Optimus returned harshly.

   "Right, right, crazy coincidence. When you called all Optimus-like, you know 'Autobots, roll out!'" He mimicked Optimus, "This guy was already in the car. But he's cool so it's cool. Cool?" Mirage gestured to Noah. "And the girl?" Optimus asked. Porscha and Mirage looked at each other at the same time, Porscha giving him an 'Uh oh' look. "Uh, she was purposeful, admittedly. But she's awesome, Optimus! She's been good to me and protected me and," Mirage stopped as Optimus leaned, grabbing Noah and Porscha at the same time. Porscha yelped as she was scooped off the ground, but didn't fight against the mech. Noah, on the other hand, was kicking and trashing nervously, looking at Optimus with wide eyes. Optimus' mask slid back, "Who are you, humans?" He questioned. "Oh, well, I'm actually-" "I'm nobody! I ain't even seen nothing!" Noah interrupted Porscha as she gave him an offended and annoyed look. "I'm not even seeing anything right now." Noah went on, closing his eyes. Optimus looked at Porscha, "You," He pressed. "Well, now that nervous Nelly is done trying to wiggle his way outta this situation, I'm Porscha Del-Rae. Mirage's partner." Porscha grinned, "We've known each other-" "Arcee," Optimus turned to the femme.

   Porscha huffed, "And apparently everyone likes interrupting me." She grumbled. Mirage was still standing by, steadily watching how Optimus handled Porscha as the girl looked at him. One instance of mishandling and Porscha knew Mirage would step far out of the chain of command to protect her, even if it was from his own leader. Optimus turned as Arcee scanned Noah as the male held his hands up against the light. He flinched at the sudden brightness, "Geez, give him a warning, please. Might hurt his feelings," She muttered almost jokingly. "Private Noah Diaz, US Army. Multiple commendations, a wizard with electronics. Huh, he's a soldier." Arcee announced. "Oh-ho, army boy? I never would've guessed," Porscha taunted. She yelped and flinched as Arcee scanned her next, "Hey!" Porscha gave the femme an offended look. "Porscha Del-Ray. A mechanic and street racer from New York. With several misdemeanor charges and one count of arson." Arcee spoke. Noah gave her a look, "I could've guessed 'criminal' in your history." He mumbled. Porscha cringed, "Uh, the arson was an accident?" She offered half-heartedly. Optimus turned with the humans again, "He does not look like a soldier. And you," He looked at Porscha. He paused as the two stared at each other. Porscha gave him a deadpan look, "Yeah, go on, Prime, say I look like a dirty criminal." She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms grumpily. 

   "Well, you're looking pretty rough yourself." Noah jumped in. Mirage laughed, stopping when Optimus looked at him. He cleared his throat, "Sorry, sir," He murmured. Optimus huffed, raising Noah and Porscha up to the top of the scaffolding, "I will deal with your mistakes later," He retorted lowly. "Mistake?" Porscha gave him an offended look, "I'm not a mistake," She defended as Optimus set them down. The mech turned, approaching his group as Mirage gave Porscha a sad look. Porscha gave him a smile in return, mocking Optimus for a moment as she made a mouthing motion with her hand. Mirage suppressed his laugh as he turned to his group. Porscha picked herself up, watching the group as Arcee spoke, "Okay," She hopped down off the scaffolding, "The energy signal we detected was in the 4,000 yottahertz range, which is undetectable to humans. I've reconstructed the source from its energy echoes." She displayed an image. Porscha tilted her head, looking over the hologram image curiously. Noah suddenly grabbed her, dragging her along the scaffolding as Optimus spoke, clearly impressed with the image. "What are we doing?" Porscha whispered. "Escaping," Noah returned sharply. Porscha rolled her eyes but followed anyway, watching as Noah started down a ladder.

   The group continued to talk about a Transwarp key and where it was located, Optimus and Arcee explaining the situation to Bumblebee and Mirage. The ladder didn't lead all the way down as Noah swung, trying to land on top of a crate. Porscha looked down, watching as he missed it, hitting the ground with a loud clatter. Bumblebee turned, blaster already held up as he looked at Noah, then Porscha. Porscha threw her hands up in a dramatic shrug, giving the group an 'I don't fucking know' look as Mirage peeked around Arcee to look at her. "You know, I think they could help!" Mirage pointed at Noah and Porscha. "No," Optimus rumbled. "What? Come on, man! They could slip right in through one of them little doors, grab the key, leave a nice IOU, and peace out." Mirage tried to reason with Optimus. "It's perfect," Mirage added. Noah stumbled up as Porsche rolled her eyes, slid down the ladder, and swung herself across to the crates, landing it almost perfectly. Noah looked at her, "How?" He mumbled. "Oh, you know, it's cause I'm a dirty criminal." She returned giving him a pointed look. Noah then turned back to the group, "What are you wanting?" He refocused on their conversation. "No, it is a bad idea." Optimus returned.

   "I agree with the big man! So, it's been real, y'all, but," Noah called, pointing at Optimus. "Uh, time out!" Mirage started over to the two humans. "Mirage," Optimus started. "I know, I know. Just relax. Lemme talk to my girl and my boy real quick." He urged, picking up Porscha and setting her next to Noah. Mirage leaned down, "Yo, don't leave me with these tight-asses, bro. I mean, come on, we make a great team. Me and Porscha already had it going real good, you know? You'd make a great addition," Mirage tried to reason with Noah. "I'm game," Porscha whispered in return. Mirage grinned, "See? She gets it," He joked lightly. "This is a waste of time," Optimus waved them off. "Look, I'm not breaking into a museum for some space robots, man." Noah returned loudly. "But what about for friendship?" Mirage offered. Porsche rolled her eyes, "You did not just say that," She mumbled. Noah gave Mirage a deadpan, unamused look before he looked at Porscha, "Is he being for real right now?" He asked. "Ah, ah! Or, or, or, what about for cash?" Mirage offered. Noah looked back at him, clearly considering that idea, "Uh-huh. You help us get this key so we can get off this rock, no offense, love the neighborhood and all," He winked at Porscha, who just grinned. 

   Mirage backed away, "And then, I let you sell me." He transformed into a lambo alt mode, "Lambo? Ferrari? Indy?" He changed into a Ferrari, then a Formula One car.  He transformed back, bouncing up, "Look, you get paid and then I'll split." Mirage added. Noah glanced at Porscha, "So all I gotta do is walk in and out?" He questioned. "All you gotta do. We'll take care of the rest. Cross my spark and hope to die." Mirage assured, making a cross-motion over his spark. "Wow, that was corny when I said it out loud." He added. "You have a habit for that," Porscha joked. Mirage nodded with a grin, "I do. And, hey, you'll have Porscha! I think with her on your side you could fight God and win." Mirage grinned jokingly as he leaned down again, resting his servos on his knees. Porscha laughed lightly, looking at Noah as he considered the offer. Noah glanced at Optimus, "And what about the big man, Optimal or whatever?" He asked. "You let me worry about him. Cool?" Mirage assured half-heartedly. Noah looked defeated as he accepted the proposal, causing Mirage to jump up excitedly, "Ah! Got him! He's in, baby! Whoo!" He celebrated excitedly. "Is he always this airheaded and goofy?" Noah looked at Porscha. The girl smiled back at him, looking after where Mirage was going.

"I think Mirage prides himself on being a fun-loving idiot." She responded.