Transformers: Sparky

Chapter 1

There isn't much around where I live, just woods full of bears and lumberjacks. No offence to the lumberjacks but I've definitely mistaken them for bears before. Big, burly and hairy. To be honest, the other folks that live around here aren't much better.

The town on the outskirts of the forest was a mining town when it was founded; the families that came here all those years ago are still here. A rough bunch, but the community is pretty tight knit. Everyone knows each other, probably the only reason this part of the USA even still exists. Nobody would choose to live here. You're born here and you'll probably die here.

We're the only auto-repair shop in these parts, so we're kept pretty busy with the locals, even if we do live in bear land- AKA: the forest in the middle of nowhere. That's where I work. I'm not paid unless you count food and a place to sleep as payment.

I literally live in a workshop made out of old concrete. It's kinda wet, cold in the winter and the kitchen is basically a corner of a garage full of cars. My bedroom is probably the best in this whole place, at least it doesn't leak.

The boss lives here with me too. His name is Daniel; he's an old codger that took me when I was a baby. He's not exactly dad material, even if he tries to be. He sure does nag me like one though.

Which is exactly what he's doing right now. I'm doing my best to ignore him; he's not making it easy, I'm telling you right now.

"Sparky? Sparky! Are you even listening to me?"

I sighed, forcing myself to look up at Daniel, his grizzled unshaven face in its normal annoyed scowl. His balding dome for a head gleamed in the sun, which I may need sunglasses for if I keep staring at it.

"Yeah... I heard you the first six times you said it. And the other gazillion times before that..." I grumbled; I decided that I didn't want to be blinded by his head anymore; back under the hood of the old Polo I'm working on.

"Then why did you sneak out again! Will you get your head out of there and look at me! This is serious!"

I begrudgingly pulled out my head again, this time opting to stare at the ground. I just wanted Dan to shut up. It didn't work of course; he just continued to rant.

"Why did you sneak out? What if you got caught?"

"I wasn't gonna! It's just an old parts shop, with an old deaf man. He wouldn't have heard me if I banged an oil drum in front of his face." I shot back trying and failing to keep the annoyance out of my voice. Sure, that probably sounds bad, but right now I'm really pissed off.

"What if he saw you!"

"Then he would have seen a girl paying for some solder wire. Hell, you do that all the time! You leave some money and a note on the side if he's not around and that's never been an issue for you!" I snapped, blue eyes narrowed as I shoved up my welding goggles to the top of my short messy black hair.

"That's different! You aren't meant to be seen! Nobody but the boys and me are supposed to know you exist!" Dan retorted, I glanced up at him, catching his face dropping to one of exhaustion. "Look kid. I know it sucks but we-"

I took a deep breath, jutting out my chin, turning away as I crossed my arms. I didn't wanna deal with this stupid subject again, I was fed up with it. "Why? I don't get it".

"Sparky... you know the reason..." He lowered his voice, placing a hand on my shoulder. It didn't make me feel any better, if anything it felt patronising! I wasn't some dumb kid anymore! I was twelve! Plenty old enough to be treated like an adult.

"Because... we don't want you to be taken away..."

"By who, Dan!? The old man at the auto-shop!? The ranger that comes by to make sure there's no bears in our yard!? I don't know anyone else! I just know you, Steve and Russell! That's it!" I yelled, throwing my arms in the air, the frustration was so evident in my voice.