The AllSpark's Chosen

Chapter 19: Tuning Up and Hanging Out

The day was bright and warm as **Saber** leaned back in the driver's seat of **Tempest**, the hum of the engine under his hands steady and reassuring. **Patch** sat in the backseat, his mechanical whirring blending into the quiet background of the ride. The little **Saint Bernard-like bot** had quickly become a constant companion, and his eager curiosity kept both Saber and Tempest entertained.

Beside Saber, **Sam Witwicky** was practically bouncing in the passenger seat, full of nervous energy. His new car—still looking like a rusty **yellow Camaro**—had caught **Mikaela Banes'** attention, but Sam wasn't satisfied. He wanted more than just a passing glance from her; he wanted to impress her. Today was the day he was going to take the car to **Mikaela's workplace**, a local mechanic shop where she helped out, to get it fixed up. Sam had invited Saber along for moral support, and Saber was more than happy to help out.

"So," Sam said, grinning as they pulled into the parking lot of the mechanic shop. "This is it. This is where she works. I'm telling you, man, if I can get this car looking good, maybe she'll finally notice me for real."

Saber chuckled, his hands still resting on the wheel of Tempest. "You've got the right idea, Sam. First impressions matter, especially with someone like Mikaela. But don't worry—it's not all about the car. You just need to be yourself."

Sam looked at him with an expression that hovered between panic and hope. "Yeah, but a cool car wouldn't hurt, right?"

"You're in good hands here," Saber reassured him. "Tempest and I will get cleaned up while you take care of your car. Just focus on having fun and not stressing too much."

As they stepped out of the car, **Patch** jumped down from the backseat, landing lightly on his mechanical paws. The little bot tilted his head up at Saber, his optics glowing with curiosity as he surveyed the new surroundings.

Saber crouched down to give Patch a quick pat on the head. "Stick close, buddy. I don't think these mechanics are ready for a talking robot dog just yet."

Patch beeped in agreement, his tail wagging as he trotted alongside Saber and Sam toward the garage.

---

Inside the mechanic shop, the smell of oil and grease filled the air. **Mikaela** was at one of the workbenches, her hands deep inside the engine of a beat-up truck, her hair tied back in a messy ponytail. She was focused, clearly in her element, and didn't notice them come in right away.

Sam cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing nervously between Saber and Mikaela. "Uh, hey! Mikaela!"

Mikaela looked up, wiping her hands on a rag as she turned to face them. When she saw Sam, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Sam, right? You brought your car in?"

Sam nodded quickly, motioning to the yellow Camaro parked outside. "Yeah, I was hoping you could, you know, take a look. It's been running great, but I figured it could use a little... extra care."

Mikaela raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "A little extra care, huh? Alright, let's see what we're working with."

She grabbed her tools and walked out to the Camaro, giving it a quick once-over. Saber watched from a distance, leaning against **Tempest**, who sat quietly beside him. The muscle car seemed content to play the part of an ordinary vehicle, though Saber could feel the subtle hum of awareness through their bond. Tempest was always alert, always watching.

As Mikaela inspected the Camaro, she noticed the condition of Tempest, too. Her eyes lit up as she turned to Saber. "Your car's in amazing shape. How do you keep it so clean?"

Saber smiled, shrugging slightly. "I like to take care of it. But since we're here, I figured it wouldn't hurt to get Tempest cleaned up, too. You've got a good setup here."