My New Life as an Autobot ~~ Book 1

12

-- Prowl up top! Love him so much!--

   We had been driving for hours now and I was getting annoyed by the younger man, named Shaun, who now occupied my back seat. He had started complaining about how hot it was and I lowered my windows, but he then grumbled about the wind being too strong. My patience was wearing thin as I said, "If you want to get out, you're going to have to wait until Optimus allows us to stop."

   Shaun scowled, "You can just stop if you want to, Kid."

   That's it. I slammed on the brakes and nearly caused Prowl to plow into my rear bumper! My doors opened and I stated sharply, "Get out! I'm sick and tired of hearing you complaining."

   Prowl honked his horn, miffed about how I nearly caused him to crash, "That was so uncalled for, Terry. Please warn me next time you go to pull a stunt like that." He then pulled up alongside Shaun and said, " You can ride with me."

   My doors slammed shut as I slowly re-joined the group and I took notice of the stern aura coming from Optimus. The rest of the ride went smoothly for all of us and we finally stopped at the entrance of an abandoned cavern. I transformed to stretch out my muscles and caught Tessa watching me, but kept my mouth shut. I don't mind being watched since I'm already being observed constantly by the other Autobots. . . It was true. The rest of the team had kept a close optic on me after my first ever recorded outburst and I eventually grew used to their wary glances. My spark still ached for the mech's we had lost here on Earth, but I was happy that some of my family could be here with me now.

   Prowl and Bumblebee were talking about what occurred earlier in the day and I admired how much respect and formality Prowl used with Bee. Both mechs were experienced veterans of the Decepticon war and both mechs were always learning something new; however, Prowl treated Bee the way a commanding officer would be treated. He would constantly go to Bee for advice on very tricky matters and I was impressed with Bee's detailed responses each and every time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   Later that night, Shaun stormed over to where I sat on a rock and the glitch abruptly socked me right in the jaw! He stood above me as I lay reeling from the blow and said, "That's for what you did earlier, Punk. Don't forget who you are trusting with your life."

   My temper flared and my eyes actually glowed with a fire no one but Optimus had witnessed before. I rose slowly to my feet and exploded into action with a battle cry that caused all Autobots present to flinch once more. The punches I exchanged with Shaun were some of the fiercest I had ever dared to throw and he somehow managed to return each one of them with his own. He got another blow on my jaw and I began to taste the coppery taste of blood filling my mouth, so I spat some on him in an attempt to get him to back off. It didn't work. In fact, I think it made him even angrier. He swung his fists with renewed vigor and delivered an uppercut that had my vision blurring. Another blow came to my rib cage and I fell to the sand with a soft groan. His boot connected with my stomach once, twice, and a lot harder the third time. I purged the meager contents of my stomach and slowly curled into a ball to show I was finished, but he just continued his assault. The multiple blows finally brought a scream from my lips and he must've decided that I had had enough, but spat on me as an afterthought.

   Prowl saved me from anymore agony by gently scooping me up in his servo and laying me down beside him. When Shaun came over again, Prowl revved his engines in a clear warning to stay away, but spoke up just to be sure, "You've done enough to him, Shaun. Back off now and I won't have to make you."

   My lips twitched into a weak smile as I heard Prowl. He had always looked out for me like an older brother, like Ironhide had, and would stand up to anyone or anything that tried to cause harm to me. I slowly pushed myself up to my hands and knees before I purged again. This time I just dry heaved harshly. It hurt like the Pit and I had tears in my eyes when I finally stopped and just collapsed back into the sand. He will so pay for this. . .