No Rest For The Weary

IronHide landed hard on his aft, his jaw clenching at the jarring impact as his rear made a dent into the hard packed dirt. He opened his eyes, glaring at the young femme giggling at him as he made his way back to his feet. The weapons specialist swore that he would let Ratchet have it after he had figured out the array of fighting styles he had given Ellie access to. Most of which he had not come up against before. And he was quickly becoming tired of being thrown around like a rag doll.

Ellie had just taken him by the hand and heaved his massive frame over her hip and deposited him onto the ground, where he landed with all the grace of a skydiving hippo. IronHide growled, narrowing his optical guards. He was not going to be bested by this femme, especially when it was he that was trying to teach her how to defend herself! He lunged at her again, sidestepping a jab from her left hand and catching her around her wrist and snapped her arm back behind her. 'Hide thought he had her pinned, but she raised her shoulder slightly, his leverage disappearing. Whirling around she hit him with a open hand straight to his midsection, knocking several relays out of position. She followed with an uppercut to his jaw which sent him back on his aft on the desert floor.

"Alright, Ellie. I think you've softened him up enough." Chromia laughed, letting IronHide gather what was left of his dignity. "Go let Ratchet have a look at you," she ordered her mate, sending him off with a pat to his dented rear, ignoring the grumbling and the occasional 'Ow!'. "Where did you learn that?" Chromia sat against a small rocky outcropping, watching Ellie dust herself off.

"Back when I was human, I took some Judo classes. It was my dad's idea so I could defend myself in case some guy thought he could take advantage of me." Ellie shrugged, perching herself on a rock about ten feet away. "They always taught that no matter how small you are, you can always take down an opponent twice your size with a well placed blow." Chromia harrumphed thoughtfully, smiling. "But I never got more than a few weeks into the class, so I just know the basics."

This sent Chromia into a fit of laughter. "I can't wait to see what would happen if you actually got further. Poor IronHide is going to have to find a new sparring partner for you if you keep it up." Both femmes started laughing, not noticing the pair of optics watching them. The optics darkened slightly before their owner shook his head, clearing it of the errant thoughts that always seemed to flood his processor when Ellie was near. Prime sighed, sending a puff of air from his intake vents in his chest. Ellie and Chromia had descended into 'girl talk'. Nothing in particular seemed to be exchanged between them, just meaningless talk. Of course it was essential for Ellie to feel like she was welcome since her life had changed dramatically in the last few months. She still had problems with her size, forgetting to bend down before she went through the lower doorways. She had figured out that it felt worse being hit in the head now than it did when she was human. Proportionately, a human's skull was stronger than a Cybertronian's cranial armor. But she wore no armor over that, so it was little wonder.

Prime turned to leave, nearly running Wheeljack over in his haste. "Good morning, Prime!" Wheeljack greeted jovially. He was so loud that the two femmes turned their heads, watching as Wheeljack happily chatted up their leader. Chromia narrowed her optical guards. Prime looked absolutely uncomfortable, but Wheeljack had not yet mentioned anything that involved explosions or nuclear melt-downs. Perhaps Optimus just was anticipating his next obsession. But the leader of the Autobots turned his head in Ellie's direction, his optics darkening before he pulled his head around and made to direct Wheeljack away so the two sitting nearby could carry on their conversation without being interrupted. Chromia smirked, Prime's ruse too little, too late to her experienced optics. She made to crack a joke about the situation, when she noticed that Ellie's optics were the same deep sapphire Prime's had been. Oh, this was just too good!

Ellie jerked as Chromia chucked a small rock at her head. "Earth to Ellie," Chromia used one of the sayings Bumblebee loved to use. "So...what are you thinking?" The older femme grinned deviously at Ellie's sputtering. "Out with it!" Chromia nearly knocked Ellie over as she crowded the younger femme, getting her face directly into Ellie's. "Come on...you can tell me. I won't tell IronHide, I promise." At Ellie's silence, she added. "Scout's honor."

Ellie cracked up. "Thats the sign for the Boy Scouts, Chromia. Just two fingers is for Girl Scouts.." Chromia frowned; there was a difference?

"So...why so silent?" Chromia continued to boar into Ellie's head with her optics, undeterred.

"Silent? I'm talking, aren't I?" Ellie smiled a rather poorly contrived disarming smile, spreading her arms with the most innocent look on her face. "Honestly, you need to get your ears checked."

"Oh, no you don't! I saw you! You can't hide it!" Chromia shouldered Ellie so hard the slightly larger femme tumbled to the ground in a heap.

"You saw what? I didn't do anything!" Ellie rubbed her rear, feeling a small ding where she had landed on a rock. Boy did that smart!

"Your optics, you sparkling! A Cybertronian's optics darken when they have feelings another Cybertronian. And they only darken that much when there's lots of naughty bits going through their processors." Chromia looked triumphant sitting straight on the rock, face haughty as though she had just proved herself better than all the other femmes in the universe.

Ellie worked her jaw, trying to come up with an explanation, but she finely quit, folding her arms over her chest and looking away from Chromia. "I don't know what you're talking about." She ignored the look Chromia gave her, like she wanted to shoot her with something big and destructive, and then beat her over the head with one of Ratchet's tools. "We just...looked...at each other." But Ellie knew she was sunk the moment she had opened her mouth because her optics had darkened again. Her voice had betrayed her thoughts, and she knew it the moment Chromia's jaw dropped.

Ellie clamped her hands over her audios at Chromia's happy, glass shattering squeal. 'Since when did Autobot's squeal?' Ellie thought, her head ringing. "Primus, Ellie! Do you know what you just said?" It didn't matter what Ellie thought she had said, Chromia had already read deeper into it. "You shared his thoughts!" Again, not a question. "You felt, ACK!!"

Ellie threw herself at Chromia, taking the elder femme to the ground, covering her mouth with her hand. "Will you shush! Your going to freak out everyone from here to Canada!" She almost laughed at the hurt look on Chromia's face. "So what if I saw or felt something? Its not like any of it's possible. It's just my imagination..." Ellie cringed. "My very active imagination." She saw Chromia trying to come up with a retort, but Ellie hook her head. "There's no way! He's...well, he's older than dirt, that's for sure. And he was probably thinking of someone else. A guy like him probably has a...mate already," Ellie finished quickly, not wanting Chromia to grill her about it any further.

Excuses, that was all that was coming from Ellie's vocalizer. Chromia was about to inform her of her mistake when she saw the communication spider across her HUD. "Incoming friendlies." It was Perceptor, probably with his lens to the sky. "Landing fifty miles west. Counting three. Designations: Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Mirage." The older femme groaned. There went their peace and quiet.

************************************

IronHide frowned at the three protoforms standing in front of him. Mirage he could handle, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe he would rather shoot first and save himself the trouble. Good thing they had the brig up and running. The two mechs would be its first occupants. "Mirage," Prime nodded his head in greeting, "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe," Prime had a slight warning tone in his voice that the two mechs took as encouragement, grinning like idiots. "Welcome to Earth." Optimus finished the rest in his head; 'Please don't destroy it...' Though he knew for a fact that these two would have Keller bald from pulling his own hair out in less than a week's time. Perhaps if he let Ratchet remove their arms and legs...

"Prime, Ironhide," The two mechs said these names with such pleasure that it made Optimus and IronHide cringe. "and Prowl...it's been vorns!" The two mechs each clapped Prowl on the shoulders, making the Security Chief absolutely miserable. "We certainly hope you missed us." Their optics roamed over the gathered Autobots and halted on Mikaela and Ellie. The grins they had threatened to turn into leers as they devoured the sight before them. Each sidled up to Mikaela, Sunny on her left, Sides on her right.

"Well, well. We haven't met before." Sunstreaker made his move first, getting as close as he could to Mikaela. He was about to put his arms around her when he was halted by twin growls, Bumblebee and Sam breaking in between them and standing firm. "What's with you, 'Bee?" Sunny asked, more than ready to shove the smaller mech out of the way.

"This is Mikaela and Sam, Bumblebee's mates." Both brothers' optics nearly popped out of their heads, their feet backing away slowly. "I wouldn't get any closer if I were you." Ratchet's warning seemed to deflate the twin terrors. But their egos were not flat for long. Each locked optics on Ellie and made a bee-line her way. The elder of the three looked positively uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Mirage made it there first. "I must say," the refined Autobot played up his impeccable manners, bowing to the crimson femme. "it is an honor to make the acquaintance of someone so beautiful." Mirage delicately brought the flat of her knuckles up to his forehead, the Cybertronian equivalent of a kiss on the hand. "And what might your name be? I trust it is as lovely as your countenance?"

Ellie's optic ridges nearly shot off her head. She had never head any one lay it on thicker than this smooth talker. But she had to give him points for getting those two buffoons off of her trail. "Eloise Gretchen Murdock. Mirage right?" She asked, cocking him a half smile, half smirk that only served to embolden the mech. She saw the twins frowns and tried her best not to laugh. If she did not know any better, she would say that this mech was flirting with her. Ellie was no virgin in any sense of the word, but it still felt good to have someone think she was beautiful.

"Yes, Mirage is my designation. Though any name you give me will be just as perfect." The saboteur 'kissed' her hand again before letting it go, standing at attention at the acid stare he was receiving from IronHide. He was smart, and put the pieces together. "IronHide, your daughter is quite lovely. May I ask where you found the time to raise a femme so perfectly?" Mirage was not deterred by the harrumph he received in answer. Though he was amused all the same.

"As much as we would love to continue the greetings," Ratchet raised an optical ridge at the acidic tone in Prime's voice. "We are much too close to a roadway to stay for much longer." Ratchet puffed air out of his intakes, resisting the urge to shake his head. The twins seemed to take no mind of the tone, too accustomed to being yelled at to know any better. Mirage and the rest chalked it up to nerves and trying to keep their growing group secret on this planet. But Ratchet knew better, and glanced at IronHide.

'I'll explain later...' was all Ratchet sent over the processor-to-processor comm as the large group made their way back to the base. As the group began their trek, a group of car carrying semis came over the slight incline, seeming to appear out of thin air as the heat rippled off of the pavement. Those that could transform did, the new arrivals hiding behind their shadows, watching the convoy pass by. IronHide remembered that there was a car show going on this week featuring exotic foreign cars and other vehicles. He chuckled inwardly, perfect for these three.

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe both locked optics on the first semi carrying a load of brand new Lamborghini's. Both twins scanners came to life, each picking a different car, one yellow, one red. Mirage caught sight of an Aston Martin and fell for it instantly. He too scanned his favorite, and where three protoforms were laying before, were three sleek, shiny vehicles. A Lamborghini Reventón, muscular and slightly reminiscent of an F-22 Raptor in bright sunshine yellow, and a Gallardo SE, sleek and smooth in bright candy apple red and the trademarked black roofed color scheme. Mirage took the form of a royal blue Aston Martin DBS, showing off haughty curves that could cut through any speed barrier without compromising his refined tastes.

The group pulled away from the road as the last semi past by, throwing up a cloud of dust and pebbles. One such unlucky pebble landed softly on the hood of Sunstreaker, sending a shrill alarm as the entire frame shuddered. "My paint job!"

"You complain too much." Sam laughed, still on his belly close to Bumblebee. He propped his hands under his head and slowly kicked his legs in a genuine imitation of what he used to do when he was still human. "There's water and soap back at the base so you can scrub to our OCD heart's content." Mikaela snickered on the other side of Bumblebee, who despite still in his alt form, looked positively about ready to burst with pride at the jealous and lustful stares his mates were receiving from the twins. Sam had taken the form of a Scion Fuse, bright oiled silver glinting in the afternoon sun. The butterfly doors wiggled on his back, giving him the look of a silver wasp lounging in the sun. Mikaela had scanned an Audi Locus, smiling with obvious glee at how the armor fit over her body. If she was long legged and curvaceous before, she would have the heads of every species of male turning as she walked by.

Ellie on the other hand had stood up already, her eyes watching the horizon in case more vehicles popped out of nowhere. Loving big trucks, she had scanned a Dodge Rampage, which suited her just fine. She was not as slender as Mikaela or as sleek as Sam, but the armor gave the impression of wide hips and shoulders. The front and rear opening doors sat on her back in a butterfly pattern, her body a dark blood red that seemed to heighten the dangerous feel of of her stance. "I say we get a move on. With that many concept cars coming down the road there are bound to be fans following behind." She smiled back at Optimus, whose engine revved despite himself. "I know I would be close on their tails. Especially with all those concept trucks. Yummy." Optimus' engine revved again, gaining him a snicker from Ratchet. Ironhide gunned his accelerator in irritation, throwing up more dust in Sunstreaker's direction, causing the yellow Lamborghini to have a fit, cursing in both English and Cybertronian. Though some of that dirt landed on Optimus, his windshield wipers activating to clean the dirt off of the glass.

It didn't take long for the others to catch up, though Prime's mood went south as he spied Mirage keeping close to Ellie's side, knowing that the haughty Autobot would be more than eager to get the femme by herself once they got back. For once, Optimus hoped IronHide kept his cannons out and charged. He would never admit it, but watching Mirage nudge Ellie as she experimented with her new alt mode made his energon boil. He still would not approach her, no matter what he had felt when their eyes had locked earlier that morning. There was no way in Prime's mind that he could ever have those kinds of feelings for one he saw as so young. He knew it was petty, but there were somethings Optimus just could not get past, and age was one of them. Though he still growled low when the twins kept pace behind Ellie, looking every bit like they would steal her or any unattached femme if given half the chance.