The next morning came and when it did I was definitely not prepared for the awakening I was going to get. "Jess," a male's voice spoke. It was like a dream, but I could sense it wasn't. "Jess, it's time to get up." I slowly opened my eyes and saw a blurry face in front of mine. I let out a blood curdling scream and pushed whoever was in front of me away and went to get out of bed only to succeed in falling out of it.
"Not how I planned the morning out." I moaned. I heard someone run over to me and saw Ironhide.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he gave me a hand and helped me up to my feet.
"I'll survive, just let me change and I'll be ready to hit the road." I mumbled and went to go to my suitcase but found it missing.
I turned around to look at Ironhide, "It's already in my cab. You can sleep on the way to NEST it's going to be a long drive. Optimus, Sideswipe and I made sure all your belongings were packed so you have nothing to worry about. You can go downstairs and say goodbye to everyone." Ironhide spoke.
I looked at him and nodded still half asleep and started to walk out of the room, but didn't make it far before hitting a wall. "Ouch...when did they put that there?" I asked groggily.
I heard Ironhide grumble and picked me up over his shoulder. "Ironhide, I can easily walk myself."
"Of course, that's why you keep walking into walls." He replied.
"It's early and I'm tired, I'm sorry." I grumbled. Ironhide just chuckled and continued to go downstairs. Once he walked down the last stair he gently sat me down on my feet. I looked up at him and looked around the room to see everyone up and ready to say their goodbyes. I felt my heart fall and wanted to cry. I quickly ran to Uncle Ron first and gave him a very large hug. At first he didn't do anything but stand there with his arms up, but felt him slowly wrap his arms around me. "I'll miss you Uncle Ron."
I pulled away and saw he was blinking rapidly, "You haven't seen the last of us kid. There's still holidays and the next summer."
"That's true." I replied and gave him another quick hug. I then looked at Aunt Judy who was already crying and before I could give her a hug I was already being squeezed to death.
"W-We're going to m-miss you s-s-s-so very m-m-much!" she sobbed. I wrapped my arms around her the best I could since being squeezed wasn't helping me at all.
"Judy, you're killing her, let go." Uncle Ron spoke and started to pry her arms off of me. Once he got some space between her arms and my body I took in a deep breath and watched as Uncle Ron pulled her aside and hugged her tightly so that she wouldn't try to get away. I shook my head and looked at Sam and Mikaela.
"We'll, knowing Sam he'll be seeing you soon. He's always in tons of trouble since the Autobots came down." Mikaela stated.
"Hey, I am not." Sam defended himself. I laughed at this and gave them both a large hug. As I did I heard Ironhide walk over. I looked up to see him right next to us looking down.
"We can't help that the Decepticons want Sam all the time." Ironhide growled then looked at me, "I'm sorry to break up the little goodbye ceremony but we need to start heading out."
"Okay, we'll...I'll see you guys later." I spoke and started to walk off with Ironhide.
"R-R-R-R-Ron! Do something!" I heard Aunt Judy cry out.
"Good luck Jess!" He called out. I couldn't help but laugh, and then heard him yell out in pain and Aunt Judy yelling at him.
We exited the house to see everyone transformed and ready to go. "Who am I riding with first?" I asked.
"Me." Ironhide spoke with no room for negotiation.
"Okay." I replied and looked at Optimus and Sideswipe. I heard Sideswipe whine a little bit in hearing the news. "It'll be okay Sides; I'll ride with you later. He can't make me ride with him the whole time."
Ironhide's holoform turned around and arched an eyebrow and smirked, "You wanna bet?"
"You may have seen me fight fair, but you haven't seen me fight dirty." I growled.
Ironhide gave me a shocked look as I got into the passenger seat and his holoform disappeared. His engine roared to life as we started our long trip towards Washington D.C. I had never been there even my time in New York where I grew up. My parents really never took me anywhere. I grew up with a nanny. I laid down across Ironhide's seats and felt sleep overcome me once again.
I don't know how long had past when I woke up, but I woke up to a blinding light and moaned. I turned around so the light would dim, but I had been woken up and for me to even try going back to sleep was out of the question. Sighing, I slowly sat up and looked out Ironhide's window. "Where are we?"
"We're in Colorado close to Colorado Springs." Ironhide replied.
Before I could make a comment my stomach growled loudly. Ironhide then spoke into his comlink. "Jess needs to stop and get something to eat and probably take a potty break."
"Understood." Optimus spoke and as we came up to a truck station we pulled off there. Ironhide opened his door for me and slowly climbed out. My weight of my body hit my legs and I staggered for a moment trying to get my balance. I slowly started walking towards the rest area where I could do my business and get something to eat. After I used the restroom and fixed my hair a bit I went to the vending machines and got some chips and candy and of course something to drink.
"You're not driving that semi out there are ya?" a man with a five 'o' clock shadow asked me as I slowly exited the rest area with my supplies for the trip.
"No, why?" I asked.
"I saw ya come out of the black Top Pickup truck but no one come out of any of the other vehicles. Those vehicles can't just drive themselves. I've looked over there and there's no one inside." He replied again.
I gave him a smile and replied, "I assure you sir that there are drivers to the vehicles."
"Really? Then tell me their names." The man replied dead serious.
"My name is Optimus Prime, I drive the semi over there, why do you insist that there is no one in the truck? I can assure you that I was the one driving and I suggest you stop this at once." Optimus spoke and put a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him, but he didn't look down at me, but was glaring at him. I looked at the truck driver and he looked at me and then slowly turned the other way. I looked back up to Optimus who was now looking down at me. "Are you okay? He didn't try anything did he?"
"Now...for some reason he was just quizzing me like there was no tomorrow." I replied and wrapped my arms around his waist. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and bent down a little and kissed me on the head.
"Prime! I saw that!" I heard Ironhide yell. We both turned towards the GMC truck and saw his holoform coming out and slamming the door. We both knew he hurt himself in doing that. He marched straight over towards us. We looked around to see people staring at us and then back to Ironhide.
Optimus grabbed a hold of me and then stepped in front blocking me from Ironhide. "She is going back in the cab right now."
"I think she can use a different ride I'm sure she would like a little cot to sleep on when she gets tired, don't you think so Jess?" Optimus asked looking behind him at me.
"A cot does sound nice...but...Ironhide would surely kill me." I replied looking up at Optimus and then Ironhide. Optimus looked at Ironhide and Ironhide looked down at me.
"Fine." Ironhide grumbled and marched back to his true form.
"Wait a minute," a woman spoke and came marching up to Ironhide, "she isn't your daughter and you forbid her to even sleep in the truck that her boyfriend is driving? What do you think is going to happen the truck is going to drive by itself and he's going to go to the cot and start making love to her?"
All three of us stiffened and suddenly the air got tight, I could feel it and so could Optimus and Ironhide. "You see ma'am, I may not be her father, but I've been more to a father to her than her true father and Prime may be my boss, but when it comes to Jess, I'm in charge."
"Well Optimus would never do that anyway." I piped up, "Ironhide is a bit overprotective and he needs to lie back a little bit."
The woman looked at me and then Optimus, "You harm her and I swear I will regret standing up for you and let him tear you apart, no matter what your rank is."
I swear Optimus's eyes grew big when she said that and replied, "I can assure you ma'am that no harm would come to her when she's with me. I would lay my life on the line to protect her at all costs."
The woman nodded with a stern look and gave me a nice loving smile before pinching my cheek and walked off. We started walking towards Optimus's true form and I rubbed my cheek, "You ever do that to me ever, and I'll rip you apart got it?"
Optimus chuckled and ruffled my hair, "I would never do anything you wouldn't want me to do." He replied softly and opened the door for me to get in. Once I was settled in my seat he closed the door and came up to the driver's side and crawled in.
"Okay, master chief, where to now?" I asked.
Optimus looked at me and smiled, "To Washington, D.C. where NEST is located." He turned on his engine and put himself into gear and started to drive off leading the way. All the Autobots started following him as we did this. Optimus had the radio on low and drove the speed limit which lucky for us was around seventy-five.
"What is NEST like?" I asked out of the silence. Optimus's holoform turned towards me his sharp blue eyes staring at me warmly.
"It's a military base except it is top secret." He answered, "We'll have to give you special permission but with Galloway there it'll be hard. Major Lennox won't mind and neither would Epps, but Galloway is the lesion and...the humans don't like him very much."
"Great." I replied flatly, "Just what I wanted an asshole to tell me what to do."
"It'll be okay." He whispered grabbed a hold of my hand ever so gently. I looked at his holoform and smiled.
"I know...but I don't want them to send me away, like I traveled all this way and they tell me I have to go home. I wouldn't be able to go back to Aunt Judy's and Uncle Ron's place. Summer will end before I know it and I'm off back to school." I replied.
"School is good for you though right?" Optimus asked.
"Of course it is, but...I really like my vacation so far and once school starts...well there goes my free time and I won't really be able to see you that often anymore, unless you come up to NYC or I transfer down to Washington D.C."
Optimus was quiet for a moment and I felt him wrap an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. "It'll be okay, we'll figure it out."
"When we get there...to NEST we have to stop this unless we're in the privacy of our own room which Ironhide would not allow." I replied.
"No one will tear us apart, Ironhide is under my orders." Optimus smiled over at me.
I laughed at this and looked out to the road and then down at the time, it was later and time had really flown. "Prime, is Jess okay in there?" Ironhide's voice suddenly came over the radio.
"Yes Ironhide she's fine, she's just gone to sleep." Optimus replied looking at me and motioned for me to go to the back of the cab to the cot. I got up and sat on the cot in the dark of the cab.
"You mean she's sleeping in your cab!" Ironhide roared, "I told you there would be none of that!"
"Ironhide, get a hold of yourself, you know me and you know that I would never do anything to harm her. You stop this business right now!" Optimus yelled.
There was silence on the other line and then the music came back on. "You may want to go to sleep, it's going to be a long drive and we're not stopping. We're already late, do you need to stop anywhere?"
"I'm fine Optimus, I'll go to sleep and probably by the time I wake up we'll be there." I replied. Optimus nodded and continued to look forward, I looked out the windows in the front and before I knew it I had fallen asleep.
"Optimus! You better have a good reason for not transforming!" A man's voice rang through the area. I quickly jumped up off the cot and ended up falling flat on my face...again.
"Damn, why do I always do this?" I asked myself. I pushed myself up and started walking to the front to see we had stopped and there were military people out there. "Are we here?" I whispered.
Optimus didn't reply and stayed silent which wasn't good. I slowly peered over through the passenger side window to see a middle aged man with glasses and graying hair. I quickly pulled myself back. "Optimus! Who is that inside with you! You better let me in or else I'll have someone pull your door off. You know you're not supposed to interact with civilians!"
I heard someone transform and then the man was picked up, "You're not our boss and who we interact with is none of your business." I smiled knowing it was Ironhide who had spoke now.
"Yes I am! If the whole world knew of your existence...it would be a catastrophe! People would be running around like chickens with their heads cut off! Do you want that to happen?"
"Who is in Optimus's cab is not one of those people. She is cousin to Samuel James Witwicky." Sideswipe spoke up. I watched as he came walking towards Ironhide. He rolled in front of Optimus and over to Ironhide.
"That Witwicky girl! Prime I told you, you had to be back here and you went off talking to a little girl!" the man yelled.
"Galloway, please keep your temper down!" Another man yelled and opened Optimus's door slowly and climbed inside the cab. My heart jumped to my throat and I stumbled back to the cot and looked for anything to defend myself with. "Easy there, I'm not going to hurt you."
I quickly turned around to find the man standing there with his hands held up high. "Who are you?"
"My name is Major William Lennox, I am in charge of NEST, the man outside is...well...his name is Galloway and we'll keep it at that." Major Lennox replied.
"Galloway? I've heard of him." I growled a little bit. Lennox laughed a little hearing me say that and rubbed his neck a little nervously.
"So, what's up with Optimus? He really hasn't spoken." Lennox spoke trying to change the subject and relieving the tension in the air.
"I really don't know, I woke up hearing men's voices and fell over trying to find out what was going on. Optimus really hasn't spoken at all." I replied and patted the cot I was sitting on.
"Well, Ironhide has all your stuff unloaded and we have a room for you...one reason why Galloway is so mad. He had heard about you and didn't want you coming here, but what the Autobots and Optimus decides stays. There's nothing he can do and he knows it." Lennox spoke.
He then started to leave out of Optimus's cab and I slowly walked behind him stepping out of Optimus's cab and looking at the area we were at. I stepped out looking at the place in awe. I had to remind myself that I was one of the very few human beings that actually are allowed in this area. I heard metal start folding on top of itself and I turned around to see Optimus transformed and he was pissed for some reason and I for one was a little scared to even find out.
"Hey Optimus is everything okay?" I asked looking up at him.
He tilted his head down towards me and nodded briefly and looked at Ironhide who had a hold of Galloway. "Now if you promise to be nice to the lady I'll let you down. Understood?" Ironhide spoke.
"Put me down right now!" Galloway yelled.
Ironhide sighed and gently put him down and when he did I was the first person he went marching over to. "You think you're going to be staying here with the Autobots? Think again girl, you are not going to be staying here very long. Only the elite personnel get to stay here because this is a life or death branch. We are fighting up against things that could easily kill you with one finger."
"You think I don't know that?" I asked putting my hands on my hips and marched over to him. I saw Ironhide in the corner of my eye and he was backing away. He had seen me mad before and knew never to really piss me off since then. He had done a good job at doing so. "I've encountered the Decepticons and yes I know their name. I've been with the Autobots for the majority of the summer at my cousin's house. I probably know more about what is going on than you!"
"You stop raising your voice at me young lady or I'll—
"You'll what? Get someone to escort me out of the area? I'm sorry, but I had been training with the Autobots before I came here and I'm pretty sure I could take you out in a matter of a few seconds. Ironhide and Optimus Prime are good teachers." I smirked.
Galloway looked at me and then to Ironhide and Optimus and grumbled, "She can stay for a few weeks, but needs to leave as soon as possible."
Optimus looked down at Galloway who shrunk back a little bit. "Why does she need to leave? I mean come on we're all buds and plus I'm her guardian." Sides spoke up.
"Unless she joins some military branch she is just taking money people are paying to the government and to this program that they don't know exists!" Galloway yelled. I felt my blood pressure start to rise and I took in a deep breath and tried to block out Galloway's annoying voice when I was going to snap and attack, but one of the Autobots picked up me before I could do anything I would regret. I turned around to see Ironhide holding me in his hand.
"I saw what you were about to do, I wasn't going to have it." He whispered. I pouted as I looked down at everyone from Ironhide's height.
Galloway turned around and looked up at me and said, "Ironhide is going to take you to your room Miss Witwicky, while he does that you're also going to have a background check, drug tests alcohol abuse—
"Is that really necessary?" I asked.
"It's all to make sure you are who you say you are. Many people would claim to be Sam Witwicky's cousin because of the leaks of the Autobots and Decepticons over the internet. People may know about Sam as well, so until we have proof that you two are related you are to stay in your room and not come out until we have verification." Galloway spoke.
"Come on! I've been hanging out with them for most of the summer! I mean I've been at Sam's house hanging out with these guys! We're practically family!" I protested
"You either obey the rules or you will be escorted here immediately and taken to federal prison." Galloway taunted.
I looked over at Optimus who looked at me with sad optics and then down to Galloway, "We will wait right here including Jess until you find out all this information. We won't let her go anywhere without seeing it personally."
Galloway snapped his attention over to the Autobot leader and fumed. "No, the answer is no she cannot stay with you all that time."
"She's stayed with us longer than that." Sideswipe spoke up rolling next to Ironhide and crossing his arms.
Galloway growled and yelled, "Fine! I'll go do it right now to make you all happy, but if you get tired of waiting, it's your own damn fault."