Through Ash and Dust (ROTB)

Chapter 8

Optimus said nothing for the moment as he observed the girl silently. He was processing what she had said to him while deciding on how to respond. It seemed to him that she will be cooperative, and that was a good sign. He just hoped that she would not become uncooperative. "There will be rules for you. Mirage will be the one to keep a close eye on you. He will take you to the hospital so you can check those injuries." Saphira was extremely relieved to hear that, though she did not reaction outwardly. "But..." Uh oh...there's a but. "I understand you have a job to go to, correct?" She nodded slowly. "That will be fine. But as for your place of residence, you are to leave it." Wait, what? Saphira widened her eyes in shock. "I do not care how long it takes to get things sorted at your apartment. But we need to keep a close eye on you. This includes ensuring you are under our watch at night."

Mirage had a deep frown on his face as he could not believe what he heard. "I'm sorry...but...what the hell?" Optimus glared at Mirage as the young bot began to question him. "When humans go to their homes or apartments to sleep, they don't leave it. Some do...though they usually get up to mischief...but Saphira is not that." Saphira did not make any agreements with Mirage as she did not want to make things worse. "Why should Saphira give up her apartment? We're essentially making her home if we do."

"I'm...kind of in agreement with Mirage," Arcee admitted slowly with a shrug. She seemed concerned by the idea of Optimus wanting to keep a close eye on Saphira this way. "It seems...a tad extreme. I get you are concerned, Optimus...considering...how you feel about our situation, but making Saphira homeless is not the way to go."

"I do not intend on keeping her from a home forever. Just until I can trust her enough. Right now..." Optimus leaned down slightly, making Saphira jump and back away from him a little, though she didn't move much as she didn't want her right leg to fall from the box she was resting it on. "I do not. You have already run from us." Saphira guessed that was why Optimus wanted to keep a very close eye on her. "I could imagine you trying that again."

She shook her head, even though it was likely that was not going to convince Optimus at all. "Well...I-I...d-d-don't know w-w-where I w-would even go anyway..." Saphira swallowed nervously as she took a deep breath. "Um...could...c-c-could it b-be possible...t-t-to take me to the hospital now?" Optimus did not react, only glare at her. "Or...w-w-whenever you decide to let me go...but...I a-a-am cold...and wet...I-I d-d-don't need to get sick on t-t-top of everything else...and y-y-you d-d-don't need to be t-t-trying to keep a sick human comfortable."

"Yeeeaaaahhhh, we really don't want that to happen." Mirage smiled at Saphira as he agreed with her, though he flinched when Optimus turned his head to glare at him. "I am not kidding, Optimus. You haven't seen humans purging or sneezing and coughing so much?" Optimus did not respond, though Mirage was sure that he has. "I am sure you have...you don't need that happening. Cause otherwise she will need things like...soup...medicine and...something else..." Mirage shrugged as he tried to think of it. "I can't remember."

Optimus looked back at Saphira who was waiting to see what was going to happen. "The decision has been made about your place of residence, Saphira. I want to keep a close eye on you, and that includes ensuring we know where you are at all times." She sighed a little as she guessed there was no use in arguing with Optimus on this. "Once you have sorted out your current place of residence, I will be the one to house you during the night." That was a surprise again, but no one said anything. "But if we happen to locate, as I am sure you overheard, the decepticon called Transit, I will have Bumblebee or Arcee keep an eye on you." He glanced at Mirage again who seemed offended. "I am not a hundred percent sure if Mirage will keep you from running."

"Wow, your lack of confidence in me is really blinding, Optimus," Mirage said bluntly with a roll of his optics. "You gotta give me more credit...but I guess...I'll just be here to help Arcee and Bumblebee as back up."