If Only

Chapter 20

Swerving to a stop, I take my helmet off and smile up to the two transformers as they transform into their original forms. They look dazed, shaking their heads.

"How..how did you so that? What did you do to your bike, Phoneix?!" Sideswipe feverishly asked, throwing out his arms.

"I built it with superspeed. Never would have guessed it, hmm?"

"That was..awesome!" Bumblebee played, pumping his fists in the air. "I can't believe I lost, to a human at that." He murmured, dropping his head in shame, yet chuckling as he did so.

"You've been beat, but what can I say? I'm just that great."

"I wouldn't go that far." Putting up his hands in defense, Sideswipe chortles.

"Why..don't we race..back to base?" Bumblebee beeps.

Nodding in agreement, I step back onto my bike and slip on my helmet just as they transform. Revving their engines, we sped off once more to base. Avoiding civilian vehicles proved hard, so we slowed down slightly but still kept up out speed in order to stay with the race.

Back at base, I sped in between both Optimus' and Ratchets legs when I arrived, swerving to a stop I jumped off. Turning, I looked to see all of the soldiers and Autobots baffled expressions, just as Bumblebee and Sideswipe rolled up. Transforming, both of them drooped their shoulders and glared at me. "I can't believe you beat us again!" Sideswipe shouted.

"You better believe it." I answered as I put while a hand to my hip once taking off my helmet.

"Where did you guys go?" Optimus inquires as he glides towards us.

"We went racing, because Phoneix here challenged me." Sideswipe explains, pointing to me.

Giving me a disapproved look, Optimus nods and turns to walk off just as Lennox and Epps make their way toward us. Seeming confused, mixed with slight amusement they look between Sideswipe and to Bee before to me. I missed work and training to go off racing, they might not be too happy with me, however. Wasn't in the mood for that, I don't believe that is a reasonable answer for not working though.

"You left work and training to go race?" Lennox begins, crossing his arms while Epps chuckles.

"Training sounded horrific, work sounded like I would have to deal with idiots, you being one of them. I'm good."

Looking quite offended, he uncrosses his arms and scoffs. Epps doubles over laughing, putting a hand on his friends shoulder, "She got you there."

"Doesn't matter. You need to be working." Frowning, he walks off.

"You better get to work there, Phoneix." Sideswipe mocked, landing both of his hands on his sides.

Grumbling I stomped back to the computers and began my work. Attempting to finish quickly in hopes I'll get done faster, hoping Link doesn't come back today. I was not prepared for any hacking yet, my brain was overwhelmed as is.

One thing that has caught my attention is the thought this Lynk Tyson guy might also have this ability to hack Cybertronians brains as well. Terrifying as it may seem, it is a possibility. Something, I wish not to think of but I'm afraid it could be true. I shivered and moved on.

I was lucky to see no one else has joined me yet at the computer station in the Autobots hanger, and I'm hopeful it will stay this way.

Ending my work for the day, I flip off my headphones and begin making my way to the training room to begin practice. The exact thing I wanted to avoid. Training wasn't hard; I was actually pretty good at it. The difficult part was dealing with the other soldiers that wanted to constantly test my abilities. Dealing with fools is what's hard.

Making my way into the large room, I hear laughter and echos of gunshots filling the room. Taking the extra gun from its slot, once deciding that's how I would train today, I make my way to the targets. I can feel the soldiers watch me as I prepare to shoot, they normally stop to watch along with the Autobots.

I will admit, it is probably unusual for someone like myself to be able to shoot as well as I do. But, with the constant training and practice I had back in Arizona with fighting giant alien robots, I've become considerably good. Aiming at each target properly, I examine my work and smile to myself.

Hearing clapping from many people behind me, making me jump, I flip around to see many soldiers and Autobots standing around. Smiling sheepishly, I wave with my free hand. They were all gaping at the shots I had just fired, except for Optimus who simply glanced at it.

"It would seem your training paid off, Phoneix." The leader began, smiling.

"Yeah, from fighting giant robotic beings." Snapping, I strolled back to where the weapons were kept and set it back down.

Bumblebee was there along with Sideswipe and Ratchet, who were watching as the soldiers were now trying to beat my score with their own guns. Scoffing, I pulled out my hidden gun in my boot and fired it, aiming the target once more perfectly.  Everyone jumped in shock and with an immediate response, turned to me.

"Don't kid yourself, you'll never beat me." I challenged him as I...

"Did you just.." Lennox began, scratching his head and each soldier flipped around and saw I had indeed shot another hole into the target.

Then the day went on with everyone challenging me to see how far I could go and still have a perfect shot. It turned out to be a barrel of laughs, and great practice. They were all enjoying themselves, including Optimus who stood in the back of the room and watched as it all played out.

I've had minimal training with actual human hand on hand combat. What if I happen to get in an actual fight with a human one day? Or a human war? I'll have no idea what to do. I'm so accustomed to the abnormal, anything actually normal to me is weird. Is it like this for the other soldiers? Sure they all have families back at home, but they still work alongside aliens. That would throw a person off.

What have I actually done in three years that was normal? The thought crossed my mind, shaking me to the core. I guess normal to me would be me with my family again, to play pranks on my brothers. To build robots and go to school and be laughed at, and have friends to go to when I had the smallest of problems.

The weirdest thing of all though, it doesn't hurt anymore. Being here has changed everything, as if I finally have a place in life. After what had happened I was so lost. I don't feel so lost anymore, after hanging out with the Autobots they became friends. I'm glad to have them in my life now.

Smiling, I glanced around to see everyone was just as astonished at my last shot as my first. The smile twisting into a frown at the sight of Bumblebee. Who was shaking his head and holding it in his hands. He began mumbling things I couldn't understand when Ratchet ran up to him.

"Phoneix! Get...out..of my..head!" He stammered, as he dropped to his knees.

"I'm not doing anything! I'm not even near a computer!" I pleaded, putting my hands up in defense while running towards the large bot'.

"What's going on?!" The soldiers all questioned, worried for their friend as I stayed near my friend trying to figure out what was going on.

Bumblebee then suddenly stopped, before lifting his blaster, charging it, and firing it right at his chest.