The Change 8: What's Going On?

       "You mean to tell me that the human girl escaped?!?!" screamed Starscream.
      "Forgive us, Commander Starscream you see the somehow--" Knockout trying to explain.
      "Must I remind you, AGAIN!?! It...is...LORD! I'm sure that it's that same girl years ago!"
       Knockout and Breakdown both showed sheepish expressions "Um... actually we don't." Knockout chuckled nervously.
       Starscream groaned, "Why am I surrounded by cones?" he murmured,
"Listen to this:" he said, "This may be that same human girl, that has many wonders years ago."
      "You still lost us, there, LORD Starscream." explained Breakdown.
      "Do you remember when we took the Autobots' little girl?"
       Breakdown's and Knockout's optics widen, "It can't be! It's HER?!"
                     ****
       "Um, Ratchet. I think I'm doing fine. There's nothing wrong," explained Kerra.
      "Be patient." said Ratchet while finishing his scanning, "Alright, but if anything strange happens report to me at once."
       Kerra sighed, "Don't worry. I promise."
       "Hey, Sakerra," it was Miko, "I was wondering....may you show me that sword?" she pleaded.
        Sakerra's eyes widen.... "But, it's back at home. Hidden.... I don't think it's a good idea carrying it around or bring it here." her voice sounded kind-of nervous.
       "C'mon," Miko complained, "I just only want to see what it looks like!"
        "I....I...." Kerra stuttered.
        "Please!" Miko pleaded. "Just this once...."
        "Leave Kerra alone." Jack said. "Besides, we need to get home soon. It's a quarter till 10." He took Kerra's hand and the both of them hopped onto Arcee.
        "Um, see you tomorrow..." Kerra waved.
         Along the way home, Sakerra can't help but think why those 'Cons asked  her her name. Not to mention....how did she have that strength to escape? She made a long heavy sigh.
        "Something on your mind, Cherrie?" asked Arcee.
        "Yeah....." she answered, "It's just that when I've refused to tell those 'Cons my name they've tried to capture me, again."
        "But how'd you escape?" asked Jack, curious.
        "This one 'Con I think called Knockout, finally caught me but for some reason...." she paused for a moment. Wondering what Jack's and Arcee's reactions would be. "Ipushedhishandopened!" she said quickly.
        "What?" they said in usion.
         Kerra sighed again, "I've pushed Knockout's hand opened." this time she said it slower.
     "What?" Arcee sounded calm, but surprised, But Jack didn't say anything.
      "I---I don't how I did it, but it seemed that-- you know when I've saved Raf? I really don't know I'm so strong and it's scary," she sighed, "I'm living my nightmare again." she mumbled.
      "What's that?" asked Jack.
       Startled, realizing what she said, "No, no! Don't worry about that part!" Kerra laughed nervously.
                           ****
       Finally the trio arrived home. "Whew!" exclaimed Jack, "And 10 minutes to spare. Your amazing, Arcee!"
      "Thanks Jack. But I don't need a compliment." said Arcee.
      "Sorry Arcee, but I have to agree with Jack. Your the greatest we have in our lives!" Kerra chirped.
      "Thanks, Cherrie."
     "'Night Arcee. I'm going to get ready to bed." he turned to Kerra, "You coming?"
       Kerra shook her head, "I'll be with you in a minute."
       Jack made a nod, "'Kay." and went inside the house.
       Kerra knelt down beside Arcee. Giving her a 'hug', while she's still in her vehicle mode.
       Arcee froze. 'H-how..? Why's she doing this?' suddenly her spark began to ache. She felt like she wanted to cry and hug her back (but wish she or herself could match each other's size).
       "Strange." Kerra whispered.
       "What?"
       "I've only known you guys for the past couple of days but-- I have this feeling that I've known you for a long time and--and--" she started crying, "I'm so confused." she confessed. "I mean...my life's confusing but there's just some things I just can't point out. You know?"
      "Yeah, I know what you mean."
      "But to be honest... I'm scared to coming back to see Jack and Mom." she confessed.
      "What do you mean?"
       Kerra sighed, "I'm not normal.... not like I've wrote in our secret letters. I mean, Jack's going to find out sooner or later and.... and--" she started crying again. In between sobs she said, "Back in New York, kids at school treated me different."
     "Well, everybody's different Kerra." Arcee pointed out.
       Kerra kind-of scoffed, in a funny way, "I know that. But I'm BEYOND different. You see, I've always told Jack,in my letters, that I'm always doing well in school, had 'great friends'. But I never had any friends in school."
        This news shocked Arcee. Their Cherrie, their Sparky. All these years suffered being alone without friends. "Forgive me for prying, but did you... try to make friends? Even if you use that sweet friendly smile of yours?"
        Kerra nodded, sadly, "Every time I smiled at other kids or even say 'hello', they'd ignored me. So I just played with myself. Making up games, think or do my homework."
      "What kind of games?"
       Before Kerra could answer, she suddenly felt warm peace came over her and fell to the ground. Unconscious.
       Arcee transformed into her robotic mode, "Cherrie! Are you alright?" she shook her with her fingers but Kerra didn't respond. Arcee turned her communicator on, "Arcee to base, I need a ground. It's an emergency!"
                              ****
       Inside the house, Jack noticed some mail on the kitchen table. There's packet full of mail tied together in a rubber-band and a package. But among the first mail, he notice a word "Harvard" on the returning address.
       Jack knows it's rude to look at others mail, "But I won't read it. I'm just seeing it who's it's from."
       Before he could pick it up, he heard a ground bridge opening in the garage. He ran to the garage. He saw Arcee carrying Sakerra, "Jack, Sakerra just fell unconscious all of a sudden. I think it has to do with the sword and that missing mark. Tell your mom something that might avoid any suspicion. Ok?"
       Before Jack could say anything, they've vanished through the ground bridge.
Just as that happen their mom, June, arrived. "Jack, where's your motorcycle? And where's Kerra?"
        Jack need to think of something quick and fast. "Sakerra's at Sierra's house and my motorcycle's back at a shop. Her engine needs some repairs."
       "Darn it," she sighed, "I was so looking forward to Sakerra's home-cooked meals...."
       "Guessing we're having left-overs or have some cereal..."
        June gave Jack a pat on the back, "Looks like it. Now remind me, where did I put the mail?"
      "Yeah, they're on the kitchen table."
       As the two of them went inside, Jack went to the fridge to find any food. While June looked over at the mail.
      "There's a lot of mail for Kerra." June stated.
      "Who they're from?" asked Jack, while getting a carton of orange juice and a cup.
      "Colleges and Universities."
      "Why's Kerra applying to them? She's a sophomore, like me." he said, starting to take a drink.
      "No, these are recommendation letters." she explained.
       When Jack heard that, he swallowed his drink into the wrong tube. And started coughing.
      "You ok, Jack?"
      "Sorry," he said between coughs, "Just went into the wrong tube." he explained, "What did you say? I think I've misheard."
     "These are recommendation letters." she repeated.
       Jack couldn't believe his ears. 'How's that possible? I mean--' he thought.
      "Hey, there's a package for you." said June, "From your father."
        Jack froze when he heard that. "I don't want to open it." he said, coldly.
       June looked at her son and sighed, "You're still holding that grudge, aren't you?"
      "And it's a bad thing?" he asked.
      "It was a hard day for the both of us."
      "Well... he left us. Without giving a good darn reason why, and not to mention he took my best friend away with him. Without ME, knowing about it." his voice is cool but you can hear that tone in his voice that he's upset.
      "Jack, with your permission may I open the package for you?" his mother asked.
      "By all means, go ahead."
      'Oh dear Jack. I wish for a reason too. But he still cares about us.' She took one of her keys to split the tape. And she finally opened it. Inside there's a photo album, and some video cassette tapes: 'Evangeline's lessons. 2000- 2011'
'Evangeline's Concert.'
'Holidays with Evangeline: Year 2001- 2009'
      "Jack!" she cried.
       Jack hurried to his mom side, "What is it? What's wrong?"
      "Look, it's Kerra's videos!" she started crying. "I finally get to see, Kerra growing up. I need to see these!"
      Jack looked inside the box, he noticed the photo album. He took it out and opened it.
      One shows Sakerra's first day of school in New York. She's wearing a pleated green, pelted skirt, a white blouse and her pink ribbon she had always worn in her hair. Another picture is Kerra taking violin lessons with their grandfather. She had her usual determined look on her face and her warm smile. As if she's saying, 'I can do it, and I won't stew it. I'm going to keep on going!" And it seems like she's enjoying it.
    "Jack, would you like to watch some of the videos tonight?"
     Jack only can smile at her, "Yeah..."
                                 ****
   "How did this happen?" asked Optimus.
   Arcee just got Kerra to base and Ratchet's scanning her again. "We were talking and all of a sudden, she collapsed."
   "Optimus," said Ratchet, "Sakerra's temperature's higher than normal."
    Kerra started moaning,
    "Cherrie! Are you alright?" asked Arcee.
    Kerra didn't open her eyes but she started to hyperventilate and placed her hand on her chest. But she finally relaxed.
    Ratchet went to his computer. Looking at Kerra's body. "Look, this is where her mark used to be. And here-" it showed the mark went into the arm and traveled to Kerra's heart, "is where the 'mark' is now."
    "What is this? Is it some kind of disease, is it dangerous?" Arcee's getting anxious and scared for Sakerra.
    "Actually, no. But before I explain anymore, here's a copy of the mark."
An image popped up, showing a foreign language.
    "That's the language of the Paladins." stated Optimus.
    "Can you read it?" Arcee and Ratchet asked in unison.
    "I was taught. Yes I can read it." he leaned in closer as he begin translating, "'The Ninth Paladin of Light.'" Optimus' optics widen but he kept on reading "'For this chosen soul has been chosen before she was born. To carry the linage of the Paladins.
    "To keep the forces of Light and Darkness in balance.....'"
    "But what does it mean? I thought the Paladins of Light vanished eons ago." Ratchet said surprised.
    "Some of them did. But there're others who've been terminated."
    "By who?" asked Arcee.
    "They have an enemy, known as the Muzbels. They have a similar situation as the Autobots and Decepticons. But more serious. For the Muzbels served a mysterious, but powerful malevolent source. And they do the it's bidding without question.
    "But it's not only the Muzbels, it's also the Decepticons. Because I've witnessed a Paladin being destroyed by Megatron."
    "Should've known." Arcee murmured, "But why would Megatron and 'Cons bother with the Paladins?" she asked.
    "During the beginning of the war, Megatron and his followers went into outer space in search of any items that may help them win the war. And one of them as Sakerra explained to us, he found the Unnamed Planet's sword in the stone. (*readers, if you didn't catch that, look back at Ch. 6)"
    "But why does Megatron want the sword?" Ratchet asked.
    "Because any power of a Paladin can destroy a Prime within one strike. But since Megatron cannot pull the sword, he's not worthy of a paladin."
    "Wait!-- Are you saying that--" before Arcee could finish.
     Optimus nodded.