Chapter Text
Mari looked between the ground bridge and the relic. She only hesitated a moment before she went over to it. "Please work," she begged. "Please work. I can't lose another family. Please." She could've cried when it shown with a bright blue light. She glanced down at the note she'd written. "I hope things work out this time."
Then she smacked the button with her fist. A moment later she was consumed by the light.
Back at the beginning.
"Guys?" Jack tried. "Can I have your attention for a second?"
"What's up dude?" Miko asked looking up from her game with Raf.
"Something wrong?" Arcee noticed the look on her partner's face.
Once he made sure everyone was listening he started. "You know my cousin Mari I told you guys about?"
"The one who beat up Vince that one time she came to visit?" Miko was intrigued.
"Isn't she the one who also wrecked your bike going down a steep hill?" Raf asked.
"That was her?" Bulkhead stated. "Didn't she get the chain somehow caught around her neck?"
"Yeah that's her. Well, her folks are breaking up and it's getting pretty ugly. So… My mom offered for her to come and live with us for a while."
"That sure sucks," Miko said. "But it's cool she's coming here. Guess I'll finally get to meet her."
"Great," Ratchet muttered. "Another human child running around."
"She's not a kid Ratchet," Jack took up. "She's a year older than me."
"Perhaps it would be best if your cousin did not know of us," Optimus spoke up. "For her sake."
"I know what you mean," Jack rubbed the back of his head. His mom only knew because of that experience with Arachnid and none of Miko of Raf's family knew about the bots or cons. "It won't be easy, Mari's pretty perceptive. But I think I can cover for you guys. Uh," he glanced at Miko and Raf. "I don't wanna exactly ditch her either."
"Don't worry," the younger boy reassured him. "We can all hang out and do… Well normal stuff."
"Boring!" Miko sing songed. "But I get it. Besides from what you've said about her Mari's gonna be a blast."
Bumblebee made some beeps and Raf nodded in agreement. "Sorry Bee. We'll just have to wait until Mari gets settled in. Then we'll have the rest of the summer to hang out."
"Boy am I glad my folks said I could stay here," Miko leaned on her two friends. "Something tells me this is going be to an epic vacation." Little did any of them know how right she was.
"So when's she coming?" Arcee questioned.
"She should be here in a week. Right after school's out."