Ep. 1.5 - Out of Element - [Closed]

[Optimus Prime]

Episode 1.5 | Week One | Day One



Well.

This should be a simple task.

Yet ended up awkward.

The large form of the semi-truck rolled down the street, its huge frame clashing and standing out compared to the myriad of other vehicles that went about their day to day tasks. It did not help at all that his paint job? Was a very bright and noticeable shade. If he had been charcoal, it would not have been bad, but no... he had been the blazing red and blue combo that held subtle scratches and nicks on its surface that was not traditional wear and tear on human vehicles.

On the freeway? Or busy streets? Such a sight was not particularly odd, since cargo was often transported in such a way from one location to another. However? On the smaller back streets that led in to the school area? On a road that would not even see moving trucks upon rare occasion? And it was substantially more notable and unconventional.

Optimus had to say he was rather surprised to be informed that applicable Autobots to pick up and transport the children were not available. Oh true, some Autobots were, but their Alt-Forms would cause substantially more issues than his own on such a residential area. You simply could not have a jet or a tank come up without understandable chaos erupting. It is because of this, he had stepped forth to pick up the slack, rather than strand the children and force them to need to find their own accommodations.

It should be a simple job, it should be easy. Just quietly fetch the humans, drop them in their intended locations, then go back to his previous tasks. But what should be simple was not always, and he was finding even his presence was drawing unwanted attention from his sheer bulk. It was understandable though, as the top of his grill alone stood at around six foot. It is because of this, Optimus eased to a halt down the street rather than pulling directly in front of the building, planning to observe from a distance for when his first pickup exited the school.

This meager buffer of space seemed to help negate some of the unwanted attention however, as most of the human's focus was directed to the school itself. Kids poured out of the building like they were fleeing from some kind of danger, the pure relief and joy of being freed from their so called 'prison' driving them to nearly fling into their respective transport.

Optimus simply observed, internally conflicted on this entire ordeal, as seemed to be the norm with all situations. He did not dislike the children, but he was not particularly close to them like others in base. He worried for them, and often thought that barring them from the outpost? Would be the most prudent of choice. No risks of getting stepped on, and pushing them to focus on their own growth as individuals in their own world, than worry about what was happening in theirs. But the children... had helped them before, namely the Scraplet infestation, and their presence seemed to boost morale of a few, which was always good. They also could aid in introducing newcomers to Human culture, to integrate individuals into Earth better. It is because of these conflicts, he didn’t change anything, permitting it to continue on, as he waited down the street.

[Deleted]

((OOC: Permission to play the kidlets granted by the mods.))

"Hey, Miko, wait a sec!"

The petite femme fatale paused with her hand on her locker. Behind her and jogging down the stairs fast enough to make a staccato noise, Jack gave her an uneasy grin that was almost part grimace. Chipper didn't look good on him, Miko decided. He was always too serious to pull off a smile.

"Gonna be late to gym if you keep me here." Helpfully Miko dropped her bookbag on the floor and leaned on her locker, looking all too ready to loiter away the last few minutes before class. Or through class.

The dark headed boy stopped before her and nearly rolled his eyes. Nearly. He never quite worked himself up the nerve to actually do so lately. "Not going to be that long. I just needed to tell you that our usual pickups aren't available. They're sending someone else."

"What?!" Miko cringed back in actual dread. Nooo, no. She knew what that meant!

"They're not sending Red," Jack sighed, and if possible, looked old enough in that moment to be a grandpa. Some days he felt older than his mom.

"Oh, thank-wait, why didn't anyone tell me? Does Raf know?" Miko squinted at the teen. She had a pretty good hunch as to why no one had mentioned anything to her. It was insulting that they couldn't trust her in this regard! They were also correct.

"Raf told me." With one last shrug of his shoulders to adjust his bag, Jack set off down the hallway and onto his last class of the day. He made it through the doors in time before the bell ring. Behind him, still by the lockers, he heard a belated "Scrap!" and the patter of running boots.

-

After the last bell rang and released the hounds, Raf carefully packed his bookbag and put his books back into his locker. Unlike Miko's locker, which had to be slammed shut to keep the tide of mess inside, Raf's meager space was organized and tidy. His beloved laptop waited at the bottom, wrapped in its case and waiting on him.

He could have carried it with him through classes but that left it open to be tampered with even with the encryptions guarding its secrets. That and it weighed down his bookbag even more. His mother joked the extra weight was going to make him shorter if he kept carrying all of his books. But the extra coarses required twice the reading load.

Shuffling under the weight of the full bag, he headed for the emptying schoolyard. He liked preferred the building at this time of the day. All the harried students and teachers were the first to leave. The quiet moment between the last bell and the cleaning crews was as comfortable as a warm library. Often Raf lingered in the hallways, taking time to savor the serenity before heading out to meet with Bee.

But this time he didn't spend the extra time to tarry. Bumblebee was used to his preferences but Optimus Prime wasn't and making him wait longer seemed inexcusably rude. Raf was just heading down the front steps to the side walk, heading for the rendezvous, when loud steps behind him warned (too late) of someone's approach. Before he could turn, someone grabbed the back of his backpack and yanked hard enough to rip it from his grasp.

Before when this had happened (and it had numerous times) Raf had always fallen backwards onto his butt. But Bumblebee had been coaching him on holding himself level and keeping his ground when someone tried to knock him over. They were going to go over lessons in punching but Ratchet had gotten wind of the conversation and hadn't been keen on a scout teaching a civilian violent moves. Especially on the "school grounds."

As soon as the bag was pulled from him, Raf stepped back to keep his balance and let the bag slide off to free his arms. As the appendages came free from the straps, he neatly pivoted on one foot and took a wider stance to face his attacker...three of the varsity team. All of them put together couldn't make for one intelligent person, but they did have a combined sense of surliness that made life in the school interesting on some days.

"Oh...hey Chaz, Brody...Blaine." Raf recognized the way they held themselves and could id them across a football field. Chaz was lanky, like a weasel but had a surprising amount of speed in that wiry body. Brody was fairly average and built like a boring Ken doll, so Miko had said once. And Blaine always hunched over like a troll. Gossip hinted that he'd hurt his back during a game once and he couldn't stand up straight but Raf wasn't even sure if that was medically possible for a high school student. Then again, he didn't take much stock in gossip. And he didn't really like to think on the three bullies for longer than possible. Normally they left him alone but today must have been his "lucky" day. Maybe he should have tarried after all.

"Cough up the notes, dork." Without waiting for an answer, Chaz starting pawing through the backpack and flinging paper and books in every direction.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus was a patient mech, and could cope with waiting if he had to. However, while he could remain stationary for hours? Just retreat into his inner thoughts and calculations with ease? He always felt best when he was actively doing something to aid the team. Even the mundane and time consuming tasks could sate his need to be accomplishing something of value, less he feel like he was underperforming as a leader.

A leader... such a weight on ones shoulders... Sometimes he wondered just how he managed to keep himself elevated and off of the ground, though... he had always managed despite obstacles trying to trip him up. Always kept control enough to guide with the same means of logic, resourcefulness, and kindness he had through the many years. He even managed to keep stable when Sentinel had challenged him constantly. Throwing him into less than desirable situations, trying to break the 'illusion' the populace looked up to, but Orion had persevered.

The late Prime's actions had failed.

Sentinel still was resentful.

Nonetheless, the current Prime was flicking through the latest confrontations of the past few weeks, looking for any speck of data he may have overlooked beforehand, when he saw movement up ahead. Optimus drifted out of his inner thoughts when he observed the small familiar form of Rafael making his way out of the building and down the front steps. He was already notified beforehand that Miko had obtained detention again... for whatever reason... and as such? He would not have particularly cared if Raf had taken his time to leave. However, with the swift departure? It simply meant he could pick up the tiny human, and deliver him to his second destination that did not match up with Miko and Jack's own.

He was just considering the time it would take to do so, calculating if he would be able to get back on schedule for Miko's freedom from her punishment, when three humans approached Raf and proceeded to wrench his belongings right off of his back.

Optimus' unseen gaze lifted a bit, peering out upon the three larger males. It most definitely was not a game as far as he could tell, Raf taking on a defensive stance which conveyed much across the distance between them. Some words were being spoken, but he could not decipher them from how far down the street he had been parked, and the low idling hum of his engine. Despite this, one didn’t need words to decipher what was going on, as the lanky individual started rifling through Raf's belongings as if they were his own.

Though perhaps that was being kind... as one would not even cast their own things around so carelessly...

The Prime tensed a slight amount, wanting to do something to aid, but not sure exactly what he COULD do. He was effectively trapped within his Alt-Mode, unable to access limb or even voice without betraying his species presence here on earth, something he refused to do. He did have some limited Holoform capabilities, but it was only really useful inside his cab to make it look like he had a driver when he did not.

He could roll up beside the conflict, 'lean' out the window and holler for the kids to back off, but if they challenged him? If they told him to make them? He wouldn't be able to do anything. The holoform wasn't currently configured to be tangible, and as such he would just be forced to sit there and awkwardly watch Raf get bullied. No he couldn't do that; he couldn't make it look like some friend of Raf's family was just going to idly watch him get pushed around. It is because of this he begrudgingly stayed where he was, watching

While he did so however, he started to configure a Holoform. He had not used one yet for earth, and as such? Static lines of dull light sputtered and vague shapes jittered on the front seat as he tried to hastily throw one together. He wanted to have something at least half slapped together by time he could be forced to act.

[Deleted]

If Raf were the sort, he would have rolled his eyes. But that was more Miko's expression when confronted with less than intelligent individuals. Instead, he quietly sighed to himself and let Chaz dig through the bag until it was empty. If Raf were to put up a fuss now and try to stop him, the thug would just wind himself up in a temper tantrum that might lead to actual violence.

As a habit, Raf didn't take part in fisticuffs. Forget detention, his mother would ground him to his room until he graduated college. And while he was a bookish sort, he actually wanted to experience campus life and see what all this talk about "kegging" was about. Even at its wildest, life on a private universities grounds had to be quieter than mornings in his own house.

With a grunt of annoyance, Chaz flung the book bag away from him and at such an angle it caught in the lower branches of the tree above. A lone sheet of paper and Raf's calculator clattered down to the ground below. The young geek tried not to wince at the impact. That piece of machinery cost more than some phones. Keeping his posture lax and comfortable, he returned his attention to his three guests and put on his best neutral face.

"Chaz, if you could tell me what you are looking for, I can help you find it." He was one-hundred and thirty percent sure that what the jock was looking for was not in his possession. He didn't even have to have a hunch.

"Trig notes, you little punk. I missed the last class. You always have that shit." Unless Raf's eyes were deceiving him, Chaz was starting to look a little desperate. He must have really needed those notes. Good.

"Ah." Raf let a half a minute go by, painfully aware of the three bullies watching him with piggy looks in their eyes and that the Prime was waiting on him. But timing was crucial to letting their tempers abate for the insight bomb he was about to drop on them. "You're not in my class, Chaz. I'm in advanced Trig with Clayborne. But-" he didn't have to long to savor the look of embarrassed, wide-eyed glances the three traded with one another, "-I know who is in your class. You want Derek. He always has up to date notes and is on bus 52."

Begrudging Chaz stepped away, mouth working for half a sec before he shrugged a little more forcefully than was casual and muttered a "Whatever" before stalking off in pursuit of the buses. His two flunkies belatedly joined him, but not before Blaine kicked a notepad across the yard. Raf was left to gather his scattered books and notes across the sidewalk with his book bag hanging well above his head on a tree limb.

"Sorry about that, sir," he mumbled as he scooped up his pens. He knew full well the Prime could hear him.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus' frustration at the situation was ramping up gradually the more time that passed. He wanted to act, to assist, to do something instead of just watching as he was. Just sitting here when the young human was being harassed? Made him feel as if he were being dismissive, that he was uncaring of what was occurring. He knew logically it was for the best, he knew he should not intervene, but it was difficult. It was akin to how foolish humans want to intervene to help a wild animal that is injured in nature... though he knew this 'animal' and could see the 'predators' circling.

The holoform shuddered, its form clapping into shape a bit further as the hazy flickering shadow of eyes turned to peer over at the scene occurring up the street. During this, he actually eased off of his brakes, a hissing sound of the air pressure being lessened as he permitted himself to move forward a small amount. His progress halted not long after it started, both the movement, and the formation of the holoform, listening intently as best he could to what was being said. He now could pick up on some of the words, while before it was a bit too far for him to catch.

It seemed Raf had an idea of some sort? A plan? If the little human could solve this without the Prime's intervention, it would be for the best on multiple levels, and thus he remained silent, watching not unlike a hawk. Luckily what came next? Actually did deter the bullies, who departed not long after to go hunt down this other human. Optimus was pleased about this, though, the plan did throw the poor soul called 'Derek' to the proverbial wolves which may not have been the best...

By this point, the majority of the humans were all gone, the flood of the small creatures escaping, had been a tidal wave that now seemed to halt entirely. This was the most ideal of outcomes, for it permitted him to maneuver and act within more reasonable levels of freedom than just sitting up the street as an inanimate object. With a slow motion, he eased forward again, coming up near where Raf was picking up his belongings.

In the passenger seat, was the half formed holoform that flickered, its head turning some to peer down at Raf. The figure was default in most aspects, just... something to serve its purpose with no defining features. Lines not unlike a CRT Television surged and ripped up its form, before it completely powered down since there was no point any longer to finishing creating it.

"There is no need to be apologetic Rafael. However, your actions are to be commended, you handled yourself quite well."

Unseen optics flicked up to view the book bag. It would not take a genius to figure out that the tiny human would have absolutely no means to get it. Really, if he wasn't going to intervene at all? Raf would probably have to try to find a stick, and poke at the bag until it snapped free, something which would not be necessary. While he couldn't transform even part way to get it? Because his transformation wove his limbs and internals into one another into an amalgamation of parts? What he could do is offer Raf at least a step up.

With a hiss of mechanics adjusting, the massive truck's front wheels ground down as they pivoted against the asphalt below. With a hard enough wrench, he managed to turn enough that when he rolled forward easily again? He pushed off of the street, past the curb and sidewalk, and onto the grass speckled earth laced in sand and gravel. The massive truck absolutely towered over Raf, but in this case? It was somewhat good, for Optimus stopped himself at what he thought was the right angle to have his grill line up underneath the book bag. He couldn't... nudge... it off himself, but he could offer a means for Raf to get to it.

A hissing and shift of metal could be heard, as he just barely... bareeelllyyy nudged his transformation process forward. This caused the front bumper that otherwise would run flush with his frame, to surge out a foot from the rest of him while a split ran through its center that ripped the bumper in half a good six inches. It also forced some seams to splinter across otherwise flat panels of armor, the top of the hood severed down its center in the starting process of pulling in half, barely exposing the engine components, while headlights had jerked away from the central frame. However to one that wasn't directly looking for such things? To humans that were not experienced with trucks? It could just look like damage or a really odd style choice for the build. If someone really knew what they were looking at? Someone that knew his model of Alt-Mode? They would catch the oddity instantly.

Nonetheless, this small change in the vehicle, would give Raf something to climb up. The bumper would hopefully be easy for him to get upon, and the slats of the grill would give something to grab onto or further ascend if it was necessary. Necessary or not? It would definitely be high enough for the tiny human to get his belonging.

"Do such things occur often?"

His voice was lower, not a whisper, but definitely not his normal tones. He didn’t see or sense any humans nearby, but he refused to risk anything.

[Deleted]

With a small frown scrunching up his face, Raf finished retrieving his books. They weren't in such bad shape, he reflected to himself. No worse than a few years passing from person to person in an academic life. The dirt smudges would wipe off the front and no one would be the wiser that they were so carelessly flung about. Miko was much harder on her own items.

His notebooks were another matter. Spiral bound pages fluttered in a light breeze and some had torn loose to glide over the ground. He could just gather the loose pages and staple them together or stuff them in a notebook but the inconsistency would distract him. Later, when he had the free time between studying, he'd recopy them by hand into the remaining, untarnished pages.

"This doesn't happen all the time. Chaz isn't that bad. He's mostly all talk and only gets physical when the other two are with him. I don't mind, though." Hands full, Raf waddled toward the truck that absolutely dwarfed him in size. In the shadow, the student seemed tinier than he actually was. "I heard his family fights a lot so I guess he can't be blamed for being bad behavior. The counseling is severally lacking. I blame the county budget."

Nodding to himself, Raf gently deposited the books and eyed the offer for assistance and then eyed the distance to the hanging book bag. He would always admit he was height challenged. Which was woefully unfair compared to his other siblings. While his father wasn't an especially tall man, his sisters at least were tall enough to reach the books on the top shelves at the local library. He had a sinking feeling he was going to take after his mother and his abuelas.

"Maybe I can just climb the tree," he said, doubt creeping into his tone. The tree, well manicured and cultured as any state maintained shrubbery, was pruned so that its branches were well out of reach. He'd have to shimmy his way up. Last time Raf checked, he couldn't climb up a knotted gym rope, much less a tree.

"Well..huh. Maybe I can..." screwing his mouth up in thought, Raf carefully placed himself in front of the offered bumper and leaped for all his little legs worth. It took an embarrassing amount of scrambling but he finally got off the ground. This was going to be a long climb...

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus kept a so called eye out for others in the area. He was almost anticipating an angry teacher or other official of the school to spot the fact 'some idiot' drove a semi truck onto the curb area of the school's front. While he wasn't directly in front of the school? And was a bit to the side? It still was somewhat difficult to miss the multi ton vehicle that was painted bright red and blue with chrome accents. The last thing he needed was for someone to try to call a tow truck for the violation. If that happened? If he couldn't get his holoform to work and a good enough excuse sorted out to deter them? Oh... Ratchet would never let him live it down. It would haunt him like the countless other stories the old medic had up his proverbial sleeve.

Respectfully, Optimus listened to what Raf had to say. He was rather impressed with how he had taken into account the big picture. He didn’t just blame the individual that had wronged him, but evaluated what outside stressors could have caused such belligerent actions to occur. This outlook upon others behavior, and the life that occurred around it, was past the little human's age bracket was it not? Raf was quite mature when it came to those things and it was commendable.

"Your perspective surpasses your age Rafael."

While he did not input more on such subjects, what came next? Did give him pause. He felt he should possibly mention something if Raf was seriously thinking of trying to climb the spindly tree. The thought bothered him as he could only imagine some of the bark stripping off, or a branch snapping, or Raf just outright losing balance or grip and falling down. If the little human got hurt? He didn't know what he would do since there really wasn't anything he COULD do out in the open like this. If something actually broke in them from such a fall from the tree? It would probably end up risky for his cover, or make him incredibly uncomfortable by just 'standing' on the sidelines after having contacted human aid via a call.

Thankfully, Raf decided against this thought and seemingly abandoned it as soon as it occurred, saving Optimus from having to voice his distaste for the idea. While Raf could still fall or lose his grip by climbing his front grill? The metal slats would be much easier to loop fingertips around, and they would not crumble, bow, or break like the surface of a branch could. It was much safer, even if it wasn't perfect, and that was good enough. He had to remember that while humans were indeed fragile? They were not glass.

Optimus couldn't really see Rafael any longer from where he was, but he could feel him clambering up onto the bumper as his sensors picked up on the presence. He thought about saying 'be careful' but... it was such a frivolous statement. Raf wasn't Miko, he wasn't going to do anything foolhardy, and as such he didn’t have to state such a thing.

"Will this be adequate to get your belongings?"

He wondered if he could push and raise his suspension at all, to lift him up off of the ground towards the intended goal more so Raf didn't need to climb as far. However? Optimus was unsure if he could, as it isn't really something he ever had need to try before. It did not matter though, as he dared not move even an inch now that Raf was on his bumper. He didn’t want to jostle him unintentionally.

[Deleted]

"My mom says that too. My sisters say I'm just like a fussy, old man." He generally didn't like it when they called him that. His mother chided him, then his sisters, then his brothers, then his father for egging the siblings on. She often told him to be patient with others, especially his family. Compared to the circus that was his house, dealing with school bullies was easy.

"Chaz is probably going to be really mad when he realizes that I fibbed about Derek. He transferred last month to another school. But he really was in his trigonometry class." So it wasn't quite a full on lie. Just a half lie that wouldn't have been necessary if the student had actually paid attention in class.

Carefully, oh so carefully, Raf finally reached the top of the perch that Optimus was offering and balanced on the edge. The bag, unfortunately, was still out of reach even when he tried to stand on his tiptoes. He tried to think of what the others would do in this situation. But Jack wasn't likely to get into this predicament, and Miko would have just climbed the tree by now. Or attacked the trio of guys before they'd flung her stuff around. As Raf was about as threatening in a fight as a marshmallow, that wasn't actually helpful thinking about how his friends would handle this.

"I could...maybe jump?" He sounded doubtful at the possibility of his short legs even propelling him high enough to grab the bag. He was terrible at hurdles in gym class. Last time he just ran under them.

[Optimus Prime]

The concept of teasing someone by calling them an old man, simply over the intelligence they displayed, made absolutely no sense to him. Should the seeking of knowledge and the advancement of one's learning truly be something to mock and taunt? To do so was doing nothing but push those that sought greater advancements to hide, or to give up such ambitions in order to conform to a primitive goal. It was such an odd cultural divide, but he cast it aside now.

There was no point in trying to understand the logic in it, for much that humans did? Simply did NOT make sense in the slightest to him. Their culture, their goals, their ambitions, in some ways they were like his own species, and in others? They veered so far off course it reminded him that the little humans truly were alien creatures.

Optimus made a light sound of understanding when Raf spoke of the minor deception. It was a clever way to try to save himself in the present, but would it not come back to haunt him later? Would this 'Chaz' individual not return seeking vengeance? He hoped Raf would be clever enough to talk his way out of the confrontation again, hopefully without laying down more snares that he could tangle himself in later. Deception was a tricky game, which is why Optimus didn’t really partake in it. But the human likely had to learn that lesson on his own.

The Prime was hopeful that Rafael would be able to reach the bag once perched upon the bumper, hoping to hear the sound of it hitting the ground, or for the little human to speak of his victory. However? What was said? Caused him to reel internally a moment. For as much intelligence Raf had? He... lacked in physical capability... As much as he wanted to encourage him to try? He knew it would likely just end with him tumbling to the ground with a painful slap against the rough gravel and dry patches of grass.

"Rafael, if you would please descend and step aside?"

He stated this in his normal tone, the phrase being a sideways way of disagreeing with the idea of jumping. He didn’t want to directly say 'No' and so he stepped around it as carefully as he could with a practiced level of avoidance. It was obvious what he meant though, that he disagreed, but it need not be verbally spoken of. The Prime just didn’t need the tiny human getting injured under his watch, and so he didn't want to take any chances.

It took some time, but once Raf was down and safely off to the side? Optimus frame clicked and whirled as he fully settled back into his alt-mode once more. The large gaping seams and 'broken' chunks, sealed back together into a cohesive shape recognizable as the semi-truck. With his engine popped back together once more and engaging, he rolled forward, the branch with the book bag dragging across his hood. Optimus was rather... surprised... it didn’t drag the bag off, shocked it didn't snap the thin branch it was snagged upon.

In response, he warily glanced around once more to check for humans, almost paranoid, before he continued forward. After a moment, his bumper lightly nudged against the large plant's trunk, sending a tremor through it that shook off a few dry leaves. Somehow? It still left the bag sitting right there, nearly smashed against his windshields. It held on as if it were fused with the tree now, and... it simply made no sense. It was a desert tree, shoudl it not be brittle? Should it not relent and have gravity take the bag down? How was it remaining stubbornly in place?

...how?

[Deleted]

After Raf took the time to climb all the way back down off of Prime (after dusting his foot prints off of the bright metal with a sleeve cuff) he took solace in rescuing his books from the ground. He had every confidence Optimus would retrieve his bag and put things to right. Prime had proven himself to be an amazing leader and capable of many great things.

...at the moment, however, he seemed to be having some trouble with the book bag. Raf watched the leader nudge the tree and frowned, his brows drawing into little wrinkles that his mother chided about. His glasses even slid down a fraction of an inch to sit at an uncomfortable angle on his nose as he watched the bag cling stubbornly to the tree like an odd fruit. Just how hard had Chaz thrown the item into the scraggly limbs?

"Ahm, maybe we should try another plan." Raf normally didn't like to take the initiative and suggest or plan out anything without some sort of guidance. Being a leader wasn't for him. He was more of a behind the scenes kind of person, more comfortable without the weight of accountability sitting on his shoulders like a stone. But now was really not the time to sit by idly.

As it was, the Prime was sticking out in the emptying parking lot and could be approached by someone. The fallout from such an odd situation wasn't exactly worth the bag. Raf could always buy another one. Or even get someone else to climb up at a later date.

Oh! Wait, that was a good idea!

"Maybe you can go pick up Jack and he can get it. He's much taller than me." And he wasn't Miko. "I can wait for Miko inside the school. I needed to do some extra research anyway." Not necessarily a lie. Raf could always do some extra book time.

[Optimus Prime]

Alt-Modes could be extremely beneficial for many things, namely transportation speed. However right now? At this very moment? It was exceptionally confining and frustrating. The bag was RIGHT THERE. If he transformed he could just... poke the object and it would probably fall right off of the tree. But no... he could not access such capabilities, and was almost trapped within his own plates, which was an awkward thing to experience. It was just made that much worse by watching the very thing he was trying to get, end up pushed up against his windshields.

It was right there.

Another plan was indeed in order, but what was really available to them at this time? What options could they do? He could seemingly manage nothing to aid, less he were to ram the actual tree. The idea of slamming into it wasn't appealing, on multiple levels however. Not only would it dent and break in his front bumper, which was the equivalent to his lower ribs, it would damage school property, and kill a tree that need not perish. That left Raf to do something, which... the human was just so tiny.

Indeed they needed aid from another.

Miko would not be out for some time likely, and Jack? Was probably still going to be 'on the clock' at his job. To go out there now would equate to just sitting around in the parking lot for some time waiting for him to be released, or forcing him to depart early which wasn't good for his records. There was a reason Optimus had been planning to get Jack last.

There was a light grind of mechanics, as he pushed his system in reverse. Carefully, he eased away from the tree, watching with an unseen scowl as the book bag smeared across his hood once more, only to 'fall' off of its edge to bob and bounce from its snag on the branch. It was almost taunting him, but alas... after a moment he was settled back on the street as if nothing had been amiss and there wasn't a multi-ton vehicle that had rolled up over the sidewalk. The only evidence to what he had done was some of the dry leaves settled on his hood.

"I do not believe Jack will be available for pickup. You are welcome to come with however."

Optimus was no fool, and he was under the assumption that in that bag? Was likely some of the materials Raf would need to study. The little human had some of his books yes, but was everything dumped out of the bag? Needed materials, even the most mundane such as a pen or pencil, were likely zipped up in the side pouches correct? He didn't want Raf to have to sit out and just wait. Miko had a phone, and could easily (and likely would) use it to complain if they were late returning.

She... could learn patience...

[Deleted]

While Optimus had chosen his next move, Raf had already gathered his other supplies and placed them in a neat pile next to his books. He was only missing a few pencils and one eraser. Not bad over all. He had a surplus pack of number 2's at home along with a jumbo box of erasers just in case he ever needed them. His mother tended to shop in bulk and as such, his closet was overflowing with more supplies than he'd use even if he attended school until he was forty.

"Yes, sir." Going to pick up Jack did sound more appealing then waiting around a mostly empty school with Miko. As much as Raf tolerated the girl, she was just...she was just Miko. While she wasn't a horrible person, she was also very tiring to be around and tended to distract him from something important. Jack was much more quiet and unassuming even if there was something intense running under the calm of the older male.

"Maybe I can get a soda if he's still working," Raf said, grinning up at the Prime with the ferocity of a big-eyed baby seal.

[Optimus Prime]

"I do not see why not."

Idle conversation, he was trying to be... somewhat social... even if it was forced in a way. He was never the best at such things, even back when he was Orion. If he latched down onto a subject matter he knew well? An intellectual debate of sorts? Then he was far more fluent. But normal conversation? Not so much. Despite this notable flaw? It was nice to have the subject diverted though from the book bag. Though even if the topic of conversation was no longer that object? It still hung there mocking him.

Optimus shrugged it off after a few moments, for it WAS just an object, and as frustrating as it may be? He could not let it snag under his plates in ways to agitate. He wouldn't have lasted this long as Prime if he let such things drive him up the so called wall. He was better than that, and so, he focused down at Raf.

Wick a clicking pop of a lock, Optimus unclasped his passenger door nearest the tiny human. He knew better than the throw the door open, but he also didn’t want to bother Raf with trying to open it on his own when it was so much higher than them. As such, Optimus just eased it open, cautious he didn’t... nearly take off their head or anything considering it was at the perfect height to do so. While he had not witnessed one of the others almost whacking down the children, he thought ahead well enough to come to the conclusion on his own.

The Prime would wait patiently then, unmoving. He knew it may take a minute for Raf to climb the three steps needed to just reach the edge of the door frame, and as such? He was in no particular rush, idling in place. Optimus was well aware he was not a small vehicle, and considered that it may be an issue at this time. Should he have tried to take the duties of another and send them in his place?

No use in dwelling on it now.

[Deleted]

Hefting the ridiculous amount of weight of his books, Raf toddled up to the side of the last Prime and paused. Really, he hadn't thought about the looming problem even though he'd literally had an issue minutes earlier. He was just so short he barely reached the steps, much less the door to the cab that seemed just about five million feet above him. With a little gulp, Raf looked up at the door handle, down at the bottom steps and then at his books. This was going to take some...doing.

Gently, lovingly, he laid the books down on the first step and grabbed for a handhold to help pull himself up on the first step. It was embarrassing and silly, and he felt like a child trying to climb up to get a cookie out of a cookie jar. He only hoped no one was watching. Not only was this sort of silly looking, but he would have an interesting time trying to explain why he was hitching a ride with a truck driver.

When he made it up to the door, he made sure to tuck his notebooks and books inside the cab before climbing inside. Unlike some others, he didn't have to be reminded to buckle up. When your best friend was a speed demon, you sort of ingrained that reaction.

"I'm sure everything will work out, Optimus." Raf kicked his legs a little in the seat. (Because they sure as heck didn't reach the bottom of the cab.)

[Optimus Prime]

Poor Raf... Optimus did not have to visually see him, to know he was having quite a difficult time climbing up into the cab. He could feel the way the tiny human had to place down the books on a higher ledge, then climb up slowly, treating each step as its own individual hurdle. But despite this? He eventually did seem to make it inside, settling down into the chair and buckling up with no need to be prompted. Once Optimus was sure Raf was clear? The door of the cab closed with a clicking pop of the internals latching down.

"I believe they will Rafael."

It was a simple reply to the boy's words, and it was upon that? He started to move. The air brakes within releasing with a hissing sound, before he gradually started to make his way out of the school area. He was extra cautious while doing so, while everyone within the vicinity seemed to have bailed out rather quickly? There was still a chance there could be a small human around or another driver to be wary of. Optimus had seen enough about Humans to know they weren’t always... the smartest of creatures... on the road, and he would not cope well with being ran into from someone not paying heed.

It often amazed him just how dismissive this species was with such things. He had seen plenty, from humans looking down at their phones trying to 'text' one another, to those trying to consume a meal while flying down the highway at speeds that were alarming for their kind. He has seen individuals change lanes without looking.

The most obnoxious, and common offence was when a human cut in front of him because he had to put a greater buffer between the individual ahead of him and himself. It took a bit longer for a truck of his size to come to a halt without having to slam the brakes every single time, yet they just saw an opening to dart within to try to shave a few extra seconds off their day to day drive. This was almost to be expected now, and it even happened on the drive to where Jack was as a tiny blue car swung in happily to avoid getting stuck in the right hand lane while Optimus was already slowing down at a red light.

Despite needing to brake a bit harder, he managed not to lurch at all, accepting that this was just a fact of the roads down here. In the end however, it did not particularly take them long to get to where Jack worked. Upon his arrival? There was a new challenge though. He was going to be faced with the fact that his size? Really was not accommodating to the world around him, even as a human vehicle.

The parking lot was just so small, and he most definitely was not. If he thought he stood out before? It was made even more so now with the grayed environment, and dulled sun bleached paint and awnings of KO Burger. It didn’t help that Nevada itself almost seemed to want to cast orange over everything. Either way, Optimus eased himself to park off to the side, REALLY not able to follow the lines at all, just trying to tuck himself away so others wouldn't even have to get around him.

Next move was all up to Raf, if he'd call Jack, or try to get out of the cab, or just patiently wait for the other human's shift to be over. Optimus did not say a thing just yet, content to just idle in place for the moment.