Reborn in steel

Show and tell

I wake up bright and early, sun shining, and birds chirping. I head downstairs to make some

cereal and I finish, freshen up, get dressed and head out and see Maurice on the way. “Morning man. How did you sleep last night?” He asks. “I slept well, I was kinda nervous last night though.” “Why?” “I mean would it be a good idea to you know have Ted out in the open, I mean what if you have some type of connections then he gets taken away then we are put in prison.” “Don’t overthink it. You have planned something out, right?” “I did think of something last night, but I’ll tell you and Ted when we get there. I also wanted to thank you about last night.” “For what?” he asks, “For wanting to help me out and stuff, I mean, you didn’t have to do that.” I say.

“It’s what friends are for, friends help each other out, I’ll always try to do what I can for you.” When I look back at my friendship with Maurice, I notice he really was always there for me when I dealt with bullies, my father passing away I could never ask for a better friend. I walk up to the garage in the junkyard with Ted patiently waiting. “Hey Ted!” I say, “Boys. So how are we doing this?” “Okay, I brought us some walkie-talkie so that way we will be able to communicate and signal you when to come in. Ted, you’ll stay here at the garage, and then I’ll signal you when the teacher calls me up. You can fly your way here, once I lead everyone outside, you should be already coming up to the school.”

I say. “Okay, what will I do when I get there.” “Oh well, that I haven’t actually thought of.” I say trying to come up with something Ted could to excite everyone with. Maurice raises his hand. “Could I put my two sense In?” “Uh sure.” “Ted, I think you need to show everyone what you’re capable of, maybe use your gun thingy if that even works.” “Are you kidding? I could kill someone with this, even blow up the entire county, I’m not doing that!” “Oh, quit being a buzzkill and just use it! You could shoot a tree or something.” “Why did I even agree to this?” “You could probably show off your flying skills with those rocket jets. And then maybe show off your strength.” Maurice says with a snarky smirk. “I’m starting to have second thoughts about this. This sounds like a bad Idea.” Ted says with a bit of doubt in his voice. “Look all you have to do is look cool make Andre look cool then it’s over you can go find your grandfather or whoever it is you’re looking for right after alright?” “Let’s get this over with.” “There’s the spirit! And look at that, the bus is already here.” Maurice says. “Keep a lookout on the radio, alright, Ted?” I say “Alright alright now go before the bus leaves.” he tells me, we run off to the bus and head to school. I look out the window with Ted looking in my direction and give a smile wave at him, he nods and waves too as we pull off.

***

Ted

I head back to the garage, still second guessing this whole idea. I wanna payback the kid just for fixing me up, but at the same time, is this really something I should do? The risk of getting caught, the danger I may put him in worries me and I don’t want some random kid getting in some serious trouble over me, I couldn’t bear to think what could happen-. My head starts to spas, all I can see is red with my head glitching and all. Hearing the familiar mysterious voice again in static is like a painful memory. “Hello my glorious creation, soon you will reunite with me, and we will show the world what you’re made of. Lie low for now, we will be approaching Arizona soon.” The voice cuts out, and I come to, hearing a voice from the walkie-talkie. “Okay Ted, start heading your way here now, they started the show and tell.” Andre says. I try to keep my head straight, but now since my creator knows where I am. I can’t tell Andre I don’t want him getting any more involved than he already has. I fire up my jets and head to the school.

“And that is my show and tell. Thank you.” Sandra says. “That was very good Sandra now give me back my diamond ring, or you’re getting detention.” “Why do you even have this anyway, Ms picklepump? You’re not even married.” “That isn’t your business now sit down! Alright now who wants to go next?” I raise my hand, hoping to get a chance. “Well, since no one else wants a turn, Andre, you can come up.” “Go get em tiger.” Maurice tells me. I come up to the front of class with a bit of excitement but nervous all at the same time. “So, Andre, what would you like to show us today?” “Well Ms. Picklepump, I have created one of the best things these past show and tells will have ever seen, it’s gonna blow everyone’s socks off! Figuratively and quite literally. Everyone follow me outside.” Ms picklepump lines everyone up to head outside the school, with Ted’s roaring jets being heard in the distance. “What’s that sound?” a classmate in the back says. “IT’S A TSAR BOMB, WE’RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEE!” “Relax, Eugene, it’s not a bomb. That’s my invention arriving right about now!” I say with a bit of confidence. Ted flies in and descends like a rocket ship, leaving everyone wowed already. “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to my best invention I’ve created yet, his name is Ted.” “What does he do, shoot paperclips out his fingers?” Bason says the same guy who called my ultra magnet lame. “Well not paper clips Bason but lasers. Hey Ted, shoot that tree over there.” “I told you boys before, no, I could kill someone if I use this.” “Please, Ted, just do it.” “Fine, have it your way. Ted shoots the tree across the way and sets the entire park on fire. “And what did I tell you.” Ted says to me hastily. “Uhh- and that’s not all he can do!” I say with a nervous laugh. He also has great strength. “Uh, Ted, why don’t you lift that car right there.” Ted walks over and lifts a Van up with one arm, not even struggling. The class seems to be impressed with Ted and maybe even a little afraid. “Alright now gently set it down.” Ted drops it back down, damaging the sides and busting all the windows. “I SAID GENTLY!” “MY CAR!” one teacher yells from the window. “Ahh that was Ms. Bucshbrows car, I never liked her anyway” Ms. picklepump says. So far this going far worse than I was expecting, maybe Ted was right. Should I even bother continuing? Eh. I’m this far in, I might as well end off with a bang! “Uh, last but not the least folks, not only can he fly, he can even break the sound barrier using his jet feet, Ted give it a go!” “How do you know I can do that? Plus, I’m slower, remember?” “Don’t worry I tighten your jets last night while you were shut down so you should be to your normal speed, maybe even faster I hope.” “Eh, well, it’s worth a shot.” Ted lifts off in the air, zooming down the way to gain speed, with not soon after roaring back his way. You couldn’t see him at all, he shattered some eardrums and windows on the way, and he’s soon lands right back to us. “So, uhh, what do you all think?” silence erodes my ears and slight anxiety filling up in my body. But is soon interrupted with the class surrounding Ted and even me chanting me on. “That was cool, Andre, could you build me one?” “OO, I want mine’s in pink!” they all go and surround ted with being a little antsy with everyone around him. “Hey, you little gremlins, back off!” “Wow, how did that go wrong and right at the same time?” I ask Maurice. “I don’t know, I guess luck was really on your side today.” “I guess so.” “Doesn’t it feel good to feel like you’ve finally accomplished something.” “Yea, I’m mean It’s still not my work, and It’s pretty dishonest, but it does feel kinda good. You have done it again, Maurice, thanks.” “Ahh, don’t mention it, so I can have your Sega genesis now?” “No.” “Eh, well worth a shot.”

Later we hope off the bus ready to head back home after a long day. “Well, that was fun.” Maurice says with a smirk. “Yea, caused property damage and made a couple of people lose their hearing, I would say it was a blast.” “Aw, come, you had to of loved attention, tin can.” “No, it was a bad idea from the start and I shouldn’t have agreed.” “Then why did you?” “I don’t know, I guess since Andre fixed me, I felt like I owed him one.” “So purely because of Andre?” “If you want to put it that way, yes. It’s not like I did it for you.” “Jeez, can you be any more cold-hearted?” “Can you be anymore annoying?” “Man, I sure am gonna miss the bickering between you too.” I say with a bit of a laugh. “What do you mean, miss?” Ted asked me. “I mean you’re leaving right? You said you have to go out and find Giovanni.” “Right about that, uh.” even though Ted can’t make expression by his voice, he seems a bit stand-offish. “So uh I was kinda of thinking of just staying, It’s been 50 years since Giovanni was last seen, if anything he could be dead by now so I may just stay awhile.” “I mean yea you can start living in the garage in the junkyard, the owner of that place has been on vacation and hasn’t come back since so you might as well live there!” I told him. “Yea, and just think of all the cool things we can do with the gadgets he has, boy summers we’ll be awesome.” “You know since there is no school tomorrow we can just hang out, maybe even show you around town!” “I think I’ve been out in public enough.” “You’ll be fine ted, it’s a small town anyway, anything about you won’t get far.” I tell him. “I’ll take your word for it. So I’ll see you guys tomorrow?” “You bet! Night Ted!” “Goodnight boys.”

***

Ted

I can’t let Andre know about Giovanni’s arrival, he may get in the way or maybe in trouble if they figure out he was keeping me hidden. By tomorrow, I need to depart from here and meet Giovanni face to get the answers I need. It’s kinda sad to leave the boys on such a note. I’ve started to grow a liking to them, even though Maurice may always be a pain. I even started to grow fond of him too, even coming back to this garage again already almost feels like home, maybe it’s the sense of family I am missing. I wonder. Did I ever have family before I became what I am? What even was the purpose of my creation in the first place, and why were there many more Giobots being created? I can sit and wonder all night, but I will have my answers when they come. But I have to make sure to have the best with the boys tomorrow so it can be something they remember when they grow old.