Transformers Prime: A Sparkling Issue

Chapter 7 - Sleep Issues, Toys ... and a Grenade

Jack nearly had a heart attack when a loud blare of band music startled him awake. With a startled thrash of limbs, he sat bolt upright.

"W-what?" barely open eyes peered around in confusion at first before realizing what it was. Jack nearly tumbled out of bed as he reached for his phone on the nightstand, patting around a few times before finally getting ahold of it. He also noticed the alarm clock that read three minutes after twelve. He flopped back down onto the pillow as he answered it.

"Hello? Jack Darby," he said groggily with eyes shut.

"//Greetings Jack. This is Optimus Prime.//"

"Optimus!" Jack instantly sat back up, very much surprised. His tiredness vanished. "Uh, hi! I wasn't expect you to be calling me."

"//I hope I am not disturbing you as I know the hour is late.//"

"No, no! Not at all. I was, uh, just getting ready for bed is all. Um, what can I do for you?"

There was what seemed like a brief hesitance. "//Is ... your mother still awake?//"

Jack blinked. Definitely not what he had expected to hear. "Uhh, yeah I think she might still be out in the living room. Said she had some work to catch up on. Why?"

"//May I speak with her?//"

"With Mom? Um, okay, sure that's fine. I'll go tell her."

Nothing came from the other end so apparently the caller was waiting for him to do just that. With silent curiosity, Jack slipped from under his warm covers and pattered down the dim hall.

...

Optimus patiently waited for his message to be delivered, a digit absentmindedly tapping on the side on the computer panel. He briefly checked on the sparklings and found them still focused on the ball for the time being. Hopefully it stayed that way.

Even through the slight helmach, Optimus's sharp audials caught the different sounds coming through the open line. In the background there was a thumping of what must have been footsteps as Jack went to wherever the living room was, and the mech briefly pondered what the inside of a human house must look like. It stopped a moment later and a whispering of voices came through. Optimus could just catch pieces of the conversation: his name, a surprised muffle, the words "says he wants" a few muffled ones and "you", then a pause. Optimus was slightly confused when what seemed to be a soft laugh came through. Then a light clicking as the phone shifted hands.

"//Hello Optimus. This is a pleasant surprise,//" a woman's voice said, though the tone suggested somehow she was already expecting this. "//It's not every day a girl get a call from a Prime.//"

There was a very clear "//Mom!//" in the background.

Optimus figured the last remark was a bit of human humor. He ignored it. "You once offered your assistance should I need any. I was hopeful that offer still stands and you might be able to provide me with some advice."

"//They having a hard time going to sleep?//" It was said with absolute confidence.

"How did you know?"

"//Mother's intuition ... and the time. So, tell me what's going on.//"

...

Jack waited as he stood in front of his mother who sat on the living room couch. Some paperwork she had been going through was beside her with a pen placed on top, an empty cup with a tea bag string hanging out of it set on the small end stand table. June listened attentively to the phone and Jack could faintly hear the deep voice that spoke on the other end.