TFP: Shrouded... (Chapter XVI: Diaries...)

Lauren looked around the bridge room, then seeing that he coast was clear, she snuck in. Everyone was seeing the kids off, while Lauren was supposed to be confined to Optimus's quarters, but she was motivated, and kept escaping. She spun up the ground bridge, and giggled mischievously, "Optimus can't act like a human-so I'll get someone who can coach him." She reached through the event horizon without actually going through, then grabbed the unsuspecting victim, and pulled him through.
Ryler blinked, waking up, as Lauren carried him back into the groundbridge room, "Wh-Optimus?"
"Lauren, Ryler," she corrected, "I need your help."
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" asked Ryler.
"0700 hours, but in your time zone it's still 0100, sorry, but Optimus has to go to school, and act like a human-I just need you to help him. While Rachet wasn't looking I managed to cook up a scheme. I got you a fake ID as Optimus's guide because he's supposed to be blind, and you're supposed to be from Scotland, so you'll have to use your accent, just report to-Ryler! Wake up!"
"M-listnen," mumbled Ryler.
Lauren sighed, "Look, I have to make this fast, Rachet has been being a total Nazi," Lauren growled.
Ryler sighed, sitting up, blinking lazily, "Fine. What were you saying?"

Optimus sighed, he had never really experienced embarrassment… but being in a skirt, especially knowing how much Lauren hated them, was disturbing. Marx was driving, with Jack, Miko, and Raf in the back seat.
"So… first day of school," muttered Jack. "This is odd."
"Yeah-it feels weird having to go back after being with the bots for so long," whispered Raf.
Miko nodded, "Hey Lauren, what is it like for you?"
Optimus looked back, "What do you mean, Miko?"
"I mean-you're Optimus's favorite-why is he making you go back to school, you have all that Prime-ness," Miko said.
"I am not Optimus's favorite… and I don't understand what you mean," Optimus admitted.
"What I believe she is trying to say, Courage, is that you have the memories of Optimus Prime… what more have you to learn with all of that wisdom at your finger tips?" Marx asked, "I had assumed you would be learning directly from Optimus, or Rachet."
Optimus blinked, perhaps that did make more sense, "Perhaps… Optimus did not take that into consideration…"
Marx smiled at him, "Don't look so down, school is a good thing, even when you don't really need it."
Optimus nodded, "I suppose." He then folded his arms, thinking more about what was said. The whole reason Rachet constructed armor for Lauren was so that they could spend more time with one another and mend their relationship… sending Lauren to school would clearly exacerbate the situation.
"I home schooled Rebecca, I suppose I thought Optimus would do the same," Marx went on.
"Rebecca?" Optimus asked.
Marx sighed, "My daughter… you still remind me of her-very much."
"Last I asked you did not want to speak about her," Optimus replied.
"And I still don't." Marx pulled over, "Lauren, that is your guide. Optimus arranged one for you since you must act blind. He said you would know him."
Ryler opened the door, "Hello, love, ready for a day in the institute?"
Optimus gaped, "Ryler?"
Ryler winked, with his special grin Lauren held in her memories so close.

Lauren was checking her Deviant Art account, when Rachet appeared outside the barrier, "Didn't I block your internet access?"
Lauren didn't look back at him, as she blogged about her dumb Uncle Rach who was keeping her in her room, "Yep."
"Then how do you have access now?" Rachet inquired.
"Oh please," Lauren muttered, rolling her optics, "A sparkling could have decoded your restrictions."
Rachet growled, "Optimus was the one who ordered these restrictions, Lauren. Not me!"
"Not this time," Lauren muttered, looking back at him, "But what am I supposed to do? Sit in here and do nothing?"
"Optimus gave you a number of suggestions," Rachet muttered.
Lauren whipped around, optics flaring like icy embers, "Hey! I couldn't find a paintbrush big enough, I broke all of the pencils he gave me to use, there was nothing I could do about the math he told me to practice, because you locked the computer, and shutting down unnecessarily is just boring."
"So you chose to hack the computer and the internet restrictions?" Rachet asked.
Lauren nodded, "Yep, what can I say-I like a challenge."
"May I come in and speak to you?" asked Rachet.
Lauren shrugged, "Assuming you don't think I'm some dangerous decepticon that's going to kill you the second you step in."
Rachet sighed, shutting down the shield, and stepped in, "Optimus doesn't think that, this is simply a repercussion of your actions."
"I save a life-and I get confinement," Lauren muttered, "No good deed goes unpunished."
"Uh… this is not for saving Starscream, this is for not telling Optimus or myself that you were going to save him," Rachet explained.
Lauren frowned, "Well, I'm not used to being able to do something about it, and now that I am, I think I should… never mind."
Rachet sighed, "Let me know if you need anything." The medic, slid in front of her, and re-locked the internet, "You could always finish decoding that transmission."
"Oh-I forgot about that-good idea," Lauren gasped, hopping to it.
Rachet looked back, and smiled as she began to work, then re-engaged the shield.

Optimus was reading Lauren's journal, looking for any clues or changes in behavior, but as far as he could tell there wasn't much more than the top layer of her mind transcribed. Things about a dreamy-eyed Thomas Ashdown, a possible crush on an unnamed autobot, a sudden like for Knockout's nice paint job, and a number of other weird things.
"Optimus, you're blind, you can't read," Ryler muttered, taking the book from him, "Oh scrap-this is Lauren's diary!"
"Yes, Bulkhead once recommended investigating it for insight on Lauren," Optimus replied.
Ryler gaped, "Optimus… a girl's diary is uncharted waters! We men are not supposed to cross this kind of line, not without a lengthy lecture from the girl in question! And did you say Bulkhead recommended this?"
Optimus nodded, "Yes, apparently Miko and Bulkhead read Lauren's diary on a regular basis."
Ryler grimaced, "Scrap again…"
Raf walked over, and sat beside the two on the bench, "Optimus, how are you liking school?"
"It is interesting, but one moment, Rafael-Ryler, are you saying I should not have transcribed my own entries into the book as well?" Optimus asked.
Ryler gaped, "You wrote in Lauren's diary?"
Optimus nodded.
"Oh dear… do-not do that again… scrap, we need to start thinking about damage control," Ryler thought a moment, when the bell rang, "Man.. next class, guys, lets go."
Walking on, Optimus thought about some of the entries about him, she described him as a noble leader, and a father figure, but she felt that he did not understand her… and she was more than correct.

Lauren sighed, about to finish the data code, when there was a knock at the wall.
"Firefly?"
Lauren looked back, "Starscream, hey!" She walked over, "Sorry for not being able to-you know… I'm grounded."
Starscream nodded, "I understand. Rachet was growing annoyed with my complaining-what do you autobots do around here?"
Lauren shrugged, "Oh-you know, things you wouldn't like-like hangin' with humans, talking to other autobots, sparing, training, fighting cons."
Starscream blinked, "You're right-the only human I can even tolerate being around is not even a human at the moment."
Lauren smiled, "Thanks, Starscream."
He rolled his optics, "Why has Prime ordered your confinement?"
"I suppose I crossed one line too many," Lauren shrugged, "Optimus thought when I was going to help you that I was joining the cons."
Starscream gaped, "I thought Prime trusted you more than anyone."
Lauren frowned, "As did I… as did I…"
"Why doesn't he?" asked Starscream.
"He doesn't like me admiring Megatron's power, and he says I've started to think like a con-I mean-jeez! I'm only human!"
Starscream shrugged, "You can't help your faults."
Lauren sighed, "Yeah…"
"Okay, well-I will be around, I suppose I will be back later," Starscream shrugged, "Good bye, Firefly."
"Yeah-see you, 'scream…" She then returned to the last thirty seconds it took her to decode the message, and smiled, "Finally."
"Hello, human-girl," greeted Knockout as Breakdown.
Lauren's smile vanished.
"I sure hope by the time Prime finishes decoding this-he will have the sense to leave, because if you dare bring anyone, this other human will be pulp," Knockout chuckled, showing the camera Lauren's unconscious father.
Lauren froze, "No…"
"Come to us, child-alone-if you want to save him," Knockout ordered, "We'll be on this nice little ranch that your grandparents own-lucky for you they are out of town. Do not delay, Breakdown is anything but patient."
The message stopped.
" Frag it, Isaac!" Lauren began trembling in fear. Her father was not her favorite person on the planet, but she loved him still. Had she tear ducts, she would have been crying. She covered her head, trying to stop the endless fears from culminating-but it wasn't working. Lauren turned to the energy field baring her into Optimus, and charge her right cannon, before aiming, "I-I'm so sorry, Optimus... I'm sorry!" She fired