In which two kids do what they do best - namely, get in trouble.

[raisedbymoogles]

"You were speeding."

"I was not speeding!"

"Speed limit's sixty-five. You were going seventy-one."

"That's not speeding. The only people who go exactly the speed limit are people who have something to hide."

"Then why'd he pull us over instead of the old lady you passed?"

"Probably because she hasn't gotten here yet."

"Shh, here he comes!" Daniel put on his best 'placate the grownups' smile and rolled down the window. "Good morning, officer. Nice day, huh?"

The officer's mouth pulled into a frown. "Little young to be driving, aren't you, son?"

Daniel relaxed. "Oh, is that all? It's okay, sir, I'm not driving." The officer's frown deepened and Daniel thumped the steering wheel. "Hey. Says something so he knows I'm not crazy."

"I still wasn't speeding," Hot Rod said sullenly.

The officer let out a surprised laugh. "Autobots again," he said, his demeanor morphing from stern to ruefully affectionate in an instant. "You fresh off the shuttle, kid?"

Not wanting to admit he didn't know what that meant, Hot Rod ignored the question entirely. "I'm Hot Rod," he offered instead. "This is Daniel."

"Hot Rod, Daniel." The officer nodded to them both. "Do me a favor and switch to the passenger side, okay, Daniel? So you don't give any other poor policemen heart attacks."

"Yessir!" they chorused, and Daniel wiggled over to the passenger seat.

"Oh, and Hot Rod?"

Hot Rod hunkered down over his tires. He hadn't known a human could sound so much like Ultra Magnus. "Yeah?"

"Watch your speed."

"Yessir."

As the officer sauntered away, still shaking his head, Daniel slumped back against the seat. "That was close. We almost got a ticket, Hot Rod."

"Wingnuts," Hot Rod said, pulling away. "Getting a ticket my first week here?" I would've been more legendary than Sideswipe and Sunstreaker."

Daniel shook his head with a grin. "You're a weird 'bot, Hot Rod."