Chapter 2

A second later, each of the vehicles, including Bumblebee, had transformed into their respective Autobot forms.

Sam sighed loudly.

"What's up guys?" he asked, trying not to sound annoyed, but not succeeding.

"I have received a message from your Secretary of Defense," Optimus Prime said. "We are to deliver you to him as soon as possible," he finished.

"We are your escorts," Ratchet said.

"I can't go," Mikaela said. "I have class and work tomorrow."

"Yeah, I have class, too," Sam said. "What's going on?"

"Starscream is rumored to be rebuilding Megatron. I promised to bring you both. We must go," Optimus Prime said.

Bumblebee once more became the yellow Camaro and the other Autobots followed suit.

The car doors opened, inviting them to climb in.

"Sam, I can't lose my job."

"Remember, you always said you were glad you got in the first time…"

"But my job…and class…"

"Maybe Keller can do something for us," Sam said.

Mikaela took a deep breath and nodded. "I can't believe we're doing this again," she said as she got in the car.

"I have to go. We have to go. Megatron can't come back," Sam said. "And now we can talk about the ring."

"Yes, Sam Witwicky. Let's talk about the ring," she said, turning to look at him. "One, what does it mean? Two, how the hell could you afford it?"

"Geez, I wouldn't have bought it if I knew you'd be so pissed about it," he said.

"Sam, I love it. But I know you can't afford it," she said. "And I am not worth this."

"Yes, you are. I would really like it if you'd wear it," Sam said as he slipped it on her finger. "See, it's perfect."

"Sam…"

"I'm not proposing. It is just a piece of jewelry."

"Oh, thank God," she said, sitting back in the car seat.

"That excited that it wasn't an engagement ring, huh?"

Her eyes flashed open.

"That isn't what…"

"No, no. I understand. I'm a cool boyfriend right, but ask you to marry me…oh, that would be shitty. I get it," he said in somewhat of a mock-joking tone.

"We are only twenty years old, Sam. I am not ready to get married and neither are you."

"No, its fine, Mikaela. I get it."

The rest of the car ride to their final destination was silent. The tension was thick and getting worse at morning approached and they were still driving.

And after driving all night to an air force base, the sun was finally rising as the vehicles, without drivers, pulled through the check points.

The Secretary of Defense, Agent Simmons and Captain Lennox were all waiting for them.

Sam and Mikaela silently climbed from the car and sleepily walked up to the men.

"Good morning, Sam, Mikaela," John Keller said.

"Good morning," they replied together. They gave each other a couple of dirty looks then turned back to the men.

"Oh, a lover's quarrel?" Simmons said.

"Shut up, Simmons. We have sent messages to your employers and professors to excuse you from work and class. I think a message from the president ought to be enough," Keller said.

"Come on, we'll brief you as you eat something. You're probably hungry," Captain Lennox said.

"Thank you," Mikaela said.

They followed behind the other three men into one of the buildings.

They all sat down together and while Sam and Mikaela helped themselves to breakfast, the secretary of defense explained the problem.

"We understand that they want to bring back Megatron," he said.

"'They' being…"

"The Decepticons," Simmons said.

"And how do you know this?" Sam asked, around a mouthful of food.

"Optimus Prime has been working for us. He's been checking into things. His sensors have found the presence of forthcoming beings, although we cannot tell whether they are friendly or not," Keller explained.

"So you understand the problem of the new taskforce that has been created, as well as the problem the world now faces?" Will Lennox explained.

"We have another real threat that could potentially be the end of our planet," Keller said.

Sam turned to Mikaela. "Sorta makes arguing over a ring seem pretty meaningless."

Mikaela swallowed her piece of waffle. "It's a great birthday present, Sam. Thank you."

Keller, Simmons and Lennox looked confusedly at one another and back to the kids.

"But what does this have to do with us?" Sam asked once he and Mikaela had made up.

"We'll, we're going to need your car. And we were hoping you would both reamin here as liaisons between the USAF and the Autobots. Some of the crew is slightly wary of their new duties," Keller explained.

"I have midterms this week, but if it'll help the world that I don't go…" Sam said, smirking.

"This isn't funny, kid," Simmons said, stone-faced.

"Ya know, I would have thought that we could have been friends since we saved your ass…" Sam said.

"Sam…" Mikaela said warningly. "Thank you Secretary Keller, for help with my father's parole."

"It was no problem, young lady. The sentence was too harsh for the crime committed anyway," Keller explained.

"But I have to go back for my exams this week. The only reason I'm at this school is based on my grades and if I fall behind, they'll kick me out," Mikaela said.

"Well then, we will have to get you home for your exams, then won't we?" Keller said.

And while the humans were inside, Optimus Prime had assembled his crew and was discussing their prospects.

"Autobots, there is potential for this to be more destructive than before. If Starscream is able to put Megatron back together…"

"But how would he be able to retrieve the pieces from the Laurentian Abyss?" Bumblebee asked. "I was under the impression that it was irretrievable."

"I have been monitoring the area with the USAF and so far, Starscream has been unable. But I have intercepted some of his messages…the loss of life could be far greater this time," Prime said.

"On the brighter side, we'll less bleak, slightly…" Ratchet began. "Within the next week, I believe Jazz will be fully functional again."

"Well, we'll need all the help we can get if we face another Dececpticon attack," Ironhide responded.

"I have sent out several more transmissions, in hopes of locating any one that could help us," Prime said.

"Any luck?" Bumblebee askd.

"Unfortunately, no. But I am hoping to hear from Arcee soon. We can send her with Mikaela."

"Arcee? Wasn't she destroyed in battle?" Ironhide said.

"I received a partial transmission from who I believe was her," Prime said. "But of course, we cannot be sure."

"So what happens now, Optimus?" Ironhide asked.

"We wait. And protect the humans as best we can."

And at that precise moment, there were three asteroids burning through space. Perhaps they weren't going to have to wait as long as they had thought…

A/N: Please review! I love reviews!