Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers or the Among the Hidden Series. Transformers belongs to Hasbro, The Among the Hidden series belongs to Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Thoughts

~Autobot base, Jessica's POV~

I woke up the next morning, feeling a lot better than before I had fell asleep. I hoped everything that had happened had been a dream, but I knew it had happened because I was still in the unfamiliar place. I sighed before getting out of bed. Out of habit, I made the bed so that it looked like no one had used it, then I cautiously exited the room. I looked around, then walked down the hall. I found myself in the big room like last night. Ratchet was standing by the computer, typing away. I quietly walked across the room, to the stairs that led up to a couch. He didn't notice me.

I was almost to the stairs when I heard, "Good morning. You are up early."

I flinched and turned to face the speaker. "Good morning, Optimus." I said, smiling slightly. I glanced over to Ratchet, who was staring at me, his mouth hanging open. "What?"

His eyes went from where I was standing to the hallway I had come out of, back to me. "H... How? How did you get over there without me knowing?"

I sighed, crossing my arms. "I told you. I was hiding for the past fourteen years of my life due to the Population Law."

"And I told you, there is not Population Law." Ratchet snapped.

I didn't get to speak before someone lifted me up. I looked up to see Optimus's face. Oh, hello." I said randomly.

Optimus chuckled before looking at me seriously. "What is your name little one?" He asked.

"Jessica." I told him. I didn't have a fake identity, so I had to use my real name. I didn't really want to lie to him anyway.

"What is the Population Law?" Optimus asked.

I sighed. "Families are only allowed to have two children. Any third, forth, fifth, and so on are illegal."

"Why was that put in place?" Ratchet asked from his spot by the computer. I looked at him. His back was to us, but he seemed to be listening to our conversation.

"From what I know, it was put in place because of the famines." I answered. "There wasn't enough food for everyone in the country, so the Government had to take control. Third children, or shadow children, have to hide in fear of being found by the Population Police."

"What happens if they are found?" Optimus asked.

"What are the Population Police?" Ratchet asked at the same time.

I frowned, trying to figure out which question to answer first. I looked back up at Optimus, though I was held up to his chest. "If we are found, we are taken away from our family and, most likely, killed." Then I looked over at Ratchet, who had stiffened when I had said third children would be killed. Well, both Optimus and Ratchet had stiffened. "The Population Police was formed to hunt down third children."

"'We'?" Ratchet asked. "Why did you say 'We'?"

I sighed and shook slightly. "I am... I am..." It was hard for me to say it.

"Are you a third child?" Optimus asked. I couldn't speak, so I nodded. "What happened?"

"My father... turned me in... Well... He tried... The Population Police had made it to the attic, which was my bedroom, and I was pulled backward into the wall I was pressed against." I told Optimus.

I saw Optimus frown at what I said. "Who are you?" I asked him to turn the attention off of me.

"We are Autonomous Robotic Organisms from the planet Cybertron." Optimus answered, though not looking very pleased that I had changed the subject.

"If you lived on a different planet... Why are you here?" I asked as I stood, grabbing onto one of his fingers to support myself.

"Our planet is inhabitable, because of centuries of war." Optimus answered.

"Why are you fighting a war?"

"Mainly over the supply of energon, the life blood of both us Autobots and our enemies the Decepticons." Optimus told me.

"Once again, this sounds like something I would read in a book..." I muttered.

I heard both Ratchet and Optimus chuckle at what I had said.

"Why did your father turn you in?" Ratchet asked from his spot by the huge computer.

I gulped. "The government raised the taxes on our farm. We had no way to pay it, and if you turn a third child in, you get a reward. I overheard them talking. Mother, my sister, and my brother were against turning me in. Father was reluctant, but he did what he believed that was right."

I heard Ratchet let out a growl. Before I could say anything, I heard the roar of an engine. No. More than one engine. I shrunk down on Optimus's hand as three vehicles drove in. A green one, a yellow and black one, and the motorcycle from last night.

A girl exited the green vehicle. "That was awesome Bulk!" She exclaimed. I shrunk down in Optimus's hand as another boy exited the yellow and black vehicle, while the other boy... Jack I think his name is, got off the motorcycle and took his helmet off. I looked through Optimus's fingers to see the vehicles changed to the giant beings. The other Autobots.

"Hey, Optimus." The green Autobots said. The yellow and black Autobot beeped.

"Our newest ally." Optimus said, probably answering a question. He tilted his hand so that I was lying flat on my back. The only thing supporting me in the air was his fingers. I stiffened as everyone looked at me.

The girl ran up to Optimus. "Awesome! Another person! Let me meet her!" I flinched at her loud voice. I let out a small whimper, shrinking down the best I could.

"Are you alright?" The blue Autobot asked.

"N... No." I squeaked out. They looked at me in surprise.

Optimus lowered his hand and tilted it. I slid off and landed on my feet.

"Yipe!" I said as I landed.

Instantly I was tackled in a hug by the girl and landed on the ground. "Hi! I'm Miko! What's your name? How did you meet the 'Bots? Did you watch them take down the 'Cons? Do you like heavy metal? Do you play an instrument? Why are you wearing those clothes?" She asked. I only froze up as she spoke. "Hey. You okay?"

"Miko." The boy, Jack pulled her off of me and helped me to my feet. "I met her yesterday and she was afraid of the 'Bots. Afraid of me even."

"What? Why?" Miko asked.

I could only stand there frozen. Finally, the younger boy walked up to me. "Hi. I'm Raf." He held a hand out to me.

I finally gulped and smiled a little. "Jessica." I said softly, cautiously reaching out and shaking his hand.

Raf smiled. "Nice to meet you, Jessica. You already know Jack and Miko." He gestured to Miko and Jack, who were arguing.

I laughed, feeling a little comfortable around Raf. If I had been looking, I would have seen smiles of relief on both Optimus's and Ratchet's faces, as well as confused looks on the others.

"Yay!" Miko said. "You're talking!" I winced at her loud voice.

"Miko. Quiet down." Jack moved up. "I'm Jack. I brought you here with Arcee yesterday, though we didn't have time for introductions." He held out his hand as well.

I laughed again, still smiling. "I'm Jessica." I said as I shook his hand, a little louder.

"And I'm Miko!" Miko exclaimed. I flinched yet again.

An alarm rang through base. I yelped and ran behind Optimus's foot. The others looked at me confused.

"Proximity alarm." I heard Ratchet say over the alarm.

"PRIME!" I flinched at the loud voice. After spending fourteen years in a quiet household, that will take some getting use to.

"What is it Agent Fowler?" Optimus asked.

"People in Jasper are reporting seeing a flash of light in Jasper. Can you explain that?" I heard the other person, Agent Fowler, ask.

"The groundbridge exploded." Ratchet answered easily. "It sent out a wave of energy that was dispersed."

I peeked out behind Optimus's foot. There was a man standing up on a platform of some sort. He was wearing a suit and tie... A member of the Government! I was barely able to keep a cry of fear from escaping.

"Alright." Agent Fowler said, sounding a little calmer than before. He turned away to start to leave.

"Agent Fowler." Optimus said quickly. "There is someone you must meet." He moved his foot away so that I was in plain sight as Agent Fowler turned around.

"Another civilian?" Agent Fowler asked, anger evident in his voice. He glared at me. "Why are you here?"

Optimus answered for me. "We brought her here after she accidentally witnessed Arcee transforming."

Arcee? Who's- Oh... The motorcycle... I thought.

"What is your name?" Agent Fowler asked. "And don't answer for her Prime!" Optimus must have been about to answer.

"Uh..." My throat felt dry so I couldn't answer. I looked at the ground.

"What is your name?" Agent Fowler repeated. Suddenly, he was standing right in front of me. I yelped again, leaping backwards away from him. I crashed into someone and we fell to the ground.

"Hey!" I heard whoever I landed on cry out. It was Miko.

Sorry. I thought. I was unable to say it, though, as I looked up at Agent Fowler.

"I will ask one more time or else I will take you into custody. What is your name civilian?" Agent Fowler asked.

I felt my heart go into my throat. Custody? As in, arrest me? "J... J... Jessica." I squeaked.

I'm not sure what happened next. One moment I was on the ground in front of Agent Fowler, next I was in an Autobot's hand.

"Enough, Agent Fowler!" It was Ratchet. "She is terrified enough with our presence and our human allies here. You are frightening her more!"

As I stood, I could see everyone in the room looking at us, well Ratchet, in shock.

"Why is she afraid of us?" I heard Jack ask.

I gulped. "I've lived in hiding all my life. You are the first people I've ever met. Outside of my family."

Everyone looked at me. At least, I think the humans did. Ratchet then put me on the ground. "What do you mean?" Raf asked.

"Have you heard of the Population Law?" I asked him.

"What's the Population Law?" Miko asked.

"Families are not allowed to have more than two children." I answered.

"There is nothing in place like that!" Agent Fowler said quickly. "Unless you count that happening in China with their law of having one child."

I looked at him. "With the Population Law, third children have to hide if they are born." I gulped again.

"That's boring!" Miko said, throwing her hands in the air. "Why would someone want to hide?"

I took a deep breath. "Because... The punishment is death..."

It felt like the air in the room dropped a few degrees.

"What?" The other four asked simultaneously.

"Who's death?" Miko asked.

I winced. "The third child would be arrested. They will be killed."

"Why would you be hiding?" The green Autobot asked.

I didn't get to say anything before Jack spoke up. "Because she is a third child."