Chapter Three

I was interrupted from my relieved reverie by a sudden beeping noise. I looked around in alarm, waiting for smoke and flames to come seeping around the corner. Optimus came and gently scooped me into his palm before walking briskly back to the main communications room. I held onto his fingers with both hands whilst kneeling, struggling not to bounce with the motion of his light jog.

'What is it?' I asked nervously, looking up to see what his facial expression was.'

'It is a proximity sensor letting us know that someone has landed on top of the silo. It is most likely Agent Fowler. However I fear he will not take my contact with you lightly.' I didn't reply but swallowed loudly, sinking back down in his palm. 'It'll be alright Sky, I promise.' There was a long pillar in the centre of the communications room, and it stopped on a balcony like structure that was level with most of the Autobots. Of course Optimus towered over it, but that couldn't be helped. I gathered that there was a lift in the pillar, and that Agent Fowler was now coming down in it. Optimus stood still and looked straight at the lift doors, and I tried to do the same from his palm. As I stood, my legs wobbled beneath me and I fell back onto my bum. Optimus gently pushed me back into an upright position with two fingers of his other hand. The lift doors opened to reveal a stocky man with dark skin and curly black hair. He was wearing black trousers, a white shirt and a grey suit jacket. His tie was black with yellow and red stripes. His gaze went straight to Optimus, and to be fair to the man he didn't flinch or show any signs of being intimidated by Optimus and his fellow Autobots. Then his gaze fell on me. I gave a feeble smile and half-heartedly waved, but the look on his face told me there was no point even trying. I honestly thought that he was going to implode.

'Contact with civilians? I have cleared up a lot of your mistakes in the past Prime, but this is something that I cannot condone! Hand her over, and she'll be taken into federal custody. Of course it'll mean a tonne of paperwork for me, I can't exactly wipe her memory can I? You could do it for me Prime, but I'll be surprised if we could find a pen big enough for ya!' His tone of voice was full of annoyance and resentment. To say that he was angry about me being there would be an understatement. I was surprised at the rudeness to Optimus, especially as Optimus could crush him to a pile of flesh and bones if he wanted to. However, Optimus's calm demeanour never wavered.

'Hear me Agent Fowler. Please let me explain?' Agent Fowler just nodded and flopped down into a faded brown sofa, having a bit of a face palm moment.

Optimus then raised the hand that I was sitting on to his shoulder; he then took me between two fingers and placed me gently on his shoulder. From the new height, I quickly moved to Optimus's face and held on tightly. He chuckled quietly, and I let go. His smile told me that it was okay, so I held on once more.

'Sky, this is the liaison that I was telling you about, Agent Fowler. Agent Fowler, this is my charge-' at this Agent Fowler jumped off of the sofa, his eyes almost bulging out of his head.

'Charge?! So you're just taking random civilians and calling them your 'charges'?! I don't think so. Hand her over right now.'

'Agent Fowler, may I remind you that you were going to let me explain?' Optimus motioned for Agent Fowler to sit down once more and he did so, blowing air out of his mouth at the same time. Before Agent Fowler could respond, Optimus carried on talking.

'As I was saying, Agent Fowler, this is my charge; Sky.' At this Agent Fowler briefly inclined his head to me, and I again offered a feeble smile. 'A few hours ago I was on patrol in a sparsely populated area. I had parked in a 'truck stop' - I believe it is called that anyway, as I felt I blended in more suitably. I then witnessed Sky coming out of the building, obviously intending to go home. She was then followed by two men who were a bit close to her for my liking, but as I am not wholly familiar with human customs as of yet, I presumed it to be suitable behaviour. She did not acknowledge the two men, but had no choice but to when they pushed her up against my vehicular mode. One of the men restrained her so that she could not get away, whilst the other started to take off his lower clothing. He undid his zip I believe. It was at that point that I chose to intervene. I activated my holoform and told the men to leave her alone, and they begrudgingly obliged. I then offered to drive Sky somewhere quiet so that she could recover from her..encounter. I then proceeded to take her to a perfectly secluded environment so that there was minimal risk of me being spotted in my bipedal form. I then transformed in front of her and told her who I was, about the Autobots, Decepticons and what we are all doing on Earth. I then took her back to base where Ratchet scanned her and confirmed that she was in a light shock due to the evening's events. She then met the other Autobots and then came with me to my quarters, and then we met you.'

I hoped Agent Fowler never gambled or played cards, because he had a really crap poker face. His mouth was hanging open, and his eyes were wide circles.

'Please excuse my earlier protestations Prime. I see now why you had to step in. Are you okay miss?' He asked, moving his gaze from Optimus to me.

'I'm fine thank you. Agent Fowler, I promise not to tell another living soul about the Autobots, I'll sign anything you want me to. Just please let me stay for a few days.'

'I don't see why you can't, as long as you don't get in the way of day to day work...no offence.' He said, offering a guilty smile.

'What's the day to day work?' At this point, Bulkhead exploded into the room.

'CRUSHIN' DECEPTICON TAILPIPES!' The monstrous volume of his voice made me jump. Optimus noticed this and hastily removed me from his shoulder; perhaps for fear that I might fall off. It was a pretty big drop. 'Oops. Sorry Sky.' Bulkhead said sheepishly, looking at his feet.

'It's okay.' I said with a smile.

'Excuse me, Sky? Have we met somewhere before?' I turned at the sound of Agent Fowler's voice, and I rapidly wracked my brain to find any reference to this man who thought he knew me.

'I don't think so sir, I would've remembered you had we met before.' Then his eyes widened again, and a broad smile broke onto his face.

'You're right. I haven't met you before, but I've met your replica. Sky, I used to date your mother a long time ago.'