Author's Note: I'm ba-ack! Who missed me? …No one? Oh, my reviewers missed me! Yay! Well, I hope you enjoyed that last chapter! Now, who was it that was speaking to Nova in her head? You want to know? You sure? Well, the answer is…I'm not telling! Mwah ha ha ha ha! You will have to wait and see!

They Know!

Nora held onto her dad's shoulder as all the Autobots hid inside the alley. Optimus gently set her on the ground before transforming to vehicle mode along with the others. Nora quickly turned up her audio receptors and listened intently to what was going on inside the house.

"Ronald Wickity?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

"It's 'Witwicky,'" Ron replied. "Who are you?"

"We're with the government. Sector Seven."

"Never heard of it."

"Never will," the man replied. Nora desperately wished she could see what was going on back at the house.

"Your son's the great-grandson of Captain Archibald Wickity, is he not?"

"It's Witwicky," Ron repeated, sounding annoyed.

"May I enter the premises, sir?" I could be wrong, Nora thought, but I don't think he'll take "no" for an answer.

"Ron, there's guys all over the front yard," Judy exclaimed.

"What the heck is going on here?" Ron asked angrily.

"Your son filed a stolen car report last night. We think it's involved in a national security matter."

Nora blanched. They know, she thought in horror. They know about us! She turned to the other Autobots, who flashed their headlights in concern. They had obviously been listening, too. Nora turned her audio receptors back up.

"What is this?" Sam's voice asked.

"How you doing, son?" the very annoying government agent asked. "Is your name Sam?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I need you to come with us."

"Whoa," Ron said. "Way out of line."

"Sir, I am asking politely. Back off."

"You're not taking my son."

"Really?" the agent asked. "You going to try to get rough with us?"

"No, but I'm gonna call the cops," Ron replied, "because there's something fishy going on around here."

The agent sounded amused when he responded. "Yeah? There's something a little fishy about you, your son, your little Taco Bell dog, and this whole operation you got going on here."

"What operation?" Ron cried, outraged.

"That is what we are gonna find out."

Another voice came on the scene, speaking quietly. "I think direct contact," the voice said.

"Son?" the agent said.

"Yeah?" Sam asked.

"Step forward, please."

"Just stand?" Nora listened as she detected a very odd clicking noise. It seemed to be increasing in speed until suddenly, she realized what it was: a Geiger counter.

The strange agent confirmed her suspicions a moment later. "Fourteen rads. Bingo! Tag 'em and bag 'em!"

"Dad!" Nora hissed. "We've got to move! They're taking them away!"Optimus transformed, keeping himself in a kneeling position. "I know, Nova. Don't worry, we will get them back. Climb on." Prime extended his hand, and Nora quickly scrambled onto his palm.

"When we encounter the other humans, I think it is best if you use your true form," Prime said quietly. "We do not want them to discover who you are just yet." Nora nodded and hopped into her father's cab as he transformed into his eighteen-wheeler mode.

All five Autobots drove along the road, quickly coming around past the SUVs bearing Nora's adopted family. The car carrying Sam and Mikaela was at the very front of the pack.

Quickly, Nora jumped out and transformed at the exact moment Prime did. Optimus' foot slammed down directly in front of the car, effectively stopping it. Prime then bent down and jammed his large fingers under the roof, lifting the car into the air. Nova didn't even try to interpret the commotion inside the car, but the yelling ceased when the car, without its roof, slammed back down onto the pavement and the occupants got a good look at Optimus and Nova.

Sam had a very satisfied smirk on his face. "You butt holes are in trouble now. Gentlemen, I want to introduce you to my friends…Optimus Prime and Nova."

"Taking the children was a bad move," Optimus rumbled dangerously. "Autobots, relieve them of their weapons."

Nova bent down and held out her hand. Immediately, all their weapons were deposited into her palm. Smirking slightly, she crushed the guns in her hand and threw them off the bridge.

Prime bent down to be level with the agents in the front seat of the now-topless car. "Hi there," one of them said with a slight wave.

"You don't seem afraid," Prime noted. "Are you not surprised to see us?"

"Look," the man began, "there are S-Seven protocols, okay? I'm not authorized to communicate with you except to tell you I can't communicate with you."

Nova rolled her optics and bent down next to her father. "Get out of the car," she growled menacingly.

"All right. Me? You want me to…"

"Now!" Prime snapped, making the two agents jump.

"All right, all right. Hey. All right, I'm…I'm getting out. I'm getting out. You see? Very nifty how you put us down without really killing us."

Nova turned her attention to Sam and Mikaela, who were getting out of the back seat. "Are you two okay?"

They nodded. "Here," Nova said, extending one of her claws. "I'll get those off." Sam and Mikaela turned around obligingly as Nova snapped their handcuffs off of their wrists.

Mikaela looked at Sam. "Sam, I have a record because I wouldn't turn my dad in. When have you had to sacrifice anything in your perfect little life?" Sam had no answer to that. Instead, they both walked over to the agent that had shown up at Sam's door.

"What is Sector Seven?" Sam asked. "Answer me."

"I'm the one who asks questions around here. Not you, young man!"

"How'd you know about the aliens?" Mikaela asked.

"Where did you take my parents?" Sam snarled.

"I am not at liberty to discuss it."

"No?" Sam asked as he reached into the man's pocket.

"Hey, you touch me, that's a federal offense."

"Do-whatever-you-want-and-get-away-with-it badge, right?" Sam said cockily, waving the badge in front of him.

"Yeah. Brave now all of a sudden, with his big alien friends standing over there."

"Where is Sector Seven?" Nova growled.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" In answer, Bumblebee popped something out of his…nether area and began squirting fluid onto the agent's back.

"Hey, hey!" he yelled. Nova had to stand up and cover her mouth to keep from laughing.

"Bumblebee, stop lubricating the man!" Prime said sternly.

"Get that thing to stop, huh?"