AN: Whew, its been a long while, but finally TF mood is back, and i can continue with this story. Hope you guys still want to read it. Please do enjoy~

Chapter X

Since the moment he realized he was involved in the Autobot-Decepticon war, Sam knew his life was going to change. Sure, he may have gotten awesome alien robot friends, who changed into hot cars, and could blow up anything they wanted to, but in general the changes would be for worse.

Like having to pick up the phone at 4 a.m. worse.

"Huh-hello?" he asked groggily, his head falling back onto the welcoming pillow, the cocoon made of the bed covers sucking him into the warmth. It was dark and cold outside; waking him up at this hour was inhumane.

"Kid, it's me," Simmons sounded very excited; even more so than usually at least, as if he had guzzled three mugs of coffee already. Sam wondered if he had even gone to sleep at all. "Get up and get your yellow pet-car up and running, because we've got work to do!"

"Uh, did you even sleep?"

"Sleep is for the weak! Do you think I had time to sleep? I had to deal with all the police and fire squad that came to my house, after those creeps stole their buddy. If I had my badge I'd have just told them to bugger off, but since you got me kicked-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm sorry already. You had a rough night, but why take it out on me, you know?" Sam yawned but pulled himself up, trying to stay focused on the conversation, rather than his desire to fall asleep again.

"Oh, I'd have many reasons to do that, but this is a matter of national security. Like it or not, kid, but you're involved now, so get up! We need to meet and form a plan."

"Uh, but it's only 4 in the morning…"

"The enemy will not wait for you to wake up, sleeping beauty!" Simmons shouted into his cell phone, his voice resonating in the room hotel Sam was staying in. "Now on your feet soldier!"

"Sam? What's that noise?" Judy woke up in the next room. "It's the middle of the night, kiddo."

"Ok, listen," Sam whispered, not wanting to alert his mom to any suspicious activities concerning the "crazy alien robots". "I'll be on my way in a few minutes, call me later to tell me where we're meeting."

With that Sam ended the call and began searching for some hastily discarded clothes. He decided telling his parents about this would be a good idea, if he wanted to be a good son, but also freak them out further, and get grounded for simply coming up with such an idea. So he decided to leave them a note. I'm already in so much trouble, he thought miserably as he got inside Bumblebee, I guess a road trip to meet a secret agent won't change things for worse.

If there was something the Decepticons found more disturbing than a scheming and frustrated Megatron, it had to be a scheming and pleased Megatron.

Having the reputation of a ruthless killer of all who opposed him, the silver triple-changer's vicious disposition was considered as the norm, and all of his soldiers had gotten used to it during the eons of fighting under his command. Most of them hated it, naturally; Megatron was exceptionally hard to deal with, which is why his followers tended not to stay around him more than they had to. Right now the small group of the Decepticons stationed on Earth was forced to do just that, but Megatron's sudden mood swing was making them wish Starscream never got fixed and restored as his second. Still they preferred to safely go along with Megatron's version about simply getting closer to overthrow the Fallen, which would've been the natural reason for their leader's enthusiasm. However, it was obvious that it was the willful flier's return that got the silver mech elated, but naturally nobody was foolish enough to bring this fact up.

In front of their leaders, that is.

"Don't you find this seriously creepy, TC?" Skywarp sent a message through their private comm. link. "Have you ever seen Megs so, I don't know, bouncy?"

The navy jet turned his scanners from observing the horizon for any trespassers to regard their leader, who was quite animatedly talking to Starscream about their next move. And as much as he had always wished for this moment to come, he could not shake the feeling it was all just some sort of trick. He could not understand why Megatron would be taking part in it willingly though, so there was a sliver of hope that it was in fact real. Real in a very bizarre sort of way. "I'd say he just…can't wait to bring the Fallen down, and is motivated since Screamer finally decided quit slowing him down with his usual treachery?"

"Yeah, bouncy."

Thundercracker grunted disapprovingly at his mate's choice of words; there were spies among them after all, but he honestly couldn't disagree with Skywarp. As unnatural it was to see their leader not mocking Starscream and actually listening to what he was saying, it was even more strange to watch their body language. Megatron was not looming over their mate like he always used to do, was not invading his personal space, and kept his deadly claws from reaching his neck to silence the annoyingly cocky tone of his.

"And you know what?"

Thundercracker held a sigh; he knew nothing good ever came out from Skywarp's processor after that phrase. "…What?"

"It's annoying, but I think I could get used to it," he said matter-of-factly, closing a bonnet on his chassis. He had been tinkering with his warping processor for the last hour; Scrapper had fixed him well, but he always liked to know in what shape his unique system was. Perhaps his reputation created an impression of him being a total engineering illiterate, which he usually was, but he knew his own organism and its functions, and if he wasn't busy fighting, taunting, joking, or whining, he would be busy enhancing his little secret weapon. "What? At least he's not taking his frustrations out on us," he added when Thundercracker was just gawking at him.

"That's because he's not frustrated. He's… he looks happy, I guess. Or as close as he can, not really sure what it looks like on Megatron's face plates, though. And I hope I'm just over thinking, but I just wonder how long it will last, till another falling-out between them."

Skywarp stretched his wings and walked over to his mate, who was resting in his tetra jet mode, letting the early day's sun warm up his body. "TC, the eternal pessimist," he nudged his wing, wanting him to transform, which the navy Seeker did. Skywarp hung an arm around his friend and pulled him to look at their leaders. "Maybe it is weird to see them like this, but c'mon! Maybe, just maybe, this annoying something between them broke, and now they can actually function together. I'm willing to forget all about the nasty stuff Screamer ever did to me if this is what it's going to be from now on."

"And I thought I was the more faithful one."

Skywarp snorted. "Oh, baby, I'll let Megs do my wings like he did Screamer's the day that you quit worrying about even one, little thing!" Thundercracker whirred his engines irritably, never liking this particular trait of his being pointed out and mocked. "I'm supposed to be the one with crazy ideas around here, and even if I said what I said to Mr. Ego, I always believed in a happily ever after! I mean, if the princess wants to be dragged off into the sunset by her sadistic prince, be my guest."

"Where on Primus, did u pick up a phrase like that?"

"The human database network. Yeah, I know it's trash, but I find it fitting for Screamer, don't you agree?" Thundercracker threw him a slightly exasperated look. "Ah, c'mon! You know I'm joking, right?"

"As if I'd ever have believed you were serious about your quarrel to begin with," the blue jet regarded his partner sternly. Skywarp laughed, shaking his head.

"He needed to get down to earth from whatever godly cloud he thought he was on. He can fly better than us, fine, and be the Ultra Superior Air Commander and whatnot, but a trine is a trine. And him being aware of that, although I still hate the sucker, and want to break his legs, is fine enough for me, as long as things are back to normal."

At that moment Starscream turned his attention from Megatron, and noticed his trine watching them, Skywarp grinning like the big goofball he was. He wanted to give him an irritated look; he was still annoyed at his earlier antics, but seeing him cheering, and Thundercracker nodding with approval surprised him. Suddenly, for the first time in years, he felt at ease. He did no longer have to play the double role of tyrant and protector, where to prevail in his duty meant distancing himself from even his closest allies. He dropped the angry façade and gave his long time teammates his best self-assured smirk. Perhaps they weren't on the same page as him when it came to his plans and Megatron, but it was good to see they were, in spite of everything, somewhere behind him.

Thundercracker, who still wasn't sure if this turn of events would leave Starscream hurt, or victorious, walked away from the canyon's edge. Skywarp heard the silent sigh he made, but couldn't feign annoyance; his mood was good, and he wanted to infect his mate with it. Primus knew, he had listened to Thundercracker's worries and fears so many times, he could recognize each of them by the look of his optics, or they way his wings tensed up. He knew the navy jet understood their trine leader better than anyone else, but the knowledge only made him more depressed and moody. Skywarp's self-appointed duty was to lift his spirits.

Crouching down next to his mate, Skywarp grinned his best grin, and playfully punched TC on the chest. "Save your worries for when there is something to worry about, ok? I told you all they needed was to just suck it up, and talk like grown ups. They did! And look, they're not trying to kill each other!"

"I know they're not. But they will. They always do in the end, no matter how much I wish they stopped." Skywarp groaned at his friend's gloomy mood. "But fine. I'll shut up about it. Just remember," he put his claw squarely over Skywarp's spark chamber; something any con would find threatening. For them, however, the gesture was more of a proof of trust. "I really don't want to see him suffer more than he already has, and I just know this cannot end without someone's energon spilled. So when the time's up, I'm counting on you to make the damage the least possible, understood?"

Thundercracker's severe tone silenced any attempt of a funny remark on Skywarp's part and, as rarely as it happened, the black jet took his mate's words in without any comments, or complaints. He knew that something his worrywart friend was so serious about was not meant to be taken lightly.

Sam and Bumblebee picked up Simmons from his ruined apartment, and since the humans were quite hungry, they drove to the ex-agent's mother's deli. Simmons broke through the early morning crowd that showed up every day to buy their goods, and snatched two big sandwiches that had been prepared for the customers. His mother tried to complain, but he was out of the store and back in the yellow camaro faster than she could pronounce his full name, and start scolding him.

"Mmph," Sam tried talking with him mouth full of tasty bread and ham, then swallowed, and tried again. "This is real good."

"Of course it is. It's my own secret recipe, the people are crazy about it. I call it the U-bot Special."

"U-bot, huh? Military fanboy much?"

"Till the day I die," Simmons said solemnly, and with another bite finished his sub, and wiped his hands on his pants. He pulled out his laptop from the duffel bag he brought along, and turned it on. After a few clicks he had a program running, something that looked like a sonar. Sam gulped down the remains of his breakfast, and leaned towards Simmons to have a better look. "Those overgrown tin cans think they can just bust in, and take government property out of my house, but they don't know what they're in for!" He laughed in his own special way that made Sam wonder yet again, if the agent was really entirely sane.

"So what's this? Like a radar or something?"

"A tracking device, junior. I thought something like this might happen, so I put a microchip inside that freak's head. Now," he punched a few keys, and a map of the United States came up, "Let's see where you're hiding."

Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and Ratchet arrived to the NEST base at dawn, and not a long while later, major Lennox marched into their hangar; back from his leave two days earlier, not too thrilled about it, but ready for duty.

"I thought I might find you big guys around here," he said with a dose of affection, like one would do to a reliable old pal. They haven't fought alongside since the Mission City, but Lennox's Ranger instincts told him the alien fighters were trustworthy battle companions. Not to mention awfully powerful too.

Like the human, Optimus Prime also acknowledged the other's values as an ally, and was quite relieved to have come across this particular man, as he and his team were creatures of his own group's kin. They were soldiers who knew what their duty was, not squabbling, money-focused politicians, who lacked the courage to make the right decisions, even if they were risky. The truck transformer believed that major Lennox would help them communicate with the government officials better, and make them understand that they needed their help. Optimus hoped they would allow the Autobots to guard their lives further, especially now, when the Decepticon threat was upon them.

"Major Lennox, it's good to see you. I require your help."

Lennox laughed a little. "Straight to the point, huh Optimus? Well I knew it had to be something important since, they basically dragged me away from the grill."

"It is urgent. The Decepticons are mobilizing again. Their fallen comrade has risen from the sea. We need to do everything we can to stop them, but we do not wish to go against your government's will. We need your help to explain the situation."

Lennox was not impressed; he had to deal with annoyingly stubborn officials in the past, and knew why Optimus would rather ask him for help than try to reason with them; if they were obstinate in listening to other human beings, they would most certainly not give much thought to an alien robot's request. "I hear you, Optimus. Let me get the memo, and you can explain what the situation is."

When he ordered Starscream to gather his troops, Megatron knew what he needed to do in order to understand the Allspark's message, and to advance in his scheme to overthrow their nemesis. After what felt like days to the Decepticons, he finally revealed his plans.

They had a huge advantage over the unaware Autobots, who had not even realized a shard of the Allspark had been in their possession; even now they puzzled over the meaning of Ravage's attack. They were right to think it was connected to the artifact, but the truth eluded them. As well as the fact that there were already so many of Megatron's troops on Earth. Blackout was still incapable of combat, which the silver mech regarded as a small price to pay for giving his troops an example of what happened to his insubordinate followers. It had seemed not only the chopper-con's memory needed refreshing, but for once Megatron found a better target than his usual choice.

And speaking of Starscream, he absolutely glowed. Not only because of the Allspark's power radiating from his frame, which was giving him the impression of superiority, but of the flier's confident manner. The kind one could only see on the battlefield, when he was leading his soldiers into victory, and not the cocky kind that had accompanied him in the hallways of Megatron's fortress, when he unyieldingly challenged his leader for attention. And for once he finally got what he had always wanted: Megatron was hearing him out, and had placed the Seeker by his side not to have stricter control over him, but because his devotion was recognized. More than ever before, he felt himself be the second in command he had supposed to have been; a true partner to Megatron.

Not his equal, of course. That dream had been abandoned millennia ago, after an exceptionally verbal, and surprisingly personal argument they had, where Starscream had foolishly revealed his then-spark's desire, which had been harshly denied. Since then he had never allowed himself to wish for the impossible again, and forced his ambitions to drop down a notch. Second in command had then become his new, and now finally realized goal, and there was nothing, not even an old, discarded, yet never truly forgotten, hope, that would interfere. He was a soldier, a commander; he had learned to ignore his personal desires for the sake of the Decepticon cause.

The cause they would finally bring back to its original state, eliminating the virus that had infected it. Megatron's plan was risky, perhaps it would fail, but the next stage would hopefully fill the missing gaps, and answer the questions regarding the Allspark and the symbols.

"Soundwave has located one of the oldest, and highest ranking Seekers that have been left behind on this planet," said Megatron to the eager, yet confused soldiers. "The Fallen, in his confidence in my loyalty, revealed that we are not the first Cybertronians to have landed here, and that even now a group of Decepticons is stationed around the globe. They were nothing but scrap metal to him. He had left them behind broken, and with no supply of energon. I believe they would be pleased to join us in our revenge. Right now Starscream, Thundercracker, Ravage, Frenzy, and Rumble will accompany me, I wish to pay our old ally a visit." The four named cons moved to join Starscream at Megatron's side. The leader then motioned to the others. "Scrapper, I make you responsible for the other task." The Constructicon saluted. "Hook and Mixmaster, you will continue working on Blackout until he is operational. And Skywarp, you are to carry on moving the troops to the designated position, and continue assisting them there. You will be under Scrapper's command until the rendezvous." Skywarp also saluted, albeit less eagerly than his temporary leader, but kept his unhappy comments only to himself and Thundercracker on the comm. link, but the other did not seem impressed.

Then, without further ado, the two teams mobilized, Megatron's group blasting off into the sky. Thundercracker became the carrier of Soundwave's minions again, there had been no discussion about that. His two pompous leaders were too important for that, but his experience as a babysitter helped him keep his sanity. He simply muted all but Megatron and Starscream's channels. And Skywarp's naturally, but that one has never been turned off.

Flying beside Megatron felt extremely odd, unbelievably exciting, but also horribly dull for Starscream. In their battle history together, there were not many times when Megatron took to air to command, usually leaving his second in charge of the fliers, and to the Seeker it had always felt wrong somehow. Megatron was a modified flier, he did not possess the instinct a created flier had, and although he had mastered aerial combat, he never acquired the grace and agility his flying trines took pride in. Of course, it mattered to no one, as long as they won the battles, but at least to Starscream it felt as if an intruder had penetrated his domain. Among the Seekers and other aerial cons, he had been known as a very possessive being, even before the war had begun, and had not taken well to land-dwellers attempting to fly. It was his world and his life, and all the successful attempts of outsiders infiltrating the skies were like a slap to his ego. Megatron, however, was a different case, or rather had to be. Starscream had always assured him of his competence, and most of the times the silver mech had agreed, but sometimes he would invade his Seeker's territory to simply show his authority over him. The ambitious flier's nature sometimes failed to stop him from challenging Megatron about it, which had always ended in the same, painful way. Yet this was actually one of the things he did learn to tolerate, and with time, reluctantly, he accepted Megatron's presence in the air, but jealously kept the skies closed to any other ground mech.

Right now, however, he had wished Megatron was one of those cons he managed to keep grounded, because their leader was moving at a sickeningly sluggish pace, and the jet was unable to enjoy his new powers, forced to restrain his instincts. He was sure he could fly at least ten times faster than Megatron, but needed to stay in his position – at the silver mech's side. It was unnecessary to anger Megatron now, and for once, Starscream really didn't feel the urge to get on his nerves in any way. Things were finally good, he did not want to destroy that, for what he had paid so dearly to happen. No, he would fly right at his leader's side, and he would not leave that spot even if it killed him. Boredom or whatnot.

Thundercracker watched the two mechs in front of him and couldn't stop himself from sharing his thoughts with his trine mate. It was plainly amusing to witness, the blue jet guessing the nature of Starscream's predicament, and then his resolve to ignore it. He knew that there was more to it than met the eye, and was glad it was going smoothly, especially in this situation, where Starscream's restraint was being tested. Things would've seemed perfect, if it wasn't the fact that he had two hyperactive cons on his head, poking and prodding each other even at this speed, and on such an important mission. Thundercracker doubted taking both of them was a good idea, the mayhem they could create seemed a double edged sword to him, but apparently Megatron wanted to employ it. TC just wished that moment finally came.

"I'm agent Simmons of Sector Seven and I demand to speak with your superior! This is a matter of national security!" fumed the ex-agent when a Pentagon guard failed to open the gate. Sam, who had heard the same phrase for the hundredth time today, rubbed his face furiously.

"Bee," he murmured, "we've got to do something about this, or I'll go nuts right now!" The transformer flashed his lights approvingly. Sam stepped out and moved away.

"Listen there, buddy," sighed the guard, his patience wearing thin. "As far as I'm concerned Sector Seven is some boloney story you tourists are trying to feed us. So I'm saying this for the last time, clear the premises or I will have to use forc-" Bewilderment appeared on his face, as the yellow camaro changed into a huge robot in front of his eyes. He pointed his gun at it but stepped a few paces back. "What the!"

Simmons glanced back calmly, and then, trying to act polite and patient, pointed at Bumblebee. "You know what this is, soldier? Or do you even have access to the classified info about the N.B.E.s? Because you see, sonny, him and his buddies need to talk to your boss, and not just about weather. Nope. About the alien invasion, part two, that is happening right now! So you either let us through, or I'll report you to whomever necessary, and have you responsible for endangering he national security, as well as millions of innocent American citizens!" He finished, poking the soldier squarely in the chest, his nose way too close to the soldier's. "Is that.. clear?"

Sam and Bee sniggered, as they watched the guard frantically call his superior to relay the news, and then immediately opening the gate. Back in his camaro disguise, with the boy and the ex-agent aboard, they parked next to the entrance where some suits and soldiers were already waiting for them.

"Ok, kid, until I'm done with them, stay in the car and keep your mouth shut."

"Hey, it's Bee who got us in," argued Sam, Bumblebee whirring his engine to back him up. "I want to know what's going on too! You can't do this to us, man!" The camaro's engine roared again, and Simmons felt like he did not want to fight against the duo. Last time he opposed them, Lennox put a barrel of his gun way too close to his face. He'd rather avoid something humiliating like that from ever happening again.

"Fine, whatever! Just let me handle it. I know how to talk to these people." And with that he got out, and shaking the suit's hand, followed him in. Sam followed suit, grabbing his backpack and the remote satellite sonar Simmons had lent him, which was connected to the agent's laptop's system. In his rush Sam almost missed, what his companion did. The small blinking dot was moving, and fast.

"Oh, crap. Simmons!"

The meeting went well, or as well as it was possible. John Keller, the Secretary of Defense held a conference for both Simmons and Lennox; the latter had earlier called to relay Optimus' request. He agreed to cooperate with the transformers, and left Lennox in charge of his NEST troops, who were to assist Optimus and his team. They were to mobilize immediately and head to the direction of Simmons' radar was pointing. The ex-agent was to stay behind as Keller's aide, and Sam sent home.

"No way! I'm not going anywhere!" he argued even as guards came to escort him. "It was my home they raided, and it's my friends who are out there, fighting! I can't just do nothing!"

"You have done more than enough, son," said Keller, his voice fatherly, yet strict. "You have shown great responsibility and initiative, but it's our job from now on. You should go back to your family. As far as I know they have not been notified of your absence. They must be worried." Sam shot Simmons a death look; the sneaky agent wanted to get rid of him, and must have told Keller about his note. "This is my final word. Please, escort him out." And with that he turned to his men. Sam tried to resist but it was futile. Resigned, he joined Bee, who tried to cheer him up somehow, but the boy's mood was foul.

"It's not fair, Bee! I want to help! Those Decepticons think they can just mess up everyone's lives! Well I won't let that happen!"

"I unders—nd," buzzed the camaro bot. He really did. His energon was boiling at the thought of Megatron's despicable lackeys causing more mayhem among humans. He remembered how it was back home, panic and fear among civilians, their homes and lives in ruins. Bumblebee wanted to protect Sam and his family from such nightmares. He wanted to fight, but more than that he wanted to shield the boy from harm, which was exactly opposite to what the hasty teenager was hoping to do.

"But Opt—us ordered me t- keep u safe. I cannot endan—r you." This was right, the boy would hate him, but he would survive.

"Bee! C'mon, man! You know I can help! I've saved Prime once, you know I can be useful! Just give me a chance!"

"Sorry Sam," and with that Bumblebee blocked the doors, and sped off, carrying a shouting and upset, yet very precious cargo.