AN: Literally no time. Just posting this before heading to school. Five reviews!


Skywarp snickered, :Now, Starscream, calm down. We need Barricade, he could know where the Autobots are.:

There was a pause as Starscream let that sink in, the seeker having not thought about that.

:And do you know where they are?: Starscream asked, though it was more mocking than anything else.

:I do.:

Shocked silence from both Starscream and Skywarp, and wasn't that rare? Barricade took a moment to enjoy his little victory, optics drawn to Miles as the teen gave a half snort and rolled over so he was facing Barricade.

:Where are they, you glitch?: Starscream demanded. :We'll want to have them all captured for Lord Megatron before we resurrect him. Maybe expend a few of them, like the Weapons Specialist.:

:Ohhh, can I have the Medic?: Skywarp asked maliciously, his intent evident in just those six words. :He'd be fun to break in.:

:Let Hook have the little Autobot first, 'Warp.: Starscream replied, :Unless you want him first, Barricade? Or the Weapons Specialist, perhaps both? I hear that they're Sparkmated, after all.:

:Fine, but I get the organic pets they have! All minus Witwicky, that is. Even the femme, and any new ones.: Skywarp demanded, a whine in his tone. Starscream agreed.

Skywarp's words reminded Barricade of what Starscream himself had said, and his optics slipped down to the sleeping form of Miles again.

:And the Autobots will be taken care of. Even their little organics.:

He was one of 'their little organics', even if it was technically Barricade's fault that he knew in the first place. Sam would be Megatron's, and what would happen to Miles? Especially if it got out that Barricade had imprinted on him? An organic who was making a Decepticon weak, and a Decepticon weak enough to imprint on an organic.

Barricade growled, :Go to the pit, Starscream, and never come back out.:

:What are you saying, Barricade? Too afraid to give up their location?: Starscream growled. Barricade didn't respond, and Starscream laughed. :Do you really think you can claim Neutrality?:

Both of them knew there was no Neutrality option once you had been a Decepticon. Any Decepticon would kill you, and the Autobots were reluctant to waste good men protecting a had-been Decepticon that wasn't even helping them out. The only other choice was to become an Autobot, because at least then most of the other Autobots would protect you.

:I'd rather be an Autobot then be associated with you in any way, Starscream. Take my status and shove it up your aft.:

:HOW DARE YO-:

Barricade cut the comm link, and then shut off his comm system completely. There was no chance of Starscream contacting him now. The now ex-con vented sharply and slammed a servo on the ground out of anger, wondering if he had just made a mistake and signed his own death warrant. There was no doubt that he would be a target of the Decepticons. At least before the Decepticons hadn't known, even if he had been friendly to the Autobots. Now they knew.

"Barry?" Miles' voice made the now ex-con look down again. He had obviously woken the teen up, but he hardly cared.

"What?"

Miles just eyed the irate mech in front of him. This was the angriest he had ever seen Barricade, and he had no idea what could have happened. Especially not when he had been sleeping near the ex-con the whole time. Clenched servos, a strained response without even a growl or snarl, and darker than nomal red optics. For once, Miles knew better than to ask.

"Want to freak out Bee and Sam?"


Prowl slumped back in his chair, relief coursing through his spark. Optimus vented softly to his right, and on his left was a silent Ratchet and an unusually silent Jazz. Directly behind him was a growling and snarling Ironhide. The fact that Barricade had chosen them over the Decepticons had done nothing to ease the Weapon Specialist's anger.

"Ironhide," Ratchet said gently, though there was a warning tone to his voice. "Those were just words."

"Those words held intent, Ratch!" Ironhide growled, "They'd really do that to you! I'll kill them!"

Optimus placed a servo on Ironhide's shoulder, "Calm, old friend. Barricade has chosen our side, and now they have no option of trying to surprise us. Nothing will happen to Ratchet."

There was silence for a moment, before Ironhide brushed the Prime's servo off his shoulder and nodded shortly. Prowl shut down the screen, and turned around to look at them all.

"What now?" Prowl asked. "Are we going to let Barricade know we know?"

"Ah say we throw 'im a welcomin' parteh," Jazz said cheerfully, grinning.

Ratchet snorted, "Yes, which will go beautifully. Oh, hey, Barricade, welcome to the Autobots! Thanks for not being a complete aft towards us, but hey we know because of something we put inside you. Want me to take it out now?"

"I think," Optimus started, grinning. "That he will have slightly expected something like that. Our apparent misuse of trust was throwing him for a loop, I believe. It would be best to just get it out of the way, I suppose. I doubt he'd do it."

"Yah." Jazz nodded, smirking. He then looked around, shuttering his optics. "Where'd 'Ide go?"

Everyone looked at Ratchet, and Ratchet looked back, using a human gesture he had seen Sam make many times. He shrugged.


Barricade pulled up outside the barracks, Miles slipping out quickly and running towards his and Sam's room. Barricade watched the teen for a moment, wondering how he could be quite so cheerful in the morning, before activating a holoform and following. He met Miles at the door to his and Sam's room, the teen grinning at him.

"Look," Miles whispered, "I'll bet they're still asleep cuddled together. I'll just use Judy and you can watch the sho-"

Barricade shoved a hand over the teen's mouth, startling Miles for a moment until he gestured to the door. Miles leaned closer to hear what Barricade was apparently hearing, placing his ear up against the door. The ex-con didn't need to, he just waited and listened next to the teen.

"You know I don't mind doing… that," Sam was saying with a breathless sigh, "But on Miles' bed?"
"I'm sure he won't mind. We'll just change the sheets later."

Miles looked horrified, covering his eyes with his hand and opening the door with the other. "Don't you dare screw on my bed!"

There was only silence, until Barricade snorted. Miles chanced a look through his fingers, staring at a smirking Sam and Bumblebee. Sam was on his own bed, while Bumblebee's holoform was resting on the ground beside it.

"You unbelievable assholes!"

Sam snickered, "You're not exactly quiet, buddy. Next time you want to freak us out maybe try toning it down."

"Or just don't try at all." Bumblebee added, grinning. "Since we're all up, why not go get breakfast?"

Miles grumbled, glaring at the two, but nodded. Bumblebee's and Barricade's holoforms dissolved, and Sam changed quickly before leaving with Miles. The two met up with Barricade and Bumblebee outside the barracks, the Cybertronians in their bipedal modes. Bumblebee reached down and picked up Sam, while Barricade left Miles on the ground.

They would have made it to the cafeteria before even the soldiers for once, if Ironhide hadn't come stalking into their way. Barricade and Bumblebee stopped immediately, eyeing the angered Weapons Specialist warily. But Ironhide was only glaring at Barricade.

"Whatever you think he did, he didn't." Miles called up to Ironhide, moving in front of Barricade's ped so he could have a better view. "I was with him all night, basically, and all of this morning."

"I know what he did, organic." Ironhide growled, before looking back to Barricade. Barricade looked back, obviously unsure whether to get in a defensive position or not. "And I wanted to say thank you."

Bumblebee looked at Barricade with wide optics, and Barricade just stared at Ironhide completely floored. Ironhide just kept staring at Barricade, looking a little less angry. Sam looked between the three from Bumblebee's servo, and then down to Miles who looked just as confused as he felt.

"Uh, thank you for what?" Sam finally asked.

Ironhide looked down at the tiny organic, before glancing up as Optimus Prime walked on to the scene. For once, the Prime had his battle mask up, showing his grin openly.

"It's a long explanation, Samuel, but Barricade is now an Autobot. He had a chance to tell our location to Starscream, and refused him." Optimus said, patting Barricade on the back and receiving a sour look from the ex-con.

"What?" Sam asked, sounding torn between surprise and happiness.
"WHAT?" Bumblebee was just shocked.

"I'm an Autodolt now. Primus help me." Barricade growled at the both of them.

Optimus' grin widened, and Ironhide just snorted. Sam smiled, before glancing down at Miles, who was unusually silent. Barricade's optics followed his glance, and then they were all looking at Miles expectantly.

Miles just grinned, "Welcome to the dark side, Barry. We have Energon cookies."