A/N: Rather than stuff the meeting all into one single chapter. I decided to split up his meetings with Jack, Raf, and Miko into parts of three different chapters. Interaction by all of them will follow afterwards at times, of course.

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CHAPTER 14
A First Meeting

"Why would they want Tyler to testify at their trial?"

Fowler rubbed his eyes a bit, frustrated about it himself as he stared up at Breakdown. He had only been told the information by the attorney they had hired to represent Tyler an hour ago. But to tell the truth, he was frustrated by the prospect as well. "If we're going to put Brody and Roger behind bars permanently, he needs to either give it, or have one read." Fowler explained "You gotta understand, the charges against the two of them are major. Brody's especially, but Roger's is going on trial for attempted sexual assault of a minor. That's a beyond disgusting crime to us humans."

"It is to us too." Breakdown grunted "But making Tyler reaccount everything is demeaning. The man nearly raped him and they want him to go before a jury and talk about it?" He questioned "Who does that to a sparkling?"

Fowler shook his head a bit, taking a deep breath. He didn't like the idea of putting Tyler in front of the court and repeating everything. If nothing else, it would put the boy through far more than he should have to go through. "You think I like the idea, Breakdown?" Fowler questioned "I care about him too. I don't want him to go up there. But in a case like this we really don't have any other options." He paused "Even if someone else gave the testimony someone in that jury could call "plausible deniability"." He shook his head "And we can't let those freaks go free."

Breakdown shuddered, knowing that much was very much true. He refused to let the men go free to do to more children what they did, and attempted to do, to Tyler. He was more than positive that Roger had likely already done it to several more kids, and he hated the thought of that alone. "If it puts them behind bars, then I guess it makes sense." Breakdown groaned "But what happens if it hurts him?"

Fowler turned towards Tyler, who was hanging out with Ratchet a small distance away. He didn't know how to answer that question, he hadn't handled something this serious before. And to be frank, it was going to be difficult for him to determine. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Fowler decided as he spoke up "I guess we'll have to just try and be there for him." He explained "He'll probably need the moral support."

Breakdown nodded solemnly, taking it in. Though he didn't have a long time to think it over, as moments later a sound he found rather annoying sounded out. "Ugh! Finally! Friday!" Miko's voice sounded out as she stepped out of the newly arrived Bulkhead "I swear, mid-terms are the worst, Bulkhead." The young Japanese woman turned her head as Bulkhead transformed "Next year, you're totally going to help me bail out."

"You know I can't do that."

"Doesn't mean you won't."

Bulkhead sighed, rubbing the back of his helm as Miko turned her head towards where Tyler was standing. She blinked, confusion in her eyes as she looked at him. "Uh, when did we invite a fourth wheel around here?" Miko looked up at Breakdown "You do know Autobots don't keep pets, right?" Breakdown frowned "What!? You did make that mistake when you first got here!"

"Miko." Bulkhead stopped her warningly "Remember how we told you about Fowler's new foster kid?" Miko looked thoughtful for a moment, but nodded "That's him. Breakdown's new partner..." He seemed to cringe as if the thought was still odd even as he said it "Tyler."

Miko grinned widely. "Well then..." Miko shouted "Hey new guy!" She shouted loudly, causing Tyler to jump out of his skin "Get over here."

Breakdown grunted a bit, not liking the way that Miko demanded things. Yet he wanted to get on Miko's good side, and rather than berate her, he bit his vocal receptor. Tyler made his way over, putting his hands in his pockets, and shyly sticking by Breakdown. "Hey." Tyler waved a little.

"So, you're Breakdown's partner." Miko took in the form of Tyler for a good couple of moments "I gotta admit, I was expecting someone about three feet taller and way more ripped." There went the filter again "I'm Miko, by the way."

She reached out her hand, causing Tyler to stare up at Breakdown wearily. Knowing the girl to be (mostly) harmless, he simply shrugged his shoulders a bit, and nodded encouragingly. Tyler held out his hand too, and shook hers calmly. "I-I'm Tyler." He paused a moment "Aren't there two other kids too?" He questioned "Are they coming, or...?"

"Nah, Jack has work and Raf is at home studying." Miko groaned "Those two are so lame sometimes." She quickly perked up after a few moments "Ohhh do you play any instruments!? It's okay if you don't. I'll teach you and we can totally jam later." Tyler blinked at her, and shook his head "Alright! Come on, Ty." She quickly grabbed hold of Tyler's wrist "I'll teach you how to play the bass! Then you can be in our band!"

As Miko dragged Tyler off, Breakdown stared at Bulkhead, who looked amused. "Does she even know how to play an instrument?" Breakdown questioned.

"Define "play"." Bulkhead snorted "You might want to lower your audio receptors a bit."

"Which is my cue to go find Prime and get our meeting started."

As Fowler walked off, Breakdown mentally prepared himself for whatever noise he would be subjected to. But nothing could prepare his audio receptors for the loud screech of an off-tuned bass. Breakdown groaned, he could already tell this was going to be one long jam session.

...

"So, Bulkhead told me you're the reason Breakdown jumped ship."

Tyler turned to Miko, nodding his head slowly. They had taken a break from "jamming" after a couple of hours, and had now seated themselves on the catwalk. "Yeah, I guess I kinda am... I mean, I convinced him to quit the Decepticons at least." He shook his head a little bit "But really, it was his choice. I don't like people saying that I "convinced" him. I think he kinda convinced himself."

Miko chuckled, shaking her head in response. "Oh come on, Breakdown needed convincing." Miko shook her head "Man, you should have SEEN him when he was with the Decepticons! I don't even like him but man he kicked total butt!" She added, slamming her fist into her open palm "He must be an AWESOME partner to have!"

Tyler nodded his head, that much he wouldn't deny. He had definitely gotten an "awesome partner" as Miko had so aptly put it. "He saved my life." Tyler explained "You should have seen him then. He wasn't even in his robot form, but man." He shook his head "I wish I was able to see more of it, but.. Y'know." He paused a moment "Bulkhead seems like he'd be an awesome one too."

"Only the coolest!" Miko shouted quite loudly again "Man, Bulkhead's the best. Especially when he's got his buddy, Wheeljack with him!" She stood up "You should see that 'Con crusher in action!"

Tyler smirked a bit, listening quietly as Miko went on and on about Bulkhead. Eventually, his smile faded though, as it became more and more clear that she talked too much. Tyler had never been much of a talker, more of a "doer" and when people talked too much, it often made him uncomfortable. "Hey dude, are you even listening to me?" Tyler stared up, realizing he had zoned out on her "Aw, whatever! The point is that when it comes to awesome 'Bots, Bulkhead takes the cake!"

"I think Breakdown is just as cool though."

Miko looked at him like he had just punched her in the gut. And already, though Tyler had not taken a side in the whole Bulkhead-Breakdown rivalry, he could tell she had. "That's because you haven't seen the two of them in action." Miko nudged him calmly "Don't worry, stick with me a while. You'll get your chance to see what Bulkhead can really do!" She then asserted "And why he trumps your partner every time."

"But we're not allowed in the field with them."

Miko laughed quietly and shook her head. "Okay, we really need to show you a good time someday. Because you clearly haven't lived if you're this much of a buzzkill!" Miko quickly clapped the boy on the back "Next time they go on a mission, I'll take you through the ground bridge. Even if we do get caught, we won't get in that much trouble."

"But Bill said it's not safe."

"You're gonna listen to every little thing he tells you?"

Tyler looked thoughtful, wondering if it was a good idea to say "no" or not. Not following the rules in Brody's house had gotten him the worst beatings of all. But then again, Fowler clearly wasn't like that. So maybe agreeing to doing it at least once wouldn't hurt things too much. At least, that was all that he could honestly hope. "I guess not." Tyler shrugged "As long as it's nothing that dangerous."

"Alright!" Miko shouted "You totally won't regret it, dude!"

I'd better not. Tyler asserted.

"Hey Tyler!" Tyler looked down as Fowler called up to him "Come on, kid. I'm off for the night. Let's go grab dinner down at this diner I know by the house."

"Alright, Bill."

"Aw, man!" Miko frowned "Figures it's already time for you to go."

Tyler smiled, he had never had someone say anything like that to him. He had friends, that much was a fact, but it was still nice to hear that he had apparently made one more. "Yeah, well. I mean, they'll go out again, right?" Tyler asked as he started towards the step ladder with Miko "I'll totally see the guys in action anyway, just not right now."

"Tch, yeah, I guess you're right." Miko shrugged "Maybe we can jam again if you come over tomorrow."

Tyler chuckled mildly at the thought, given the disaster that had been his poor attempt at playing. Yet despite it all, he managed a smile and shrugged himself. "Yeah, I guess so." Tyler waved a bit "I'll see you around Miko."

As he jogged over to meet Fowler and Breakdown he took a deep breath. It was clear by the smile on his face that Fowler had seen the entire interaction. Given that he had finally broken out of his shell, even a little, and had fun that day. "That Miko's something else, isn't she?" Fowler teased lightly.

"Yeah." Tyler laughed "But I like her, she's cool."

"Just promise me that was your last "jam session"." Breakdown groaned "No offense, but my audio receptors can't take much more of that."

Tyler only stuck his tongue out at his partner for that one. As the mech transformed down, Tyler took a look back towards Miko and gave a small wave before climbing in. Deep inside, he hoped that the other two allies took to him well. Miko's friendliness had alleviated some of that fear, but it didn't change his shyness, nor his nervousness in full.

...

That night was the first night that Knock Out tried to make contact with Breakdown. It was the middle of the night, Fowler and Tyler were both asleep, and he knew even if he left, neither would notice. The thought was tempting, taking off and opening the channel. As Primus knew all too well that he truly missed his friend, and in some ways, he very much missed the Decepticons. With this in mind, he transformed, standing in front of the home and feeling the side of his helm. He knew that Knock Out had hacked into his system, that was the only way with the disconnection from his Decepticon lines that the mech could get through. And he also knew if he had done that, he was worried.

He stood there, wondering whether or not he should just do it. Transform, take off, and answer the comm link. Tyler would be fine, he had the Autobots and they'd find him a good home. Heck, maybe Fowler himself might end up loving and adopting the kid at some point. Yet as he turned to Tyler's bedroom window, that thought slowly faltered. Could he really do that anymore? After all they had gone through, after the promise he made, could he really give up and go back to the Decepticons just from homesickness?

He stared for a long moment, and after several seconds of thoughts, declined the line. His optics shuttered closed as he yet again worked his comm link into negating any contact from the channel. Though it hurt to do so to his best friend of so many centuries, he still couldn't push back the feeling that he had. He was there for a reason, a reason he may not have fully realized yet. And one that quite frankly, he wanted to be around to figure out. Yet even so, as the mech transformed down, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of pain.

No one said that changing sides would be easy. But deep down, he did wish that it would at least not be this painful. "Whatever you have cooked up for Tyler and I, Primus... And even Fowler." He paused "It had better be good for what I'm giving up."

There was no response, not that he had expected one from the deity. But rather, he had hoped for a sign of some sort that never came. He sighed quietly, allowing himself to once again power down into recharge. There was no time to dwell on it any longer, what was done was done. And now, he had to live with it.

...

A/N: Figured it was about time that last scene happened too. ;) Hope it all came out well! :)