Chapter: 20

As we came into the abandoned warehouse, I couldn't help but to glare at Optimus. I managed to look away when he looked in my direction, though. But Jazz didn't, and Optimus glanced at Barricade, fear and uncertainty flashing in his eyes for a second.

Optimus made his way over to us, cautiously, unsure of how Jazz would react. Optimus stopped right in front of Jazz, and looked deep into his eyes, sadness and guilt evident in his eyes.

"So, I'm guessing Barricade told you?" Optimus asked tentatively.

Jazz and I both nodded our heads, and looked into Optimus's gaze, our gazes unfaltering as we met the leader of the Autobots eyes.

"I..." Optimus sighed and looked down with grief, "I was foolish to believe Starscream would rant her out if she truly was helping the Decepticons as a double spy."

Jazz and I nodded our heads, not speaking. Prowl looked up, alarm flashing in his eyes before making his way over to us.

"Optimus told me what happened with Sapphire when you two left to find Barricade." Prowl explained as he came to a halt beside his worried leader. "We both seemed to have made a mistake in our past, and we both regret it severely... and if we could go back in time and change it, we surely would do so in a Spark pulse." Prowl hung his head.

Barricade grew stiff and alert all of a sudden, and everyone looked at him in alarm. Barricade seemed to be looking at something that wasn't there, and I was instantly worried. Then, finally, Barricade's eyes met Prowl's, a mixture of relief and worry.

"What?" Prowl asked immediately, knowing that Barricade doesn't act like this unless something truly bad was happening.

Barricade dropped a mace from one of his arms, his face becoming a look of relief mixed with pure horror. "Siren."

"Where!" Prowl burst out immediately, becoming very tense and nervous.

"Close by." Barricade informed, "The Decepticons are after her."

Prowl and Barricade both instantly ran off, transforming and driving as fast as possible.

"Follow them!" I shouted, the same moment Jazz and Ravage took off after their rapidly retreating forms. I heard Optimus transform behind us, and he told Ravage to hop on and hold on to his vehicle mode.

"Stop!" I cried suddenly, just as a Decepticon jumped in front of us.

"Think this is the place they were heading?" Jazz asked, kicking it into reverse, his tires squealing from the sudden change in gear.

"Behind us!" I exclaimed, just as another Decepticon jumped behind us in an attempt to block our escape.

"Dang it!" Jazz snapped, revving his engine in annoyance. "Get out so I can transform."

I stared out the side window and pointed. "There! Go through that parking garage, it has another outlet on the other side!"

Changing gears again, Jazz accelerated towards the parking garage and drove right through, not even bothering to pay for parking. We dodged through the parking garage and smashed through the other entrance.

"Who's that?" I asked as we stopped to the sight of a small Cybertronian with a slender body hugging Barricade tightly.

"That's Siren," Jazz told me, "she's the reason Barricade and Prowl left in such a hurry."

I opened Jazz's door and got out, hearing him transform behind me, and raced over to Barricade.

"It's so good to see you again, Barry!" the small, white Cybertronian said, "And I'm glad to hear that you've finally left those rotten Decepticons, even though you haven't joined the Autobots." She beamed at Jazz and waved, then managed to grab Prowl and hug him too.

Prowl sighed and the small Cybertronian giggled at his reaction. Then Prowl finally returned the hug. "It's good to see that you've survived the war so far, Siren." Prowl greeted.

"Yeah," the small Cybertronian named Siren replied, "and I hear that you've finally decided to become a guardian."

"Yeah...." Prowl sighed, "I sighed up for it, and got more then I needed." Siren, Barricade, and Jazz laughed at Prowl's statement.

"Oh, and this must be her." Siren said, noticing me, "Hi, I'm Siren." Siren beamed at me.

"Uh...." I muttered, befuddled, "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"

Siren looked at Barricade, then shrugged and turned back to me. "'Bout thirteen-thousand."

"You're thirteen?!" I asked in amazement.

"No...." Siren looked confused, "I'm thirteen-thousand...."

"Thirteen in human standards, Siren." Barricade chuckled, "Didn't you do your homework before coming to earth?"

Siren rolled her eyes, as best as a Cybertronian could, and shook her head. "'Fraid not, Barry." Barricade sighed. "What? Barricade's a long name, what'd ya expect from me, Barry?"

Barricade shook his head, "How about not calling me a human food product?"

I burst out laughing, as did Jazz and Prowl. Our human humor seemed to have been lost on Siren, for she tilted her head.

"Good one, 'Cade!" I gasped out in between giggles.

"And how old are you, youngling?" Siren asked me, trying to shove the spotlight off of herself.

That caused even more fits of laughter. "I'm sixteen-thousand years old, you're the youngling!" I replied. Siren look as if she were about to ask me something, then thought better of it. "So, Siren, how did you know Barricade?"

"We go way back, and we're very close." Siren replied.

I felt something cold pass down my spine, and managed to swallow and breath before pressing for further details. "What do you mean, way back?" I asked, feeling chilled and hot at the same time.

"We've been together ever since I was proto-formed." Siren went on. I frowned and choked down my feelings of paranoia for the third time, and felt like I was frozen.

"She's our sister, Alexis." Barricade sighed, giving Siren a friendly but hard punch to the shoulder. "And I hardly knew her that much, it was mostly Prowl who was able to hang out with her."

I sighed in relief and relaxed, feeling much better. "Ah, that makes sense, thanks, 'Cade." I grinned at him and caught a dirty look from Siren. I instantly knew I liked her, but I wasn't going to be able to get along with her very well.

"What'd ya think we were when I told ya that?" Siren beamed at me, "I think I know, anyway." I frowned at her, "you've gotta crush on him." Siren beamed a huge smile at me, and I was instantly confused and furious at the same time.