And thus we finally have the long overdue chapter for Guardian Angel, I'm really sorry it took so long, but it was really hard trying to get this pictured down in front of me even though I had the notes all written down on pieces of paper. Silverflame was proving to be a very difficult character to write as I have a lot of issues showing his true personality, although the shining of his devotion to Jasmine is the main highlight of this chapter.

I'm hoping that this turned out to suit your tastes. I've been looking forward to writing this for a long time ever since it came to mind.

Chapter 20:

Journey to Diego Garcia

Driving through the darkness like a silver and red ghost illuminated by the moonlight, Silverflame couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming disappointment. He wished he could've stayed longer to be with Jasmine, but if he had stayed any longer, he would've never left at all. A small wave of loneliness crept into his spark, but he ignored it. It had been for the best that he left as soon as possible, even Optimus had known that from the start. His strong desire to be there for his human never left his processor, but the training had to come first or else he would never be able to protect her and her twin brother.

He knew Tranquility like at the back of his hand, even after Optimus had told him the directions to get to the airport. The familiar streets, houses, signs, and traffic lights whizzed past him in a blur, and yet he wondered how much he already knew. Maybe the object that had been used to bring him to life had transferred some of Optimus' memories into him, the directions of where to go, or maybe... it was something much more than that.

Whatever it was, he had no time to dwell on such things as he continued his drive to his destination. He drove through quiet suburbs with only the street lights to guide him. Despite how he had only just woken up from a very long sleep, he was tired and uncertain. He really needed a good long sleep, but the thoughts of Jasmine and reaching the airport kept him going.

Jasmine mattered so much to him that he couldn't bear to think of anything else.

He just hoped that Optimus' idea of sending him to Diego Garcia was worth all this trouble. Being trained by members of NEST would provide benefits for him should anything ever try to harm her, and that included Jason too. But beyond that, he only knew for certain that he was doing this out of undying loyalty to Jasmine. The question was, how much longer would Optimus be able to protect her until he was prepped and ready to become her guardian? But more importantly, how would she react once Silverflame appeared to her? Would she hate him? Would she never want to see him again? Would she think of him as nothing more than a ghost from the past?

It mattered little to him as he finally reached the airport where a massive C-5 plane was parked, waiting for its passenger. Two men with guns were waiting for him, along with a black coloured truck that was a little smaller than him. However, two guards at the gate barged his way, but he was immediately given clearance when it became apparent that they were aware of his looks.

Soon he stood before the back of the massive aircraft where the men and vehicle were waiting for him.

One of them, a light-skinned man with a bit of tan and short black hair, stepped forward and looked at him carefully with a steely gaze. It was as though he was trying to work out if he really was what Optimus had said he was.

"Are you the Silverflame that Optimus talked about?" he asked, never tearing his gaze away from him.

Before Silverflame could give him his answer, the black Topkick inched forward slightly, the smoke stacks on its sides snorting, before a cool, gruff voice spoke from within, "Judging from his scent, Lennox, he is indeed Cybertronian. But it smells much more different compared to the ones I'm used to."

Silverflame pulled back with nervousness. "How did you know?" he demanded a little too roughly.

The Topkick snorted again, undeterred by the younger mech's response. "My sensors told me so."

The two men introduced themselves as William Lennox and Robert Epps, with the Topkick calling himself Ironhide. The two humans assisted Silverflame in backing himself up into the aircraft. Once he was secure, Ironhide joined by facing him, much to his discomfort. A human female named Marissa Faireborn came up alongside them and strapped down their tyres to ensure their security. Silverflame couldn't help but shiver at the thought of being contained despite her comforting words to him.

"I promise you that once we're up in the air," she told him once she had finished with the last clasp, "I'll unhinge you."

Silverflame wasn't so easily convinced.

Once she had left for the cockpit, Silverflame's shivering only grew worse and his vocal processor quaked as he begged for someone to take off the straps. Unfortunately, Lennox couldn't as the rules had to apply to every vehicle until they were up in the air. The humming engines of the plane burrowed into Silverflame's audio receptors and he struggled to contain his fear. He had never intended flying would be involved in getting to Diego Garcia, but he had no choice. His shivering grew stronger until his chassis began to rattle along with the rumbling noises of the aircraft.

"Calm down, kid," Ironhide's voice reassured him. "You have nothing to fear or anything to see. There aren't even any windows to look out."

Silverflame felt himself lurch forward as the plane picked up speed, but was stopped by the straps that kept him locked in place. He could've sworn he heard Ironhide mumble something in an unknown language, but his thoughts were lost when the plane tilted its nose upward and his nose grazed up against Ironhide's. If Ironhide had been pissed at the sudden physical contact, he didn't show it.

No sooner had the plane taken off that Lennox came up alongside Silverflame and began to undo the straps on his tyres, minus Ironhide, who seemed so relaxed. Maybe, Silverflame guessed, he was very used to these kinds of trips onboard planes that were big enough to transport their vehicle forms without any problems. Once he was unstrapped, Silverflame quickly transformed into his bipedal form but he was very mindful of the humans that were close by.

"Kid, what are you doing?" Ironhide growled warningly.

Silverflame ignored him as he curled himself up into a ball in an attempt to make himself smaller. He closed his optics and breathed through his nasal plates to try and calm down. He remained that way and no one seemed to question it, but the annoyed huffing from Ironhide told him that not everyone was pleased. Silverflame dulled out the sounds in his audio receptors, keeping his optics closed for the remainder of the trip, although he wasn't sure how long he had been in recharge for until he felt a gentle nudge on his foot, causing him to stir from his long rest.

"Hate to wake you, kid, but Marissa reported that we'll be landing at Diego Garcia in fifteen minutes," Ironhide's voice whispered to him.

Silverflame vented deeply and returned to his vehicle form where Lennox once again strapped down his tyres, but he was not afraid any longer. The recharge had helped set his processor on things again, but the images of Jasmine never stopped pouring into his thoughts. He missed her terribly, but the words of Optimus Prime swelled through him. He was doing this for her sake and no one else's. She needed him more than she needed Optimus and the only way for him to be able to protect her was to get trained up.

It was something that Silverflame could not afford to waste. Every moment he was to spend at Diego Garcia, it was for the good of Jasmine. For the human he hoped to one day see and give her the smile that she rightfully deserved, a smile that he wanted to see with his own optics. The thought made him smile on the inside, but he could only hope and wait until he was ready.

He felt the jolt of the plane's wheels making contact with the runway and it shook him out of his thoughts. He braced himself as the jerking motion of the brakes nearly loosened him from his straps, but he was secretly glad it was all over and done with.

Now the real fun could begin.

Once he was unstrapped, the doors to the plane yawned open. Ironhide backed himself out and Silverflame followed close behind, but he was mindful of making physical contact with him again. His optical sensors widened at the massive structure that awaited him. It was a building unlike anything he had seen before, and jeeps and small trucks were aligned side by side near it, parked beneath a shed. Alongside it was a building that reminded Silverflame of the houses back in Tranquility if it had been stretched so long.

Human soldiers of every race, gender, and colour practised with each other for the art of future combat against their enemy. Some were jogging in straight lines in two rows led by a sergeant who barked out orders to them to pick up the pace while others engaged in a game of basket ball, and some even practised in shooting at their targets with newly designed weapons filled with sabot rounds.

But that wasn't what had Silverflame's attention.

Standing before him were several large Cybertronians, one silver, a green, three smaller ones of pink, purple, and blue, and two small round ones coloured in pink and white, though they looked like they had seen better days.

"Welcome to Diego Garcia," Epps said as Silverflame transformed into his robot form to greet the strangers.

He glanced down upon the humans and nodded. "Thank you for getting me here safely," he smiled warmly. "It's much appreciated."

Epps waved him off and he caught the whirling and huffing noise as Ironhide also transformed into his true form. He walked up alongside him and motioned him to step up beside him and meet the other Autobots. "Silverflame, I'd like you to meet the Autobot team that is stationed here on this island. Autobots, introduce yourselves."

The silver mech rolled forward and shook his hand, his grasp strong. "Sideswipe," he stated simply and folded his arms across his chest.

The three smaller ones whizzed and whirled around him, looking him up and down with curiosity. But it was the purple one that confused him the most. The way how she twisted and twirled made him a little uncomfortable. "We are sisters," the blue one stated warmly. "I'm Chromia, and these are Flareup and Arcee."

Arcee waved, while Flareup just avoided optic contact with him, her gestures and movements queer and unusual.

Then the two pink and white mechs rolled forward and fell upon his feet, wrestling and kicking at each other while throwing insults at one another and it was enough to make Silverflame cringe in horror at their foul language. Much to his surprise, Sideswipe came forward, grabbed them by the scruff of their necks and banged their heads together with a loud clang, shutting them up.

Silverflame winced. "Was that really necessary?" he questioned.

Ironhide nodded. "Unfortunately, it is. Skids and Mudflap are idiots no matter what we do to them."

The dark green mech was the last one to step forward and introduced himself as Ratchet, and the moment his optics made contact with his, a memory flashed before his optics. Silverflame recalled the accident when he had been unconscious in his truck form, but he had witnessed the green ambulance assisting Optimus in getting Jasmine out of him before they had called a towing truck to come and tae him away to the scrap yard.

Silverflame stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the smaller mech, who flinched with surprise at the contact. Tears welled up in his optics as he struggled to contain his relief. He turned his head and whispered into Ratchet's audio receptors, "Thank you for saving Jasmine's life..."

Ratchet returned the gesture. "I swear, Silverflame, we will not rest until you are fully trained."

For the first time since he had arrived, hope filled Silverflame's spark and his hold on Ratchet tightened until he finally released him.

"Alright, I think that is enough," Ironhide spoke up. "Everyone, get back to work, Ratchet, you'll stay here with me and Silverflame."

"Of course," Ratchet replied as the Autobots turned and left to return to their duties, leaving the three alone. Ironhide and Ratchet led Silverflame inside the massive Hangar where a tall stand with a ladder leading up to it with set of computers and humans working on them around the clock. Towards the back of the Hangar was a stand unlike anything the young mech had seen before. They stood on top of it and Ironhide pressed in a simple command, and the three of them found themselves being taken down to a level lower than the surface.

The two led him down a corridor where on their left was the training room. Inside, Sideswipe was seen practising with Epps perched on his shoulder where a small gathering of humans watched them. Obviously this was to teach the newcomers the benefits of human-Autobot partnerships in battle. Sideswipe twisted and turned as Epps fired several shots at moving targets, while the rookies cheered with excitement.

I could get used to that, Silverflame thought to himself.

Ironhide and Ratchet even showed him the quarters where the Autobots rested. A new one had been set up for Silverflame's comfort while he was present at the base. And then the Recreation Room where Autobots and humans took breaks together which included a cafeteria for the humans. The Medical Bay was next where Ratchet worked to get up and running, it was a bit of a mess from the last Autobot who had been injured in combat, but Ratchet didn't care. Then last, but not least, the Briefing Room where only the high-ranking Autobots met with the human NEST officers to discuss tactical attempts on Decepticon activity.

With the tour over and done with, Ratchet had to return to the Medical Bay to continue on with his duties. Ironhide turned to Silverflame. "You hungry, kid?" he asked.

For the first time since he had come online, Silverflame became aware of the gnawing feeling in the pit of his abdomen and he realised it had been hunger that had been calling out to him. His insides let off a throaty engine growl and Ironhide smirked in response. "Starving," he answered.

Ironhide chuckled and motioned him to follow which Silverflame was more than happy to comply. They arrived at the Recreation Room just as the Bike Sisters came rolling in to grab their cube of energon from the canister on the table.

"Hello you two," Arcee greeted warmly as Silverflame and Ironhide walked in.

Much to Silverflame's confusion, Chromia winked in Ironhide's direction, who shuffled his weight a little uncomfortably, but not before he made a gesture that caused the femmes to giggle in response. Flareup's optics lay upon Silverflame and she rolled up beside him.

"Can I get you a drink?" she inquired.

Silverflame shot a look over to Ironhide, who nods as he poured himself a cube and walked off with Chromia. He sat down at a table with her, while Arcee moved towards a human woman she had identified as Kaminari Ishihara, leaving Silverflame alone with Flareup as she grabbed him a drink and led him over to a table of their own.

"Where did you come from, Silverflame?" Flareup asked as she leaned forward, optics fixed on him. "And why do you look like Optimus?"

Silverflame swirled the contents in his cube as he took a small sip. It tasted nothing like the petrol he had been used to drinking through the side of his vehicle form, but the taste was quite pleasant and soothing upon his aching legs and insides.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I just woke up after being in a strange coma when Optimus inserted that metal object in me."

"Maybe," she said, frowning a bit, "since Optimus was the only Cybertronian present during your 'birth', the fragment that had been used to wake you up must've had you scan his form and imprinted on his looks. It would explain why you look so much like him."

Silverflame cast his optics down on the ground, thinking carefully for a moment. Maybe she was right. It could also explain why he felt so attached to Optimus and determined to make him proud. "It could be the only logical explanation," he agreed. It may have had something to do with his vehicle form being exactly the same as Optimus' as well, but he dismissed the thought.

Flareup leaned a little closer to him, her head tilting to one side as she looked at him carefully. She then trailed a finger down his arm and he backed away in surprise, optics wide in confusion.

"Hey, Flareup!" Ironhide shouted as he stormed up to them, shooting ice cold daggers at her. "Do not do that or else you will find yourself in the brig."

Flareup shifted a bit as the realisation dawned upon her. "I'm sorry, Silver, please forgive me."

Silverflame shrugged. "It's... forgiven."

The femme then stood up and wheeled away without a backwards glance over her shoulder, followed by Arcee and Chromia. Although Silverflame could've sworn that Chromia muttered something to Ironhide, who bowed his head as his faceplates turned a little red with warmth.

"Why did she do that?" Silverflame asked the elder mech.

Ironhide shrugged. "If I know her well enough," he answered gruffly, but not in an unkind manner, "she really misses her sparkmate. She is lonely and misses him terribly like any bonded couple normally does."

Silverflame opened his mouth to say something, considering his question carefully. "Who is her sparkmate?"

Ironhide simply answered, "Jolt."

Silverflame considered another question about what sparkmates were, but decided against it. Such questions would be best reserved for another time. They had other things to take care of rather than worrying about Cybertronian culture. No, it was best if he stuck to the main reason why he was here in the first place. "When does training start?"

It took a while for Ironhide to answer, but when he did his face and tone were very serious. "We will start first thing in the morning. Set your chronometer to 5AM, no questions asked."

Silverflame let off a whine of protest, but he instantly shut himself up when Ironhide shot him a glare that told him arguing was definitely out of the question. He knew better than to argue with the eldest Autobot amongst the forces that lived here on Earth, especially since he was the leader until Optimus returned to them. For now, it was best that he kept his comments to himself and move along.

"Optimus must really like the tough ones," he joked without warning.

A large black hand connected with his helmet with a cloud clang and he found himself seeing stars.

"Ok, shutting up," Silverflame sighed as he finished his cube of energon without hesitation. He then stood up and turned to leave the room, only to stop and glance over his shoulder, a smirk crossing his humanlike lips. "I hope you enjoy your night with Chromia!"

Something large and hard smashed into his head, but he barely managed to escape as Ironhide cursed after him. As he watched the young mech run for his life, Ironhide shook his head with disdain, mumbling to himself, "It's going to be a long training session."

I apologise for the shortness of this chapter, but big things are happening and I guess I'm a little determined to get this finished as soon as possible without entirely rushing it. We only have four more chapters until it's finally finished. Yes, I know it's probably ending so soon, but I don't know exactly how else to continue on with it unless I made a sequel in place of it. I can't exactly say much about it, but it will happen in due time.

I suppose all good things must come to an end, but very soon, more doors will be opened and I hope they will be pleasant inside. Who knows, there are plenty of opportunities for more good stories.

We'll see, huh?

See you next chapter!