-1That was how the two of them had come to this moment, him driving down a dirt road as she guided him toward the Autobot base. Both of them were sure the Autobots knew they were coming… at least they were probably aware of Barricade's approach. Cresting a hilltop overlooking the Ark, the cop car paused. A quick, remarkably civil chat between them enabled him to decide on a method of approach. In moments he was slowly making his way down to the clearing, weapons systems deactivated even though his scanners showed that they were aware of his presence and reacting to it.

Barricade's attention was focused solely on the Ark's entrance since he thought everyone would be indoors at that time of night, so it was a complete surprise to him when the silver warplane came swooping in like a hawk going in for the kill. The other Autobots emerged from the Ark with weapons at the ready and the warplane banked sharply to pass above them, then transformed in midair to land in a low crouch right next to Optimus. Megatron slowly stood up, his whip taking shape as he watched Barricade warily, uncertain as to what he wanted and what had brought him here. What they appeared to have going was an old-fashioned standoff… at least until Barricade's passenger-side door opened and she stepped out into the open, letting them all see her.

"Sarah!" Their reactions, Megatron included, were spectacular, but none of them were nearly as spectacular as the reaction of the small Autobot at the back of the group. A loud squeal of utter delight filled the air as Rumble skittered over and practically jumped on Sarah. "Rumble was so worried so worried human girl not le-le-leave Rumble again please please!" Clinging to her, he chattered on and on about how happy and relieved he was to see her, shaking all the while. Behind her, Barricade silently watched all this, once again reminded of Frenzy, just as he had been at the moment of Rumble's birth.

Feeling their gazes beginning to return to him, the cop car quietly transformed and stood up. Cannon at the ready, uncertain and completely confused, Megatron took a step closer. "Barricade, what are you…" Even his voice betrayed his confusion. Straightening up tall, the other Decepticon stood at attention and pulled off a picture-perfect salute. "Hail Lord Megatron!" There was a long silence, during which Megatron just stared. "What?" Whatever the former Decepticon leader had been expecting, it certainly wasn't this.

Barricade saw fit to explain. "Have you forgotten too? The day you rallied us together, we didn't pledge to follow a cause as much as we pledged to follow you, to aid you in your quest for the All Spark. Starscream and the rest have forgotten this, and as such they have left you by the wayside in order to pursue that goal themselves. But I haven't forgotten. I follow you, Lord Megatron, and the side you are on is the side I am on. If Starscream is your enemy, then he is mine as well." Having finally pried Rumble off her, Sarah turned to face him. "…Barricade, are you saying you want to join the Autobots?" He gave her a semi-dirty look. "I thought that was what I just said. The side Lord Megatron takes is the side I take. If that makes me an Autobot, fine. I pledged to follow him and, Decepticon or Autobot, that's what I'm going to do." He paused. "But I am not an Autobot. I don't belong here, among you. Instead, I'll spy for you, pretend that I am still a Decepticon, but I'll secretly be on your side." She stared at him. "…Right," she eventually said, not sure if she believed a word of it. "You do that. We'll… uh… um… yeah." There was a pause, during which he turned to leave. "And Barricade?" He turned back to her and saw her smile. "Thanks for helping me out back there." He snorted. "Don't mention it. Ever." Not another word came from him as he transformed and drove off into the night.

Sarah was the only one not to watch him leave to make sure he indeed left. Instead, she walked into the base, Rumble tagging along not too far behind her. The rest kept their eyes and their scanners on Barricade until he left both their line of sight and their sensor range. Everyone save Megatron went to put their weapons away and resume what they were doing prior to Barricade's arrival. All his weapons were part of him by nature so he didn't have to put them away, and what he'd been up to prior to Barricade showing up meant absolutely nothing to him now. No, he wanted to see Sarah.

Stepping into the commons area, he looked around and called her name. A soft voice called out in reply, drawing his attention down to the same secluded corner as before, where Sarah sat, cross-legged, with Rumble lying in her lap. This was the first time he'd ever seen the little Autobot so calm and quiet. He was still in his normal form, his head, shoulders and chest draped over her knee, claws clinging gently to her thigh and legs drawn up in what a human would consider a fetal position. He was just lying there, the quietest anyone had ever seen him as Sarah absentmindedly ran her fingers along his slender back, between his spiky little shoulders. Smiling up at Megatron sweetly and a little mischievously, she motioned for him to keep quiet. He looked closer and saw that Rumble wasn't as asleep as he appeared to be. Instead, he was staring off into space, perfectly content to just stay put, in what could only be described as a state of pure bliss. "…So that's how you get the little monster to sit down and shut up."

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Rumble is CUUUTE!!!!!!! He's acting like my brother did when he was a toddler. He was one hyperactive kid, but rub his back and he'd stay put like that for hours. …And if this scene didn't put a huge smile on your face, you must be completely emotionless.

ATTENTION EVERYONE! I AM TAKING IDEAS FOR WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN NEXT! PM ME WITH IDEAS AS TO HOW THE WAR SHOULD PROGRESS SO I CAN CONTINUE THE STORY! After all, there's a whole war to cover before they return to Cybertron. Sam and Mikaela won't show up until after the war's over. The Autobots want to keep those two out of the line of fire.