Preface: My thanks go to my readers who leave comments after chapters but I have to say this...thank you all.

Jack noticed one thing about Jacob. He had a very subtle limp. It was almost unnoticeable but he picked up on it pretty fast. Of course he followed him to make sure of it. Jacob had noticed him some time ago but brushed it off. He just wanted to get to his car. Lucky bastard, ends up with Arcee and gets to go to Cybertron too...never mind that last part. He thought with a shiver. Reaching his car he opened the door and slid into the driver seat. Suddenly the passenger door opened and Jack slid inside. Jacob casted him a quick glance before reaching for the ignition.

"Curiosity killed the cats Darby...keep an eye on Miko, trust me on that" Jacob warned as he turned the keys.

Jack looked puzzled and only nodded. Jacob could tell he didn't believe anything he said and boy was he in for a rude awakening for sure. The engine rumbled as he pulled her out from the storage room. Every once of its power was now at his fingers. Pulling into the main hallway he began towards the hub area at less than 10 mph.

"How'd you get that limp?" Jack inquired.

Clenching both fists on the wheel he felt a wave of emotions hit him like a tsunami. Clearing his throat he responded.

"Skiing accident, fell somewhere about 36 feet. Somehow I didn't break my back lucky me" He tone sounded uneasy, almost as if he didn't like talking about it.

Jack heard the pain within his tone, it was far more stronger than he imagined. He nodded and left it at that. Arriving back at the hub area Jacob and Jack saw that the bots had returned. Optimus saw them as Jacob parked the car 7 feet away to the right of the hallway. Killing the engine both men pulled themselves out. Looking at Optimus he saw the burn marks on the primes back. That bomb no doubt. He remarked.

"Yikes" Jacob whispered to himself as he leaned against his door whist Jack walked back to the rest.

Ratchet was looking Optimus over and he nodded in relief.

"Nothing a shower couldn't fix" Ratchet told Optimus.

"Thank you old friend" The prime responded warmly.

Checking the time he saw it was closer to 9pm...Clearing his throat once more he spoke.

"Optimus a word please" he called formally.

Optimus moved over and took a knee. Awkward yes but it was far from a problem.

"What do you have?" Optimus asked.

"Well, these kids here have families... they sure as hell can't stay here all the time, if you know what I mean I'm suggesting we put a bot with each kid" Jacob quickly explained and Optimus smiled.

He did know...he already had it planned. Jacob could see it well on the mechs face. Optimus stood and walked back.

"Bulkhead your with Miko..." Optimus said getting a cheer from the girl.

"Yes! Party time!" Miko let out pumping her fist.

Bulkhead chuckled and retorted.

"Curb duty eh?...could be worse" He remarked as Prime continued.

"Bumblebee your with Ralph" He added and both nodded and were happy with that.

Then Optimus looked to Cliffjumper and faced him. Jacob went cold in a second as The next few words pulled a reaction from him.

"Cliffjumper Jack have a good night" Optimus said.

Jacob slumped harder into his car as he slid down the side. Catching himself on the door handle he immediately pulled himself up. That never happened!...if Arcee is with me then what may the futureentail?. He mused as Optimus then looked to him.

"Jacob arcee volunteered..." Optimus said as Jacob immediately went cold.

"Volunteered?!...hopefully nothing else goes too far off the path" He muttered by the end with a dry tone.

Nodding he kept his face neutral as he looked over to Arcee. Both looked at each other as she could pick up on his troubled look. Also she could see his fear. Just what was he afraid of?.

After the humans left Arcee saw Jacob taking with Optimus in a hushed tone and with a blank expressionless look. She was in the hallway as the two talked quietly. She could only get snippets of what was said.

"N-pe I...don't think it'll make any differe-ence" Jacob said keeping himself surprisingly in check. "Nobody bound by fate...we are our own beings and let's get on with it" Jacob added and she caught most of what was said this time.

Optimus agreed and the two broke apart. Arcee shrugged what she heard off and entered the room acting as if she didn't hear a thing. Both of them looked at her and then to each other and couldn't help but sigh in response.

"How much?" Optimus asked and Arcee placing both hands on her hips responded.

"Only what he said last, not it really would matter...I don't bite~" She sassily said earning a chuckle from Jacob.

He looked over too the femme who drew much closer now.

"Your decisions are your decisions nothing more nothing less. My foresight could be limited by the choices that are not made" He said as he sighed deeply. "And me explaining everything could create an even worse future..." he trailed off as he shook himself from his funk.

So that's what he truly feared, failure. The future was an uncertain road. A road which he had seen with his own eyes I wrote that may never come to fruition.

"If the future is not what you think it may be and we will fight till we get that future" Optimus reassured him.

"I'll be of assistance when I can..." Jacob responded cutting himself short.

"Of course..." Optimus said trailing off also with nothing else to really say.

And thus begins the awkwardness. Arcee sarcastically thought as she looked back to Jacob.

"Come on your with me" Arcee said and Jacob nodded...she expected an argument or at least some disagreement.

Moving down the steps he was suddenly picked up by her. A weak tired Yelp escaped his lips as he was suddenly held close to her spark chamber.

"Thank you" she whispered gently into his ear.

"I'd be a fool not too" Jacob whispered back truthfully.

Starscream could not possibly feel worse. Megatron had brought dark energon back and was planning the worse. Soundwave on the other hand was considerably more faster with Megatron around, sweating him to his side would be next to impossible given he absolutely hated him. If he were not so useful I'd have had off-lined him years ago. Starscream thought as his wings lowered. Some of the drones were on his side but the majority of them we're loyal to Megatron and Megatron only. Even after nearly killing Cybertron his iron grip on command only tightened. In those three years he had been away Starscream and learned a lot about this world, The culture and the beings that lived on it. It would probably be the only time he would actually thank knock out for a suggestion. The doctor himself was out for the week taking time to look around the world to satisfy his ravenous curiosity. Starscream had granted him a vacation form it all, along with his assistant to boot. But they would be immediately called back if the situation calls for it. That was the agreement plain and simple. Hopefully this illness at Megatron had injected into his spark would finally catch up to him once and for all. He deserves to burn in the pit for what he's done.