In which Alison arranges a truce, gains a Protector, and learns some shocking news


The week passed almost too fast for my tastes, and on Saturday morning, we headed over to base again. Barricade trailed us until we reached the town (a little place called Smithville, I was slightly disappointed it wasn't Jasper) around nine, then he went to find a hiding place. Ella and Optimus were waiting for us by the barracks, while we could hear a few of the other bots out on the training yard.

"Hello," Ella said when we all hopped out. "Sorry to rush some of you off right away, but Ratchet is insisting on giving Bee a check up, and he wants Mikaela there to assist."

Bee shuddered right before changing to root mode. "Sure I can't skip it?"

"Ratchet was very insistent, Bee," Optimus said, placing a servo on Bee's shoulder. "He wants to make sure your new legs have completely integrated, as well as another general systems check."

"And we know Ratchet will just hunt you down if you don't go," Mikaela said, patting Bee's leg before handing me her bag. "We'll see you at lunch, or dinner, at the latest."

"I'll bring you something," I promised, then Bee picked her up and the two headed towards the medbay.

"Looks like you have lessons," Miles said, hefting his bag as we went inside. "I think I'll find where Coppertone and the others are at."

"They're in the training yard, practicing some tactics to see if they would be viable against Decepticons," Optimus said, kneeling and speaking to us through the open door. "They would likely appreciate you joining them for it."

I huffed a laugh at that, more or less just tossing my bag in the direction of my bed. "Maybe you can share some battle techniques from - what was that mecha fighting game that came out recently?"

"A.C.E." Miles called from his room. "And hey, who knows, one might work, then we can call it the Miles Maneuver." He stuck his head out and smirked. "And that's going to be nothing compared to what you're doing today."

"True. Wish me luck."

"Godspeed." He went back into his room, and I went out to Optimus and Ella.

"Hey, before we get to lessons, could I get Optimus to take me into town real quick?" I asked before either could say anything. "I spotted a sign for something that I think could be a cool Christmas gift for Mikaela, but I obviously couldn't have Bee stop to grab it."

Optimus looked to Ella. "I do not mind postponing my lesson, if you don't mind us running this errand."

"Alright, but come right to HQ once you've gotten the gift," Ella said. "We have a lot of paperwork to go through before opening in a couple of weeks."

I nodded and hopped into Optimus's cab when he transformed. I kept myself still and calm as we rolled out the base, but getting closer to town, I started fiddling with my purse, a nervous tick I'm sure Ella was going to work out of me soon.

And Optimus totally picked up on it, cause he asked, "Is everything alright, Alison?" just after we passed the city limits.

"Yeah, it's fine, I just…" I trailed off and sighed. Honesty first. "Okay, this trip is a false pretense. We're not going to pick up something in town. We're going to meet with someone at the park, but I didn't want you bringing all the 'Bots on his head."

"And who are we meeting?" Optimus started slowing and tuned on his blinker as we approached the cross street that would take us to the park.

"Barricade."

We were coming up to a stop, but Optimus definitely hit his brakes a little too hard, jerking me forward in my seat a bit. "I'm sorry, but did you say Barricade?"

"Yes." I rubbed my chest where the seatbelt caught me. "He's… He's been hiding in Tranquility since Mission City, under orders from Megatron to make sure I do not come to harm. He's the reason Miles knows, he made him help him out that week we were in negotiations. But, currently, he's harmless. He can't transform cause his T-cog is damaged, and my EMP power will disburse his holo if he tried to attack us that way." That last bit was said in a bit of a rush, as I tried to reassure him that I hadn't been in danger.

"Why did you not tell us sooner," Optimus asked, making the turn.

"Because I didn't want you coming to hurt him before I could explain anything. Like I said, he's basically harmless at the moment, and under orders. And the AllSpark never acted like anything was wrong, and we trust her." I looked out the window and cut off anything Optimus might have to say by pointing out, "There he is."

And indeed he was, alt mode parked under a tree, while his holo leaned against it, smoking. Optimus pulled up and parked a few spaces away. I quickly hopped out and went to go to him, but Optimus came around in his holoform and held me back with an arm in front of me as we approached.

"Barricade," he said, his voice coldly neutral.

"Prime," Barricade barely nodded to him before looking at me. "AliSpark." For once, he hadn't materialized a cop uniform, but rather a casual ensemble, consisting of black boots, dark jeans, a black leather jacket, and a black shirt with "To punish and enslave" written in the same white font as on his alt, the dot of the "i" replaced with a small Decepticon symbol.

"Hi, Barricade." I said with a small wave. "So, we're all here, perhaps we can relocate to that table for the official negotiations?" I nodded towards a square picnic table, which had benches on all four sides, and no current occupants. Without waiting for a response, I walked over as confidently as I could and sat down. A few seconds later, Optimus and Barricade followed, sitting across from each other, Optimus on my left, Barricade on my right. I pulled a notebook (not my goals one) and pen from my bag, and set them in front of me. "Alright, so the reason we are here is because Barricade wishes to call a formal truce with the Autobots and COTA, a decision I fully support." I glanced from him to Optimus.

Optimus rested an elbow on the table, and his hand in front of his mouth for a moment before moving it away. "Why do you want a truce, Barricade?"

"Simple; I don't want to get blown up." He took a drag of his cigarette. "I am the only Decepticon planetside right now, besides Scorponok, and he's practically a drone with Blackout dead, besides being on the other side of the world. Alone, especially damaged as I am-" he shot me a quick glare at that "-It would be suicide to even consider starting shit with you. On top of that, I am under orders, from Megatron himself, to make sure the Bearer of the AllSpark does not come to harm."

"Show me these orders."

Barricade sighed and reached into a pocket, pulling out a cell phone. At my questioning look, he said, "It's not real, but we don't want the civilians to freak out, do we?" Point taken. He pressed a button, and Megatron's voice came across, loud and clear.

"Barricade, the AllSpark has been passed to a new Bearer; the Witwicky girl. She is to come to no harm. You will be her Protector-" I could hear the capitalization on that word "-and ensure it. If I learn she has when I return, I will be greatly displeased."

Wow. That Megatron was… different, in a way I couldn't quite pinpoint. Optimus looked like he was having the same thought, if the way his brow furrowed was an indication.

Barricade tucked the "phone" back into his pocket. "So, yeah. I can only protect Alison if I'm not at risk of getting blown up for being within a hundred feet of her."

"Alison already has a Guardian, in Bumblebee," Optimus said.

"Well, Megatron sure as Pit didn't know that," Barricade scoffed. "Besides, he said 'Protector', not quite the same thing."

"There's a difference?" I asked. "In general, or just for me?"

Optimus took a moment to answer that. "We have not had time to mention it, but the Knights of Cybertron had several levels to their ranks. Priests and Pages were the first rank, and the most common. Pages worked in the Temple as servants, while Priests were in charge of distributing the AllSpark's messages and hatchlings across Cybertron. Protectors were the next, the temple guards who kept out intruders and defended directly against threats. The Guardians were the third, and were the actual caretakers and defenders of the AllSpark itself. At the top of the ranks was Alpha Trion, as the Knight-Commander, who oversaw all parts of the Temple, though most day to day was handled within the ranks."

"I see. So, kind of the difference between a Buckingham Palace guard, and a royal bodyguard." Not a perfect analogy, but works well enough. "Can Megatron declare something like that?"

"Technically, as Lord Protector, yes, he could. But it usually needs to be ratified by Alpha - that is, by the Knight-Commander."

I felt the pressure behind my eyes of the AllSpark, and let her step forward. "~I ratify Barricade. He is a good mech at spark, and I trust him to protect Alison to his best ability.~" She retreated again, and I got a slight feeling of self-satisfaction

"There, problem solved," Barricade said. "Now, don't Protectors have some kind of diplomatic immunity, or something?"

Optimus was openly frowning now. "The Temple of Primus was a neutral zone, and its members the only ones who could liaison with both sides without reprimand, but this is not the case here. You will have to agree to some terms before I let you go."

Barricade huffed, and took another drag, while I put pen to paper to write down the terms. "Alright, what are they?"

"As Alison's Protector, you will remain in Tranquility or Smithville at all times, whichever Alison is at at the time. Should you, for any reason, need to leave those areas, you will inform us so we may assign a watcher for you, who will ensure you complete your objective and return. This, of course, is if we decide the reason is worth it."

"Oh, house arrest, big deal."

"Except in the interest of protecting Alison, you will remain out of any conflict between Autobots and Decepticons. As well, you are not to reveal any Autobot secrets to any Decepticon."

"You better not ask me to share any 'Con secrets," Barricade said. "Besides the fact that anything I know is greatly outdated, I'm not a snitch."

Optimus nodded gravely. "Lastly, you will cause no harm to any humans, unless it is absolutely necessary to defend yourself or Alison, and even then you will not kill them."

"Humans are squishy and weak. If I fight back, I can not guarantee one or two won't die. But… I will try to avoid that."

"I think those are good terms," I said, writing down the last words Optimus had said. "Honestly, a bit of a better deal than I expected." I looked at Barricade. "So…."

He looked at me, then turned his head with an exaggerated eye roll and flicked his holo cig away, it disappeaing before it hit the grass. "Alright, I agree to the terms. You want me to swear on the AllSpark or something?"

"If you would," Optimus said.

Barricade looked on the verge of another eye roll, but got up and knelt at my feet, his hands in front of his chest, open like doors - like chestplates over his spark chamber, I realized - and started speaking. "I, Barricade of Praxis, swear upon the AllSpark to honor the treaty made between myself and Optimus Prime of Iacon. Should I break the tenants of this treaty, I shall be subject to Her justice and mercy, as well as of those I betrayed. I also swear to act as Protector of Her Bearer, to ensure she does not come to harm. This I swear by Her light."

The AllSpark stepped forth, and She reached down, closing Barricade's hands before taking them both in ours. "~I hear your vow, Barricade, and I accept. Rise, my Protector, and serve me well.~"

Barricade stood, and gave a short bow. "Thank you, My Lady." He then took a large step back and stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. "So we done here?"

"One second," I said, taking control back. I read over what I had written really quick, to ensure it was legible, and then held the notebook and pen out to Barricade. "Just go ahead and sign at the bottom, so we have a paper record."

He glowered, but took both and quickly signed, before tossing it onto the table for Optimus to take. He looked it over too, then signed, and passed it back to me. I signed it as a witness, then put them away. "Alright, that should do it. Do you want me to repair you now, or wait?"

"Now, of course." Barricade marched off towards his altmode, and deactivated his holo once inside. Optimus and I returned to his altmode, and followed as Barricade led us to a deserted alley, not too far down the road. He parked, and called back to me, "Well, get on with it."

I jumped from Optimus's cab and went around to his front. Pressure came behind my eyes, and I felt the AllSpark guiding me as I placed my glowing hands on his hood and spoke in ancient cybertronian, "~Barricade, Son, Brother, Protector, Watcher from the Shadows. Your task is to protect and guard. Take my strength to make you whole, that you may serve until the time you seek release.~"

This felt much like Coppertone's healing, with several pulses flowing through me into Barricade, and I could see some of the still visible damage disappear, as well as some general and cosmetic wear and tear. When I was done, I stepped back and Barricade transformed in front of me.

He stretched his arms above his helmet and groaned. "Ooo-oh, it feels good to move again." He started doing some more stretches, while Optimus's holo came up to me.

"We will be having a serious conversation about this when we return to base," he told me in a low voice. "You could have put yourself, Mikaela, Miles and your parents in danger by not telling us."

"He was around Miles for a week before I met with him, and he didn't do a thing to him," I said back. "And as I've said before, the AllSpark never objected to us being around him."

"I say this with all due respect, but the Allspark's morality does not completely align with the morality of Her children." He sighed. "And times like these, I remember you don't realize all the Decepticons are capable of."

"Need I remind you I had the entire history of your race played out for me in high definition?" I said. "I think I know what they're capable of."

"You may know, but you don't realize."

I met his eyes briefly. They were stern, with a hint of disappointment. But they were also sad. A sad that turned them a darker blue than his true color, one that spoke depths. I held it as long as I could, then looked down, adjusting my purse strap on my shoulder.

"Well, all's well that ends well, right? Now we know where Barricade is and what he's doing, which is what you guys wanted."

The pressure behind my eyes built much faster than usual as I felt the AllSpark step forward. "~Now we can go see to the hatchlings.~"

Wait, what?


AN: Apologies for the late chapter, my schedule this week as been hectic and it completely slipped my mind. Well, here you go, I hope you all enjoyed it. What ya think of the negotiation? The bit about the Knights? That bombshell at the end? Let me know in the reviews.

Guest Review Replies

Duder (CH 1): Think I've got one. This is actress Lily Cole i. pinimg 736x/ 46/ 27/ d1/ 4627d1941d832a00f8492d22d5fe2826. jpg Just remove the spaces
No longer taking suggestions for Copper, and Lily Cole looks like a fifteen year old, so no.

I'll see you all next week, same 'Bot Time, same 'Bot Channel!