Never in my wildest dreams did I think that publishing these would be as much fun as it is writing them. Anyway, chapter three, massive thanks to FireRose, you are a true sport listening to me babbling about what to and not to do. Once again, pass me some reviews people, they keep me putting up the next chapter!

Chapter 3 - Phonecalls

(OPOV)

Optimus sat irritably in his spot in the hangar. Ratchet and Ironhide were letting him be, which was probably for the best, he wasn't exactly good company at the moment.

On Cybertron, he would be able to tell in an instant the mood of a fellow bot. In contrast? These humans were scrapping annoying. They breathed at different rates a great deal of the time. He couldn't honestly tell if it was automatic, even Ratchet had difficulty figuring out the significance.

Of course at this point, the humans had taken to limiting their interactions with the medic; he wasn't in a very good mood either, he hadn't been in several vorn.

Not that Optimus blamed him, of course, the bot had a right to his moods.

Optimus thought about it for another hour and shook himself lightly, dialling the number to the most congenial human he knew.

For the first time, he called Mikaela.

"Hello?" she answered in a bright, smiling tone.

"Hello, Mikaela," Optimus rumbled quietly.

"Optimus!" she stated in surprise. "How are you?"

"I am..." Optimus began, he trailed off. The femme didn't need to hear him complain.

"That good huh?" Mikaela stated in a sympathetic tone. "What's bothering you?"

"How do you know that something is bothering me?" Optimus rumbled curiously.

"I can hear it in your voice," she stated gently.

"Is that how humans understand each other?" Optimus burst out incredulously.

"It's one of the ways," Mikaela shrugged. "I mean, comparatively we must all look alike to you, but there are differences in all of us."

"You do not look alike," Optimus snorted. "There are variances in all of your appearances and the tones of your voices."

"That, is so sweet," Mikaela smiled, she sounded like she was leaning back. "Let me take a stab in the dark, you're having issues trying to interpret the moods around you?"

"Yes," Optimus rumbled in relief, sagging on his tires. "How do you do it?"

"Mmm," Mikaela hummed.

"Mikaela?" Optimus rumbled curiously.

"I'm trying to think how to explain it. If we were face to face I'd simply show you," Mikaela stated calmly. "I've seen Bee use similar facial expressions as we do, a smile, a frown, laughter... why don't you tell me what expressions or behaviours are confusing you, and I'll try to explain them."

Optimus smiled slightly. That was a perfect solution.

"I understand that your species takes in air and expels it as a part of your life functions, but you breathe at different rates, sometimes..." Optimus trailed off.

"Mmn, well we breath faster when we're more active, to increase the oxygen in our blood, and increase the amount of energy we have." Mikaela began. "But I'd imagine Ratchet has already said that. So... a heavy vent when someone is standing still, or at least not moving enough to warrant heavy breathing?"

"Yes!" Optimus rumbled, grinning. Finally, some answers.

"We call it a sigh," Mikaela stated gently, smiling. "Sometimes it's simply the exhalation, sometimes there's a vocalization with it?"

"Yes," Optimus nodded avidly. "But what do they mean!?"

"They can mean anything from happiness to irritation, tiredness. It depends on the..." she trailed off for a moment. "Circumstance, that's the word I'm looking for," she continued. "If someone is receiving a much needed hug, they could sigh with happiness. If they are irritated, they would sigh at a somewhat different speed. The easiest way to tell is simply to look at their faces as they sigh. If they're frowning, they're irritated. Smiling, happy."

"But what happens when they are not allowing their faces to move?" Optimus rumbled intently.

"Then you aren't looking closely enough," Mikaela stated calmly. "Look for narrowed eyes, even just the littlest bit. Or an upward or downward twitch at the corner of the mouth. Crossed arms, hunched shoulders, our faces aren't the only feature that can betray our moods."

"How do you learn it?" Optimus rumbled immediately.

"By observation, we learn our actions from our parents." Mikaela shrugged with a laugh. "Okay, here's a question for you."

Optimus jumped slightly.

"Okay..." he answered hesitantly.

"When you transformed in the alleyway, the first time we saw each other," Mikaela began, and Optimus felt himself sag in relief. "You let out a sound as you stretched in your bipedal form. Sort of an Hmmmmnnnn," she hummed contentedly.

Optimus remembered it and nodded, honestly surprised that she remembered. He thought for a moment.

"That was not a question," Optimus rumbled quietly.

"No, that's the backstory," Mikaela chuckled. "Here's the question, am I correct in assuming that that sound translates across both of our species as a contented vocalization?"

"You are," Optimus rumbled with a smile. He jumped. "Our non-verbal vocalizations are the same!" he rumbled in shock.

"So it would seem," Mikaela smiled. "So in that case, you're simply going to have to remember that our human vocalizations are produced by passing air through the vocal folds in the larynx, and that sometimes? It just feels good to release a lungful of air in a sigh, if only to try to release an emotion. We live in and utilize our atmosphere."

Optimus sagged into himself in relief, he could do that.

"Thank you," he rumbled earnestly.

"Anytime," Mikaela smiled. "So other than being surrounded by annoying humans, how are you lot doing?"

Optimus smiled as she began an easy, open-minded dialogue over the inconsequential things that constituted a good chat. It was a shock to him then, when she suddenly stated.

"Good grief, we've been on the phone two hours!" Mikaela exclaimed.

Optimus glanced at his chronometer and jumped.

"Two hours, five minutes and ten seconds," he rumbled incredulously, it had been a long time since he'd last had a conversation this long. Two vorn, actually.

"That's the best tone of incredulity I've heard yet," Mikaela giggled. "But either way, you should probably be going to your recharge, and I definitely need to catch a few winks before... ugh, never-mind, I need to shower before I go to school."

"I have robbed you of your recharge," Optimus rumbled in a guilty, saddened tone.

"Nonsense," Mikaela laughed. "You woke me up out of a nightmare and provided conversation on a level I've been sorely missing."

Optimus nodded to himself for a moment before jumping.

"If I woke you from a nightmare, how were you so cheerful answering the phone?" he demanded of the femme.

"Training," Mikaela shrugged. "One of the first things I learned about getting along with people, was to project friendliness no matter how I'm feeling. Simply because I woke terrified, does not mean that I need to snap at you when I answer the phone."

If Optimus had not already been parked in his truck form, he would have sat down on the ground. Hard.

"You are serious!" he rumbled in shock.

"Of course I am," Mikaela laughed, her voice turned serious. "Anger and hatred can only breed more of it's own kind."

"Mmm, this is true," Optimus rumbled contentedly. "Mikaela?" he rumbled.

"Optimus?" she asked with a smile.

"Thank you for picking up the phone," he rumbled earnestly.

"Anytime, Optimus," she smiled. "Anytime. I'll talk to you later?"

"Absolutely," he rumbled with a smile.

"Good, then I'm not going to say goodbye, because I will hear your voice again," Mikaela stated with a smile.

"Until we speak again," Optimus rumbled, smiling in spite of himself. The line went dead and he sat for a long moment, looking around himself.

Somehow, this place seemed less hostile now.

(MPOV)

Another day, wake up, shower, go to school, accomplish the prerequisite 'spend time with Sam, he's your boyfriend after all' time. Protest Judy always trying to feed me... although the occasional meal I allowed her to feed me was a welcome relief from scrounging up my own meal at home, even if she constantly insisted on putting more on my plate than my stomach could handle. Ron and I both were fighting a rearguard action on that, simple solution? We switched plates and Ron wolfed the excess down. All the while, Sam would beam at me, believing that it was simply my tactic to get in close with his parents.

Then the best part of the day, sneak away and visit with Bee, his running excuse that he was my guardian now, too, satisfied Sam and his parents quite well. Especially since Bee and I both insisted that I take care of his maintenances.

And then another night shift, I sighed as the clock on the wall finally indicated that I could go home. My homework was finished already, tonight had been a quick night, I'd settled into the routine. Everything was finished. I glanced around as I hesitantly walked out the back door. This alleyway was horrible for ambush spots. I walked quickly, but sure enough, didn't escape the notice of the early morning street runners.

"Hey baby, what're you doing up so early?" a man asked with a grin. Walking with a pimp swagger. Oh subtle. Idiot.

"Going home," I stated firmly, walking past. "A place which you are not welcome, kindly leave me be." test one.

The man turned slightly to keep pace with me. Test one failed, my instincts began flaring. Test two, for how far would he continue trying to follow? Engine.

Bumblebee. My dear, sweet Bumblebee chose that moment to pull up in front of me.

"Sorry I'm late sis!" he called out cheerfully, his door popping open in front of me as the holo grinned. "Alarm must have died again."

"That's just fine," I laughed, settling into the passenger's seat, and closing the door. Leaving behind an angry pimp, "as always, you are a lifesaver Bee."

Bumblebee began giggling softly, I could feel him straightening in pride. I couldn't help but smile at him, the sweet bot. He dropped me off at home, and sat out front until I was inside. I smiled and waved at him as he took off again.

Somehow, home didn't feel quite so empty when he dropped me off. My phone rang, I glanced at the screen. As usual, it was an unlisted number.

"Hello?" I answered with a smile.

"Mikaela," Optimus' voice rumbled quietly. I smiled in earnest now.

"How are you doing, Optimus?" I asked gently. As usual, there was silence for a moment on the other end.

"That good, huh?" I snorted. "What'd they do this time?" Optimus snorted on the other end of the line.

"I am starting to believe that I am the one in the wrong at this point," he rumbled irritably. "Would that I had your knowledge of humans."

"You have my knowledge already, such as it is," I laughed softly. "All you need to do is ask..."

(OPOV)

Optimus sat irritably again, how could he explain to the humans why he was not allowing them the technology that had destroyed his own world. They didn't seem interested, they never asked why.

They simply yelled.

Ratchet was busy, Ironhide on patrol, at a loss, he called Mikaela.

"Hello?" she answered with her usual smile. Listening to her tones he could hear the variances in her voice now. When she didn't know who it was, she sounded rather flat.

"Mikaela," Optimus rumbled quietly. He could almost feel her smile now.

"How are you doing, Optimus?" she asked gently, there was life in her voice now, sounding like she truly cared how he was. Optimus remained quiet, trying to decide how to answer that. He wasn't doing all that well at the moment, he didn't know why he always called Mikaela when he was so down, she had her own troubles to contend with.

But the moment he was quiet like this, she always seemed to just know.

"That good huh?" she asked with a snort, which somehow always made him feel better, simply because she knew. "What'd they do this time?"

"I am starting to believe that I am the one in the wrong at this point," Optimus rumbled irritably. There was no sense in lying, she always knew something was wrong anyway. "Would that I had your knowledge of humans."

"You have my knowledge already, such as it is, all you need to do is ask," Mikaela laughed softly on the other end of the line. Optimus couldn't help but smile, the dear femme.

"Am I doing the right thing?" he asked softly.

"In doing?" she asked calmly, she sounded like she was sitting back.

"In not sharing our weapons technology, I feel as though..."

"No," Mikaela stated sternly. It was a shock to hear that tone in her voice.

"I am in the wrong then," Optimus sighed.

"No, you are absolutely correct," Mikaela stated in the same, stern tone. Optimus couldn't help but do a double take.

"Then..." Optimus rumbled irritably.

"Why are my people still asking for the weapons?" Mikaela asked in a quiet, saddened tone. Optimus nodded. He didn't know how she always seemed to know that he was nodding, but she did, and that's what counted.

"I assume you've come to the conclusion that the equalization between our weapons on earth is about the only thing keeping us alive at the moment," Mikaela stated sadly. "At this moment in time, only the fear of our second strike capability is keeping our world whole."

"Indeed," Optimus murmured sadly. "A system that even we would not be able to counter, if your world decided to commit suicide..."

"You wouldn't be able to cut the rope from our necks," Mikaela stated just as sadly. She sounded like she was nodding. Then, she sighed. "Which makes you correct, though," she added quietly. "If you intended to give our world weaponry, you would need to equip the entire world. We would not be able to resist the temptation to turn those weapons upon ourselves, you're not in the wrong, Optimus. Deep down, most of us will agree with you."

"Then why do they still ask?" Optimus rumbled irritably, he brought himself up short. "I am sorry, Mikaela, you should not have to-"

"There's no have to," Mikaela snorted. "You go right ahead and be irritable, I don't mind, Primus only knows you'd still lend me an ear if I were irritable."

"True," Optimus rumbled with a small smile.

"Shall we hash it out then," Mikaela smiled on the other end of the line, Optimus relaxed on his tires and nodded. "Right then, let's go through the points of view, understanding is the first step."

"True," Optimus rumbled with a nod. "Whose first?"

"Let's start with Lennox," Mikaela stated after a moment. "His primary duty is to protect the United States of America, and by extension the world. On one side of the coin, he's intelligent and understands where you're coming from. On the other, it's still his duty to protect the world, and now he's working with an alien race far more advanced, facing an enemy of equal advancement but said race is refusing to equalize the playing field."

Optimus nodded, frowning, that point of view was valid, that was the one that was making him doubt himself so much.

"Of course that'd be more his superior's point of view as well, Lennox is probably smart enough to know that you aren't going to leave us defenceless." Mikaela finished calmly. "So, answer the question, who are you to decide what is best for us?"

"I...!" Optimus began indignantly. "Mikaela, you know damn..."

"I know!" Mikaela laughed, "I'm giving you the reason to say it, but at this point I should probably say it for you. You're bigger, stronger, older and wiser. You're an outside observer with several years experience observing another race, and you're a surviver of watching your own planet self destruct the way our's is headed. I know that. Do they?"

Optimus sat stunned.

"Eloquently put, Mikaela," he rumbled finally.

"Really? I thought it was a bit blunt, myself," she countered him blandly. Optimus snorted back a laugh.

"Well put none the less," Optimus rumbled. He thought for a moment. "What is your point of view?" he asked curiously. Mikaela sighed.

"My point of view is a grim one," she stated quietly. "I sense my world, our world coming closer to it's own destruction every day. As individuals, our people can be incredibly intelligent, compassionate. But as a group, the group mind takes over, and we destroy so much more easily than we create."

"As it has always been," Optimus rumbled sadly.

"So shall it always be," Mikaela nodded. "Although on a brighter topic there's a viral video out of Ironhide laying out a total smack down, how is he? He looked like he was taking some damage out of that one."

"He blew out a knee," Optimus nodded, glancing over at his old weapons master as the bot rolled in. "Ratchet fixed him up fairly quickly though."

"That's good." Mikaela nodded. "Ratchet still Ratchet?"

"He will always be Ratchet," Optimus rumbled fondly.

"The solidarity of our existence," Mikaela stated just as fondly. "A medic will always be grumpy, with a spark-full of compassion and the right words when you need it most."

"He'll scold you repeatedly whether you're injured or not, and make an enemy of anyone who doesn't have the intelligence to realize that he only scolds you when he cares."

"Primus bless all medics as kind as him," Mikaela smiled gently.

"Amen," Optimus rumbled fondly. "And thank you, Mikaela."

"What on earth for?" she asked in amusement.

"For reminding me why I am fighting," he rumbled with a smile.

"Anytime, Optimus," Mikaela stated gently. "Anytime."

(MPOV)

The line went dead as it always did, and I couldn't help but smile fondly at the phone. Optimus was such a dear, open-sparked bot. I looked around at my completed work and lightly unclipped my bluetooth headphone, only to clip it back on as the phone rang again.

"Hello?" I asked with a smile.

"Hey Kae," Bumblebee's soundbytes played sadly.

"Chargfrights =Little-brother?=" I asked gently. I could feel him nodding. "Did you want to talk about it?"

"=Kinda...=" Bee chirped softly.

"I'm all ears, little-brother," I murmured gently.

"=I was watching the battles again,=" Bumblebee chirped, I could feel him beginning to cry softly. "=Everybody was dying again, all my friends, and I had to run, I was under orders and I had to run away like a coward...="

"It's not cowardly to run, when we are outmatched we must retreat, survival to fight another day is paramount," I told him gently. "Would you have survived if you had stayed?"

"=...No...=" Bee chirped sadly.

"Then I would never have known my =Little-brother=, now would I?" I asked gently.

"And I would never have met my =Big-sister=," Bee added softly, I could feel him nodding somewhat. I glanced at the clock, my work was done, I could stand to knock off early today, the boss didn't mind, it was money he didn't have to pay me when the work was done early.

"Do you want to come pick me up, =Little-brother?=" I asked hesitantly.

"=I'm on my way!=" Bumblebee chirped excitedly. "=Be there in ten!="

The phone went dead, the dear-sparked little bot. I glanced at the clock again and sent a text to the boss. 'Finished up early, knocking off 2. K.' I sent it and pocketed my phone, wandering into the staffroom and gathering my things. My phone buzzed.

'Did u remember the ovens?' the boss sent.

'First thing I did' I sent back in amusement.

'Awesome. C U 2moro'

Best boss yet, I thought in amusement. With the exception of working with my family, of course. I picked up my purse and heard an engine outside the door. I waited behind that door. A horn honked.

Silence.

Not Bee.

Before I even thought about it I sent up a prayer of thanks to Primus that Bee had had the foresight to sort out a code between ourselves. My phone buzzed.

'K don't come out' Bee sent.

'id?' I sent back.

'3H - A'

Three humans. Armed.

Crap.

I locked the doors.

'They moving' I sent.

'Negative'

I frowned for a long moment, then grinned.

'I'll meet you 3 blocks north' I sent with a smirk.

'What r u doin K!?' Bee sent back incredulously.

'Roof' I grinned. I quickly scaled the ladder to the roof, depositing my pack before closing the door. Down the ladder, to the boss' office, arm the alarm. It began it's countdown.

Forty seconds. I ran, scrambling up the ladder, onto the roof, close the hatch, lock it. I kissed my pick with a grin and pressed my ear to the door for a long moment, listening for the alarm. Three... two... one.

Two beeps then silence.

Perfect.

I stood and walked the rooflines, tossing my pack over my back and climbing up fire escapes for a moment. Well away from the initial alleyway I scanned the area. All clear, I slid down the ladders and casually walked the final block just as Bee pulled up in front of me. I climbed in with a smirk.

"You're the best, Bee, you know that right?" I grinned at him as he pulled out.

"How'd you get here!?" Bumblebee demanded with a grin. "I didn't even see you!"

"You forgot to look up," I giggled. "Let's go home, shall we?"

"Your place or mine baby?" Bumblebee played gleefully.

"My place is an absolute mess," I murmured in a sultry tone. "Let's go to your place tonight."

"You got it, gorgeous," he played happily.

We parked in Sam's garage and Bumblebee laid my seat back the second I couldn't manage to bite back a yawn.

"I'll take you home in time for you to get your clothes," Bumblebee murmured gently. I smiled and cuddled into his seat, drifting off to sleep with my little brother close by.