Arcee watched him as he looked over his destroyed vehicle. His hair was damp and clothes had been given a good shaking but he was unable to clean the blood off of them. He was in better shape, able to walk on his own after a good shower loosened up his muscles. Jacob grabbed the rear passenger door handle and opened it. Once it swung open it fell and clattered to the ground. Jacob winced in dismay. Arcee watched the human, keeping a close eye on him. If bumblebee came back saying she did see the boy then his story would be undisputed. Another dimension, she mused. We've got space bridges so why not have one for dimensions. She figured as she warmed up to the idea of Jacob really being an unintentional interdimensional traveler. He was incredibly lucky, he could've either died or ended up in the hands of the Deceptacon's. Arcee shivered at the thought.

"What's eating you?" Jacob said as he moved to the trunk.

Arcee shrugged it off. "Just thinking" she replied.

Jacob was digging through the trunk even though there was very little there to begin with. Standing back up right he closed it. His expression grim.

"My existence troubles you doesn't it?"

Arcee shook her head even thought it was a lie. If he came through then there was a probability someone else was here that they didn't know about. Not within the base but out there somewhere. Completely lost and scared. Jacob moved again for the passenger side of the car with the door had fallen off. Poking his head in he continued looking.

"We're supposed to be top-secret and yet you know all of us" she admitted.

Jacob looked at her with a CD case in his hand. "I don't know everything, just the bare minimum to be honest" he leaned up against the car.

The CD was trashed, The disk inside was in a million pieces. Jacob tossed it back into the back of the car. He had nothing to his name except the clothes on his back. Arcee could hear a pair of footsteps approaching from behind. Looking she saw Cliffjumper.

"He checks out?" She inquired.

"Bee's even got photos," Cliffjumper confirmed. "Anything left?"

Jacob shook his head. "It's completely busted. Engines scattered across the bloody desert"

Cliff remembered the sight. Parts were everything and the cars front end was completely destroyed. Jacob was lucky to even be alive right now.

"At least you got you're health"

Jacob agreed. He was lucky. He'd probably never get home. His uncle was probably worried sick. Oh he must be going nuts trying to find me. Jacob thought hiding his grief behind a mask of calm. Suddenly there was a chime from the speakers.

"Jacob can you please come back to the hub area" Ratchet's voice sounded from the speakers.

Jacob moved off the car and began into the hallway. They must've called Fowler. He figured as he continued on his way.

Arcee looked to her partner who held a hopeful aura about him. As soon as Jacob was out of earshot she freely spoke.

"He's hiding something," she said. "I have a feeling I don't wanna know what it is"

"It's probably some personal stuff" Cliff shrugged.

Arcee hadn't thought of that. Jacob wasn't here by choice but by accident. Wrong time wrong place. It wasn't his choice to come, it wasn't his choice to bear the knowledge of what was to come.

"I'll believe it when I hear it" Arcee responded.

Fowler watched the younger human enter. He was half a head shorter than Fowler with dark brown hair and a skinny frame. The boy reached the stairs and ascended them. Jacob met eyes with the government agent who looked just below 40. Optimus watched as Ratchet was performing some calculations.

"So you're the jumper kid?" Fowler said looking Jacob over.

Jacob nodded. "More like crasher," he corrected. "What brings you up to this neck the woods?"

Fowler saw the boy lean up against the railing. Fowler looked him dead in the eyes. He glanced to Optimus who urged him on with a small hand gesture. Fowler then turned his attention back to Jacob.

"Optimus asked me to set you up with all you need" Fowler explained.

From his tone Jacob could hear Fowler held little trust for the prime. I wonder how long will that last?. He wondered.

"I see," Jacob nodded his glance turning his gaze to Optimus. "Optimus could have word with you... in private"

Ratchet looked at the two of them. Optimus agreed with a nod letting the boy climb onto his hand. Once both moved into entrance tunnel Jacob bit his lower lip. This is gonna be rough. Optimus came to a stop and looked at him. Jacob looked nervous on what he was about to tell Optimus.

"Take your time" he said softly.

"Cliff's gonna die" Jacob grimly said.

Optimus flinched at what was said. This he hadn't expected. Cliff was a good bot, not exactly the most careful bot but could hold his own. The thought of his death being soon rattled Optimus.

"When will it happen?" Optimus inquired.

Jacob wasn't fully sure. "Soon, I don't exactly know. He's gonna get ambushed. If he finds any exposed energon tell Arcee to tell him to get the hell outta there. His death isn't even the worst part" he advised.

"What's worse?" Optimus couldn't help ask.

Jacob shivered. "Are you familiar with Dark Energon?"

Optimus's optics went wide as his jaw dropped a few centimetres. It was something he hadn't heard in a very long time. Not since the darkest days of cybertron.

"Oh primus!," Optimus looked on in horror. "Is there anything else?"

Jacob was fuzzy on some of the details. It had been almost 4 years since the watch he and his parents did. He hadn't gone back and even repressed a lot of those memories.

"I only remember chunks. I can't help but associate the damn thing with death!. I saw a metal rod had pushed its way though my mothers skull!. You know what that dose to a guy!?"

Optimus saw the tearing forming in his eyes. Jacob looked away wiping his tears out of his eyes. Optimus had a mental image of two people being mutated by various rods tearing though flesh and bone.

"I'm sorry," Optimus said with a regret filled voice. "I didn't know how bad it was"

"It's ok," Jacob then turned his attention to Optimus. "It's my fault for not continuing. Hopefully keeping cliff alive can make up for it"

"I know Arcee would appreciate it. Just focus on getting what you need. I'll handle telling them what we now know"

Jacob nodded. "Thank you" was all he responded with.

Arcee looked Optimus dead in the optics as she processed his words. She found it hard to believe and knew Jacob had been hiding something but this was something else.

"Are you kidding me?. I don't believe this scrap!" Arcee rolled her optics in disbelief.

Optimus kept a firm look and looked at her. She then saw the look in his optics. He believes him!. Arcee could tell he did.

"Arcee," he breathed a deep sigh. "I had too look in his eyes. See him re-live uncomfortable memories just to warn us. If it's a chance to prevent Cliffjumper's death then I'm willing to take it"

Arcee agreed. She couldn't afford to loose Cliff, first tailgate and knowing Cliff was on the chopping block made her shiver. If Jacob was right then she owed him. She was willing to believe him if he was right, then all doubt would be casted away.

"Alright," she leaned against the wall. "If he's right I want him placed with me" she added.

"If you insist"

Getting clothes was easy. Jacob wasn't picky as they hit up multiple used clothing shops that day. Folwer hadn't given him a budget and was surprised the boy wasn't taking advantage of it. I would've in a heartbeat. He thought as they walked the side of a crowded street. Jacob held a duffle bag filled with 'new' clothing. Not even the bag was new. Jacob had changed clothes too look less disheveled. Wearing a blue shirt with grey jeans. He looked pretty inconspicuous.

"So the you know who's are still on earth," Folwer muttered grimly. "So you warned them what you know. Good job kid"'

"I try," Jacob responded. "When it's over I'll be useless. I have doubts Ratchet will be able to send me back. I'd rather not talk about it"

Fowler agreed. He had been told the story of the deaths in Jacob's life by Jacob himself. Also add the years it had been, it was understandable that things fell though the cracks. He wasn't in a pretty position.

"That's fine by me. Anything else ya 'need' today" Fowler grinned.

Jacob shrugged. "We'll have to see" he responded moving down the street with the agent.

End Chapter.