AN: I was unsure where Tranquility was located, but I knew it was someplace with a fairly steady warm climate. The site I looked off of says Nevada, but if that's wrong please tell me. Since that's the state where the NEST base is located in this story. (NOT Diego Garcia)

And yes, I brought in FIG! The annoying Spanish speaking guy! If anyone knows his rank in the military could you tell me? Thanks. Anything I have Fig say in Spanish is off of a translator on the internet, most likely. None of it will ever be important. (I know, you're probably shocked that I actually have something happening in this story!)

The Result of Squffie: My goodness, you do like hair that would need hair gel to actually be that way, don't you? Gazzy from Maximum Ride is a bit more of a possibility, but still unsure. It would have to look good without natural anime-hair-that-defies-laws-of-nature powers, or hair gel.

To everyone else: Thanks for the review! I hope you continue to enjoy the story.

After Sideswipe tricked Barricade he wasn't seen by anyone except Sunstreaker and Ratchet for two weeks. No one asked what had happened, everyone was almost afraid to. It was common knowledge that all of Barricade's weapons were taken away from him, so no one had any idea of what could have happened. Sam, being the great friend that he was, had taken it upon himself to tease Miles. This had prompted Miles to reply that Barricade would be the bitch in the relationship. Naturally, Barricade was less then pleased. After being threatened by the irate 'con, Sam quieted down.

Sam and Miles returned to their regular school schedule, having to stay away from the base for awhile to catch up and make sure their grades were good. Barricade had to stay behind at the base, while Bumblebee was left with the teenagers. It was the first week of October before they had a chance to go back.

Miles was surprised when he first found out that they were planning to bring Jazz back with the remaining Allspark shard. According to Epps the Allspark shard's location was top secret, and after it was retrieved it would meet Jazz's body back halfway to the base and he would be brought back then. They were playing it safe and planning for a Decepticon attack to try to retrieve the Allspark shard, figuring they would try to use it on Megatron.

After he found out about it he spent an hour convincing Optimus Prime to let him go on the mission. He only caved when Miles pointed out that they had expected Sam to do something that they knew for a fact to be dangerous, while this they had no guarantees that the Decepticons would attack and Miles was volunteering. It helped that he had Epps there with him, and the Sergeant said he'd personally keep an eye on Miles.

That evening they announced the NEST members and Autobots that would be going. Optimus read off the list, having gathered everyone into the Autobot rec-room. "The Autobots going are Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, Ironhide, and Prowl. The humans that are going are Captain Will Lennox, Sergeant Robert Epps, Jorge "Fig" Figueroa, and civilian Miles Lancaster. They will be packing and leaving within the week."

Many people were shocked when they heard Miles' named called, but no one openly said anything about it. Optimus called the people and 'bots going on the mission out of the room for a briefing, leaving everyone else alone in the rec-room. Sam looked at Barricade questioningly, figuring if he didn't know then "Barry" would. Barricade just glared at him. When Miles came back to them Sam practically pounced on his friend.

"Why are you going?" he asked, pulling Miles down on to the couch and holding his arm in case he tried to run.

"I volunteered." Miles replied, grinning slightly. The grin quickly faded when both Sam and Barricade gave him a look. "Well, what exactly do I do around here besides take up space? You defeated Megatron with the Allspark so you're covered, you did your part. But me? Nothin'. I doubt I'll be able to do much on this mission, accept maybe carry the shard while the others are fighting if the 'cons do come. Most likely I won't even get to do that though, right?"

"You don't have to do anything for the fragging Autobots." Barricade said, letting his holoform appear on the arm rest of the couch so the two teens didn't have to crane their necks to be polite.

"I don't have to." Miles started, glaring at Barricade. "But I want to."

Barricade glared right back, "You are making a foolish decision and putting yourself in danger. I knew you were stupid, but I didn't think you were this stupid."

Sam quickly got up off the couch, high tailing it over to Epps, Will, and Bumblebee.

"Twenty dollars says Miles gets pissed and doesn't talk to Barricade until we get back with Jazz!" Epps exclaimed, looking at both Will and Sam.

Sam sighed, glancing back at his friend arguing with the Decepticon. "Miles gets pissed, but still talks to Barricade before you guys leave."

"Well… Miles puts Barricade in his place during this argument and Barricade eventually apologizes because he realizes he was wrong." Will said, ignoring the looks that Epps and Sam gave him.

They turned to watch the two more closely. Miles had pulled a couch pillow into his lap to squeeze, and Barricade had stood up try to get his point across better.

"So you're ordering me to stay here?" Miles asked, sounding surprisingly calm despite glaring at Barricade.

Barricade growled, "If it gets you to actually not act like the stupid inferior being you are, then yes!"

Will groaned, "Shit, I'm out."

Miles scowled, tossing the pillow in Barricade's face. "Well it's too damn bad that I don't take orders from oversized bad cops reject. If you have anything else to say you can stuff it up your aft!" And with that he stormed out of the room quickly.

Epps turned to Sam. "It's only a matter of time, my young friend." Sam nodded, saying a rushed goodbye as he chased after Miles.

As it turned out Epps ended up winning the bet. As their locations and identities were supposed to be kept somewhat secret Miles wouldn't be able to contact anyone while on the mission. He didn't say a single word or even look at Barricade in the five day's they remained on base. Before they left he did tell Sam to say goodbye to the "stupid aft" for him.

The group set off in the early morning. Each human paired off with an Autobot to act as the Cybertronian's driver. Miles got Prowl, Fig got Sunstreaker, Epps got Sideswipe, and Will got Ironhide. Most of the human's weapons were in the back of Ironhide, covered by a tarp and in several boxes. While the Autobots did have their comm links, they switched to radio use for the humans. That way they could talk to, and be heard by the other humans and Autobots.

"Okay, does everyone remember the plan?" Prowl asked, ignoring Miles as he groaned and slumped down in the driver's seat.

Epps cursed softly, "I swear you and Will are the worst. Yes, we know the plan. We leave Nevada. Head for Pennsylvania and retrieve the Allspark shard. On the way back we'll meet up with Autobots First Aid and Inferno who will have Jazz's body in Oklahoma. If we get attacked by 'Cons pray to whatever religion we believe in, add Primus in there, and cover our asses as you guys take care of them. This will hopefully only take around four days. We will sleep inside you guys to save time"

"Epps, you have such bad language, even around Miles." Fig said. "My mom always used to say: Las palabrotas llevan a un alma mala. ¡No hay neces-" he was interrupted before he could finish by Epps and Will.

"FIG, ENGLISH!" They both yelled, causing Miles to burst out into laughter and Fig to grumble.

"No, bro, do-" Sideswipe started to say, surprising everyone but Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker quickly cut him off.

"¿No aprecian los norteamericanos su español que habla herencia?" Sunstreaker asked innocently.

Fig grinned, "Estoy seguro que no es eso. ¡Will y Epps ambos tomaron algún español, yo acabo de adorar para molestarlos consigo porque ellos nunca lo podrían retener!"

Epps and Will slowly let horror overcome them as they realized that now Fig would have someone to talk who enjoyed using Spanish to annoy others almost as much as he did. Epps banged his head off the steering wheel while Will groaned, putting his face in his hands. Miles just laughed.