AN: So I looked up where the Fallen was hanging out. Tfwiki says on one of Saturn's moons, on the Nemesis. Okaaay, that's what I'm going with. So there. I also watched the movie scene, and it appears that tfwiki is right. At least from what you can get from the scene. x_x

Rant section: I had typed up a part with the Fallen and went to save and stupid ff GLITCHED so I lost it.

Sidenote: This is already kind of long, so I'll just seperate the chapter in two parts. I want to upload already, and I haven't gotten the next part worked out just yet anyway.

So you get a cliff hanger! And I might respond to reviews next CH. A bit under the weather, but if I end up staying home tomorrow just means more time to write!

Chapter 35, part 1
Hugs and Surprises

Barricade stared at Bumblebee, "Why are you playing that?"

They were in the rec-room, as was normal by now, waiting on their Charge's to get out of school as they watched Epps and Sideswipe play Mortal Combat. They were sitting on the couch, two seats apart from each other in preparation for the two teen's arrival. Sideswipe had nicknamed the seating position as the Guardian sandwhich, because no matter where they were, as long as there was no fighting, the four would usually sit together. Barricade on one end, with Miles next to him, and Sam beside him, with Bumblebee taking up the other end. And Bumblebee was playing the Jaws' theme.

"It's appropriate." Bumblebee replied, amusement evident on his holoform's face.

Barricade could almost see where this was going.

"Pertaining to what life form?"

"Human, of course." The tempo getting faster.

"Ah."

And just as the tempo reached its' peak, Miles sneaked up behind the couch and cried, "HUG ATTA-AAAH!"

Barricade was faster than him, pulling the teen on to the couch, where he would have ended up anyway, but saving himself from the hug.

Miles stared up at the ceiling from his new position in surprise for a moment, and Sam came over, snickering at his friend.

"Maggie got him started on hug attacking people. They've both been doing it to any holoforms and soldiers they could find. Or the Cassettes, since they're small enough."

"And I'll get you, too, Barry!" Miles grinned, manuevering himself into an upright position. "You so owe me hugs!"

"Keep telling yourself that, fleshling." The ex-con drawled.

"Hey now, none of that!" Epps grinned. "We already had an earful of you two earlier." Almost as an after thought, he added. "I still want Epps Jr. back, M."

"No fragging way." The teen grinned.

"You know, I'm surprised anyone believed that. He would have been much louder if I actually 'rewarded' him with that." Barricade said, smirking.

A short pause, followed by laughter.

"Oh no, Miles!" Sideswipe snickered, "He sounds almost as smug as Sunny! Better watch out!"

Miles listened as Bumblebee and Barricade went back and forth, fighting over something the teen had long ago lost track of. Sam was sitting on the floor, playing Mortal Combat with Epps, which meant that Miles was sitting in between the two Guardians as they argued.

"Fourty-two." He supplied helpfully.

This made Bumblebee pause in his tracks, the Autobot scout having just been about to say something. It did not, however, give Barricade any pause at all, it only changed who he was saying the statement towards.

"You're stupid." The Neutral replied blandly.

Bumblebee stared at the teen in surprise, "No, actually, he's right."

"I am? Uh, yeah, I am! Take that Barry!" Sam snorted from his spot on the floor as Miles said this, causing Miles to kick his friend lightly in the back. "What am I right about?"

"What the frag do you mean, what are you right about? Didn't you just answer the question already?" Barricade growled.

"You're right. I answered the question, but it being the answer to that question is just a complete coincidence!"

"Improbable." Sam cut in, causing Miles to grin and nod.

"Well I'm completely lost." Epps said, looking between all of them, and taking the opportunity to K.O. Sam while he wasn't paying attention.

"The question me and Barricade were fighting over was how long the Energon supply would last us here on Earth with a certain criteria. This while using oil as an alternative and spacing out Energon usage. And several other factors that we wouldn't be able to rely on in reality." Bumblebee informed, frowning ever so slightly. The young Autobot scout liked many things, but one thing he did not like was to be confused. "And there would be a years at the end of that. Though this was all just what if's, as the actual time will be much shorter. I do not know what question he was answering, though."

"The question to everything." Miles grinned. "I am a firm believer in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. See how far it's gotten me? I was right. The answer was fourty-two."

Barricade and Bumblebee both took a moment to search for just what the young teen was talking about.

Barricade snorted, "You would enjoy a book like that."

Miles was silent for a moment, before pouting just a little as Epps began to laugh. "I can't tell if that's insulting me or the book."

"The answer is fourty-two." Barricade replied, smirking.

Miles stuck his tongue out at the ex-con.

"What do you mean the actual time will be much shorter?" Epps asked, snickering when Sam realized he had just lost.

Bumblebee hesitated, debating whether or not he should actually talk about it. In that moment of hesitation all eyes turned towards him expectantly, silently prompting him to do so. He cursed himself when he caught Sam's eye and felt like he had to.

"Well, that was under the assumption that each mech here could survive fairly well on your planet's fuel resources alone. Look like a car, feed like one." A pause. "Ratchet and Wheeljack both doubt this, and Barricade's proof. It slowed down his internal repair system, made it harder to repair himself, to the point it was easier to ask an organic to do it when one was available. This being Miles. And that was after only a few months usage of it. Not to mention the fact that Orion needs a few special things in his Energon, which we're almost completely out of. If his original creator's were here there wouldn't be a problem, he could just take energon from them. However, they are not. That's why Optimus, Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Ironhide, Ratchet, and several others have been so busy lately. They're trying to create something strong enough that will let us communicate with the base on Cybertron. If nothing unexpected has happened, then we know their base has some of the material needed. Until then we have enough left for about a month."

Sam frowned, "And what would happen if we gave him regular Energon?"

"He'd be able to survive off of it for awhile, but eventually his systems would start to reject it."

Silence. The three humans and Bumblebee tried to think of something else to say. Barricade just didn't bother.

"Elizabeth and Judy are coming tonight. Don't let them know that." Epps said gravely, but it wasn't needed. That much was already agreed upon.

"I think Bumblebee's getting too relaxed." Miles commented with a grin to his fellow humans. He, Sam, Epps, and Will had snuck off into Sam's and Miles' room to talk alone for a bit. "I mean, telling us that when we got those freaky powers? Sorry Sam, but I think you got the one with less processor power."

"At least mine appreciates feelings and can tell me mushy things if the situation calls for it. And he doesn't mind hugs, giving or receiving." Sam sniffed in fake hurt.

Miles thought for a moment, and then shrugged. "I can live without that."

Epps snickered, and Will rolled his eyes.

"We're here for a reason, boys, so shut up. Now, you three will be doing this." Will said sternly, though there was a small grin on his face.

"Why just us?" Sam asked.

"I can explain this one, Willy." Epps grinned. "If we're missing, they'll just think we're doing something childish. If Will's with us that means they'll probably look for us sooner."

Sam and Miles nodded. Once Will left they all agreed to sit apart from each other, so concentrating would be easier. Miles sat on his own bed, Sam sat on his, and Epps sat on the floor in between the two beds, that way he could reach either teens quickly if he wanted to.

An hour passed with nothing happening. Sam was just about to suggest giving up, when Epps fell into the nothing, pulling the two teens in along with him.

When asked later what happened up until the point of recognizing that they were floating like ghosts in front of Bluestreak, none would be able to recall much about it. Just the fact that they were moving, and that this time they all felt individual, but still connected. And that they couldn't tell if they were speaking English or Cybertronian, but they could be understood.

At that moment they were staring at an extremely surprised Bluestreak. The young door-winger shuttered and unshuttered his optics, and then tilted his head to the side. For once he was struck speechless, stuck just staring at the slightly there organics he could make out where he had been once staring at a wall. They weren't solid, but they didn't appear like something could pass through them either.

Miles was the first to speak. "Optimus Prime." He said simply, figuring that if it had worked on Blaster then it would work on the mystery mech, as he was wearing the Autobot insignia.

"Optimus sent you?" Bluestreak asked. "Well, is sent really the right word? Are you here, because I really have this feeling that I can feel you. Like this time when I was with Tracks visiting this dead world and I thought I could sense the beings that had lived there, but when I got back I was told I had just had some bad Energon. Did I have bad Energon again? It never said there was an incoming transmission, much less from Optimus! Or did I just not notice it? Oh, are you guys a secret? And what exactly are you guys, anyway?"

"You must be Bluestreak." Epps said, grinning. "And boss bot didn't send us, so much as that we sent ourselves. And as for us being here... Well, we're here and somewhere else."

"You know about me? Someone's been talking about me? Who? I hope they haven't been saying anything bad!" Bluestreak's doorwings fluttered nervously.

"Prowl, mostly. He misses you." Sam replied, laughing at the way Bluestreak's face lit up.

"As for what we are, we're humans. The inhabitants of Earth, where Optimus and the original All spark crew, and several others, have gathered." Epps explained. "Megatron was defeated, but in the process the All spark was destroyed. We also have some converters to the Autobot side from the Decepticons."

Bluestreak gasped, "Who?"

"Barry!" Miles said happily. "He's completely Neutral now. Then there's Soundwave, Ravage, Ratbat, Buzzsaw, and Laserbeak."

"When you say Barry, do you mean Barricade?" Bluestreak looked at the organics with something akin to awe now. "He actually lets you call him that?"

"Well..." Sam started, snickering. "I wouldn't say let. Miles here is pretty much the only one who does it without being snapped at. Cade's his Guardian, too."

Bluestreak gaped as the three humans continued to fill him in. They mentioned Orion and the need for those materials, as well as several other things.

When he asked where Earth was, they had no idea how to answer, and spent awhile searching for it with the young sniper just as Tracks came in and stared at the four in shock.

Then the explanation began all over again.

Bumblebee watched as Judy and Elizabeth walked in, their husbands following not far behind them. He tried not to laugh as he saw what Ron and Bob were carrying. Ron had a giant stuffed bumblebee, and Bob had a giant stuffed police bear.

Bumblebee grinned, "Hey Elizabeth, Judy. Get those for Sam and Miles?"

"Of course! The bee I've actually had for awhile, but we found the bear online and just couldn't resist." Judy smiled, taking the bumblebee from Ron. "Now it's like they can have tiny, to you, but giant to them, mascots for their Guardians. We figured they could at least shove them in the closest or under the bed if they didn't want to sleep with them."

Elizabeth took the bear dressed up in a cute little police uniform and held it out towards Barricade's face. She smiled sweetly.

"Meet what will probably be Barry the II. Try not to get too jealous."

Bumblebee couldn't help but snicker at Barricade's expression at that. Shock, anger, but the ex-con knew better than to growl or snarl at this particular human. He poked the ex-con in the side.

"Guess he'll get to hug a Barry, after all. Maybe he'll replace you." The Autobot Scout teased.

Barricade had no problem with growling at him.

Elizabeth smirked, "Now, where are our babies?"

"Haven't seen them since this afternoon. Will probably knows, I think he's covering for a prank." Bumblebee replied, starting to walk to where he knew the Captain to be.

Will looked behind him at the two human mothers and the two Cybertronians, who were currently using their holoform. Ron and Bob had left for the cafeteria, seeing as Ratchet was busy and wouldn't know they snagged a beer. He looked back at the door to Sam's and Miles' room. He really didn't want to open it.

And he never got the chance. Bumblebee could tell the Captain was more tense than usual, and had swept past him, opening the door in his stead, and entering.

They all looked like they were sleeping. Sam was slumped against the wall that his bed sat against, legs sprawled out in front of him. Epps was still on the floor, back leaning against the night stand that sat in between the two beds. Miles was the only one of the three that was actually laying down. Will had enough of a mind to usher the two mom's out.

Bumblebee growled this time, surprising Will as he was closing and locking the door, and even Barricade. He then went to shake Epps roughly.

"I really don't think that's a good idea..." Will protested lightly, frowning when Bumblebee just ignored him.

Bumblebee was pleasantly surprised when Epps actually came back to reality with a start. Up until the Sergeant spoke.

"Oops."

Will groaned, "Oops what?"

"I lost them."

Silence for a moment.

Barricade glared, "What the frag do you mean you lost them?"

"Well, Bumblebee shook me, and I was starting to come back, and they were with me, but then Sam saw something!" Epps said in a rush. "The only thing I got was 'Ohhhh, what's this?' and then Miles was following after Sam and I lost them. This time was different, and we were more... dumbed down?...in certain parts of it."

"Shit, Sam! You lost Epps!"

"What do you mean, I lost Epps? How could we lose Epps?"

"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure Epps was going back to our bodies, and then you were like 'Ohhhh, what's this?' and I followed you!"

"Well... now I know what it is that caught my interest! This is the place where I was getting the feeling from!"

Silence. Both could feel themselves become more aware, like Epps' absence loosened the hold of, what they assumed to be, the power of the Allspark on them. In all cases before, minus talking to Bluestreak where the power had backed down a bit, it was a force surrounding them, different, but a part of them at the same time. It was almost frightening how alone this made them feel, even when they could still feel each other so clearly.

"Sam, what is this?"

"I don't know."

"And the feeling?"

"This way." And Sam started to move. Or float. Neither of them were actually sure what to call it, but it was just like walking. There wasn't much of a concious thought to it. Their bodies, or spirits, or whatever it was, just obeyed.

The two teens looked around at where they were currently at. Miles was nervous; freaky alien shit on top of more freaky alien shit just didn't seem like the best combination to him. It was dark, and mist rose from the ground. It was wet, but Miles couldn't tell exactly how untill they came upon several large blue pods.

Sam moved closer, trying to peer inside. He gasped, "I think those are sparklings!"

The room was completely silent, Ratchet checking on the two teens. Optimus and Ironhide had come in, and Bumblebee, Barricade, Epps, and Will had stayed. Wheeljack had taken to distracting the two mother's, and the father's were kept away so they wouldn't find out yet.

Almost like clockwork, both teens would cease breathing together. Then either Sam or Miles would start again, breathing deeply, as if for both of them. Then the other would join his friend, and their breathing would even out and synchronize. Then it would repeat, and whoever had started breathing first would be the one left to catch up to his friend. So if they both stopped, and Miles started, then Sam caught up and they evened out, the next time it would be Sam starting, and Miles catching up until they evened out.

Will was pacing back and forth, Epps' watching his long time friend and commanding officer with worried eyes. Both Barricade and Bumblebee were in almost identical positions; stationed as close to the beds that their charge's were on as possible, without being in the way of Ratchet. However, Bumblebee was also near the others, while Barricade wasn't. Ironhide and Optimus stood side by side, near the two soldiers and Bumblebee.

"This didn't happen before, correct? Do either of you have any idea why it is now?" Optimus asked, watching his CMO's holoform as it toiled away over the teens.

"No!" Will hissed, "We didn't even think it would work this time. We have no idea what any of this stupid freaky alien shit is, how it works, why it works, or what will happen next! We just go with the flow, because hey, we're stuck with it anyway, and it's one of the few ways we can actually help you guys! We just wanted to contact that one base and get Orion what he needed!"

Epps put a hand on Will's shoulder, shaking his head. He could almost guess that his friend would have more to say, and would if given the opportunity, but knew it wouldn't be for the best.

"We did make it. Talked to Bluestreak, and then Tracks." Epps smiled weakly, "Took us forever to find Earth, funnily enough. Blue said he's gonna be coming with the supplies. I don't know about anyone else. And if earlier is anything to go by, I think we should fear that for when Miles is back to normal. He could get Blue going on a streak ten miles wide, especially when he mentioned 'Cade owing him a hug."

"Yes, my liege. I sense the Allspark energy as well. But how?" Starscream asked, coming to a stop in front of the throne of the Fallen, one of the first great Primes of Cybertron.

Both teens froze when they heard the voice, and if they would have been breathing in their current forms even that would have stopped. Sam recognized the voice, but Miles had no idea who it was.

An ancient voice answered the seeker, "You have much to learn. The cube is merely a vessel. It's power, it's knowledge, can not be destroyed. Merely... transformed. Find it's new container, and capture it, Starscream. Megatron must be brought back if I am to rise again."

"As you decree, my liege." Starscream bowed low to the ground, before rising once more and stalking off.

Well that was the very epitome of sounding not fragging good. The two teens stared at each other with wide eyes, Epps' and Will's absence suddenly becoming a whole lot more noticable.

"Dude, we need to get back. Like five minutes ago." Miles whispered, Sam nodding.

But how?