A/N: And here we are! The next chapter in the story, this one was a fun one to write, lots of surprises up ahead! And I'll voice my excitement at the end so that you ain't spoiled, now, let us get into it!

Chapter 6-Prelude to Chaos

I arrived back at Base the next day, Sierra hopped out of my Alt Form and made her way up on the human platforms were the others were. It seemed there partners were getting along, but the most surprising thing awaiting us was Cliffjumper, standing near Optimus and Ratchet.

"So...you all decided to reveal yourselves to humans while I was gone? You really do you need me, don't you?" He said coyly, Arcee smiled and ran up to him and hugged him.

"Shut it, you lug." She said, before pulling away before lightly punching him.

"Good to have you back!" Bulkhead chuckled giving him a good bro handshake.

"Ah yeah!" Bee cheered.

Everyone seemed to be lighter than before, but...something wasn't right...I couldn't tell what it was.

I smiled though, "Good to see you're still with us, Cliffjumper. Are you going to fix that horn of yours?"

His horn was still broken, Cliffjumper merely shrugged, "I think I'll keep it the way it is. Battle scars and all."

"Right, so, what happened exactly?" I asked, the kids who were listening piped up, mostly Miko, of course.

"Yeah! They thought you were dead! How'd you escape? How many Cons did you scrap?" She asked gleefully, Cliffjumper seemed to take right to the girl's enthusiasm.

"Spunky one aren't ah, well, I didn't really take any Cons down but using my wit I managed to escape. It was nothing amazing but hey, I'm alive and that's all that matters." Cliffjumper then turned to Optimus, "But, it was still harrowing, mind if I rest for the day?"

Optimus smiled, placing a servo on his shoulder, "You deserve it Cliffjumper, go, we now have plenty of backup to assist us." He motioned to me and Cliff looked surprised.

"Really? You are one of us now?" I hear it in an undertone that he held, there were the barest hints of suspicion melted into his words.

"Yes, though I have yet to receive my badge." I hinted to Ratchet who waved his servo.

"Lets get that done now, Cliffjumper, go rest." Ratchet shooed the red mech away as he guided me away into the Med-Bay for my badge.

An hour later I came out of the Med-Bay with my new badge, now resting on my shoulders were my doors rested. I looked around to see the children setting up an area for themselves, apparently getting supplies from somewhere. Cliffjumper is nowhere to be seen along with Arcee, Optimus was off somewhere and the other two helping the kids.

"Hey guys." I said, Sierra turned to me with a small smile.

"Nice badge, Bulletta." She said, pointing to the symbol.

I gave a slight smile, "Yeah, kinda hard to believe it."

Bulkhead chuckled, "You'll get used to it, so, now all that is a problem is Fowler."

"Right, he doesn't know about you guys." I gestured to the humans on the platform.

Miko shrugged, "So? What happens if he finds out?"

Sierra rolled her eyes, "His from the government and when now a government secret, what do you think will happen?"

"I know! That's why I'm worried." She lamented, Sierra's features softened. "Bulk is awesome, and it made Jasper, Nevada way more exciting!"

"I agree with Miko, Jasper's way more fun with Bee around!" Raf said, adjusting his glasses and smiling up at his friend.

"But," Jack said, "There is also the fact that this is dangerous, I mean, we've literally walked into something we can't even fathom quite yet!"

"Exactly, Jack. I'm worried about all outcomes when it evolves this government. From what I've gathered it seems 'America' is not a peace-loving nation. What with it being the biggest military force on the planet and with all those secrets it likes to keep." I said, my tail swishing behind me in anxiety.

"You mean like us?" Bee joked, I gave him a deadpanned look before going on.

"Point being, we need to figure out a way of slowly telling him, or it will end disastrously."

Bulkhead shrugged, "How about for now we keep it from him and when Optimus or someone comes up with an idea we just keep it as it is?"

"Fine. By the way, where's Cliffjumper, I want to talk to him." I asked the two who simply shrugged, "Great, alright, Sierra don't get into too much trouble."

She gave me a cool stare, "Since when do I make trouble?" There was an undertone of offense from her but I promptly ignored it and made my way further into the base.

I walked for two minutes searching the base till I decided to listen closely. Ramming up my audios I began to hear the distant voice of Cliffjumper talking to someone. It was hard to make out because whispering but I soon started coming closer, to the training area and the voices became much clearer.

"Look, all of it's a real blur. Does it matter how I got out? I am alive, that's all anybot should care about." He asked to another.

Then the familiar voice of Arcee asked, "Cliff, we were really worried about you...we-I thought you were dead! We just want to know what happened."

Another voice rumbled out, the baritone of Optimus Prime said, "Cliffjumper, it's bothering you, we can all tell. I believe saying what is bothering you can help the process, you may have mostly healed physically but we worry about the mental wounds."

I finally made it to the training room, my silent peds stopped in front of the doorway, staring into the room with said three bots. And what appeared to be destroyed dummies.

"Mental wounds?" Cliff scoffed, "Prime, 'Cee, I'm fine. Outside and in. You guys are worried about nothing. I'm fine."

"Are you sure, Cliff?" Arcee asked, worry evident on her face.

"Yeah...just need to get my groove back. Can't let the Decepticons take me so easily again, am I right?" He smiled with a goofiness to it.

Arcee sighed, "Alright, but Optimus and I as well as the rest of the team are here for you, just remember that?"

"Of course, 'Cee." Cliff said before turning to the Prime. "Thanks for looking out for Arcee while I was gone." He gave a playful smile to the Prime.

A slight smile returned to the Prime, "Well, it really wasn't I who was."

Realizing the conversation was coming to an end, I hid behind a crate near the door. I had the intention of speaking with Cliffjumper alone. So, waiting for a few seconds, Arcee and Optimus walked by me, closing the door behind them as they left the room.

I heard a sigh, "They wouldn't get it…" I heard Cliffjumper mumble to himself.

Coming out of my hiding spot I asked, "Wouldn't get what?"

Cliffjumper jumped and pulled his blasters on my before realizing who I was and putting them away, growling, he asked. "What are you doing here?"

I walked up cautiously towards him, kicking a broken dummy out of the way.

"I heard your conversation with Arcee and Optimus, and I wanted to talk to you about it."

He narrowed his optics slightly, "You were listening in on our conversation? What are? A spy or something?"

"That's not important. What is important is why you are keeping to yourself about this whole incident." I asked, trying to avoid the topic of me.

Cliffjumper's whole exterior seemed to darken, "Why should I tell you?"

"Well," I mused with my tail gesturing to myself, "I'm new, I barely know you. So, what right do I have to judge you or you're actions? I'm someone who doesn't know you're past or you as a person, so, why not? I mean, you have to tell at least someone, why not tell the person who you can save all knowledge in her helm? I am a reveler of secrets and one way or another, those will come to light. It just depends on you. If this secret looks bad on you, then I can help defend you…"

I let my words trail off, with a suggesting tone. His optics focused into nothingness as he thought.

I added, "I have been used as a confidant for many people, I know when to release my knowledge Cliffjumper. I don't just willy-nilly tell everyone's secrets to everyone. Sometimes, thought I hate it, secrets have their place." I felt like the last part really aligned with my secret mission, but I let the thought slide.

He was silent for a little longer before he deflated and vented.

"You have a point, I'll give you that." He sighed once more, pulling crates over we both sat down, facing each other. "While on the Nemesis, I almost met my end."

My eyebrow quirked, "Almost?"

"I was saved, by one of their own. A new femme I had never seen before, strange one too. She had pure blue-green optics and her protoform was pure black, like it was made from shadow. Anyways, Starscream was about to skewer me when...she stopped him. She told him about how killing me was a mistake, one that may cost his life later on. And...he let me go, after that I was escorted away with her, she told me her name was Moonfall and that she was with them on a 'need to know basis', whatever that meant." His optics were trained to the floor.

I narrowed my optics, "So, why keep it to yourself?"

"I DON'T KNOW, OKAY!?" He shouted suddenly, his optics wild as he went on, "I...can't for some reason, something inside of me is stopping it. But...you, you are different! And I don't know why I can't trust them to handle the truth, but...you should've seen her...she seemed so...I don't even know."

I said softly, "Take your time, Cliff."

He struggled to find the words, his frame shuddering and his optics twitching.

"I...she...she's not like us." He vented hard, "She's...damaged in ways I can't possibly know and yet...she's a neutral. She's otherworldly...not Cybertronian...but something else. She sees reality for what it really is and...she knows how to react accordingly. It's like...she isn't even from this world."

I was silent for a moment, I remembered when Alchemist told me that there would be others and I realized not all of them will be Autobots, there was A choice, I chose the Autobots and someone else could've easily chosen the Decepticons.

The way he described her, I've heard of those kinds of creatures though rare.

"She's a Fetchling." I said after a long silence, he looked at me confused.

"W-Wait, what? Are you saying she really isn't a Cybertronian?" His plates seemed to tense with realization.

"Yes, what you've described before was a Fetchling, a creature born from darkness. In a realm filled with undeath and despair, Fetchlings were trapped servants of powerful wizards who evolved in the Shadow Plane only to return to our world in small numbers, they are a rare breed." My Atheneum was pulling old data from my files as I listed the facts off.

"O-Okay, but, what about her demeanor and this...urge in me?! Why can't I get her out of my head...why does she feel so...wrong?" He then looked to me with narrowed optics, "Why do you feel so wrong?"

My sparkbeat skipped, and I realized something.

Deep down he knows, maybe he was supposed to die, and this is the universe giving something to him. Instead of giving death, it gave him something else.

I was tense, my tail frozen in it's slow constant movements.

Then, a small whisper came into my audio.

"It's alright, kid, tell him." Alchemist whispered before I felt the tension leave all at once.

I gulped, "Your r-right, Cliffjumper. I am wrong, I don't belong here because I was placed here."

His optics widened, like he didn't expect this answer.

I told him.

Everything was laid bare on the invisible table in front of us. The mission, my role in it and Moonfall's, and about the Primes and how everything hinged on us.

He simply listened intently, absorbing the information.

After I explained it to him, he asked me.

"What happened to bring you into the presence of the Primes? What...were you before this?"

My optics grew heavy at the answer as flashes crossed my mind, "I won't say much as it's still hard to look back...but...what led me to the Primes was my death…"

"I'm sorry I asked." He said quietly.

"It's okay, maybe one day I can talk about it. And maybe one day I'll get to know the Cliff who lived on Cybertron as well." I gave a smirk.

He chuckled, "Sparkling steps for both of us, I suppose."

I nodded, "I hope you can keep this conversation to yourself for now."

He gave me a sardonic look, "Keeping secrets now are we? I thought you were an open book?"

I playfully scowled, "Hey, just because I don't reveal secrets right away doesn't mean they stay hidden forever. It's timing, and I know the truth can do more harm then good, I'm not that dumb."

He laughed it off, "I know, but, I guess this means were each other's confidants?"

"I had hoped to be friends?" I asked, putting my servo out.

He smiled, "I think we can manage that, 'Letta."

I laughed, "So, we doing nicknames now, Cliff?"

"Maybe…" He deviously said before standing. "Now, lets get outta here, I need to stretch my legs, there stiff."

"Aren't they supposed to be stiff, made of metal and all?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes and we both made our way out of the room.

We made our way back to the main hall, along the way we chatted about our weapons, me gushing over mine more than his. He seemed impressed that I could make these weapons at such a young age, and of course he was interested in the old ammo that used blackpowder...seemed like I might have someone who enjoys explosions as much as I do.

As we entered we saw everyone gathered, the Bots looked at us with surprise before promptly going back to what they were doing, Arcee approached us.

"Where were you guys?" She asked, almost suspicious or...jealous?

"Ah, just chatting with the new metal on Team Prime." Cliffjumper waved it off.

I then remembered when we found Cliffjumper back at the cave...now I understood the current of tone under her earlier words.

"Really?" She asked.

If I could sweat…

"Yeah, why? Something wrong?" He asked, clueless.

Arcee looked to me, "You have anything to say?"

"Uh...I see Cliffjumper as a brother…" I said quickly, Cliffjumper looked confused before realization hit his face.

"Oh! Oh no, Arcee I would never do that to you I just-"

Arcee cut him off with a devious smile, "I know, I'm just messing with you."

I physically gave a sigh of relief as she went on.

"Besides," Arcee looked to Bumblebee, "I think Bulletta is already taken."

Now it was my turn to be clueless. "What…?"

She smiled, "Nothing…" She said as she pulled a confused Cliffjumper away to another part of the room.

I stood there, still confused, I really hate being in the dark. It felt like everyone knew something I didn't? And why did she look at Bumblebee when she said that?

I walked over to the human area, when I arrived, Sierra spoke up as it seemed my turmoil was written clearly on my face.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

I sighed, "I feel like I'm out of the loop about something." Looking to her she seemed as confused and worried as I was.

"Hm, well, what makes you say that?" She asked, Raf then added.

"Yeah, I thought you were an Autobot, don't they keep you in the loop?" He asked innocently.

"Actually, I only recently joined the Autobots, I was a Neutral before."

Miko sprang out from behind Sierra, spooking her slightly, "Oh yeah! Remember when they went to get Cliffjumper?"

"Right." Jack affirmed, "So, what do you think your out of the loop about?"

"I don't know, because I'm out of the loop. And to top it off, Arcee just said a weird thing, that I 'already belonged to someone' or something like that. And before that she was tricking us into believing that she was suspicious of us having an affair together when clearly we weren't and while she said it she looked at Bee!" I ranted off, my anxiety becoming clear to the kids who looked at each other with concern.

"She looked at Bumblebee when she said that?" Sierra asked.

"Yes." I answered, looking back to Bee who was talking to Cliffjumper and Arcee.

Miko shrugged, "Well...I can't help you."

"Great, thanks." I said in monotone.

"Hm, do you have theories, I mean, what comes to mind when you see Bee?" Raf asked, adjusting his glasses.

I was about to answer when a beeping started coming from the computer, Ratchet called out.

"Optimus, I just received an SOS from an Autobot ship. It's entering the atmosphere and seems to be running from a Decepticon ship" He said, we gathered around him, staring at two dots as the came to land on a large island in the north.

"They've landed on Baffin Island, Ratchet, fire the groundbridge up and prepare the Med-Bay." Optimus called as we turned to the darkened tunnel.

Soon enough the tunnel alighted and Optimus called.

"Autobots, roll out!" We transformed and launched ourselves through the portal and towards fellow Autobots in distress.

We exited out of the tunnel in a crisp cool air, transforming quickly I came to rest beside Arcee with my Veracity drawn and ready. The hard pack tundra earth was below us and in front of us was two large groves, each holding sizable ships. Each bearing the symbols of the warring factions.

The Autobot ships main door was open and smoke bellowed from within.

Exiting out of the grey smoke was two figures, and to my surprise, almost carbon copies of one another. One red and one yellow, both built to be grounders and both coughing as the came out.

"Seriously, could you be even more rough in your landing?" The red one asked.

"Oh can it, bro, at least we're alive!" He replied grumpily.

Bulkhead's optics widened, "Oh no, Ratchet isn't gonna like this."

"Huh?" I asked, I looked back at the twins who finally saw us.

"Woah! Optimus Prime is on this rock?! Never mind what I said before you rock at driving Sunny!" The red one shouted.

Sunny, I suppose a nickname, said, "Don't mention it, Sides."

"Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, it is good to see you well." Optimus said, dropping his mask.

"Good to be back with you Prime, especially if that means Hatchet's around." Sideswipe said with a devious smirk.

"Aw, and here I thought I couldn't puke harder from all this Autobot mushiness!" A harsh female voice called out.

Weapons pointed, we looked to see a wicked looking femme. She jumped down with a deranged expression of her face. Her armor was very sharp and her colors were dark blue and black, her red optics boring holes into ours.

"Seriously, Astraea, wait for backup!" Another voice called, landing beside her were two mechs, one light blue and white, the other purple and yellow.

"Why? These Autobots are just dying to see my fireworks!" She pulled out several disks and threw them in front of us, we heard a beeping and Cliff yelled.

"Hit the deck!" We ran but the blast still caught us forcing us back.

The smoke covered the battlefield, suddenly Astraea burst through the cloud with a grenade, seeing it I took aim. She threw it at Optimus, the biggest target. With one breath I fired and the bullet hit it's mark exploding the air, harmlessly.

She looked at me surprised, "Well, I've never seen you before, good shot."

I paused, was that a...compliment?

"Astraea, are you insane?" The purple and yellow one called.

"Maybe, or maybe Thundercracker and Skywarp, you are just as cowardice as your brother!" She mocked and the two growled at her.

"Enough, you are clearly outnumbered, surrender!" Arcee called out, tired of the banter.

Astraea seethed but before she could speak, another groundbridge opened, then another and another until suddenly drones flooded into the tundra. Then one finally one opened on a nearby hill and rushing through it were several figures.

My Atheneum kicked in, it had read up on the files in the base about the Decepticons and now it matched faces to names.

The first was the leader himself, Megatron, an imposing figure that I myself could see as someone not to go one on one with. His massive cannon put my guns to shame and the scar he barred were something not to scoff at.

Next was the most silent yet deadly Con, Soundwave, not much is known about him but he's been with Megatron since the beginning and was in the same Pits as Megatron where they both honed their fighting skills, he was someone that could rival my hacking skills as well.

The last mech was Starscream, who looked eerily similar to Thundercracker and Skywarp. Apparently he was there brother, and a dangerous one at that. A cunning and treacherous seeker who could kill you as easily as manipulate you.

The final one was a femme and from remembering the description from Cliffjumper I knew this was Moonfall. New information poured into my Atheneum, being fed by an outside force, Alchemist I believe.

Apparently she was a former adventure like myself, who had a rough life in a Cult of Bane, a war god. She apparently was forsaken by a goddess after leaving Bane and has since renounced the gods in favor of her own self. She's been through hell and then some, someone I could relate too.

Her features were like Cliffjumper described, a femme of black protoform and blue-green optics. Of course she had a silver and purple scheme, with writing across her body, she had what almost looked like hair, in a red mohawk cut. She had a skirt around her waist and her wheels were located in her heeled peds.

"You are outmatched, Optimus Prime, leave and I may let you live!" Megatron shouted, with a dark smile on his features.

Optimus narrowed his blue optics, "Autobots, retreat." He said with reluctance.

"But Optimus-" Sideswipe whined but I stopped him.

"He is right, we must retreat, it's for our own good." Even though I knew Megatron was right, no way we could win, I still hated it.

A groundbridge opened and we all quickly rushed through. We came back to the otherside with all of us downtrodden at the retreat.

Then a scream yelled, "WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE!?" Ratchet's optics were wide with terror as he pointed to the twins who smirked.

"Nice to see you too, Hatchet."

Miko awed at the new bots, "What's with him? You guys enemies of doc bot?!"

Sideswipe laughed, "Hatchet here is our favorite bot to prank, hence the hello we received from him."

Miko smiled, "I think we can be good friends."

Ratchet then fainted, crashing to the floor.

The twins cackled in laughter as I looked at everyone else who seemed completely normalized to the situation.

I quickly looked up the twins files on the database I had and found a deeper in depth file. Skimming it, I realized in horror something that could make me faint.

They were going to cause trouble...and with Miko who I have heard things…

...This won't end well...

A/N: And we are done...hehe, it seems like Cliffjumper and Bulletta finally connected...just not how Bulletta intended. And now the twins are here, with Miko, that'll be fun and we are nearing the end of the first mini arc of the show! Wonder how it'll play out? Well you gotta keep reading! For now, just remember, you can comment or review this story as I read every single one, I always like to see how you guys are enjoying it and sometimes it even inspires me! But, with all that, I hope you enjoy your day, night or whatever and always be awesome, BYE!