*Chapter 10: Allies*

Jack had just finished doing errands around the base while some of the Autobots went out to the city to be sure there are no Decepticons around to attack. So far, everything is fine. Almost fine. Jack remembered last night when Optimus talked to him. A human and a robot cannot be a romantic relationship. It is impossible. They can be friends, nothing more.

"You done, Jack?" Ratchet asked, his holoform walk by the teen. "Slow day, isn't it?"

"...It was nothing. I'm free to do what I want, gonna head home tonight and come back next weekend." Jack said. "So, any word from the Autobots who might arrive to Earth soon?"

"There is static." Ratchet replied. "Let us hope they will be arriving or might be alive." Jack nodded. He walked outside to see the military trucks and some soldiers wander around. Silence was soon broken when a police car appeared and transformed. Barricade. He let out a roar and swung around his weapon.

"Found you!" He hollered. The soldiers were yelling and got their guns out to shoot the Decepticon. Jack was about to run inside, but Jazz drove by and open the passenger door.

"Get in! I called Prime!" Jazz spoke from the radio. Jack wasted no time and got in the car. Jazz drove off as Barricade was distracted by the soldiers. But, the Decepticon noticed that Jazz is driving away with Jack inside. The evil robot growled and transformed to go after them. Lennox cursed and got out his radio to contact backup.

XX

Jack turned back to see Barricade on their tail. Jazz is faster than him, but Barricade started to shoot. Jazz had to swerve to avoid the bullets as Jack held on the seat and the door.

"What does he want?" Jack asked, trying not to panic.

"You, of course! The Cons are after ya, but we got you. Don't worry about a thing! Prime and the others are on their way!" Jazz said. A jet flew above them and transformed. Starscream stood in the middle of the street to block them from going any further. Jazz hit the breaks. Barricade stopped and transformed. The two Decepticons aim their guns at Jazz. Jack sank low, hoping neither of them see him.

"We know you are in there, boy! Come out of there!" Starscream demanded.

"Get out, Jack. I got a plan. Trust me." Jazz said in a whisper. Jack didn't say anything, but obliged. He slowly open the door and raise his hands up to surrender. Starscream smirked at him.

"Hello, Jack. Is Orionna not with you?" He asked in a taunting tone. Jack glared at him.

"What do you want with me?" Jack asked. "Is it because of Megatron?"

"Megatron is no more. The Decepticons obey my orders now." Starscream said.

"What, you're a leader now?" Jack asked with a smirk. "That's a first." Before Starscream could speak, Jazz quickly transformed and started to shoot at him and Barricade. Jack was told to run away from the battle.
Jack avoids the gunshots from the Decepticons while Barricade is chasing him, speaking in Cybertronion language. As Barricade is close to grab Jack, another robot appeared and strike him with a blade. Jack looked up to see a silver robot that looks a bit like Jazz, but different.

"Came right on time." The silver robot spoke. His blue optics shine brightly. Jack could see the Autobot insignia on him. He's one of the Autobots.

"Jack!" Orionna's voice called. She ran up to him and transformed. She informs him to get inside while the newcomer will handle Barricade to help Jazz who is fighting with Starscream. Orionna drives Jack away from the battle when the rest of the team arrived on the scene.

"Who was that? He's one of you!" Jack asked, looking back.

"Sideswipe. And he isn't alone. The others will meet us at the base." Orionna replied from the radio. "Is anyone injured at the base?"

"I don't think so. Jazz took me away from the base. Barricade and Starscream were after me." Jack said. They are heading back to base when the Decepticons were taken care of by the Autobots.

Orionna and Jack waited for their team to arrive. They hear engines. Optimus, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ironhide, and Sideswipe. But, there is a red/orange car follow them and had a Autobot insignia. They all transform. Jack watched Sideswipe and the red/orange robot transform. The red/orange Autobot is a female.

"Thanks to Sideswipe, we knock those punks down." Jazz said with a smirk.

"Starscream is a coward. He's lucky he escaped." Sideswipe commented.

"Too bad I miss all the fun." The female Autobot spoke. She turned to see Jack stood by Orionna. She kneeled down. "And who is this human? Friend of yours, Orionna?"

"This is Jack Darby." Orionna introduced. "Jack, this is Paramorah."

"Hi. Nice to meet you. And Sideswipe." Jack said to the two newcomers. "Thanks for stopping those Cons."

"Any reason why they are after this boy?" Sideswipe asked.

"He has helped Sam Witwicky defeat Megatron." Orionna told him and Paramorah. "He will be here on weekends. I'm taking him home tonight. He has school."

"So we have to keep this boy safe from the Decepticons? What about that Witwicky boy?" Paramorah wondered in confusion.

"What matters is that we must keep all humans safe in this planet from the Decepticons." Optimus spoke. "Jack is a friend of ours. A very close ally to Orionna who protects him from any harm. We must be sure any other Decepticon isn't causing any more destruction." Jack listened to the leader of the Autobots. He had been thinking about his future with the Autobots. How long will he have to be under their protection? Possibly for a long time. Even after he graduated from high school. In two years, he will be out of school and start a new life. Sam plans to be in collage after high school. What will Jack do?

"Jack?" Ratchet's voice asked. Jack looked up at him.

"I just scanned you. You are not harmed." Ratchet said.

"Oh. Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." Jack said. "I'm, uh, gonna pack before it gets dark." He walked inside the base. Orionna watched him in concern.

Outside of the city, Starscream stared out in the horizon while Barricade sat with a scowl. Starscream almost had Jack. If only Jazz hadn't got in the way or those Autobots arrival to save Jack.

"The boy is kept by those Autobots for safety." Starscream growled. "I still don't understand why we must capture him alive. What does a human got?"

"The boy has something inside him. He is special. Unlike that Witwicky boy." Barricade replied. "When I first saw the boy's eyes, I see something in them. We will plan our attack soon, but...we must wait for Soundwave. And sooner or later, we will have our leader back."

"I'm the leader of the Decepticons now, you fool!" Starscream hollered, but Barricade strikes him.

"Hail Megatron!" He roared. "Megatron is our true leader! His body is located in the ocean miles from here. When the rest of the Decepticons arrive, we will be ready for them to revive our leader." Starscream growled at him, but didn't say anything. "Jack Darby has secrets we need, and he will be no more. Orionna will be broken." Barricade said with a smirk. "There is a strong bond between them."

"Jack, if you like, I could drive you home. Orionna told me where you live in case she needs backup from any of us." Sideswipe said in his holoform, sitting next to Jack in the break room.

"Uh, sure. That'd be great." Jack said with a smile.

"Besides, I like to show off my beauty out there." Sideswipe said with a smirk. Jack laughed at him. Sideswipe's holoform is a tall man with light blonde hair, wearing a leather jacket, a gray shirt, and dark gray jeans. He could be a model that any girl could fall for. "You got a special girl in your life, Jack?" Sideswipe asked.

"Uh...no." Jack quickly replied. "I...I thought I did, but...there was someone else."

"Ooh. Who is she?" Sideswipe asked. "She sounds special."

"I'd rather not tell you." Jack said with a blush. "I've been given a warning already." Sideswipe raise his brow at him. Jack could tell that he hadn't been told about his feelings towards Orionna. "Well, let me get my things and...we will go." Jack got up to get his suitcase from his room.

"Take your time, kid." Sideswipe said. Paramorah came by him in her holoform. She has long red hair in a ponytail. She is wearing a red jacket with a white shirt underneath, black jeans and brown boots. She had a frown on her face. Sideswipe turn to face her. "What's wrong?"

"I receive a message from Arcee." Paramorah said. "Bad news. Elita-1 never made it. Shockwave shot her down before she had the chance to escape with the others." Sideswipe couldn't believe what he had heard. Elita-1 is dead. A leader of the female Autobots, a mate of Optimus Prime, and a mother of Orionna, is gone. Optimus won't take the news well. He loved Elita-1. Even Orionna will be devastated.

"When will we tell them?" Sideswipe asked.

"Soon. After you drop off the boy, we will tell Optimus and Orionna." Paramorah said. "I expect to see the twins' arrival tomorrow. The others need time."

*Author's Note: Paramorah belongs to me. See what she looks like on my deviantart page!*