I would like to thank Answerthecall, ilovemusic24601, and 3 for the favorites

For the follows I would like to thank ilovemusic24601, 3, and Verdantia

Answerthecall: I'm glad that this is becoming a favorite of yours; I hope to keep that going.

Chapter 5

Two days after the prosthetic had been implanted into me, I was up and moving around the base. I don't think that I was making Ratchet very happy, but I didn't care. I wanted to get back outside and see the world again instead of being confined to the base. The area around the implant was scabbed over and raw, but I could "feel" the prosthetic. It's hard to describe how it feels, but it is like the prosthetic is there but isn't there. "How are you feeling, kid?" a soft voice asked me.

I was currently in a large room that I had never been in before. I turned around and saw the golden female Autobot leaning in the doorway. What was her name again? Oh, that's right, it was Flare. "I'm feeling better," I answered. "I'd rather not be here, though."

"Where would you rather be?" Flare asked.

"At home," I answered. "I can't even begin to imagine what it's looking like without me having cleaned it in over a month."

"You remind me a lot of my sister, Solarstar," Flare said. "She was just like you, couldn't stand a dirty house."

"It's not that I can't stand it, it's just that I don't like to be dirty." I said crossing my arms. This was the first time I had done that since I lost my arm, and it felt completely natural.

"You should head back to the med bay before Ratchet glitches."

"I would, but I kind of got lost." I said sheepishly.

Flare smiled at me and beckoned for me to follow her. I didn't understand why the Autobots and Agent Fowler were treating me with any sense of trust due to the position I had been in with MECH. It left me utterly confused. I ran my left hand through my hair and shook my head.

Flare led me into a large room that had a large computer screen and an elevator shaft with a human sized area on an elevated area. There was a TV and a couch. The railings around the elevator shaft looked like they had been there awhile, but at the same time were new. I heard the sound of approaching vehicles and I was brought out of my thoughts.

By now I had become accustomed to the vehicle modes of the Autobots, but I was surprised to see a rider on Arcee. I was even more so surprised when passengers got out of Bulkhead and Bumblebee. I almost keeled over when I saw that the passengers were Miko and Raf. The rider dismounted from Arcee and removed his helmet. Now I was sure that I was going to have a heart attack, it was Jack. The Autobots transformed and Miko looked at me curiously. "Bulk, who's that?" she asked.

I looked at the green behemoth and slightly shook my head, indicating that I didn't want my identity to be divulged just yet. "We found him when we found Flare," Bulkhead answered. "Airachnid attacked him."

I breathed an inward sigh of relief, until Jack stepped forward. "You look familiar, have we met before?" he asked.

"No, I don't believe that we have." I answered.

Jack's eyes drifted down to the prosthetic and I shrugged. I looked at Flare and asked, "Can you bring me to the medical bay?"

"Sure thing, kid." Flare answered.

I nodded my thanks and Flare led me back to the med bay. I went to my bed and sat down on it. I rubbed my temples and I was aware of Flare looking at me. "What?" I snapped.

"Why didn't you want your designation revealed?" she asked.

"I don't want them to know who I am just yet." I answered. "Like I said, I had been at the train after the DINGIS when Jack and Miko were on the train."

"Oh, I heard the stories of that." Flare said sitting down on an Autobot sized chair.

"You probably think I'm a horrible person." I muttered.

"I cannot judge you based off of your past, I can only judge you on how you act in the present." Flare responded.

I snorted in amusement. "Pull the other one," I remarked. "That's all that you have to judge me on is my past."

Flare cocked her head to the side and asked, "How so?"

"Everything I do, it is never in the present, it will always be considered in the past," I answered. "Although it is always now, all that I will do and have done is the past."

Flare looked confused and leaned back into the chair she was sitting on. I looked at the female Autobot and I was amazed at how similar she looked to my motorcycle in color. I was about to ask her what her vehicle mode was when the proximity alarm went off.

I frowned, Agent Fowler and the surgeons weren't supposed to check up on me until tomorrow. Unless I got my dates mixed up. "Shit." I swore.

"What?" Flare asked.

"My identity is going to be revealed, possibly." I said with a suppressed groan. "Agent Fowler and the surgeons are coming to do a check up on me today."

"Oh." Flare said.

Within a couple of minutes I heard shouts of disbelief from Jack, Miko, and Raf. "Thanks Fowler." I mumbled.

Agent Fowler and the three surgeons walked into the room followed by Jack, Miko, Raf, and the Autobots. "How's the arm feeling?" Agent Fowler asked sitting on a chair next to the bed.

I glanced down at the prosthetic before looking Agent Fowler in the eyes. "It feels good, surprisingly," I admitted. "I'm even more amazed at how fast I'm healing."

"About that, Beau," Agent Fowler said getting himself more comfortable. "We ran some blood tests on you and you have an exceedingly abnormal cell reproduction rate."

"Cancerous?" I asked.

"No, it's actually beneficial for your health." One of the surgeons answered.

"So, does that mean the prosthetic will be healed quicker than originally thought?" I asked.

"It does." Another surgeon said nodding her head.

"How long?" I asked.

"By our estimates," the female surgeon said, "two more days."

I nodded and then looked at Agent Fowler and asked a question that had been on my mind. "Once I'm healed, where does that leave me?"

"What do you mean?" Agent Fowler asked.

"Where will I end up? Will I stay under the watchful eye of the Autobots or will I have to come with you?" I asked.

"That has yet to be determined." Agent Fowler answered.

I let out a frustrated sigh and moved my right arm around. "Will there be a way that I can hide this?"

"How so?"

"I don't know!" I said exasperated. "I just don't want people gawking at it!" I glared at Miko pointedly.

"Sorry, dude, I think that it's totally rad!" Miko said enthusiastically.

"You wouldn't think such a thing if I told you how I had to get a prosthetic." I said quietly.

"Everybody out, Beau needs to rest." Ratchet interjected.

"I don't feel tired." I said.

"You may not feel tired, but you're over exerting yourself and you haven't regained all of your blood volume yet," Ratchet said sternly. "Now lay down or I'll get a sedative."

"Yes, sir." I did a mock salute. I nonetheless did what the medic asked me to do and laid myself down fully on the bed. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to relax myself. I kept taking deep breaths until I felt myself drift into sleep.

Two days later…

I was shocked to see that my arm had completely healed over without scarring. Well, there was scarring, but only where the implants went in for the prosthetic. I felt immensely better and I figured that was the fact that my red blood cell count had returned to normal. I was finally allowed to go to the showering room by myself and I felt golden once I finished. I ran the prosthetic hand through my newly acquired beard and I wondered if I should keep it. I saw a razor and shaving cream and I smiled. I guess that answered that question. I shaved until I had a goatee and then I trimmed the goatee. I looked up in the mirror and saw that I looked more like myself than I had in the previous days I had been here.

I exited the room and was surprised to see Agent Fowler waiting there for me. "You look healthier than you should," he commented. "It seems that you're making a swift recovery."

"I am." I answered. I thought about walking past the agent, but instead I asked, "Why are you in here?"

"I have come to deliver news to you." Fowler answered.

"Such as?"

"You're free to go."

"Just like that?" I asked.

"Just like that." Fowler said.

"Will you take me home then? I don't know how to get there from here."

"We moved your house due to the fact that MECH might be looking for you." Agent Fowler answered.

"My motorcycle?" I asked.

"It's there, don't worry." Agent Fowler said smiling.

I nodded and then thought of something. "MECH can still find me." I said.

"That's why we changed your last name," Fowler said. I frowned. "You're now Beau Johnson."

"All right, I guess that works, there's a million Johnsons." I commented.

"And there's another thing," Fowler said. I looked at him with a quizzical expression. "You won't be allowed to go to school any more and you won't be without protection."

"What?" I asked in disbelief. "You can't just take me out of school!"

Agent Fowler shrugged and walked out of the room with me hot on his heels. "That's not up to you, boy." He said.

"I think that it should be! It's my blasted education!" I exclaimed. "And what is this protection detail that you were talking about?"

"You'll be under constant surveillance from my agency and other agents."

"How did you end up from delivering news of a loved ones death to this?" I demanded.

"Long story, kid," Fowler said with a sigh. "It's one that I don't like to tell and I will not tell."

"I deserve some answers! My life can't just go off the radar! Silas is too smart for that! He'll find me!" I said.

"He's your adoptive father, isn't he?" Agent Fowler asked.

I clamped my jaw shut and looked away. "I'm sorry." Agent Fowler said.

"For what?" I snapped. "That he gave me a home? That he gave me a family after mine was killed defending this country? After I had been screwed over by the foster care system? I'm not! The man may have his faults, but he did one thing right and I think that was adopting me! Without him, God knows where I could've ended up!"

Agent Fowler sighed and looked me in the eyes. "He may have made a good choice in adopting you, but attacking us and placing youths in risk? He has made many poor decisions lately." Fowler said.

I opened my mouth but I bit back the retort that had popped into my mind. Fowler did have a point there. I looked away and refused to look at the agent from who knows where.

"Beau," Agent Fowler said softly.

"Bug off." I growled stalking out of the corridor and towards the med bay.
I reached the med bay and I saw that it was empty and all of my things, which weren't many, were neatly packed and set on the bed. All I had was the clothing that I had originally been brought in here with. The clothes I was wearing had been bought by whatever agency Fowler worked for. I opened the bag and looked for my parents' dog tags. I couldn't find them and I started to panic. Where the hell are they? I thought in a panic. I removed all of the contents from the bag and looked frantically for them. I couldn't find them. I replaced all of the contents and sat on the bed feeling depressed.

"What's wrong, kid?"

I looked up and saw Flare standing in the doorway. "I can't find the dog tags that I came in with." I answered sadly.

"Agent Fowler is making new ones for you," Flare answered. "You damaged the other ones. There were teeth marks and blood stains that couldn't be removed."

"Oh." I said, feeling somewhat better. "What about the knife I had?"

"Ratchet doesn't want you to have that back." Flare said.

I was floored, did the grouchy medic think I was seriously going to harm myself like that again. "You've got to be kidding me! Does he really think that I'll harm myself like that again?" I demanded. Before Flare could answer I continued, "Like hell I would! That was only meant to be used in self defense or for other purposes!"

Flare shrugged and signaled for me to stand up. I did what she asked and I grabbed my bag. I was aware of the distrusting looks that I was receiving from Bulkhead, Ratchet, and Bumblebee as Flare led me into the main room and towards the elevator shaft. Agent Fowler must have told them who my adoptive father was. I walked up the stairs and joined Agent Fowler and I looked at the Autobots. "Thank you for taking care of me." I said sincerely.

"It would have been indecent of us to just let a youngling die." Optimus said.

Indecent, yeah that's a nice word choice. I thought to myself.

"It's time to go, kid." Agent Fowler said.

I nodded slightly and entered the elevator shaft. When we reached the top Agent Fowler didn't open the door right away. "What gives?" I asked.

"I cannot allow you to know the location of the base," Agent Fowler said. "I need to take precautions with you." He held out a bandanna.

"I understand." I said taking the bandanna and blindfolding myself.

Agent Fowler led me to something and helped me get in. I soon heard the distinct sounds of a helicopter starting and I leaned back into my chair. After about fifteen minutes or so, Agent Fowler said, "You can remove your blindfold."

I did as he said and looked at the landscape. Nothing was familiar, but it was a military base, that much I could see. There were a bunch of hangars and they were lettered A through F. I frowned in confusion. "I thought you were taking me to a new house and that I would be free to go." I said.

We landed and Fowler looked over at me. "You will be allowed to go freely," he said, "we just need to get your DNA, fingerprints, and other information out of you."

"So it's like I'm on parole?" I asked.

"Almost."

I shook my head and exited the helicopter. Fowler led me towards hangar E and I wondered why that specific hangar. I heard a peculiar noise and turned to Fowler and asked, "What's that noise?"

He turned around and then yelled, "RPG!"

I turned around and my eyes widened as I say an RPG take out the helicopter. Agent Fowler and I were thrown backwards by the explosion. Humvees with fifty cals mounted to them came out of hangar B and started firing towards an area that the RPG game from and I got up and shook my head. Return fire came and I looked at Agent Fowler. He was unconscious. "You've got to be kidding me!" I muttered. I ran over to the prone body and picked him up and ran towards hangar E. Gun fire was going off around me and I kept running. I made it into the hangar and set down Agent Fowler. I found some Kevlar and put that on.

"What do you think you're doing?" a voice yelled.

I looked up and saw a man with a mustache approaching me. I squinted and on his military uniform it said, Bryce. "I'm going out to help, sir." I replied.

"No you're not," the man said. "I don't trust you."

"I wouldn't trust me either if I were placed in your situation," I said. "Agent Fowler has something that I gave him, surely he talked to you about me?"

"Beau Schwarz, adopted by MECH."

"Correct, sir." I said nodding my head.

"I knew your father," the man said. "Show me that I can trust you by helping us defend this base from MECH, and then we'll talk."

"Give me an M-16 and some ammo and I'll be set sir." I said. What the hell am I thinking? I'm going to fight my friends? I thought. I snorted in my mind. Friends? What kind of friend would let a seventeen year old risk their life for a nuclear device that could have melted down? Maybe Fowler was right, Leland has made more mistakes than he has made correct choices!

I was given an M-16 and three magazines of ammo. I put on a helmet and ran out to join the fight. I loaded the assault rifle and hid behind the smoldering wreckage of the helicopter. I saw some of the troops taking fire from MECH troops and I came out of the wreckage and fired at the MECH troops. I saw a MECH soldier grab his thigh and fall to the ground, but I couldn't concentrate on that. I continued to provide covering fire for the troops pinned down. I became a moving target that the MECH soldiers were firing at. This was an excellent idea! I thought to myself sarcastically as I performed a baseball slide behind an upturned Humvee. I reloaded the gun with a fresh magazine and discarded the empty one. Great, now I'm pinned!

I stood up and returned fire before getting back down behind the safety of the Humvee. I heard an explosion and I wondered what that was. The gunfire ceased and I looked around. I saw a MECH soldier inching closer towards my flank and I shot him in the chest three times without thinking. The firing started up again and I made my way out from behind the Humvee and not a moment too soon. The Humvee exploded and I found a pile of sandbags. The fighting continued for another ten minutes before all of the renegades were either killed or taken prisoner.

I removed my helmet and closed my eyes. I can't believe I just ended another person's life! I thought miserably. What have I become? I never wanted this. I never wanted to be a killer. What have I done?

"You alright?"

I looked up and saw Agent Fowler standing there. "No," I answered. "I killed someone today. When did you wake up?"

"Three minutes ago," Agent Fowler replied sitting down next to me. "I gave General Bryce the flash drive and he said that since you helped defend the base and didn't turn on us, you're free to go."

"Last time you said that, you brought me here," I pointed out. "Where am I going now?"

"I contacted the Autobots a minute ago," Agent Fowler said. "They'll bring you to your new house in Jasper."

"When will they get here?" I asked.

"A minute or two."

"How will they get here so quickly?"

"You'll see, kid."

I extended the assault rifle and removed the Kevlar and handed that to Fowler as well. "Might as well give these back to you." I said.

"You're bleeding."

I looked down and saw that he was right. It was only a scratch though on my left forearm. "It's only a flesh wound," I said with a shrug. "I'll be fine."

All of a sudden a green swirling vortex opened up and a red and blue semi came through. I raised my eyebrows and thought, Well, that answers the question on how they could get here so fast.

"There's your ride." Fowler said.

"See ya later, Agent Fowler." I said.

"I'm sure you will."

I walked over to the semi and the passenger side door opened and I climbed in. "Agent Fowler informed us what you did here." A voice said out of the speakers.

"Optimus?" I asked. I had never seen his vehicle mode, except for that DINGIS incident.

"Correct," Optimus replied. "Agent Fowler also told us who your adoptive father was."

I squirmed in my seat as Optimus drove off into the vortex. I looked into the vortex and remained silent. "I didn't want that information out there." I said.

"Nonetheless, it is out there," Optimus said. He drove into the main room of the base, and then through the tunnel. "You cannot change who that is, Beau."

"I know," I whispered. "I just wish that I was never caught up in the situation that I'm caught up in now."

"Most in difficult situations think that way." Optimus said.

"How do you deal with killing someone?" I asked.

"Agent Fowler did not inform us of this…" Optimus said in surprise.

I was watching the landscape as Optimus drove down the highway and eventually into the little town of Jasper, Nevada. "What makes you think I killed someone?" I asked.

"Your demeanor and the question." Optimus answered.

I sighed and kept looking out of the window until I noticed that a motorcycle that looked like Arcee followed us. "Is that Arcee?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"It is Arcee and Jack," Optimus answered. "But please do not try to change the subject."

"Can't blame a kid for trying." I muttered.

"What happened?" Optimus asked.

I told Optimus what happened when I reached the base with Fowler and what happened to our helicopter. I told him everything. I told him how I provided covering fire for the pinned down troops and then got myself pinned. I told him how I then killed someone who I had most likely known. "Does it ever get any easier?" I asked.

"No, killing never gets any easier," Optimus answered. "But I feel that trying to distract oneself from their thoughts is the best way to change the course of one's thoughts."

"Are you always this cryptic?" I asked.

Optimus chuckled and then answered, "Not always, but I hope that you can reconcile with yourself on what you have done. From what I understand of your situation, you never were close to anyone in MECH. You didn't know that many people and you might not have known the man you killed."

Optimus stopped outside of a house and Arcee pulled into the driveway of the house next door. "Thanks, Optimus," I said gratefully. "But is it really wise for you to place me next to Jack and his family?"

"It might not be, but this was the only house available on the market for sale," Optimus answered. "Agent Fowler was adamant on the fact that you needed to be watched and so were my soldiers."

"I'm a threat to you, aren't I?" I asked.

"Yes." Optimus said bluntly.

"Why not just kill me?" I asked.

"We do not believe in harming innocents."

"I'm not innocent," I said. "I've done harmful things and probably evil things…"

"But those acts do not define who you are as a person," Optimus interrupted. "Do they?"

"But…"

"Do they?" Prime interrupted again.

"No, sir."

"So by Autobot law, you are innocent until proven otherwise guilty of being harmful." Optimus said.

"All right…" I said trailing off.

"You should get out and get some rest, Beau," Optimus said. "You seem as if you are about to collapse from lack of recharge."

I nodded and exited the cab and entered the house. I was shocked; it was exactly like the other house had been. "You've got to be joking." I muttered out loud.

I headed to the garage and saw the Ducati waiting there and I inspected it. Not a scratch was on it. I shook my head and left the garage and headed to the master bedroom. I stripped down to my boxers and did fifty push-ups and then one hundred crunches. I didn't want myself to get soft. I got into bed and let my head hit the pillows. I closed my eyes and let the dream world take me away.