It was late by the time Optimus and Ironhide arrived back to the autobot base, located under the waves of Lake Ontario. They had built an underwater base for two simple reasons: it was undetectable and nobody could accidentally stumble upon them there. Though the idea of machines living underwater sounded extremely preposterous, the autobots were adapted to it. They had installed minimal upgrades to their systems that allowed them to go through the water, as well; they equipped hidden elevators along the shoreline that easily took them to the base so they wouldn't have to drive through the water if they didn't want to.
Once inside the base, the tired girls climbed out of their rescuers. Rowan smiled proudly as Ironhide transformed behind her grumbling something about "infuriating humans." Carissa had to wake Kit up, who wasn't the least bit thrilled about being disturbed from her slumber. She yawned as she stumbled down from Optimus's cabin and looked to Carissa saying, "Next time you're asleep—
"I think we've got more important things on our plates right now other than sleep," Carissa exclaimed cutting Kit off midsentence and gesturing to Optimus.
Kit turned around and sized up Optimus before confirming, "Yeah…"
Rowan shook her head not caring for the conversation unfolding between the twins and piped up in a commanding voice, "So…just what are you guys?"
"Perhaps its best we didn't get you involved with our story," Ironhide answered causing the humans to look to him, "You see, it's only best you didn't get involved in our war anymore than what you have been."
"War?" Rowan exclaimed quietly and then hardly shouted back, "Either you tell us now or the next time you almost drive into a tree, you can save yourself!"
"I didn't almost drive into a tree!" Ironhide protested.
"Yes you did you liar!"
Ironhide charged up one of his cannons and pointed it threateningly in her direction, "Watch it human."
"Ironhide stand down," came Optimus's powerful voice through the room. He waited until Ironhide uncharged his cannons before he continued, "Now, these humans have every right to know after what happened to them tonight…and from here on out they are not allowed to leave the base until we figure out what the decepticons wanted with them."
"That robot back there was going to kill us," Carissa exclaimed twirling on one foot to face him instead of Ironhide.
"No it wasn't," Kit argued.
Carissa raised an eyebrow at her like she was mad, "Explain to me then why the robot attacked us and why it chased us and nearly shot us."
"I…don't know. Maybe it was just trying to scare us," Kit remarked.
"Scare us! We almost died! Why are you shrugging this thing off so lightly?" Carissa demanded of her twin.
"I'm only trying to think positively."
"Positively, eh? You're the least positive person I know!"
Ironhide growled and then asked Rowan, "Do they always fight like this?"
"I don't know…I only met them a few hours ago…but on a hunch, yeah I think they do."
Ironhide sighed gruffly and with impatience before saying, "By the Allspark…I can't wait until you humans are out of here." And he walked into the base leaving Optimus and the humans behind.
Carissa and Kit both watched as Rowan looked to her feet with an unspeakable look of sadness on her face…but she cast her gaze to them and the sadness on written on her face vanished as instantly as it had come. Carissa cocked her head to the side sensing Rowan was hiding something and questioned, "You okay?"
Rowan looked at her like she was insane and said, "Yeah…I'm fine. Just where are we going to be staying in this place?"
"Well…if we all have to stay in one room, I call the bed," Kit stated crossing her arms.
Both Carissa and Rowan shot glares at her and she waved her hands out in front of herself and said, "Okay…okay, you guys can have the blankets."
"That won't be necessary," Optimus remarked, "We don't have any extra rooms for you humans, but I'm sure some of my men would be willing to let you stay with them."
"Um…" Carissa replied scratching her head, "Isn't that a little weird?"
"Well, if you would rather sleep on a cold metal floor I—
Carissa shook her head, "Never mind."
"Alright then, Carissa, you can stay with me, Rowan with Ironhide, and Kit…well, either Bumblebee or Ratchet."
"Which one is nicer?" Kit asked.
"Bumblebee is less grumpy if that's what you mean," Optimus returned.
Kit nodded, "Alrighty then, Bumblebee will do."
"Oh joy…I get stuck with that hothead named Ironhide," Rowan mumbled and waited to go into the base, but no one moved. Annoyed she sarcastically said, "So, are we going into the base today or tomorrow?"
Optimus glanced at her before gently taking the humans in his hands and then brought them into the base. He checked the time on his internal clock and realized it was too late to give them a tour and they should get to bed so they could rest. Chances were they would be a whole lot busier now that they were with the autobots. Optimus arrived to Bumblebee's quarters first, and he proceeded to knock on the door. It was a few seconds before Bumblebee answered and when he did, he immediately noticed the humans in Optimus's hand. Looking at them he said, "Evening sir, what's up with the humans?"
"Thundercracker attacked them, his reasoning's unclear at the moment, but these three here are not to leave the base unsupervised until we figure out why the decepticons wanted them," Optimus explained.
"So…why are you are here, sir?"
"Since we do not have any spare rooms, perhaps you could allow one of these humans to stay with you?"
Bumblebee shrugged, "As long as she isn't annoying."
Carissa bit back a chuckle as she said, "No worries, Kit is the least annoying person you'll ever meet."
Rowan shot Carissa a look, but the twin didn't notice and Kit stood in Optimus's hand. "I've been nominated to sleep with you," she exclaimed and then realized what she said and slapped a hand over her mouth.
Carissa burst out laughing while Rowan chuckled and Optimus and Bumblebee exchanged glances. Kit quickly apologized saying, "Sorry, that came out totally wrong."
Bumblebee shrugged it off after a second or two and proceeded to take Kit off Optimus's hands, in a manner of speaking. The yellow transformer then disappeared with Kit inside his room. When the door shut, the autobot leader headed off to Ironhide's quarters to drop Rowan off. Optimus hoped that Ironhide had calmed down a little bit and that he wouldn't be too cranky or mean when he elucidated to the weapons specialist that he had to take on a human.
Rowan herself wasn't one hundred percent sure about staying with Ironhide either. So far he had rubbed off a bit negatively on her and she wasn't sure how she was going to survive staying with him. It was also a little odd to her how the transformers were males and that they were females having to stay with men. But if it meant that they were going to be safe and protected from whatever that robot had in store for them, then so be it.
In Rowan's mind, they arrived to Ironhide's room a little too soon. Optimus knocked on the door and Ironhide opened it. He noticed the humans in his leader's hand and said without too much concern in his voice, "Aren't you missing a human?"
"I left her with Bumblebee," Optimus explained, "I need you to take Rowan."
"For what reasons?"
"She needs to stay somewhere."
"There are other autobots in the base Optimus."
Optimus gave him a look that made Ironhide flinch a bit, "You are to take care of her Ironhide, and you will be nice to her."
Ironhide grumbled something under his breath and held out his hand to receive Rowan. Optimus set her gently in his hand and Ironhide went in his quarters with her, shutting the door rather loudly. Carissa cringed at the sound and exclaimed, "I wish her luck and I hope he doesn't hurt her."
"He won't hurt her, he knows better," Optimus replied, "Let's get to my room; your pheromones suggest that you are rather tired."
"It's been a long day," Carissa admitted.
The autobot leader proceeded to take her to his room and when he got there, he laid down on his bed, tired himself, and gently laid Carissa on his chest. He spread a hand over her to act as her blanket and he then whispered, "Goodnight Carissa."
"Goodnight Optimus," she replied before falling asleep.
Optimus sighed content as he listened to the human on his chest sleep. He had to admit that he really didn't mind hosting his room and hospitalities to the humans, especially this human in particular.
Kit didn't have any protest whatsoever as Bumblebee constructed a makeshift bed on his desk for her. He folded up blank papers that were on his desk to make it as comfortable as he could until he could get her a mattress, but Kit told him it was comfortable enough as she laid down. He gave her a few sheets of the paper which he stapled together for her to use as a blanket, and Kit accepted it. She gave a tired sigh before she fell into a fitful sleep.
Rowan was immediately dumped on Ironhide's desk and he sat down at it to examine her. She didn't like his optics on her and she fidgeted a bit until he finally spoke, "No matter what I do, I can't seem to get away from you."
"Well, how do you think I feel?" she replied.
"I hope your tired," he responded, "Because I am and I'm going to bed with out without you."
"I'm exhausted for your information."
"Good," he said and picked her up and carried her over to the bed. He laid down and slowly, and reluctantly, placed her on his chest. He didn't bother to tell her goodnight though as he put a hand over her to keep her warm or as he fell into a recharge.
It was Rowan who felt odd now as she listened to the sounds of gears whirring inside of Ironhide. It wasn't long before those same whirring noises put her to sleep and all awkwardness between the two of them was forgotten.