A/N: So another chapter from mostly Miles's POV, but I put an snippet in here that is will talking to the Defence Secretary. I may move that later, but we'll have to see. Also this might be shorter than usual. I took out a section and put it in the next chapter... It just fit better there.
As usual, Feedback and constructive criticism is great!
This guy is supposed to be evil? Miles thought. And yet here he is throwing himself at the mercy of his enemies so he can be taken apart to help an Autobot that he only knows because it is his brother's 'husband?' Later Miles would wonder at how quickly he came to accept the Cybertronians, and stop thinking about them as 'Giant Robots', but instead accepting them as everyday people.
After the supposedly 'evil' robot started begging to help the 'good' robots, Miles couldn't stand the seemingly irrational caution of the Autobots anymore and, forgetting that he was talking down to giant robots, spoke up, "You know guys…" four pairs of Alien eyes turned to stare at him, "We 'Earthlings' (The two army men smirked at this) have a saying. 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.'"
"Yeah," Janet piped up, "This dude wants to help you bring back a friend of yours – I take it this 'Jazz' is your friend?" At the Robots' nod she continued, "So stop giving him the third degree, and just accept that you have been given an opportunity to help bring back your friend."
The Autobots stared at the two humans before Sam started giggling. He was soon joined by Mikaela, and to Miles's amusement, Bumblebee. Sam stopped his laughter long enough to turn to The Red and Blue Autobot and say, "Gee Optimus, getting lectures from 17 year olds!" Before breaking down into laughter once more.
The black robot (Ironhide?) seemed to grin and say. "I never thought I would see the day that you would be taught etiquette by a sparkling Optimus."
The Red and Blue glowered at the grinning Robot and then turned, instead focusing on Miles and Janet. Miles gulped, and whispered from the corner of his mouth, "Janet, I think we just pissed him off. We just pissed off a giant robot."
Much to Miles's shock, the Autobot spoke to them in a calm manner. "I thank you for your advice…" He trailed off.
"Miles. He's Miles and she is Janet," Mikaela prompted.
'Optimus' nodded his thanks to Mikaela before continuing "Miles and Janet. You are right; we are - as you put it – looking a gift horse in the mouth. I thank you."
Before he knew what was happening Miles was watching the Topkick, the 18-wheeler and the Cop car transform back into their vehicle modes and drove off, leaving the clearing in silence. As if a switch had been flipped the silence was broken, only to be replaced by a mixture of nervous and excited chatter. It took about five attempts of the combination of Sam Mikaela and the dark skinned man (the lighter skinned man had left in the Topkick, Miles had noticed) to quieten the group, and yet there was still a constant murmuring.
Finally, the yellow robot 'hooted', consequently gaining the attention of those remaining in the clearing. As silence descended, the man spoke up. "Hey guys, call me Epps. Now as you probably realised, my friend here (here he indicated behind at the Yellow robot standing behind him) is not your average car."
A few laughs were the response from the students and teachers.
"Bumblebee here (again he indicated toward the robot now facing the crowd) comes from the planet Cybertron. Their planet was consumed by a major war, between the Autobots, like Bumblebee, and the Decepticons like Barricade."
"But I though that Barricade bloke was not against you guys? I mean, wasn't he offering to heal one of their friends?" Miles heard someone pipe up from the back of the clustered students.
"Yeah, that's what was so unexpected." Sam cut in, "I mean the first 'introduction' (he said this with a wry smile) I had of the Cybertronians – other than that glimpse of bee when he was calling the other Autobots down to earth, was Barricade throwing me onto a car windscreen and threatening me. Then there was Frenzy, Blackout, Bonecrusher Starscream and Megatron trying to kill me all at different times. So Decepticons aren't really popular in my book."
Epps chuckled at this. "Yeah, the Decepticons aren't known for their love of 'squishys' as they like to call us. They are better known for blasting both us and the Autobots to hell and back. You know the incident in Mission City a couple of months back?" At the murmur of ascent, he continued, "That was a fight between the Decepticons, and the combination of Us and The Autobots. One of the Autobots was literally ripped in half. We thought he was dead, but Ratchet has found a way to possibly bring him back. Unfortunately for Jazz, he was so badly damaged when Megatron ripped him in half, that Ratchet needs extra part to just build a normal exoskeleton, let alone a disguise. " Here Epps flicked his eyes back to Bumblebee.
That's one hell of a disguise. Miles thought. He looked just like any old car. Although the radio did change by itself. And Sam did not always completely concentrate when he was driving. Miles slowly started recognise all the strange things that happened with Sam's car, which he had previously just taken for granted.
"So if this Barricade can help Jazz, I'm all for it. He certainly sounds cool when they describe him." Bumblebee chuckled, as Epps continued mostly to himself Miles mused, "And I suppose his mate must also be as cool."
At this comment, Bumblebee's chuckle increased to all-out full-bellied laugh, and he had to sit down. Miles could not see the humour in the situation, and by the confused faces of Sam, Mikaela and Epps that they did not understand it either, although he could catch a few words in between the 'bots' laughter like "Cool?!" and "Prowl?" followed by more laughter, "Just like Jazz!" these few comments seemed to send Bumblebee into hysterics, much to the amusement of Sm and Mikaela.
Turning away from the Robot collapsed in laughter with a shake of his head and a bemused smile, Epps began talking to the crowd again, his face growing serious. "Now I know you want to tell the world about the awesomeness of having giant alien robots practically in your backyard, but you can't."
"Oh really? Says who?" That was Trent. Miles rolle his eyes. Always playing the tough guy.
"The President, The Secretary of Defense… I can continue down the list if you really want." Epps stated. "Look I know what it is like, so does Sam and Mikaela, I know they both begged to let their friends know the truth, However," He puller out a bunch of forms, "Here are a bunch of disclosure agreements we need you to sign. Sam Mikaela and I have all signed them too."
"I'm not signing this." The boy's sentiment was acknowledged with agreeing murmurs amongst the others
Miles shook his head at the boy's response, "Hey dude, just be grateful you know about the giant robots, and that they are making you sign a disclosure agreement, and the robots are not blasting you up for knowing about it."
Sam sniggered at his outlandish statement but it worked, with a sudden rush to read and sign the papers.