Chapter 3: Don't Get Your Hopes Up

Autobot Base:

Silence filled the entire base and I just couldn't take it anymore so I went up to Optimus and asked, "So what happens to us now?" I pointed to Jack, Miko, and Raf. Optimus looked down at me, "Well since you now know of our existence and the Decepticons potentially targeting you-" Jack then decided to intervene by saying, "Right got it! See any strange cars call 911 so can we go now?" Miko turned to look at Jack and yelled, "Are you insane?! I'm living a dream here in botland and I will not allow you or anyone else shatter it!" She finished shaking her finger angrily at Jack. I looked at both of them and couldn't help but smile a little at Miko shaking her finger at Jack. Optimus then interrupted Miko's little tirade, "It is best if you four remain under our watch. At least until we know our enemy's intentions." The orange bot looked at Optimus in disbelief, "Optimus with all due respect the children are in much danger here as anywhere!" Jack and I looked at him, insulted, "Children?" For one thing Jack and I are sixteen years old way past the age of a child! "They have no protective shell one misstep and they'll go squish!" He finished as he stomped towards us. "Uh I really don't want to become a pancake thank you!" I said in a sarcastic voice towards the orange bot. "Then for the time being Ratchet we must watch were we step."Optimus warned Ratchet. "And you, don't make me squish you on purpose!" Ratchet said as he was glaring at me. "As if Ratchet! You would have to catch her first!" Miko sassed him and she turned to me and I muttered, "Thank you."

Then all of sudden a loud "BEEEEEPPPP" came from console and it was earsplitting loud! Confused as we were Jack was the only one to ask, "What is that?" Bumblebee turned around and gave an answer to us, but only Raf could understand so he translated, "Proximity sensors, someone's up top." "It's Agent Fowler."Ratchet cleared up for the rest of us, but with no sense of relief in his voice. "I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys?" Jack asked confused. "Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world and only visits when there are issues. It is best if he doesn't meet your four at this time." Optimus explained to us and motioned us to go hide around the corner. "Let's play a game of hide in the corner!" I said pushing them towards the other direction. Then I heard the elevator door open with a man already ranting towards the Autobots. "Seven wrecks, twenty four fender benders, a three hour traffic jam and on a particular note numerous reports on a speeding motorcycle and a black and yellow custom muscle car. So anything you would like to get off your tin chest Prime?" The fuming Special Agent finished. "We have the situation under control Agent Fowler." Optimus said in calm tone of voice. I don't know how he could be that calm with someone yelling because if were me I would be giving it right back to him. "They're back aren't they?"Fowler questioned Optimus. "If you are referring to Decepticons, I have doubts that they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable." Optimus explained to Fowler. "Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon." Fowler said urgently. "Hear me Agent Fowler we are your best possibly you only defense against the Decepticon threat." Optimus tried to reassure the Agent. Fowler came back at him, "Says you!" Bulkhead decided he had enough and finally spoke up, "Hey fleshy did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force and how much to use!" He finished as he picked up some machinery and squeezed it until it broke. "Bulkhead I needed that!" Ratchet yelled at him. "Enough!" Optimus ordered the two arguing bots. "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. You may condone human wide casualties Agent Fowler, I however, cannot." Optimus finished. "Then do us a favor and handle it Prime under the radar or I will." Fowler warned Optimus as he was leaving. "He's pretty gutsy for a human."Bulkhead said as he walked up to Optimus. "Agent Fowler is concerned for his world Bulkhead as he should be." Optimus explained to hi,.

"I can understand that he is concerned about our planet, but he could work on his attitude a little bit more!" I said as I was walking from around the corner. "I have to agree with Jordyn there. Our planet may be at stake, but having an attitude like that will get him nowhere or into some deep trouble." Jack said in agreement. "He could work on more than his attitude and more on his trust issues. We've been on this planet for more than 3 of your Earth years and he still doesn't trust us." Optimus was about to say something when an alarm went off on the console and then a picture of another bot showed up on the screen. I was about to ask who it was, but then the Ratchet said, "Blasted Earth tech. Cliffjumper's life signal popped back online." "Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asked the bots. Completely ignoring her question Optimus asked, "How is that possible?" "It isn't, another bug! This system is shocked full of them!" Ratchet explained to Optimus. "If there's any chance that Cliff's alive!" Arcee said with hope in her voice. "Ratchet prepare med bay we may need it." Optimus told Ratchet. "Hey what can we do?" Miko asked with excitement. Optimus merely replied, "Remain with Ratchet." "Aww!" Miko said with disappointment apparent in her voice. I know Miko wants to help and all, but heading into a warzone with enormous alien robots she just met wouldn't be the wisest thing to do. Ratchet then looked at us with the same tone of voice as Miko had, "Ugh" He said with a sigh. Then the strangest thing happen all the bots transformed and rolled into this vortex thing and disappeared.

"What just happened?" Jack asked confused. "I transported them to the designated coordinates via the Groundbridge." Ratchet answered Jack's question. "What's a Groundbridge?" Raf asked curiously. Ratchet then had a look of irritation when he said, "A scaled down version of Spacebridge technology. Since we don't possess the means or the Energon for intergallatic travel." "So you're stuck here on Earth." Jack said to Ratchet with a bit of sympathy in his voice. Ratchet then turned to Jack and said, "With the likes of you yes, but I constructed the Groundbridge to enable travel from her to anywhere on your planet." "Whoa does it work for humans?" Raf asked. "Naturally." Ratchet said casually. "So I can just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked curiously to Ratchet. "Within moments. Now allow me to send you there all four of you!" Ratchet said urgently. Now Miko being Miko, she wasn't about to take any crap from Ratchet. She went right up to Ratchet's face and with a warning tone evident in her voice said, "Watch it Ratchet!" Ratchet looked at her like she was crazy and in retrospect she kind of is, but not to be taken too seriously though. I just laughed and said, "Yeah Ratchet you better watch out! My friend here isn't afraid to stand her ground." He glared at me like he did earlier when he threatened to step on me. Miko just goes, "You got that right!" and turned to smile at me and proceeded to walk around the base a little.

"Ugh she's just like another Bulkhead." Ratchet mumbled to no one in particular. Raf, Jack and I laughed a little at that and Ratchet goes, "What's so funny?" "Oh nothing Ratchet just laughing!" I told him with a smile on my face. He then turned back to the monitors and I went to go sit by Raf who was up on the ramp in a chair next to the computers. Jack then proceeded to walk around the base as well, but he went in the opposite direction of Miko. Raf had his laptop out and was typing away at something I didn't understand so I pulled up a chair next to him and started to write in my journal. About 15 minutes later, Miko came back in the room and asked Ratchet while touching this weird device, "What is it?" "Broken don't touch!" Ratchet scolded her like a small child. Miko then started to reach out to touch something else, "Don't touch that either!" Ratchet said as he faced the monitors. 'Dang does he have eyes in the back of his head?' I thought to myself. Jack, who just reentered the room asked, "Is there anything we can touch?" Ratchet was about to say something when the monitors started to glitch and Raf then asked timidly, "Why are you using human computers?" Ratchet then sighed, "It wasn't by choice. We inherited it when we moved into this former missile silo. I made modifications as I see fit." Ratchet finished, but then the monitors then decided to not work at all. Raf then tells Ratchet, "I can fix that!" Ratchet looks at him with disbelief, "Oh really? You know this is complex technology! It isn't a child's toy-"Before Ratchet could finish, Raf went to typing and said, "Now try it!" Ratchet then turned back to the monitors and they magically worked again. I put down my journal and went, "Nice job Raf!" and then I turned to Ratchet whispering, "Smarter than you think!"

But before Ratchet could say anything, Optimus voice came blaring over the monitors, "Ratchet bridge us back!" Ratchet then went to the controls and opened the bridge and in came all the bots with an explosion following them from behind, but Ratchet closed it before it reached the base. "Cutting a bit close! How about Cliffjumper?" Ratchet asked eagerly. All the bots looked down at Ratchet question and by the looks of their faces I knew exactly what happened; Cliffjumper was gone. "What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I come with next time?" Miko said as she interrupted the moment. Arcee then came around the Optimus with a look on her face that could make anyone cringe in fear and she growled, "Look here-!" "H-hey Miko let's go see what the bots hide in their sock drawers!" Jack and I said while pushing Miko away from Arcee's glare. "Seriously?" Miko then asked annoyed. "Yes, yes we do Miko!" I said urgently to her. Then Optimus spoke up, "Arcee what did you see?" "Not Cliff well not anymore! He was butchered like something from the con experiments during the war-!" Arcee couldn't finish her sentence as she fell over like she was sick. Bumblebee then beeped in a concerned tone, but Arcee said, "I'm fine, just dizzy." "Robots who get dizzy?" Miko questioned. "Robots with emotions." Raf added. "They have senses just like we do!" I said in a surprised tone. Jack then said, "Robots who can die!" Ratchet then scanned Arcee for anything on her and then he stopped at her wrist and exclaimed, "What is this?" "Don't know. Cliff was covered in it leaking it!" Arcee said in a slurred voice. Ratchet then scraped some purple stuff off her wrist and told her, "Go take a decontamination bath now!" While Arcee was doing that we had to get Optimus's attention to the matter of getting home, "Optimus I hate to bug, but no bars." Jack said as he held up his phone. "A security precaution. The silo walls prevent any unwanted signals from getting in or out." Optimus explained to Jack. "Well if I don't call my mom soon, then the cops will be out looking for us." Jack then said in a slightly worried tone. "Have you broken the law?" Optimus asked in a serious tone. "Um curfew! It's after ten." I explained to Optimus. "Yeah I better get home too or I'm gonna be grounded for like a year!" Raf said timidly. "Earth customs I haven't considered, but the issue of your safety remains. Bulkhead accompany Miko home." He told the green Autobot. "Suh-weet my host parents are gonna freak!" Miko said excitedly. "And remain convert surveillance in vehicle form." Optimus finished his order. "Curbside duty got it." Bulkhead said as he faced Miko. "Aww!" Miko complained. "Bumblebee you'll watch over Raf." Bumblebee looked towards Raf and Raf smiled back at him. "Ratchet?" Before Optimus could finish, Ratchet muttered, "Busy!" "Arcee you'll accompany Jack and Jordyn." Optimus ordered, but Arcee was reluctant, "Uh still dizzy." "Your fine says you physician." Ratchet quickly retorted. 'Gee thanks Optimus! Give us the bot that hates us!' I thought to myself as we got on Arcee and headed home.

Darby House:

The ride home was quiet and awkward itself and when we arrived home, Jack and I tried to give our condolences to her, "Arcee I just want to say I'm really sorry for your loss." Then in a harsh tone she snapped at us, "What could you two know possibly know about loss?!" That was an insult to both of us, we perfectly knew what it was like to lose someone close to us; our cousin, but I didn't want to think about that right now. "You think you're the only one with problems?!" Jack and I snapped back at her. "I don't think that girl or boy trouble counts!" She transformed as she yelled at us. "Okay first of all I don't have boy troubles so don't even go there!" I said with complete anger in my voice. "Yeah and my girl troubles started the night I met you!" Jack then snapped back at her, but then a car pulled up and it was mom, but Arcee didn't know that. "Cons!" She exclaimed and pulled out her blasters. Jack panics, "No, mom!" "Yeah transform back and put the guns away!" I said urgently. She did what she was told and I was like, "Mama!" I tried to sound casual but it wasn't working because she came storming into the garage when she saw the "motorcycle." "Hey mom don't freak I can explain."Jack said frantically. "Can you? Jackson, Jordyana we talked about this!" Mom scolded us. "We know, but-!" We tried to calm her down. "No you two don't know! I worry enough when you two aren't here! Now I have to worry about you two riding a motorcycle?!" Mom yelled at us, worry evident in her voice. "Mom we're sixteen! Jordyn and I can't be riding our ten speeds forever!" Jack said, trying to convince mom. "How did you even afford this?" She questioned both of us. I then explained, "It's used! Abused really, needs a tone of repairs." She didn't look too convinced. Jack then stepped in, "The point is I might have been a kid when bought this-"Jack pointed to his helmet and continued, "But I'm not anymore and you always tell to make responsible choices, so I chose her and I'll be responsible. I promise!" Jack then finished. "I will be too since both of us will be riding her." I said in agreement. Mom then walked over to Jack and said," Her? I didn't think you would be bringing girls home yet." She said in an amused tone. I couldn't help, but laugh a little and Jack clearly embarrassed explained, "I'd like to think she brought me here." "Well at least it gives you a reason for you two to wear your helmets every time you ride! You will take me for a spin every once in awhile?" She asked us. "We'll see she's kind of temperamental!" I said looking back to Arcee and I turned out the lights. All of us retired for the evening and said our goodnights to each other. I went to bed and started to write in my journal again about today's events and wondered what will happen next…

Well there you go another chapter! As you can see the kids finally get their guardians and as you can tell , Jack and Jordyn don't get off to a good start with Arcee, but don't worry it'll get better. And as for Cliffjumper, he was Arcee's partner and that's why she was so upset. So the next chapter will be about the kids spending the day with Bulkhead! Chaos ensues! Like always please read and review! Until the next chapter peace out!