CHAPTER 3
A Mysterious Cybertronian

He was greeted inside Prowl's apartment by general quiet.

Jeff didn't know what he was expecting out of it when the time to move in finally came a few days later. But now that he looked back on it, this was about right. Though it had clearly been modified to accommodate humans, with a human kitchen and furniture, for the most part, it was clean and neat to the point of almost looking untouched. His walls were a plain gunmetal grey, his technology high-end even by Cybertronian standards, and every piece of furniture simple. If Prowl was a mech of money, or credits as Cybertronians called them, Jeff noticed he was doing nothing to show off his wealth.

Prowl shifted a bit as he let Jeff inside, though the teen somewhat hesitated. It was alarmingly clear that Prowl had never had a kid, let alone a teenager, living here before. Because if he were to be blunt and honest with the mech, he didn't keep his room neat. "Well then, here we are," Prowl finally spoke up, though Jeff didn't act too enthused. "I know, by a teeangers standards it's a bit sterile. I've already guessed it won't stay that way."

At least Prowl was honest about that.

Jeff shifted the trash bags hanging from his shoulders and looked around. He noticed two hallways with what looked like four rooms down one, and two others down the other. "If you're wondering where you can put your things, I can show you that right now," Prowl motioned with his hand, and lead Jeff towards a large, Transformer-sized door, which he punched a code into. "You'll find to get inside, there's also a keypad your size down there. This apartment was made for Autobots, so I've installed one for each of the rooms so you can open and lock each when needed."

"Why would I need to lock them?" Jeff asked skeptically.

"In case of emergency," Prowl noted, hesitating to mention the chance of Decepticon intrusion. "Now you'll find the codes in your desk. Labeled for each room. When you punch a code in the door will open automatically. To keep it locked simply punch it in again on the other side."

As the door slid open, Jeff could barely believe his eyes. The bedroom was warmer, and far more inviting than he expected. There was a giant, soft and comfortable looking queen-sized bed on the far wall. A large desk nearly as fine as the one that Prowl had put for Jeff in his office against another wall. Alongside these, he found a tall dresser, and a massive flat screen TV on the wall.

What surprised him most, however, was the inclusion of personal touches. Prowl had clearly done some digging into what Jeff liked, since he found the bed set to be from the Legend of Zelda video game series he loved growing up. On top of this, he noticed a few of his favorite movies, among them Beauty and the Beast, the latest Star Wars, and a few Harry Potter's neatly stacked on the desk.

There was also a bookshelf, filled with a lot of books, some he'd heard of, and others he hadn't. How had Prowl known he'd enjoyed reading? Had he been talking to his social worker lately? His CASA maybe? He wasn't sure, but he was a bit awestruck by it all. "Whoa, this is my room?" Jeff asked, trying to contain any sign of excitement, or at least subdue it. "How did you even know..."

"About what you liked? I asked. You're spending half a year here, Jeffrey. I wanted you to have somewhere that felt safe for you," Prowl explained as the boy looked at him with confusion. "It was recommended in all of the books I've read on this subject. Children like you need to feel safe, hopefully this will provide you with some of that."

"That's... Really nice of you," Jeff then added, as quietly as he could manage. "You're too nice, Prowl, you know that?"

Prowl liked to think of himself as just nice enough. But was satisfied with the reaction none-the-less. "I'll leave you to unpack your things. For dinner, I have pizza on speed dial, and I hear humans are fond of that," he explained. "Do you have a "topping" you prefer?"

Jeff licked the side of his lip, thoughtfully. "Mushrooms and pepperoni," Jeff replied.

"Then I will get on that momentarily."

As Prowl turned around to exit the room, he was surprised as Jeff spoke up again. "Prowl?" the Praxian turned his head back toward Jeff, who looked at him, and finally said: "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He wasn't sure what he was thanking him for that time. But the look in the teen's eyes showed that, though he tried hard to hide it, he clearly did appreciate what he was doing.

Prowl sat on his Transformer-sized couch late that night as he read over his data pad.

It was a rather straining time for Jeff to have come into his life, he had to admit. And the reason still stared him right in the face. While one was correct to assume the war between the Decepticons and Autobots was seemingly at a stand-still with Megatron having died in Chicago, it was far from completely over. Which made sense when one looked at the fact that NEST was not only fully active, but now on a full global scale.

And as of late, some rather disturbing intel had come in from the states.

Prowl knew of insect-based Decepticons before. In fact, the micro-sized Insecticons immediately came to mind. But this... This was something different entirely. The picture file he'd been sent was blurry, but even then he could tell this thing was at least the size of a taller minibot. And though in the image it was bipedal, its wings and lower torso pointed towards an alt mode that almost resembled a human insect... A wasp maybe?

It was a Cybertronian to be sure, but the organic nature of it and its seeming alt mode disturbed Prowl deeply.

This Decepticon had been seen flying around and terrorizing cities for nearly two weeks now. But he'd hardy believed the rumors until they finally stared him in the face. It hadn't attacked or harmed anyone yet, to their knowledge. But from their movements and actions, Prowl could be sure that they were looking for something, or someone... They'd been at government buildings, looking through files, and though they hadn't gotten what they wanted, it still was made clear they were looking at children...

What would a strange Deception with an even stranger alt mode want with children? He didn't know, but it disturbed him, even more now that he had one in his apartment. Because as little a chance there was of them looking for Jeff specifically, he still felt a bit tense.

He nearly jumped at the knock at his door, optics traveling towards the hallway to Jeff's bedroom. If the boy had woken up in bed, he gave no indication and did not come out. Carefully, he crossed over to the door and opened it, lowering his data pad. "Prime, it's unusual to find you here at this hour," Prowl explained. "I suppose you got the intel as well."

Optimus Prime entered the threshold of Prowl's apartment. Having known the mech for years, Prowl could already tell from the uncertain look in his optics that he had indeed. "This one came from inside the state, and now we have physical proof that the rumors are true," Optimus replied, getting right down to business. "I am not sure what to think of this development."

Prowl shook his head, and then set the data pad down rather quietly. "I don't know either, Optimus. We have seen similar technology before - the Pretender Sam Witwicky encountered at his college coming to mind the most," he explained, tilting his head a bit. "But that was simply a synthetic organic material from the data we have on it. This... This seems to be authentic organic growths, at least to me."

"Some are assuming it may be a Decepticon experiment gone wrong."

Prowl shook his head again. "Or human, given they've been searching for HUMAN children," Optimus nodded in agreement there. "We've been on Earth since Ancient Egyptian times as far as we are aware. This could be the byproduct of many things. I'm more concerned for the safety of the child they seek - and what they intend to do with them."

Optimus shuddered at the thought. It wasn't pleasant to think of what the Decepticon may do. A part of him had held out hope that this Cybertronian may be a netural... Until now, when they could see the blurred image of a Decepticon symbol near his shoulder. "I'm giving the order to protect what children we have in the city at the very least. They should not leave its walls for the time being. Including those under human care such as Annabelle Lennox," Optimus replied, his voice trailing. "If they are simply looking for a target, I do not wish anything to happen to them."

Prowl was already thinking the same thing. It was true, they could very well be looking for that, especially now that they were in the state. But again - he could only hope the minimal chance they were doing so would mean this scare would pass sooner rather than later. "I'll be watching my ward very closely," Prowl explained. "I intended to whether you made that call or not."

Optimus hummed thoughtfully. "Doing so is probably for the best," after a brief moment of silence, he asked. "How are things going with the boy? I heard he moved into your care today."

Prowl placed his hands upon his hips, attempting how to best explain it. With Jeff, he was beginning to learn it was difficult to figure out where they stood. As they seemed to be going well, but at the same time, the boy masked his emotions often. "They are moving along relatively well. I do not think he expected such kindness to be offered upon him as he is given here, however," he sighed quietly. "Hopefully as time passes he'll get used to it more."

"We need to remember many of these children were in awful situations before juvenile hall. Trust is likely not their first priority," Prowl definitely couldn't agree more there. "Give it time, look at many of our long-term residents here. Once they have opened up, the program seems to do wonders."

Tilting his head a bit, Prowl merely nodded in agreement. "Of course, I did not go into this expecting it to be easy. I went into it hoping we could help our public image, as well as help someone who needs it," he explained, voice tensing. "The boy has had a very, very hard life and I remind myself of this every time he gives me trouble."

Instead of going further, Optimus chose to return to the topic he'd come to discuss. "Yes, well. I do believe it is time I returned to my own home for recharge," he explained, then added. "I will send a memo out explaining how to handle the current situation in the morning. Boundary points for the children living in the city and all."

Prowl barely wasted a breath speaking. "I can prepare the memo tonight for you. Get some recharge, Prime, you worry me when you come by here so late in the evening."

"I could say the same for you. How often do you recharge?"

The tactician looked up at his leader with arched optic ridges. "Often enough that I get my job done."

Optimus looked at Prowl with a stern expression. "You are currently a new "parent" or at least parental substitute. You have new responsibilities to attend to starting tomorrow morning," he noted as he stood, and started to leave the apartment. "I will write the memo tomorrow morning. You are to recharge so that you do not catch a virus from lack of it."

Prowl wanted to argue, but realized by the look on his face the Prime was serious. "Very well, if you wish to ask me for recommended boundary lines, my com will be open," he explained as Optimus stepped outside. "Goodnight, Prime."

"Goodnight, Prowl."

As he locked the door to his apartment again - Prowl's thoughts stayed on the mysterious Decepticon, and the kids. Hoping quietly that they were both right and this would quietly blow over. It would still be their problem, but at the very least, they would not have to worry for the children in the city...

But a part of him told him he would be proven wrong.

A/N: Short chapter, I know. But I do feel this was a good place to end it. I do hope everyone who is following is enjoying this! :D