A/N: Posting this and chapter 6 at the same time since they should technically be one chapter based off the events, but the combination was double the length of any previous chapters. As always, thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, or favorited – the feedback is definitely appreciated!

Chapter 5: Search

It wasn't a long drive to the Witwicky home, at least with the route Prowl had chosen, but it was more than long enough for Optimus's "stay together" policy to start grating on Riella's nerves. Most of their vehicle modes would have stood out by themselves in a residential area, never mind the stares they were getting as a group. Prowl agreed that they should split up, repeatedly pointing out the dangers of being identified; Optimus and Jazz, however, had overruled their objections, insisting that 'undercover' was a relative term on an alien planet. So, reluctantly, the duo had fallen into position with the group.

Sam was practically out of Bumblebee's door before they'd come to a complete stop, rattling off nervous orders to no one in particular. "They gotta – they gotta stay here, okay? They gotta stay here and you have to watch them."

I am not sparkling-sitting Optimus Prime and Ironhide, Prowl grumbled, with what would have been a glare in robot mode. Riella rolled her eyes. I think he was talking to Mikaela. Though I don't see her being up for the job either.

"All of them, you hear what I'm saying?" Sam looked nervously at Riella, who arched an eyebrow in an expression that wasn't intended to be entirely sarcastic but probably came off that way.

"Yeah, okay," Mikaela snapped impatiently. "Go!"

"Five minutes, alright?" As Sam took off running, Riella caught a brief glimpse of his father in the back yard and grimaced. We're going to have to deal with the parents at some point. He does know that, right? Prowl sounded as frustrated as Riella was starting to be.

"We need to hurry. This is taking too long." Riella spun around at the comment from her leader, but was too late to stop Optimus from transforming and starting toward the fence.

"No, don't!" Mikaela ducked under Bumblebee's arm and called nervously after him. "Wait! Hang on! You have to...oh, God."

Riella sighed as the familiar hum of transformation circuitry surrounded her. "No one was listening."

Optimus had already stepped over the bushes into the back yard, and Bumblebee was pressed against the side of the house, gesturing for a horrified Sam to keep quiet. Riella glanced at Prowl, both of them sharing the same thought. So much for stealth...

Sam's father was nowhere to be seen, but Riella couldn't imagine that would last long. The human's voice managed to hit a rather impressive pitch for a human male, slightly too high for Riella's comfort. "What are you doing? What are you doing? No, watch the path, watch the path, please, please, please, no, wait, oh no!"

Optimus had already broken part of the path, and as he turned to face the boy, his foot landed on the fountain in the center of the yard, completely crushing it. "Oops. My bad."

If Sam hadn't been borderline incoherent before, he was now. "Oh, I - I can't - you couldn't - you couldn't wait for five minutes?!" His voice got higher and higher as he spoke. Riella turned her head away, covering one sensitive ear in annoyance. "I told you to just stay! Just stay! Gah!" He ran toward Mikaela and Riella, skidded to a stop, and spun around. He has no idea where he's going, Prowl remarked dryly, ignoring the boy's rant. "I told you to watch them. I told you!"

Mikaela snapped back, "Well, okay, you know what, they seem to be in a little bit of a rush -"

Riella sighed. I should not be the diplomat in this scenario. "Please, calm down, Sam. Most of us are new to this planet, and..." She trailed off and winced at the high-pitched yipping sound coming from the house. It was distracting enough that she almost didn't notice the tiny animal it belonged to. "Is that a pet? You have a rodent?"

"What? No, I don't have a rat! Oh, this is bad..." Sam didn't notice either, until the animal in question started yipping at Riella and backing away. "Oh, crap – Mojo, no! Leave her alone!"

The animal, which on closer inspection resembled a dog, growled at Riella and kept backing up, until it bumped directly into Ironhide's foot. It promptly yelped, jumped away, and proceeded to urinate directly on the metal. Ironhide jerked his foot away with a grunt of disgust, and Jazz choked on laughter. Sam groaned and buried his face in his hands for a second. "Mojo! Mojo, off the robot! Gah!"

Ironhide lifted his foot, obviously intending to crush the little animal. Riella's eyes widened, but for once Sam reacted faster than she could, grabbing his pet and backing away. "Nononononono! Easy, easy, hold on! This is Mojo, this is Mojo. He's a pet of mine, he's a pet, okay, that's all!" Ironhide's cannons powered, and, if it were possible, Sam grew even more panicky. "No, just – put the guns away, okay? Put the guns away!"

"You have a rodent infestation," Ironhide pointed out with a growl. "Shall I terminate?"

"Ironhide, stand down." Prowl moved to intercept, shoving Ironhide's left cannon out of his way. "What part of 'undercover' do you not understand? Humans like pets. Even if they happen to be of the rodent family, apparently. Leave it alone."

"No! Nonono! He's not a rodent, he's a Chihuahua! This is my - this is my Chihuahua! We - we love Chihuahuas! Don't we?" Sam looked at Mikaela for help. Mikaela made a 'you're on your own' gesture, at which Riella and Ratchet both had to smirk.

Ironhide, for his part, ignored the human and shook Prowl off angrily. "Pet? It's a fragging biochemical weapon! It leaked lubricants all over my foot!"

"He - he peed on you?" Sam shook the tiny creature slightly. "Bad Mojo, bad Mojo!"

Ironhide raised an eyebrow and chimed in. "Bad Mojo!" Prowl and Riella exchanged amused glances. Can I record this for future entertainment?

No, you cannot, Riella scolded. This is a serious mission. You can keep the audio file you already have, though.

Sam didn't put Mojo down, obviously recognizing the potential for further problems. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. It's – it's a male dominance issue, that's all."

Ironhide retracted his cannons, grumbling. "Male dominance? Sure, right, 'cause it wasn't running from Riella. You know that's gonna rust, right?"

"Not if you don't leave it," Ratchet chided. "Don't be so dramatic."

Ignoring the continued chatter and Sam's ineffective effort at shushing everyone in general, Jazz contacted Riella over the comm. ::Hey, what's a Chihuahua?::

::That animal, I would assume.:: Riella took a moment to look it up. ::A small canine breed, technically speaking.::

::That is a dog?:: Ratchet looked down at Riella with a raised eyebrow ridge and a frown. ::Aren't they similar to canine-form symbiotes? That one has a strong resemblance to a rodent.::

Riella shrugged. ::Artificial selection at its finest? Don't look at me. I grew up with felines. Le-matya to be precise.::

"Autobots, recon. We are on a schedule." Optimus looked back at them in annoyance from the side of the house. "Can you debate the relative merits of your pets later?"

::Copy that, Prime. Sorry.:: Riella accepted Prowl's hand up and settled on his shoulder, looking down at the human house. ::Parents are in the front room, away from the windows. They appear distracted. Sam should be fine in his room as long as we give him space to work.::

Right, that's going to happen, Prowl muttered over the bond. Prime's on a mission and the human is uncooperative. I'm predicting roughly a minute before we send someone else in to look.

Well, you're not wrong, Riella commented, noting the Prime's clear impatience. Prowl was off by a few seconds – Optimus didn't make it a full minute before picking Mikaela up and lifting her toward the window. She gasped with shock, but didn't fall out of his hand or start screaming. Riella had to admit she had not expected quite so much composure.

"You can help him look." Optimus set Mikaela on Sam's windowsill, gesturing for her to climb through. "Time is short. Please hurry."

Prowl and Riella sighed simultaneously. Riella curled her hand around Prowl's shoulder fin. "Give them a moment, Prime. They are human children, not soldiers."

"I know." Optimus looked back at the duo with a faint shake of his head. "Which is exactly why time is so important. If the Decepticons were to track us here…"

Which would be less of a possibility if you had listened to me in the first place and split up. Riella shot Prowl a stern look at her mate's deadpan bond-comment, holding the glare until Prowl half-smirked, shook his head, and finished out loud. "Still, they need time. As long as we are here, they are in significantly less danger. We should fall back, remain hidden, and wait for them to find the glasses."

Optimus nodded slowly, acknowledging the point. "Very well. Autobots, transform."

Seconds later, Riella found herself staring at five large, brightly colored vehicles, none of which managed to blend into the suburban back yard. She slumped against Prowl's shoulder fin and rested her forehead in one hand as Prowl groaned. "Not precisely what I was suggesting, Prime."