A/N: There we go. Two chapters in five minutes for you. How's that for update time? Chapter 7 is where I start steering away from the movie storyline, so I wanted to get both of these up and finished.

Chapter 6: Acceptable Risk

Sam's high-pitched voice cut through the quiet again, nearly sending Riella tumbling off Prowl's shoulder in surprise. "What? No, no, no! This isn't hiding. This is my backyard, not a truck stop!"

Optimus transformed again, starting back toward the window. This time Ratchet was the one to sigh over the comm line. ::Optimus, for Primus's sake...::

Sam ran back over to the window. "What now? I can't deal with this, I can't – oh, no, no, no…"

Optimus glanced down at what had been a window box and was now a shattered pile of splinters. "Oops."

"That's my mother's flowers! - Okay, listen. You gotta listen to me. If my parents come out here and see you they're going to freak out. My mother's got a temper. Okay?" Sam gestured incoherently to the group in the back yard, most of whom had already transformed back to robot mode. "Just – come on, guys, give me some space here, okay?"

"I understand, but we must have the glasses – "

"Prime!" Riella interrupted, frustrated. "This is obviously not helping. Can we please just – " When he didn't appear to be listening, she rolled her eyes and looked over at the one Autobot she knew could stare down Optimus Prime. "Ratchet, a little help here, please? We're going to wreck the house as well as Sam's nervous system at this rate. We need to pull back and give him time."

Ratchet shrugged, but before he could say anything, Optimus gave the order. "Autobots, fall back."

"Thank Primus." Riella slid down from Prowl's shoulder to balance on his arm as they moved back toward the fence, smiling slightly at the sound of Ratchet scolding Ironhide and Jazz.

"Move! What's the matter with you? Can't you be quiet? You heard them. We need to be undercover."

Prowl glanced back and froze, optics widening in alarm. "Ratchet, watch out for the - "

ZAP. CRASH. The ground shuddered under the weight of the fallen Autobot, and the lights in the houses flickered.

" - power lines."

The lights on Ratchet's chest flashed erratically. "Wow, that was tingly! Ohhh..." He tried to get up and fell back, tangled in the wires. "You'll have to try that!"

"Yeah, maybe sometime," Ironhide commented sarcastically, raising an eyebrow ridge. "You alright, doc bot?"

"Fine!" Ratchet tried to get up again, and the lights went out in every house on the block.

Optimus sighed and reached down to pull the medical officer to his feet. "More delays. Let's give them some light."

I don't know that that's the best – Riella sighed, realizing they weren't going to fall back any time soon, and climbed back up to Prowl's shoulder to point to the window. "Ratchet, shine a light through there. That should be enough for them to search."

Ratchet was apparently still a bit shaky, because the light bounced erratically around the room and the outside edge of the house. "Ratchet, point the light!" Jazz tried to help, and almost knocked the medic over.

"Okay, we got a major issue!" Sam was back at the window, pointing blindly at Ratchet. "What's with the light? You have to stop with the light. Turn it off. Turn it off!"

Riella had to wonder just how the boy had survived this long, if he always responded to crises this way. Although, in his defense, Ratchet wasn't cooperating, which was out of character. Prowl, I need to take a look at Ratchet. I think he might be injured.

Copy that. Prowl ducked under Ironhide's arm as the weapons specialist shoved Ratchet away from the wall. Go for it. Humans are distracted – I think it's the parents.

Yes, I can hear them. Riella stood on tip-toe, trying to run a scan on the still-twitchy Ratchet. ::Primus' sake, Ratchet, hold still.:: At a particular comment from Sam's mother, she raised an eyebrow. And it would appear they have no concept of human tact, either. She might get along with Ratchet.

::What's 'masturbating'?:: Bumblebee's question came over the open comm channel, to anyone who cared to answer. ::It wasn't in the database I downloaded.::

Prowl sighed. ::Download one that includes it, Bumblebee. I had this talk with you once and that was enough. I'm not having it again on an open line with Optimus and Jazz::

Apparently most of the Autobots took his suggestion, because the comm line hissed with startled static. ::Primus's sake, I did not want to see that,:: Ironhide grumbled. ::You sure humans don't discuss that slag in public, Riella?::

::Yeah, that's weird. Why's she bringin' that up?::

::I don't know and don't want to know, Jazz.:: Riella glanced back toward the window. ::Prime, move! We've got parents!::

There was a clatter of metal as five Autobots scrambled to get away from the windows, Jazz dragging Ratchet with him. Optimus jerked back just in time, and in the process bumped into the side of the house, shaking the whole thing. Sam's father yelled something about aftershocks, which drew another optic roll from Prowl. They're going to explain it as an earthquake? Illogical but convenient.

::Stay down. They're still here.:: Optimus flattened himself back against the side of the house, Ironhide ducked around the corner and hauled Ratchet behind him, and Bumblebee, Jazz, and Prowl ducked underneath the parts of the house that jutted out. Riella wrapped her arm around Prowl's shoulder fin again and ducked under a porch light, just as Sam's father leaned out of the window.

"Judy, better call the city, we've got a blown transformer!"

::Second that, Ratch' isn't firing on all cylinders right now – aw, slag, did he see us?"

::No, Ironhide, the 'transformer' he means is a device on the power lines.:: Prowl sent back quickly. ::Riella, is Ratchet alright?::

::The jolt probably knocked a few circuits out of place, but he should be alright.:: Riella shot Ironhide a glare. ::Assuming we stop yanking him around and give me a chance to fix it.::

::Yeah, that'll happen.:: Ironhide glared right back. ::The parents are…inconvenient. Can I take them out?::

Ratchet chimed in, unfortunately not over the comm line. "Yeah, yeah, yeah!"

"Ironhide, you know we don't harm humans!" Optimus snapped, sounding more stressed than Riella had heard in a long time. "What is with you? And Ratchet, really?"

"Well, I'm just saying we could. It's an option." Ironhide almost looked like he was pouting. Jazz elbowed him, hard, and got a swat to the shoulder in response.

"Calm down, Ironhide. I'm sure there will be opportunities to shoot things eventually." Riella debated, decided she wasn't going to get to the medic any time soon and it wouldn't do any damage, and pointed. "Someone smack Ratchet over the head, please? Not hard enough to do any damage."

Ironhide obliged, whacking the medic up the side of the head. Ratchet blinked rapidly, shook his head, and glared sternly at Ironhide. "What was that about?"

Riella smirked. "Cognitive recalibration."

Jazz, the only one who had been paying attention to the road, tapped Optimus's shoulder. "Prime, we got humans incomin'. Got a plan?"

Prowl's optics locked on to the convoy of black S.U.V.s, narrowing in concentration. "Riella, you can pass as human for the most part. Stay here and keep an optic – report back if there's a problem. You may be able to get to the glasses. As for the rest of us, falling back is no longer optional. We need to move, Prime, and we need to do it now."

"Copy that. Autobots, fall back." Optimus glanced down at Riella as she slid off Prowl's shoulder and activated her holograms. "How long do you think it will take you?"

"Entirely situation-dependent." Riella pushed her hair out of her face again and straightened her shoulders. "Go, Prime. I can handle this."

Optimus nodded, watching her duck into the shadows beside the house. "I know. Stay safe. We'll be in contact."