Chapter 5

Autobot Base…

"Slowly please, Arcee." Bulkhead asked attentively. "What exactly happened?"

"I was taking Jack to the music store and while waiting outside, this kid rushes up to me, tells me that if I want to protect Jasper from Megatron, I have to tell 'Orion Pax' to go to the canal right away. Even though I was surprised, I kept quiet, but then he said…" Arcee paused and closed her eyes. "He said that he was sorry about Tailgate and Cliffjumper."

Immediately Bulkhead understood. The topic of Arcee's former partners was known to not be spoken about in the base. He could understand how Arcee felt towards the kid at the moment.

"But you still called Optimus?" he asked.

"Yeah, and just in time. Megatron had showed and was about blow a hole in him."

"Maybe he's just a student from the kid's school who happened to overhear one of their conversations." Suggested Bulkhead.

"No, he is too well informed. That, and the fact that he is not a student at the school." Said Ratchet.

"How do you know that?" enquired Arcee.

Ratchet awkwardly turned to check his readings. "Uhh…I…may have made a list of all the students there. Just to be sure that there were no security issues with the children's safety."

Arcee and Bulkhead had to grin at this. Another example of how Ratchet DID NOT much care for the kids.

"But the question of where this human came from remains unanswered." Continued Ratchet.

"I'm afraid you will have to wonder a little bit longer, old friend." Optimus had returned to the main hangar. "Alex will be staying with us for a while. I have allocated some space for him to reside in and Agent Fowler has been contacted to arrange for him to attend school with the children. I ask that you respect his personal space and refrain from asking any ques-"

"Whoa, whoa." Interrupted Arcee. "You spoke with him for like 10 minutes and now you're giving him an all-access pass? Optimus with all due respect, who is he?"

"His name is Alex Matthews." Optimus explained. "He is fully aware of our existence on this planet and harbors information which could prove valuable to Megatron and dangerous to us. This is all you need to know for the time being."

Ratchet did not like this one bit. It was not like Optimus to hide something from them, especially when it was staring at them in the face.

"So what, we just treat him like one of the kids." Said Bulkhead.

"If possible, yes." Said Optimus. "Also, I think it best that we do not inform the children of how Alex came to be with us, as to not frighten them. We shall explain that he is working along with Agent Fowler to ensure that our cover remains intact."

The sound of a powerful engine turned their attention to the entrance just as Bumblebee sped into the base, screeching to a stop a few feet away from the Autobots feet.

His passenger door opened and out stepped Raf with his usual backpack and a sleeping bag tucked under arm.

"Hey guys." He greeted.

"Rafael, what are doing here?" enquired Ratchet.

A frown appeared on the adolescent's brow as he turned towards his guardian as he transformed. "I thought you said you had cleared it with the others." He said.

Beeps and whirs could be heard from the young autobot as he made a shrugging gesture.

"Bee had the idea of me sleeping over tonight so we could watch movies together. That's if it's okay with the rest of you guys?" asked Raf.

"I don't think…"began Ratchet.

"I do not see any problem with Rafael spending the night here." Interjected Optimus. "It is a Friday night, which means he does not have school tomorrow."

"Awesome." Replied Raf excitedly, as he and Bumblebee headed for the TV area on the upper level.

"Optimus, don't you think…" Ratchet began.

"Rafael would have to eventually meet him, I see harm in it being tonight." Optimus assured the medic.

"Meet who? Another Autobot?" asked Raf, obviously confused.

As if speaking of Unicron himself, Alex (using a metal bar he had found to use as a walking stick) limped into the main hangar.

"Optimus, I forgot to ask Agent Fowler to bring a change of clothes tomorrow. While I wish to keep the ones I have on, they are not exactly prac-"

He stopped when he noticed Raf and Bumblebee were present.

"Oh, Hi." He said as he smiled awkwardly.

Bumblebee beeped something, as if asking a question.

"Rafael, Bumblebee, this is Alex. He's going to be staying here with us for a while." Optimus introduced.

"I'm sort of assisting Agent Fowler on making sure the autobots stay undercover." Alex said as he walked over to Raf. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Raf. You too, Bumblebee." Raf said nothing, only taking a small step backwards.

Ratchet was impressed at how fluently the human could lie, adding even more mystery to his existence.

"Raphael, Alex will be joining you, Miko and Jack at school next week. He might need your help adjusting to his new environment." Optimus stated.

"Yeah, sure." Said Raf shyly. "C'mon Bee, I need to find a place to put my stuff." And with that he headed up the stairs.

Bumblebee looked at Raf and then down at Alex before giving Optimus a confusing glance.

"I will explain later." Assured the Autobot leader. Bumblebee then moved off to where Raf was busy unrolling his sleeping bag.

Optimus turned to Alex. "In response to your concern Alex, I am sure Agent Fowler has taken your attire into consideration. Perhaps it would be best if you got some rest."

"On the contrary, I have never felt more awake. Might have something to do with being unconscious for eight hours." Alex began to climb the stairs to go join Raf in front of the TV.

With that, the Autobots dispersed. Optimus, Bulkhead and Arcee headed off to their quarters in search of a desperately-needed recharge (With Arcee looking frostily at Alex before moving), Ratchet opting to attend to his equipment and Bumblebee making himself comfortable in front of the small TV with Raf.

"Mind if I join you?" Alex asked Raf as he sat down in the only armchair.

"No." replied Raf nervously. He had switched on the TV to watch some adventure sci-fi film that Alex had not seen before.

After a few moments, he summed up the courage to ask Alex "What happened to your leg?"

Alex thought for a moment. "Stupid accident." He replied. "Fell into a canal."

Raf nodded and went back to watching to his movie with Bumblebee.

Alex took a deep breath. "So far, so good." He thought. He had made his position successfully clear to Optimus and was far away from Megatron's clutches, but tomorrow morning would see the start of a new episode, 'Flying minds,' followed by four episodes that apparently took place all at the same time.

Alex sat upright. That was it. Now that was an idea. An idea that could erase any possibility of him interrupting the continuance but still allowed him to become fully integrated into the story (if it didn't kill him). The idea was highly dangerous (He was also going to need Raf's help if he was to succeed), as it involved convincing someone that either Alex's job of being a game changer was already completed, or that there was no possibility that he could be one in the first place.

The hard part of this plan was convincing this person of Alex's reasoning.

As well as the fact that the particular person he had to convince was the person who had pulled him into this world.

He was going to need an audience with Lord Megatron.

To be continued…