Chapter 6

Autobot base…

It was the early hours of the next morning. Alex had been up all night thinking about how this grand plan of his was going to work. And more importantly, how he would explain it to Raf. Raf meanwhile was still fast asleep on the couch, along with Bumblebee who had fallen into a deep recharge on the floor of the main hangar.

As Alex understood it, this morning would see the beginning of 'Flying mind.' An episode which would see the kids and Agent Fowler sneak onto the Nemesis in an attempt to download the Iacon database and deter the decepticon warship from reaching New York City. They would be successful, and return with four coordinates, each leading to an Iacon relic. Team Prime would then split up and search for these relics. Agent Fowler and Raf would remain behind and act as groundbridge control. And if Alex was right, this would all happen in a single day.

Alex checked his phone. Miraculously, it was still showing a full battery and signal strength ("Naturally." Thought Alex.). Alex had already turned off the GPS and had password-protected any pictures, fan novels or episodes of Transformers Prime, just in case one of the kids got hold of his phone. He was also going to have to keep it out of sight, as he had seen that this world was a little bit behind his in terms of technology (the kids used QWERTY flip-ups, and here he was sitting with an Android touchscreen). No need for them to see that he had a phone that would only become available in six months' time. He was surprised that Agent Fowler had not questioned it when he had tried to find its register number. Alex guessed that the man didn't stay updated in terms of the latest cellphones being offered.

Knowing he couldn't wait any longer, Alex moved to wake Rafael from his slumber.

"Raf," he nudged the child gently. "Raf, wake up."

Rafael rolled over in his sleeping bag to Alex's side, eyes still half-closed, a look of confusion on his face.

"…what is it?" the kid was obviously not a morning person. Alex handed him his glasses.

"I need your help with something today," Alex said. "But I need you to keep it a secret. Not even Optimus can know."

"What is it?" Raf asked again; now awake as to give the new arrival his full attention.

"What Optimus said about me; about who I was, it's not the truth." Alex explained, trying to keep it as simple as possible. "The truth is far more complicated. You see, I'm here because I was being chased by Megatron. I have information which is very important to him. But I cannot run from him. I have to face him. Which is why, later this afternoon, I need you to bridge me onto the Nemesis."

This final statement caught Raf off guard. This was evident by his eyes suddenly widening as he sat up in his sleeping bag.

"You want me to do what?!" He said out loud.

"Shh…," Alex moved to quiet down the boy. "You know how to operate the groundbridge, right?

Raf slowly nodded with a frown forming on his face.

"You see, later this afternoon, the bots will all go on a mission, while you and Agent Fowler stay here to help them with communications and groundbridge control. During that time you must help me to get onto the decepticon warship."

The frown was now clear on Raf's face. "Why should I help you, or even trust you?"

"Optimus trusts me. Isn't that enough?" Alex asked.

"Does Optimus know who you are?"

"Yes, he does. Though he probably wouldn't let me do this as he wouldn't like the idea of me talking to Megatron."

Raf wasn't convinced. "Why should I help you? What if the others found out-"

"I will take responsibility if they do. I give you my word." Cut in Alex.

Raf was unsure of what to do. He looked down at the floor.

Alex then said gently and with evident kindness in his voice: "Raf, do you think, just for today, you can trust me the same way you trusted Bumblebee the day you got inside him for the first time?"

Raf looked up at Alex. He was smiling gently.

Rafael thought about this for a few moments. He did not like the idea of lying to everybody, especially to 'Bee. However something was telling him that Alex was being honest. He remembered the day he first climbed into Bumblebee, the day he met the Autobots. How had Alex known about that? Not only that but he was claiming to know the future too. Such a thing was not possible. Maybe this was why Megatron was chasing him. Either way, Raf felt he had to help Alex with his plan.

"Okay." He finally said.

Alex grinned. "Here's the plan. You bridge me to the Nemesis when all the Autobots are out. You will then wait for let's say, 30 minutes. After that, you must open the bridge again at exactly the same coordinates. However, if I do not come through immediately, you close the groundbridge and wait another 10 minutes, before opening it again. If I do not make it through then, you must close it and not open it again. My absence will indicate something has gone wrong. If that happens, you must then tell Optimus about what I did and he will decide on the course of action."

"But we don't even know the location of the Nemesis. How can I bridge you onto it when we don't even know where it is?" asked Raf.

"Oh, don't worry." Assured Alex. "I'm sure we will find out soon enough…."

…..

The sound of Bulkhead's horn signaled his and Arcee's return after picking up Jack and Miko from their homes. Alex was hoping that the kid's guardians will have explained his presence at the base, as he was getting tired of lying consistently. Mercifully Agent Fowler had already arrived with a fake I.D. and driver's license for Alex (Just in case he ran into trouble with the humans) as well as a change of clothes. Having stored his black suit somewhere safe, Alex was now dressed in brown leather boots, black jeans, red T-shirt and a thin black denim jacket. Fowler had also brought along a proper walking stick for Alex, but while he was indeed making good use of it currently, Alex had managed to spy upon an old leg brace in the silo's dust-covered storeroom. Extremely painful to wear perhaps, but it did allow for more mobility and freedom of leg movement. Something that Alex was going to need.

He leaned on the rails next to the computer banks watching as Jack and Miko disembarked and Arcee and Bulkhead transformed. As Jack and Miko looked up and saw him, he gave a small wave and greeted, "Hey, guys."

"So, you're the new kid, huh?" said Miko excitedly, diving straight into the questions. "Are you coming to school with us? What do you help Agent Fowler with? Are you like Ratchet's new human?"

Jack hadn't said anything during this but was also interested in learning about who this new kid. He looked a bit older than Jack and had the same build, but there was something about him that made Jack suspicious. When Arcee had explained the reason for him being here she had seemed hesitant and weary of his presence with the Autobots. His partner's feelings were enough to convince Jack that there was more to this new arrival than a simple intern working under Agent Fowler.

Alex maintained his cover well. "I'm just here to make sure you kids don't attract too much attention, from decepticons and other humans alike."

Miko interpreted this the wrong way. Slumping her shoulders she crudely asked "So, you're basically a babysitter?"

"Oh no, please don't see me in that sense. I'm just here to help out. On Agent Fowler's orders. You must act as if I don't exist, like a shadow." Alex answered quickly.

"Sounds like you're not here by choice." Jack interjected.

Alex glanced at Jack. Before he could speak Bulkhead interrupted, obviously excited. "Guys, you need to hear about what happened to me yesterday."

"What is it, Bulk?" Miko turned to her guardian. While this was happening the other Autobots and humans had assembled in the main hangar.

As it was showtime, Alex needed to now get out of the way for a bit. "You guys go ahead and talk, there's some things I need to do. Alex started to limp towards the stairs.

"You not interested in Bulkhead's story?" Miko asked.

It's not necessary. Like I said, act like I don't exist. Better pay attention though Miko. I'm sure it's important." Alex smiled and headed towards the main corridor.

Jack's eyes followed Alex's descent and disappearance. He wasn't convinced. What was he up to? Nevertheless he turned to listen to the wrecker.

Bulkhead began "I was on patrol duty when I detected an energon signal….

…..

The storeroom hadn't been touched in years. At one time it had been an armory, another time a medical bay. Now though it served to house anything that was not needed by the silo's current tenants. Thankfully among this junk was old medical apparatus, among which lay an old leg brace for wounded soldiers.

Alex carefully slid the device onto his left leg, careful not to touch the bandages. With it in position he then proceeded to tighten the bolts. The first and second yielded no problems, however the rest brought about a fresh sting of pain to Alex's limb. Tightening the bolts became agony as the bones were shifted back into place. The tablets which Jack's mom had left to ease the pain were not helping, even though Alex was taking one every hour. With the brace in place he tried to stand up, trying to apply as little pressure as possible to his leg. He began walking, slowly picking up speed until he was running full pelt around the room. It was like a fire that could not be extinguished was in his leg. Alex slowed to a stop, panting and sweating uncontrollably. He felt his blood pressure rise as adrenalin flooded his system. He laid his hand on the wall to lean against.

He checked his watch. 30 minutes since he had left the company of the Autobots, hopefully during which time they would have left with the spark extractor and Fowler in tow.

This was about to be found out when a voice sounded behind him. "Why wear that if it hurts you so much?"

Alex turned, still with his hand on the wall, to see Jack leaning on the wall next to the storeroom's entrance. A frown on his face.

Alex panted. "A walking stick is okay but I would prefer to walk properly. I can deal with the pain."

Jack took a step forward, folding his arms. "I don't think you're telling the truth."

"About the brace?"

"About yourself."

Alex gazed at Jack. "Why do think that?"

"You seem pretty calm for a guy who found out about the existence of aliens on Earth.

For Alex, there was no need to lie at that point.

"Oh, I've known about the Autobots for a while. Agent Fowler made it clear that I mustn't tell anybody."

"I see." Said Jack. "So, how much 'do' you know about us?"

Now the frown started to appear on Alex's face. "Only what I've seen." He failed to notice that his hands were becoming quite warm.

Jack said nothing.

Alex silently cursed Arcee. It was obvious that she had told Jack about how he knew of her former partners. While this did not have an immediate consequence, it did instill suspicion in the sixteen-year-old about Alex. Alex knew he would have to sometime explain himself to Arcee about that confrontation. that is if he survived his plan.

Desperate to change the subject, Alex asked "So, are the Autobots still in the main hangar?"

"No," replied Jack icily. "They left with the spark extractor and Fowler to attack the decepticon warship."

"Wow." Said Alex, acting astounded. "Cool." He paused. "Do you think that they will end the war today?"

"I hope so." Now it was Jack's turn to pause. "What do you think?"

Before Alex could answer, the lights in the storeroom and the corridor outside suddenly dimmed. A power drain that indicated the activation of the groundbridge.

"Back already?" asked Alex. "Let's go and see."

"Yeah." Said Jack slowly. He made his way down the corridor briskly, with Alex successfully keeping up despite the torture coming from his leg.

He failed to notice the black, charred and slightly smoking imprint of his hand that he had left on the wall.

To be continued….