Chapter 19

The Harbinger…

The kids were lost in the embrace of June Darby's arms while Agent Fowler looked on with concern. It had been quite the relief for him and June when they heard the voice of Ratchet on the phone earlier but they were still worried over the children's safety. However this was alleviated after arriving at the abandoned decepticon warship and meeting up with the present members of Team Prime. The autobots also watched this reunion unfold, glad to see their human charges and friends safe. However there was great tension between them due to the fact that while they were in the presence of a new arrival and ally, there were two autobots still missing in action.

After a brief silence Arcee said "The only signals Ultra Magnus managed to isolate are standing right here."

"Maybe a scanner's faulty…" commented Wheeljack.

"So the kids are accounted for." Said Bulkhead.

"Smokescreen bridged out unaccompanied, only Optimus knows where." Ratchet explained. "And Optimus remained behind…to destroy the groundbridge to," He looked down. "Ensure that everyone else…made it to safety."

"I…watched the base go down. No one or thing walked out of there." Fowler said. "Not that we could see." Confirmed June as she and the kids stepped up behind him to face the autobots. Fowler continued. "Even if Prime survived, I'm not sure we can afford to wait for him to show up. Not with Megatron holding our planet hostage, from his high and mighty perch of Darkmount."

"I would be inclined to agree with the native life form." Ultra Magnus said stepping forward. "Megatron must be stopped, with or without Optimus Prime."

Jack looked to Arcee. She had become quite still while the conversation had progressed.

"Arcee, are you okay?" he asked.

She looked down at her partner. A frown on her face.

"He lied to us." She said.

"Arcee-" Bulkhead began.

"He lied to us, Bulkhead!" She exclaimed. "Why?! Why would Optimus do that to us?"

"Optimus obviously had his reasons for concealing Alex." Ratchet joined. "While I agree that it seems not the most effective strategy-"

"Effective strategy?!" fumed Arcee. "He could've told us everything! We could've ended this war weeks ago!"

"Soldier, to what are you referring to?" enquired Ultra Magnus, confused of what his comrades were arguing about.

"And yet Optimus chose not to." Ratchet persisted, ignoring the commander. "It stands to reason that Alex told Optimus something that made him want to continue fighting without Alex's knowledge or assistance."

"Can someone explain to me-" began Ultra Magnus.

"But what about when he threatened the kids?" continued Arcee.

"That was obviously just a ploy to give him time to leave the base," Ratchet replied. "Considering how you reacted towards him."

"Or perhaps it was a warning too early, considering what happened on Cybertron."

Bumblebee emitted some clicks and whirs to agree with Arcee.

During this time Jack had gone quiet, deep in thought. There was something nagging him in the back of his mind. What had Alex said to them when they first met?

Suddenly it struck him. He clicked his fingers. "That's it." He said.

Everyone looked to him. "What?" asked Arcee.

"It wasn't just to get away from you, Arcee." Said Jack. "But to escape before the base was destroyed by the 'cons after we came back from Cybertron."

Bulkhead nodded. "It figures, saving his own skin. But why wouldn't he have just stayed, given us some sort of explanation and then left with one of us when the base was destroyed?"

"You think he would've given us an explanation?" asked Arcee sarcastically.

"Agreed." Said Ratchet. "But it still doesn't explain why Optimus would avoid asking Alex about future events."

"Would someone-" The frown on Magnus's face was deepening.

"Like you said, he obviously said something that Optimus really liked."

However Jack wasn't finished. "When we first met Alex, he told us to act like he didn't exist, like he was just a shadow."

"Yeah, so?" asked Arcee.

"So, when it came to situations, he didn't get involved at all. He would always disappear or be back at base."

"So he's a coward then?"

Bulkhead scoffed. "He goes to see Megatron by his own choice and you're calling him a coward?"

"Guys, think about it." Jack continued. "He tells Optimus something he likes, and then keeps away from all the action." He paused. "He and Optimus wanted to keep the future as it was."

Ratchet took this into account. Suddenly with him it also clicked. "They wanted to preserve Alex's version of the future…because Optimus knew it would be in our best interests."

Now it was Raf's turn to have the realization. "And he went to Megatron to say that it wouldn't happen as he knew it, because he knew Megatron would try and change it if he didn't like it."

"Raf's right." Said Jack. "By doing what he did, he was helping us and protecting himself."

Arcee was amazed at this last reasoning. "Helping us?! After what just happened to us, Jack?! Obviously he wasn't doing a good job at that looking at how we've ended up! And I doubt we will ever see him again because only Optimus knows where he went, and in case you hadn't noticed but Optimus isn't here!"

Bulkheads shoulders sagged. "Arcee's right." He said. "Plus there's no telling if this is the future that Alex knows, for all we know right now Optimus might not be alive."

"We cannot think like that, Bulkhead." Said Ratchet. "But I'm afraid Arcee may be correct in saying that we may never see Alex again."

"ENOUGH!" shouted Ultra Magnus. Everyone turned to him. He looked around at the autobots faces. "If someone could explain to me what you are exactly arguing about? Who is this Alex you speak of?"

"Commander," began Ratchet. "I'm sure you are highly confused about all this, and believe when I say that it will take some time to explain it all. Rest assured we will provide you a through explanation at some point in the near future. But right now, you need not concern yourself over it." He attempted to change the subject. "You momentarily spoke of stopping Megatron."

Ultra Magnus paused. He was an autobot of protocol, and did not enjoy it when he was left in the dark about issues affecting his team. He made a mental note that if upon encountering this 'Alex,' he would be sure no to grant him any courtesy, considering how the majority of the other autobots felt towards him.

This was certainly the case with Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Arcee. Alex had indirectly threatened their charges lives and had intentionally kept valuable information from them that concerned their overall safety. There would be many questions to be answered if they ever saw him again.

Wheeljack on the other hand was not sure what to think. He had only met this Alex once and had not thought much of him. To him, there was more to the story than just what the autobots were currently deducing. But if the kid knew that his beloved Jackhammer would end up on the scrapheap, then he wouldn't mind having a chat with him himself.

Ratchet was concerned, as always. He trusted Optimus and his decisions. He did feel slightly betrayed for not being informed, but he chose to ignore it and concentrate on the job in hand.

"Very well." Said Magnus finally. "As I was saying, we must do everything in our power to stop Megatron, but we will need to be smart about it…"

From his hiding place behind a boulder, Alex took all what had been said into account. Thankful that the storyline was still on course, he took a deep breath. He had been waiting at the Harbinger for the autobots to arrive and during that time he had formulated his plan. It was just now a case of keeping out of sight until he could initiate it. It would require timing, but luckily he was in the position to monitor the situation well.

But soon, he would put on a show.

And his audience would be autobot, decepticon and human combined.

To be continued…

Authors note: HELLO! I'M BACK! AMERICA WAS FANTASTIC! YOU GUYS OVER THERE ARE AWESOME! We now continue our journey, and I hope you enjoy this prologue to a main event!

SJSpilz3