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Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime. I only own the OC George Edwards/Bladewolf.
"... And since you now know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours. "Optimus said to Jack, Miko and Raf, finishing his explanation on the seriousness of the situation and why they had to go into Autobot witness protection.
Jack nodded. "Got it. We spot any strange vehicles, call 911."
"That's a bad idea, Jack." I said from where I stood between Cliffjumper and Arcee. "Human weaponry won't do a thing to Decepticons. You would be putting the police in danger."
"He is right, Jack." Optimus said in agreement with me.
"Okay! Okay! I get it!" Jack said, raising his hands. "Can we go now?"
"Are you insane?" Miko hissed at him. "I'm living a dream here in Bots-wana and I will not allow you or anyone else to shatter it!"
"Are all humans like that?" Cliffjumper asked me.
"She's a teenager, they get excited over simple things." I said with a sigh. "Not all humans are like that though."
"It is best that you three remain under our watch." Optimus told the trio. "At least, until we can determine our enemy's intentions."
Ratchet turned from his workplace at that moment to speak to Optimus. "Optimus, with all due respect, the human children are in as much danger here as anywhere." He said as he looked at the four of us.
"Children?" Jack said in an offended tone.
Ratchet continued, "They have no protective shell. If they get under foot they will go... Squish." He got a disgusted look on his face and slammed his foot down hard, causing Jack, Miko and Raf to flinch while I merely rolled my eyes.
"I think he wants that to happen." I muttered to the two Autobots on either side of me, causing them to smirk in response.
"Then for the time being, Ratchet, we must watch where we step." Optimus said, looking slightly amused by Ratchet's behaviour.
Suddenly, an alarm sounded throughout the base.
"What's that?" Jack asked, still looking up at the Autobots.
"It's the Proximity sensor." Bumblebee replied.
"Proximity sensor." Raf translated for Jack and Miko. "Someone's up top."
"And there's only one man that makes an arrival like that." Cliffjumper said with a sigh as Ratchet pulled up a image of the top of the base, showing a helicopter on the helipad and a man walking to the human elevator that would take him down into the base.
"It's Agent Fowler." Ratchet grumbled, looking at Optimus.
"I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys." Jack said, gesturing to him, Miko, Raf and myself.
"Unfortunately not, Jack." I said with a sigh.
Optimus turned to the trio, since I knew who Fowler was. "Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world, as he tends to visit only when there are... issues. It may be best if you do not meet him at this time."
"Which means, we hide. Over here." I said, gesturing the humans to run over to where I was standing. They did and we took cover behind the wall, with Cliffjumper and Arcee moving so their legs would block view of us.
I heard the elevator stop at our floor and a second later the angry voice of Special Agent William Fowler was echoing across the room. "Seven wrecks, thirty-four fender-benders, a three-hour traffic jam, and on a particular note, numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make, a red 70s Dodge Challenger and a black and yellow custom muscle car."
Arcee, Cliffjumper and Bumblebee glanced at each other at that before shrugging.
"So, anything you care to get off your tin chest, Prime?" Fowler asked, not intimidated by Optimus standing just a few feet in front of him.
"We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler." Optimus said calmly. Gotta admire how calm he can be when he's got a human giving him attitude.
"They're back, aren't they?" Fowler said knowingly more than actually asked, ignoring Prime's words.
"If you are referring to the Decepticons, I have doubts that they ever left." Optimus said diplomatically. "Your planet is much too valuable."
"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon!" Fowler declared.
"Because nukes would work." I muttered with an eyeroll, knowing that would most likely be the American Government's first response.
"Hear me, Agent Fowler." Optimus implored. "We are your best, possibly your only, defence against the Decepticon threat."
"Says you." Fowler argued.
"Hey fleshy!" Bulkhead snapped, getting Fowler's attention. "Did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force." He ripped something important out of Ratchet's workstation.
"Uh, Bulk..." Cliffjumper started but it was too late as Bulkhead applied pressure.
"...And how much to use it." Bulkhead finished his sentence by crushing the tool in his servo.
"I needed that, Bulkhead!" A wrench hit Bulkhead right between the optics. I don't know where Ratchet got the wrench, but he already had a second ready to throw in his hand.
"Enough." Optimus ordered without raising his voice, stopping Ratchet from throwing another wrench and Bulkhead from taking cover behind the same wall as us. Optimus continued to Fowler, "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot."
Fowler was walking back to the elevator when he spoke over his shoulder. "Then deal with this under the radar, Prime. Or I will," he said just as the elevator doors closed.
"Such a joy of sunshine, isn't he?" I remarked as we humans came out from hiding. My comment earned snickers from Bulkhead, Cliffjumper and Bumblebee.
"Yeah." Bulkhead nodded in agreement. "And pretty big bearings... for a human."
"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead, as he should be." Optimus stated wisely.
Ratchet started yelling at Bulkhead about his broken tool when we came closer. "Did you think before you did that! That was a very important piece of equipment! You better hope we have another one in storage, or Primus help me-." He went off in Cybertronian.
"Woah! Woah! Language, Ratchet!" Cliffjumper said with wide optics and gestured to Raf. "Got a youngling here."
"So... how did you come to meet the Autobots?" Miko asked me as we stood in the human area.
I sighed, realizing I'll have to explain my story again. "Get comfortable, this is a long story."
So I told them my origins. Where I was from, what this all was in my reality, my death, how I was saved and came to be here, followed by my meeting with Cliffjumper. Once I was finished, the three were looking at me with wide eyes of shock, awe and amazement.
"So, if this is a TV show, which you've seen, you obviously know the future, right?" Miko asked me. I noticed the Autobots seemed to pay close attention to our conversation.
"I do." i nodded. "Watched the whole show from start to the end. But just because I know the future, don't think I'm going to go and tell you what happens. Foreknowledge is dangerous is abused like that, all I can do is give hints and tips on what will come but not outright reveal it. Last thing I want is for something to occur that blows up the Universe or something... damn, I've been watching Doctor Who too much."
"But doesn't it help?" Miko asked with a frown. "Knowing the future?"
Before I could answer, Optimus cut in gently. "George may know the future, but we will not ask or demand he tell us. it could cloud our judgement, and have drastic consequences."
Before anything else could be said, the monitors beeped and a signal was displayed on the middle monitor. "Optimus, we've detected an Energon signature. It's an Energon mine in Nebraska."
"If you're going there, you may want to take Optimus' trailer with you." I said with my arms crossed. "You're low on Energon, so you should take the chance to grab as much Energon from there as you can."
"Very well." Optimus nodded before pausing and then asked me. "Should there be anything we must worry about?"
I was silent for a couple of seconds before I said. "Watch out for Starscream and drive when the place blows."
Optimus nodded, needing only that to get the idea without too much being given away. "Autobots-"
"Hey!" Miko called, getting Prime's attention. "What can we do?"
"Remain with Ratchet and George." Optimus said, causing both Miko and Ratchet to groan.
"C'mon, Hatchet, I'm not that bad." I said with a grin as he shot me a look for the 'Hatchet' comment before opening the Groundbridge.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus called and transformed along with Arcee, Cliffjumper, Bulkhead and Arcee, then the five drove through the vortex.
"W-What just happened?" Jack asked in disbelief.
"I transported them to the designated co-ordinates via the Groundbridge." Ratchet replied casually, as if it was a common thing.
"What's a Groundbridge?" Raf asked, causing Ratchet to groan.
"That's a Groundbridge." I said, pointing to the vortex before it closed. "It's pretty much a scaled down version of Spacebridge technology, but unfortunately the Autobots don't have the resources or means for intergalactic travel…they're stuck here." I said simply. Ratchet just stared at me with optics wide open. "Correct me if I'm wrong Ratchet."
"No, he's precisely right. However, I constructed the Groundbridge to enable travel anywhere on this planet." He responded.
"Whoa. Does it work for humans?" Raf asked.
"Naturally." The medic replied.
"You mean I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked in amazement.
"Within moments." Ratchet answered again.
'Wait for it'. I thought.
"In fact, allow me to send you there immediately. All four of you." He said with a smirk.
"Watch it, Ratchet." Miko warned him.
The three humans decided to explore while I stood in the human area, just watching or making conversation with Ratchet in regards to dimensions before I asked him. "Ratchet, what were the results of the scans you did yesterday?"
Ratchet paused before he replied. "Nothing bad. The Nanites are changing you, slowly, but I calculate you'll be a Cybertronian within two or three weeks at most."
"Well... that's something." What else can I say? In two or three weeks I won't be human anymore, how can anyone comprehend that?
"What is this anyway, Ratchet?" Miko suddenly asked, almost touching what looked like a control console left over from the previous human owners.
Ratchet answered gruffly, "It's broken, don't touch it."
Miko tried touching it anyway. "I said don't touch it," Ratchet said without turning around. Miko tried touching something else beside the console. "Don't touch that either," he said, again without turning, which made Miko narrow her eyes at his back.
Jack looked at me. "Is there anything we can touch?" he said loud enough for Ratchet to hear.
Ratchet just looked at us annoyed until an error popped up on his computer screen.
"Why are you using human computers?" Raf asked, looking confused.
"It's definitely not by choice. We inherited these computer systems from the previous owners and I make modifications when I need to," Ratchet said, obviously used to the odd pop-up error. However, as he tried to fix the error another dozen popped up, making him sigh heavily. Raf looked at the screen for a second.
"I can fix that," he said confidently.
I could almost hear Ratchet roll his optics before saying sarcastically, "Reeaallly? You do know this is very complex technology for humans, don't you? It's not one of your normal computers."
"Now try." Raf said.
Ratchet looked back at the computer and all the errors were fixed. He turned and looked at Raf in shock.
Suddenly, Optimus' voice came on the comms, an explosion in the background. "Ratchet, bridge us back! use the arrival coordinates now!"
Ratchet quickly started entering numbers into a computer next to his main workstation and pulled a lever. Now that I really looked at it, the activated Groundbridge was a breathtaking sight. It was like seeing the Northern Lights in a tunnel.
It was a sight I normally would have gawked at had it not been for the impenetrable wall of blue flame directly behind the bots. Arcee was the first one to clear the Groundbridge, followed closely by Cliffjumper, then Bumblebee, then Bulkhead. Before Optimus even cleared the Groundbridge, Ratchet pushed the same lever used to activate the Groundbridge to turn it off. Optimus transformed into his true form as he was still moving. He flipped, rolled and landed on his feet in one smooth maneuver that he made look easy but I doubt that I would ever be able to do. Jack, Raf and Miko's jaws looked as if they would fall off even more than when I said I was from a different reality. Of course, I still had a look of awe on my face even though I knew Optimus was likely to do that. They didn't.
"Cutting it close, aren't you?" Ratchet said, looking at the rest of the Autobots. "What did you find?"
"Energon. A huge load." Cliffjumper answered. "Thanks to George's suggestion, we got a huge amount of Energon in Optimus' trailer. Good idea, George."
"Anytime." I nodded at him as he and Bulkhead took the trailer out to some other room. "What happened anyway?"
"Starscream." Arcee said, sounding a little dizzy as she blinked. "He had a bomb and...ugh." She fell to one knee catching herself on a generator just before she collapsed.
"Arcee!" I said in worry as I gripped the railing.
"I'm fine, just... dizzy." Arcee reassured me before groaning as she held a servo to her helm.
The blue beam of light coming out of Ratchet's wrist told me he started a scan of Arcee. His scanner beeped when it went over Arcee's hand. He paused and scanned her hand again and the same thing happened. This result made him stop the scan.
"What is this?" He asked, looking at some purple liquid that had dark smoke coming off it.
'So that's Dark Energon. It gives me the chills just by looking at it,' I thought. In the cartoon they tried to make Dark Energon seem mysterious and sinister, but here it felt... Evil. I couldn't truly explain it, but I didn't want to get any closer to it than I had to.
"Don't know. One of the Vehicons was covered in it, leaking it." Arcee said before her optics widened and she glanced at me, and I nodded, knowing what she was thinking.
"Go take a Decontamination bath, now." Ratchet ordered after scraping the Dark Energon off her. Bumblebee helped Arcee to her pedes and guided her to the Decontamination chamber.
"Optimus?" Jack asked, making the mech in question turn toward him. "I-I hate to bug... But... No bars." He said, holding up his phone toward Optimus.
"A security precaution, the silo walls prevent all unauthorized communication." Optimus said as he looked at Jack.
Looking down at his phone, while trying to dial a number, Jack said, "Well, not to be extreme, but if I don't call my mom like right now, the cops will probably start searching for me."
Optimus leaned down closer to us, "Have you broken a law?" he asked, looking directly at Jack.
"It's past their curfew, Optimus." I said, gaining their attention. "They are still young and not legal adults like me."
Raf's eyes widened. "If I don't get home soon I'll be grounded for a year."
"Hmm... Earth customs, I hadn't considered. But we are still responsible for your safety." Optimus said as he stood to his full height. "Bulkhead, accompany Miko home..."
Before Optimus finished giving Bulkhead his orders, Miko cut in. "Awesome! My host parents will freak!" She said excitedly, leaning toward Jack, which made him back up.
"And maintain surveillance, in vehicle form." Optimus finished his orders.
Bulkhead acknowledged, "Understood. Curb-side duty." This made Miko sigh with disappointment.
"Bumblebee," Optimus addressed his youngest soldier, "You will watch over Raf." I saw Raf give a faint smile. "Ratchet," Optimus was cut off by the mech he tried to speak to.
"I'm busy, don't bother me." Ratchet said, not turning from his work at one of the computers.
Arcee was coming out of the Decontamination chamber in time for Optimus to turn to her. "Arcee, you'll accompany Jack."
Arcee just sighed and nodded. "Fine."
The assigned guardians took their charges home while I went off to explore the base and see if I can find a area to make as my room and sleep in.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter people, leave a review in the review section to let me know what you think.