CHAPTER 4

"Alright, Dylan, before this goes any further, I believe it is time we laid down some "ground rules"."

Great, Dylan's least favorite part of any placement extended to alien robots too. It was later that night, Dylan had put on his new, clean clothes and joined Optimus in his office, leaned against the wall. He still didn't like any of this, rules, homes, the whole bit just didn't seem to be his game. But here he was, without much in the way of a choice, he guessed. "First of all, as you gathered from Noah... You are here for protection. As such, you aren't to leave this base without either myself, or my men in your presence," Optimus explained, very firmly. "Your government insists on your education, so you will attend a private school in the city. Where two JOE operatives will be placed in case anything goes... Wrong."

Dylan scoffed. "I've been out of school for a year!"

Optimus shook his head. "On this, we agreed. A creature as young as you needs an education, you'll thank me later," Dylan crossed his arms, annoyed. "On base, I have assigned myself as your guardian for the time being. Which means I expect open communication about your needs. Humans are still a new species for me, I will not easily see all the signs a human guardian will. Please keep this in mind."

So Optimus was going to be his guardian? That would be interesting, given how strait-laced the Autobot was. Dylan had always been the opposite: the prank pulling, adventure-seeking, snarky type. While Optimus was kind, he couldn't see this ending well already. "So you're gonna be my guardian? That's uh... Gonna be interesting. You've only known me for a day, I'm not normally this mellow," He finally admitted. "My last few foster parents gave up because they couldn't take the heat."

Optimus tilted his helm to the side, but a ghost of a smirk seemed to form on his face. "You underestimate the power of a mech who has spent the last several years babysitting Mirage," OK. That was a fair point. "I am more than capable of handling one human of that I can assure you."

Dylan would have to see about that, he figured. A lot of people thought they could handle him, but he was a force to be reckoned with in a way that even he acknowledged. "The other on-base rules are simple: no drinking, no partying, none of those drugs I hear about on the news," Easy. Dylan didn't do any of that - at all. "And most of all, no one outside of those already in our circle can know of our presence. Or it presents a danger not only to you, but to them as well."

Well, that sucked. He had friends around that were going to ask all these questions, so what could he tell them? Though he guessed that they wouldn't exactly believe the story about giant robots from space either. "Fine, but my friends are gonna have questions. Especially if you're going to put me in a private school," Dylan explained. "What do I tell them? That I got adopted by some rich diplomat?"

The leader looked like he hadn't considered that, at least yet. Go figure. As the Prime considered their options for a moment, he finally came to the conclusion: "You will be under the guise of a scholarship student. That should make for an easy explanation," Damn. He got him there. "Now, are we in agreement of these rules?"

Eh. "I guess so," Dylan replied. "We'll see about bending them later."

"I don't "bend" my rules often." Optimus replied sternly.

"Yet." Dylan winked.

Of course, he noticed the look Optimus gave but didn't mind it. He was the one that had insisted on this... Then again, he reminded himself of his options and sighed quietly. Optimus must have noticed his apprehension, because his next words were softer. "I understand this isn't what you wanted, Dylan. But please... Understand where we're all coming from," Dylan was silent in response. "You will thank us when we know what is happening and you are safe to resume a normal life."

A normal life? That was rich... Dylan already knew that they weren't going to let him return to the streets after this. He was on a government agency's radar now! If anything he was definitely stuck in that damn system forever now. "You don't get it do you? I can't go back to my old life now. Not with someone like this GI JOE thing having me on their radar," Optimus frowned. "The second this is over they're going to bury me into the foster care system."

Optimus presented a question that almost made him scream: "Is it really that bad?"

The short answer: yes and no. It depended on the family you lived with, some were awesome, some were in it for the paycheck. Dylan though had had a tough time acclimating to any kind of family. Not after what his dad had done to him - the things he'd seen, the things he'd done... He shook the memories away as he decided the best answer to give him. "It's a roof over your head and nothing else. You get bounced around at every turn. And even when the family cares... It's just..." He paused a bit. "I've been through some stuff, OK? I'm not the easiest kid to encounter in the system."

"I don't suppose you'd elaborate on that?"

Not in this lifetime. Not with a stranger, and especially not with a giant alien robot he'd just met. And besides, they had already done their research right? Chances were that Optimus already knew and was just trying to be polite. "I don't think I want to. I don't talk about that to anyone bro," Dylan explained honestly. "Look, I'm beat. I'm going back to bed... If you have more questions, let's talk in the morning."

Optimus looked at him with disappointment. But Dylan already knew the type, he expected everyone to open up right away, right? Just because he was nice? He was going to find out quickly that would never be the case with Dylan. "Goodnight, Dylan," Optimus replied. "If you need me... Please do not hesitate to call for me."

Dylan closed his eyes - and tried to hide the fact that he still appreciated his kindness.

"What do you mean the boy is with the Autobots!?"

The night air was startled by the young Decepticon being thrown against the nearest wall. Strife had met Megatron in an alley, just as they'd planned. But when he hadn't returned with the child this time, as was the plan... Well. They ended up in this predicament. He trembled under the might of the tall, domineering silver Decepticon leader, and knew his moments were numbered. "I don't know, Lord Megatron! I searched everywhere when he wasn't in his usual spot... And caught one of the soldier's airwaves!" He choked. "I assume there could be only one human youngling they'd be protecting right now."

"USELESS!" Megatron snapped. "I told you to snatch him weeks ago."

The small Decepticon shook his head quickly. "I didn't know! I swear! I couldn't even find any evidence his carrier had left him anything," Megatron gritted his denta, and turned to the stoic Soundwave as the mech talked. "For all we know this was a fool's errand! If there's a second Transwarp key, who says it's on Earth? With humans? You're chasing a ghost!"

BLAST.

A single shot from his fusion cannon took the mech's helm clean off his shoulders. Ending his useless whimpering, as Megatron glared upon the now empty husk. "It seems we will have to do things the hard way then," Megatron noted - red optics leering toward Soundwave. "How dare peons like this question me on information we have obtained?"

"Soundwave new objective: assault on Autobot base?"

Megatron turned his helm toward his trusted officer, and shook his head. His optics simply narrowing further as he thought of it. "No, they'll simply have the illusionist escape with him. Now that they're onto our efforts," Megatron noted, angrily. "This is only a setback. I want you to be the one watching him... If you can't get the boy, perhaps we can find where Maria Logan hid the information we seek on him."

Soundwave tilted his helm at him, and only asked one thing: "So we don't need the boy any longer?"

Megatron considered the question, then added: "No, I think we can still have our fun with the human," Megatron sneered. "If he's in with the Autobots he may yet prove to be a bargaining chip... Should they find the information first."

Soundwave nodded - not one to question the judgement of his master. Megatron simply looked upon Brooklyn with disgust - he couldn't wait to find the key, and what he wanted. And be rid of this planet. He'd come here to find Optimus, found much more, and now - it seemed as though he would be here indefinitely until he had what he wanted. Megatron watched as Soundwave moved to leave him on the large, looming building on which they were seated and had only one more order. "Oh and Soundwave?" The mech turned. "Take the trash with you." He gestured to the corpse of his former spybot.

Then it was just him, alone with his anger in the night air.

Elsewhere that night, Optimus met with General Hawk.

The man was a tall, muscular, and rather stiff military man who intimidated everyone but Optimus himself. So he carried a bit of tension in the air at his arrival with a small group of GI JOE approved bodyguards at his side. The man first listened again to Optimus' explanation of the day's events, then sighed carefully. He was flustered, maybe even a little moreso than usual. "Well, let me put it this way. I don't like when even I can't get into someone's records," Hawk explained - his eyes shifted to the Autobot's base. "Whoever this kid's mom was, she must have had something important in her record."

Optimus was silent, not doubting the human's words for a moment. "Her record's being expunged means she must have been... CIA, maybe Sector 7, before it went defunct," Hawk explained. He mused for a moment. "I know she wasn't one of us... I'd never heard her name before today."

The Prime only nodded, though he remained doubly concerned about it. The way Dylan had already wormed his way into his thoughts and spark made him nervous for the boy if nothing else. Even if his mother had a part in this, he was just a child. And none deserved to be dragged into their war like this. "I'm more worried about what Decepticons want with HIM," Optimus replied. "He has no idea who his mother even was. If that's the case, he is being dragged into this for no reason other than..."

"Association," Hawk agreed. "You're sure you're good taking this, Prime? I know we're still working on our Decepticon fighting tactics, but.."

Optimus raised a hand, not to be rude, but to make his point clear. "With all due respect, general. If Dylan is being hunted by Decepticons, that makes him OUR responsibility to protect," He explained honestly. Then after a moment, added... "Besides, I've felt.. Something, ever since I encountered him. As though some part of me believes... We were meant to find him."

Hawk looked at him curiously, scratching his chin. "I'm not much of a "fate" or "destiny" kind of guy... But I'll accept the first answer," The general admitted. Keeping to his no-nonsense style as usual. "So I'll allow it. I'll send Noah and a few others by tomorrow with more provisions for him. We've got him set up at my son's school - he'll show him around. Make sure he's welcomed. Starts in a little over a week."

Optimus nodded his head, but as the GI JOE commander started away, decided to add. "You may not believe in fate, General. But I do..." He spoke honestly. "And I've come to learn it rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."

The man looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, let's hope it's the good kind of "fate" then. And not the kind that ends with a lot of good people dead."

On that, they could agree.

A/N: Finally got some canon JOE action here! XD Excited to have the chance to include them. May also have other Hasbro property shout-outs over the course of the fic so keep a look out!