Here is chapter two. There are no pairings, sorry to disappoint.

I don't own Transformers. I can only claim the OC, Wren.

Chapter Two: Rising Darkness Part Two

"And since you know now of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the decepticons know of yours." Optimus informs us.

"Ok, got it, if we see any strange vehicles call nine-one-one. Can we go now?" Jack says.

"Jack, you saw those things," I say pleadingly. "I don't think the cops could handle them."

"Are you insane!" Miko argues. "I am living the dream here in Botswana and I'm not going to allow you or anyone else to shatter it."

"It is best that you four remain under our watch. At least until we can determine our enemy's intentions." Optimus says.

"Optimus with all due respect the children are in as much danger here than anywhere." Ratchet argues.

"Children?!" Jack quips.

"I'm not two or something," I spat. "Does a driver's license not make me adult enough?"

"They have no protective shell; they get underfoot and they will go squish." Ratchet finishes that off with a distasteful glare at us and a little stomp. I give him one of my own.

"Then, for the time being, Ratchet, we must watch where we step."

An alarm goes off and some green flashing. Ratchet goes to mess with computer.

:Proximity sensor.: 'Bee explains. :There's someone on the roof.:

Raf translates for Jack and Miko who don't speak autobot. I have no clue why we can understand him though.

"It's Agent Fowler." Ratchet explained.

"I thought we were the only ones who knew about you guys."

"Special Agent William Fowler is designated liaison to the outside world. As such he only tends to visit when there are issues. It may be best if you don't meet him at this time." Optimus informs us.

Honestly, out of all of the autobots, he's gotta be my favorite and the coolest. We all glance around at each other and hide against the wall.

"7 Wrecks, 34 Fender benders, a three-hour traffic jam, and a particular note: Numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of an unknown make and a black and yellow custom muscle car." Agent Fowler fumes. "So, anything you care to get off your tin chest, Prime?"

Jack glances around the corner and I pull him back and hiss. "What are you doing!"

"We have the situation under control Agent Fowler," Optimus explains calmly.

"They're back, aren't they?"

It doesn't take a genius to figure out who they are.

"If you are referring to the decepticons, I have doubts they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable." Optimus says gravely.

"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon."

"Hear me, Agent Fowler, we are your best and possibly only defense against the decepticon threat."

"Says you." Agent Fowler fires back like he's a little brother or something.

"Hey, fleshie," Bulkhead snaps. What an endearing pet name for humans? "Did anyone get splattered on the free-way? Team Prime knows when to use force," Bulkhead rips a tool apart and smashes it. "And how much to use.

"Bulkhead! I needed that!" Ratchet says with obvious exaggeration.

"Enough!" Optimus scolds the two arguing autobots, then scolds Fowler. "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot."

"Then do us both a favor and handle this Prime." Agent Fowler starts walking out. "Under the radar."

Once he was in the lift, he turned and said. "Or I will."

Once he leaves, we all come out from hiding.

"He's got pretty big bearings, for a human." Bulkhead says.

"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world Bulkhead, as he should be."

"He must be fun at parties." I snark.

There's another beep from the computer, and Ratchet growls. "Blasted Earth tech. Cliffjumper's signal just came back online."

"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asked.

"How is that possible?" Optimus asked from behind me.

"It isn't. Another bug. The systems shot full of 'em."

"But if there's any chance Cliff's alive?" Arcee asks.

"Ratchet, prepare sick-bay. We may need it." Optimus turns and engages his battle mask. Still the coolest bot here.

"Hey, what can we do?" Miko asks.

"We probably should just stay outta the way." I say shyly.

"Remain with Ratchet." Optimus says.

"Awe!" Miko whines.

"Awh." Ratchet scoffs. I think he gets to take the cake for lamest autobot.

"Looks like someone's crabby." I snicker.

"I am not crabby." Ratchet derided.

"Coulda fooled me." I roll my eyes.

"Autobots," Optimus says as the ground-bridge, at least I think that's what it's called, lights up. "Roll out!"

A portal forms in the center of the glowing 'rings' and the bots run through it.

"What just happened?" Jack stutters.

"Magic?" I make a half-crooked grin.

"I transported them to the designated coordinates via the ground bridge."

"What's a ground-bridge?" Raf asked.

"That." I said, deadpan and pointed at the thing in question.

"I know that." Raf argues.

"Ugh," Ratchet shrugs and continues in a derisive tone. "A scaled down version of space-bridge technology. And since we don't possess the means or the energon for intergalactic travel…"

"You're stuck here." I finish quietly.

"On earth," Jack adds.

"With the likes of you, yes, but I constructed the groundbridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet."

"Woah," Raf whispered. "Does it work for humans?"

"Naturally."

"You mean I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked. I completely forgot she travelled here for school.

"Within moments," Ratchet said grumpily. "In fact, allow me to send you there, all four of you." He leaned over the bar to get more in Miko's face.

"Watch it, Ratchet." Miko warns, getting into his face now.

I roll my eyes as Miko rushes off to go mess with something. Or someone. It's debatable which.

"What is this anyway?" She moves a finger toward something.

"Broken. Don't touch." Ratchet snaps. Miko moves her finger to touch something else. "Don't touch that either.

"Is there anything thing we can touch?" I ask.

"The floor?" Jack offers.

"Haha." I say flatly. "That was hysterical."

"How come you guys are using human computers?" Raf asks.

"It certainly isn't by choice. It was handed down by the former tenants when we inherited this former missile silo. I make modifications as I see fit."

Error messages come up on the screen and the medic growled.

"I think I can fix that," Raf says quietly.

"Really?" Ratchet grunted derisively. "This is complex technology; it isn't a child's toy."

Raf plugs in his laptop and clicks away. "Now try."

Ratchet does and the error messages go away. Leave it to my nerdy little cousin to know how to do that. Ratchet straightens irritably and glances at my cousin.

"Ratchet, Bridge us back using the arrival coordinates, NOW!" Prime's voice yells from the computer.

The ground bridge starts glowing as the autobots return being chased by an explosion. Optimus transforms and turns around, one knee bent low to the ground and the other foot firmly planted on the floor. He uses one massive hand to stop himself as he glances back at explosion's smoke.

"Well," I say quietly while my friends utter 'woahs' and 'wows'. "that blows."

"Cutting it a bit close, how about Cliffjumper?" Ratchet says in a low tone.

The other bots look down sadly. Miko runs to the edge.

"What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I come with next time?"

And there goes Miko, unable to pick up social ques. I might not be an alien robot like the autobots, but I can tell that those questions are better left for later.

Arcee growls. "Look."

"hey, hey, Miko lets go see what the 'bots hide in their sock drawers."

"Seriously?" Miko argues as Jack wisely pulls her away from the situation. Arcee's angry blue gaze lands on me and I just shrug.

"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asks. I follow my friends over to where they're standing.

"Not Cliff, at least, not anymore. He was mutated, Butchered," She laments, wrapping her arms around herself. "Like those 'con experiments during the war."

She woozily falls, leaning on a white crate for support.

:Are you ok?!: 'Bee asks.

"I'm fine, just dizzy" Arcee shakes her head.

"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko comments.

"Robots with emotions?" Raf says.

"Robots who can die?" I gasp, beating Jack to the punch. The realization kicks me in the stomach. They had a bit of a closer brush with death than I think anyone would want.

Ratchet uses a glowing beam-light-thing to check out Arcee. I briefly wonder if it's an x-ray then inwardly roll my eyes at myself for the silly thought.

"What is this?" Ratchet asks.

"I don't know, Cliff was covered in it."

Ratchet takes a scalpel looking knife and uses it to get some of the purple substance off Arcee's wrist. "Take a decontamination bath, now."

Bumblebee helps her up and leads her down the massive hallway.

"Optimus, I hate to bug," Jack says. "But no bars."

"A security precaution. The silo walls block all radiowaves"

"If I don't call my mom, like, now I think the cops will be out looking for me."

"Have you broken a law?" Optimus asks.

"Curfew, I need to be home after 10pm."

"Oh shoot!" I exclaim. "I should've been home for family dinner hours ago." I check my watch. Yep, should've been. "Mom's gonna kill me. Or at least ground me 'til I'm 25."

"I better get home too. Or I'll be grounded for a year." Raf says.

"Earth customs I hadn't considered." Optimus glances to Bulkhead. "Bulkhead, accompany Miko home."

"Awesome, my host parents will freak!"

"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle mode."

"Curbside duty, got it."

"Aw!" Miko whined.

"Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf."

"Awesome!" Raf nods.

"Ratchet-"

"Busy!" He waves off Prime.

"Arcee, You'll accompany Jack."

"Uh, still dizzy." She says.

"You're fine, says you're physician." Ratchet says.

:What about Wren?: 'Bee comments.

"I will be Wren's guardian." Optimus makes a half nod.

"Lucky!" Miko whines.

"Are you sure? I mean, I'd hate to be an inconvenience." I argue.

"You already are." Ratchet grumbled to me and then met Prime's gaze. "Do you even have time to be a guardian?"

"I hardly think you have the time to, nor would you be a good fit for this job, since you have already voiced your distaste." Optimus says without any malice or bite.

He drives me home, but it's really quiet. I mean, what would I, little Wren Solace, have to say to an autobot leader who commanded soldiers in a war? Not much, I know that.

"Uh, thanks for driving me home, Prime. It's a long walk back." I say, trying to make a smile.

"Of course, youngling, but you don't need to thank me."

"I still feel like I have to," I admit. "My parents always said to thank someone when they do something for me. They said that to my older sister and younger brother too."

Prime turns onto a main road. I wiggle around in my seat to look back, but kick the dashboard in the process.

"Sorry!" I gasp.

"I didn't even feel it." Optimus says with mirth. "Nor do I feel fidgeting in my cab."

"Oh." I say curiously. Suddenly, a really random thought hits me. "If a rock hit your wind-shield, would it crack?"

"No, It would not."

"If a tree fell in the road, could you move it in your vehicle mode by pushing it?"

"Yes, I probably could." He answers.

"If a-" I start to say as a flash of brown runs into the light provided by Optimus's high beams. "Woah! You just hit a bear!"

I hop out Optimus' door and he transforms. "I killed it."

"Did us a favor," I say quietly. "Bears attack people, especially brown bears. They're really aggressive. Back home, we heard about bear attacks more often than most people think they happen."

"Are you not a citizen of Jasper?" Optimus asks.

"I used to live in South Dakota. I mean, we moved because of my dad's job. My mom was happy with it because we'd be in the same town as her sister and brother-in-law and all their kids. Raf's my little cousin." I tell him.

"I was unaware you and Raf were kin."

"What's kin mean?" I ask. Raf would know this for how much he's on that computer of his.

"Family." Optimus murmurs.

"Do… do autobots have family?"

"In a way. Although, our families are not through blood relation, but friendship." He gazes to the stars as he says this.

"Oh, I kinda get it." I follow his gaze. "Oh, I can see the Big Dipper."

"I was unaware you knew astrology."

"I mean, most people know the Big Dipper, but I do know a few others, like there's Orion's Belt." I comment. "I know there's a very good place to stargaze, it's called Massacre Rim."

I search the sky for a minute. "There's Ursa Major, the great bear." I point. "And then over there would be Ursa Minor."

"What would be over there?" Optimus asked and pointed.

"That," I blink. "That is Leo, the lion. My zodiac is a leo."

"What is a zodiac?"

"Zodiacs are different constellations assigned to different months. Whatever month you're born in, the zodiac of that month is yours. My older sister could tell you more, I'm just kinda repeating what she told me. Lexi, my older sister, told me that Leos are loyal, confident, optimistic, determined, and natural leaders, but they're also stubborn, dominating and overbearing." I finish.

"I would not describe you as dominate or overbearing." Optimus says with confusion.

"Zodiacs are kinda just for fun, so if your personality doesn't match your zodiac, it's not a big deal." I shrug. "It's also my sister's latest obsession, so my whole family heard loads about it for the drive out here."

"Which reminds me," He says as he transforms. "I still need to get you home."

I hop in his cab and buckle up. "Fine by me." I yawn.

Once I back home, my mom asks me how my first day at school went.

"I made some friends. Some good friends that are really nice." I smile. And think to myself. But they aren't all human.

"Good, good." She nods. "Now, you should get to bed, sweetheart."

"I will," I rush upstairs to get ready for bed. I was asleep the moment I got in bed.