Yet another thing to worry about. That's what Burns thought as he watched the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. They were lucky enough that a satellite picked up the struggle, and from the looks of it, things were very concerning. Bumblebee managed to take out two Decepticons alone, and here she is with teammates fighting three of them, and they lost. His assumption about Lio was utterly true, as he was on their side.

It was his sudden second wind that allowed Bumblebee's team to escape. Burns had noticed the jet fly by assuming they had another flight-capable ally. However, that wasn't the thing that caught his attention the most. Miko was seen. When they had stopped and headed towards something, he had to zoom in; sure enough, it was her. It's nearly been two days since she was seen, and luckily, he told the police Captain everything was fine. Something about the truck being a new type of self-driving truck, and they got her. The captain only muttered something about hating machines before he left.

It didn't look like the cop believed him and may do his searching, but that won't happen. Learning about Miko was an easy task with all the tools they had. Learning she was an exchange student, not that much of a perfect record. Several detentions or late arrivals. She has some D's in a few classes, but all around, she seems smart, with most of her grades being an A if not a B plus.

"How can a girl like her be caught up in something like this?" Burns asked himself. "Left school and found them…. could the rumors that had spread spurred her to go and attempt to see him? Or did she get as lucky as the other girl?"

Ever the strategist, Burns marked those he knew were on their side. He watched those who fled and those who came in with Bumblebee, taking note of their appearances so he could share the information with everyone. If another fight were to break out and they could join, they would know who to fight. His notes were meticulous and detailed.

The boy bot is a friend of the white and red truck.

Bumblebee friend.

Police car another friend.

Green sports car, friend.

Blue SUV friend.

Odd jet friend,

And for the enemies he would put.

Tank enemy.

The jaguar enemy

Post-apocalyptic truck.

Six vs. three, and yet the six lost. Or it was more of a five vs. three. With a little more help, we can win. Now, they only need to find them, as the satellite didn't track them far enough to their base. They were lucky enough to see where the battle was taking place.

"They have to take that girl back eventually." Burns would say to himself. "I can watch for any of those vehicles and her riding into town with them."

Burns would look at the vehicles once again, making a mental note. Burns would press a button on his desk.

"I'm sending you a picture of a girl. Find out her name and where she lives. Once you do, keep an eye out for any of the following vehicles I'm about to send," Burns would say.

"Yes, Sir," The man said over the comms.

XXXXXX

The Autobots sat around the ship, half watching the energon proceed while the other half watching the following monitors looking for other Decepticons' activity. Miko sat on the table near Crosshair's gun, rubbing her hands along the weapon in awe. Chromia glanced down to Miko, then backed up to Crosshairs.

"Is it safe to have her standing there playing with your gun?" Chromia asked.

"Not like she can pull the trigger and actively shoot herself," Crosshairs said.

"Fair point," Chromia said.

"Ugh, when is that energon going to be done?" Bumblebee would ask. "I need it now."

"The process will take a while. It took time for the probes to collect all they could; now, we need to process it before we can share it around," Pharma said before she sighed. "Huh, no matter. We've been using a lot of the ship's power, and we need half of that to put within the ship."

"I don't need any," Lio announced, turning his head away from the monitor. You can split my share or give it to the ship, whatever seems fit."

"Don't be ridiculous, Lio," BlueStreak said, "We all need energon to function."

"I know. I have something that should keep me going a little longer," Lio said, patting his chest.

Before any Autobots could ask, a slight rumble was heard, getting their attention; they glanced at Miko.

"You good?" Lio asked.

"Kind of. Little hungry like you guys are." Miko would say.

"Well, I don't think you can process energon," Bumblebee mutters.

"I don't need that; I need real food. I haven't eaten in what…..a day or two?" Miko guessed as she said that, and it slowly dawned on her, "Crap! I've been missing for a while!"

"Well, I suppose we can take her back home," Lio would say.

"Do we just leave her there? Or bring her back after some time?" Chromia would ask.

"The latter option," Miko would say.

"I don't know, her safety is at risk now; I'll feel a lot better knowing she's safe at home while we try to fight the Decepticons," Lio would say.

"But I can help! I distracted them for you! And got you to hulk out!" Miko defended.

"Hulk out?" Lio asked before shaking his head, "It was a mix of all of y'all being in danger; I'm sure the same rage would've taken over if it happened to just BlueStreak or Chromia."

"The Decepticons did see her face," Bumblebee chimed in. Miko pointed to her.

"She does have a point," Pharma rubs her chin. "It would be wise to have her in a…protection."

"Like an after-school club!" Miko points to Pharma. "I spend some hours here after school, then return home."

"Guess that can work….." Lio mutters.

"So, who drops her off at home?" Chromia asked.

"It may be weird and hard for a kid to explain off a Semi truck," BlueStreak said.

"Oh, like any of us is easy to explain off," Lio would say.

"That's…..fair" BlueStreak would say.

"How about you two come with me?" Miko points to Lio and Chromia. "I ride with you, Chromia, get some food, meet my friends, and then you pass me off to Lio, who takes me home. Or both of you can stay and meet my friends."

"Is that wise?" Lio asked.

"No reason to keep asking about that," Chromia stands up, stretching. "Come on"

Lio would stand up, grabbing Miko. "Well then. Let's roll."

XXXXXX

"Turbo Grill?" Chromia says.

Miko, sitting in her driver's seat since Lio's too big to go through a drive, explained the place to both Lio and Chromia.

"Yep! Turbo Grill!" Miko shouted. "It's all about speed and cars. You guys should try it!"

"We don't need to eat," Lio would explain over Chromia's radio.

"Human food, to be specific….it won't do anything to help us," Chromia said.

"Your lost. I would still suggest trying some of it," Miko would say.

"Maybe one day," Chromia told her.

Going through the drive-thru was easy enough; Miko got a Nitro Burger, Pit Stop fries, and a speedway shake. Once getting the food, Chromia will park next to Lio.

"Want her now?" Chromia asked.

"And here I thought we were becoming buddy-buddy," Miko teased.

"Sure." Lio would say, opening his door for Miko to enter. "So where do you say?"

Miko hops into the truck with a relaxing sigh. The cabin is big enough to relax in, and the AC is at the right temperature.

"Say, why do you have the AC on?" Miko asked.

"I like the sound," Lio would say. "So again…where do you live?"

"Let me drive, and I'll show you." Miko smirks.

"Not a chance," Lio would say.

"Come on, you can take control if I make a mistake," Miko would whine.

"Just enjoy your food while we take you home. Okay?" Lio said.

"Fine." Miko pouts. "But I want to drive when we meet my friends so I can show you off"

"Miko, we shouldn't get more humans involved with this." Chromia chastises as Lio leaves the parking lot.

"Come on, please? They think I was crazy," Miko told them while Chromia followed them.

"They may think you're crazy, but you know you're not. You found out that we do indeed exist, and that is all that matters," Chromia would say. "Your friends can't get involved anyways, at least not know….plus you did leave school, skip town and got yourself involved in an alien war"

"It's not like they have to join the club- Well, maybe Sam should, so Lio won't be the only dude there," Miko would say. "And how was I supposed to know there was more of y'all and a war?"

As they approached a red light, Lio halted, Chromia doing the same behind him. A black SUV drove up beside Lio. The passenger side window lowered, revealing Burns in the passenger seat, gesturing for Miko to roll the window down. Miko looked directly at him while eating but acted like he was invisible.

"Hey, kid. Roll the window down," Burns would say. Miko didn't bother to roll the window down, looking at him as she continued to eat before looking forward. "Hey! Kid! The window."

"Miko," Lio would say.

"Don't roll the window down, Lio," Miko says.

"I can see you talking. I know you can see me." Burns would say, and yet again, Miko ignores him. "What the hell is this? I'm not invisible! She can see me!"

"it's clear she's ignoring you, sir," Simmons would say in the driver's seat.

Burns groans. "Okay, um…truck one. We need to talk. Follow me when the light turns green"

"Should I follow him?' Lio asked.

"No, don't" Miko quickly says.

"I believe you should," Chromia would say, coming over the radio. "That's the agent that helped Bumblebee out in the end. He may be able to help us with both situations."

"Do we ensure that he doesn't take Miko?" Lio would ask.

"It's the right choice," Chromia would say. "Just follow him, besides. I got your back."

Miko would look at Burns, and then the lights, seeing theirs, were close to becoming green, so she looked Burn in the eyes. "I can't hear you. I can't see your face."

"What? You can see me! And not seeing me doesn't mean your ears don't work," Burns said.

The light turns green, and Simmons drives ahead first, Lio letting him go before following him with Chromia. Miko looks around and then asks.

"We following him?" Miko asked.

"Miko, Chromia, and I's discussion wasn't muted. You heard us" Lio would say.

"I didn't exactly think y'all would follow them." Miko sighs, slumping back in her seat. "I didn't expect my day to go like this…"

"Relax, Miko, you don't need to worry. We all have your best interest at heart. You will see your friends and get to go back home to your family," Lio would say.

Miko would grab her milkshake. "I hope y'all do," Miko said casually, sipping her milkshake.

"Anything I should know about them?" Lio asked.

"They tried to subdue Bumblebee from a misunderstanding, but she did the same as the one in the passenger seat. He now knows that we're the good ones, and the Decepticons are the bad ones," Chromia would say. "If I had to guess, he was concerned about your arrival here, maybe trying to see if you can lead him to Bumblebee or something," Chromia said. "They did attack you; it could've been a huge mistake. I wouldn't fret; everything will be revealed in time, Lio."

"Hmm," Lio mutters while Miko keeps drinking before asking.

"Wait, they sided with the ones named Decepticons?" Miko questioned.

"Yes…" Chromia said.

"How does that name sound nice? It has Decept in it…. shouldn't that have been a huge red flag?" Miko asked.

"Well, they know now," Chromia said.

XXXXXX

Burns and Simmons will leave the car while driving into an abandoned parking garage. Lio opened the door for Miko to hop out. Crossing her arms, Burns and Simmons look down at Miko, who gives them the meanest look she can muster.

"Well, ain't she a lively one," Simmons mutters.

"So, are y'all going to transform?" Burns asked.

"This place is a little too small for that," Lio would say. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to talk," Burns says. He then points to Chromia and asks, "I take it that you're friends with the Bee-colored one?"

"Bumblebee, yes," Chromia answered.

"How can they even see like that?" Simmons asked.

"Well…. boy one," Burns said.

"Lio," Lio said,

"Lio, we're sorry about the missile to the chest." Burns would say, "Not every day you see one of your kind actively walking around looking for people instead of being in disguise."

"Why are we here?" Chromia interjected.

"Right to the chase, huh? I like this one," Simmons said.

"I was thinking of a small-time alliance." Burns would say. "Our weapons barely work against all of you, and you and your friends lost to three of the Decepticons. And they threaten our home as much as they threaten you."

"Out of the question, as you said, your weapons barely work, and we won't give you the technology to harm us." Chromia would say.

"I don't believe it's wise to put your people in harm's way when they know their weapons don't do a thing. Yes, we may have struggled, but there's not much you all can do regarding firepower," Lio would say.

"I meant in other ways. I don't know where y'all stay, but we have eyes on y'all driving far distances to get here. We can help in different ways: planes to get y'all where you need to go, extra surveillance, ways to deal with your other problem." Burns would glance to Miko.

"I'm not a problem!" Miko shouted.

"That's what you think," Simmons mutters.

"There were pictures and videos of you everywhere, Lio. We had to scrub it from the internet, and it inspired someone to find you. The best help we can offer is small resources here and there." Burns would say. "It's not official…the government knows about you…. they must…and knowing what I know. We can help each other. But we need some agreements. For starters, what will we do with the kid?"

"Me?" Miko asked.

"Skipping school, leaving town to find an Autobot, running from the cops, jumping into said Autobot, and going missing for two days while putting your life on the line," Burns would say. "Under normal circumstances, something like witness protection and harsher punishments should be in place…I know your new friends won't agree; they have your best interest at heart, and even if a Decepticon were to come after you, they could stop them better than we can."

"What are you doing, sir? We should relocate her…we can't just let her go back…and stay with them." Simmons said.

"As I said, nothing has been ironed out yet. We're lucky to even talk to them." Burns looked at him. "Right now, three more Decepticons are here. We're not falling for their tricks, and we have the best line of defense for them. The Autobots defeat them, the higher-ups will see, and hopefully, talks will come about an alliance; right now is not the best time to focus on smaller details."

"Oh, can I maybe be an agent and help too?" Miko asked.

"No," Everyone would tell Miko, who sighed in response.

Burns would say, "Think about it," giving something to Miko. "Give it to your friends. It's something you can call to contact us."

"I'm surprised y'all aren't putting up much of a fight to get Miko," Chromia would say.

"Why would we?" Simmons asked. "If she told anyone, who would believe her?"

The two got back in the car and drove away. Miko watched them leave before stepping into Lio once again.

"That went better than expected…." Lio mutters.

"It did…" Chromia asked. "I mean…. they did let that other girl go…. but let's get Miko to her friends and home."

"Yeah," Lio said as he drove out of the parking lot.

XXXXXX

"What's that boss?" Sideways asked.

"Thunderwings note before the change," Bludgeon would say, holding it up.

"Why do you have her notes?" Sideways quirks a brow as Bludgeon walks past her, heading towards the ship's controls.

"I found what I need to know about pretender shells. Luckily for us, this planet is filled with what's needed to make the shells," Bludgeon would say. "And hopefully, Thunderwing is indeed dormant on this planet."

"Megatron doesn't quite like the idea of pretenders," Octane would say. "How would you convince her that…it's worthwhile?"

"When she sees how it can be used to defeat her strongest enemies and tame Thunderwing, she may overlook her disgust for it," Bludgeon said. "However, before we can begin using the notes, we need a lot of energy. More than what we have."

"It's going to take a while to find energon for that," Sideways said.

"This planet has its source of power. It may not be much, but it should be enough for what we need, especially if we disengage whatever safety measures that place has," Bludgeon would say as she walked over to the controls, plotting their coordinates.

"What if the Autobots show up?" Sideways asked.

"Let them, they barely got away last time we engaged them," Bludgeon would say. "Once again, leave Lio to me."

"Copy that, ma'am," Sideways said as she sat.

The ship was heading towards Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Systems. The Decepticons didn't much care for being in disguise on the planet, and if the Autobots did, then stopping them would get a little harder. It was one of the closest things near them that didn't have much in the way of security, and Bludgeon already had a plan.

First, she'll land the ship in the area and begins to set up; Sideways and Octane would head out to the base they found, which is called Area 51, they've been lucky so far in the way of any human intervention, and this would cripple the bulk of their forces here, especially if none of their weapons do a thing to them. The Autobots would rush off towards the base, giving Bludgeon all the time she needed.

After keeping the Autobots busy, they'll retreat to the base; if the Autobots pursue, then they'll be meant with Bludgeon.

The problem is getting Lio not to show up or give Octane the courage to try and attack him; that part of the plan would have to be figured out soon. The best thing she can think of is calling Lio out for a one-on-one fight in a different area, somewhere with a fall, or just a body of water; no matter if she wins or loses, they'll be out. If she wins, she kicks Lio into the water, which could take a while for him to get out. If she loses, she'll fall into the water before he can offline her and return to her ship.

The ship lands, and people around the area look on in shock. Some quickly backpedal while others stand there and watch. The door slowly opens as the three Decepticons step out sideways, scoffing.

"Just some tower and more dirt. This plant is disgusting," Sideways sneers.

"Look, Bludgeon, more locals," Octane points to the humans who didn't scatter.

All the humans stood there, not saying a thing, cowering in fear or awe. Just be silent unless you count the gasp from the humans around until one poor soul speaks up.

"…Are y'all aliens"

Then, Octane's weapon went off. She fired it in front of the first human, and it spread, vaporizing all of them and turning the dirt into glass; the smoke cleared as her associates slowly looked up at her.

"Agh…I hate awkward silences," Octane said.

"Don't you ever use that processor of yours!? Or is that forehead that big to be used as a weapon!" Sideways shouted.

"What did you say to me, pintsize!?" Octane shouted.

"Shut it, both of you," Bludgeon growls. "We could've used them for the first process of the pretender shells, and worse, you couldn't alert the Autobots," Bludgeon growls, pinching her nose. "Just go to the base and hurry up so you can draw their attention."

"Copy that, boss," Sideways salutes, and she transforms, driving away.

Octane nodded and followed Sideways, leaving Bludgeon to stare at the glass. She let out a sigh.

"I hope Octane doesn't come back….and she at least takes out three of the Autobots before they kill her," Bludgeon said. "Though she's so unlikeable, she was the only muscle I could've brought here."

XXXXXX

Lio parks outside Miko's house, with Chromia stopping behind him. "Here we go."

Miko looks at her house and sighs.

"What's wrong?" Lio asked.

"Do I have to go back now? Can't you stay here overnight?" Miko asked. "That way, when I call my friends, I can have proof that you're real. And when the action starts, I'm already in one of the responders going to it?"

"Miko, I would not take you with me," Lio said.

"And he can't stay here, we need him. He is our leader, after all." Chromia would say.

"Not much of the leader you think I am," Lio mutters. "The Decepticons left; we have no idea where they are when y'all find them, y'all can just let me know."

"Our long-range communications still aren't working as they should, and I wouldn't risk having one of us drive here just to pick you up:" Chromia said.

"Oh right," Lio mutters.

"Oh, wait. I have an idea. I can call you with my phone." Miko opens Lio's door, hoping out, and walks over to Chromia. "You have those touch-screen things. Normally, you need a phone to connect and call with, but since you work differently, I'm sure I can patch in a line straight to you."

"You are sure that works?" Chromia asked.

"I can call people halfway across the globe; this should work perfectly fine," Miko said, finishing the input she leans out of Chromia. "Now call my number,"

Chromia did just that; in her displays, she saw Miko's name with emojis of thunder and guitars. And it was the only name. On Miko's end, she only got an unknown, and she smiled, not bothering to answer.

"And there we go. You now communicate with the strongest if anything happens," Miko said. "But you could stay here too"

"I guess this works…I won't say this is a terrible move; for all we know, the Decepticons may be petty and get even with Miko," Chromia said. "I would love to, but one of us must report what happened….maybe Burns can help us with long-range communication. Enjoy your sleepover, Lio."

Chromia drove away, leaving Lio alone with Miko, who smiles,

"Cool, let me talk to the hosts quickly and then call my friends over; you're going to love them," Miko would say as she ran inside.

Lio watched her, and he sighed. "Made a friend out of a native…. she's enjoying this…. yet she isn't aware of just how dangerous this is." Lio's mirror would turn with Miko and her host parents' insight. "At least she doesn't like me because I look like someone else…or expect me to live up to expectations."

Lio didn't know what else to do besides stay alert. He didn't have any other place to park, and from his limited understanding of the laws, nothing would come from him waiting on the side of the road. Sleeping or just doing nothing is all he can do unless when Miko's friends come around, he can drive somewhere with them. Even if Miko had a garage he can't fit, he's a semi-truck.

So all he's doing, for now, is waiting for her to either tell him her friends are here or Chromia needs him to get rid of the Decepticons' threats, and he's just waiting to meet them again and defeat them properly. Have all the Autobots focus on Bludgeon while he focuses on Octane and Sideways; dispatching them won't be too hard, and when he's done with them, all the Autobots can focus on Bludgeon.

At least, he hopes that it'll turn out like that.

A/N: Yes, it's been a while. I just had writer's block throughout the summer. I had classes and exams, among other things, and now I'm back. I have been on a writer's burnout since the Spring Semester, and it was pretty hard to come up with a way to continue both of my kaiju stories. New stories would be mad; I need a cover and a setup before they come out. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.