"Lemme get this straight," Agent Fowler sighed, rubbing his temples. "Because of what those scientists did to you, you now feel responsible enough to take care of the 'other' cats that were altered? The ones you call dangerous?" he asked skeptically, narrowing his eyes at the cats sitting around him.

Optimus was sitting directly in front of the man, his tail swishing back and forth slightly. "That is correct, yes," he answered for him, his authoritative voice a bit gentle. 

Ratchet was lazing across the computers beside the agent, his tail swinging left to right much more profoundly. "Is there something wrong with that?" the older cat said lowly, narrowing his eyes.

Agent Fowler sat there silently for a moment, glaring at his lap as he thought it over. Sighing again in frustration, he stood up and looked down to the cats. "Look, Prime, how do you expect me to handle this? I am in charge of keeping my eyes on those scientists, but for the longest time we had no idea what they were even working on." He spread his hands out as if gesturing to all the creatures before him.

Bulkhead, who was sitting next to Wheeljack close by Optimus, tilted his head. "What are you trying to say?"

The man paused again, scowling as he looked up in thought. "I.. you aren't normal cats!" he said in exasperation, once again gesturing at them, swinging his arms at them. "In case you haven't noticed, you're nearly a third larger then most, you can talk, and have human intelligence!"

Cliffjumper shrugged, rolling his eyes. "Tell us something we don't know."

Meanwhile, Bee was curled up close to Arcee and the unamused red cat. The more the man got exasperated and shouted, the more nervous and skittish the little scout became. Arcee would shoot him small smiles of assurance, trying to keep the younger cat calm. Though in all honesty, she seemed just as nervous and annoyed herself, her tail also flicking up and down. Bumblebee sighed quietly and flattened his ears, looking up the agitated man in slight fear.

Optimus tilted his head ever so lightly, trying to figure out what the human was trying to imply. "I am afraid I do not follow, Agent Fowler," he said after a pause, lifting his paw as he spoke.

Agent Fowler gave him a glare, before throwing his hands in the air and groaning. "Prime, I can't just send cats like you out in the middle of Jasper to take care of what might never come! From what I see, you guys are pretty chill. Who's to say these 'others' won't be?"

"Maybe the scars," Ratchet growled suddenly, sitting up and glaring at the human. "Maybe the people we have already lost due to those 'others'," he spat, his ears flat.

Agent Fowler didn't seem the least bit threatened, glaring right back at the older cat. "Don't go getting all snippy on me, kitty. I have enough to deal with as it is already," he hissed, pointing a finger at him.

Ratchet growled low in his throat, looking ready to pounce, but Optimus held up a paw, shooting his friend a look that said to remain calm. The medic scoffed, but did as instructed, laying back down and setting his head in his paws, avoiding looking at the agent. Optimus turned his head back to the human.

"I understand your concern and wariness, Agent Fowler," the red and blue cat said. "However, I do not think your human allies should deal with this problem. Megatron and his followers wish to destroy your kind, and sending your soldiers to fight them is giving him just what he wants."

The man only scoffed, shaking his head. "We'll see about that, Prime. I highly doubt that my men can't handle a few pets."

There was a sudden yowl, the fierceness making everyone's hair stand on end. Before anyone saw it coming, Bulkhead charged at the agent, baring his teeth and extending his claws. Agent Fowler cried out as the big green cat pounced on his chest and sent him to the ground. Bulkhead landed on top of him, his snout inches away from the human's nose. His claws dug into his jacket, threatening to jab through and spill blood. The green cat's ears were flat, his teeth still bared as he showed off his fangs with an angry look. Agent Fowler was completely dumbfounded, looking up at him with wide eyes. The others were all shocked as well, not expecting that from their big hearted softie of a Wrecker.

"Think again, Fowler," Bulk growled, raising his head and pointing his ears slightly. "If I had been serious, you'd be dead by now," he said darkly, closing his muzzle and giving him an unreadable look.

While Agent Fowler stuttered for words, Optimus got to his paws. "Bulkhead," he said in a warning tone. "That was uncalled for."

The big green cat sniffed as he slowly got off the human. "Sorry, Optimus, but he should know what he's dealing with."

Bee was still blinking in surprise as he watched Bulkhead pad over to Wheeljack. The scarred Wrecker smirked at him and whispered something in his ear, making the both of them snicker. The kit looked around the room to find everyone else's expressions. Arcee was biting back a smile, her eyes closed as her tail flicked one more time. Cliffjumper was holding back laughter, though he wasn't doing it very well, abrupt snorts escaping his puffed cheeks. Optimus was giving Agent Fowler an apologetic look, while Ultra Magnus had turned his head away and begun to groom his back. Ratchet had sat up again, and for once he was smirking at what had just happened, looking a little smugly at the man on the floor. Agent Fowler sat up slowly, his face still surprised, but he looked mostly annoyed and angry now.

"You expect me to let you run ramped all over town if you're going to do that?!" he exclaimed as he stood up, brushing dust off his pants.

Optimus looked like he was holding back a sigh as he looked up at the agent again. "Agent Fowler, we cannot stand idly by-"

"That is exactly what you are going to do, Prime!" the man yelled, jabbing a finger at him. "There is no way in the name of God's green earth that you are gonna just prance around like you own the place!"

Ratchet shot up again, his muzzle more furious than the first time. "Then what do you expect us to do? Laze around and let them come to us?" He got to his paws quickly, his tail going east and west in a fast, angry motion. "Are you going to put us in more inhumane cells, just like those you claim you wish to stop? Prove to us that the human kind we are trying to protect isn't any different than the kind that tortured us?!" he yowled, inching a bit closer with every word. 

This time, Agent Fowler finally did look a bit taken back, raising his hands slightly in surrender. He blinked a few times, trying to come to a conclusion on what to do. After a couple minutes, he sighed, seeming defeated, and looked down to Optimus, who was watching Ratchet cautiously.

"Look, Prime," the agent said. "All I can promise you right now is that we'll help you get those computers up and running," he explained, gesturing to the machines, most of them which were still dark, "so that we can work together to track down those people that did this to you. It's too early to know what my superiors will say about your demands, but I have a feeling that they will find you useful to find those jerks. If not, I'll pull some strings." He sighed, crossing his arms and shaking his head again. 

While the others held back scoffs, Optimus seemed to ponder this for a few moments, before nodding his head. "We will await your word, Agent Fowler," he answered calmly, sitting back down and curling his tail around his legs. 

The man nodded, looking grim and frustrated. He picked up his files again, shoving them under his arm and beginning to head out. Bee, who had been sitting nervously aside for the whole thing, finally stood up and meowed. Agent Fowler paused and looked back, raising an eyebrow as Bumblebee cautiously padded towards him. The young cat didn't want the human to think they were a threat, and he didn't want Agent Fowler to become a threat to them. Purring ever so slightly, he rubbed against the man's pant leg, looking up and giving him a small kitty smile. The agent looked a little surprised, but carefully leaned down and patted the kit's head. Bee smiled a little broader and purred louder. The others remained silent as they watched, a little shocked, before Agent Fowler finally did make his leave.

Arcee stood up and walked over to the kitten after he was gone. "Why did you do that, Bee?" she asked carefully.

Cliff sniffed. "Yeah, it wasn't like the guy was being very nice."

I didn't want him to think that  we were the bad guys, the young cat explained with a mew, glancing in Bulkhead's direction.

The bigger green cat smiled nervously. "Alright, alright, maybe pouncing on him wasn't the best idea," he said apologetically. 

"Sure did enjoy watching it, though," Wheeljack laughed, earning himself a glare from quite a few of the others.

Optimus stepped up. "That was a wise decision, Bumblebee." He turned his head to Bulkhead. "I would suggest that we refrain from making ourselves look like the enemy. All of us," he added, his eyes sliding over to where Ratchet was.

The medic rolled his eyes and jumped down from the machines. "He is a human, Optimus. So far, their kind has yet to prove anything to me," he growled darkly as he walked over, ignoring the sad looks he got from both the leader and Bumblebee. 

"Are we just going to wait until the others attack first?" Arcee asked skeptically, obviously not liking that idea.

Optimus closed his eyes, thinking for only a second before shaking his head. "No," he said. "We cannot wait for them to hurt more humans before Agent Fowler realizes that we are needed." He looked up to the human computers. "We will proceed with our plans, with or without his help."

The other cats brightened a little at this and nodded their heads submissively. Bee felt his body shudder with excitement, not because he was looking forward to war, but to proving himself, making sure that he was useful to this team. He gave everyone a cheerful smile, his tail high, to which most of them returned gently.

~

And now it's done! Bee mewled excitedly, jumping down from the computers, which were now all online thanks to Agent Fowler and Ratchet.

Agent Fowler looked a little pleased with himself, placing his hands on his hips and smirking. "Not bad for an ex army ranger. Will this do for all of you?" he asked, looking back to the watching bystanders.

Most of the cats were still pretty skeptical about the tempered agent, but Optimus nodded with a small smile. "Yes, Agent Fowler, this will most certainly do," he said. "I thank you for the assistance."

Fowler nodded, feeling a bit more relaxed around him, and looked back to Ratchet. He was surprised to see that the intelligent medic was already at work, his paws clicking the keyboards back and forth as his eyes remained on the screen. The agent was shocked to see how well he did it, like he was already in his element. He raised an eyebrow and shrugged, deciding to leave the doctor be, seeing as he could handle it himself. He instead turned to the other cats.

"General Bryce is willing to work for you," he explained, "as long as you remain out of sight and out of mind. So that means no going out and kicking whatever cat butt you so please." He frowned slightly to Bulkhead at this, which the big cat only returned with a shrug. 

"We understand," Optimus said with a nod of his head. "However, if it comes to a point to where we are needed, I will not hesitate to save as many human lives as possible."

The dark skinned man scowled but said nothing of it, instead straightening his tie and getting ready to head out again.

"And speak of the devil," Ratchet muttered loudly, turning his head just as an alarm began to blare loudly across the room.

"Aah!" Wheeljack yowled in protest, flattening his ears. "Ratch, you gotta make that so loud?"

The medic frowned as he tapped a key on the console, and immediately it shut off.

"What was that?" Arcee asked seriously, getting to her paws. Cliffjumper followed suit, his white ears flattening slightly. 

Ratchet scowled at the screen and flattened his ears. "It seems the others were tired of waiting for us," he said darkly, shooting Agent Fowler a look. "They just hit a lab, about two miles due east of here. It wasn't well known, but there are several who work there." He turned his head and looked back to the leader, waiting instructions.

Optimus closed his eyes for a brief moment and hummed deeply, before his sharp gaze fell upon his teammates, all looking at him expectantly. "We cannot allow Megatron to cause any more harm," he stated loudly, despite the fact that Agent Fowler was already opening his mouth to argue. "Autocats, roll out!"

Almost immediately, everyone save or Ratchet and Agent Fowler ran off, following the big red cat out of the building. Bee was a little slow to catch on, but quickly bounded after the others, catching up to them in moments. The little cat's heart began to beat quickly, feeling a little excited, and very much nervous. This would be his first fight, but everyone else had already seen battle. Ignoring Agent Fowler's angry shouts, he prayed that he wouldn't be the weak link and slow the others down.

Just before he squeezed out of the exit, he shot his head back to Agent Fowler. Don't you dare do anything to Ratchet while we're gone! he yowled loudly just before bounding away. He knew the man couldn't understand him, but hoped he was getting his point across.

Agent Fowler sighed, defeated. "Autocats?" he mumbled, a little puzzled at the name. He turned and looked at the red and orange cat, who was still watching the screen with a serious look. "I'm going to have to report this to General Bryce," he growled threateningly. 

"Go ahead," Ratchet said without turning his head. "I doubt you could stop Optimus."

~

Heh.