Jack's p.o.v

I've known Miko for a while now, we've become friends over well...everything we've been through. From school work to lying and keeping the Autobots a secret to life and death situations like being stuck on the ship of giant alien robots aka Decepticons and stuck on a train that is moving at 90 miles per hour and about to crash.

If there's anything I've learned from all those it's that while Miko is a good friend and all, she tends to leap before thinking. She isn't dumb by any means but she isn't exactly smart and sometimes says or does the wrong thing. Or both.

And right now, I have a feeling that she said the wrong thing. She's a brave girl but there's a thin line between bravery and stupidity like my mom says. Right now, I'm praying to God and even Primus himself, a god I learned from the Autobots, that for once, Miko did NOT cross that line.

"Miko...." I said. Miko looked at me and gulped. 

"Look Jack, I know what you're thinking." She started but I cut her off.

"What I'm thinking? Miko, what were YOU THINKING?!" I said maybe a bit too loud. 

"Um...Jack? You..might wanna keep it down a bit." Raf said. It was then I noticed some people were staring and considering the topic we were about to discuss, we don't need to cause a scene and attract an audience.

I sighed and got up. I beckoned the others to follow me. We exited the cafe and soon people forgot about us and went back to their business.

We didn't want to raise suspicion so Arcee and the others were back at the base. We came here by bus. Thinking back right now, we probably made the right choice.

I led them to a lonely alleyway as soon as I checked and saw no one nearby, I whipped my head around and glared at Miko.

"You told her about the Autobots?!" I asked her in a more controlled voice than before.

"No, I didn't. Will you just listen to me and let me explain for once?! It's all a big misunderstanding!" Miko replied.

"Maybe you should give her a chance to explain, Jack." Raf suggested. I guess he had a point. Maybe I was being a bit too rash.

I sighed. "Fine." I said. 

"I didn't tell Eve anything about the Autobots, at all. Heck I didn't even use the word 'bot' everytime we talked." Miko started to explain.

"Then how does she know about Bulk?" Raf asked. 

"Bulk, guys. Not Bulkhead." She pointed out.

"What's the difference?" I asked.

"I told her that I made new friends here other than you guys. I couldn't exactly say 'Hiya Eve, today I met a buncha giant robots from outer space who could transform into vehicles and are currently in a war against evil alien robots who wants to destroy us, how was your day?'

"So, I told her I made friends with a guy named Bulk instead of an Autobot named Bulkhead." Miko said.

"Why'd you even tell her to begin with? Memory serves, you said you knew how to keep a secret." I shot back.

"I know, but I couldn't bring myself to lie to Eve, Ed? Sure but Eve? No. Look Jack, I meant it when I said she's like a sister to me. It's not just cuz we love heavy metal and look alike. She's been there for me even when she's half way across the world. Eve's my best friend and a confidant. Lying to her is like lying to Bulkhead." Miko said.

"Won't she get suspicious?" I asked. Miko shook her head.

"You ain't the only smart ones you know. I asked Raf to make me a fake photo and everything. I even sent one to her every now and then. Right now, she and her brother think my best bud is just another ordinary guy named Bulk who likes concerts and monster truck showdowns." Miko fished her phone out. "Here, see."

She showed me a picture of her standing next to a guy who was taller than her with black hair and was wearing a black Heavy Metal t-shirt and a pair of jeans with a pair of boots. Huh...color me impress.

I then realized that maybe I was a bit too rough earlier. "Look Miko, I get it...sorry if I was being too rash." I apologized to her.

"It's cool. And besides, on the bright side Eve is none the wiser and neither is her brother." Miko said.

"That brings us another problem." Raf chimed in. Miko and I looked at him curiously wondering what this new problem is. "What are you going to tell Evelyn? You said so yourself that you'll introduce Bulkhead to her someday. Plus, she's staying here for a couple of years so sooner or later she'll get suspicious if she doesn't meet 'Bulk'." Raf pointed out.

I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose as I realized this while Miko slumped. "No rest for the wicked." She said. Ya think? I briefly wondered if this is how Optimus and Ratchet feels everytime.

"Don't worry, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." I said trying to sound optimistic. I was trying for the sake of myself more than for Miko and Raf though.

"That bridge might come sooner than you think. I think it's best if we prepare." Raf said. "I rather be safe than sorry." I couldn't have agreed more.

"Maybe Ratchet and Raf could fix up a hologram or some kinda cyborg." Miko suggested.

Raf seemed to consider it. "We could but...it wouldn't be easy. I mean, it's not like I could just stick a face and put some clothes on a dummy. We'll have to work on muscle control, body language, nervous systems, different face expressions and maybe even find some way to get it to eat if we wanna make this really convincing."

"But can you pull it off?" I asked.

"Depends on the time and resources we have." Raf said. Then his eyes widened and he smacked his head. "Of course! How could I forget?"

"Forget what?" I asked.

"A holoform." Raf said. "Like Arcee, all we have to do is ask Ratchet to install one for Bulkhead too. It should work...theoretically."

"You boys do realize that there's an easier solution, right?" Miko said. I looked at her perplexed then it clicked. Raf's eyes widened as it dawned on him too.

"No." I said firmly. "No no no and in case you missed the first one. NO! N. O. No! There is no way we are telling her the truth."

"But why not? Don't you see how much trouble it'll save us?" Miko pushed on.

"Don't you see how much trouble it'll get us into?!" I shot back as I looked at her as though she just said the sky wasn't blue.

"Jack's right, Miko." Miko looked at him with a betrayed look. "We can't risk it. I don't hate her but we've only met and I don't trust her as much as the others yet. We've almost got our cover blown enough times." Raf said.

"Are you saying Eve's a spy or something?" Miko asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously. 

"No, we're just saying that we shouldn't jump the gun. Miko, we can't just blurt out the truth." I tried to reason with her.

Miko was about to say something but I cut her off. "It isn't about it being easy or convenient, ok? It's about doing it safely and correctly. You and I know better than anyone how much is at stake here. If she finds out eventually then fine but that's a different matter altogether. Until then, I think more than enough people already know."

Miko slumped as she looked down at her shoes in defeat. I felt sorry for her. She probably finds it tough to lie to someone so close to her. I know what that's like. Honestly, I hated lying to my mom back then. Everytime I told her that I was going out for work or 'hanging out with friends' I always felt a small knot form in my stomach. At least she knew now.

"Hey." I put a hand on her shoulder. "I know its tough having to lie to someone so close to you, to someone who trusts you. I won't lie, it's hard. But that's life Miko, sometimes you have to do the wrong things for the right reasons. We all have to make sacrifices. I honestly felt kinda like scrap everytime I lied to mom. I know Evelyn's a good person but....like Raf said, we've just met. We don't know her like you do and she hasn't earned our trust yet either.

"But this doesn't have to change anything. You can still be friends with Evelyn and you can still hang out with her. Raf can even go help Edward out.

"How about this? If it gets worse and sooner or later she deduces it or finds out, then we'll tell her everything and bring her into the loop, ok?" I asked.

Miko thought about it. "Sure. But you better hold onto that last part." She told me.

"Deal." I told her.

"So, do we take the bus or do we call a bridge?" Raf asked.

"I think we'll take the bus." I said. We made our way to the bus stop. We saw a bus there already.

We began to run towards it....only for it to go off and leave us in the dust once we've reached it.

"Hey! Wait up!" Miko called after it though it was pointless.

"Sooooo we call for a groundbridge?" Raf asked.

"Maybe it's best if we don't. We're out in the open. Besides, it's a nice day for a walk." I said optimistically. I regretted it three seconds later as I heard thunder rumble.

Then I felt a drop of water on my head. Then two. Then three. Then it kept coming. It started as a drizzle but turned into a downpour in a minute!

We huddled under the bus stop for cover but felt the rain splash onto our clothes and soak our shoes and socks.

"You just had to jinx it, didn't cha?" Miko said. Raf looked at his orange vest that had splashes of water on it.

"My mom just washed this yesterday." He said.

I winced a bit as I heard a thunder strike. I sighed. Mom was definitely goanna freak out when she sees how wet I am and fuss over me thinking I've got hypothermia or something.

Miko was right. There really is no rest for the wicked.