"And since you now know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours." Optimus finishes his speech on that slightly creepy note, and Jack is the first to speak up. "Got it. If we spot any strange vehicles, call nine-one-one." His tone quickly switches to slightly irritated, and I resist the urge to laugh off of Ratchet's shoulder and slap some sense into him. "Can we go now?"

Miko snaps at him first though. "Are you insane?! I'm living a dream here in bots-wana! And I will not allow you or anyone else to shatter it." I tap on Ratchet's shoulder, and he nods before offering me his servo. I lower myself onto it, and he sets me down on the metal platform near his hip. He then turns towards the Prime as Optimus speaks once more. "It is best for you three to remain under our watch, at least until we can determine our enemy's intentions." He turns towards me, and I make myself known for the first time by speaking up. "Besides, it's a little nice to have people of similar size around for once... No offense." I see Ratchet scoff mockingly, but he hides a smirk. Optimus only nods, but I see that ever so slight tilt of his lips.

Raf's eyes widen as he sees me and I smile. "Ms. Aurum?" I make my way towards the stairs and to the kids. "Hey, Rafael. Nice to see you again." I gaze up, starting to remember Miko a bit more now. She was barely ever really 'in-class' if you know what I mean. Pretty sure she wanders the halls or just sits in the bathroom all day doodling. Raf was the genius kid. Acing all of his classes and always listening. Jack is the one I meet eye to eye with. He's pretty tall for his age, but thank goodness I was still taller. "Jack. Miko. I guess I don't need to point out we keep this hush-hush between us?" Each nods their heads, but I see Miko's eyes betraying her. She had a lot of questions, but I hold up my hand. "Questions later, alright?" She huffs, but I turn away already as a sensor goes off.

A green light flashes around, and Jack instantly pipes up, slightly startled. "W-What's that?!" Bee buzzes back in reply, and both Raf and I speak up at the same time. "Proximity sensor." I smile at the young boy, and he returns it before continuing and pointing towards the roof. "Someone's up top." I turn towards the bots again, who were all still standing nearby, and I feel my blood slightly go cold at the familiar chopper on the screen before Ratchet.

"It's Agent Fowler."

I sigh and cross my arms. No doubt has to do with the high-speed chase that led the bots to Raf. I overheard the full story from Raf and Jack when they were talking to Optimus before, and I knew it was only a matter of time. Agent Fowler didn't like having to do this, but it was the only way he thought he could...

Well...

Do something.

He only feared for his planet. However, I will not argue that he could be just a touch nicer about it for once.

Jack snaps my mind back to the present with an odd question. "I-I thought we were the only humans who knew about you?" Optimus turns from facing towards Ratchet to gaze back down at the children. "Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world, as he tends to visit only when there are.... issues." He gazes down at me, and I turn away. My hand slides to my arm, the one I shattered all those years ago, and I rub it. Even after all these years...

It still hurt to think about.

"It is best if you do not meet him at this time." I quickly motion for the children to follow me and I lead them behind a wall. "Stay here, alright? Fowler can be.... uptight." Miko looks at me, and I point at her. "I mean it. Stay low and quiet until he leaves." She pouts but doesn't move or speak. Raf and Jack simply nod, and I take that as my chance to head back out just as the lift opens up and the man himself walks out.

"7 wrecks, 34 fender benders, a three-hour traffic jam, and a particular note of numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make. And a black and yellow custom muscle car." He turns to look at the two culprits, who simply look away. Arcee still had her arms crossed, and I spot Jack peaking around the corner. I swiftly motion for him to hide, and he slips back around again. I sigh as I make my way over to Ratchet, who once again offers me a servo to lift me instead of using the stairs.

Fowler continues, not seeing the peeping Jack. "So, anything you care to get off your tin chest, Prime?" Optimus leans closer to the man and carefully speaks. "We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler." However, this doesn't settle it for the agent, and he snaps back. "They're back, aren't they?" I slip off Ratchet's servo and onto the platform silently. The medic simply returns to the screen, not wanting to have any part in this conversation. "If you are referring to the Decepticons, I have doubts that they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable."

I see it in his eyes even before he speaks. He was going to suggest getting human military involved in something that would only cause more casualties than necessary. "Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon." Optimus quickly cuts in, his serious tone sharpening to ever so slightly irritated. "Hear me, Agent Fowler. We are your best, possibly your only, defense against the Decepticon threat." Fowler only narrows his eyes and shoots back a crushing remark.

"Says you."

I take that as my time to step in. "And says anyone else they have saved from accidental exposure to this war." Agent Fowler turns towards me, his gaze softening slightly. We have gotten to know each other a lot in the past few years, him becoming something of a surrogate father while I was so far from my family. But, his tone towards the Autobots and his attitude for this whole war was something we still could never agree on. "Let's not forget why I  am here in the first place. Because our human military couldn't keep the Decepticons off my tail. However, when I was in danger, Optimus was there in minutes and most definitely saved my life."

Agent Fowler crosses his arms, unconvinced still. "If they were never here in the first place, you wouldn't be in this situation. You could still be at home with your family or-"

"Or dead."

That stops him cold again, and the whole base goes silent. I can feel the tension in the air, and Bulkhead decides to break the silence. "Hey, fleshy." This makes Agent Fowler turn towards him, and the wrecker continues. "Did anyone get splattered on that freeway?" I see where this is going, and I feel myself mentally sighing. "Team Prime knows when to use force," Bulkhead says while ripping up a piece of equipment from a table nearby. "And how much to use." He then crushes it, and Ratchet doesn't hesitate to yell at him. "Bulkhead! I needed that!" 

Cue the wrench.

*Clank!*

I smirk and shake my head. When will he ever learn? Again Optimus calms the scene. "Enough!" The two grow quiet, and I turn back to the Prime and Agent Fowler, moving closer until I am on the walkway next to Optimus. "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe." Optimus stands straighter, taking his leader stance that held no room for argument. "Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot." I see Agent Fowler hold back a flinch as he stands straighter. "Then do us both a favor and handle this Prime, under the radar." He begins his walk back to the lift, and I watch him the entire time. As he makes it in, he turns around, eyes going from me to Optimus. He then finishes this whole conversation with three words.

"Or I will."

The lift shuts, and away he goes. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, and Optimus turns to me. "I will never understand that man. After three years, you'd think I'd be used to his rants by now...." The Prime turns to me, speaking softly. "Agent Fowler is simply concerned with the safety of his homeworld.... and you, Iris." I wave my hand at the Prime. "I know... I just wish he would, you know, give you guys a bit more credit for being the good guys."

Bulkhead walks up with a huff. "Yeah. He's got pretty big bearings, for a human." I simply shake my head and walk to the edge of the platform again. I lean against the railings and call out to the kids. "Alright! It's safe now, you can come out." Slowly, the three stowaways appear from behind the wall, each holding a confused and curious look on their faces. I let out another sigh and motion them up the steps. "I will answer questions now, so come up here." All three of them make their way up the stairs as I near the area with a couch and television. I sit on a small seat to the side and gesture for the kids to take the couch. As they sit, none of them take their eyes off me. I can see Jack thinking as if hearing that his substitute teacher having a completely different life before this was a shock, but it was something he was trying to understand as well. Raf simply looked like he wanted to ask questions about the Cybertronians and learn more about them. Miko...

Well, she just looked ready to ask questions that I really don't want to answer.

"Alright. First of all, you three understand that this is important to keep quiet about, correct?" Each nods their head, but Raf pipes in after. "How long have you been here?"

I was slightly taken aback by his question. I didn't expect him to be the one to ask such a question. I sigh and rub my face, then I answer. "About three or so years." This makes each of the children gasp, and I shake my head. "Save the question for a moment, okay? We need to go over some-" My heart skips a beat. The world spins for a moment, but I have no time to wonder what just happened. A beep from Ratchets computer makes me lift my head. "Blasted Earth tech." He turns towards us, as we had all stood and walked to the railing. "Cliffjumper's life signal just popped back online." My eyes widen, and I suck in a breath. "What?" The word barely leaves my lips before Optimus speaks up as well, walking closer to the medic. "How is that possible?" The medic merely shakes his head. "It isn't. Another bug. The system's chock-full of them."

I feel my cheeks start to rise in heat, but I hold back my remarks. Arcee was already speaking my thoughts. "If there's any chance Cliff's alive..." She leaves the end of her sentence open, and I turn to see Optimus already give her a nod. "Ratchet, prepare sickbay. We may need it." He starts to walk, his face shield sliding over his faceplates. I'm already starting to move as well when a voice speaks up rather loudly from behind. 

"HEY!"

Both of us turn to see Miko walk towards the ladder Raf and Jack were standing next to. Their backs were now to me, and they were facing Optimus. He glances up at me, and I give a small shake of my head. His optics soften slightly, then go stiff again. "Remain with Ratchet and Iris." The kids turn to look at Ratchet, and Miko huffs in annoyance.

To which Ratchet mimics.

I only shake my head and walk to stand just behind the children. "It's safer to stay here right now. We don't know where they are going, and if we can even breathe in that location." Miko turns to look at me, and I hold up a hand. "And don't ask me how I know that. I just do." She gives off another huff, then turns to watch as the ground bridge powers up. Just as Optimus starts to go, I feel something inside me need to warn him. "Optimus!" He turns, as does nearly everyone else. I feel the heat rise in my cheeks, but I couldn't shake the bad feeling in my gut.

"Just... be careful, okay?"

Thankfully, I don't have to say more. He only gives a small nod. "Autobots! Roll out!" Optimus leads the charge, transforming inside the bridge. The last to leave is Bulkhead, and I can't shake the sinking feeling my gut was giving me. I continue staring at the bridge even after it closes. Something within me wasn't sitting right, and I couldn't exactly pinpoint the reason. If Cliffjumper is alive, why didn't he comm back? He wasn't one to not say anything in the event that he has been gone for a long time. So is this a trap? A trick? Are the Autobots running straight into a huge cave of energon filled to the brim with energon where Megatron was but will leave soon and let Starscream blow it to bits-

"Iris!"

My head snaps to the side. Ratchet was looking over me with worry. His optics look me up and down, but I just shake my head. "Sorry, Ratchet... Just... I have a bad feeling about this, and I can't shake it." I lock eye to optic with him, and he just narrows his gaze. "Anytime you've felt that you've been right... I'll maintain a close watch on their signals." I only let out a small huff in an attempt to relax. Now, it was watching these kiddos... And waiting.

I really hate waiting.