A rapid beeping, plus a blinking green light, caught my attention. The others didn't seem to notice or care, except Optimus, who stirred from his "recharge", but otherwise didn't move.

"Agent Fowler's back," Ratchet grumbled, watching a man walk away from a helicopter. He walked over to the human-sized elevator, which was moving, with a light showing what level it was currently at.

Soon, it reached the bottom, and the person known as "Agent Fowler" stepped out.

"Prime? Prime!" he shouted angrily, before spotting Optimus, which I noticed took Agent Fowler by surprise.

"Agent Fowler, please," Ratchet sighed, glancing at Optimus, who now fully woke up from his recharge by the Agent's shouting. He slowly propped himself up, looking back at Ratchet, before seeing Agent Fowler.

"Agent Fowler? What brings you here?"

"You know very well, Prime. Blowing up a mine that big caused a lot of suspicion. Heck, it could be seen 500 miles away! What happened out there?"

"We found a Dark Energon signal and we were outnumbered...the mine blew up accidentally," Ratchet said, pointedly looking at us at the word "accidentally". Agent Fowler grumbled, looking back at Optimus.

"You really need to be more careful! As far as anyone knows, it was a test for a new explosion gone wrong, and even that lie won't hold up very well. Another slip-up like that would definitely make the government shut your operation down!" he snapped. Optimus nodded, just going with it.

"Anyway, I have to go down to General Bryce's office soon; I just need an update on Team Prime."

"We're fine," Ratchet said quickly.

"That tells me nothing," Agent Fowler replied, looking to Optimus, who frowned.

"Ratchet will be more help to you right now than I will."

"Why?"

"'Cuz he's losing his mind." Miko shrugged. Jack elbowed her.

"He's what?" Agent Fowler asked, now completely confused.

"Optimus was injured by Megatron, causing him to fall into self-induced stasis, which is risky if not done medically. When Optimus came to, he lost six weeks' worth of memories," Ratchet explained.

"Oh, boy," Fowler sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger as he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he glanced around, before noticing me for the first time.

"And who is she?" he snapped.

"This is Cassidy. She recently found out about us," Miko introduced. Agent Fowler sighed, completely exasperated.

"You bots really can't hide your cover, can you?" he rolled his eyes. "So what's the story?"

"Nothing much," Ratchet said quickly before anyone could say anything.

"If you define 'nothing much' as Ratchet-"

"Ep-ep-ep!" Ratchet cried, interrupting Arcee. Fowler raised an eyebrow.

"Ratchet what?" he asked, looking between me, Arcee, and Ratchet.

Ratchet sighed heavily.

"I ran her over, that's all."

"That's all?" Fowler practically shouted. He cleared his throat. "So who's protecting her?"

Everyone looked at Ratchet.

"Very funny...seriously, who's protecting her?" Fowler asked, now looking to Arcee.

"Me. Why is that so hard to believe?" Ratchet sighed.

"Because you're...you," Miko replied, making Ratchet rolled his optics.

"How's he treating you?" Agent Fowler asked me, making everyone stare at me for my reply.

"Why is everyone obsessed over this?" Ratchet cried, throwing his servos in the air. Fowler was still waiting for my reply. I bit my lip, flipping to a page of my notebook for a reply that was commonly used by myself.

Fine.

Agent Fowler raised his eyebrow again.

"She's mute," Ratchet explained with a sigh. Fowler shook his head.

"Optimus losing his memory...another civilian knowing about this...General Bryce isn't going to be too happy," he muttered, walking out.

"That's Agent Fowler," Miko introduced to me. I smiled, shaking my head.

It's a little late for introductions.

**

"See you tomorrow, guys," Raf said, getting into Bumblebee's vehicle mode. It was around 6:00 in the evening, but Raf had to get home. I looked at Ratchet, before walking over to him.

"Charge? What is it?"

I flipped over to a page in my notebook, and used my pencil again.

Will you take me home please?

I left that question in my notebook for later use.

Ratchet nodded in regard to my question, transforming and opening the passenger side door for me. I got in, and he drove off as I buckled the seatbelt around me. Ratchet was silent, per usual, and I didn't want to bring up conversation at the moment.

Ratchet slowly pulled up to my house, but when I tried getting out, I found he wouldn't unlock the door. I gave him a curious look.

"How am I treating you?" he finally asked. The question took me a little by surprise, but I reached for my notebook to respond anyway.

Fine.

"I'm serious."

Me too.

Ratchet was silent, and he finally opened his door, letting me out.

"Cassidy!"

I cringed, seeing Lillian standing at the doorway to our house. Didn't she have better stuff to do than wait for me like that?

She ran out barefoot (which surprised me, the sidewalk was boiling), and over to me and Ratchet.

"Hi," I signed with my free hand that wasn't carrying my notebook.

"So where'd you guys go all day?"

"We hung out."

"And did what?" Lillian pushed, making me exhale slowly.

She can't know, but if she keeps pushing like this she will.

"Stuff you wouldn't be interested in."

"Like what?"

Ratchet's P.O.V.

Primus, this kid doesn't know when to shut up.

I was debating whether or not I should leave. I could if I wanted to, but watching my charge make excuses to her younger sibling is sort of fun, if I knew what my charge was saying.

Eh, the notebook works fine.

Eventually my charge gave me a pointed look, and I took that as my cue to leave. Hopefully she had it under control; I really wouldn't want to be looking after her and her younger sibling.

But so far, she seemed to be doing fine.

~~~

Pretty short, only about four pages on Word.

But I have an idea now.

But I also have a question for you guys regarding the plot of the book. For my own reasons I won't say it here, PM me if you want to know it.

Chapters will be changed depending on your answer. :P

What else was I gonna say?

Oh yeah!

This book is halfway done! :D

Hope you've been enjoying it!

*disappears*

(Btw...that was a joke. I have no idea if the book'll be done in 12 more chapters. XD)