Tʜᴇ Qᴜᴀʀᴛᴇᴛ

"And since you now know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours," Optimus said, his voice certain.

Pan let out a silent sigh that Raf noticed. The younger teen looked up at her, silently asking what was wrong and Pan shook her head.

"Got it," Jack nodded, "If we spot any strange vehicles, call 911."

Pan attempted to hide her laugh as a cough into her fist with Raf giggling beside her. Miko gaped at Jack who carried on, ignoring the three as he did, "Can we go now?" He asked and that sobered up Pan and Raf who's eyebrows raised in shock at him.

"Are you insane?" Miko all but screamed at him, "I'm living a dream here in "Botswana. And I will not let you, or anyone else to shatter it."

'Typical Miko,' Pan wrote out for Raf who nodded, grinning widely at Pan's note.

"It is best that you four remain under our watch, at least, until we can determine our enemies' intentions." Optimus cut between the two before anymore fights were issued.

"Optimus," Ratchet started, "With all due respect. The human Children are in as much danger here as anywhere."

"Children?" Jack scoffed. Pan and Raf shared another amused grin.

"They have no protective shell. If they get underfoot, they will go," Ratchet paused as he looked down at the four humans, each looking to see what he'd say, "Squish," Ratchet finished, stomped his foot for emphasis.

Raf "meep" ed and drew closer to Pan as she wrapped an arm around him protectively, shooting the bot a tiny glare.

"Then, for the time being, Ratchet, we will have to watch where we step," Optimus countered his friend's argument, making the old mech huff.

A siren-like noise sounded and Pan had to resist the urge to cover her ears.

"What's that?" Jack asked, a little panicked if you asked Pan who had let Raf go when he wanted to escape her warm embrace.

"It's the Proximity Sensor. Someone has arrived above," Bumblebee answered, Pan and Raf, nodding in understanding as Jack and Miko looked at him puzzled.

"Proximity Sensor. Someone's up top." Raf explained to the other two humans, each nodding toward him.

Pan looked towards Rachet who was back at the computer screens.

"It's Agent Fowler," Ratchet sighed as he watched the video feed on the computer.

"I-I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys?" Jack asked the bots, a slight stammer in his voice as he and the other three looked up at the cybertronians.

Pan resisted the urge to facepalm. Was it not obvious? Or was she just too used to taking note of her surroundings?

Optimus let out a small sigh, "Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world. As he tends to visit only when there are issues," Optimus paused for a second, "It may be best if you do not meet him at this time," He finished.

The four humans took that as a sign to get the hell out of sight and bolted for cover behind a wall.

The elevator opened up revealing a dark-skinned man with brown eyes and black hair in a blue business suit. "Seven wrecks, thirty-four benders, a three-hour traffic jam, and, of particular note, numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make and a black and yellow custom muscle car. So, anything you care to get off your tin chest, Prime?" Agent Fowler's voice asked.

"We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler," Optimus said moving closer to the platform the human was on so that he could talk to the angered Agent.

Fowler sighed, "They're back, aren't they?" he asked the Autobot leader.

"If you are referring to the Decepticons, I have doubts that they ever left," Optimus admitted, "Your planet is much too valuable."

Raf and Pan shared a look as Miko peeked around the corner before Jack pulled her back with a scowl. Pan and Raf sharing a small chuckle at the other two's interaction of Miko pouting at Jack.

"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon," Agent Fowler said firmly.

"Hear me, Agent Fowler," Optimus said firmly, "We are your best, possibly your only defense against the Decepticon threat."

"Says you." Fowler scoffed.

Pan rolled her eyes. Why don't people listen to logic?

"Hey fleshie, Did anyone get splattered on that freeway?" Bulkhead cut in. He grabbed a tool. "Team Prime knows when to use force and how much to use," Bulkhead said bending the tool into two and breaking it.

"Bulkhead, I needed that!" Ratchet complained, furiously. Miko snickered as Pan cracked a smile.

'I bet it'll be his catch-phrase,' Pan wrote down and showed the note to Miko, who had to cover her mouth as she laughed quietly.

Optimus rolled his eyes at his team, "Enough," He scolded them before turning back to Fowler.

"Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot," Optimus said to the man, his voice going cool and hard.

"Then do us both a favor and handle this, Prime, under the radar," Fowler said his voice getting quieter, "Or I will," he added before the elevator doors shut, cutting off anything else from the man.

"Pretty big bearings for a human," Bulkhead said walking up beside the Prime.

"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead, as he should be," Optimus replied to the ex-wrecker grimly.

🛠️

The computer that Ratchet was at suddenly made an alarm like noise, "Blasted Earth tech," Ratchet growled drawing the attention of everyone in the base.

"Cliffjumper's signal popped back online," Ratchet said to the other bots who had walked up behind him.

"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asked curiously. She went unanswered, unfortunately for Pan and Raf who were both curious as well.

"How is that possible?" Optimus asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"It isn't," Ratchet shook his head. "Another bug, the system's chock-full of them." He added.

Pan glace to Raf who glance at her at the same time. A small chuckle left Pan's lips as Raf's cheeks flushed slightly.

"If there's any chance Cliff's alive..." Arcee trailed off, her voice breaking the tiniest, showing her true feelings. Optimus hesitated for a second.

"Ratchet, prepare sickbay. We may need it," Optimus said nodding to Arcee he started walking away before Miko called out to him.

"Hey! What can we do?" She asked the Prime. Optimus looked at the eager to help humans.

"Remain with Ratchet," Optimus said simply

This caused both Miko and Ratchet to let out an "Aw," in disappointment. Raf and Pan laughed quietly as Jack rolled his eyes at them.

"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus said before he transformed into a semi before the others of Team Prime(Minus Ratchet) followed him through a portal like tunnel.

"Woah," The three humans breathed in amazement as Pan's eyes widened displaying her amazement at the technology.

"What was that?" Jack asked the remaining Autobot.

"I transported them to the designated coordinates via the ground bridge," Ratchet shrugged as if it were nothing.

"What's a ground bridge?" Raf asked curiously, stepping out of his quiet comfort zone to ask a fanboyish question.

"A scaled-down version of space bridge technology," Ratchet grumbled as he turned to look at the screen. "Since we don't currently possess the means or the energon required for intergalactic travel," Ratchet finished trailing off, his tone going sadder towards the end.

Pan shared a look with Raf as realization struck them, Miko looking around the room bored and Jack blinking his surprise when the answer came to him.

"You're stuck here, on earth," Jack said walking forward to place his arms on the metal bar fence.

"With the likes of you, yes," Ratchet sniffed at the four curious humans.

"But I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet," Ratchet said, puffing his chest out in pride slightly with Miko grinning at the proud look on the medic's face.

"Whoa," Raf gasped as he and Pan shared a look, "Does it work for humans?" He asked, on behalf of himself and Pan who were both looking toward the medic.

"Naturally," Ratchet told the young boy smirking as Miko looked the orange and white colored red bot with a mixture of mischief and awe in her eyes.

"You mean, I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked him in her excited Miko way.

"Within moments. In fact, allow me to send you there immediately, the three of you," Ratchet growled at the girl.

"Watch it, Ratchet," Miko snapped at him.

"Wait," Jack piped up, "Three?"

Ratchet muttered to himself as he went back to his computers. Each of the four humans giving each other confused looks as they thought of the grumpy medic's words.

Here's Chapter Eleven.

Le Derp. I have no idea what's going on in this chapter.

Hope you enjoyed!
Feedback?