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Cover Me	By : Huronoryu Category: S through Z > Transformers (Movie Only) > Transformers (Movie Only) Views: 71978 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 9
Disclaimer: I do not own the Transformers movie, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Chapter Twenty-Four: Surprise!

"YOU CAN NOT BLAME ME FOR THIS I STAYED IN THE GARAGE!"

Everyone jumped as Barricade shouted this phrase out hysterically, and Sam practically fell over in mortification since it was completely obvious that the 'Con was speaking to him. Sam could even hear Bumblebee groaning behind him, and Mikaela was actually giggling, thought it was a bit more of a nervous giggle rather than a humorous one. Miles had wandered over towards Sam and blinked in surprise at the familiar damaged patrol car that was in the Witwicky garage.

Both rangers just gave the Mustang a look as they instantly recognized it as the police car that chased them on the highway on their way to Mission City for a bit before disappearing almost seemingly into thin air. While Will's look was almost completely full of anger, Epps' was rather full of unhidden amusement. "Well you have to admit," Epps said to his friend almost casually. "We never could have expected this."

"This isn't funny ROB!" Will snapped at him before he whirled around to glare at Sam. "There is a Decepticon fugitive hiding in your garage!"

"Actually, I happen live here human," Barricade clarified impatiently, not liking where the conversation was going one bit. "So if we wanted to get technical, it would be you two who would be the ones charged with 'breaking and entering'."

Will's eyes narrowed darkly as he looked back at Sam. "Correction, there is a Decepticon fugitive living in your garage." Sam gulped and began to inch away from the angered captain. "Now what I would like to know is why there is a Decepticon fugitive living in your garage."

"Now, I can explain," Sam tried to sound confident but failed miserably as Will's eyes narrowed at him. He took another step back.

"I would love to see how you explain this one…" Will growled at him. "You have one of the very mechs that the Autobots are searching for in your garage, and I can't even begin to imaging why!" Will crossed his arms and glared at the boy.

"It's really not what you think..." Sam began but before he could get any further the man held up a hand to forestall whatever else Sam was about to say.

"You know, I don't even want to know," Will declared. "I don't even want an explanation. I'll just get in touch with Optimus and he can hear your explanation." He turned to make his way back towards the house when Sam lunged forward and grabbed his arm.

"NO!" Sam and Bumblebee both protested, and Will's eyes narrowed even further as he turned back and glared at the two.

"Please," Sam said. "There's no reason to get the others involved."

Will's eyes narrowed at him and Epps turned back around to look at them curiously. "Sam…" Will drawled. "You have to tell me what is going on here. I know that the Autobots were on the look out for both him and Starscream, and the fact that you have Barricade in your garage…"

"Well, it's kind of a long story…" Sam trailed off and Will looked back at the Mustang suspiciously.

"Hang on!" Miles suddenly exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the group before him. "He's a bad guy?" he asked in disbelief as he pointed towards Barricade. "Then why did you leave with him that day at school?"

"What?" Will turned back to Sam in surprise by the news. "He was at your school? And you went with him willingly?"

"Well, what was I suppose to do?" Sam replied. "'Bee was back at the base waiting for Red Alert with the others!"

Epps let out a soft, low whistle. "That was weeks ago…"

Will's eyes just narrowed further. "Ever hear of running away?" he asked.

Sam let out a huff and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I tried that before. Didn't work so well…"

Epps meanwhile had turned back towards the Mustang still sitting in the garage watching the arguing humans intently. "Decepticon Barricade I presume," he stated, mocking the old time Livingston line. "The name's Epps. How do you do?"

"Robert! No getting chummy with the enemy!" Will barked at him.

"But he's not!" Everyone turned back to stare at Sam in surprise as the boy began blushing madly. "I'm serious! He's defected from the Decepticons. He's not one of them anymore!"

Will's eyes went round with shock. "What are you saying? That he's not a Decepticon anymore?"

"I most certainly am!" Barricade called out from the garage, and Sam turned to glare at the patrol car. "Primus forbid that I go Autobot," and the 'Con's form rattled in the equivalent of a shudder.

Sam just shot him another look that practically screamed "you're not helping" before he turned back to Will. "Well, technically he is a Decepticon, but he's on our side now!" he insisted at Will's accusing stare.

"Sam," Will said slowly, "he just said it himself. He's a Decepticon, so why are you defending him?"

"Because he needed help!" Sam shouted at the man. "He almost died and 'Con or no, I couldn't let that happen! Not again!"

Both Epps and Will stared at the boy in shock before they turned towards Bumblebee with matching expressions of astonishment as both of them came to the same conclusion. 'Bee looked at them a bit confused before he figured out what they were thinking. "It wasn't me!" 'Bee denied vehemently as he backed away from the two rangers both of whom were still staring at him in disbelief.

"Sam," Will finally turned back towards the boy. "What is going on here? Why are you hiding a Decepticon in your garage?"

"There was a situation but we handled it," Mikaela said evenly as she stepped next to Sam.

Will glanced at the girl suspiciously. "That still doesn't explain why he's in the garage."

"Well, he needed a place to stay," Sam shrugged.

"So you let him stay in your garage?" Epps called over with a laugh. "Only you Sam Witwicky, would let the very 'Con who tried to kill you live at your house."

"He tried to kill you?" Miles, who had mostly remained silent so far, screeched in surprise.

"That was during the war!" Sam insisted. "In case you missed it, the war is over!"

"For the fight for the All Spark," Will stated solemnly. "There are still two sides to this fight. Even though it's gone, Optimus realizes that the 'Cons are still a threat and you have one squirreled away in your garage."

"He's not hurting anyone," Sam insisted. "And he needed help."

"Sam's telling the truth," 'Bee announced as he pulled forwards once more. "Barricade was in trouble, and we simply helped him."

Will's eyes swung from Sam to 'Bee and back again. "What kind of trouble?" he asked slowly.

"Starscream," Barricade surprisingly enough was the one who answered. "He's crazier that super glue and deadlier than any other 'Con I've seen; aside from Megatron of course."

Will glared at the 'Con. "Of course…" he glanced back at the assorted group. "Am I correct to assume that Optimus has absolutely no knowledge of this?"

"Oh he knows," Sam said truthfully and Will was once more sent into shock.

"But 'Hide never said anything!" he protested in a daze.

Sam and Mikaela shared a look, wondering if they should say anything when 'Bee rescued the conversation. "Optimus said, and I quote, 'under no circumstances let Ironhide know that Barricade is in Tranquility'." He paused. "Well, more or less that's what he said."

Will glanced back at the Camaro before nodding slowly. "Ok, 'Hide's a bit of a walking time bomb with a short fuse, but what did Ratchet have to say about it?"

"Um… well… he doesn't really know either… The only one who does know about Barricade is Optimus," Sam insisted before he paused once more. "Only…" Both rangers turned to give the boy a long look and he sighed. "Well, Optimus doesn't know that he's living in my garage."

Will's eyebrows shot to his hairline and he looked at the two teenagers in front of him as both Mikaela and 'Bee groaned at Sam's admission. "Start at the beginning," Will commanded and so they did. Sam told him about everything, from Barricade arriving to the school from him actually being the one who played the prank on Trent. Now both men were staring at the 'Con in a sort of disbelief, and Miles had that look of awe again.

"What?" Barricade asked innocently. "The little prick deserved it."

Will took hold of Sam's elbow and pulled him a little ways away from the garage uncaring that the two Cybertronions could still hear him with their audio receivers. "How do you know you can trust this guy?" he hissed at the boy.

"Believe me," Sam said reassuringly. "'Bee is still suspicious of him. Almost doesn't let him out of his sight unless he absolutely has to. So if Barricade tries to pull something, which I doubt, 'Bee will be the first one to kick his aft."

Will glanced back at the two cars sitting in the driveway skeptically. "I still don't like it…" he muttered.

"Oh come on!" Sam interrupted in exasperation. "He's been here for almost a month, and he hasn't done one thing to me or Mikaela. I really think he's telling the truth about wanting peace."

Will looked down at Sam with a rather amused expression. "If you'll let me finish," he said with a small chuckle. "I may not like it, but obviously there's nothing we can say to change your mind."

"Good," Judy said as she appeared on the porch steps. "Because no matter what you two solider boys say, this is my house and I'll allow anyone I want to and 'Cade is most certainly welcome to use our garage whenever he wishes."

The two men both stared at the woman in shock, wondering just how long she had been standing there, and Barricade let out a little laugh. "Thank you for your confidence in me female parental unit of Ladiesman217," he called out to her with a laugh.

"Anytime Runner boy," Judy smirked as she turned to go back into the house ignoring Barricades mock cry of outrage behind her.

"It's 'Cade!" he shouted back.

Judy turned back around to smirk at the patrol car. "Whatever you say… Runner!" and Barricade's laughter followed her into the house.

Everyone else shook their heads as Will turned back towards Sam. "Well, I understand your situation now but I still can't really approve of this."

Sam turned back around to look at Will with pleading eyes. "You're not going to tell Optimus?" he asked fearfully. "Are you?"

Will frowned at the boy sternly before he grinned. "No, we won't tell him. Will we Epps?"

Epps let out a small laugh. "And tell Ratchet who's been stealing his tools? I think not!"

"I still can't believe you were the ones who took 'Hide's tow cable!" Will joined in the laughter. "I had to listen to him gripe and groan over the phone for two hours after he learned it was missing and about how Optimus kept insisting that he just misplaced it."

"You're kidding!" 'Bee laughed. "If I knew that he was going to get that freaked out over it, I would have done it sooner."

The others all laughed again before Will turned towards Mikaela again, a bit more serious. "So how much more repair does he actually need?" he asked jerking a thumb over his shoulder towards the 'Con.

"Actually, there's a lot that could be done but I can't get his hood open," she admitted with a frown.

"Really? Want us to try?" Epps asked.

Barricade's optics brightened as the two men headed in his direction. "HEY! WATCH IT!" he snapped as the two men got their fingers in the small gap and heaved. "OW! You're yanking on my electrical wires! OW! Something's caught! Something's caught! Will you stop! I'm telling you something's caught!" The two men stopped their yanking, and Barricade actually backed up further into the garage once they had let go. "Evil humans, thinking they can just jerk me around…"

Will stared at the Mustang in disbelief as he heard the muttering, and Epps was cracking up with laughter once again. "If there's anyone I've ever met with such a low threshold of pain, I think you just beat 'em!" Epps laughed.

"Oh, shut up," the 'Con growled, and 'Bee and Sam let out a little chuckle at the Mustang's grousing.

"Oh," Sam's eye lit up as he suddenly realized something. "Oh yeah!" Everyone watched confused as Sam ducked past Will into the garage and began yanking out a variety of large tools. "Since we still can't get Barricade's hood up, I wonder if you two wouldn't mind doing me a favor."

"What's all this?" Will asked as he wandered over to look at the assorted pile and Sam slowly halted his rapid movements.

"These are some of Ratchet's tools," Sam admitted reluctantly as he looked the pile over. "After the whole situation with Sunstreaker, I was feeling kind of guilty that we took so many so I was wondering…" he trailed off for a moment before he took a deep breath. "If you two could… return some of them for us?"

Both rangers looked at him in surprise, and Will instantly saw the look of shame and guilt on the boy's features followed by a rather red flush of embarrassment. With a soft smile, he stepped forward and gave the boy a small hug. "Of course we will," he soothed, going right back into parent mode. "Ratchet will sure appreciate having them back."

"But you can't tell him!" Bumblebee abruptly exclaimed. "He still doesn't know that we're the ones that took them!"

"Ah, an infiltration mission," Epps said fondly. "Get 'em in quick and get out of there quicker." He turned to grin at Will. "I think we can do that."

"WILL! EPPS! Glad to see you both!" Ironhide called out a few days later as he wandered over towards the two men who had just exited the main hanger. "What's up? We weren't expecting you were we?" He glanced over at Inferno and Red who came up behind him. Obviously they were coming back from testing the new gun ranges if the smell of plasma residue was anything to go by.

The two humans glanced at each other before Will took a step forward. "Oh we just wanted to see how things were going here with the arrival of the others and what not." He nodded towards Inferno who smiled back down at him.

"Thank you for your concern," Inferno replied and Red Alert gave his shoulder a nudge.

"Told you that they weren't all that bad," the smaller fire unit stated and Inferno sighed defeated.

"All right, you were right and I was wrong. Happy?" he muttered and Red Alert beamed.

"Absolutely," he smirked and Ironhide shook his head.

"Just because Red was able to catch them in that moat of his doesn't mean you can underestimate them," he told the larger red mech with a laugh. "They're tougher than they look."

Inferno just shrugged at this. "How was I to know that?"

"Oh good, the humans…" They all turned as Wheeljack exited a secondary hanger and looked down at the two rangers. "Perhaps they would like to critique the new walkway?" he directed to 'Hide.

The two humans glanced at each other puzzled but Ironhide obviously knew what he was speaking about as he broke out in a wide smile. "Perfect!" he said as he looked down at them. "Optimus suggested that Wheeljack design a series of walkways in and around the buildings so you could be a bit more involved and aren't handicapped by your height."

"Really?" Will smiled. "Well let's see them."

Wheeljack happily led the small group to the side building and both humans whistled as they saw the intricate catwalks around the room. They came about to the Autobots shoulders and Will could see how it could help them be more involved in the different proceedings. A quick jog up the steps, Will walked out into the center and turned to present a wide grin towards Ironhide whom he could now look in the face.

Ironhide chuckled at Will's joyful expression. "I take it that you like it?" he asked with a grin.

"They're perfect," Will replied as Epps finally finished meandering up the steps and came beside his commander.

"Well, it'll help us see what's going on that's for dang sure," he stated as he looked down onto one of the boxcars turned tables and the assorted items that were resting there.

"Yeah, Optimus said he wanted tables and chairs built next but I told him that we should probably have a place to put them before I actually get around to building them."

"How is the new base coming along?" Epps asked and Wheeljack let out a long-suffering sigh.

"I keep telling Optimus that I'm an inventor, not a base designer," Wheeljack grumbled. "I'm trying to come up with something but this planet’s terrain is just not meant for our building construction. If we did try to build something like what we had on Cybertron, I'm afraid that the structure would just topple over."

"Oh," Will muttered, surprised. He hadn't really thought of that. Coming from a planet that was basically all machinery, their structures would have been modified for this fact. "Well, I'm sure that you'll be able to come up with something," he reassured them and the silver 'Bot nodded in thanks.

"At least someone has confidence in me," he said with a small mock glare at the other three.

Iornhide smirked. "Wheeljack, you've blown more things up than I have. And I'm the one who's doing it on purpose!"

Wheeljack gave the gunner a playful shove and Ironhide shoved right back as Red Alert moved to get out of the way of the rough housing. "Those are test models," Wheeljack insisted. "You have to have a few failures before you can finally succeed."

Ironhide smirked as he turned back to the two humans who were enjoying the view from their new walkway. "You remember the explosion when Optimus turned on the transmitter?" The two nodded and Ironhide's grin got wider. "Now imagine that happening on a daily basis."

"It is not a daily thing!" Wheeljack protested and the other three just laughed at his persistence. "It's not."

"What's not?"

Wheeljack turned at Ratchet's voice and moved over to his intended. "They're making fun of me again!" Wheeljack whined petulantly. "Make them stop!"

Ratchet frowned at the three and Ironhide snickered. "Oh for crying out loud, we were just joking around."

"Now children, play nice," Ratchet chide. Will and Epps were starting to laugh on the catwalk and Will could have sworn that if he could, Wheeljack would have stuck his tongue out at the others.

"So what's going on?" Ratchet asked as he looked around and caught sight of Will and Epps on the catwalk. The medic smirked. "What do you think of the weather up here?"

Will smiled back at him, for once able to look the ambulance in the eye. "Fabulous," he grinned.

"Well I'm glad to hear that," Ratchet replied before turning back toward Wheeljack. "I was actually looking for you. Or rather, Optimus was looking for you."

"Really? Why?" Wheeljack asked surprised at the news. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, I don't think anything's really wrong. I think he just wants an update on how things are going," Ratchet explained and Wheeljack let out another sigh.

"I hope he's not expecting miracles or anything," he muttered and Ratchet placed a hand on the other 'Bot's shoulder.

The other three 'Bots all glanced mischievously at each other. "Ewww…" they muttered and the two turned to glare at them.

"You're all hopeless," Ratchet grumbled as he turned to exit the building, Wheeljack following behind him.

Ironhide quickly held out a hand to the two rangers, and Will was surprised to find a little gate within the ironwork. They quickly caught up to the other four, and the humans were surprised that they turned towards yet another of the side buildings where all of the twins… acquisitions were being stored. "Wheeljack's been persistent about rebuilding our old master system that we had on Cybertron," Ironhide explained as they made their way into the building.

Optimus was already there sorting through a few items but looked up at their approach. "Wheeljack, Red Alert. How are the designs coming for a new base?" he asked as he moved what would have been a very large TV screen from a humans standpoint.

"You actually want an answer?" Wheeljack muttered as he moved a few of the more sensitive pieces away from Optimus' reach.

"What's the problem?" Optimus asked surprised, and Wheeljack just gave him a look.

"For starters, the Earth's materials are far too weak for us to actually create multi levels, let alone a tower structure," Wheeljack explained exasperated. "I'm sure that I'll be able to come up with a suitable building material but it will take some time Optimus."

"I'm sure that you'll be able to solve the problem sufficiently," Optimus praised as he moved what looked like an intricate stereo system. "Exactly what is it that you want out of this stuff again?" he asked Wheeljack as he kicked aside a small, to him at least, shipping crate.

"Oh, I should be able to find something useful," Wheeljack mused as he lifted up a commuter system. "Amazingly enough, the humans were able to stay pretty close to our own system levels when they were reversing Megatron's systems."

"Do you really think you'll be able to recreate a working master computer?" Inferno asked as he looked at the different piles of equipment. "Out of this stuff?"

"It might be a little difficult, but not impossible," Wheeljack replied. Inferno still looked dubious but wasn't about to argue further.

"Well, I suppose the first thing that we should have is another transmitter," Optimus admitted with a sigh. "As much as we need a new base to defend against the remaining Decepticons, contacting Prowl and the others is still a top priority."

"They should be here soon," Wheeljack told them with a grin. "They weren't that far behind us when we separated."

"By the way, where is Perceptor?" Ironhide suddenly asked. "Haven't seen him in a while."

"Oh he's claimed one of the smaller sheds for his own personal lab," Ratchet told him as he helped Wheeljack move some of the smaller items. "He's working on that strange energy wave with what he has until he can get some more tools."

"Yet another thing on my long list of things to do…" Wheeljack muttered, and Ratchet gave him a small smile of encouragement.

The others all watched them for a while before Red Alert took a step back and gave Optimus a small wave. "I should probably start my afternoon patrol," he announced as he turned to leave, Inferno right behind him. "Let me know how it works out."

Wheeljack huffed as the two red mechs left before he turned to Optimus. "When I finally do get everything organized and ready for construction, I hope that you will make it clear to everyone that they are all suppose to help build the new base?"

Ironhide was already groaning and Optimus sent him a disapproving glare. "Of course Wheeljack, we'll all pitch in to help, won't we?" Ironhide frowned but nodded glumly at Optimus' steady stare.

Will and Epps began chuckling when Will called up to his guardian. "Epps and I should also probably get going," he told him. "We still need to pick up some actually edible food for dinner."

"Hey! I told you that there was perfectly edible food in the fridge," Epps protested surprised.

Will frowned at him. "Beer is not a food group," he stated flatly.

"There're other things in the fridge besides beer," Epps contended with a roll of his eyes.

"Really?" Will raised an eyebrow. "Because it sure looked like that cheese was making a break for freedom from where I was standing."

Ironhide began laughing as Wheeljack looked up puzzled. "Cheese can move?" he asked surprised.

"Well, it's not supposed to." Ratchet explained with a chuckle. "That's kind of the joke." Wheeljack still didn't look convinced but knew that Ratchet would explain it to him later.

"I'll walk you out," Optimus said as he handed off the item he had been moving to Wheeljack and followed the top kick out.

"By the way, thanks for the catwalks," Will called up to the other commander as they were set down next to Epps' dinged jeep.

"I thought it would be appreciated," Optimus told them. "Especially since Sam got dizzy the last time we were going over our negotiations with the military because Bumblebee kept turning around so rapidly."

"Speaking of, have you found that data disk yet?" Ironhide said with a smirk, and Optimus smacked his shoulder in irritation.

"No," Optimus muttered. "Have you found your tow cable yet?"

The two humans nearly face faulted at the jibe and both quickly scrambled into the jeep before the laughter escaped them. "Um, we'll see you later!" Will called out as Epps started the engine. The Autobots waved good-bye and turned back towards the base.

"So what's the next plan of action?" he asked as they hopped the moat and made their way back towards the hangers.

"Well," Optimus began and had just turned to answer the other truck when a sudden scream rose from the direction of the hangers. Shocked, they both whirled around toward the sound before glancing at one another with looks of surprise and alarm. Without another word, they instantly turned and began running towards the buildings and the increasing sound of shouting.

Optimus and Ironhide could already see Red and Inferno making their way towards them from the other side of the compound as Perceptor exited his little building and glanced around. "What's going on?" Perceptor asked as he began jogging with the other two towards the source of the noise. "Is it an attack?"

"I have no idea," Optimus growled as they turned another corner and met up with the two fire units. All five of them came to a jerking halt however as the base suddenly became deathly quiet. They all tensed, straining to hear what was going on as Ironhide and Inferno both primed their weapons.

The door to the hanger next to them suddenly flew opened and they all whirled around to find Wheeljack and Ratchet staring back at them surprised. "What was that?" Ratchet asked as the two gunners lowered their cannons.

Optimus shrugged as he turned towards Red Alert. "Were you able to locate where the sound was coming from?" he asked the security commander. Red Alert shook his head but it didn't matter as the shouting suddenly resumed and they all quickly made their way towards one of the far buildings.

"Isn't this the building the twins claimed?" Inferno asked as they all got closer.

Optimus frowned at the assortments of yelling coming from the other side of the door and reached forward towards the doors to find out exactly what it was that those two were up too. He was not expecting to see Sideswipe literally flying through the air straight towards him, and Optimus let out a surprised squawk as the red Reventón crashed right into him and both of them toppled to the ground.

Everyone stared at the two on the ground before as one, turning to look back at the still snarling Gallardo. "Everyone's against me!" Sunny wailed, reached forward and slammed the door in their stunned faces.

They all gaped at the closed door before turning back to where Optimus had finally succeeded in shoving Sides off of him and clambered to his feet. Sideswipe, however, remained seated on the ground, a look of complete stunned astonishment dominating his facial plating. He turned to look back up at the others, confusion practically radiating off of him.

"What'd I do?"
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