Optimus allowed Vince to get out and grab his bag before transforming, and Vince stared at him for a few seconds, forgetting how tall Optimus was.

"Th-thanks," Vince muttered, going up to the human area. Optimus simply nodded. Bee had transformed off to the side with Raf in his servo before setting him in the human area gently. Raf could tell Bee was upset about something but didn't ask the scout. Bee glared at Vince, but couldn't do anything when Ratchet told him to investigate an energon signal with Bulkhead. The two bots walked out, and Vince gaped at the GroundBridge.

"What is that?" he asked Ratchet, pointing to the large machine. Ratchet huffed. "A GroundBridge. To put it simply, it allows us to travel anywhere on Earth, granted we have those coordinates."

"Wow, Ratchet actually gave you a straight answer first try," Miko said from her spot on the couch next to Jack. Ratchet rolled his optics and turned back to his screens as Vince gave her a confused look. She had already started asking Raf about history homework though. Jack shook his head in amusement as he pulled out a blue binder and flipped through it before pulling out a sheet of math problems. Vince ignored his homework for now and walked down the stairs of the human area to Ratchet's. By now the kids stopped their work to watch him in confusion.

"He's dead," Miko muttered. Even Optimus and Arcee watched in curiosity. Vince climbed the ladder and walked over to be near the large monitors.

"So, did you build it?" He asked as he leaned on the railing, catching the medic by surprise.

"What? No. I did not build the original GroundBridge. This one, however, was created by me through a mix of human and cybertronian resources," he replied, looking over at the bridge before turning to look back at the teen. "Why did you want to know?" he asked suspiciously.

"I'm just curious. Is that allowed?" he asked sarcastically.

"Just unusual," Ratchet replied.

"I'm just surprised our government hasn't demanded you tell them how to build this," Vince replied indifferently, shifting so his body was fully facing the autobot. He leaned forward and set his arms on the rail.

"They attempted to, but Optimus had different ideas," Ratchet replied, just as indifferently. Vince raised an eyebrow and looked over at the said mech, who hadn't been paying attention and was talking with Arcee.

"Different ideas how?" Vince asked, now actually interested.

"Optimus didn't want your country to be able to abuse this power and create war. Your government wasn't exactly happy about that, of course, but we achieved a compromise when Decepticons almost destroyed a small town for an energon vein," Ratchet explained.

"I guess being a diplomat is part of the job description, huh?" Vince asked casually, shifting his weight to one side and resting his head in one of his hands.

"A part of it," Ratchet replied, turning back to his work and starting to type again. Vince thought about that for a moment, and the others went back to their homework. The base was quiet for a while, save for the quiet chatter of Optimus and Arcee. Vince was lost in thought about how Optimus would actually act in a diplomatic meeting and became amused at the thought of government officials talking to a semi, or Optimus having to participate by peering through a window, or whatever it is they did. He was jerked out of his thoughts when a voice came through the monitors, scaring him half to death.

"Ratch, ready for a bridge," Bulkhead's voice rang through the room.

"On it's way," Ratchet replied, leaving his work to walk over to the GroundBridge controls and pulling the lever. The bridge hummed and then buzzed as it activated, and the room had a green hue to it as the two bots stepped through. One looked livid, however. Vince wondered what Bee's problem was.

"Bumblebee?" Ratchet asked. "What happened?" This caused the others to look at the scout. Even Bulkhead looked surprised. "Bee?"

Raf watched his guardian worriedly. Bee looked over at Ratchet before seeing Vince next to him, and released a sting of angry beeps, clicks, and warbles. Vince raised his hands in surrender.

"What's he saying?" Miko whispered to Raf, who shook his head. This went on for a few more seconds before Vince interrupted him.

"Look, I have no clue what you're saying." Bumblebee's optics twisted and contracted before they narrowed and he let out a long infuriated beep before storming off, leaving the room in slightly shocked silence for a few seconds.

"I didn't know he had it in him," Arcee commented, staring at the hallway Bee had disappeared into.

"What happened?" Jack asked in curiosity.

"Bee thought Vince was the one pushing me around today...so he gave him a piece of his mind," Raf quietly explained, rubbing his head. He hesitantly met Vince's eyes. "S...sorry about that."

Vince blinked, but nodded. He wasn't sure how to exactly respond to that.

"Vince, would you like to go for a drive?" Optimus asked, looking directly at the redhead. Vince wanted to say no, but knew this was a demand disguised as a question. He didn't answer and started to climb down. Optimus transformed, opening the side door for him when he came close enough. Jack and Miko exchanged looks, wondering what Optimus was doing, though Miko looked like she could burst out laughing any second. She managed to contain herself as Optimus drove out.

"Alright, what's this about?" Vince asked not even five seconds after they left the base.

"I would like to know what happened today," Optimus replied, side mirror adjusting to look at the teen. Vince glanced at it before he huffed.

"I didn't even touch Raf today, if that's what you mean. My friends did. Bee just had a misunderstanding."

"Today, perhaps. However, I have noticed something referred to as 'peer pressure' in your psychology. I have seen it in play many times with Miko and the others, specifically in instances where running through a GroundBridge is involved."

Vince successfully held back a laugh, but had almost failed.

"So what's your point?" he asked, amused expression fading almost instantly.

"Your friends will pressure you, will they not? What will you do then?"

"Are you seriously asking me this? Bumblebee already chewed me out even though I couldn't understand him, and now you are too? Why do you think I didn't harass th-Raf? To avoid this conversation!" he replied in exasperation, throwing his hands in the air. He was silently pleased he had stopped himself from referring to Raf as "the nerd", the name he and his friends had given him. Optimus definitely would have some problems with that.

"Frankly, Optimus, it's not even your business."

"When it comes to the safety of my team, it is," Optimus replied seriously.

"Your team? He's not even your species!"

"However, he still helps in fighting the Decepticons. Rafael is rather gifted with technology. And I believe the term is family. Rafael is part of our family. As is Jack, Miko, and now, you."

"Don't talk to me about family," Vince hissed. "I haven't even been here a week. And you know what? If this is a secret government counseling program with robot fighting on the side, it's not something I want to be a part of."

"The Decepticons believe you are one of our allies, you are in danger," Optimus replied calmly.

"Oh, of what? They don't know where I go to school. They don't know where I live. In fact, I bet I'm at a greater risk because I'm with you right now. And don't give me the 'you know who we are so you must stay with us' crap. Ever hear of secrets? I'm pretty good at keeping those," he snapped. He didn't give Optimus a chance to rely before blowing his bangs out of his face. "Take me back to the base. I'm done talking."

Optimus was silent for a while, which made Vince wonder if he had even heard him. Vince was going to ask when Optimus slowed and drove off the road to perform a U-turn. They were silent as they drove back. Vince watched the scenery pass by as he looked out the window. He saw the side mirror adjust to look at the road instead of him.

When they arrived he got out, not bothering to close the door behind him. He walked over to the human area and grabbed his bag before walking over to Ratchet.

"Bridge me home," he demanded. Ratchet looked at him in surprise, before looking to Optimus, who silently nodded. Ratchet frowned before walking to the GroundBridge controls, typing in a set of coordinates before opening the bridge. Vince looked back at the others and glared slightly before walking through.

~~~
Welp