"Optimus is down!" Miko yelled.

"M.E.C.H.'s gonna grab the D.N.G.S. we need to think of something, quick." Jack was starting to panic. M.E.C.H. had no doubt seen the Bots transform, which meant a new player was in the game.

"You mean like a phase three?" Raf questioned.

"Okay. Come on, think. All right, if M.E.C.H. wants the D.N.G.S., they have to get on that train." Jack reasoned. 'So either we stop them from getting to the train or-'

.

"What if we get on board first?" Miko interrupted his thoughts. "You know, run some human-on-human interference?"

"Absolutely not." Ratchet declared.

"Yeah, that would be suicide." Jack agreed. 'Even if we did make it on the train I'm the only one with any combat experience. So one teen Plumber and two humans against who knows how many highly trained goons.'

"Hello, the United States of Meltdown!" Miko stomped to emphasize her point. "Lives are at stake!"

"Yes- yours!" Ratchet yelled. "You want me to not only bridge you into a confined space, but one traveling at ninety miles per hour? I can't even count the number of ways that can go wrong. Mass-displacement trauma, twisted limbs, metal burn…"

'I don't even want to know what that is.' Jack thought. 'But like Miko said, 'United States of Meltdown' which means we don't have much of a choice.'

"Well, maybe not the last one. Regardless, it is nearly impossible to fix ground-bridge coordinates on something moving at that speed." Ratchet finished.

"Would it help if we had access to the train's coordinates?" Raf asked.

"Well…" Ratchet trailed off.

"Then let's do it." Jack said. "We can't risk M.E.C.H. getting ahold of the D.N.G.S."

"Yeah! Time to kick some bad guy butt!" Miko cheered.

"It's settled then. Miko and I will ground bridge to the train and Raf will watch our backs with the computers." Jack stared into Ratchet's optics. They both knew this was probably their last chance.

"Fine." Ratchet sighed as he prepped the ground bridge. Nodding to Raf the older two quickly climbed down from the platform and waited for the ground bridge to open. "But don't blame me if you end up fused to the train."

The two shot anxious looks at each other as the green/blue vortex opened.

"Run and jump?" Jack questioned his friend.

"You first." Miko said before they both took off running…

…And then landed painfully on the floor of a train car.

"We're in." Jack reported into his phone.

"I read you, Jack. The cellphone-comlink patch works." Raf's voice sounded through the phone.

Hearing helicopter blades they quickly moved to the train door and Jack pried it open.

"Raf, M.E.C.H.'s landing on top of the train." Said Jack.

"In about twenty seconds, you're gonna come to a fork." Raf responded. "Brace yourself."

Miko and Jack quickly gripped the side of the train car. Not a moment too soon since the train jerked left seconds later. The spinning of helicopter blades disappeared for only a moment before it was once more heard above the train car and a small flame began cutting through the ceiling.

"Huh? So, what'd that buy us? Ten seconds?" Jack groaned.

"Raf is losing his touch." Miko added.

'I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this.' Jack thought as the two backed against the wall. Miko quickly grabbed the fire axe propped on the wall. Jack turned also and then silently groaned to himself. 'What is it with me and fire extinguishers lately?' But he quickly picked it up and watched as the flame finished cutting through the ceiling. 'Here they come.' Three M.E.C.H. goons were revealed on top of the train car.

"You want a slice of this? Well, do ya?!" Miko yelled and nearly hit Jack's leg with the axe.

"What she said." Jack added.

The two watched as M.E.C.H. retreated from the roof then made their way toward the door for a better view.

"Whoa. You're pretty fierce." Miko gripped his arm.

Something flew from the helicopter and suddenly smoke appeared further on the track.

"Whoa!" Jack exclaimed. 'Of course it wouldn't be that easy.' Miko only tightened her grip on his arm.

"Ratchet, M.E.C.H. blew the train tracks. You need to bridge us out of here- the soldiers, too." Jack urgently spoke into his phone.

"We've lost access to the train data, I can't bridge you back without your coordinates!" Ratchet shouted through the comlink.

"Maybe we should jump." Miko suggested nervously.

"At ninety miles an hour?" Jack questioned. 'I'd have no problem surviving the landing, Miko on the other hand…'

"It's the impact or the meltdown, take your pick." Miko said, strangely calm.

"What were we thinking, volunteering for this?" Jack sighed.

"Next time, you need to do a better job of talking us out of these situations." Miko shot him a small smile.

"Next time…" Jack said wistfully.

"We can buy ourselves another few seconds if we're in the back of the train, right?" Miko asked. That gave Jack an idea.

"Miko, that's it!" Jack grabbed the girl's shoulders. "If we can get on top of the car and make our way to the end then we might be able to put enough space between us and the blast."

"Yeah, but were still going ninety miles an hour and if one of us falls…" She trailed off fearfully.

"Miko, listen to me!" Jack tightened his hold. "I need you to trust me, okay? Because I'm not going to let you fall and I am not going to let either of us die. But if you want to make off of this train in one piece you are going to have to listen to me!" Miko stared at him for a moment.

"Let's do this thing."

"Alright, here's the plan. If we climb on top of the D.N.G.S. I can boost you through the opening on the roof then you'll have to help me through. Remember those goons had no problem standing on top of the car. If we stay hunched over and be careful changing cars we should be just fine. Now let's go!"

The two climbed on the D.N.G.S. then Jack quickly knelt to boost Miko. She struggled to find grab hold for a moment before pulling herself up and turning to reach for Jack. With some effort Jack was soon on the top of the car too. They quickly ran hunched to the end of the car before pausing.

"We jump together, Miko!" The two linked hands and leaped. They landed a little wobbly but otherwise fine.

"We did it!" Miko cheered at their successful jump. They made their way down the rest of the cars with a wobbly ease it wasn't until the last care that they ran into trouble.

"Okay, now let's climbed down!" Jack shouted over the wind. "Just follow me!" Jack quickly slid down the side of the car and looked up to Miko. She seemed to be frozen at the edge, one leg already hanging and the rest of her body held tightly against the top. "Miko!"

"Hold on a second, okay?!" She yelled back. "Come on, Miko. You can do this!" She told herself. Just as she began to slide the rest of her body down a semi flew past them. "Optimus?!" She turned to look and lost her grip.

Jack moved on instinct. He managed to catch his friend with one arm as his opposite hand crystallized and dug into the metal.

"JACK!" Miko screamed as she watched the ground move under her before being slammed against the back of the train car.

"Miko, we have to jump now!" Jack yelled at the terrified girl.

"But-" "Do you trust me, Miko?!" Eyes shut she nodded her head.

"Then just keep your eyes shut and cover your head!" He yanked her as close to him as possible as a layer of diamond covered most of his skin. With one final grip of the metal he kicked away from the train and hopefully in the direction of some bushes.

Both yelled as they fell away from the speeding train. Within seconds Jack's back connect with a bush and they began to roll. His diamonds spiked to slow them down and gradually disappeared as slowed. By the time the two stopped spinning only a thin layer of diamonds remained on Jack's back. They laid there panting for a short while as they listened to, what Jack guessed, was the sound of Optimus stopping the train. Only when he heard the noise stop did Jack uncurl around Miko.

"Are we dead?" Miko mumbled into his chest with eyes still closed.

"Doesn't look like." Jack sat up and Miko quickly opened her eyes.

"We're not dead." Miko gaped at him. She shot up from the ground and pulled him up with her. "We aren't dead! Yes, we are alive! Take that gravity!" Miko sang/screamed to the sky. Jack fell into step with her as Miko started a victory dance that didn't stop until Optimus's large footsteps neared them.

"Of all the idiotic things you two could have done!" Ratchet's voice echoed through the base.

"You should've seen it, Bulk!" Miko screamed at her partner. "It was like we were in an action movie!"

"And by the time we saw Optimus it was too late anyway." Jack explained. "Plus, if there was going to be a meltdown we wanted to be as far away from it as possible."

"Perhaps." Optimus mused. "But the next time you're on a train go ninety miles per hour you could try not jumping off it?"

"It's going to be a long time before I even consider going on a train again." Jack said.

"You act as if I'm going to let you near a train ever again." Arcee scolded her charge.

"That goes for you too, Miko." Bulkhead added. "I don't want to see you even thinking about getting on another train as long as I'm around." Miko and Jack shot each other a look.

"Oh, come on guys…" Jack groaned. "It's not like the train was going over 100 miles an hour."

"And we didn't even get to smash against a rock when we landed." Miko fake whined before bursting into laughter. "Trust me, Bots. We're never gonna do that again."

"At least they aren't hurt," Raf spoke up. "And M.E.C.H. didn't get the D.N.G.S."

"Thanks to your mad hacking skills, dude." Miko smirked. "High five!" The boy eagerly slapped his hand against hers.

"Yeah, you really pulled it off." Jack patted Raf's shoulder. "Sorry about your computer though."

"It's alright," Raf smiled. "At least I was able to help."

"Your skills proved truly valuable today, Rafael. I fear to think what would happen if the D.N.G.S. had not been safely transported." Optimus looked at the children. "Tough I am sorry you children had to get involved and put yourselves at risk."

"Well, someone has to watch your backs!" Miko grinned.

"Yeah, and like Raf said at least we were able to help." Jack smiled and Raf threw in a grin of his own.

"Yes, this time you all remained intact, but the next time you might not be so lucky." Ratchet warned them. "Now I think it wise for all you to return to your homes…you've had quite the day and your squishy bodies will need to recover no doubt." The medic waved towards the exit until the children began to move and their guardians transform.

"Aw, it almost sounds like you care, Doc bot." Miko chuckled as she made her way to Bulkhead. Suddenly she turned and made her way towards Jack instead. "Before I forget." She jerked him toward her and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks, Jack." Miko let him go. "You really saved my bacon." She ran and jumped into a waiting Bulkhead. "Seeya guys."

"Yeah," Raf teased, climbing into Bumblebee. "Bye, Jaaaaack." Jack laughed at his friends while pulling on his helmet.

"Let's go, Arcee." Jack sighed. "I get the feeling you have a lot to say on the ride home."

"You got that right." Arcee muttered then took off, Bumblebee and Bulkhead following.

One ride home and long conversation later.

"-And if you ever, and I mean ever! Think about doing something so stupid again I'll-I'll-!" Arcee spluttered. Jack rolled his eyes but smiled fondly at the motorcycle.

"Be right next to me?" Jack offered. Arcee spluttered once more before heaving an exasperated sigh.

"Well, someone has to watch your back if you're going to pull anymore stunts like this." Arcee spoke softly. "Now go have your Mom check you over then get some rest."

Line-

Jack got checked over and finally after another lecture about safety and 'don't let the humans see you're an alien' and 'I'm really proud of you,' did Jack finally get the all clear. He didn't go to his room or just crash on the couch like he wanted. Instead he made his way down into the sub-basement/armory to complete a status report.

'Now I get why Dad is a bounty hunter and not a Plumber.' Jack's head thumped against the consul. 'Too much paperwork.' The computer beeped to show his report was on its way. 'Yeah, I'm sure Mom would just love that. Trading in the badge to hunt bounties.' His eyes slowly began to close. 'And getting Jen to back me up. I have to say it sounds nice traveling around like that. Maybe I could see Dad more or even go to Anodyne…' His eyes closed and breathing evened out as he succumbed to sleep.

"Jack!" He shot up from his chair.

"Hey, Mom." Jack sighed and settled back in the chair. June chuckled at his antics while gesturing toward the screen.

"You've got a message from HQ."

"Huh?" He turned to stare at the screen. 'Well, this can't be good.' Jack quickly scrolled through the message and let out a groan.

"What?" June leaned over his shoulder to peer at the screen. "Huh. I wonder who they'll send."

"That's it?!" Jack croaked. "You 'wonder who they'll send'. No comments about me needing to learn to become a Plumber on my own or learning from my mistakes?"

"Well, Sweetie." June started. "I think you're going to need all the help you can get."

"Oh. Thanks, for the vote of confidence, Mom!"

Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10 or Transformers.

And sorry if this chapter is fast paced I'll try to slow it down in the next chapter.