A/N: And here we go, my first sequel on here! For those wondering, this is a sequel to FATE AND ITS MYSTERIOUS WAYS. I highly recommend reading that first before reading this one, as it will help you understand everything that happens here.

FEATURED PAIRINGS: SideswipexArcee (more may be added later)

DISCLAIMER: All OCs within this story belong to me! But obviously, I don't own Transformers.

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CHAPTER 1
New Life and a Mysterious Signal

The "honeymoon" period of Jeffrey Michael Devlin (now Prowler)'s adoption by the Autobot second-in-command, Prowl, was over. That was what they called the first few months after you were adopted, when you were in a never-ending state of euphoria. Jeff didn't exactly get it himself, seeing as there was nothing overly romantic about it, despite the constant feeling and reminder that you were loved and had a family forever. But it didn't make Jeff immune to being a normal seventeen year old, or Prowl any less of a serious rule-abiding type.

Nope, not even four months of a permanent placement was going to change that.

Other things, however, did change. His once so-called "prison" was now his home. His mentor had become his father. And most of all, he was an Autobot now, nothing honorary about it. Though Prowl refused to let his son join the actual faction itself as a warrior, he could not change the fact that he had chosen his side one way or another, and he could not take that away from him. But then again, the way that his training with Ratchet had been going the last few months, he wouldn't be surprised if he one day became a field medic and really joined the ranks too.

Jeff mused upon all these things as the first rays of sunlight peeked through his bedroom window. He groaned quietly, turning over, he buried his face in his pillow and tried to block it out. He hadn't been sleeping well again, as much as he hated it, he still faced nightmares from every experience he'd had the past year. It was that reason that Prowl had gotten him a psychiatrist, and while it was frustrating, it was helping, albeit slowly. Slowly enough that he'd barely gotten four hours of sleep the night before.

"Jeff?"

Jeff peered up as the door opened gently and the large form of his father stepped in. He was always right on cue, never even a millisecond late. It was the reason that Jeff never bothered to get an alarm clock, Prowl would never even begin to let him wake up late for school. "Come on, kiddo." Prowl tugged at his blankets carefully "First day back at school, you really don't want to be late." He noted.

"Can't I just get home schooled like the other Autobot kids?" Jeff grunted.

Prowl rolled his optics as he placed his hands on his hips. If there was one thing that definitely hadn't changed in Jeff, it was the sense of humor he'd come to love. But at the same time, that could be taken as both a good, and bad thing all at once. "Nope, it's back to public school for you, my youngling." Prowl noted, carefully picking Jeff up by his leg in a playful manner "Does having schooling under Ratchet evenappeal to you?" He questioned.

Prowl had his adopted son there, that was for sure, nothing about that was appealing. "Fine." Jeff muttered as Prowl set him on his feet "You win, but it's your fault if I have to deal with crap again." He shook his head slightly "I mean, seriously, just because I'm friends with Brent now doesn't mean everyone likes me all of the sudden." Prowl shook his head "What, it's true!" Jeff added.

"Quit wasting your vocal processors by whining." Prowl replied "Breakfast is on the table, get finished in a hurry. I don't have time to wait very long to take you to school."

Jeff sighed quietly, rushing off to do his daily routine. Prowl had been putting him through it for the last few weeks of his summer vacation so that he would be prepared for how his new daily routine would work. Needless to say, it was a quick process, though he did feel a tiny bit rushed. "Nutrient filled lunch." Prowl dropped a small paper bag into his hands carefully "I don't want you fighting this year, Jeff. Promise me that." He noted "You did enough fighting last year." He explained.

"I thought I told you I was past being angry?"

Prowl had the slightest feeling that even so, Jeff would still punch any kid who made fun of him. It wasn't that he didn't have a right to, in some ways he did. Some of the harsh comments that Autobot haters had for him tended to be far less than kind. But at the same time, he didn't want any son of his to resort to violence first thing when confronting a bully. "Just promise me, no calls from your school about a fight you've been in." Prowl noted firmly "No matter what anyone says about you, Ratchet, Sideswipe, or I." He added.

Jeff sighed, looking back up at him, and rolling his eyes carefully. "Sure, dad. I promise." Jeff noted.

Jeff smiled, though the honeymoon period was over, though they had their differences, he was happy. For the first time, he had a family and a father that accepted him for who he was, and nothing, repeat, nothing would get in the way of that.

...

Prowl wasn't sure what to think of the abnormality in the signal he and Optimus detected that afternoon. Though he had obviously seen signatures like this before the war, the markings on the signal suggested a much older mech. Someone older than anyone they had on-base at least, he'd have speculated on Earth, had Kup not been as ancient as any mech possibly could be. "It's very bizarre, Prime." Prowl sighed "But the signal is still nearly a day out of Earth's atmosphere." He noted.

Optimus nodded in response, putting his hands on his hips as he stared at the monitor before him. Prowl knew his first concern, and it was his as well. Were they dealing with an older Autobot survivor of the war, or rather, were they dealing with an ancient Decepticon? "Can you pinpoint whether or not it is friendly or hostile?" Optimus questioned.

"The signature appears cloaked, so no." Prowl shook his head "I promise to continue my efforts in finding out, however."

Optimus nodded his head, seating himself in a chair quietly. The leader had every reason to worry, being out of the five signals in the last several months, all of them had been Decepticons. The more Decepticons that came to Earth, the smaller their own ranks seemed to become. The last thing they needed was a sixth Decpticon incursion making its way to Earth. "Keep your optics upon the signal. Alert me if anything changes." Optimus nodded, a moment passed before he spoke again "Continue to work on decloaking it. I will send Bumblebee to pick Jeffrey up from schooling."

Prowl frowned, not being very fond of the idea. Jeff hadn't completely and totally gotten rid of his trust issues yet. And as it was, Prowl had been more busy than usual during the month. The idea of not being there to pick Jeff up on his first day didn't sit right with him. "Permission to speak freely sir?" Optimus simply nodded in response "I can send this over to Trailbreaker on Diego Garcia." He explained "I'd feel more comfortable given my long hours lately if I picked my son up myself." He noted.

Coming from any other Autobot officer, it may have been out of line. But Prowl knew he had an ample enough reason to make the request, as did Optimus. Though Prowl did enjoy his job, one could not deny that at times, he did become overworked. "Noted." Optimus finally spoke up "But I must ask that you return to your post following this until the end of your shift." He requested "I would not ask this of you if I was not truly worried."

Prowl was silent for a moment, but nodded his head. It was a fair exchange, especially being he was making a personal request such as this. Though even for the second-in-command, spending the night in front of a computer screen was less-than-appealing in many ways. "Understood, sir." Prowl spun around, and stood to his feet "I'll send the co-ordinates of the signal Trailbreaker's way and then be on my way. But I will return immediately following." He explained.

As his second-in-command worked to do as he said, he frowned slightly. As a father himself, though his sparklings were grown up, Optimus understood this feeling. As a new father, Prowl was clearly experiencing the hassle of an important job and being a father at once. It was for this reason, their children, all of their children in the Autobot ranks, he would have liked to end the war right there. But even so, it was not the easiest of tasks, and for the moment, he had no chance of doing so. "You may take tomorrow off, if it proves to be non-hostile." Optimus spoke "Take some time off, enjoy it with Jeff." He shook his head "You've been working quit hard lately." He added.

Prowl almost wanted to shoot the offer down, but his spark told him otherwise. He needed the recharging, and he needed more time with his son, and for now, he would do what he could and then take what he could. Nodding his head slowly, he turned his head towards Optimus. "Very well, but I doubt it will be hostile." Prowl's optics crossed "Call it a hunch, but it is coming in quite slow for a Decepitcon vessel."

Optimus nodded in agreement. "On this, I would agree." He stared at him calmly "Now you should go if you're going to pick Jeff up."

"Understood."

Prowl took one last look at the monitor before he stalked off form it. To say the least, Prowl hoped his words were correct. But he couldn't write off the odd feeling in his spark, or the fact that something about the signature seemed odd. He could only be left to wonder what this new signal would mean for them all.

...

A/N: And there's the first chapter! Hope you guys liked it!