Darkness of the Soul

Everything Changes

Whatever protest that was on Jack's tongue was drowned out by the bellow of the Autobots. There were furious stomps as several of the Autobots moved forward, only to draw back by the clicking of guns and yells. Of course, that triggered another round of banter, soldiers directing focus at each other, instead of the cuffs around Fowler's wrists as he was tugged away.

"W-wait!" Jack cried.

"You can't do that!" Miko protested.

"Leave him alone!" Raf wailed.

"Under what charges?!" Fowler demanded, hard eyes narrowing to a furious glare.

"Let's start with interfering with a federal investigation," Galloway decided. "And maybe if the judge decides to give you some slack, you won't be arrested for treason."

"This is completely—" Lennox started, charging forward, only for the security advisor to round on him.

"Do you want to be next?"

The lieutenant colonel froze and his jaw clenched. Meanwhile, Fowler looked disgusted more than anything.

"You are a petty man," the liaison hissed.

"You have the right to remain silent," Galloway retorted. When the agent only glared, he added, "A dozen American soldiers are dead and the world's greatest lunatic is lost to the wind. Someone is to blame. All signs point to you."

Jack swallowed. Fowler was the liaison between the Autobots and the American government. It was his duty to mediate between the two sides, but it was clear his loyalty was expected to his country first. Instead, he chosen the Autobots. The teenager's stomach twisted as he processed Galloway's accusations. Lennox was able to form a frontal assault in a matter of hours, when such an operation should have taken weeks of planning at the very least. Unless—

Megatron had sent Jack to the Pentagon to steal secrets from Sector Seven. NEST sent Fowler to steal information from the CIA. It only made sense that the spy agency had been eying the terrorist organization, and maybe knew more than NEST, and was merely waiting for the right opportunity to strike. It was because of that military intel Lennox was able to get a rough idea of Silas's operation, and how to confront it.

The burly soldier pulled at Fowler away, further from the Autobots. The federal agent growled, but complied to his captor's demands. More stomps and even Jack moved, as if there was something he could do. Fowler noticed.

"I'll be fine," the government agent huffed, almost dismissively, despite the look in his eyes. "This isn't my first rodeo."

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as the air buzzed with the energy of distressed EM fields. The boy glanced at Lennox.

"Can't you do anything?" he demanded.

The lieutenant colonel looked torn, glancing between one of his oldest friends and the man that had the power to destroy his life with a snap of his fingers. He swallowed thickly.

"My hands are tied..." Lennox confessed lowly.

Jack's eyes widened in dismay. For the longest time, the army brat didn't know what to make of Fowler. The liaison was always guarded, save for his famous outbursts against the 'Bots, along his open hatred of the Decepticons and of course, his patriotism for his country. Other than that, Jack didn't know anything about the man. It was as if the agent was careful, not only to reveal his personal life, but his agenda. There was a time the army brat was wary of Fowler.

But that dissolved quickly. Fowler helped Bumblebee and Optimus Prime defeat Skyquake. He accompanied the 'Bots in transporting the DINGUS, when he could have let someone else do it. He went to the other side of the world to bail Miko out of prison. He saved Jack, and his mother, and Arcee, when he brought NEST forces to drive off Airachnid, to drive off MECH. Fowler saved the teenager again from the organization's cold clutches, and he was paying the price for it.