Maggie Madsen sat back and rubbed her temples. She was used to staring at a computer screen for long hours, but it still took its toll. Next to her, Glen Whitmann was still busily trying to decode the latest message that had come in. His head bobbed in time to whatever song was playing on his i-Pod as his fingers flew over the keyboard.

They'd received three messages in the past month. Three messages from three Autobots, all on their way to Earth. Maggie didn't know weather to be ecstatic or terrified. Soon there would be more of the huge transforming robots hiding out on her small little blue and green planet. What if more of the bad robots, the Decepticons, showed up?

"Maggie, I have detected a consistent drop in performance over the last hour. Your heartbeat is sluggish and your respirations are deep and explosive."

Maggie turned to face Rachet, the Autobot medic, and sighed.

"Yes, just like that."

"It's called a sigh," she said. She gave him a wan smile. "I'm tired."

Rachet's optics blinked at her. "Then you should go repose."

"Sleep," she said. "I should go sleep."

"Sleep. Right. Get six to eight hours and call me in the morning."

Maggie laughed. Even after a month on Earth, the Autobots didn't know everything about the language they used to communicate with. Especially Rachet. He seemed to be more set in his ways than say Bumblebee, or even Ironhide. Sayings that were cliche or even corny seemed to be standard for the huge robot.

Maggie tapped Glen and signaled that she was going to lie down. Glen nodded and went back to his decoding. Maggie grinned. He was living a life he'd only played in video games. Super secret agent working with aliens and alien technology. He was in heaven.

Maggie left the huge control room that had been created by the Autobots. There were smaller work stations for herself and Glenn, but everything else was on the massive Autobot scale. She got a neck ache just thinking about looking up to talk to them. There was a smaller room of to one side with beds, a TV, refrigerator, coffee machine, and other amenities that made living with the huge robots bearable for days at a time.

Secretary of Defense Keller had insisted that, in return for doing the best he could to keep the Autobots existence a secret, (no small feat seeing as they and the Decepticons had destroyed a good chunk of the city), they allow certain Humans to work with them as they tried to call together the Autobots scattered across the stars.

Maggie kicked her shoes off and let her hair down from the ponytail she'd pulled it back into. With a sigh, she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.

--------------------------------------------------------

"I've got it!" Glen yelled.

Ironhide, Rachet, and Optimus Prime all gathered around his small work area as Glen began to read the message.

"Good to know that others survived. I'm on my way. Give my regards to Optimus. Prowl."

A smile lifted Optimus Prime's metallic lips. "Prowl. A good friend and fine warrior."

"That makes four," Ironhide said. "Hound, Cliffjumper, Mirage, and now Prowl."

"I hope they arrive soon," Rachet said. "We got Hound's message almost an Earth month ago."

"We can't expect that they'll arrive too soon," Optimus said. "It could take a while for them to travel the distances between where they are and Earth."

"One can always hope," Ironhide muttered.

Optimus clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Of course we'll hope."

Glen sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Well, I guess that means I can go home for a bit. You guys just let me know when you receive another message. I'll be right back out here."

"Thank you Glen," Optimus said. "Let Ironhide take you home."

Ironhide transformed and revved his engine. "Ready when you are."

The two remaining Autobots watched them leave.

"Think any of our forces will arrive before we get more Decepticon trouble?" Rachet asked his leader.

"I hope so," Optimus said. "I'm also hoping that with Megatron and the Allspark gone, the Decepticons will leave this planet alone."

"That's one wish I don't think you'll get. Starscream and Barricade were both unaccounted for at the end of our last battle."

"I know. Let's hope they don't have any reserve forces to call upon."

Optimus Prime left Rachet and walked back to where they'd placed Jazz's body. Rachet had been able to repair his body, but Jazz's spark was gone.

"I miss you, old friend," the Autobot leader said.