The Return: (Revised)

Disclaimer: I own no rights to the Transformers series, Hasbro does have that claim. I do however own the plot of this story.

Author Notes: So here is chapter 4 everyone. Enjoy!


Nodding her head, Alex spoke. "It's good to be back Optimus Prime." She saluted her men quickly following her lead.

"At ease Alex," Optimus spoke as she dropped her hand to her side and stood still while he addressed them. The autobot leader was silent while he looked at each soldier in turn studying them. What it was he was looking for none of them were sure but he was obviously searching for something.

Finally, a puff of air cycled out of his vents as he blinked his optics and looked up at Prowl who stood behind them quietly. Optimus inclined his head towards the black and white mech who disappeared a few minutes later, the door sliding shut behind him.

The leader looked back down at the six humans noticing the frown upon some of their faces. "Do not worry, I have only asked him to step out and grab the other officers. I have some serious issues to discuss with you and hope that we can fix it before it turns worse."

Alex noticed as the five men besides her turned to one another, Jason glancing at her but she shook her head. She knew of nothing that could be this bad that could warrant such an outcome from even the autobot leader himself.

"DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO. I AM THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AROUND HERE AND I WILL SKIN HER ALIVE OR SO HELP ME PRIMUS."

"Shit," The swore dropped from her mouth as she heard the yell from the other side of the door.

All five men turned to stare at their Lieutenant, but she was already scrambling away turning to hide behind Jason just as the door to the office slid open.

The first one to step in was a rather bulky angry yellow mech, his blue optics scanning those on the desk before him. Alex knew it was rather useless to try and hide from him, but she still tried to make herself as small as possible behind Jason.

"You move it," the growl came as Jason quickly scrambled away and Alex was left to stare wide eye at the mech before her. His face stopped just inches before her. "You are going to spend the next five cycles in my medbay till I decide when you can leave."

"Don't think for once I have forgotten about you and all the hell I've been through bringing you back from the dead." He spoke wielding a finger in her face. "You and I are going to have a very very very long talk when this is all said and done with, cause Primus Alex you gave us all a spark attack.

"You owe me an extensive medical background for all the six years you were away and I want a look at that arm. Oh no I haven't forgotten about that breakage of yours either. You are so lucky you are human, otherwise I'd reformat you into a toaster, then I know you'd be safe without having to worry if you were going to get hurt again or not."

"Um 'Atchet," spoke another mech as a light tapping was heard on the medics back.

Alex watched as a predatory death glare came to the medic's optics as the yellow mech stood up and faced the silver mech behind him. Jazz took a hesitant step back, hands raised. "'Orry, but we need ta get 'oing on the meeting."

Ratchet took one step towards Jazz who took three steps backwards, his back hitting lightly against the door behind him. Prowl took that moment to step in between the two mechs, doorwings held high as he stared at Ratchet.

"Jazz is right Ratchet, you can do what you will with Alex later." Alex shot him a scandalized look like he had just sent her to her death. "But right now we need to focus on the real threat of this base."

A black hand was placed on top of Ratchet's shoulder and he turned to glare at Ironhide, but the mech seemed undeterred by it. "Let it go doc, there will be plenty of times for threats and reformats later."

Alex threw her hands up in the air. "Great this is some kind of punishment isn't it," she spoke for the first time since the other officers entered the room.

Ratchet turned back around to her, a glint of amusement in his optics. "You bet your human aft it is." Snickers could be heard from the five guys next to her, the medic's optics turning on them. "Don't think I won't be hunting you guys down as well. All of you will be getting a full check up."

Alex smirked seeing the looks on their faces as they tried to shrink in on themselves a little. Shaking her head she turned so that she was facing Optimus Prime who had sat there quietly during the whole exchange. Though she could tell he was getting amusement out of it as his optics were a brighter shade of blue then normal.

Glancing from him to the other autobots present, she could tell that as one by one all the amusement dropped from their optics. Finally, she looked back up at Optimus to see he too lost the amusement.

"Alright sir, I think it's time you guys told us what is going on." She spoke watching as his optics went dark and another heavy vented sigh left him.

"We need your help Alex," Optimus spoke looking down upon her and her men. "Things I'm afraid have not being going well here and as it is, it has put all of us in danger."

She tilted her head slightly. "What sort of danger?"

"It has come to our attention that someone is intentionally targeting us though for whatever reason we cannot fathom. Within the past few years some of our autobots have taken ill, you might say."

"Ill?"

"A virus." Ratchet spoke up with a small growl.

Alex frowned. "How did you catch a virus?" shaking her head.

Prowl stepped forwards. "Some of us plug into the systems here on the base to transfer data or download things for missions. We've had to refrain from doing so after the four cases of autobots falling ill."

"And you think one of the humans is responsible?" Jason spoke up.

Optimus shook his head. "We aren't entirely sure to be honest. That's why we brought you six in here to see if you can help us."

"I'm sorry Optimus, but something doesn't add up in this. You guys are a highly evolved species and a simple virus from our planet is making you ill?" asked Alex looking between the officers.

Optimus blinked. "We realize that which is why we don't believe it is of human origins. There are only a few enemies who can build a virus that can be harmful to us and one of them is already here on earth."

"Decepticons." She whispered.

Nodding his head, he continued speaking. "Yes that is what we are suspecting, but have no way of proving it."

"So what does this have to do with the personnel on board?"

"Alex," Ratchet spoke making her turn towards him. "Do you remember what happened to you almost six years ago?"

A dark look came over her face instantly at the mention of the incident. "Not something I want to remember to be perfectly honest. But you suspect one of them might be being controlled?"

Ratchet nodded his head. "Sadly I can't prove it since it seems to be nearly none existent in their bloodstream. Which means that they have had it in there for a while or Soundwave has become much better at making it none detectable."

A shiver ran through Alex at the thought of having that in her body again, an experience she had no idea of repeating ever again. "So our orders here are to what specifically?"

"For now, we would just like you six to observe," Optimus spoke again. "Like we said speculation is all we have to go on. But we would like to get to the bottom of this for our safety."

Alex hummed as she began thinking. "If and say we do find something of utmost important, who shall we go to? At this point in time it sounds like and from the looks of it, the only ones whom to trust is all that stand in this office. If this is the case, is the base bugged? Are there things that need to be looked for or that we should be looking at to help aid us? You are giving us nothing but speculation on what seems to be going on but nothing that could indicate trust amongst this operation Optimus."

A small silence had filled the room as every mech and human waited for the answer.

"You are right Alex," Optimus finally spoke with what sounded like a weary voice. "We aren't giving you everything, because we ourselves don't know who to trust either. Bringing you six here could be the final downfall to whoever is trying to finish us."

A frown came upon Alex face as the leader continued. "But from my time in knowing you, I feel that I can trust you enough not to betray us. That is why I had Prowl and Jazz hand pick the personnel to over see this personally." At this he looked at the humans once more. "It was not an easy task seeing as some of you have never actually had contact with us and some of you have had a few meetings here and there."

"Out of all the autobots here, those within this room are the ones I value the most trust in. A lot of my soldiers I also do trust with my life, but I could not risk their safety anymore either with whatever this virus is."

"Have they been told about the virus?" She asked realizing that that would be her first priority as a leader to her troops.

His head nodded up and down and she gave a small sigh of relief, knowing that some of her autobots friends knew of the potential risk. "Yes Alex, I would not risk my soldiers life with something like that."

"Especially cause I have to extract the virus out of them," grumbled Ratchet folding his arms over his chassis.

Another silence fell upon the office as Alex began thinking about all that she would need from them. But obviously they were being careful about what they were letting out information wise. If someone were trying to purposely kill off the autobots then the situation could also put her and her soldiers at risk as well.

It was a risk she knew she was willing to take, only because she owed them that much for everything they had done for her. Alex glanced at her men and each was watching her closely as if waiting for her to tell them yes or no on this. She already knew she would risk everything for the autobots, Alex just wasn't sure if her men would.

Jason was watching her closely and he could see her doubt within her facial features and he walked over to her placing a hand on her shoulder. "Risk are involved with everything Alex, I would risk it all to help out no matter the consequences."

The other men nodded their heads each one willing to do the same, but she still had some doubts. "Nothing is without risk, this I understand," she spoke turning her eyes on each of the autobots who were silent. "If we are to do this Optimus, I will need a place that is secure so that my men and myself can speak freely without being overheard. If this base is bugged then there is no telling if the wrong thing is said and this operation is compromised."

"I think you'll find Alex, that Prowl, Jazz and Red Alert will have the answers to what you are asking of me." He spoke looking up at Prowl.

Alex turned and looked at the tactician as well, who was holding out his hand, which contained a single datapad sitting upon his palm. She took it and read what was upon it, before handing it over to Jason. From there he passed it on to the others as they too read over the contents of the datapad.

Once each of them had done so, Prowl took the datapad back and smashed it, effectively destroying anything on it. "Precaution," was all he said.

"Well Optimus," she spoke looking up at the leader of the autobots. "I believe we have some work to do."

He inclined his head. "Yes, I believe we do, but for now I believe an introduction to the rest of the autobots is long overdue."

Alex froze upon hearing that, her whole body tense about meeting everyone again. She knew eventually she would have to see them again, but she was hoping for at least a day before of doing so.

"Alex?" The sound of her name being said with concern, made her turn and see Prowl's holoform standing before her. "Remember, you need this," he spoke softly so that the others couldn't hear him. "Close that chapter on your life and start a new one."

"I know Prowl," she said speaking softly as well. Alex looked down at the ground. "I was just hoping for some time in between." A hand was placed gently upon her shoulder. "It's not going to be easy."

"Nothing in life ever really is. But from my experience you learn to grow stronger by it."

She nodded her head a small smirk coming to her lips as she turned to regard him. "Yes but if I recall, you are a few million years older then me."

Prowl smiled shaking his head. "Regardless, you know I will be here if you ever need me."

"I know you will and I could never thank you enough for everything."

"You don't have to thank me Alex, knowing that you are happy is what I am only interested in."

Alex sighed. "Well let's go met the others then shall we?" she addressed to the other men as Prowl's holoform disappeared from besides her.

A black hand was placed down upon the desk which belong to Prowl's, followed by a silver hand belonging to Jazz. The group of humans split up as each stood upon the palms of the two autobots whom began leading the way out of Optimus Primes office.

The autobot leader himself was walking in front of the group, followed by Ironhide with Ratchet behind the gunner. Jazz and Prowl were bringing up the rear as they neared the rec room.

Alex could already hear the buzz of many voices talking at once coming from the room and she shifted nervously from foot to foot. As the doorway came into view and Optimus stepped inside, the voices grew quiet as the other officers filled in behind him.

"I apologize for the wait on the announcement we had for you all, but we needed to brief our new guests of their positions here." Whispering broke out amongst the room and Alex could see some of them zeroing in on where she and the others stood.

"Now, we have not had a human officer on this base in quite some time, but I am glad to welcome Lieutenant Alex Jacobs." Optimus spoke as Prowl took a step forwards so that every autobot on the base was looking right at them.

Alex for the most part tried to make herself as small as possible, which was not easy as every optic in the room was focused on her.

The silence that was in the room was near deafening, that you could almost hear a pin drop echo within it

"Boy you bring a tough crowd," she heard Jason snicker and shot him a small glare, just as the sound of scrapping was heard upon the floor. Alex turned and watched as a red mech began stepping forwards, his blue optics focused heavily upon her.

She looked away after seeing the hurt in those optics, knowing that she was the one whom had made it. The sound of footsteps stopped and she glanced up as his face came closer, his head tilted to the side.

"You left," she flinched. "…and you didn't even say goodbye."

He sounded so sad and hurtful to Alex and it was killing her cause she was the one that had made it possible. Again she looked down, unable to face him anymore. "I'm sorry Sideswipe, I did what I thought was best for everyone."

"For everyone? Or for yourself Alex?" he asked.

"I think Sideswipe there is a time and a place for this elsewhere," Prowl spoke suddenly when she didn't answer right away. "You may get to see her later, but for now we must introduce the others here so that they may begin their duties."

The red mech looked briefly up at the second in command, before standing up straighter and moving off to the side. But his optics never left Alex and she knew she would be seeing him again soon.

Optimus spoke up once again and introduced the other six men as he addressed the autobots once again. Alex for the most part kept her eyes downcast looking upon the ground as she didn't know if she could handle seeing their optics on her.

Once the introductions had finished with the autobots talking could be heard from every mech in the room. Optimus had already turned though and addressed his other officers and the six humans.

"Come, the humans are already aware that they have a new commander and have been gathered as well in the human area." With that he began walking again heading out of the rec room the other officers following.

Alex looked briefly off to the side, noticing Sideswipe watching her closely still, before he turned and looked off to the side. She didn't need to see who it was he was looking at, for she could already feel the heat of his glare upon her as soon as they entered the room.

But now that there was a wall between them and the rec room, she could feel herself relax slightly, but still the stress of it weighed heavily on her mind.


The human area of the base was not to far away from the rec room, give or take giant transformers steps to it.

In a way Alex was kind of glad that they had their own little area that wouldn't be in the way of the autobots. This would make it easier for her to keep an eye on them without having the distraction of other things going on around them.

Alex stepped down off of Prowl's hand once he had lowered the humans to the ground, before the officer's holoforms all appeared before them. Once again Optimus took the lead and headed through the door first, while the others filed in behind him.

She took a look around and noticed that the room they were in was separated into three different areas. Off to the right sat a rather large kitchen area, with all the gadgets needed for making a good meal. In the middle were tables and chairs for them to eat at, though by the looks of it, they hadn't been cleaned in ages.

Alex shook her head disgust written all over her face as she look left where a sitting and common area were arranged. There were a few couches for the men to sit at as well as a few tables for them to enjoy social time or play card games in their downtime. A television sat upon the wall with what looked like all the latest technology, with shelves built around it decorated with movies and games.

"Attention," Jason shouted at the men who were sitting about in there talking to one another.

Already Alex could tell that the men had been far to laid back as they slowly rose and stood at attention, if rather sloppily. She came to a halt in front of them and carefully inspected each of the fifteen men before her. Jason stood next to her and he grumbled at the state in which the men looked and she couldn't blame him in the least.

None of them were even in uniform per say and if they were, their shirts were not tucked in and looked very badly wrinkled. None of their pants were pressed and shoes no longer shiny.

"This has gone on way too long Alex," whispered Jason as he turned away from the men in disgust. "This will be going on their records."

She nodded her head. "Yes it is and starting right now, this whole place is getting redone and cleaned."

Alex took a step forwards and all eyes of the men turned towards her and she looked each one squarely in the eye. "I have no doubt in my mind that each of you will be written up for the insubordination you have presented me with today. It disgusts me that you have all fallen out of your duty as a soldier and therefore punishment will be presented to each of you."

"From this moment on, this whole section will be cleaned from top to bottom till I am satisfied. I will take it upon myself to make sure you know your place here and that should you go against my orders you will be facing trials for it."

Again Alex looked each one in the eye. "I give you a fair warning, I will not be easy to deal with and should you force it upon me a permanent discard will be issued without reasonable cause."

At this even Jason turned towards her in astonishment. "Can you really do that?" he asked skeptically.

Alex grinned. "Well I wasn't promoted to Captain till just yesterday," she spoke pulling out the pin that sat within the pocket of her pants. She proceeded to pin it to the collar of her shirt, to make it official.

Jason shook his head. "Knew Colonel Lennox wouldn't let you be here without some kind of higher authorization." He laughed.

"Who says I need authorization!" she quipped back, before turning back to the other men. "Well why haven't you started yet."

At once they began scrambling and before long each had disappeared to do various tasks. She shook her head and turned around noticing the autobot officers looking her. "What? You can blame him for the promotion." Pointing a finger at Prowl, who for all the world looked a little too smug?

Jason laughed and walked off leaving the other officers behind. Alex turned to Optimus Prime who reached out a hand towards her, in which she grasped in one of her own. "I once again thank you Alex," he spoke as they shook, releasing their hands.

"Rest assured Optimus the base will be back up and running smoothly in no time."

He nodded and his holoform disappeared, along with Ironhide's, leaving Ratchet, Jazz and Prowl with her still.

"Come Alex," Prowl spoke turning and making his way towards the door back into the hallways. "I will give you a tour of the base and then after Ratchet has requested you in his medbay for your checkup."

A smirk sat upon Ratchet's holoform, one that had Alex slightly afraid of the torture and lecture she knew she was going to endure. Jazz had to audacity to snicker at her discomfort as he followed behind the tactician.

Alex grumbled as she walked out knowing that they were going to all be the death of her.


Author Notes: This chapter was way too long! I wasn't expecting it to be but a lot needed to be said but a lot has not yet! So Hope you all enjoyed it though! Please leave a review!