Ratchet looked over the scans as the human female debriefed. Well, he guessed he shouldn't exactly say 'human.' She was indeed part Cybertronian, most of her human body parts were replaced completely: Skeletal, nervous, and digestive systems. The other organs coexisted with Cybertronian equivalents… she even had her own beating spark. He held in the rising joy at the idea of another sparkling. Prime walked over and looked over the results, seeing the complications…
"I smell a politician…" she hissed.
Galloway stormed in, followed by General Morshower and Epps, and began to order everyone around. "The robot, Signal, is United States property!" He stated, searching for the bot, and then noticing the woman. "Why are you not in proper uniform? AND LISTENING TO MUSIC! UNHEARD OF!"Then seeing the EAS, he pushed her aside. "You! Signal! You're coming back with me!"
Morshower and Epps noticed the cyborg as she held in her laughter replying, "Uggh… why?"
"That is none of your concern missy!" He snarled, turning to point his finger right in her face, till he noticed her eyes.
"What the hell's going on here?" He barked at the Autobots.
She lost her amusement from the politician, "Hey you ignoramus political numbskull! I AM NOT PROPERTY! I AM A FREAKING HUMAN BEING! The Cybertronians did crap to me you pompous bigot! I was some S7 experiment 70 freaking YEARS AGO!"
Lennox and Epps grabbed her before she could rip Galloway apart.
"What on Earth is it talking about?" He asked.
Ironhide quickly snatched her up, allowing Lennox to inform Galloway of what they were told before, before she could break free and beat the man for his comment.
"It doesn't matter," Galloway sneered, "she doesn't belong here. She is a United States citizen."
"Actually," she argued, "I can't prove that I'm a citizen. I have no birth certificate, no social security… nothing. I could have been born in the USSR for all I know!"
"It's not the USSR anymore, just Russia," General Morshower corrected.
"Well, for once I'm told about what's going on!" She lightly snapped.
"You're a weapon. They don't share, we don't share,' Galloway continued crossing his arms over his chest.
"I AM NOT A WEAPON! I AM A SURVIVAL INITIATIVE! Besides, I just can't claim a country and serve them; I am here for humanity not the United States alone. I serve no purpose if I am not working with the Autobots to defeat the Decepticons."
"You can do it by yourself."
Morshower was about to argue but she retorted first.
"What! No I can't! There are too damn many to count of them and one of me!"
"Well, it just seems that the Autobots are incapable since the whole Egypt business with the Sun almost being destroyed and…"
"THAT'S WHAT WOKE ME UP! THE DECEPTICONS TRIED TO BLOW UP THE SUN!" She gasped turning to the Autobots with her eyes flickering red.
"Yes…" Optimus tried to pacify, "SIGNA-L… You are not fully human… being implanted with mechanics and also being connected to the Allspark caused you to partially transform into a Cybertronian. But with its removal from S7 and its destruction you didn't finish…"
She only gaped, "You… you mean the Allspark's gone?"
The Autobots lowered their heads in mourning, "yes…"
Ratchet studied the 'young' female cyborg; this was far too much for her to take in at one time psychologically. He quietly waited for her to snap and lose control, go completely insane till she either killed others or herself or both. She reverted to the human's soothing 'fetal position' trying to push down the storm of emotions and information she has just received.
'Here it comes,' he thought to himself.
She unfurled, optics darting as her processor sorted through the information. Finally she looked down at Galloway and peacefully began, "Mister Galloway… after hearing the information that the Autobots have shared of me not being fully human… if it wasn't obvious enough… and actually being part Cybertronian, one of them… Do you still believe that I don't belong here? That is would be 'politically correct' to take me away from these advanced alien robots that I am part of? … Was it the President's wish that I not be with the Autobots?"
Everyone was shocked, she was ahead, and Morshower stepped in to stop the debate.
"I believe that with this new information more should be discussed on both sides…"
"Yes, I would agree General Morshower…" Prime supported.
"I have a question to ask you though missy. Really, one thing remains… Do the Autobots truly accept you as one of their own? Do they actually want you? Can they even care for you?" Galloway sneered, stabbing the cruel questions in deeper like a knife. She knew that she couldn't answer that question for the Autobots, so she turned to Optimus, optics quivering slightly, hoping for him to say 'yes.'
"I believe that both sides need to carefully examine the facts at hand. Until we can achieve to find a more suitable environment for the sparkling to live, I feel that it would be best that she stay here under the supervision of NEST. We can continue to… research her… We also wouldn't want the Decepticons to discover her existence… who knows what they would do…" Optimus arbitrated.
Ratchet and Ironhide noticed the sparkling's disappointment to Prime's indifferent answer, also feeling the pain that the sparkling felt, being unwanted. Ironhide made her fly up a bit by lightly tossing her up, she turned to him and he gave her a small smile with a wink. She created a false smile back then turned to watch as Prime helped Galloway and Morshower to download the scans results of her. Galloway stormed back out, Morshower giving them a subtle wave of farewell before following him.
Ironhide finally put the sparkling down; her eyes burning in a fierce red blaze quietly snarling out her curses till Epps spoke up.
"So… ugh… I am Master Sergeant Epps," he stated slightly holding his hand out to the 6"4' pissed cyborg.
She flashed a look at him, "SIGNA-L! Or you can be just as stupid as everyone else and call me SIGNAL! Or maybe, if you really want to try to add humanity to this little research project why not call me L!" She snatched his hand in a tight grip, giving it a curt shake then stomped out of the bunker. Lennox was about to follow when Ratchet spoke up, "She needs time to process this. After all, she has just woken up 60 years in the future, discovered an advanced alien species that she is actually part of physically, which is only a scratch that she will have to learn…"
"Is… is she like… one of your children? Coming from the Allspark and all?" Epps asked. The Autobots looked at each other, seemingly sharing a private conversation due to their body language till Optimus replied, "In some way… yes… that is why we fear of her safety. However, we don't want to take her away either… you do understand?"
Lennox and Epps glanced at each other. "Yeah… we do."
L snuck past the guard post, stalking through the little jungle foliage that the island supported till she came to the abandoned beach on the other side. She stripped down, swimming and bathing till she relaxed in the warm waters. Allowing her emotions to come up one at a time as she sorted and swallowed all that was going on with her; she didn't even know what the hell has happened since her… separation from the world. When it began to get dark she snuck back to Ratchet's bunker, somewhat disturbed at its abandonment. It didn't matter though, she really didn't want to talk to anyone, she was still angry at them… and herself for being so… dependant. She kicked herself as she left to find some bedding, stealing some blankets and pillows from one of the barracks. Hey, wasn't her fault the idiots left the window open! Returning to the still dark hanger she created a quaint, make-shift bed then stripped down to jump into the EAS; wrapping it around the bed protectively, making a hard entry for someone who wants to surprise her. She plopped out of the suit and began to put most of the cloths back on. 'Actually, if the Cybertronians really wanted to they could just lift it up…' She growled in response to the thought, hiding herself under the blankets. She tossed and turned till she finally sat up, grumbling, "Great! I have been in a sleep-like state for 60 years! I'm too awake and irritated to sleep now!" She shoved her feet into her boots, "And another thing… where the hell is everyone!"
She began to search the eerily vacant base when she entered the barrack she stole from earlier. Exploring the halls she heard music and laughter coming out from some rec. room. Two males sat on the couch watching some TV. "Holy crap! YOU GUYS HAVE A COLORED TELEVISON!" She hurdled over the couch and men to sit in front of the television
Lennox sat in Optimus as they combed the island searching for L.
"Major Lennox? Come in Major Lennox…" the hand-held radio crackled.
"This is Lennox. Any sign of her?"
"Yes sir. Guess she crawled out of the woodwork. She's in Barrack Bravo's recreational room… watching the 50's version of 'The Day the Earth Stood Still.'"
"How long has she been there?" Lennox softly barked not interested in what L was watching.
"Just got here… she seems pretty wrapped up in the movie; I don't think you need to worry about her leaving before you get here…"
"HEY I HEARD THAT!" L's voice was heard in the background.
"Good we're coming back now…" he replied, flicking the radio off.
"Everyone else heard and are on their way back as well," Prime remarked before Lennox could ask.
Lennox only nodded then rubbed the sleep from his eyes with a sigh.
"WHAT WERE YOU PROCESSING!" Ironhide yelled, waving his arms in the air. L held down her laughter at the change of word, and come on, who has never felt like laughing when their parents or guardians were seriously angry? You don't know why, it's just funny.
"Oh, so you think this is funny?" Ironhide bent down to look her in the optics.
"No," she giggled before she took a deep breath, really too tired to argue anymore, "Look, you're right. I should not have left the way I did without telling anyone where I was heading. As to what I was processing (with finger quotes). I wasn't; I was angry, stressed and really just wanted some time to myself to sort things out… Optimus Prime… Major Lennox… I apologize for my insubordination. Whatever punishment you find necessary I shall bear humbly…"
Again she had everyone shocked, mouths gaping open, another victory under her belt for debate. Finally Optimus spoke up, "We were angry simply because we were worried for you. When no one saw you we feared the worst, our enemies are still out there, and they would be willing to do anything to get the upper hand. I can understand you situation, and I believe you when you apologized, accepted your fault, and learned from it. I find no punishment necessary. However I do not speak for Major Lennox…"
Lennox snapped out of his sleepy stupor. "Well, I think orientation will be punishment enough," he smirked, "You should get some shut eye… optic… whatever you call it. Tomorrow's going to be a long day; up nice and early."
"Understood," L respectfully bowed her head, "I already made a subtle rack over there so I will sleep here tonight… till something else can be arranged…"
Everyone mumbled tired farewells and left to get some sleep… or recharge. L silently watched as Ratchet went into a separate room, being sure to shut the hanger door and turn the lights off behind him; buzzing something in Cybertronian, something along the lines of 'goodnight and recharge.'
"Goodnight bratling. Get some good recharge and don't wake me up early…" Ratchet said as he flicked off the lights. He stumbled over to his 'bed' and plopped down, beginning to feel the need of recharge take over him. He was about to be succumbed when…
"Psst! Hey Ratchet…" the voice softly hissed, "Are you recharging?"
He snarled to himself, 'How'd I get stuck with the sparkling?'
"No bratling…" he yawned, turning to look at the small green optics floating by the door.
"Oh… I'm sorry… I… I just wanted to apologize…" L mumbled.
"Apologize for what? … What did you break?"
She laughed, "Oh, no! I didn't break anything! … I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I offended you or made you uncomfortable about my mentioning of you being a politician… and how I could 'smell' it."
Every nerve in Ratchet told him to comfort the sparkling whose voice sounded so hurt, abused and lost.
"Come here,' he clicked in Cybertronian, lowering his hand down for her to reach it.
The green lights sharpened, shifted back and forth as if unsure, and then smoothly darted toward his hand. She looked at it then placed her hands on his gently and looked up to him. He felt a smile crawl across his face at the gesture, carefully picking her up and placing her on his chassis, soothingly stroking her back.
"It's merely interesting how much you knew. Not a lot of humans know our history, let alone the detail that I was once a senator before the war. In fact, there are Autobots that don't know that bit of information," Ratchet purred his answer.
"I guess it will be our little secret then," she breathed, relaxing to Ratchet's brushing.
"You will also have to explain to me this 'smell' that I have, but not tonight. You need to recharge." He snickered.
"But Ratchet," she whined, "I've been in a stasis for 60 years! I'm not *yawn* tired…"
"Fine… just be quiet while I get mine!" He playfully sneered.
L felt the warm, steady pulse throughout Ratchet's body. Metal was cold and unforgiving, but Ratchet wasn't. The rhythm of his spark and the caressing pats down her back beckoned her to lie down. She wrapped into a ball, trying to dig in as close to the warmth as she could. Ratchet's hand blanketed her in more warmth and care. She felt as sleep began to take over, so close till Id spoke within her thoughts. "Do they truly accept you as one of their own? Do they actually want you? Can they even care for you?" Id, as cruel as it was, confused her; was it speaking of the Autobots or the humans… or both?
She was too tired to fight back the tears, "R-Ratchet?" she whimpered, begging for more of his reassurance, but Ratchet was in recharge and didn't hear her. She quietly crawled out of his hand, jumping down to the floor then returning to her cold, unforgiving bed as she cried herself to sleep.
**Authors Notes**
1. Id is a figure in Freudian psychology that is suppose to represent your 'bad-self' the 'little devil on your shoulder.'