The atmosphere immediately changed when Mikaela, Optimus and Ratchet entered the hangar. The Autobots and humans worked yet stared, and Mikaela felt the urge to duck down, hide away from some of the newer bot's who didn't know her as well as they knew, say, Sam.

Irohide's expression was grim, though her offered Mikaela a slight nod before taking his position next to Optimus. The huge Autobot leader approached the high railing, observing where Mearing and a few smartly-clad others were perched, some holding clipboards, others smoothing out their ties so not to seem frightened - they weren't used to such regality, Mikaela figured. Forget the alien aspect, for if Optimus had been human, Mikaela and the rest would still have been shaking with anticipation.

Mikaela met Mearing's eyes twice and both times she tore her gaze away. Rya's fate rested, possibly, in the palm of that woman's hand. Mikaela didn't want to do anything that would compromise her efforts at freeing...Rya, or whatever it was she'd been transformed into.

It was humans against aliens, a battle of wit. Despite the officials fidgety behavior, Mikaela doubted that they would be taken down easily.

And so, the meeting began.

Mearing spoke first, introducing the officials. Their names boring, their titles long. Mikaela made an effort to memorize them but failed. It was then that Mearing said, "We can cut right to the chase, Prime. We've come to discuss the fate of Rya Morello."

In a second, the hangar fell silent.

"I understand, Director," Optimus replied calmly. "Ratchet and I believe it best for Rya to be under our protection and undergo further analysis; her situation, as you'd believe, isn't at all common. Because of this, the Decepticon's will seek to capture her, and despite humanities military prowess when it comes to battling Decepticon's, it is unlikely that those forces would, alone, be able to protect Rya Morello."

"You're setting yourselves up for a mess," Ironhide barked, as if to further emphasize Prime's point.

"You're right," one official said. He was a tall man, broad, strong. He met Optimus Prime's optics with a steely gaze and held it, a look that nearly surpassed Ironhide's glare in the process. "But its a risk we're willing to take. Rya was human, therefore, despite what you may think, she remains a part of our world. Had she been Cybertronian transformed to human, well, that would have been an entirely different situation."

So, basically, Rya had dibs on human life so...

Mikaela tensed, leaning against Optimus's foot.

"Director Mearing?" Optimus tilted his head to the side, acknowledging the woman with a fierce gaze.

"I believe that Rya Morello should remain with the Autobots," she replied, refusing to meet the eyes of her co-workers. "And if it suites you all, we can agree to compromise," her lenses flashed and she glared. "Hopefully that won't be an issue for anyone."

Cross your fingers, Mikaela...

"No."

Three of the humans spoke up, shaking their heads. Mikaela's shoulders sagged and Optimus exhaled sharply, steam hissing through the vents beneath his limbs.

"There's no point -" Ironhide began, but Optimus cut him off.

"Our planet, our rules," one of the humans snarled. "You signed up for it the moment you stepped foot on our soil -"

"Yes, trying to protect your species!" Ironhide snarled in reply. "We never did receive proper gratitude for that-"

"Ironhide," Optimus sighed. "Stand down."

Mikaela stepped away, breathing heavily. Upon realization that really, she wasn't needed here, she retreated even further. Those officials, Mearing, even, they didn't seem to care about her opinion.

It was pointless.

Optimus, while the humans were distracted by Ratchet, who had begun to argue, turned his head and noticed Mikaela's hunched form.

Anywhere but here.

He nodded, and Mikaela turned and trotted away from the meeting as the banter increased in volume, Optimus having joined in, now, but somehow keeping his voice calm, gentle. Soothing.

The halls of the base weren't busy, and Mikaela was grateful. Her mood was fluctuating. They'd been so close, yet so far...the issue wouldn't end well, Mikaela just knew. Both sides, human and Autobot, fighting over one of Mikaela's few sources of happiness.

She had her head ducked, and was forced to raise it up when a hand squeezed her shoulder.. Ready to snarl, she turned and opened her mouth.

"Easy."

Lennox looked worse for wear, worn down like an old pair of shoes. His face was stitched up, but a new set of lines seemed to have appeared around his eyes and mouth. The even had taken a lot out of him, Mikaela saw. The occurring fiasco wouldn't do anything to help it.

"They don't need you at the meeting?"

"They're really trying to keep things private," Lennox replied, rolling his eyes. "Jolt, Ratchet's assistant, just released me, anyway. How are you feeling?"

"Angry. I really...I really just need to see Rya," Mikaela sighed. "Make sure she's okay. Talk to her."

Ratchet brought her in earlier. You were being briefed by Mearing, but I saw her...she looked..."

"Hurt?"

"No, no. She didn't speak. Ratchet had a trip with that, trying to scan her and everything," Lennox smoothed back his hair. "Although, with everything she's been through...it would be hard to speak, after all that."

"Did you see where they took her?"

"I have an idea," Lennox nodded. "This place, its new and we haven't added our additional outlets. She'd be in a spare room," he gestured with his chin towards a seemingly vacant hallway. "We didn't have a brig so..." he chuckled. "I'll do my best to get you in there, if only for a moment."

Mikaela smiled warmly, and Lennox motioned for her to follow. They padded down the hallway, Mikaela shoving her hands into her pockets and ducking her head. She felt smaller, that way, more protected, despite Lennox's presence. The room was on the opposite side of the building, the doorway reinforced with steel. The guards straightened their posture when Lennox and Mikaela approached.

"Wait one moment," Lennox whispered, and Mikaela stood still. The older man spoke briefly to the guards, and their faces paled before they peeled away from the door, allowing Mikaela to enter.

She didn't know what to expect. She heaved against the door, and vaguely heard Lennox murmur, "Six minutes, and then you're out," but her main focus was on the small figure huddled against the wall, next to the small cot and wooden table.

Then the door clicked shut behind her, and Mikaela squinted as darkness flooded the room, pierced by a single lamp on the bedside table. The dim light turned Rya's dark skin orange and her eyes black.

"Rya?"

The girl stirred, and lifted her head even more.

Then she laughed.

Giggled, abruptly, as Mikaela slid to her knees and crawled towards the girl, her hand reaching out to touch Rya's face.

"I'm starting to go crazy in here, you know," Rya wheezed. "God, it's so dark."

"I know."

"But I'm alive," Rya giggled once more. "I'm alive, right? This isn't heaven or hell and you're...you're not some illusion...?"

Rya's back straightened and she cupped Mikaela's face between both hands, staring long and hard into Mikaela's bright eyes. Her brows furrowed and she tilted her head to the side, as if seeing her partner for the first time.

"I'm really here," Mikaela murmured.

Rya's head fell back against the wall and she sighed, another laugh bubbling past her lips, though this one was different. Laced with relief and joy. It complemented her much, much better than the high-pitched, maniacal cackle she'd released before.

"God," she said in a pained voice. "It's you. You're beautiful, Mikaela, I thought...I thought...I don't know. I missed you."

She leaned up and kissed Mikaela, holding her as if her life depended on it. Then she pulled away and tilted her head back once more, closing her eyes.

"They're out there, fighting over you," Mikaela said hesitantly. "Optimus and Ratchet and those officials...the humans want to keep you."

"Am I just that irresistible?" Rya said dryly. "I'm flattered."

Mikaela's laugh was genuine, and she brushed a strand of Rya's hair away. She took a seat against the wall, leaning her shoulder against Rya. "That's could be one reason. Ironhide was vouching for you," noticing Rya puzzled look, Mikaela added, "the weapons specialist. The one with the big guns."

"Ah."

"You don't seem surprised?"

"After what I've seen? I remember it all clearly, fighting that big, freakish monster...Megatron, I think his name was."

"How did it feel?"

"Being a Cybertronian? It sucked," Rya pulled her knees against her chest. "It sucked ass. I was confused and all. And hurting. And did I mention dead, for a moment?"

"You did," Mikaela murmured.

"So yeah, the experience wasn't glamorous. And I still don't know why it happened, how it happened...something like that shouldn't be possible. Humans don't change, they don't, its physics..."

"Ratchet is trying to figure that out."

"You think that he can crack the code? Doesn't this violate alien science, too? I mean, when he spoke to me, he sounded like he had a huge brain..."

"Tell me about it," Mikaela huffed. "but trust me, Ratchet doesn't just talk the talk, he walk's the walk. And he's handy with a wrench in more ways than one."

"That's good to know, but I still don't -"

The door swung open, and a beam of light nearly blinded Mikaela. A tall, slender figure dominated the doorway, and Mikaela heard a familiar female voice bark, "Time's up, Miss Banes."

"That didn't feel like six minutes," Mikaela murmured. She leaned over and gave Rya a quick kiss, ignoring whatever looks Mearing or whomever else was watching shot her. She raised her voice, saying, "I'm coming, I'm coming."

She glanced back at Rya, who gave her a smile, and then the metal door slammed shut.

"What's the verdict?" Mikaela stated, looking between Mearing, Lennox, and finally, towering above, Optimus. They all shared the same conflicted expressions.

"We've compromised," Mearing said. "Rya Morello is to be placed under the care of Ratchet and Optimus until some sort of explanation can be sent through me, and too the president. He'll decide whether or not she'll be sent to a faraway, secure location or allowed to participate in N.E.S.T activities. Until then, she's to be treated a as a mild threat and confined to this base."

"So it all depends on Ratchet's analysis?"

"If he can find a cure, turn her back to normal, there won't be a need to send her away. We just haven't gathered enough information about her," Mearing peered up at Optimus. "That's the best we could do for her."

"Mearing is right," Optimus said grimly. "Rya will be in good hands, Mikaela. If we can reverse the process, we will."

"She still won't be safe," Mikaela snapped. "She won't be able to live a normal life..." she stepped back. "We were so close, you know. I was so close...I'd gotten rid of Sam...the Decepticon's had left me alone. Rya was...oblivious. Which was better, I guess..."

"We promise, Mikaela, none of this could have been predicted," Optimus spoke softly. "I sincerely apologize for the distress this situation has caused both you, and Rya. The safety of both of you is a priority at the moment."

"I know," Mikaela sighed. "I just...I'm tired."

"With good reason," Lennox said. "You've had a nasty few days, but there's work to do. You've done this before," his voice deepened. "This isn't new to you."

"It's new to her," Mikaela gestured towards Rya's room. "As long as she's safe, taken care of...I can handle whatever the Decepticon's dish out. Optimus... can you promise me that?"

"I promise."

Optimus's intensity, his sincerity, it always baffled Mikaela. He gave her a warm smile and her face reddened, before Mearing spoke up, voice loud and demanding.

"Now, Lennox, why don't you let that poor Rya girl out of her cell?"

Lennox did.