Yes, this is long overdue. I have no good excuse for my long absence, and cannot promise I won't disappear again after this. But I want to finish Revealing Secrets and Human Experiment, and although progress continues to be slow, it does exist.

Thank you, readers, for your endless patience, constant support and continued love for this story, as well as your wonderful reviews. They never fail to lift my spirits.

DISCLAIMER: I do no own Transformers. If I did, Michael Bay would have been fired long before now.

Chapter Thirty Eight

In the End

"Simmons, I must speak with you."

Looking up at the massive blue and red Autobot, the man sighed. Judging by the mech's tone, he was not going to be pleased by this conversation. "What is it, Prime?"

"Galloway is determined to take Katrina into government custody. I need your help in preventing this."

The man spread his hands. "How do you want me to solve that problem?"

"Family can intervene," Prime said, his blue optics locked on the man's eyes, daring him to look away or deny it.

How the mech had learned of the relation, Simmons did not know, and it did not really matter. He shrugged at the mech. "I already plan to ask her to live with me, Prime, but I highly doubt the kid will agree to it."

"If Galloway pushes, you will need to push back. I cannot help with this, he has every law on his side to do what he wishes with the child, save for family rights. Are you up to this task, Simmons?"

The man folded his arms. "Look, Prime, I climbed a damn pyramid and shot down a gigantic Decepticon to help your cause. I think I can handle one government agent."

Prime refrained from pointing out that the shot had been made by an experimental military weapon, not the man himself. Simmons had been instrumental in the Fallen's defeat, however indirectly. The Fallen had been vanquished, twice now, if the reports from the rescue team were true, and the more immediate issue was a young human girl's right to remain with the people she loved, be they human or mech. "In that case, come with me. Katrina should awaken soon and Galloway will be after her immediately. Intervention will be necessary." Prime smiled slightly. "I thank you, Simmons."

"For what? Family is family." Simmons thought of his little meat shop in New York wistfully. No doubt his mother was running the place with an iron fist in his absence. He missed being there. Sure, it wasn't the most glamorous job in the world, but it beat getting shot at by giant alien robots. He also had free time in the evenings to write, and a new idea for a book was beginning to form in his mind. Not one of those books on conspiracy theories that he had written before without much response from publishers or the general public, but a book that featured him as the hero, saving the day.

"Simmons." The mech's gentle rebuke brought the man back to the present, and he hurried after Optimus, wondering what he was about to get himself into. Granted, he had never enjoyed the idea of babysitting and the thought of long-term childcare made him shudder, but the alternative could be much worse, at least for the kid. There were still secrets about S7, ones that Simmons hoped Prime never learned of, or the mech might change his mind about the human race, particularly the government currently trying to take into custody a child with unfathomable power.

The bright white ceiling of medbay met Katrina's eyes as they flickered open, and was almost immediately blocked by a close-up view of Sam Witwicky's face. His eyes dark with concern, he peered closely at her, as though almost unwilling to believe she was really lying there. A slight smile appeared once he had confirmed she had awoken.

"Welcome back to the world of the living." He leaned back, remembering her dislike for close contact. "You've been out for quite a while."

Is this a dream? No, the dull ache of her many injuries told her she had truly awoken. "Barricade?" Katrina murmured through a long yawn.

"In the brig right now-" Sam held up his hands when alarm passed across the girl's face. "Don't worry, it's only because Ratchet didn't want him hovering while he worked on the injured 'Bots, since some of them aren't really friendly when it comes to ex-Cons, Neutral or not."

Katrina winced. "Who got hurt?" She could remember very little of what had happened last time she had been conscious, just blurry images mixed with sound and flashes of light. Barricade had been there, and Jazz, maybe? Something had happened, it nagged at her, but Sam's voice pulled the girl back to the present for the time being.

"Arcee got hit the worst. They didn't think she'd make it at first. But Ratchet says she's stable now. You are too, by the way, apparently you were banged up pretty badly when you got here, but they had people waiting to help you. Ratchet insisted that you be kept in the medbay, though, instead of the human hospital. Prime's orders."

Katrina nodded, grimacing as even the little bit of movement. "Could I have something to drink?" Her throat felt like she had swallowed sand.

Sam produced a glass of water with a straw floating in it. He held it while she drank, which would have normally annoyed the girl but she felt too weak to wrap her fingers around the glass. Once she had had enough, she pulled away and the teen placed the cup back on the nightstand. Her surroundings were becoming clearer. This was definitely Ratchet's medbay, the bed she sat in, nightstand and Sam's chair all sitting in the center of a large examination table, one of several spread across the room. Most of the others were surrounded by curtains, providing privacy to the patients resting inside. Katrina counted them and winced. She did not know the exact number of mechs currently on the base, but it looked like quite a few of them had been hurt, and hurt badly, to be resting in the medbay rather than their own quarters.

"Does..." Katrina swallowed. "Does anyone need my help?" Whether she could activate her power in her current state, she could not tell, but if it was possible to help, she wanted to.

"I think you better wait for Ratchet to get back before you start running around," Sam replied. "And no one was hurt so badly that they need a quick zap. We didn't even lose anyone this time. Arcee came close, you remember how she can split into three parts?"

Katrina shook her head, brain still hazy from sleep and pain medication. "What happened?"

"I think two parts were destroyed, partially or completely, and her main frame became badly damaged. The twins will probably tease her about being a mini-Bot for a while. At least she's alive." A slight frown passed across Sam's face and he made an unconscious move toward his face, which Katrina suddenly realized was badly bruised, one cheek swollen. How had she missed that before?

"Are you okay?"

Sam chuckled. "Better than you are. Megatron shot me, but the Primes brought me back." His eyes brightened with something akin to awe. "It was amazing. And terrifying."

"Did that have to do with Prime's death?" Katrina tried to remember what her guardians had said, but being at her secluded home, hearing about Prime's death from Prowl, seemed so long ago it was almost like a dream.

Sam nodded. "I can tell you the entire story, but that will have to wait until later. Ratchet said I should let him know as soon as you wake up so-"

"Witwicky! What are you doing here?"

I know that voice. Katrina froze, heart rate accelerating and eyes widening with terror. "Sam, who is that?" The question slipped out, her voice quavering, though she already knew the answer.

Sam glanced toward the floor near the door, where the human entrance was located. Galloway and two aides were making their way toward the examination table and the liaison did not look pleased. However, neither did the girl – in fact, she looked terrified.

"It's Galloway," he murmured, then raised his voice in response to the liaison's question. "I'm visiting my friend Katrina. What are you doing here?"

"I am the government liaison between the Autobots and the American government," Galloway snapped. "Which puts that girl under my protection, and makes it more than possible for me to throw you off this base as soon as I see fit. Understand, kid?"

Sam bristled, but didn't respond, instead folding his arms and waiting for the man to climb up the ladder. Somewhat red-faced, the liaison paused at the top to straighten his suit, then stalked over to the hospital bed.

"Witwicky, please remove yourself from this room."

"No." The teen leaned back in his chair and smirked at the man. "I'm staying right here. Oh, and if your goons want to try to throw me out, feel free to bring down Ratchet's wrath upon you."

"I am not afraid of that blustering medic," Galloway retorted, but he made no further move to get rid of Sam, instead ignoring the teen and turning to the girl on the bed. "Hello, Katrina. How are you feeling?"

"I'd feel better if you weren't here," she spat, glaring at him. "Stay away from me."

"That is not the appropriate way to speak to a government official. You had better be pleasant to me, or you may find yourself in far less comfortable accommodations."

"You do not threaten a patient in my presence." Ratchet stormed out of the back room, where he had apparently been the entire time. Some half-mangled metal part dangled from his fingers while he shook what appeared to be a giant wrench in the liaison's direction. "Get out of here right now, Galloway, and let the girl rest."

Galloway pulled himself up to his full height. "I am afraid that I must insist she be moved to the human facilities immediately, for eventual release into government custody."

"No," Katrina whimpered, shrinking back against her pillow. "Don't let him take me, please, don't let him take me."

"No one is taking anyone anywhere," Ratchet said firmly. "Not in my medbay."

"I could you have thrown in the brig," Galloway shouted.

"No." Prime's voice came from the medbay door, which had opened without notice during the growing argument. "My Autobots are under my command, and the only human authorized to brig my mechs is Major Lennox, because I trust his judgment. You overstep your boundaries, Galloway."

"You do not command me, Prime, my orders come straight from the President."

"Yes, they do," Prime said. "And so this one has." He held out his hand, pulling a paper from subspace as he did so. It seemed so small on his finger, but Galloway snatched it and scanned the document at once, eyes narrowing, then widening.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Your assistance is no longer required," Prime said. "I believe it explains everything there. Recent light into your past has revealed certain incidents that preclude you from being eligible as liaison for any longer. You have twenty four hours to get off my base, after which I have express permission to use whatever force is necessary to remove your presence."

Katrina watched the interaction, unsure what to think. Am I safe? Is he leaving for good?

"I will depart at once," Galloway said. "But not without the girl."

"Actually, you can't take her with you." Simmons reached the top of the stairs, which he had been steadily climbing during the discussion. Arms folded, he smirked at Galloway. "Seeing as she's my niece, you don't have the authority."

"You-you..." Galloway glared at Simmons, then beckoned his aides and stormed toward the stairs. "You won't hear the end of this, Prime. I will be back."

"I highly doubt it, considering where your next assignment is," Prime murmured too quietly for the man to hear. He turned to the examination table and offered Katrina a nod. "Greetings, Katrina. How are you feeling?"

"I-I..." Katrina was at a loss for words. "Is Galloway really gone?"

"Yes he is," Prime said. "After his behavior during the Giza incident, the president decided to remove his liaison status, and find another to take his place. Until then, I have been put in charge of the entire base, human and Autobot alike. Which means both you and Barricade are free to stay as long as you want."

"If I'm adopting her, do I have to take the Decepticon, too?" Simmons asked.

"He's not a 'Con anymore," Katrina protested. "And who said I wanted to be adopted by you?"

"It's a lot better deal than letting the government get their hands on you, kid. Besides, I'd make a great parent."

Sam snorted before he could stop himself, but managed to keep a straight face when Simmon glanced his way. The man turned back to Katrina.

"I have a nice little apartment in New York, above the meat shop my family runs. You'll have your own room and there's a decent school nearby, and if you want to earn some money after school you can work in the shop for a few hours. As long as you get your homework done, of course."

"What about Barricade?" Katrina's voice grew firm. "I won't go there without Barricade."

Simmons groaned. "Is that really necessary? Wouldn't he be happier here?"

"As a former Decepticon, among Autobots?" Prime shook his head. "He would not fit in, and would not enjoy it here at all. I would not ask him to stay, nor could I force him."

Ratchet nodded. "He is a guardian, and that is not a bond to be taken lightly. If he were to remain separated from Katrina for a long period of time, it would be detrimental for his spark." He looked down at Katrina. "As for you, I must speak with you, later, but before you leave. There are things we must discuss."

Is this about the AllSpark's power? Katrina resisted the urge to ask the question out loud, and simply nodded in reply.

"I have passed on the order for Barricade to be released and brought here," Prime said. "Simmons, you will have to remain here until Katrina can travel. I hope this will not inconvenience you."

"My mother can run the shop while I'm not there," Simmons said. "Call it a vacation. There's a beach around here somewhere, right?"

Sam rolled his eyes and turned to Katrina. "I better get going. Get some rest. I'll stop by later, okay?"

Katrina nodded. Sam was so nice, she almost wished she could go back to living at his house. His parents had been kind to her as well. She doubted that would be possible, though. Still, his brotherly friendliness was comforting, and she offered him a smile before he turned away and headed down the stairs. Only to be met by a soldier running in the opposite direction.

"Prime, you need to see this," he panted, waving an iPad in the air. "All of you, take a look at this."

"Epps, what is it?"

"Not good, man, not good. Lennox sent me as soon as I told him but..." The man turned his iPad so everyone could see. Prime's face filled the majority of the screen, with a few of his higher command in the corners – Ironhide, Ratchet, Prowl. The last corner held Lennox's head and torso, hand raised in a salute. Currently the video was paused, but Epps tapped the play symbol and the playback began.

"...living in secret for the past few years. The government has chosen now to reveal the existence of these Autobots, in the hopes that we might forge a lasting friendship between the human race and an alien race in need of a home. Already, there are humans living in peace with the Autobots, not only soldiers, but a child as well." The Autobots' images were suddenly replaced by a picture of Katrina, wearing a bright, fake smile. The photo was old, and Katrina shrank back, remembering when – and where – it had been taken.

"Although her name cannot be released, due to security reasons, this brave little girl has taken the first step, offering her hand in friendship to the Autobots and welcoming them to our planet. It is the President's hope that we might all extend such a hand, and welcome home some travel-weary aliens. More information will be released..."

Epps muted the video. "This is bad, Prime."

"It is good," Prime said. "In part. I am pleased that the President has finally agreed to let us make ourselves known to the world, although I would have preferred to have a part in the initial release."

"This is all Galloway's doing," Epps said. "A lot of people are going to be mad about this, Prime. There could be riots, or mobs of people screaming that the aliens are going to dissect us. You know how people are, you've been here long enough to get some sense of that. Besides, what about the kid?" He nodded toward Katrina. "Her face got plastered all over every news screen in the US."

Prime shook his head. "I may be pleased with the decision to make our presence public, but I will be speaking with our liaison, as soon as he or she arrives, about their methods of revealing."

Epps sighed. "Anyway, Lennox thought you should know about this. I'm going to call a reporter I know, he usually does things on army and war, but this is a scoop he couldn't resist. I trust him, as far as you can trust a man who writes stories for a living. Would you mind speaking with him?"

"Not at all," Prime replied. "Let me know when he is available. Katrina, I apologize for this... Katrina?"

The girl's face had turned white, and her hands were curled into the blankets. "What am I going to do? Everyone will know who I am now. They'll know where I am."

"Who will?" Prime asked.

She simply shook her head in reply.

Simmons walked over and rested a hand gently on her shoulder, mindful of the bandages. "Don't worry, kid. No one messes with my family, I promise you that. Anyone with a grudge against what you did, deals with me first."

"What she did?" Sam frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"That's classified," Simmons replied. "Now, don't you have a girlfriend to go make out with?"

"She dumped me."

"Ouch." Simmons grimaced. "Take some advice from me, son, and forget about the dating thing. Some men were meant to be alone in the world. Take me, for instance."

Sam rolled his eyes.

"Perhaps this conversation could be taken elsewhere, so my patient can rest," Ratchet said, shooing them off the examination table. "Prime, go deal with the government and let me work in peace."

"May Barricade come in when he arrives?" Prime asked.

"As long as he isn't disturbing me or my patients, sure. Otherwise, I don't want him anywhere near this place. You, girl, get some rest. Doctor's orders."

Katrina obediently closed her eyes, although her mind was racing too much to sleep at the moment. Galloway's last sting had not been as bad as it could have been, but did Simmons really understand just how many people might be after her blood? She had caused so much destruction. To be honest, she was somewhat surprised the liaison hadn't had her taken away and thrown in the human's version of a brig. Perhaps he had been going to before Prime brought the orders for his transfer. At least he was gone now, and Barricade was on his way. Simmons might not be happy about the arrangement, but Katrina would be living with her guardian no matter what, so if the man didn't want to former Decepticon around, then she wasn't going to be around, either.