Celia sat in the storage room, mediating between Starscream, Skyfire, Ratchet and Wheeljack.
She didn't understand half the science, but she turned out to be great at calming the situation, getting them working together.
"This is the final test," Wheeljack informed them all, "We need to pick who is going through."
Starscream scoffed, "Send that minibot Cliffjumper. He's disposable."
"I suggest we bring everyone here and we take a vote on who goes. There is a chance this test may fail," Skyfire pointed out, "Optimus would prefer a volunteer rather than force a mech though."
Celia leaned back, yelled, "Ravage: come. All mechs to the lab! I repeat, all mechs to the lab!"
Her cat arrived first, leaping onto her shoulder, then head-butting her cheek.
Celia rubbed Ravage's chin, the purr growing louder.
In two minutes all the Cybertronians were gathered around the device.
She was asked to step outside the door, just in case the range of the device hiccuped and brought more along for the ride than intended.
Their discussions took place via comms based on the gestures and lack of audible speeches.
In the end, Omega Supreme offered to be the first to return home.
They pulled back from the spot they designated as the return point, leaving Omega Supreme to stand there.
Wheeljack counted down, his head fins flashing with hope, before he pressed the button.
There was no flash or pomp. One moment Omega Supreme stood there full of life, then the next the toy crashed to the floor.
Ratchet hurried over, checked, then declared, "All components are that of the other toys."
Wheeljack took a cord out and plugged it into his wrist, reviewed something.
"Yes! He's onlining over there," Wheeljack grinned as he unplugged, "Successful teleportation."
Ratchet took the cord, plugged in then vented a sigh, "First Aid is getting him up. Sounds like he's a little dizzy but all there."
The combined cheers sent a spike of sadness through her.
They'd go home and she'd be here without any sign they had been real, but for her memories.
Yet with every door that closes, another opens.
The packed items downstairs were part of that other door.
The instant they were home, she was leaving to find her real place in the world.
Like the story of the frog in the slowly heating water, she didn't hop out with the heat, instead growing use the oncoming scorching end without attempting to flee.
The arrival of the mechs jolted her into leaping out and finding it much more comfortable outside the boiling pot than to perish inside it.
She frowned as she heard what sounded like a moving truck come to a halt outside her home.
New neighbors?
When was the last time she even spoke to her neighbors?
"Celia?"
She turned back to Optimus Prime, "Yes?"
"I want you to leave this house tonight," he stated firmly, "Please."
Celia inhaled, then heard a knock at the front door.
Before she could either respond to Optimus or decide to stand, she heard Annie's voice, "Celia, it's Annie."
The guilt in Optimus' posture made her equally irritated and touched.
She called back, "Coming," then lowered her voice, "Jazz's plan?"
"Autobot plan," he clarified, though she heard a small smile in his voice.
Standing, she shook a finger at him, "A bit too underhanded there. Jazz's plan."
She strode to the front door, unlocked it and opened it, started with, "Annie…"
All of the girls stood there, in clothes which looked like at the end of their days. The type of clothes you wore to help someone move.
Annie sped through a phrase so fast, Celia shook her head and asked, "Please don't channel Blurr. Maybe Bluestreak instead?"
"I got a call which showed me what Tyler's been doing to you. Please just get your things and we'll move you out now."
Celia fought tears at the determined looks on all the faces before her, then nodded, "As soon as my acquaintances have gone home."
Then the worse thing happened.
Skywarp teleported in front of her face, did the forehead to forehelm thing and squealed in delight.
Annie looked less flummoxed than the others who gasped.
Celia narrowed her eyes, then asked, "The Autobots called you, didn't they?"
She nodded, then stated in a soft whisper, "I threatened Optimus Prime with my chains."
A glance down confirmed Annie wore her belt with chains decoratively hanging from it. The chains were easily detached, Celia recalled.
Celia moved back, "Please come inside," she ignored the seeker clutching her face.
They all shuffled in and she closed the door.
Moving to the storage closet she looked down at Optimus Prime.
He looked back with tranquility.
Her fellow fans chatted with them all, asking questions excitedly.
Optimus gave the impression of being at peace with the situation.
"Thanks," she said simply, "How soon until you all go home?"
"A few minutes," Wheeljack calibrated something, "I've set the range for this room, so as long as we all are here we go as one group."
She nodded, turned, then directed the girls downstairs, "There are five boxes downstairs next to the door. It's all I need besides Ravage and my computer."
The girls marched downstairs, eyes lingering on the mechs in the closet.
Skywarp looked sharply at Thundercracker then gave an exaggerated sigh, "Fine!"
He hovered into the air, pouting.
The warble was followed by, "You make a better Decepticon than most."
She smiled, "I'd probably be too much of a good thing."
The mechs gathered around the device as she made sure to stand outside the doorway by three paces.
Pained shot through her head and she couldn't stop herself as her legs collapsed under her, her world fading to black.