Chapter 58 – Passing the Test…

OC P.O.V

There was a collective gasp in the room from Autobot and human alike as their minds reeled to process this information. ''No fucking way!'' Lennox and Epps echoed.

Lennox continued, ''Seriously Prime, where is she? Is she ok?'' He started to walk towards us, determined to learn the truth. Epps was close behind him.

Jazz and Ironhide were the first to move towards me from the Autobots, they had not spoken yet, their optics scanning my figure. Bumblebee, Arcee, Sideswipe, Jolt and the twins remained rooted to the spot, as if unsure of what to do.

''That's some crazy shit right there!'' I heard Skids mutter to Mudflap, and I felt my spark clench.

As Jazz and Ironhide came to stand before me I fixed them both with a determined stare, my brown and gold optics held both joy to see them again and not a little trepidation at the same time. It was a little unnerving but also somewhat empowering to be standing taller than they both were now. ''Hey guys, what's up? Apart from having your heads messed with and trying to get your processors around the fact that this strange femme standing before you is in fact me - OC.''

Jazz spoke first, ''OC? Is that really you lil' lady?'' He started to reach out a servo as if needing to have physical proof.

I grasped his shoulder strut. ''Yes Jazz, it is me!'' I laughed softly, ''though I'm not so little anymore. You might need to find a new nickname for me.'' He peered into my optics and a slow grin spread across his face.

''OC! By the Allspark, it is you!'' he also reached out and grabbed my arms as he looked me over. ''Damn girl! You grew up. And you grew up fine!'' I felt myself heat up and I looked away.

Prime interjected tersely and took a step closer towards me, ''Jazz! I'll thank you to refrain from such comments.'' I felt a new wave of heat course through me at Prime's protective tone.

Ironhide who had come to stand beside Jazz, also peered at me carefully. ''If you really are OC, then you'd know I was your first friend amongst the Autobots.'' Ironhide folded his arms across his barrel chest in mock triumph as he thought he had found a way to debunk this charade and cut through the bullshit.

I laughed out loud. The others had moved towards me slowly, gaining greater confidence. Prime and Rachet continued to stand silently behind me, allowing the others to decide for themselves. ''Oh Ironhide, what a pile of scrap that is!'' Everyone including 'ol Hide, gave a gasp. ''We detested each other; in fact, I would go so far as to say you were my first ''frenemy''. We loved to hate on each other''.

My optics held a warm regard as I continued, ''but one night down on the beach during a routine patrol, we came to an understanding and now, I am proud to call you one of my closest friends.'' Ironhide's expression was priceless as he moved from shock, to deliberation to acceptance and then to joy as he realised it was indeed me.

''OC! It truly is you. Welcome back,'' he stepped forward and gave me a rough whack on the shoulder, causing me to lurch forward slightly. ''Ah, sorry OC.''

''Don't mention it 'Hide, just glad you are happy to see me and, I don't know, kinda ''cool'' with this new me''. I smiled at him and then turned to look at the others.

Lennox and Epps had since approached and stood before me looking up. I knelt down to be closer to them. ''Hey Lennox, Epps. I know this is… difficult… to understand and accept but it truly is me, OC.''

Lennox and Epps stared at me long and hard for a moment, ''OC? Is it really you? I mean…. I THINK it's you… especially after what you said about Ironhide. What… what HAPPENED? How the hell did you end up looking like THAT?'' Lennox looked confused, hurt and curious all at once. The other Autobots had since gathered around closer. Curiosity, some fear and indecision mirrored in their optics too.

I sighed and turned to Rachet, ''How about it Doc? We tell them the story of how OC came to be a Transformer? It's a classic tale.''

Rachet sighed, ''Classic my aft! However, I guess we have reached the point where explanations are due.'' Rachet stepped forward to ensure he could be seen and heard. ''Well, what happened was…''

I interjected, ''No Rachet! You're meant to start with; Once Upon a time… or It was a dark and stormy night. That is much more interesting.'' I smiled at him teasingly.

''Yep. It's OC,'' Epps commented as he folded his arms across his chest. ''No mistaking that ''sense of humour,'' he shook his head at me.

I peered down at Epps, ''Seriously? THAT'S how you work out it's me? By my bad jokes? Just remember I can easily squish you now Epps, so watch it,'' Epps unfolded his arms and started to step back but I flashed him a smile to show I was joking, and he returned it, relaxing once again.

Rachet gave an audible and slightly exasperated sigh as he pinched the bridge of his ''nose.'' He looked up again and started once more, ''As I was saying,'' he turned pointedly towards me and continued, ''IT ALL HAPPENED when OC accidently found a piece of the Allspark back at Sam's place when she went to visit him and the others. She unwittingly picked it up to examine it when she found it laying on the kitchen bench after she had been out for a jog the morning Sam was due to leave for University. As she touched it, the sharp edge of the artifact cut into her palm and, as luck would have it, there must have been some energon residue on that piece of shard and it was transferred and absorbed into OC's bloodstream.'' Rachet paused at this point and looked about his captive audience to ensure everyone was up to speed. When no one spoke up he continued, ''OC might be best to carry on from here to explain what happened to her.''

I nodded and stood back up to my full height, eyes and optics following me. ''Well, I picked up the shard and I felt a burning sensation and surge of power unlike anything I have ever experienced tear through my body. I began to convulse and that's what caused me to close my palm around the shard and the jagged edges sliced into my hand. Fire seemed to race through my nerve endings, and I felt as though I was being burned from the inside out.'' I paused a moment and felt a light shudder pass through my frame at the recalled sensations. ''My lungs felt like they did not work anymore as air was forcibly expelled. Symbols, Cybertronian in nature, raced through my mind and danced across my eyes.''

''Where were Sam and Bumblebee while this was happening?'' Ironhide asked.

''Sam was battling half of the kitchen appliances as it turns out. When he dropped the shard, it seems like it ''transformed'' any electrical equipment into evil little mechs out to get Sam. I came home to find the kitchen upturned and the shard. I knew something was wrong.'' I turned to face Bee. ''Bee was in the garage until Sam called him out to help get rid of the creepy little shits, which he did in terrific style,'' I grinned at Bee and he whirred somewhat embarrassed.

''What happened then OC?'' Sideswipe asked. I raised an optical ridge at the use of my name. /Finally sinking in that it IS me?/.

''Well 'Sides, my head started to ache as it desperately tried to make sense of and ''store'' the images it was being fed at high speed. I also became aware of the fact I was bleeding as I brought my hand to my head as it ached. I could hear muffled sounds outside and removed my earbuds I had in my ears while jogging and realised the skirmish going on outside. I went out to use my powers to help and that's when.'' I paused again and looked at Rachet who nodded. /Here goes nothing/.

''What? When what happened? Don't leave us hangin'!'' Mudflap cried out, grabbing hold of his twins' arm and leaning forward.

I closed my optics and channelled my concentration on summoning the flames. All at once fire began to dance about my outstretched palms as I held them up in front of everyone. ''This happened.'' I turned away from the group and let of a small fireball on the ground nearby that did very little damage.

Everyone, including Prime, gasped and flinched at what I just did. ''Are you kidding me right now?'' Lennox screamed.

''Oh, hell no!'' Epps yelled, stepping back behind Lennox.

''Holy fragging hell! Sideswipe yelled, ''That is sick!'' as he slapped Arcee on the shoulder struts. Arcee glowered at him and returned stunned optics towards me.

''Oh, do it again, do it again!'' Mudflap and Skids chanted.

Bee beeped and whirred in a crazy manner ''Ah. Say. What. NOW!'' random words flicked through his radio.

Jolt and Ironhide looked stunned but refrained from saying anything.

Jazz whistled out loud, ''Damn girl, you really are on fire now! Talk about a ''hot'' femme,'' and he sniggered. I smiled at his innocent word play, Jazz and I had always got along well.

Prime took a threatening step towards his second and scowled at him, ''Jazz, if you make one more comment like that you will have ME to deal with!'' Prime obviously did not see the innocent side of it and Jazz silenced himself immediately. Prime turned his optics back to me, ''OC? Why didn't you tell me about this before?'' His tone held both reproach and hurt in equal measure.

I extinguished the flames in my servos and faced him. My optics held a silent apology. ''Prime, you had just been killed, resurrected, battled Megatron and killed the Fallen and gone through an extensive repair.'' I folded my arms across my chest. ''I think you had enough to deal with and I didn't think that quite made the list of ''important things Prime should have to deal with upon his return''. I stared at him in silent challenge.

Rachet spoke up again, 'She has a point Prime.''

Prime nodded curtly, and fixed me with a very serious stare, ''Very well. But from now on I want all changes to your abilities, health and wellbeing discussed with me before it is made public knowledge.''

''Of course, Prime,'' I unfolded my arms.

''So, now you can shoot fireballs as well as manipulate things with your mind AND you are a Transformer?'' Lennox's comment brought us back to the topic at hand.

''It would appear so Lennox, kinda cool hey?'' I smiled and shrugged.

Rachet spoke once again, ''Well we think it is cool. We still don't really understand the full ramifications of this change combined with OC's powers. Hopefully nothing serious will come of it.''

''Serious? Like what? Like when she in a bad mood we all gotta run for cover in case she set our afts on fire?'' Sideswipe piped up and sniggered.

''Like death,'' Rachet bluntly retorted. Sideswipe stilled.

''Rachet, surely OC has demonstrated her body has somehow managed to survive the transformation process and she is safe from harm?'' the worry and concern in Prime's voice was unmistakable and endearing.

''It would seem that way Prime, but we do not know how long the effects of this transformation will last. It could be days, months, years or forever. OC was not ''created'' a Transformer, she was an organic exposed to energon and miniscule amounts of our metal, Transformium, and CNA, or Cybertroniasknucleic acid, Transformer DNA, for want of a better term. It is unknown what the exact results of this process will be and when you throw in her powers….'' Rachet's voice trailed off.

The excitement and energy from earlier seemed to die off as the weight of what might happen, sunk in. I smiled brightly and clapped my servos together in an effort to change the mood, ''Hey everyone! Cheer up. It is a might and a very big one at that. I feel fine, best I have ever felt to be honest. Besides, I don't plan on living like I could die at any moment, and neither should you. Carpe Diem!''

The twins looked at me askance, ''The what now?''

''It's Latin for ''Seize the fish!'' I winked at them and they nodded slowly.

Prime shot me a ''look'' and corrected me, ''Actually Skids and Mudflap it is Latin but perhaps ''Seize the day'' is a more accurate translation.'' He shook his helm at me and allowed a smile to form on his dermas. ''And perhaps that is wise advice OC.'' Though his optics still held concern he pushed it aside. /No doubt there will be a discussion about this later/.

I nodded and gazed around the room at everyone. ''So,'' I asked, ''is there anyone who still does not believe it is me – OC?''

Everyone shook their heads and helms to indicate no, they all accepted it. I sighed out loud, 'Well that is awesome, 'cause I had no idea what I was going to do next to try and prove it!'' I laughed.

Rachet piped up again, ''Are there any questions?'' Mudflap and Skids raised their arms and made noises. ''Is there anyone else that has a question?'' Rachet ignored them.

''Well, that's rude!'' Skids muttered.

Prime turned his helm to the twins, ''Yes Skids, what is it you want to know?'' though I could tell Prime was trying to be inclusive, you could hear the slight exasperation in his tone.

''Thanks Prime. What we wanna know is, what does OC transform into?'' Skids asked.

''Yeah! What else can she do?'' Mudflap piped up too.

I turned to face Prime and Rachet and folded my arms across my chest and fixed a rather pointed look on my faceplates. ''Yeah Prime, what do I transform into?'' I asked.

''What, you mean you don't know?'' Sideswipe spoke up.

''What weapons do you have? Cannons, lasers?'' Ironhide interjected.

I simply raised my optical ridge as high as it would go, ''Yeah Prime, Rachet. What CAN I do and what weapons do I have?'' I challenged them. I felt a bit like a spoiled brat pushing for their way, but this was kind of important too. I needed to know about my own body. At the moment I kind of felt like an ''alien, alien''.

Prime cast me a quick look of thunder before he raised his servos asking for silence. ''Yes, it is true OC has not yet transformed nor has she had the opportunity to explore her abilities and new form.'' There was a slight murmur amongst the Autobots. ''Rachet and I both felt it in her best interests to ease into this transition and adapt to this change.'' I felt a bit of anger rising in me.

/I am not a fucking child!/, I thought with some growing irritation.

Lennox spoke up then, ''With all due respect Prime, if I had gone through what OC had gone through, I would damn sure want to know what I was in for and what my new body was capable of, if only to be able to protect myself and know my limits.''

''Yeah,'' Epps seconded. ''I wouldn't want to just sit around twiddling my thumbs, I'd want to be tearing that shit up!'' Some of the Autobots nodded their agreement and made comments supporting Lennox and Epps' comments.

Prime looked to Rachet silently conferring with his medic. Rachet nodded. Prime turned his helm back towards me, fixing me with a very serious gaze, though a small smile played on his dermas. ''Very well then. OC, time to run.''