The smell of disinfectant and alcohol filled her nose, as she gently dabbed the now humid cotton ball on the patients' laceration on their forearm. From what she was told, the person had accidentally cut themselves with a hatchet whilst doing something in their garden. Once she finished cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing and wrapping the wound, she sent the person off but not without telling them how to properly treat the wound and commenting that they should be more careful next time.
Exiting the room and she walks down the long hallways of the hospital with nurses in every corner she went. She arrives in a room where many pale green lockers reside and a couple of nurses occupying the semi-empty room. Lucy walks over to her locker, unlocking the padlock with a combination of numbers, and then she grabs hold of her small ebony backpack that contained all of her belongs. Closing the locker, clicking the padlock shut before exiting the room.
Looking down at her watch, it was nine o'clock and her ride back to base should arrive at any moment. Then someone calls her name and she raises her gaze to see Nurse Darby.
"Leaving already?"
She nods. "Yeah, I just finished attending my last patient for the night."
June hums in thought. "So who's going to pick you then?"
Lucy thinks for a moment and rests her fingers on her chin. "Not too sure…" she trails off not noticing June leaning over.
"I bet it's going to be Ratchet. ~" she cooed playfully and watches in amusement as Lucy's face instantly flushes.
"I-I…um…"
June pats her shoulder reassuringly. "Now, now there's nothing to be ashamed of." This only made her redder as it is.
Lucy stared fixedly at the floor and found it much more interesting, silently admiring the whitish marble floors. She suddenly felt the fabric underneath her uniform warm up it was her necklace and which meant one of the Autobots were nearby. Raising her head and notices a familiar tall male with his blue hair slicked back.
"Optimus…?" she breathed out; surprised to see him standing there.
June turns around to see the leader of the Autobots approaching them in his holoform. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. How was this even possible? There so many questions running through her mind and she simply couldn't get her eyes off of him. He looked so…attractive.
June blinks. "…Op…timus?"
He turns his gaze down to June in acknowledgment. "June."
She looks over at Lucy in disbelief. "When did this—"
"Happen?" Lucy finished her sentence. "They always had them implemented into their system but it was only a prototype until a couple of months ago."
Lucy walks over to Optimus and smiles directly at June. "Pretty neat, huh?" June nods slowly.
"The only ones using them are Optimus," she gestured her hand towards him. "And Ratchet."
She pivoted so that her back was now facing June, and lifted her hand to wave at the nurse. "We better get going, take care June!"
They both left the hospital and were now driving down the dark and empty road of Jasper.
Lucy turns her head to stare at Optimus. "How's the energon search going?"
"It hasn't been easy. I managed to gather a single energon crystal in a subterranean energon deposit." He glances over at her and then looks back towards the road. "Well, what was left of it."
She gently pokes his arm making him turn his attention to her with a look of surprise. "It's a start, you know? I'm sure you'll find plenty more energon mines sooner than later."
…
…
…
Optimus rolled to a stop once he reached the main room of the base. Lucy hopped off the passenger seat and was now holding an energon crystal. She took a step back allowing him to transform.
"This crystal is lighter than I expected it to be…" she trails off turning her attention towards the other Autobots gathering and, for some reason, cautious.
"Is something wrong?" Optimus asked them.
Arcee exchanges a quick glance over at Bulkhead and then back at Optimus. "We were just… wondering where you've been."
"We haven't been able to reach you." Bulkhead said.
Lucy steps forward. "Of course you haven't!" their attention was now on her. "He was telling me that he's been at an underground energon site - - and here's the proof." She holds out the energon crystal from her grasp and they immediately looked frightened especially Ratchet.
She raises her right hand and shows them that she had a rubber glove. "Safety first, right?" they all shared a look of relief.
Lucy and Optimus look at each other with a look of confusion.
"Um… will someone please tell us what happened? Why are you all so suspicious of Optimus?" she looked over at agent Fowler and noticed that he too looked quite tense.
"Because I was attacked earlier tonight out on the open highway by a big rig - - one that bore a striking resemblance to you." Fowler locked eyes with Optimus.
"Whoever it was ran me over too." Added Arcee.
Lucy furrowed her brows. "Wha—what?! That's awful!"
Just then Agent Fowler receives a phone call, turns away, and then answers it. That's odd. How can he receive a call from inside the base? That is a question that will remain a forever mystery to her.
"What?! That's not possible. I can tell you sure as there are 50 stars on my star-spangled shorts it isn't him." He pivoted to face Optimus and then hangs up the phone to inform them about an attack by Optimus Prime in Alden military base.
Jack looks over to Fowler. "The truck?"
"The 'bot."
…
…
…
Agent Fowler was once again on the phone arguing with the general and stated that Optimus didn't attack their guys. Yet the general on the other end of the line wasn't convinced in the very slightest, and then Fowler hesitantly agreed before hanging up the phone.
"So, what's the damage?" Jack asks with his arms folded in front of his chest.
Fowler sighs deeply. "All military personnel are under strict orders to destroy any and all 'bots on sight."
All three teens were in disbelief and visibly upset about the news claiming that Optimus is innocent. Lucy too shared her disapproval towards the militaries orders and noted that everything that has happened between the false Prime was all uncalled-for.
"Though unfortunate, the military order changes nothing. Our imposter clearly poses a grave threat to humanity." Optimus expresses his concern and his optics glances over to Lucy before averting back to Fowler.
"A 30-foot-tall transforming imposter." Fowler stated.
The team realizes that MECH was the one responsible for this mess and even mentioning, to their displeasure, had finally succeeded in replicating Cybertronians.
"And say hello to Nemesis Prime." Miko dubbed the false Prime with enthusiasm in her voice.
Lucy was staring with a deadpan look on her face directly at Miko. "Nemesis…Prime?" Miko turns her head to face Lucy and gave her a sheepish smile.
Agent Fowler rests his hands on the railing. "So, where do we start? MECH's base could be anywhere."
"Not necessarily. While MECH may have learned much of our biology…" Optimus trails off and then Ratchet finished his sentence.
"They haven't necessarily absorbed our technology." Ratchet steps forwards to press a couple of buttons on the main control panel where it displayed the false Prime's previous sightings. "Without access to a ground bridge, Nemesis Prime would rely solely on its vehicle mode for transportation."
"Chances are the MECH base is within driving distance of both incidents." Arcee said and was now standing right beside the Prime.
However, Fowler was adamant to put a stop MECH's plan. "What are we waiting for? Let's get out there and mash MECH's little science project."
"Agent Fowler, I do not think it advisable to put yourself in harm's way of MECH's robot again." Optimus stated.
Fowler repeated the Primes sentence but in his own way. "Well, I'm not sure it's advisable for 'bots to be running recon with the military out there gunning for you." He folds his arms in front of his chest.
"We will maintain vehicular cover until absolutely necessary." Optimus said firmly earning a frown from Agent Fowler.
The 'bots fan out and they began their search for MECH's base of operations and Bumblebee, found a large abandoned complex. However, the young scout stumbles upon Optimus and is briefly fooled before the faker couldn't even understand him. He took action and attacked the imposter but is quickly overpowered by the much larger 'bot and was knocked unconscious.
Back at the base, Lucy was sitting on a chair by the smaller monitors when suddenly she grasps the fabric of her pants and was now staring fixedly at the floor. Something didn't feel right and she was hardly paying attention to the conversation.
Ratchet was attempting to isolate the control frequency of Nemesis Prime to pinpoint the location of its operator. The monitor beeps and he exclaims causing Lucy to snap her out of the trance she was in.
"Frequency Isolated."
Fowler unfolds his arms. "Then reopen that bridge." He gestured his index finger towards the ground bridge.
Ratchet was taken aback by Fowler's request. "Agent Fowler, did you not hear Optimus advise against your involvement? It's for your own safety." However, Fowler was pretty insisting on going.
"Look, doc, I don't plan on dancing with any 'bots, but there's a human element in play here, and in case you haven't noticed, I happen to be a highly trained, government-grade human."
Lucy stood up from the chair and steps forward resting her hands on the railing. She had to go with him - - she had to!
"I'm going too." She declared earning quite a few shocked faces from them especially from Ratchet who looked absolutely horrified.
"Absolutely not!" Ratchet expressed his disapproval towards her involvement but she refused to take 'no' for an answer.
"Ratchet, please - - hear me out. I'm asking you to allow me to accompany Fowler out on the field. I promise not to get involved with any of the fights between Cybertronian and Nemesis Prime."
Ratchet stared at her for what felt like forever until finally, he gave in, sighing deeply. "Fine - - BUT at the first sign of trouble I will bridge you straight back." He gestured his index finger at her.
She nods. "I understand."
Ratchet typed in the coordinates and opened the ground bridge allowing Lucy and Agent Fowler to head straight towards the compound. She was the first to step out of the vortex with Agent Fowler right behind her and she could hear him gagging.
She approaches him and rests her hand on his shoulder. "You all right?"
He gave her a curt nod and managed to find his voice after his little gag fest. "I think I'm gonna toss the breakfast I ate back in flight school."
*CLANG*
They looked over to see Optimus smacking his back against a wall and engaged a game of tug of war with Nemesis Prime…well, reverse tug of war. Instead of pulling the rope they're pushing each other until either one of them tumbled it appears that neither of them was backing down. Then Fowler's phone rang and picked it up, it was Ratchet and he instructed Fowler that the location was 100 meters due north. They turned around and saw the building which was guarded by MECH soldiers on the roof.
There was an explosion down below and the soldier used his binoculars to see and then felt a tap on his shoulder. He looks over and was instantly greeted by Fowler's fists which knocked him unconscious. Fowler opened a nearby hatch and went in first, Lucy was going to follow right behind but he stopped her.
"I want you to stay out here, it's for your own safety." She crosses her arms with a displeased look on her face. "Look - - things could get real dirty down here and I don't want you getting mixed up in the fight. If you do, doc wouldn't be happy about it."
Lucy sighs in defeat. "Fine - - just be careful down there, all right?" he gave her a curt nod and closes the hatch.
'So much for being useful to the team.' She huffs and turns around to watch the fight between Optimus and Nemesis.
Both of them were on each other's necks and at one point the Prime was on his knees while the Silas was talking to him through the doppelganger. He was gloating, commenting about his skills were equal to him. The battle continued on and Optimus was once again on his knees and Nemesis Prime was ready to strike directly at his head, when all of a sudden, his arm was unusable. It was suspended in mid-air and had a blue aura surrounding his arm. Nemesis frantically looked around until he looks over his shoulder and saw Lucy with her arm outstretched and the palm of her hand was emitting a blue aura which was holding his arm in place.
Silas was staring at the screen in pure shock if only she could see the look on his face. He gripped the controls tightly; his lips were quivering while mumbling under his breath. "How's that even possible…?" the look of shock was soon replaced with anger and he soon shouted directly at her. "YOU - - HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!"
Lucy blinked, surprised at his choice of words. He wasn't done talking just yet.
"YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN DEAD WITH THE REST OF THEM!" Wha—what on earth does he mean by that?!
Before Silas could even say another word, Optimus rammed his fist on Nemesis's face making him stumble back. Lucy sprinted and was now on the other side of the compound watching as Nemesis and Optimus climb on the roof, not realizing that they were standing on the bunker where Silas was currently occupying.
Both summoned their blades and began a heated fight and, to her horror, Optimus was impaled to the side by Nemesis/Silas.
"OPTIMUS!" She instantly covers her mouth with both hands.
Optimus turns his helm to the side, his optics landing on Lucy. "…Lu…cy…" his voice was filled with pain which made her feel much worse.
Nemesis turns his helm to stare at Lucy. "How touching. So you really care about him don't you, girl?" he looks back down at Optimus, the Prime was practically trembling from the pain. "But you know what the key difference between you and me is?" Optimus glares up at Nemesis. "My body can't feel pain!"
He slashed Optimus's side once again earning a painful groan from the Prime before falling down on his knees.
"This is just the beginning. Imagine an army of transforming robots." Nemesis raises his blade up high preparing to strike. "No one will stand against the newly rebooted MECH."
Then there was a long pause. Nemesis was just standing there - - motionless. It didn't seem like he was attacking anytime soon. This gave Optimus enough time to fully recover and stood up, swinging his fist at Nemesis who somehow regain some movement. Yet, Optimus had the upper hand and was pounding the doppelganger into a bloody pulp, dominating the directionless-copy. Nemesis's body fell and Optimus finished it off with one powerful blow causing the roof to cave in on itself, sending Nemesis along with tons of rubble down inside the bunker.
"Agent Fowler?" Optimus looks down at the bunker revealing the main operation of MECH.
The sounds of helicopters in the distance can be heard and Optimus turns slightly to the side to stare at the upcoming vehicles from afar.
"That would be our boys." Fowler chimed in and folds his arms in front of his chest, a smile appearing on his lips. "I advise you to get back to base, Prime and don't forget to take Lucy with you. I'll handle uncle Sam."
…
…
…
The next day it was a late afternoon in Jasper, all the 'bots were present in the main room. Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Arcee and the three teens were huddled in on a corner talking about their experience in fighting against a copy-cat of Optimus Prime. While Lucy was sat on a chair where the smaller sized monitor was and was farther away from the rest of the group.
She's been detaching herself from the orders since her return from the compound that night. What Silas said to her really got her thinking for the rest of the night. She hadn't even met the guy until that very same night! And yet, why do his words unsettle her so much? You should've been dead with the rest of them… She didn't understand.
"The question still remains whether MECH will continue to function as we know it without its leader." Optimus said lowering his left arm after Ratchet finished sealing the wound.
"Well, here's the kicker." Fowler's voice could be heard and they all turned their head up to the monitor. "We sifted through the wreckage with a fine-tooth comb…and couldn't find any trace of Silas."
This was troubling news indeed. Silas was still out there but judging by what Optimus had told her, he could be in critical condition after having the doppelganger and tons of pieces of the roof fall on him. It would seem like they won't be seeing him for a while…for now.