Disclaimer: It's been kept secret for 10 chapters, but it's reached the point where Blake finally gets her truth as to what happened to her... sort of the truth. Not really clear, but some of it is figured out.

Also, hope the delay wasn't bad. I know it's usually a month per chapter, but I had trouble finding time to write this and figuring it out to begin it.

grapejuice101: Don't worry. There's no more cliffhangers. Though Blake had been thrown into unconsciousness three times, only the second and third time was it leading to cliffhangers.

I don't own Transformers.

"Speaking"

Thinking

Why do I have a habit of passing out all of a sudden? The world was dark again. The same, strange state that I found myself in the last time I was lost to the void. No sense of feeling, or of location. It sucks. This, and how I arrived there again. It was hard not to black out the sounds of panic I created upon losing consciousness, seeing Sam and Mikaela trying to keep me awake, and hearing Lennox shout for any form of medical aid. Hope they're not traumatized after this whole mess. As if the two needed that in addition to what already happened.

"... breathing... slow. Pulse is stable, but... signs of waking up?" Had I been able to move around, I would have stiffened at the voice. Soft, a whisper... just like the last time. Who is it this time? "Have you heard from her...?"

Heard from her, what? Were they talking about me, or someone else? Come on. Keep speaking. "They came and visited several hours ago. It took two nurses to... do you think she'll wake up?"

"It's... hard to say. Her injuries are healing, but her brainwaves are almost dead. If it wasn't for her heart, you'd think..." in the pitch black, I felt movement on my right, and the sensation of a hand against the side of my head. For the first time since I fell into the void, I felt warmth. Warmth and... fear. Wh-why was there fear? Think, what? What do you think? How badly was I hurt in Mission City? "Dr. Roberts? Can you step out for a moment?"

"O-of course. I'll wait for you in the hall." Faint thumps of footsteps, echoing within my ear. Roberts? I couldn't feel my own body, but I felt the sensation of a lump building in my throat. Worry building in my chest. I was scared, not because I had the massive barrel of a gun facing me, but because I had no clue what was going on. I need answers, please.

"... hey." Her voice was soft, gentle. Perhaps she could sense the concern swirling around me, even though I doubted my face portrayed any of it. "Listen, Blake... at this point, we've done all we can. It's all up to you now. You can stay, or..." the warmth appeared on my hand, and while I couldn't feel my fingers, I wanted to wrap around it. Cling to it for dear life. Don't go. Don't leave me here. What did they mean, all up to me? What's happening? "... sleep now. If you are ready, be sure to let us know."

White. It was... white. Not a bright, blinding light shining in my face, but a sad, white painted ceiling. White ceiling tiles, white walls, and a metal grey door off to the side. All that remained in the room with me, besides the bed I rested in with sterile sheets, was a wooden desk off to the side bearing a tall vase and golden flowers. It was windowless, and overall felt more of an asylum than a hospital. Is this a hospital? Where am I?

"I-err-ow..." my head was throbbing, but my vision had at last been cleared of blood and gauze. It still felt as if there was something wrapped around my head though, hiding what injuries I sustained in the explosion. "A-ahh..." grimacing, I pulled myself upwards, a brief but strong burst of pain striking my brain from the motion. "O-okay, we're... gonna take this nice and slow then." Would it have been a normal room, with windows and papers detailing medical reports, I might have not been so determined to get out there. But-even with the headache and aching arm, I... had to get out. I had to find Sam, Bee, and see that everyone was okay. Arm at least isn't in a sling, so I have that going for me. "One... two... three!"

Throwing the two sheets off my lap, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. "Wh-too fast!" Head rush and weak legs almost sent me to the floor until I grabbed the desk nearby for support. Knees bent and almost hitting the floor, I sighed against the wood. "Let's... let's try this again." There were no crutches, and no cane. All I had was a wall, trembling limbs, and a weak grip on reality. "Here we go."

One hand on the sterile wall, mentally imagining my nails digging into the wall to keep myself upright, I hobbled towards the door, taking pause to peer out of the small window. No one was around, no one was walking up and down the hallway. This is not a hospital. I gripped the knob, and gave it a twist. "... huh." No alarm. That was a good sign. "Now to find the others." Because if the location was not a hospital, but perhaps a military base, then Sam and Mikaela were bound to be around. Them, and the Autobots, because where else would one hide an operation like the one we found ourselves in not long ago?

Bee... Jazz... were they fine? The scout's legs were severed, and Jazz had that ugly gash across his chest. How much energon was lost? Could they fix wounds that intense? I had to know. "Easy now." I limped out of the room, supporting my weight against the wall as I trudged through the empty corridor. There were voices, coming from closed doors along the other side; the words were blurred by the barrier. Come on. There must be some sort of hanger around here.

There was a larger door on my side, after several minutes of wandering. A heavy metal door, with a lone soldier standing in front of it. The man turned towards the small window at eye level, checking whatever was happening on the other side. There. That was it. "Excuse me?"

He turned in my direction, and I had to hold back a raised brow at his face. I... I knew him. His name, I couldn't recall, but... but I knew this solider. What film was he in? His hair was aged with grey streaks, and wrinkles lined his face; I swore I knew him from somewhere. "Ms. Wile?" I nodded, approaching him. "Agent Burns." He held out his hand, and using the one not against the wall, gave a tentative shake. "The Autobots were wondering when you would be waking up."

"Are they alright? What about Sam? Where are-?" He held up a hand, silencing me and my rushed questions.

"Want that in order?" Too many at once. I nodded again, and he brought his hand back to his side. "Everyone's banged up, but they'll live. Last time I checked on the yellow one, his legs were attached to his torso." With that, I sighed, relieved. That was... good. Great. Everyone was fine. "Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Shouldn't someone be making certain that I didn't leave the room?" Agent Burns smirked at the question, and stepped to the side so I could enter the bay. "What about Lennox and Epps? Simmons? Where are they?"

"SecDef is having a conference with everyone involved and what the next course of action is. As for the kids themselves, they're inside speaking to the leader." Optimus. So that meant every Autobot was inside, possibly believing I was stuck in that comatose state. "Want me to tell Captain Lennox that you're up and about?"

"Unless they come looking for me, I'd prefer it'd be kept quiet." I planted a hand on the cool metal, and offered Burns one final look before pushing open the door and sliding into the new room. The idea of it being a bay was correct, after giving it a quick once-over and quietly closing the door behind me. The ceiling was tall, taller than the Prime himself, so it was perfect for them all to gather. The doors at the far end were open, revealing the miles of pavement built for takeoffs. Plane hanger then. A walkway hung overhead, circling around the room, and a large semi trailer was sitting off to the side. There, currently having Ratchet fuss over him, sat a slightly sparking Jazz. The other Bots stood behind him, and at the top of the walkway was-"Sam!"

Seven heads turned in my direction, and while not clear, I could tell Sam and Mikaela were smiling at the fact I was not passed out... again. "Blake!" Sam broke off from the group, his footfalls clanging against the metal above my head as he rushed to the ladder at the opposite end. "H-how are you feeling?"

"How do you think I'm feeling?" Trudging over to the steps, I placed a hand on the grooved footing and stared upwards. Huh. "... yeah, this isn't going to happen." The ground under my feet shook, and I looked around the ladder to see two large blue optics staring down at me, and an awaiting hand lowered to my level. "Heh... thanks, Bee." Nice to see you're doing well. Sliding onto the waiting palm, the scout lifted me upwards and allowed Sam to help me onto the platform. "What did I miss?"

"Well, you were asleep for two days." He took the moment to check my reaction. It wasn't shocking, given my recent history, so I didn't know what he expected to see. "We're in an air base not far from Mission City."

"Where's your parents?" He walked back to Mikaela, and I gripped both railings to carry myself behind him, sliding along at a slow pace.

"Not sure. I think they're trying to give them some excuse for, you know, storming onto the property and threatening everyone." That... wasn't going to go well. Not for the parents, no. For the agents. I hope Judy doesn't start up again. She really did come close to fighting Simmons when he started talking about our 'operation'. They were definitely part of a question that I wanted an answer to, but right now, there was bigger things to stress over.

"They're going to talk to my dad too." Mikaela brushed a loose strand of hair back behind her ear, leaning on the railing with a thoughtful, yet amused look. "Something about erasing his record."

"That's great." It was. It was rough, but things were starting to improve for the teen. "How are you feeling, Jazz?" The silver Bot perked up at his name, flashing a grin through the sparks flying from his mending wound. Is Ratchet fusing the metal closed, or is he applying a patch?

"Pretty good," he said, before giving a small wince. "Hey, easy there."

"Both of you should be resting," Ratchet grumbled, turning the torch off. "Didn't your physician say anything to you?"

"Was alone when I woke up. Wanted to see if you were still breathing." Well... whatever Bots did. "Are you guys staying on Earth, or do you have to go and find more members of your faction?" There were more. Many more, that did not make it to Earth. No doubt, it was the same for the Cons too. Would they be forced to leave-if that was even possible-and go look for them?

"With the Allspark gone, we cannot return life to our planet." Sam, Mikaela, and I turned our attention to Optimus. Unlike the others, his height managed to surpass the walkway by an entire Cybertronian head.

"Does that mean you're staying on Earth?" Sam asked, trying to hide his hopefulness. Bee, from what I recalled before passing out, said he wanted to stay with him. If that was the case, then wouldn't the same apply for the others?

"If your government allows it, we shall stay." I smiled at that, far more than seeing Bumblebee and Jazz in one piece. I wanted them to stay. Though, how that would work I wasn't sure. More good news... is someone staring at me? Glancing to the side, I saw Ratchet playing with the same scanner on his wrist that we saw days ago, giving a quick glance in my direction whilst doing so.

"Is something wrong, Ratchet?" A quirk of his brow, and I had half of his attention. Not all, since he kept looking to the data, but I had it.

"Nothing, it's just-these readings..." readings? "Humans do not normally emit radiation." It wasn't phrased as a question, but it certainly did suggest one.

"No," Sam said. "But from what Simmons did, I guess you guys rubbed off on us." Sam gave off radiation, possibly more than Mikaela due to him being around Bee from the start. What did that say about me? Someone who had been by Bee, but also jumped across worlds?

"And Bumblebee did not reveal himself to you until the day before we arrived." The medic was leading to something, using Sam's words to guide him along. "By all accounts, her level should be the same as yours."

Then what was the level of rads, and did I want to know? Was this what he noticed back in the alley? "Should she be concerned?" Concerned. The level of rads was probably due to ending up in this dimension. Why else would it be that high? It's... I don't think it's lethal. Even so, it was enough that even Ratchet was disturbed.

"No, I don't think so. But it would not hurt to run some more tests." Tests. Disturbed. Those two words easily fit into my dream state. It was all vague, as were most of my memories the longer I stayed with Sam and the others. Why though? Why were my memories leaving me? What did that doctor mean when she... she said that it was all... up to me. I could stay, or... "perhaps sooner rather than later would be better. Is she okay?" No.

"Short stuff, are you feeling alright?" No, no. I-what happened? What happened to me, prior to arriving to this world? Why was I hearing voices that weren't there next to me? Doctors, and doing all they could?

I sank against the railing behind me, legs sliding out as Sam and Mikaela watched worriedly, taking note of my paling face. "I just..." what? Just, what? If my dreams, from before in the helicopter, and in the room I awoke in, weren't from anything happening around me, then...? Does that mean I'm...? "I... I'm in a coma." I'm comatose.

"You're-Blake, are you okay?" Sam knelt down in front of me, Mikaela peering over his shoulder worriedly. How could they not be worried, I just admitted that I thought I was in a coma. In short, everything-all of what I had been through, what I had seen and experienced could've... could have been nothing but a dream. That they were figments of a mind drifting between life and death. I-it would explain so, so much though. It explains everything. Why I couldn't recall how I ended up in Tranquility; why memories of Transformers kept leaving me. "You're... you're starting to scare me here."

"A coma. You do realize that you're implying that this is a dream," Mikaela said, speaking up. "How hard did you hit your head?"

"I'm not-guys, I'm not making this up. Think about it." I wanted to get to my feet, hands clenched in fists at my sides and argue at them for doubting me, but... I was tired. My body hadn't recovered yet, and I didn't think my legs would let me get up if I tried. "You heard what they said. I don't exist. An agency, hidden from everyone, says that I don't exist on this Earth."

"On this Earth?" Hide repeated. Jazz still sat, but the others had gathered closer, a half circle around us humans.

Right. They missed that part. "It's-oh, boy. How do I explain this?" It wasn't only a problem to explain the coma part, but this-this was something I hadn't given much thought to. How was I suppose to explain that they were fiction-they're not. They're not fictional. Everything-after everything I'd been through, could I honestly state that this was all fake? I felt pain. I could hurt. So then, that couldn't have been a coma, right? Comas did not have you experience cuts and bruises. Am I stuck in some in-between? What is it? "Sam, you... you're a nerd, right?" He blinked, and Mikaela had to hold back a small laugh at the blunt question. "Have you ever heard of something like a... multiverse?"

"Yeah? What about it?" I remained expressionless, letting his brain try to work around my vague explanation. If I flat-out told them, the Bots might not be so quick to come around. I needed to take things carefully, and not make them suspicious of me. "... you... you got to be kidding me." There it is. His eyes were wide, confusion and alarm written clear as day over his face. "You're saying you're from a different Earth."

"One a decade or so ahead of yours, if you want to be specific." The tech shift was annoying, and it felt weird seeing how awful cell phones and the Internet was back then. "But... yeah, either it's an alternate Earth or a c-coma, I'm not from... here."

"Blake." There it is. Ironhide, and apparently Optimus too, could read me like a book. He could tell I was not answering everything to the absolute. The Prime also did not need to speak any further. Just from his tone, the message of 'be honest' was clear as day.

"Blake?" Dang it, Sam. Don't try and sound so pitiful. Truth. They wanted-how was I supposed to do that? How was I going to, when I couldn't recall the facts of the future or the past? What do I do?

I pulled myself to my feet, a struggle in itself, and tried to ignore the feeling of eyes and optics on my shoulders. Confusion, suspicion; I felt many mixed emotions. Sam and Mikaela, they might believe me already. With what Simmons had said in the vehicle, days earlier, they had some proof that I wasn't from this world. The Autobots though, that was complicated. Difficult. I had to say something that only they would know. That no other human would have knowledge of. Think, girl. What can I say that... hmm?

There was... something. Outside of the films, buried in the fog encasing my mind, there was one thing. The question was, would it work? Would they believe me, after all we had been through? Or would Ironhide think I was some sort of Decepticon spy and blast me into the next dimension? It's not like I have many options at this point. "Blake?" I can't just stay silent. I registered the hand on my shoulder and Sam's voice, and sighed. Let's see if it works.

"... Or... Orion Pax." I looked up at the Prime, and while the metal plates that made up his face remained more-or-less in place, I could see the shifts. Faintly, brows raised a little in surprise, and I knew I had it right. "That's your name before you became Prime, right? Orion Pax?"

His optics didn't leave me, however, his next few words were directed to his partially incapacitated lieutenant. "... Jazz, have you...?

"I never said a thing, Prime. Don't think Bee did either, did you?" Bee quickly shook his head, the same shock shared between them, and everyone else. Ironhide had a slight glare, but thankfully, didn't pull any guns. He was suspicious, and he had every right to be. Sam was important, and I had shown up out of the blue before they arrived. Before Bee could get to him. But I wasn't a spy, regardless of what he, or the others thought.

"I have no reason to lie to any of you." I threw myself off a building alongside Sam to protect the Cube. I had raw alien energy ripping at open wounds as I assisted him in killing a megalomaniac warlord. Why the hell would I be lying, now, of all times? What did I have to gain about making something like this up? "Sam." Throughout my attempt to prove myself, Sam had fallen silent. "Please, you-you have to believe me."

"What... makes you think you're in a coma?" Huh? "Besides the... other thing, what makes you think you're in a coma?"

"O-oh. That... um, well..." two, to be specific. There were two times I had proof. "You... ever hear of cases where someone is in some sort of... place where they're not quite dead, or not quite alive? When you're aware of people speaking about you, you hear them talk about your condition. You're... trapped within your own body."

"Was this when you were knocked out?" I turned to Mikaela, trying to get herself to speak up, and join in the confused madness I had started. "Back in Tranquility?"

"I thought it was just people talking about the state of my arm, and how hard of a hit I got when I was tackled." It was a coincidence. My state now, and my state then, both suffered arm injuries. But... low brain activity... that never happened while I was stuck there. At least, I don't think it did. "I'm... I'm losing my memories, Mikaela. I'm losing pieces practically every minute... heh." What else could go wrong?

The door opened without warning, and a group of about a dozen people walked in. To my slight disappointment, Maggie and Glen weren't with them. However, Epps and Lennox were there, as well as several of the other men in his unit. Simmons is missing too. I could live with not seeing him right away. It was the man at the front that I was most worried about.

SecDef looked around at us, taking in the sight of all five of the aliens, before spotting Sam, Mikaela, and I up on the walkway. Giving a quick nod, satisfied that we were all in one place, he turned his attention to the Autobots. "After discussion, the President has ordered Sector Seven to be terminated and the remains of the dead aliens disposed of." Megatron. Him, and the other Cons that were taken down during the fight in Mission City. I knew Starscream was not part of that, and I had no idea if the cop Con was in there or not. Just means we'll.. have to search for them. "The Laurentian Abyss is seven miles below sea level, deepest place on our planet. The massive depth and pressure there, coupled with subfreezing temperatures, would crush and entomb them, leaving no evidence."

"And what about Blake?" Sam asked, throwing a quick look at me. "You guys guaranteed that she'd not have the government chasing after her."

"I'd... rather not have that happen." My voice was still flat from before, but I wanted to say something. Show actual concern for what would happen to me. Because I have no idea what I'm doing next. "So...?"

The Secretary smiled, an attempt possibly to relieve the worry about my personal safety. "Though having you wander without supervision is not something we can easily give, due to your status, we are prepared to give you some of the same accommodations as them."

Them, being the Autobots. "So... what does that imply, exactly?" I was human, no matter if this was a dream or not. No matter if this was real or not, I did not want the government going against me, and having the absolutely stupid and inhumane idea of booting me off the planet be a possibility.

"You will live on a base, same as the Autobots." I switched from the older man to Lennox, relieved to hear a familiar voice. That was good, hearing them not being referred as only the aliens. Living on base, huh? That sounded... isolating. I liked to imagine that meant I could still leave, but no doubt under supervision. I don't have an ID. Hate to think what would happen if the police tried searching me up. "You're not being locked up or anything, but officials think having you out of public eye would make things easier."

"Fair enough... how are you feeling, Lennox?" The captain, same as SecDef, smiled. I didn't know what went on in the dam once we all left, but I knew that Epps and him had to handle one of the Cons by themselves. A dozen or so men taking on a monster of an alien while Sam and I ran for our lives. Was he injured too? He seemed to be standing without any problem.

"Few bruised ribs, but I'll live." Lennox turned his focus to Ratchet, who had taken up a blowtorch again. "Can you make sure she doesn't hurt herself getting back down?" What, is the doctor looking for-actually, they probably are. Someone had to have been observing me. If they came back after I left, of course they'd panic.

Ratchet didn't give a clear answer, only a small grumble as he honed in on several wires within Jazz's chest cavity, having split from Megatron's attack. From the mech's face, it wasn't pleasant. Nonetheless, the captain took it as a yes. Lennox gave a small nod in my direction before following the rest of the officials and soldiers out of the door. The instant the echoing bang of metal filled the room, I all but sank against the guardrail. "... oh." I sighed, and felt Sam at my side. "Ehehe... hehehe..." was I delirious? I probably shouldn't have taken off so soon, and just remained there in bed. Under the sheets, in the empty white room with my thoughts. However, after discussing what I suspected with the teens and Bots, staying alone was the last thing I needed right now.

Mikaela was on my other side, and I gripped my forehead. Bandages, thick ones, went around my skull, and my weak laugh continued, as did the slowly growing 'boom, boom, boom' inside it. It was a joke. A horrible, twisted joke. Did I get in an accident, and my job and appreciation of vehicles force my brain to recreate this world? Perhaps the Cybertronians were real, and I was trapped between realities, which was why I could hear the doctors and nurses in whatever room my body rested in. It... I didn't know. I had no way of knowing the absolute truth of what was happening. All I knew was that one, inexcusable fact. I'm stuck between worlds. I was between life and death with no way out.

It's only a guess, but I think there's perhaps 2 chapters left in this story. Could be 1 more, depending on what it is. Still trying to figure out how to wrap it up. Either way, it's almost at the end.

Important to note, if it wasn't clear, was that Blake never actually said they were fictional in her world. Only that the small mention of Prime's real name indicated she knew about the Bots before her arrival. That will be discussed in the next chapter.

Until next time!

Angel