A couple of weeks had passed since the Autobots emerged from stasis. Since then, they'd been working overtime to get everything in order. They'd manage to excavate the Ark from the side of the mountain, transporting it inside for repairs. On top of that, Ratchet had been working on updating the tech in the missile silo, as well as adding a few features to make traveling incognito easier. At the moment, he was putting the finishing touches on his latest project.

"That… should… do it." he declared, closing up a panel on a large control console.

He got up slowly, his joints creaking slightly. He let out a slight groan.

"I'm getting too old for this." he muttered, slowly bending and extending his legs to work out the kinks.

As he did, Massacre walked over, glancing at the completed contraption. Upon seeing the shut panel and the stretching bot, her faceplate broke out into a grin.

"Is it finally finished?" She asked.

"It should be." Ratchet answered, stopping his stretching before gathering his tools into their box. "I didn't think it was possible to construct a working Ground Bridge using primarily earth technology, but I think I finally got it. I just need to test it."

"Well, I volunteer my services." she offered. "I'll be able to blend in easier than the others, especially with the upgraded nanoskin."

"It would be a good test of the new skin." Ratchet admitted. "Give me a few minutes to set coordinates."

"Might I suggest somewhere nearby." Optimus spoke up, approaching the pair. "Your last test left Bulkhead stranded in Haiti for a week."

"Yeah, I enjoy the sun as much as the next bot, but I'm still cleaning sand out of my gears." Bulkhead piped up, cocking his head to side to dislodge some of the aforementioned sand.

"Yes, yes, of course." Ratchet grumbled. "Science is both trial and error you know."

"Still, why don't we just stick with the edge of the city?" Massacre suggested. "That way I can walk back in human mode no problem."

"Of course." Ratchet replied.

As Ratchet pressed a few buttons on his console, Massacre transformed into her human mode, which now had her wearing a white tee-shirt with a blue vest over it, a dark blue skirt, with black and white sneakers. She even had a pair of glasses over her eyes. She looked herself over, giving a twirl.

"How do I look?" she asked.

"Quite well," Ratchet commended. "For an organic."

She let out a mock gasp of indignation, lightly punching Ratchet's ankle. He chuckled slightly, then he set the coordinates. He then pulled on a pair of levers, activating a trail of rings that lit up one by one before a large green portal appeared.

"Alright, let's see if this works." Massacre let out.

She then ran through the portal, jumping through it.

...

The portal crackled to life, opening up as Massacre came running out. She dropped down to the ground, giving a three-point landing as the portal closed behind her. As she straightened up and looked around, she found herself in the middle of a large highway. From the dense woods on either side of the road, it was clear she was far from civilization. Next to her was a sign that read "Detroit - 2 miles." She straightened up, glancing at the sign before smiling.

"Massacre to Base." she declared. "I made it. Ground Bridge is a success."

"Excellent." Ratchet replied. "Opening return bridge, now."

Ratchet tried to open up the bridge again, but that's when several error messages began popping up on the screen. He let out a groan of irritation, slamming his fist on the console.

"Blasted Earth tech..." he swore. "If it isn't already broken, it's either falling apart or basically useless!"

"Guess I'm walking back to base, huh." Massacre let out.

"So it seems." Ratchet replied. "What I wouldn't give for some decent Cybertronian technology."

"Easy Ratchet." Massacre teased. "You're liable to blow a gasket, and we wouldn't want that."

"I'll have you know that my engine is in good condition, thank you very much." Ratchet retorted indignantly.

Massacre smirked.

"Then put it in neutral." she insisted. "You'll need every bit of ram you got to figure out the Ground Bridge."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." he grumbled. "At least this will let you put the new nanoskin to proper use."

"Exactly." she said, sliding her hands into her pockets. "So I better put metal to the pedal. See you when I get back. Massacre out."

With that, Massacre started walking down the street towards the base.

...

In the wake of the attack on the Military base, Fowler had put out an APB out on his mystery girl, which heavy focus on the Detroit area since it was her last known location. All police officers in town were on high alert, keeping a sharp eye out for her, including Fanzone. The Sergeant had been placed on traffic duty for the past two weeks after the incident with Fowler, and he was itching for a little justice.

"Damn brat..." he muttered, sipping at his fifth cup of coffee that shift.

As he sat and waited for something to do, a familiar face walked past his car. He did a spit take, coughing up his coffee as he spotted the mystery girl walking down the street. Wiping his mouth, he let out a grin.

"Well how about that." Fanzone remarked before grabbing his radio. "This is Sergeant Fanzone to all units. We have positive ID on our Jane Doe at the corner of Bayside and Palmer."

"10-4 Fanzone." Dispatch replied. "All units to Bayside and Palmer. Be warned that suspect is considered dangerous and officers are to proceed with caution."

Fanzone then hung the radio up, turning on the car and slowly going after her. Massacre continued making her way, whistling slightly as she walked. That's when her instincts told her she was being followed. Doing her best to be discrete, she glanced in the side view mirror of a nearby parked car, spotting Fanzone. She recognized him immediately, letting out a curse.

"Scrap." she swore.

She picked up the pace of her walk, testing to see if he was really following her. Unfortunately, he sped up to meet her pace.

"Prime, we've got trouble." she declared. "That cop from before? He's following me."

"We cannot afford for you to be captured again, nor arouse anymore suspicion." Prime told her. "You need to lose him, but be discreet about it."

"Right, stay in human mode." she replied. "Got it."

She then spun on her heels, running in the opposite direction of Fanzone's car. Fanzone growled in frustration as Massacre bolted down the street.

"All units," Fanzone said into his radio. "Suspect is fleeing on foot down Bayside. Pursue and detain by any means."

Massacre continued running, dodging and weaving to avoid the few people on the streets. She rounded a corner, seeing several flashing lights approaching her. She skidded to a stop, going the other way, only to meet the same result.

"They're boxing me in!" she cried out.

"Easy, Flygirl." Bulkhead told her. "These ain't the first enemies that tried to corner you. Remember back during the battle of Moon Base 2?"

"You mean when that swarm of vehicons caught me while I was leaking Energon?" Massacre questioned. "What does-?"

She cut herself off, remembering how she'd managed to elude the pursuing vehicons.

"Bulkhead, you're a genius." she commended.

"You mind telling Ratchet that?" Bulkhead asked.

Ignoring him for the moment, she looked around, seeing a small gap in between two buildings. Grinning, she darted inside, knowing the opening was far too small for the cars to follow.

"They'll have to follow me in on foot, leaving them slower and more vulnerable." Massacre declared. "Just like back on Moon base 2."

As predicted, the cops got out of their cars and made their way into the alley. Massacre kept running through, eventually meeting a dead end. A chain link fence blocked her way, one she couldn't tear open without revealing herself.

"Not good." she muttered.

She turned around, just as the cops caught up with her. They all had their guns trained on her, to which she slowly raised her hands. Thinking fast, she leapt into the air and flipped over the fence, landing on the other side.

"Sorry!" she called out before taking off once again.

The cops stared at her, blinking in surprise.

"Uh, what just happened?" Fanzone questioned.

"I… I don't know sir." the cop answered.

...

Fanzone sat in a mobile headquarters he'd set up in the city, listening in on the chatter amongst the cops. His eyes narrowed as they reported their loss of the suspect.

"Dispatch, this is Fanzone… the Jane Doe got away."

"What happened?" Dispatch questioned.

"She uh… she jumped over a fence." Fanzone replied. "As in jumped, did a backflip, then landed on the other side of a ten-foot fence like it was nothing."

"Ok…"

"I ain't making this up, Samuel!" Fanzone insisted. "Whatever this girl is, I don't think she's human!"

Fowler did a cut motion, the techs ending the feed. He slumped back in his chair, pondering over everything he had heard.

"Sir, are you alright?" one of the techs asked.

"A teenage girl just made Detroit's finest look like a bunch of elementary schoolers." Fowler retorted. "How do you think I'm doing?"

"Sir, do you think he's right?" another tech asked. "Y'know, about this girl not being human?"

"It would explain why there's no record of her anywhere." a third tech interjected.

"That's the prevailing theory." Fowler replied. "You wouldn't happen to have anything useful, would you?"

"Only that until the Park Rangers found her near Mt. 23rd street, she essentially didn't exist." the second tech reported.

"Mt.23rd Street…" Fowler repeated, thinking something over. "Isn't that where that decommissioned missile silo is located?"

"Let me check." the first tech requested.

Fowler got up, walking over to the tech's station as he opened the file.

"Yes sir." he replied. "It was decommissioned during the Cold War after an earthquake nearly buried the team."

"Hmm…" Fowler let out. "I wonder…"

...

Massacre made it back to the Autobot base, transforming into robot mode before flopping against a wall.

"Well, that was certainly an eventful outing." she remarked.

"No doubt the Detroit Police Department are kicking themselves right now." Prowl guessed.

"I guess you made more of an impression on them then we initially believed." Ratchet spoke up. "And now you're probably gonna be plastered all over the news."

"Great..." she grumbled. "I finally get to test my new human form, and I've got a target on my back within nano-kliks."

"We will deal with this situation as it progresses." Prime told her. "Let us just focus on our current tasks."

"Yeah." Bulkhead agreed. "The ship still needs massive repairs, we're running low on Energon, and-"

That's when alarms began blaring and red lights began flashing.

"-and the proximity sensors just went off." Bulkhead added.

"Think the authorities managed to follow Massacre here?" Prowl asked.

"I was super careful." Massacre insisted. "No one could have followed me."

Bumblebee let out a long series of chirps, which earned him a glare from Massacre.

"What do you mean 'Maybe I got rusty'?" she snapped.

"Well we were in stasis for who knows how many stellar cycles." Bulkhead added.

"Is this really a prevalent conversation?" Prowl questioned.

"Prowl is right." Prime agreed. "Massacre, do what you can to calm the authorities. Autobots, fall back and conceal yourselves until the authorities leave."

The Autobots nod as they move towards the back of the base and Massacre transforms into her human mode. The second she did, a large elevator that lead to the surface opened up, allowing several Black-ops soldiers to pour in. They were all decked out in full assault gear, aiming high-powered rifles at Massacre. She lifted her hands slowly as Agent Fowler walked in.

"Nice to finally meet you in person." Fowler told her. "My name is Special Agent William Fowler. I gotta say, you're a hard person to find."

"Uh… thanks?" she let out, glancing at all the men nervously. "Look, I don't know why you're after me, but I'm just a normal-"

"You can cut the BS." Fowler cut off. "After that little stunt you pulled at the police station, I think it's safe to say you're anything but normal."

Massacre gulped. If she was capable of sweating, she would have been drenched by this point.

"I can explain..." she insisted, currently wracking her processor to try and come up with an idea of just how to do that.

"I hope you can." Fowler told her. "Cause some freaks pulled the same trick at an army base in Alaska, and killed a lot of good men to pull it off!"

That brought Massacre's thoughts to a screeching halt.

"What did you say?" she asked, her voice quiet with fear and dread.

"I said that something with hacking skills similar to yours invaded a military base, killing nearly everyone there." Fowler elaborated. "So, anything you'd like to get off your chest?"

"The Decepticons..." she whispered, lowering her arms in shock. "They're here too..."

"Kid, you better tell me what in the name of Paul Revere's horse you're talking about." Fowler insisted.

She let out a sigh.

"It's hard to explain, especially to someone who isn't… in the know." she explained. "Besides, I'm not the person best suited to answer that question."

"Then direct me to who is." Fowler demanded. "Now."

"That would be me." Prime's voice echoed.

Fowler looked over the edge of the safety railing around the elevator stairs to see Optimus driving towards him in vehicle mode. The rest of the Autobots were behind him, maintaining vehicle mode as well.

"Please tell me that your boss is in the truck." Fowler almost begged.

"Not exactly." Prime replied before switching into robot mode.

The other Autobots followed suit, transforming into robot mode. The men all trained their weapons on the robots, causing them all to follow Massacre's lead in raising their arms.

"Easy there." Ratchet insisted. "We're not the bad guys here."

"You'll understand if we're a little on edge." Fowler replied. "After all, 10 robots that look a lot like you decimated an entire military base in less than an hour."

"They are our enemies, the Decepticons." Optimus explained. "We have no alliance with them."

"I don't suppose you can prove this." Fowler questioned.

"Listen, we've been stuck here for the past couple deca-cycles." Bulkhead insisted. "You think this place cleaned itself up?"

"Perhaps the data tracks for the time of the attack would help to prove the legitimacy of our claims." Prowl offered up.

"Data tracks?" Fowler asked.

"Every Autobot can be tracked via their spark." Massacre explained. "They give off a unique signature that, with the right software, can give you the bots exact location."

"Alright then, kid." Fowler decided, giving her a nod. "Show me."

Massacre nodded before slowly going over to the main console. Teletraan One had been transferred into the main console while the Ark was under repairs, and with a few quick keystrokes, Massacre brought the AI online.

"Teletraan One, access data tracks for…" She trailed off before turning to Fowler. "When was the attack?"

"About two weeks ago." Fowler answered. "November 12th"

"Right. Teletraan One, access data tracks from the 12th and display on screen."

The computer then began displaying a global map. It zoomed in until it focused on Detroit, showing six life signals milling about the missile silo. It played through on fast forward, the signals never leaving the base. Fowler did a quick headcount of the robots, the numbers adding up.

"Stand down men!" Fowler ordered.

The men lowered their weapons, though clearly remained wary. Still, it was progress. The Autobots lowered their arms as Massacre turned to Agent Fowler.

"So, I guess you're willing to listen now?" she spoke up.

"Alright fellas, I'll hear you out." Fowler relented. "What's your story?"

Bumblebee chirped and buzzed, earning a chuckle from both Bulkhead and Massacre. Fowler just raised an eyebrow.

"Come again?" he asked.

"He said you might want to sit down." Bulkhead translated. "This might take a while."

...

Fowler had sent most of his men back outside, leaving him alone with the bots. Massacre had procured him a chair, taking one for herself as they both sat down on the raised platform. This put the two of them at eye level with the Autobots as Optimus began his tale.

"We are creatures known as Autobots." Optimus began. "We hail from a planet known as Cybertron."

"Creative." Fowler quipped. "How many of you are there?"

"As far as we know, only we six Autobots exist on this Earth." Optimus explained. "As far as the Decepticons go, we don't know how many are out there."

"Typical." Fowler spat. "How'd you bots even end up here? Don't tell me it was some accident that stranded you here."

"Sort of." Ratchet corrected. "We were fully intending to come to the planet. We simply ran into some… unforeseen obstacles."

"By obstacles, you mean your Decepticon buddies I'm guessing." Fowler said.

"They assaulted our vessel while we were in transit to this world." Prowl picked up. "During the fight, our ship was damaged and we were forced to crash in this mountain."

"We are unaware of how long ago we arrived here." Prowl spoke up. "Only that it has been many stellar cycles since our crash."

"And unfortunately, our ship ain't going nowhere anytime soon." Bulkhead added, gesturing to the Ark with his thumb.

"Can you phone some of your Autobot buddies to come help you?" Fowler asked.

"Even if we had the means to do so, I fear that our planet lacks the necessary resources to provide us with the necessary aid." Ratchet answered.

"And… we do not know if anyone will be there to heed our call." Prime lamented.

"So… you're stuck here, then." Fowler deduced.

"Afraid so." Ratchet told him.

Fowler let out a groan, rubbing his temple to try and alleviate a growing headache.

"So, if I may ask, what brought you to our planet in the first place?" Fowler asked.

"Mainly because our world is incapable of sustaining life." Prime explained. "Our planet is dying. Ravaged by centuries of war, and drained of its once rich sources of Energon, the fuel and life force of our race."

"Scientists on our planet have theorized that organic resources could be used to create a synthetic Energon." Ratchet continued. "We already know that previous organic theories had been proven true, and in the desperate times, we're willing to do whatever it takes to save our planet."

"Previous organic theories?" Fowler asked. "Why do I have a feeling this is related to what's going on?"

"This is where I come in." Massacre spoke up.

He turned to her, slightly leery of what she had to say.

"Approximately 15,000 stellar cycles ago, the Cybertronian Organic Research Division, or Cord, came to this planet in search of organic specimens to study. They left with various fauna, and an organic child."

She gave a small wave at that.

"That's me by the way." she added.

"You?" Fowler questioned. "No offense, but you don't look over fifteen thousand years old."

"Well, I suppose that's one benefit to my… condition." she replied.

"Condition?" Fowler repeated.

Massacre sighed, the got up, walking to the edge of the railing. She vaulted over it, transforming in mid-air before straightening up in her full Autobot glory. Fowler stumbled out of his chair, his eyes going wide.

"Son of a Benedict Arnold!" he let out.

"Trust me, the feeling was mutual." Bulkhead quipped, earning an elbow from Massacre.

"Massacre here was used as part of a science experiment by the Decepticons to revitalize one of their fallen warriors." Ratchet explained.

"With a name like Massacre, I can imagine why." Fowler interjected.

Massacre rubbed her arm uncomfortably, Prowl putting a servo on her shoulder. Ratchet made a noise similar to clearing his throat, and continued.

"Yes, well as you can guess, their experiment failed, and the organic took control of the body." Ratchet resumed. "She's been on our side ever since."

"And the… shrinking thing?" Fowler asked.

"Condensement Matrix." Massacre supplied, as if that explained everything.

"Right… of course." Fowler replied, sarcastically. "How silly of me."

Deciding it wasn't worth wasting time over, he sat back down as he tried to process this information.

"So, let me see if I've got this straight." he began. "You six are the good guys, while the ones who destroyed the base are the bad guys. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you're both after this 'synthetic Energon' or whatever, and until you get it, you're not gonna be able to leave."

"Essentially." Prime confirmed.

Fowler let out another groan.

"Oh the Pentagon is gonna love this one..." he muttered.

"What will you do now, Agent Fowler?" Prowl questioned.

"First, let my superiors know the situation." Fowler replied. "Then see if we can find these 'Decepticons'."

Ratchet snorted.

"Then what are you gonna do, hurtle your primitive tech at them?" He quipped.

"You got a better idea?" Fowler asked.

"Yeah, let us handle the Decepticons." Bulkhead insisted, gesturing to the Autobots as a whole.

"You expect me to just kick back while a bunch of alien robots hash out a centuries long civil war in our own backyard?" Fowler questioned. "Sorry, not gonna happen."

"Hear me Agent Fowler." Prime spoke up. "I know you wish to protect your world, but military involvement would only lead to widespread panic among the planet's populous, and incalculable human losses. Need I remind you what they did at your military base?"

Fowler felt his bravado drop at that. The sight of all those white cloths had his hands shaking. He clenched them into fists to try and steady them.

"Fine," He relented. "But I'm still gonna have to tell my bosses. If for no other reason, so they won't shoot at you."

"If it's any consolation, we have no desire to show ourselves to humans." Prime spoke up. "We will act as Robots in disguise, and do our best to contain the damage the Decepticons may bring upon this world."

"Just make sure that damage is contained, and we'll call it square." Fowler replied.

He prepared to walk away, but that's when Massacre's hand came down in his path.

"Sorry." she immediately apologized. "I-uh… I have a personal request, if you don't mind."

"What'd you have in mind?" Fowler asked.

She jumped, transforming back into her human mode before landing in front of Fowler. He looked away as her clothes formed, slightly embarrassed.

"I want to be able to blend in with the rest of humanity." she explained. "And considering what happened today, I'm clearly gonna need some help. That, and… I may need a name I can give people that isn't defined as 'Mass Murder'."

"Right." Fowler recognized. "I have some friends in the Department of Health and Human Resources that might be able to make something up for you. However, since you appear to be in your teenage years, you'll have to enroll in school at some point. Keep up appearances and all that."

"Whatever it takes." Massacre insisted.

"I'll get back to you once I have the necessary paperwork." Fowler told her. "In the meantime, try not to cause any major catastrophes."

"Many thanks, Agent Fowler." Optimus replied.

"Thank me by kicking these Decepticons off my planet and half way across the galaxy." Fowler told him. "Then we'll call it square."

He walked into the elevator, the door shutting behind him as he left. The silo fell silent for a bit before Bulkhead spoke up.

"That went better than expected."

"Agent Fowler is just concerned for his planet." Prime told him. "As he should be. The news of the Decepticons being on this planet means that we have a new mission. We must protect the inhabitants of this world from whatever they have planned."

"Just another day in the office." Massacre quipped.