Disclaimer: I do not own the Autobots, Decepticons, or Transformers in general. I do, however, own this plot and the original character.

Thank you guys for the wonderful reviews! It gives me warm fuzzy feelings that you guys enjoy my writing. I hope all of you enjoy this chapter!

Water-smurf: I hope this chapter answers some of your questions. 83

Italics are for memories/flashbacks, thoughts, or stressed words.

Chapter VI: Calm Before the Storm

The metal was cool beneath her as she lay in Optimus Prime's extended palm. A small breeze ran invisible fingers through her hair in what she thought was a caress, but pushed the thought aside once she realized it could not possibly do that. Her body was utterly relaxed as the soothing Italian filled the air. It had an upbeat feel to it, but was still pleasant on the ears. The low growl that rumbled in her chest resembled that of a cat's purring as she lightly dozed.

Optimus watched her warily. From what he had learned on Wikipedia there were many ways to become a werewolf, but all were deemed illogical by his processors except for one. The one was where the werewolf bit its victim and spread the "disease." Folklore did not mention this, but it seemed very popular with fiction writers and Hollywood. He shook his head in a very human-like manner before turning as the sound of Bumblebee's engine.

Sam and Mikaela got out of the car quietly, but they did not approach the leader of the Autobots for fear of what slept so quietly in his hand. Bumblebee transformed and took an unconscious step in front of his charges. The creature twitched and slowly pricked its ears. Her horrible yellow eyes slipped open while she bared her teeth in a loud yawn. Her jaws snapped shut with a small clicking sound, and her attention shifted to the humans below. The teenagers tensed, ready to run for their lives, but could only blink with surprise as she settled back into Autobot's hand.

He took a couple steps forward, hand still clutching Mikaela's, before he stopped near Optimus. "Why isn't she trying to make us her new chew bones?" He asked, his voice cracking a little. The leader turned his blue optics on the young man while replying, "She is calm." He slowly lowered his hand so that the teenagers could get a good look at her. "…Well, I gotta admit, when she's not trying to kill us she's pretty cool looking," Sam grinned while Mikaela gave him a look that clearly read, Are you nuts? The creature looked at her former prey with half-lidded eyes while she slightly stretched, resembling an old hound whose only role in life was to sleep her days away on the front porch.

A roaring engine announced the arrival of a black Topkick while a voice called out, "Optimus!" Gears clinked and snapped while the truck transformed into the trigger happy Autobot known as Ironhide. His cannons were out in an instant while his optics shifted to the mongrel in his leader's hand. "I heard you had some problems," He growled. The cannons hummed with energy and were ready to be fired. Heat waves danced in the air, and the creature lifted its head to look up. Her once relaxed body suddenly tensed, and she was on her feet in and instant. Her fur bristled while she slightly crouched. A snarl ripped its way through her throat.

"Ironhide, stand down!" Optimus said as his optics seemed to narrow. The black Autobot glowered, but charged down his cannons and allowed them to retract back into his arms. The creature calmed slightly, but her eyes were locked onto Ironhide. She almost jumped out of her skin when Optimus ran his finger gently down her spine in a soothing manner. That and the music calmed the beast, and she found herself slowly curling up in his hand once more. Her ears drooped while her gaze became half-lidded. Optimus recalled what he had learned from Ratchet before all hell went loose.

The medical officer was not one to be puzzled. Not even Mikaela's reproduction cycle, known as a "period" among the human females, had made him look as confused as he did now. "What is it, Ratchet?" He asked as he came to the slightly smaller Autobot's side. Blue optics met his while his friend replied, "This human is different, Optimus. Her wounds from yesterday have healed completely." Optimus blinked, and was about to say something when he was cut off by the rambling officer. "Humans can heal, Optimus, but not as fast as she can, and her skeletal structure… It's double-jointed, sir."

"I do not understand," Optimus replied. The medic scowled slightly as he looked over the scans he had taken of Hillary. "It's almost like she can…No. That's impossible." He narrowed his optics, and Optimus waited patiently for his friend to continue. "It's almost like she can transform, sir," The medic finished with a sigh. "What?" "I know, I know, it seems highly improbable but it is the only reason why her bones are like this," Ratchet sighed as he turned his head to look at his commanding officer. Optimus looked to be deep in thought, and then he sighed softly. "Can she transform at will?"

"I don't know," Ratchet murmured. "I could do a series of tests, but right now I must go." Optimus seemed to smile as he said, "Back to the hospital?" The medic nodded his head. He had become an emergency vehicle and served his new home by allowing humans to drive him where ever they needed him. "Report back to base as soon as you can, Ratchet, and complete your tests when Hillary is conscious." He nodded, transformed, and left the warehouse to go to the hospital he was assigned to. Optimus's optics landed on the slumbering human and he found himself kneeling down to get a good look at her.

She did not appear threatening. Her face was gaunt and she was underweight. Her hair was in shambles, and her clothes seemed to be held together by mere threads. "What makes you so special?" He murmured before rising to his feet and leaving her in peace. Had he stayed a little longer he would have seen her shoot up in bed and then try to escape.

Optimus shook his head as he came out of his reverie. The creature in his hand, who he assumed to be Hillary, was watching him curiously. He said nothing however and continued to slowly run his finger along her spine. Ironhide and Bumblebee were talking about something, but he paid them no mind. He was captivated by the docile-looking beast lazing in his palm. Never before had he heard of an organic that could transform. It was an amazing discovery, and he watched as she suddenly raised her head to look at the sky. He followed her gaze, and realized it was near morning. Time flew it seemed.

A few hours later he was still looking at the beast in his hand. Her eyes were closed again, but snapped open without warning. She tensed and then began to writhe in pain. Whimpers escaped her and he could only watch as she threw her head back and howled in agony. Her muscles began to shrink and her bones retracted to support a smaller, more human frame. The fur covering her body seemed to simply fall off as if she were shedding. Her howl became more high-pitched and transformed into a shriek as the beast disappeared and the wiry looking girl reappeared in his palm. Her clothes had been destroyed in the process of her transformation, and he carefully lifted her higher from the shocked gaze of Sam and Mikaela. There was no need for them to stare at the naked girl.

Hillary's eyes were wide as she gasped for breath. Her lungs burned and she ached all over. She was shaking all over. "It's alright," Someone said comfortingly. Something ran down her spine. It was cold, but it also coaxed her to succumb to the darkness. She whined quietly and then closed her eyes. Her body was unable to take it all in, and so she fell unconscious to escape the thousands of questions that assaulted her mind. Optimus looked at Mikaela. "…She needs clothes," He said simply.

It took the girl a few moments to register what he had said, and swiftly nodded her head. "Right. C'mon, Sam," She said as she tugged on the boy's sleeve. His mouth opened and closed like a fish before he glanced at his girlfriend, and then followed her. Bumblebee had already transformed into his vehicle mode at that time and sped off as soon as they were inside. Ironhide came to Optimus's side. "All this trouble for an organic?" He growled. The leader of the Autobots sighed softly and replied, "Yes." Optimus Prime stood and slowly walked to the warehouse.

"Sir, Experiment 223 shifted and successfully changed back."

"Excellent. Did you get her location?"

"Yes sir. Her tracker is still fully functioning."

"Good. Lock onto her coordinates and send in a team. I want her back."

"Yes sir."

The man hung up the phone and turned his head to look out the large bay window overlooking the city. His lips curled into a wicked smile as he purred, "Gotcha."