My Life as a Teenage Autobot
Chapter 11: Debrief
Arcee, Bumblebee, Jetfire, Optimus and Bulkhead came back through the Ground Bridge and into the Autobot base. Arcee was still carrying Jenny in her arms. "You okay kid?" Arcee asked. "I'mm... good… don't wworry… 'bout me..." Jenny slurred. Arcee eased Jenny out of her arms and onto the floor. The girl could barely stand she was so weak. "Ratch…" She began before her knees gave out.
Ratchet picked Jenny up off of the floor. "Are we too late?" Arcee wondered worriedly. Ratchet shook his head. "She is programmed to go into sleep mode whenever her power level falls below 5%." He said before placing Jenny on his operating table. "It shouldn't be long before I can build another Energon cell for her." Ratchet assured. "And now that I'm here, it'll go twice as fast." Jetfire chimed in. "That it will old friend." Ratchet agreed.
As the two scientists began their work, the Autobots heard a helicopter land on the base's helipad. A few seconds later, the elevator opened revealing three of the most powerful people in the world… and Agent Fowler. The other people were General Bryce of the United States Army, Secretary of Defense Jill Canton, and President Alex Jones.
Viewers of the show already know what the General looks like but for those of you who don't, he's a sixty something Caucasian male with grey hair that parts down the middle. He wears an olive green jacket and pants with several tour medals on the left side of his chest and four stars on each shoulder.
Secretary Canton was a mid forties Hispanic woman with dark hair and eyes that could pierce even Ironhide's protective shell. Her hair was in a librarian bun and she wore a black pants suit. As the first female Secretary of Defense, Canton was strict and no nonsense, and usually preferred to speak her mind.
The president was an African American in his early fifties, however his eyes made him look twenty years older. Between fighting global terrorism, wrestling with Congress, and dealing with the press, the Presidency takes a lot out a person. He had a full head of hair that had almost gone completely gray and had a stature of about 6' 2". In fact, he was the tallest human in the room.
"To what do we owe this rare opportunity Mr. President?" Optimus greeted politely. "We're here to debrief your new member." President Jones answered. Optimus turned his head toward Ratchet and Jetfire for a moment before turning back to the leader of the free world. "I am afraid that will have to wait. Jenny is currently undergoing repairs due to her ordeal on the Nemesis." Optimus informed.
"Actually, that's what we wanted to debrief her on. It is of absolute importance that she tells us everything she knows about the Decepticon warship." Secretary Canton explained. "How soon can she be ready?" President Jones asked. "Half an hour at most!" Ratchet answered from across the room.
"Very well." The president said. "There are refreshments in the eastern hallway." Optimus offered. As the four humans walked away Optimus called out. "Agent Fowler?" The agent stopped and turned around. "Yes Prime?" he answered. "May I speak with you privately?" Optimus asked. Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead transformed into vehicle mode and left the base to get their human companions. Hey, they know when to take a hint.
Anyway Agent Fowler stopped at a few feet from the Autobot Leader and looked up. "What did you want to discuss, Prime?" Agent Fowler asked. Optimus knelt down on one knee and looked straight into Agent Fowler's eyes. "Will Jenny be debriefed here?" he asked. Agent Fowler shook his head. "Sorry Prime. The President and the Defense Secretary want to take Jenny to Washington." Fowler informed. Optimus frowned for a minute. "What will they do with her after they finish?" Optimus wondered.
Fowler cocked his head to one side. "I'm not sure I follow." He admitted. "You know as well as I do that there are people in your government and military that would want to use Jenny as a weapon of war." Optimus said frankly. "That is something that I will not allow."
"No offense Prime, but isn't that what you're doing?" Fowler questioned. Unfortunately Optimus was offended by that statement. However, instead of ripping Fowler's face off (like a version of Prime that will henceforth go unmentioned), Optimus maintained his usual level headed demeanor. "Jenny fights for the Autobots because she chose to. The only restrictions I give her are for her own well being." Optimus replied.
"Alright alright. Anyway, don't worry about Jenny. I'll make sure that she's on her way back here as soon as they finish debriefing her." Agent Fowler assured. "Thank you Agent Fowler." Optimus said. Fowler looked up at Optimus and said, "Don't mention it."
Jetfire and Ratchet finished the Energon Cell. When They placed it into Jenny's HEART Annex, she awoke with a start. "Yyyeeeooooww!" she exclaimed. "Thanks you guys. I owe you one." Jenny thanked. "Optimus, she's ready." Ratchet reported. Optimus escorted Agent Fowler, President Jones, Secretary Canton, and General Bryce into the main room.
Jenny saw them and cocked an eyebrow. "Hey Prime, who are the suits?" Jenny asked. "These suits are two of the most powerful people in the world, young lady." Canton scolded. "Jenny, meet, President Jones and Defense Secretary Canton." Optimus introduced. Jenny's eyes widened with realization. "Sorry. I…" Jenny didn't want to tell them where she was actually from so she decided to bend the truth a little. (The president in TFP's dimension is different from the president in MLaaTR) "… don't watch the news much."
Jenny hovered down to ground level and held out her hand to President Jones. "I'm Jenny." She greeted. Jones shook her hand firmly. Secretary Canton offered no such pleasantries. "Jenny, the president is going to take you to the capital so you can answer questions regarding your ordeal on the Nemesis." Optimus said.
"Okay, let's go then." Jenny decided. Optimus watched her go up the elevator as a father watches his daughter leave on a first date. As soon as he heard the helicopter leave, Optimus turned to Ratchet. "Keep a close optic on Jenny. I do not want to lose her again." He ordered. The medic nodded in compliance.
A few hours later…
Washington D.C. was pretty much the same in this dimension as it was in Jenny's. There were the same landmarks, same official buildings, and the same lobbyists buying votes in Congress. After touching down at Andrews Air Force Base, Jenny got into a black SUV that took her to the Department of Defense.
She waited in a grey room with a one way window on one side and a table with two chairs in the middle. Behind the window was the President, the Defense Secretary, some DOD staff, and two Secret Service agents.
After a half hour of waiting, Agent Fowler stepped into the room and sat down at the table. He held a file stuffed with papers and photographs. "Okay. State your name for the record." Fowler requested. "Jenny Wakeman." She replied. The DOD employees ran the name through every known database and found no matches.
"Where did you first wake up?" Fowler asked. "I woke up in the ship's equivalent of a sickbay. There were all kinds of tools and monitoring equipment in there." Jenny explained. "Anything else?" Folwer probed. "Oh yeah. Starscream was on the table next to the one I was on. I'm not sure why."(I now realize that Starscream appears nowhere in Chapter 10 so that's my attempt to cover my rear.)
"How did you get out of the sick bay?" Fowler continued. "Knockout and Breakdown unlocked my restraints after they thought I was offline. After my auxiliary power kicked in, I simply got up and opened the door. Unfortunately the alarm was raised immediately when I ran into some Vehicon guards."
Debriefing went on like that until Jenny recounted her ordeal from start to finish. "Anything else you'd like to know?" Jenny asked. "What can you tell us about the interior layout of the Nemesis?" Jenny asked for some paper and produced a pen from her right index finger. She drew a rough sketch of the inside of the Nemesis and all the places she'd been to.
"I'd give you a radar scan, but my radar was inactive at the time due to the fact that it would have used too much power." Jenny explained. "Well, it might not be complete, but at least we have some idea of the layout of Megatron's ship." Fowler observed. Next Jenny identified some photos that were in Fowler's folder and gave more detailed descriptions of the Decepticon brass.
"Agent Fowler, there is one more thing." Jenny began. "I believe that the recently stolen proton cannon, Shockwave, and the recent mining activity are connected." Fowler nodded once in acknowledgement. "I'll advise the Joint Chiefs." Fowler assured. "That should be everything." Said Fowler. He escorted Jenny out of the room and led her to the SUV that brought her to the DOD building. Fowler relieved the driver and took his seat.
Jenny cocked an eyebrow. "What's going on?" Jenny wondered. "I'm keeping a promise to Prime." He answered while pulling onto the road. "What promise?" Jenny questioned. "To personally ensure that you made it back to Team Prime safely." Fowler answered. Jenny thought that made sense though she made a mental note to ask Optimus about it later.
After another long flight, Jenny and Fowler made it back to the Autobot base. They rode the elevator to the command room and stepped out. Jack, Miko, and Raph arrived during Jenny's time in Washington. "Hey guys, I'm back!" Jenny announced. Optimus looked very relieved. "Thank you Agent Fowler." Optimus thanked. Fowler pressed the button to return to the silo's roof. "Don't mention it." He replied.
Fowler left the base on his helicopter and headed over to his office. "Did I miss anything?" Jenny wondered. "Strangely, there has been no sign of any Decepticon activity. Even their mines appear silent." Ratchet reported. "Does this mean the 'Cons just packed up and left for good?" Miko asked. Jenny turned to her. "I don't think so. I think they're planning something big."
Cybertron: Trypticon Restoration Site
"Ah. I recognize Ratchet's work when I see it." Shockwave said while admiring the device that Knockout and Breakdown delivered. He turned to a Vehicon technician. "You there! Inform Lord Megatron that I should be able to reverse engineer this device and install it in Trypticon within the week." The Vehicon saluted and activated a comm console. The Autobots won't know what hit them… Shockwave thought.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait for a chapter and for the lack of action, but I figured the plot needed to take a breather before things really got crazy. Thank you to all who have read this story and given it praise. Feel free to offer your thoughts and opinions. Thank you for reading.