-Washington D.C.-
"Twiggy, yo, Twiggy?" a soft voice cut through my sleep and I cracked open my eyes. The remainder of my team were standing around me and I hauled myself upright, wincing as I did. I saw it was Havii who had spoken, and I gave them all a small smile. By the way they acted, they hadn't actually met the Autobots yet, or been told they'd be a part of N.E.S.T if they chose. Blitz spoke next, his heavy German accent not masking the sympathy in his voice.
"Twiggy, ve are all very sorry about Hawkeye. Ve know he was a part of ze team, but he vas jour friend und partner. I give ju my deepest condolences." he said. I nodded, and from behind my team I noticed Ironhide now leaning against the wall. I smiled at him, returning my attention to my team.
"Guys, I'd like you to meet Ironhide. Just don't freak out." I said. They all looked at me questioningly, then turned and their jaws literally dropped. I laughed, and Ironhide walked up to us.
"Th-this is unreal..." Pierz said. Collins looked fascinated on the other hand, and he muttered to himself, remembering the small bit of intel we'd caught before.
"They were right...we did ally ourselves with non-biological extraterrestrials..." he said. Ironhide looked amused and I called up to him.
"You lied." I said in a mocking tone.
"What?" he said, confused.
"You said you were going to be the one to wake me up." I said. Ironhide chuckled and Boulder spoke up in his deep voice.
"Wait, what are we, chopped liver?" he said. I laughed, even though I was minus my best friend besides Ironhide, it felt good to share a laugh with my teammates.
"You guys should meet the others, could one of you help me?" I asked, pulling my injured leg carefully over the side of the cot.
"Others? What do you mean others? There's more than him?" Pierz said, jerking his thumb towards Ironhide. I nodded.
"Quite a few more, and they're just the good guys." I said. Havii leaned down, offering his hand, which I gratefully took. I heaved myself onto my feet, er, foot, heavily resting against Havii.
"So, did they fill you in on why you're here?" I asked. Blitz nodded.
"Ja, zey did. But all zey said vas that ve would be part of a new team even more classified zan our own." he said. I laughed lightly.
"You could definitely say that. And guys, I don't know about you, but I'm retiring from our team and fully joining N.E.S.T." I said. Havii almost dropped me.
"What?! Are you kidding Twiggy? What about all the missions we've done as a team?" Collins exclaimed. I looked sheepishly at them.
"That's kind of my point, I was hoping you'd join me." I said. They all looked at each other.
"I dunno Twiggy, this is some pretty serious stuff." Boulder said, rubbing the back of his neck. I sighed.
"Let's just go and meet the others first. I assume you've met Lennox?" I said, starting for the main hangar with a heavy limp, actually, hopping on one foot and dragging the other forward as Havvi supported me. Pierz nodded.
"Yep, he's a cool dude. Wouldn't mind hangin' out with him." he said. Ironhide followed us out, and I grinned as I kept seeing my team glancing in awe at him. Lennox intercepted us on the way to the hangar.
"Yo, Morgan, I thought Ratchet confined you to the med-bay?" he said.
"I think he did, but I can't stand to be down anymore." I answered. Lennox gave a knowing nod.
"Wait, who's Ratchet? A friend of yours?" Boulder asked. I grinned.
"You could say that." I said.
…...
Five minutes later, I can pretty much say that my team had had a sensory overload. Their eyes widened at the entire team of Autobots standing over them, and I contentedly smiled. Optimus told them the same thing he'd told me, basically putting in layman's terms everything that had happened since they came to earth. And, lucky them, they got to meet Bumblebee as well, though Sam wasn't with him. Optimus pointed to each Autobot in turn and he introduced them as well as said their names.
"My name is Optimus Prime, you've met my weapons specialist, Ironhide" he said. At this, Ironhide equipped nearly every weapon he had, mockingly aiming them at my team.
"You feeling lucky, punks?" he said, a line that I knew he had adopted because he loved it so much. I grinned, and Optimus went on.
"Those are the Wreckers," he said, gesturing to the three Irish-accented NASCAR 'Bots standing together. "And that's Wheeljack and Mirage, though our human allies call them Que and Dino. Sideswipe, Bumblebee, Ratchet are here as well." Optimus said. At this, Wheelie pushed past Dino, Brains hobbling behind him.
"Yo big guy, you forgettin' something?" he called. Optimus gave an amused smile.
"Hardly, my friend. And these two are Wheelie and Brains." he finished. I moved aside, Havii still helping me, and introduced the remainder of my team.
"Thanks Optimus. This is Boulder, Blitz, Pierz, and Collins. And the one helping me at the moment is Havii." I said. Optimus knelt down to be more on their level.
"Hello, all of you, and welcome. I sincerely hope you make the choice to join our efforts." he said. My team nodded a fascinated greeting, and Optimus stood back to his full height.
"Bumblebee, Ironhide, see to it that our guests are made welcome and have living arrangements. Morgan? Do you think it best that you return to the med-bay?" Optimus asked. I gave a good-natured shrug.
"I suppose it would be best...but I'm really not comfortable with being off my feet." I said. Optimus nodded, motioning Ratchet forward and telling him to take me back to the infirmiry.
Havii looked from me to Ratchet doubtfully, and I reassured him.
"It's alright, go with the others. I'll be fine with Ratchet." I said. Havvi nodded, and I slipped from his side into Ratchet's palm. Ratchet lifted me carefully and I waved at my team from about twenty feet in the air. They waved back, then followed my guardian and Bumblebee to another part of the base.
Ratchet returned me to the med-bay, slipping me carefully back into the cot. I arranged myself, sitting over the edge and looking up at Ratchet.
"Thank you Ratchet." I said. He smiled.
"You're welcome, friend." Ratchet said.