Chapter 5:

The rest of the day was fairly mundane. I finished my meal, and filled out the hospital forms with the information I felt comfortable sharing (whether or not some of it, like my social security, was relevant anymore was something the hospital would have to figure out). As Nurse Panuchan wasn't available, other nurses came and went, all of them very nosy, wanting to know what the Pentagon Agents had wanted. A physical therapist visited me and I was miserable as she made me move my right foot. I was helped to the bathroom and tried to wash myself a bit before going back to the bed. A doctor visited me and approved me for release tomorrow, with daily check ups with a physical therapist, a prescription for the pain, and a temporary crutch. The bandage had to stay on for at least another three weeks.

Everyone who came into my room I would try to subtlety ask if they knew any shows or movies about alien robots. None mentioned the most obvious answer, Transformers, in fact I didn't know any of the shows or movies in their answers. It was creepy.

Someone was kind enough to give me a magazine (though it was unfortunately for fashion) to fill my time. Finally, after sunset, Nurse Panuchan popped into my room.

"How ya feelin' sweetheart? I was just about to head out. Nurse Price will be taking over for me tonight," Nurse Panuchan said. I had been thankful for her presence, but now that she was leaving I felt a tinge of sadness.

"You'll be back in the morning, right?" I asked hopeful.

"I'm afraid not hun, tomorrow's my day off." She said apologetically.

"So I won't be seeing you again." I said disappointed. I had greatly appreciated her presence.

"Well than, it was a pleasure meeting you Nurse Panuchan". I held out my hand and she took it in a handshake.

"And you as well . May you have a quick recovery."

"Oh! Before you go, could I ask for a huge favor?" I asked. While I hadn't known the nurse for long, she was the closest person I've come to trust here.

"Depends on the favor honey," she replied suspiciously.

"I was hoping you could search something on the internet for me? Using Google or whatever?" Her face became stern.

"Don't think I didn't know you were asking everyone about your robots. If I allow this, will you stop asking 'bout it?" Whoops.

I nodded sheepishly.

"Yes ma'am." I hadn't meant to bother people by it, but looking back, I might have asked too often and too forcefully.

She took out a red flip phone, and I couldn't help but be a little surprised. Who still uses a flip phone?

"Tell me what you want to search."

"Transformers series Hasbro." While she typed it in, I waited in anticipation. Finally she finished typing and waited for what I assume was the page to load. I held my breath as we waited.

I wasn't crazy. I wasn't crazy.

After what felt like forever, she showed me the results on the small screen.

Transformer voltage. Transformer engineering. One for audio speakers. This shouldn't be the first results no matter what search engine you're using. The search engine wasn't one I recognized, so I couldn't tell if it was reliable or not. Scouring the internet for any evidence of the Transformers franchise was something I'd still need to do on my own time, as maybe it was just a bad search engine. I was still curious of the lack of any familiar brands around though.

"One last crazy question. Do any of these ring a bell for you? Google? Facebook? Twitter? McDonalds? IPhones?" I asked, getting desperate at this point. She shook her head.

"Never heard of them, sorry to say."

"...Well thanks anyway," I smiled at her, not paying attention when she left the room with a final goodbye. My mind was already working.

I hated to say it, and I really hated to say it, but I with the current evidence it was highly likely I was in the Transformers Universe. Considering the Cybertronians here, not to mention that I was in Jasper, and Agent Fowler's appearance, I would take a guess I'm at some point during the Prime series.

If Cliffjumper was alive, that would mean it was before the events of the series, but if he wasn't, then I was at some point during the show. There were time skips in the show though, and I vaguely recalled that there were comics that took place in between some episodes from what I had once read on a wiki page.

Of course there was always the possibility that while the characters were the same, the events were not. In which case my knowledge was basically useless. It was what I really hoped was the case, as it would mean less sense of a burden on my shoulders.

But if it was the same…

What would I do?

A more immediate concern was what I was going to do when I got out of the hospital. I had nowhere to go, no means of transportation or even identity. I didn't exist on this Earth, was never born. I didn't even have a penny to my name.

I could deal with the pain if I had to without medication, and as long as I was careful, I could do the exercises myself (and hopefully not completely mess up my foot forever). But how was I going to pay for the hospital stay?

I think I'll push that problem onto future me.

I laid back into the bed and took out the rod I had hid behind the pillow. With the sunlight outside gone its blue light was stronger, even taking into account the fluorescent lights above me. I pointed it in front of me expecting for it to extend, but it didn't.

Hm.

Maybe I was holding the wrong side? I flipped it and tried again.

Still nada.

Okay, did I break it? It would figure if I did, the one thing I've got and I'd already broken it. I slapped it against my hand and tried shaking it. I looked at the ends of it, but it was completely unresponsive. Great. Just great. What did I do to make it extend last time?

There was a knock at the door before I could figure it out, so I put the rod away and called the person in.

It was the night shift nurse coming in to introduce herself and get my dinner order.

I could figure out the alien stick later.

4

The large metal elevator shuttered its way down the shaft. Inside, the impatient and irritable man was left to ruminate in his thoughts on the busy day.

The day had not been busy in the way he enjoyed, of course, but instead filled with once again having to clean up the Bots' mess. His mood was only compounded by the fact that for most of the day, the Autobot liaison was forced to work with Agent Cauley. That slick tongued snake would like nothing more than to take his job as the US government's official Autobot lisaon. He thought he was clever, but oh boy, the Agent had never even meet any of the Autobots (or any alien robot for that matter). Fowler was sure that if Cauley ever did, he'd run away faster than fireworks being launched on the fourth of july, and with his tail between his legs to boot. It was a fine image to imagine.

The elevator jostled as it reached the bottom, and the door opened. Agent Fowler entered the base, his eyes automatically searching for Prime.

The Autobots had made good use of the former missile silo. Originally, the base had only contained the concrete bottom and supporting walls, the metal storage units, the empty rooms, and finally the metal second floor that took up a third of the main entrance room. The base had been in disrepair before the Bots took residence, cracking and unused for decades. Yet, the Autobots had made the base their own.

Ratchet had created an impromptu med bay in the main entrance, with cobbled together alien tech everywhere (on more than one occasion the Agent had tried to get his hands on some, only for the medic to refuse). Directly across from the elevator towered their transporter-bridge-do-hicky, and in front of it was the Autobots logo etched into the concrete floor. The Autobot medic was working at a green tinted screen, before the Agent entered. Now, the medic, unfortunately, had to give his attention to whatever the Agent came for this time.

"Agent Fowler, for what do we have the pleasure?" The medic asked, clearly not pleased with the humans presence.

"Where's Prime. I need to speak to him." Fowler demanded, coming up to the yellow railing surrounding the floor.

"Out looking into a possible energon deposit at the moment. They should be coming back any moment now." Rachet said, focus coming back to the sudden activity on the screen.

He then walked over to a large handle nearby and pulled it down. Both the bot's and human's attention went to the powering of the bridge as its swirl of colors opened. A bright flash appeared at the end of the portal, and not a second later, three vehicles came barreling through. A big blue and red rig truck at front and center, a blue Aprilia RSV motorcycle to the trucks left, and finally a yellow Urbana 500 car with a black stripe down its middle on the right side of the truck. They all transformed into their bipedal robot forms, and despite their alien appearance, even the Agent could tell that the mission went empty handed from the motorcycle and racing car's expressions. Prime, as usual, was stoic with not an ounce of emotion giving away what he felt or what the mission was about. The Prime immediately noticed Fowler, and came over to the railing so as to better address the Liaison.

"Agent Fowler. For what do we owe your visit?" Asked Optimus. His deep voice had a way of commanding respect. The Liaison stared straight into the Autobot leader's eyes.

"Prime! Just what happened to that girl that she's jabbering about giant alien robots?" The Agent demanded. Fowler had, of course, heard the Autobots side almost immediately after their mission (it seems they'd learned after trying to hide the three kids, that they should just tell the truth), but Fowler had found the story to be a bit unbelievable. He wouldn't of been surprised if the events happened to one of the aliens, but to a human? He half hoped that Prime would reveal some yet unrevealed information to make sense of it all.

"I am afraid I do not understand Agent Fowler. The events occurred as explained to you. Have you discovered any new information as to explain the situation?"

"Only that she's a terrible liar. And, apparently, her name is Rachel Evensbrough. Though there's no record of her anywhere, in any database. Any theories?" Fowler stated. They had searched every database, yet came up with no results. That, along with her refusal to talk about any parents or relations, immediately brought up the suspicion that she was a foreign spy, yet there was no record of her in any of the hacked foreign databases either.

"Is it possible she's a Pretender Optimus?" Arcee asked. Optimus considered it for a moment, before shaking his head.

"Her life signature was that of a humans. Yet, I cannot say for certain, as the artifact was interfering with readings."

"This artifact" Fowler began, bringing the attention back to him. "what exactly is it?"

"A shiftable weapon of sorts. Beyond that, I cannot say," Optimus responded. The Autobots only had it in their hands for a moment before it disappeared.

That brought up another question to the event. How'd the girl manage to acquire the artifact, and how did she manage to take it from the Autobots?

Fowler would have the answers one way or another.

"She'll be released this Friday," Fowler said. Optimus nodded.

"Arcee-"

"Pick up the kid. Bring her here safely. Got it." Arcee replied before Optimus could finish.

Rachet spluttered.

"Wha-! Isn't three humans enough?!" Rachet asked incredulously.

Everyone stared at him.

Looking around and seeing how no one else shared his opinion, Rachet just grumbled and went back to his work.

"I'll meet you there," Fowler nodded. Done with what he came there to do, Fowler turned to leave.

After the Agent left, Arcee couldn't help but voice her hesitation to the Prime.

"Is it really the best idea to bring such an unknown to the base Optimus?" She would be lying if she said she didn't have more than one reservation about bringing the human here, not the least of which was their young human allies safety.

Optimus looked at Arcee.

"I have no doubt that the Decepticons will be just as interested in that artifact as we are, and I cannot condone what would happen if the Decepticons reached her first." Optimus replied.

Arcee understood, but that didn't mean she had to like it.


Author's Note: Spring Break!

It's Spring Break for me meaning at least another two chapters this week. Rachel is going to properly get an introduction to the Autobots soon. What is she going to do? She's certainly not the best liar.

Comments appreciated!

Also note: I don't own Transformers. Wow! Really? Yep. Just Rachel. Everyone's got to come to terms with reality eventually.