Chapter 6:

I had a dream last night.

No, not of home, or that everything that had happened was just a dream, or something cliche like that.

It was one of those dreams where, when you wake up, you feel like you've just gained something important. It was important.

And I couldn't remember it.

I must have spent at least an hour after I woke up, just trying to recall the dream. I really hated that the more I tried to grasp it, the more it dissipated from my memory.

A new nurse I hadn't seen before came into my room at around seven-ish to take my order for breakfast, and to make sure I could hobble over to the bathroom by myself without face-planting. I had been given a white t-shirt and blue jeans to wear from the hospital's donated clothing options, and went back into the bed afterwards.

I'd been feeling nervous and jittery since I woke up. Not because of the dream, that was more of an annoyance, but because I feared the inevitable bill that would drop into my lap and the boot from the hospital. The future was now, and I had to figure out what my plan was going to be.

Is selling my soul an option?

On second thought, that might be entirely possible here.

It's going to take me awhile to get use to this. Or- and here's an idea- I'll get back home before I have to get use to this place. Wouldn't that be a dream come true?

Damn it Rachel, put the dream thing on the backburner, it'll (maybe) come back to you eventually. Right now I had more immediate things to consider.

The nurse came back in with my breakfast, and I quitely thanked her as I devoured the grits and toast.

Looking back, I really wish I had convinced the Pentagon agents to allow me to meet the Autobots, then I might have been able to get some help figuring out how I got here, and how it is I can get home. I mean there had to be a way to get home if there was a way to get here in the first place, the fictional Universe that isn't supposed to even exist.

Right?

Just the thought of being stuck here made me nauseous. It's not that the whole i'm-in-a-fictional-universe thing wasn't amazing (though the idea of perhaps having to fend for myself on the streets, was not), it was just- well - I wanted to be able to see my family again. I'd never been without them, hell, I'd never been so completely on my own before.

No tears Rachel. No. Tears. I took a deep breath in and out.

Okay.

So I needed to meet the Autobots. Their base was on the outskirts of the town, hidden in a false canyon rock. Wasn't the whole town surrounded by said canyon rocks though? And wouldn't they freak out if the very same suspicious human from before came up to knock on their front door?

Ugh. It was a better than no plan, but it was still a time consuming, poor plan.

There was a knock on the door, and the doctor from yesterday came inside.

"Ms. Evensbrough! How are you this morning?" The dirty brown haired and brown eyed middle-aged doctor asked cheerily.

"Good Dr.-" Shit I forgot his name.

"Dr. Winslow," he finished unperturbed. "You ready to get out of here?" The doctor asked as he looked over my chart.

"About that doctor- if I can be frank, I-I don't know how i'm going to afford to pay for the stay and treatment." I gulped. Why was I so nervous. Should I have lied? No! Maybe they could- not bill me? Was that a possibility?

"Oh, did no one tell you?" He asked. I looked at him confused. He smiled.

"Your bill has already been paid in full by your guardian. He'll be here to pick you up shortly."

Go with it Rachel. Just be thankful and go with it.

"Oh! Of course, thank you so much."

The doctor checked my foot and I tried to make small conversation with him, but my attention was entirely on what he had said.

Someone paid the bill? And said someone also said they were my guardian? What? Who? Why?! It could literally be anyone, but two people were the most plausible as to who said guardian might be.

After the Doctor left I ruminated and fretted over all the possible worst case scenarios, until noon time came.

The nurse from earlier came in at that time, saying that my guardian was waiting in the lobby, and that I was ready to be discharged. She gave me a bag that had my PJ's from the night I came in, cleaned as best they probably could. I swung my leg carefully over the right side of the bed, and as I put on the thin teal slipper they had given me for my left foot, I quickly snuck the rod out from behind the pillow, hiding it between the shirt and pants of the pajamas. Anticipation, and a healthy bit of weariness, built in me as I hobbled through the wooden door using my crutch.

I really hoped the 'guardian' was who I was hoping it would be. It would figure with my luck that it'd end up being a Decepticon or MECH. Oh my God I had completely forgotten about MECH! Add that to my list of worries.

As I finally exited the hospital room, I looked around. At the center of the floor was a circular desk arrangement around which were many doors to other rooms marked by numbers. To my left and right were hallways, down which the occasional nurse flitted through. Across from my room was another hallway, at the end of which was an elevator. As the nurse slowly led me to the elevator, I recognized a few of the nurses at the desks and said my goodbyes. We went down the hallway before finally reaching the elevator, at which point the nurse pushed the button and we waited for it to come to our floor.

I will forever remember this place as where my sense of normalcy and sanity died. There will be a funeral procession tomorrow at noon, please bring your formal attire.

The elevator dinged open. We both stepped in and the nurse hit the button labeled one with a star next to it, what must have been the ground floor. There was a total of 4 floors (we were on the third) according to the button options. The elevator dinged as we passed the second floor and again when we reached the first, where the elevator stopped and the door opened. In front of me was the lobby, as while it was white themed like everything else, there was a receptionist at an enclosed desk and - to my joyous delight- clear glass doors with silver crash bars that led outside.

The nurse stood back a bit behind me as I hobbled closer to the doors to stare out of it.

It was noon, so the sun was at its zenith in the sky casting a bright glow over the town of Jasper. Directly in front of the doors was a large parking lot sparsely populated with cars, that led out onto a road. Across from the road was a collection of small brick shops complementing the surrounding landscape. That, or the sand from the surroundings over the years had buffed the buildings to the point where it had gotten into the small crevices of the buildings forcing a sort of unintended conformity. The signs couldn't be made out from this distance (or perhaps that was due to my distinct lack of glasses blurring much of the details). Wooden electric poles lined the road on the same side as the shops. It certainly wasn't the skyline of a modern and developing city. No, this was a small town that probably hadn't seen growth in years.

"If you'll sign these official forms affirming that you've been released and for record keeping, before you leave." The receptionist from behind the desk brought my attention back.

"Yeah," I replied. I hobbled over to the desk to sign the checkout forms. As I was signing and reading the forms, behind me a door opened and a gust of fresh air came inside. I turned my head, and my eyes widened.

It was Agent Fowler.

Huh, so I guessed right, or at least partially right. My bet was on either Fowler or that other agent. Glad it was Fowler, I think I'd prefer him over that other agent any day. That other guy was downright creepy.

Fowler stared at me with a slight smile on his face.

"Ready to go?"

His smile then became full blown as he went over to shake the nurse's hand, and thanked her for taking care of his "step-daughter". I almost choked on air. He took the forms right out of my hand and looked them over, chatting with the receptionist while looking over- hey wait! Isn't this an invasion of privacy or something?!

Was I- was I supposed to go along with this?!

Just as I was geared up to say something snappy to the agent, he turned me around and escorted me towards the door. Once again thanking the receptionist and nurse. He held open the door as I carefully walked out onto the sidewalk surrounding the parking lot.

I looked up to the clear blue sky and took a nice,

Slow.

Deep.

Breath.

The sun felt warm on my skin and a nice breeze brushed past.

"I hate to interrupt, but we've got a schedule to keep," Fowler said, interrupting my zen moment.

"Oh, i'm sorry step-father, I thought I could enjoy being outside for a bit before I'm forced to confinement again," I rolled my eyes. Couldn't I have at least a minute to enjoy finally being outside after being cooped up in a hospital for days?

"If you're so bothered by the lie, I could always forward you the bill?" Fowler suggested. I glared at him.

He wasn't done though.

"If you'd like to go your merry way, please, go ahead and take your magic stick to wave yourself some wings and fly away. Cause I'd take a gander that you don't have anywhere else you can go. So, you can come with us and we can help you to figure out this mess, or I could arrest you and we'd be doing the exact same dance."

Well, now I know for sure that my lies didn't work. And, yeah, I didn't have anywhere to go.

He still didn't need to be such a jerk about it.

"Us? Arrest me? You and what army? " I asked smug. He could probably arrest me, but I gestured around to indicate the distinct lack of an anyone else. There wasn't-

Oh.

There in the corner of the parking lot was a familiar blue motorcycle that looked suspiciously like Arcee's. Apparently that was it- her- cue to enter the conversation.

As she rolled up towards us, there was a shift in the air above her and a human, hologram? Fake person? Cool leathered biker? Digitized above her. On her? I couldn't help but stare.

When she was in the parking spot directly in front me she spoke, and I almost jumped from my skin. When it was behind a screen and animated, it's fine. But a talking vehicle in reality? That just surprises me, whether I'm prepared for it or not.

"Look kid, it's important you understand-"

"I'm not a kid," I jumped in after my shock wore off, crossing my arms and glaring at her.

"Fine, young lady? Point is, the Decepticons, those bot's who almost killed you? They're going to want what you have, which means you're a target and in terrible danger."

"And what, you're going to protect me?" It came out a bit more condescending than I intended. I knew the Autobots would try to protect me, but if I'm being completely honest here, I'm pretty sure I'd be in more danger if I stayed with them. In the end though, they were also my best, and safest, bet to finding out how I could get home.

"I'd say I've done a pretty okay job so far," There was a teasing in her voice, and it just hit me the Autobots have been watching over me the entire time I was in the hospital.

Okay.

Totally not embarrassing. It's not like I let a few rip, or scratched myself in a few unsavory places or anything. Nope, ha, ha.

Ha.

Well, here's to hoping it was just the sort of watching where they're trying to keep around me safe, and not the type where they're spying on me.

Ha.

Okay. I knew what I had to do, so why was I stalling? There's no need to be nervous, the Autobots aren't going to hurt me. I know that, logically at least.

"Fine, but there's no way I can ride on you," I indicated to Arcee, then indicated to my bandaged right foot and crutch.

"Wasn't planning on it. I'm more here for protection. Make sure the cons aren't planning anything," Arcee responded.

That meant I'd have to ride with…

"I'll bring the car over. Then we can have a nice, long, honest chat," Fowler said as he took out his keys.

Riding with Arcee suddenly didn't seem like such a bad idea.

As he walked over to a fairly old looking tan sedan, my focus went back to Arcee. An awkward silence enveloped us.

"So...um… robot, huh?" Haven't I said that before? It's like I suddenly forgot how to start a conversation, I was just that nervous. I should be excited! I get to see the freaking Autobot base, unless I'm wrong and they're actually escorting me to a prison or something.

Happy thoughts.

I needed to start over.

"You know what? Scratch that. Can we start over? My name is Rachel. Please not Ms. Evensbrough, I think I'll go crazy if everyone calls me Ms. Evensbrough," I said sticking out my hand, then realizing that she couldn't shake it, so I put my hand back down and tried a smile.

Confidence. Confidence is the key, even with talking to giant, alien, fictional robots. Right.

"Arcee," she reciprocated. "Also, I'm not ready to forgive you for getting mud all over me just yet."

I cringed.

Right. That happened.

"Sorry about that." I was cranky at the time, and wanted to lash out at the unfairness of the situation, which turned out to be in a very childish manner.

Still, there was a small part of me that wasn't sorry for it.

"Get in," Agent Fowler commanded as he pulled up in front of us. I looked at Arcee uncertainly.

"Go. You'll be fine. Agent Fowler is actually a good man," she assured. Okay. Yeah, okay.

I hobbled over to the rear door facing me and looked back at Arcee, before struggling to get myself and my crutch into the car and shutting the door behind me.

As Agent Fowler pulled out of the hospital parking lot, I looked behind us to see Arcee pulling out to follow us.

"Where are we going?" I asked Fowler.

"You'll see."

Well that was helpful. I let out a gust of air from my lungs as I closed my eyes.

My heart was beating fast, and I was slightly shaking. From what I couldn't make out. Fear? Nerves? Anger? I needed to calm down. Breathe. In and out. No need to fret. Confidence.

"Nervous about something?" Fowler asked as he glanced into his rearview mirror.

"I guess so. There's plenty of things to be nervous about," I quickly countered. Outside the buildings went past. It was more brick buildings, but with greater distance between them than the ones across from the hospital. Occasionally there was a stucco building instead.

"I suppose there is. Cons' chasing our tails in all manner of ways."

Maybe I could figure out where we were in the timeline. I leaned forward in my seat.

"So, how many are there?"

"Of the bots? Enough to keep trouble around." He grumbled.

Well that was helpful.

"Well how many is that?" I pushed.

"Well why are you so curious?"

This was getting nowhere. I let out a puff of air and leaned back into the seat again, staring outside.

"Look. I'm just trying to make sense of what happened," I defended myself.

"So are we, we share a common goal then."

I nodded.

"Sure. I guess so." I took my bag and took out the rod. It's glow lit up the back, making a blue tinge onto everything. "Maybe we can start with what this is?" We came to a stoplight and Fowler turned around to look at the rod, then at me.

"Being honest now, huh? What made you change your mind?"

"I'm past the denial stage and am now in the acceptance? And I thought you wanted an honest conversation. " I pointed towards the stoplight as it had changed to green. Fowler focused back onto the road. I continued, "and anyway, you're right. I need help. If you guys can't help me then I'm just cursed."

"Cursed? That's a funny way of putting things. " He took a right at the next light. I glared at the rod.

"I swear to you, I think this things cursed." I whispered. "I try to get rid of it and it. Keeps. coming. back. I leave it to a Bot? It comes back. I try throwing it away? It comes flying back. I swear, I'm not crazy. I left the thing with the Autobots and it appeared under the pillow at the hospital. Cursed. I don't want it, I don't want any of this." It alleviated me a bit to finally just vent to someone, even if it was just a little bit.

Agent Fowler nodded and said "huh." There was a pause in the conversation as he merged onto the highway.

"There's one thing I'm curious about..."

"Shoot."

"How do you know about the Autobots and Decepticons?"

Was he asking about what I really wished he wouldn't want to talk about?

"What- whatsoever do you mean?" I forced a smile.

He raised an eyebrow.

"You knew what they were called before, as far as i'm aware, anyone else told you squat. At the hospital you mentioned a TV show or movie about giant alien robots? The Boss bot mentioned he overheard you saying they weren't real back during their mission too."

"What really? Can't say I remember that! Hahaha!" I tried to laugh the question off. I cringed internally. Oh my God that was the first excuse that came to my mouth? Good job Rachel, real smooth.

"I believe I said we were going to have an honest, and truthful conversation here young lady. I would hate to have to move this conversation to the Pentagon," Fowler reminded me with an undertone of a threat in his words. I gulped.

"Yes! Of course, wouldn't want to have to go that far out. It's just, uh, a silly little thing. A TV show, about robots with two factions, the Autobots and Decepticons." Please just leave it at that.

"I'd know about a show like that! I've never heard-!"

"Alternate universe." I blurted out.

There was a silence, before Agent Fowler spoke again.

"You're gonna have to explain a bit more in detail than that."

"Well it's really just something- some theory- and I have a few theories- I've cometothroughtheevents-astherearealotofthingsthatjustdon'tmakesense- andtheTVshow- wellthatjust factorsin- thatmademecometotheconclusion- among otherthings- thatthis- orI- amfromEarth- wellImeanadifferentEarthwellImeanthere's onlyoneEarth but-"

"Stop, just stop! Not a word your saying is making a lick of sense!" Fowler interrupted me and I quickly shut my mouth. "Slowly."

I nodded and took a moment to consider what I'd say.

With what I've said now and before, there was no avoiding telling about my multiverse theory. Hopeful that'd satiate him as far as the TV show thing. I still wanted to avoid specifically mentioning this specific world was fiction in mine. I could very well know their futures, and I didn't want them to know or expect anything from me. I really didn't want to have that pressure on me, my goal was to get home, and not change fate here.

A plan began formulating in my mind.

I could choose any of the other Transformers story verses to explain my knowledge, it didn't have to be Prime. Problem was I only knew this and some of the Transformers movie verse. Those two don't lend to the best options.

But who said my transformers TV show had to be real? It's not like they could check. And if I made up a fake one, it'd give me flexibility.

"Okay. So- this is just a theory currently, but with the current evidence it is my opinion that I'm from an alternate Earth."

"Alternate Earth? What in the blazes is that supposed to mean?!"

"If we're going to the Autobot base I'd rather wait to explain it so I don't have to repeat myself." Agent Fowler protested, but when he quickly realized I wasn't going to say anything more on the subject at the moment, he dropped it.

The avoidance allowed me greater time to formulate a mental list of what I should and should not say. Not that I've been sticking to my own rules lately.

The car once again was filled with silence as Fowler drove. We had left the small town and were now a way out into the outlying desert landscape. Outside, the wind picked up the sand into a tumble only for it to lose momentum and fall back to the ground. The drive became more bumpy due to the poor road and the occasional small rock we ran over. The drive continued like this for awhile until, after a bend, a large rocky mountain face greeted us. The rock came at the end of the road before it split into both a right and left direction.

Was that...?

Fowler sped up the car towards the rock face. We quickly went off of the road, (and past a stop sign ironically) as we sped towards the face of the mountain, the car shaking as we drove on the unpaved ground.

It was fake, I kept telling myself. A gate would open up, right?

It wasn't opening up and we weren't slowing down.

I started screaming.

"SLOW DOWN! WERE GOING TO HIT IT!" I screamed as the rock came far too close for comfort. I shut my eyes and braced for the inevitable end of me. Goodbye cruel world!

"Ha! Should of seen your face. Priceless everytime," Fowler laughed.

What?

I slowly opened my eyes, and to my great, great, relief we were not splattered onto the rock. Instead we were in a metallic tunnel that was supported by square beams. I looked behind me to see Arcee (with no hologram) and a metal door shut. I turned back around, now giddy (and my fear forgotten), and leaned forward as far as I could with the seatbelt, wanting to see the place I'd only ever seen in the show.

The Autobot base. Outpost Omega One.

The car rolled up near the center of the room, and Agent Fowler opened the driver door to let himself out. I stayed inside for a second longer, taking it all in before leaving the safety of the car.

The base was large, larger than I ever thought, as I couldn't even see the ceiling. Underneath, a concrete base acted as the ground and some of the supporting walls while the rest was just the natural canyon rock. The room had been set up a makeshift lab, as there was Cybertronian tech in here I couldn't even begin to guess the function of. There was a second floor I couldn't see very well, other than the yellow rails, and the pair of yellow painted stairs leading up to the floor. There was a niche to my right where I assumed the ground bridge controls were located, and where a red and white Bot currently stood. He didn't look too pleased to see the car (or was it he wasn't too pleased to see me?). To my left was the large groundbridge, which consisted of several large black rings, in front of the which was the symbol of the Autobots etched into the concrete floor. From inside the car I could make out two other pairs of metal legs.

I took a deep breath and opened the car door. Getting out seemed to take an embarrassingly long amount of time due to my bad foot, causing the focus I felt on me make me even more nervous.

My eyes didn't know who to focus on. Rachet the red and white blocky medic? The bulky green giant Wrecker, Bulkhead? The yellow with black striped youthful Scout Bumblebee? Arcee behind me transformed into her bipedal mode as well, seemingly ignoring the tension in the room and just stretching.

I didn't know to do with myself, so I ended up just hobbling over to Agent Fowler.

They were still staring at me.

Of course they were, but…

Should I say something? I mean, there were plenty of things to say.

Okay, yeah. Confidence.

"Um, hi. I'm… Rachel," my eyes flitted to each of the bots, not knowing who I should rest them upon. I heard a scoff from my right, and finally rested my eyes on Rachet.

"We know who you are," he said as he rolled his, hmm optics? Can I say that now? I tried not to take the dismissal to heart, but I was very self-conscious at the moment, so his words stung a little.

He really did sound like an grumpy old man though, which was pretty cool.

"And Prime?" Fowler asked the medic.

"I am here Agent Fowler," a booming voice that went right to the core sounded from behind Bulkhead and Bumblebee. The heavy footfalls shook the ground slightly as the Prime walked towards us. He came from a hallway I hadn't noticed behind the two Bots. They both parted so the he could come closer, and it gave me a better view of him.

Prime was on a completely other level of height compared to the other four Bots. He must have been twice Arcee's height for sure, and as he grew closer, the more insignificantly small I felt in comparison.

Damn it, and he was hunky too, okay? There, I thought it! I'll never get it out of myself again.

He was mostly silver, and had blue armored feet, legs, and helmet, while his chest and arms had a red plating. Also on his chest was two windows from what must have been his vehicle mode. He had a surprisingly young and clear sliver face. His light blue eyes stared into Fowlers than into mine.

And damn it! His stare unnerved me the most (and no not in that way). He had an air of authority with him, yet at the same time, his smile was welcoming (okay filthy mind, you can stop).

Optimus keeled down to address us more respectfully. I didn't really mind him standing, though it was courteous of him to attempt to address us in a more equal manner. In actuality, all it meant was that I didn't have to strain my neck back as much.

"Hello again Agent Fowler," he nodded to the liaison, than his optics turned onto me.

I gulped.

"And you must be Rachel Evensbrough. It is a pleasure to properly meet you," he said kindly enough.

I nodded dumbly.

"Yeah," I said quietly. I turned towards Fowler in awe.

"He's Optimus Prime. The Optimus Prime," I whispered and pointed at the giant ali- no, the Cybertronian, the fucking leader of the Autobots in front of us.

"And he's Bumblebee, and he's Bulkhead, and he's Rachet!" I pointed to each of them as I sounded off their names in awe, than turned back to Fowler who had gone wide eyed. A strong shiver and warmth went down my spine, and I turned around to see Ratchet staring at some device pointed at me.

"Negative. She's 100% human," Rachet affirmed.

Obviously?

"Forgive us if we are overly cautious. Have you heard of us before?" The Prime asked, staring at me intently.

I chuckled giddily.

"Oh, if that surprised you, I know lots of names Prime. Lots. And that's not all I know. I know you're all autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron, created by Primus. I know that your archnemesis is Megatron. I know the Autobots and Decepticons have been fighting for centuries," I was fangirling, I couldn't help it. "I could take a good guess of a few things, like that Starscream is Megatron's second in command, though why I can never understand."

I heard a sudden bellowing laughter. "You and me both," Bulkhead laughed, before stopping when Bee elbowed him and beeped.

I couldn't help but stare. My giddiness turning into awe again. Bumblebee just beeped, I mean, yeah, I'd heard it before, in the forest, but this time I wasn't delirious (I hope)! It was so, so cute.

"Is there any classified information you don't know?" Fowler asked exasperated.

"Yeah, plenty there too. If you would like, I can explain what I was talking about earlier?" I asked. Fowler frowned, and the Prime raised an...Eyebrow ridge? A metal plate that just so happened to be at the same place and used in the same manner as a human eyebrow? I needed to get my Cybertronian anatomy down.

"Miss-know-it-all-here thinks she's from another Universe or something!" Fowler explained disbelievingly. I frowned and crossed my arms.

"Okay, 1, I just said I didn't know everything, just some basics, and even that info's iffy, 2, My alternate universe explanation is just the most likely I've come up with to explain the differences and unexplainable scenarios since I appeared out of nowhere here, and 3, Would it kill you to be a little more friendly?" I scoffed at the end to accentuate my frustration with the agent and glared straight into his eyes.

"What do you mean that's the most likely explanation?! It's bogus!" Fowler countered.

"I might be wrong! I'm open to that possibility, but that this is an alternate Earth is the most probable of them is all!" The multiverse theory was a legitimate explanation to the universe.

"And what has made you believe you are from an alternate Earth?" Optimus cut in. I looked at Prime seriously, ignoring the strong dislike I was staring to build towards Fowler.

"None of the major brands here are familiar, heck, none of the most obvious ones where I come from even exist here. No Android smartphones, or Apple, or major fast food joints like McDonalds, global social medias like facebook or Twitter. All unrecognizable to people, which is impossible, especially if you live in the US. Not to mention the huge matter, which I would like to say in advance that I mean no offense," I hesitated to continue, but Optimus gestured for me to continue.

"Well, that where I'm from...Cybertronian's are fiction."

Bulkhead shook his head.

"No way! We're not just made up human characters! Uh, right guys?" Bulkhead immediately rejected.

"I concur! Just because you knew our names and vaguely know of our history does not automatically mean that-" Rachet started before I cut him off.

"Let me finish before you make your judgment. Please." I begged. Rachet scoffed in disbelief, but said no more, allowing me to continue. I took a deep breath.

"So, where I'm from Cybertronian's are fiction, with TV shows and movies loosely based off of the TV show. Oh, and toys. It's called Transformers, a very recognizable franchise in the US, and I guess to a lesser extent elsewhere in the world."

This was the part I needed to sell more than anything else.

"But it's different here, that much I can already tell. For example, in the TV show the Autobots and Decepticons came to Earth because the AllSpark had landed here from when it was launched from Cybertron during the war. In the show, that was what was mainly fought over, and secondarily Energon." The AllSpark thing actually came from the Bay movies, so not technically a complete lie.

"You are correct in that we never had to resort to launching the Allspark out into unknown space. Here, the war was primarily fought over Energon," Optimus explained. If I remembered correctly, wasn't the war primarily fought because of a wish to overthrow the caste system on Cybertron and remove the corruption in the Council though? Over time it perhaps became about Energon, but to say it was the primary cause of the war seemed disingenuous.

Perhaps I wasn't the only one telling partial truths here.

I nodded.

"So some things you thought existed don't. Big hoopla! That doesn't mean you're necessarily from alternate reality," Fowler pointed out.

"I'd be inclined to agree," my eyes narrowed at Fowler as I continued. "Except for a major personal issue for me."

"When I was in the hospital, I tried calling my parents numbers. My mother's number apparently doesn't work anymore, and my father has apparently been dead for three years. This is, of course, despite me seeing him just the day before. Not to mention that apparently I have a fully grown brother that I most definitely never knew about." I glared at Fowler. "Go ahead, look in your databases for one Robert Evensbrough and Lisa Malbury Evensbrough, I have a feeling you won't like what you'll find. And I have another feeling that you already know that I don't exist here, do I Agent Fowler?"

I had left a string of hope, the smallest amount, that the Agent would whisk up some information to prove me wrong. I prayed for it.

His expression said it all though.

"Does anyone else have a better explanation? How not only I know, even if in the smallest correct portion, of you all without having ever met you; not exist with any formal documentation; And how I got from my home in the middle of the night, in Houston Texas, with my family, to the middle of goddamn nowhere with a three year time skip or missing memories, please I'm all fucking ears!" I practically growled out.

There was a heavy silence.

"Whoa! Maybe you got kidnapped by aliens and got brainwashed. How cool would that be?" A young feminine voice echoed in the base from seemingly nowhere. I looked to the halfway point up the stairs that led to the second floor, and my eyes widened.

It was a teenage asian girl with two twintails holding up her black hair with pink highlights at the ends. A little hair was hanging in a ponytail at the back of her head, which was held together with a hair tie. She had pink bangs that was swept to her left. She was wearing a dark blue tank top with a yellow border at the top and straps. A green robot (or was that supposed to be a monster?) was on the center of the tank top, underneath which was a two-toned purple short sleeved t-shirt. She was also wearing jean shorts, two-toned purple stockings, long brown boots with pink (or was that purple?) ties. She was fair skinned and had light brown eyes.

It was Miko. Miko. You know what? I never noticed just how much stuff Miko wore.

"Do you know anything about me? You probably know a bunch of cool things about the Bots! Can you name them all? What's your Earth like? How'd you get hurt? Was there blood? What were the shows about?" I was not prepared for the barrage of questions coming out of her mouth, and it stunned me for a moment.

At the top of the stairs two boys started coming down behind Miko. One was a dark haired teenage boy, taller than Miko, with blue eyes. He had on a dark grey shirt and either gray sleeves or a gray long sleeved undershirt, with simple blue jeans, and a pair of white and blue tennis shoes.

The other boy was a lot visibly younger than the teenagers. He was a kid, who I doubted could have even started puberty yet. He had a messy, light brown head of hair with dark brown eyes. He was wearing a formal white, long sleeved undershirt with a folded collar, along with an orange vest over it (was was up with them and multiple layers?). He was also wearing baggy blue jeans and white tennis shoes with an orange accent.

I felt underdressed.

Also, I think I'm getting an introduction to the human companions now. My previous anger once again disappeared as the awe took over. I was changing emotions faster than a roller coaster, and it was draining.

"I'm afraid the human companions were quite different in the show," I think Miko asked for something like that. The questions were spouted out too fast for me to catch the rest.

"Ms. Evensbrough, this is Miko, Jack, and Rafael, our human friends," Optimus stood back up and indicated to said humans. Miko waved, Jack seemed cautious, and Raf smiled nervously.

"Um, hi. I'm Rachel," I looked towards Optimus. "Just Rachel is fine."

Shit, did I just cuss in front of them? I put my hand lightly over my mouth in horror. Having a younger sibling causes one to usually be very careful with cursing.

Unperturbed by my realization, Miko came the rest of the way down and crossed the room over to me faster than I thought humanly possible.

"How old are you? Is she going to get a partner too? Are you really from an alternate reality? I heard you had a cool weapon? Do you really?" She was getting in my personal space.

"Uh...in the car. Yeah."

"Cool!"

"Hey, Miko, maybe back it up a bit? It can be overwhelming, especially in a situation like hers," Jack tried to help. It apparently distracted her enough to turn her attention to Jack, allowing me to get some space from her.

I cleared my throat and addressed Prime.

"I found that stick-rod thing where I woke up. It has to be related to this somehow. I mean, I literally can't seem to get rid of it. I'm not trying to steal it from you guys on purpose or anything, it just- won't leave me alone!" Prime hummed in thought (oh wow that voice!) as his processor turned. I hobbled over to the car and opened the back to retrieve the strange glowing artifact, hobbling back over to Prime who bent down to take it from me. The other humans and Ratchet watched in fascination as the rod increased in size until it was an equivalent ratio from me to Optimus.

"Rachet do you believe you will be able to determine the artifacts properties?" Rachet looked from me to Prime to the object, than back to Prime, and finally back to the object, before finally taking it in his hand.

"It'll take some time, but I believe I can do that. You said that it seems to have formed a sort of link with you, is that correct?" Rachet asked me.

"I don't know about a link, but I throw it and it comes back." Rachet did not seem to be amused by my turn of phrase.

"If I can see it in an controlled environment, I believe I may be able to determine why it seems stuck to you." I was surprised that Rachet had taken my word on the artifact. I expected a greater protest to the idea.

"In the meantime, you are welcome to stay here Rachel until we can figure out how to solve this issue," Optimus offered. I was surprised by his generosity.

"I've got some calls to make to verify your story," Agent Fowler dismissed himself. He walked back to his car, but stopped after he had opened the door.

"Until further notice, you are not to leave this base, is that understood?"

"Sure," I grinned at him.

He was the one to glare at me this time, before he got into his car, and drove off.

"It might be best for you to stay here until Fowler returns or Ratchet completes his research." Optimus encouraged. I couldn't help but wonder if the real reason he wanted me to stay in the room was so the wild card human didn't learn too much about the base and it's secrets.

I looked towards Miko, Jack, and Raf.

"So… what do you guys do for fun around here?"


Author's Notes: Long one!

Wanted to get this part done and over with. I used Transformers Prime Wiki for help with the appearance descriptions. Why can't everyone wear something simple, that doesn't take forever to explain? I really hate descriptions unless it's necessary. Like for the Prime team? Eh, just google if you want to know how they really look. I'm not changing it. But, for our humans compatriots...

The idea of having the protagonist know lot's of Bot names was inspired by Nan00k's Flipside, and Aftereffects. It's hilarious and I love it.

Update 1- 3/18/18: I went back and fixed some stuff, very light. I tried to get one last chapter done before spring break was over, but didn't make it. I should be able to post it tomorrow though. Also, I think I've got a general posting schedule now.

****New posts every Friday night or Saturday morning.****

Comment's Appreciated! Really, thank you! Feedback is always encouraging.

Also Note: I don't own Transformers. This is actually a very long Coma-induced story of Rachel's (Also also note: Author's notes are not in any part or way a part of this story's canon).