Chapter 20

I didn't know what to write for my first report. Did I put my name on it, or is it supposed to be anonymous? How did they want me to format it? What should my first topic be? Should I start with something really big?

Perhaps they had example papers on Google. Ah, wait, no Google. Also, it's not likely they have a format on how to properly structure government documentation for your alien report.

Or maybe I should just go for it. Write something like: Hi, Rachel here. Hey government peps, did you know that the core of your Earth is actually the ancient Cybertronian deity of chaos? Just a little fun trivia fact.

Maybe starting off with a softball would be better, like dark energon. Would that be suspicious? I feel like if it wasn't suspicious, me bringing the topic up first would quickly make it suspicious. That's not even mentioning that I have no clue how much they already know.

I can't tell them too much, nor could I tell them too little. All while keeping the future vague. A perfect balance.

I sigh and fall backwards onto the bed, the mattress creaking beneath me. My glasses had gone askew on my face, but I didn't care at the moment. I was too busy glaring at the ceiling with seething frustration.

I hated writing, and this is how I'm supposed to support myself for the foreseeable future. I barely passed every essay I've ever written in school. I mentally shuddered at the memory of my near fail in my senior English class back in high school. Yes, this was a great plan you've set yourself up for Rachel. Bravo!

I sigh again, checking my phone for the fifth time in the last two minutes. Still nothing new. Still waiting for someone to pick me up. I had been changed and ready for three hours, with a pair of jeans, a dark green t-shirt and a simple grey jacket as my current fashion choice.

The birds outside were chirping. A warm sunlight lit up the small dust motes in front of the window while the four lightbulbs under the fan illuminated the small pile of bags that was stacked in the opposite corner of the room. If I choose to lift myself back up (in a little bit. 5 more minutes), I would barely be able to make out the edge of my brown leather satchel that peaked behind the closet door.

Yesterday I had moved all my things into Ms. Nunez's house, which consisted of the six plastic bags that I owned. Six plastic bags of stuff (Four of which was just food, and went into the fridge/pantry respectively). Even Ms. Nunez was surprised, though not for the number of items, but because of the lack of travel items. No suitcase, no briefcase, and Fowler handed the new laptop to me right in front of her, along with all the clearly brand new boxes of stuff. Heck even my glasses were new. I wonder what the old lady could be thinking.

And thinking about thinking.

I sat back up and opened a Word document. Well it wasn't Word per say, it was some knock-off, alternate dimension version of it. Nevertheless it was opened. I start out by making bullet points.

Okay things I need to do or learn:

- How I got here and how to get back?

+ Storm → TFP universe, stick has something to do with it maybe? Large energy spike.

- What's with the stick?

When I had woken up this morning, surprise, surprise, I had found the glowy rod in my satchel.

- Learn how to defend myself

- Figure out how to use the stick without maybe dying, if I can

- Make a list of all events?

+ Risky in case of laptop being stolen, or government surveillance. Maybe into written journal.

- Make a list of topics I can use for reports.

+ Also in journal?

That's all I could think of for now. I saved the list, and locked the document file with a password.

My phone buzzed, and I saw a text from Miko

"WAKE UP. WE. ARE. HERE!"

I shut down my laptop and got off the bed, grabbing my satchel and stuffing said laptop inside it on my way out. I left the room, popping into the bathroom to quickly give myself a once over. As I made my way past the living room I saw Ms. Nunez had fallen asleep on the recliner with her late-night knitting in her lap and the TV on. With a smile I turned off the tv, and put away the knitting in the basket next to the chair. Using a pen that was on the side table, I wrote on the back of some ad, that I had went out, but I'd be back by tonight. I left the house, locking the door with my new key.

In front of the house was a big green SUV that honked twice at my exit. I couldn't help the smile as the back door opened, and I hopped in.

"What took you guys so long?" I asked, making sure to pull out the magic rod and throwing it in the back, in which a panel transformed out to swallow the rod to God knew where.

Miko turned around from the front, practically jumping in her seat.

"Rache, you have no idea what I found!" She pulled out a CD case from her bag. "It's a limited edition Smash Monkey Volume 1 CD! I bought it at the music store yesterday! Suuuuuper rare." She waved the case in front of me.

I stared at Miko.

"And when did you get this yesterday, a school day?"

She shrugged in a what-did-I-except-from-her manner, but that wouldn't do. I wasn't going to drop it this time.

"Miko, you can't keep skipping classes, your education is important," I folded my arms.

"Oh no…" Bulkhead grumbled.

"Why is it any of your business? Just wanted to share with you something I thought was awesome is all." She snapped back. "Thought you were cool, guess I was wrong." She rolled her eyes and turned back around a suddenly cold atmosphere radiating off of her.

"I'm just concerned for you"

"You're not my mom."

"No… no you're right I'm not… do you still want to put it on? I'd be interested in hearing it."

"I only want to share my music with people who are cool enough to appreciate it." She glared straight through the window.

I messed up. Damn I messed up. I haven't known Miko long enough for unsolicited concern, I knew how she'd react, but I said it anyway. Damn me. I sighed.

"I'm sorry Miko, you're right, I shouldn't be concerned with things that aren't my business."

The apology didn't fix the mood I'd created.

"Uh, Miko, how about something else then? Scream? Death Metal?" Bulkhead asked, trying to fix the situation.

"I'm not interested anymore. The mood is like, totally killed." She sulked.

"How about you Rachel?" Bulkhead asked tentatively.

"If Miko doesn't want anything we don't have to play anything." I said in a hopefully conciliatory tone.

"Uh...okay then."

Thus passed the entire ride in awkward silence.

16

Almost as soon as we got to the base, Miko was out with the door slammed behind her.

"Ouch, you don't have slam so hard," Bulkhead complained as Miko stomped off.

I get out and start after her a couple steps before stopping. I adjusted my bag, while I waited for Bulkhead to finish transforming behind me. Miko was already halfway up the stairs when she took a deep calming breath before continuing up and greeting Jack and Raf.

I turned around to address Bulkhead directly.

"I think I messed up."

"Yeah no kidding," Bulkhead said, stretching out, my rod in his hands. "Partly on me though, I brought up the same topic before you got in."

"You know Miko better than me, what can I do to make it up to her?"

"Just give her some space, that usually works for me." The large mech shrugged. I.e he had no idea if it would work if I did it, or if that was even the right way to go about it for me.

I looked around for Arcee and the big Boss himself. Ratchet was at his station though. As usual.

"Where's Optimus and Arcee?" I ask.

"Off to scout a possible Energon deposit. They should be back soon."

Okay, I guess.

"Any updates I should know Ratchet?" I address to the white and red bot. He scoffs.

"A bit busy at the moment. But to your question no. I haven't had time to continue on that project, but I did manage to build a highly fortified field-" He had slightly turned to address me when he noticed what Bulkhead holds in his hands.

Me and Bulkhead glanced at each other, then back to the confused and exasperated Ratchet.

"But- but I didn't even realize…" He turned around to quickly pull up what I assumed were meant to be security measures for the artifact holding area. "None of the sensors even - !" He topped himself and let out an exasperated sigh.

"A failure then." He said frustrated.

"Something is bound to work eventually right?" I try to console. He was adamant that the thing wouldn't get away from him yesterday, and that his plan would work. He had explained to me his theory that the rod was somehow sensing my biosignature (whatever that means) and if I went out of a certain range, it would transport itself (how was still not clear). His solution was thus to put up some device that would supposedly mimic my signature and thus prevent it from leaving the base. He also decided that adding security measures (whether to keep me or others out was unclear) could also prevent it from transporting. I wonder how long it took him to set all that up, and just for it end up being a waste of time. Yeesh, he didn't even seem angry, just... well frustrated at the situation, and wait, was that concern?

"Hmm..." He answers noncommittally. I must have imagined the concern.

Just then, a comm from Optimus was received to reopen the ground bridge, and Ratchet's attention shifted back to the controls.

"I can take it back there," I turn to offer Bulkhead.

'Back there' being the hanger that was meant to hold the rod. I never did mention how I had managed to get the thing last time, I think everyone just assumed it teleported to me again. Thus, I was curious if the maintenance door was still open.

"No, I better do it. All the alarms would have to be disabled. It's just a pain." He groaned. So off Bulkhead went to put the stick back into its hole for however long it would last this time.

As I moved to start walking up the stairs the bridge portal opens, and the engines and the distant and distorted sound of transforming could be heard from the two bots well before they could be seen. I managed to get to the top and was greeted by Jack and Raf with a "hey" by Jack and a smile and head nod by Raf.

"Prime!" An all too familiar Agent's voice suddenly yelled from the comms. He seemed to do a lot of yelling whenever he commed. It would be funny if it didn't usually follow some adventure or other. And that was on or off-show continuity in my experience so far.

I walk over to the walkway on the left to have a better view of the large green screen in front of Ratchet (thank you new glasses!). I fold my arms on the rails in front of me. The video feed currently had a very irate Fowler glaring through. Which really could mean anything.

Arcee and Optimus who had just come out from the bridge walked toward the screen.

"Special agent Fowler? To what do we owe -"

"What else? 'Cons!"

Oooooo! More adventure awaits. I notice the background surroundings of Fowler's feed to feature him strapped into a seat with controls and a glass overhead.

"Is he in a plane?" I lean over to my right and quietly ask Jack.

All three of them had joined me to see what was happening. Raf was on my left, peering through a gap in the metal as he was too small to see over. Jack was on my right, with Miko next to him, one hand loosely holding onto the rails.

"Yeah, I think so." Jack answers as he folds his arms.

"I chased them off with some hard ordinance, but not before they blew me out of the sky." Fowler continues.

Miko chuckles, "Again?"

Again? When did that happen?

"They tried a smash-and-grab for the D.N.G.S." On screen Fowler accentuated his words by grabbing and closing fist.

"TheWhat's it?" Arcee confused, asks on behalf of everybody.

"Dynamic nuclear generation system, AKA, D.N.G.S."

Fowler pushed some switch from his side and a picture of the item was transferred and replaced him on the display screen. The picture showed a simple box with straps holding it down.

"It's a prototype energy source I'm porting to the coast for testing."

Oh… oh I know this. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I know this. It was time for another episode already. I thought I would have more time. Last episode was the doppelganger one, and that ended… 2 days ago. Good God, that couldn't be right. Yet it was. I wasn't going to be able to keep up with the pace of events at this rate. Yet time moves on.

Ratchet scoffed. "That's absurd. Why would Starscream bother with such primitive technology?"

"I'm guessing to make a big fat primitive weapon of mass destruction." The display had returned to show him. He folded his arms in front of him, his first real sign of worry.

"If this baby were to melt down, it would irradiate this state and the four next door."

Raf gulped. "Uhmmm...Did agent Fowler say what state he was currently in?"

What Raf was implying hit Miko then as she looked shocked.

"I'm a sitting duck here, Prime. I need you to spin up your bridge and send the DINGUS to its destination before the 'cons come back for it."

"I'm afraid that sending such a volatile device through a ground bridge is out of the question. If there were to be an accident during its transmission, the radiation of which you speak could propagate through the ground bridge vortex and harm all 50 states... And beyond." Optimus replied, his tone solemn.

"You got any better ideas?" Fowler opened up to suggestions.

Optimus considered thoughtfully.

"We could transport this device by vehicular mode, could we not?"

"What? A road trip? Bor-ing!" Miko slumped forward.

Raf on the other hand perked up. This was, after all, an area he could contribute in, helping Ratchet monitor the team.

"A road trip with possible Decepticons Miko," reminded Jack.

"Ooo! So hopefully we'll get some action!" She perked up and began mock punching the air.

"It's not for entertainment Miko, they could get hurt," I said. She frowned at me, and turned back to the bots.

Right, still upset with me. Noted.

The bots set out to prepare.

17

I watch with everyone else as the blue blinking dots travel down the yellow line representing the road on the large green cybertronian screen. The set up was actually pretty nice. There was, of course, Ratchets set up near the ground bridge controls, with the main tracking screen seemingly floating from nothing mind you. In front of that screen though was a walkway big enough for us humans to be able to see what was going on. To the right was Raf's set up. He had Cybertronian data screens lining the wall, as well as his own laptop out on a simple plastic desk.

Internally, away from the action on the screen (or current lack of it), my mind was racing.

This was the same episode MECH is introduced, the terrorist tech organization that was run by the evil Silas. What did that entail, for now at least? Fowler for sure wasn't shot down by Decepicons, but instead by that group. MECH wanted the DINGUS for their own nefarious purposes, and if all goes as it did in the episode, they don't get it.

Damn it Rachel, remember!

Okay, okay, so the Autobots are driving and they get attacked at some point by Silas and his gang. Then something happens that forces the kids to get involved. Then...then, no wait, I think the Decepticons do eventually get involved, but that wasn't the focus of this episode.

I think this episode was actually okay. The humans aren't involved much just the Bots. This episode should just be an introduction to MECH. As long as I didn't alter anything, it should be fine. Everything barely turned out fine, and no one was seriously injured.

Then again, my track record for remembering that stuff hasn't been the best so far.

Assuming that was true though, that couldn't be said if I choose to interfere here. Really, what information could I give to improve the situation? Tell them about MECH? I didn't know much about MECH, not at all except to be scared of them. Even if I did warn them, it wouldn't change the fact that they still need to get the DINGUS (I can't get over that name) to the dropoff location safely.

For once I didn't feel anxious about an episode. Maybe this could even be fun!

"We are locked on to your coordinates, Optimus." Ratchet informed through comms.

Jack is watching while tapping his arm, as though awaiting the action, Mio and Raf are staring at the screen as well.

"Barring any complications, you should reach the dropoff point by sundown." Ratchet continued. Miko yawns.

This was boring so far. Still, here I was, trying to keep a neutral expression as I scrambled through my mind to find some association that might jog my memory for the missing bits of the episode. What if I was completely off and someone does get hurt?

"Hey, no worries," Jack whispers and elbow nudges me.

I tried to give back a confident smile, and Jack's eyes suddenly became concerned. Oh no.

"What's wrong?"

Oh no. I was trying to avoid that question. Clear fail at that attempt. But maybe I should say something after all? Maybe like, casually and coolly pointing out that it doesn't make sense that the Decpticons would leave Fowler and the asset untouched if they had really shot down the plane. But then what if the changes made things worse? I knew this would turn out fine, so what was the harm in staying out of the plots way?

Not knowing what to say I shrugged.

"Nothing."

I turned to go towards our little couch and TV set up, opening up the fridge to see what there was to distract me.

If I were to aid, where would my input even be useful in this situation? This wasn't against the Con's, these were humans. What did I know about MECH anyway?

Well, there's Silas. Ex-military, in fact most (all?) those working for him seem ex-military. After this they get interested in the Cybertronians and in trying to replicate them, eventually leading to Breakdowns death and Silas merging with his frame. Ugh, I think I just got chills.

"That's the one! The 'con who shot me down! Who is he? Wingnut? Dingbat Cooko-hands? Skyguy?" Fowlers voice came from the open comms. His list of theoretically Con name usually would have given me a chuckle except for my now heightened concern.

"Watch your rearviews." Bulkhead warned the Autobot group right after.

Here we go.

"What?" Jack's voice said. "Why can't we see them? Is something wrong?"

"Yeah, I want to finally see some action!" Miko's voice said.

I turned back around with a soda of some kind and joined the kids and Ratchet, now on alert. Sure enough there were no Decepticon anythings on the screen. Well if that didn't confirm it.

"What are we supposed to be seeing?" I asked the room. Decepticons are supposed to be purple dots I think.

"Feeling a little constricted without the use of my fists here, boss." Bulkheads voiced his concern.

"Remain in vehicular mode unless absolutely necessary." Optimus ordered.

Raf ran over to his set up so that he and Ratchet could both look at their respective screens, both running what was probably diagnostic checks on their systems.

"A whole team of 'cons." Fowler confirmed.

"I checked my systems, everything's working. Why can't we see them?" Raf asked in confusion.

"What?" Ratchet's optics roll all over the map. "I'm not picking up anything." He begins to stroke his chin. "They must be utilizing a cloaking technology." No. No Ratchet, not even close, but I couldn't blame him. I bit my lip. Suddenly an idea hit me.

"Can you track near by cars that aren't Cybertronian? As in show all the vehicles currently on the road?" I asked.

"I think I can. Though it would only be within a certain radius." Raf nodded and began to quickly type. Ratchet rolled his optics.

"And how exactly would that help?" Ratchet folded his arms and raised a… metal bridge? Eye brow metal? I still don't know what to call that, but he was skeptical. When was he ever not though?

"Oh, uh, well because I have a suspicion that these aren't Cons" I admitted. I made my choice. I was going to tell them. Having more information could only help them. This was my chance to show myself useful. Yeah, it probably wouldn't make any difference in this specific situation, but if not, at least I can help clear some confusion.

Raf managed to do something that showed the vehicles on the road. 5 white blips now showed on the large screen. 3 boxing in Bulkhead, 1 right next to Optimus, and another one right in front of Bee.

Ratchet looked surprised. He was about to reply to me when more comms came in.

"Well, I'll be dipped!" We hear Fowler exclaim.

"Our assailants are not Decepticons...They are human" Optimus informs.

Raf and Jack look at each other in surprise.

" Human?!" They both exclaimed before looking over to me.

Miko put a hand on her hip and rolled her hand.

"Oh, please. Taking on our bots?" She motioned to the screen and pumped her fist back towards her. The message she was trying to convey being that the threat was easy to deal with, and of little concern. "They're roadkill!"

"Is that what you meant Rachel?" Ratchet questioned me, still shocked.

"Yeah… I think it's MECH."

"MECH?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, think terrorists who steal the latest, greatest weaponry they can. A super tech terrorist group, if you will."

Ratchet scoffed.

"Like Earth technology would make much of a threat."

I turned to look him in the optics.

"It would if they got a hold of any cybertronian tech." I turned back around to watch the screen. "Anyway, Fowler's right. You don't need anything high tech to cause some serious damage."

Just then, the Optimus blip swerved to knock into the white blip next to him, knocking the assailant off and swerving. An explosion notification replaced the former blip.

"Who are these guys?" Fowler asks on comms. Ratchet reached over to turn on the comms from our side.

"Rachel has just informed us the assailants are likely a pro-technology terrorist group called MECH." He turned to me, "Am I correct in assuming this knowledge comes from your... previous experience?" What? Did he not want to say fiction? Then again, I suppose it is awkward. I nodded anyway.

"First I've heard of them" Fowler grumbled lowly, but still audibly.

"Autobots, maintain your cover and apply minimal force. Disarmament only." The Prime instructed.

Another of the blips moved from Bulkhead's side to try to aim toward Bee while going past Optimus. Bee slowed down to crash and push against the aggressor, the move shook the assailant off for a second before they reoriented themselves and the blip pulled back up and slammed against Bee. Bee must have managed to push back harder though because the white blip suddenly swerved and hit a rock off the road and stayed there. Assumingly disabled.

Optimus and the bots swerved sharply and they sped up on the narrow and twisting road. We hear the gagging noises of Fowler over communications. I really didn't need to know that.

"Could use some air." Fowler said, sounding sick.

On the screen, one of the white blips comes around to the side of Optimus again.

"One of them got onto Optimus!" Bulkhead informs.

"They're trying to get the trailer to detach" I commented. We were all riveted to the screen as we awaited anxiously.

Suddenly, Optimus veers to the side, managing to hit the white dot him, which causes the car to careen down the mountain side, and off what the screen could track.

"Fowler is now attempting to stop the human assailant." Optimus informs everyone.

"I never thought I'd say this, but go Fowler!" Jack comments.

"Beat that guy up Fowler!" Miko pumps her fist up.

There's silence on the radio for a moment.

"Did he win?" Miko asks.

"Uhh, no Miko," Ratchet shakes his head. "Fowler lost him."

"Lost him? What does that mean?" Jack asks.

"The assailant... apparently fell off the side."

"Yikes." Miko says.

Suddenly an unknown signal joined on the screen.

"I do hope you take better care of the DINGUS than you do your captives." The voice was gruff, low and authoritative. Clearly military.

"Silas…" I whispered under my breath. It was so quite in the base and everyone was close though, so I was pretty sure I was heard by everyone in the room.

"Special agent William Fowler here. Identify yourself!" Fowler demanded.

"I am Silas. But of greater consequence to you, we are MECH. Fair warning - We will be helping ourselves to your device, even if it means inflicting casualties."

"Is that so? Tell me, Si, what's the market price for a DINGUS these days?"

"What makes you think we intend to sell it, Agent Fowler?"

The scenery changed on the map as the group finally made their way out of the mountain pass. Less rocks, more trees and more open ground.

"There's a war brewing between the new world order and the newest. The victor will be the side armed with the most innovative technology." Silas continued.

Another of the white dots moved behind Optimus, and a warning on the screen informed us that some sort of electrical current had caused the door holding the back shut to fail. The trailer was open.

"So, Si...You think MECH has all the most radical tech?"

The blue dot of Arcee jumps out of the trailer and knocks the car back. The white dot tumbled behind Bulkhead, and crashed right into his own ally. Another notification from the system informed us an explosion had occurred behind the group.

"Later, Si." Fowler taunted as Silas' communication disconnected.

Ratchet looked down at the panel below him, as he began working on something. The environment on the screen started to become narrower, as the openness became confined. They were moving down towards some type of valley.

"Optimus, prepare to initiate phase 2." Ratchet looked back up to the large screen to track the group's movement. "Five miles ahead, to the South, you will reach the rendezvous point."

There was a pause in communication as everyone reoriented themselves for phase 2.

"Now that there's a slight lull, care to fill us in on what you know about these guys Rachel?" Fowler asks.

I turn towards Ratchet first, and then Raf, who motions me towards him. I do and then grip the back of his chair as I look at his laptop screen. He had the comms on too, and, relevant for me, a microphone.

"Not much to say that wasn't just given away or you couldn't already guess. His name is Silas, very likely him and everyone under him is ex-military. Wants tech, the newest, latest, and best weapons, and he doesn't take no for an answer. Only thing I can add is to warn not, under any circumstances, do you want these guys getting their hands on Cybertronian technology or get their hands on any of the Bots. Not unless they want these guy to do some serious harm with new weapons or to find themselves on a dissection table. And they will now want to dig up information on the Bots, make no mistake about that."

"Great just what we need. More enemies," Arcee grumbled.

The Autobots are now winding through a valley, a train track on their right and the rock face on their left.

"There's our destination point."

There should be two tunnels up ahead of them, one for the trains and another for vehicles, at least, that's what Raf had told the group earlier. Suddenly three more white dots appear not far behind the group.

"More of them?" Jack says from the big screen on the left, surprised.

"They're not going to give up that easy Jack." I inform him, moving slightly away from Raf. I pull up a chair next to him so I wasn't leaning over him to see his screen.

I watch as the blip that was Arcee moved to the front next to Bee.

"Autobots, keep a tight formation." Optimus orders.

Arcee goes first, turning off of the yellow line designating the road on the screen and down into the depressed land made for the trains. Then, Optimus, Bee, and finally Bulkhead drive down the slope. A train passes right next to them.

The white dots unfortunately follow the group, telling us those cars were indeed part of MECH. The autobots move to pass into the tunnel alongside the train. Despite the tunnel, the blue Autobot signals still appeared normally on the large screen. As the rest of the team went on ahead, Bulkhead swerved around and transformed, mere moments later we hear the sound of crumbling over the comms, telling us the tunnel entrance collapsed. And indeed, the white dots could no longer be registered on the tracking screen. The green giant transformed back into vehicle mode and catched up with the others. Arcee jumps enters the open back of the trailer. Bumblebee transforms and run-jumps onto a train car.

The train eventually comes out of the tunnel, with the Autobots next to it. Just as this occurs, 6 flashing purple dots appear on the map coming in from the bottom right.

Ratchet hurriedly open comms on our side.

"Optimus, you have company!"

The planes fire missiles at the group, represented by lines shooting from the purple dots at the Autobots.

Optimus thankfully swerves sharply, allowing the trailer behind him to detach (or so the screen notification informs us). He lost the weight just in time too, as the missiles hit just where they were, destroying (exploding) the trailer.

"Decepticons now too?!" Jack grips his head. Ah, so that explains what Decepticons look like on the map.

"Not good. They're heading towards a deadend!" Raf exclaims.

The 6 Eradicons transform once they are close to the ground behind the Autobots. The Autobots did indeed reach a dead end at the edge of a cliff. They had them trapped.

"They need to transform and fight back!" Miko says.

If they do that then MECH will know about the Autobots. All that comes afterwards in their search will become set in stone. But what could we do from here? Anyway, Fowler had ensured Silas' interest with his taunting.

Optimus transforms, then the other Autobots transform the screen informs us.

"Crush them Bulkhead!" Miko jumps.

Here. Here I could do something. I know how this connects. I look over to Ratchet.

"Ratchet, Silas is going to follow the train. He's still going to go after the DINGUS." I shook my head. "God, I'm never going to take that name seriously" I whispered under my breath, aloud this time.

The second phase had consisted of transferring the DINGUS onto a military train shipment where Fowler had arranged a drop-off. From there the dangerous weapon would go back into military hands and head where it was needed. Fowler had informed us that there would be someone to monitor the asset, but it would largely be leaving and arriving to it's desitnation alone. Meaning it was currently vulnerable.

"So we need to think of something, quick." Jack agreed. He walks over and clutches the back of Raf's chair, and turns to Miko, and then back at the screen mind scrambling.

"You mean like a phase 3?" Raf looks up at Jack questioningly, worry in his voice.

"Okay." He turns around and starts pacing back and forth. "Come on, think...All right, if MECH wants the DINGUS, they have to get on that train." He points at the large tracking screen.

"What if we get on board first?" Miko suggests with too much gusto. She pumps her fists in front of her in mock punching. "You know, run some human-on-human interference?"

"Absolutely not!" Ratchet shoots down immediately.

"Yeah, that would be suicide." Jack agrees.

"It's better than doing nothing" I add.

As we argue, Fowler's voice comes over the comms.

"Prime! Silas got wise to phase 2!"

"I understand." An exerted Optimus responds.

Suddenly, and unexpectedly, Optimus is knocked back on the tracking screen, right off of the cliff. We all watch as he falls, and as he goes health warnings flash on the screen. He's down. Optimus is down and the Autobots are surrounded, still fighting.

Worry and panic shoots through us all now. Unlike everyone else though, guilt seeps through me too.

No one gets hurt huh Rachel? Great recall skills there!

"Optimus is down!" Miko actually sounds freaked out now.

"MECH's gonna grab the DINGUS." Jack repeats my prior warning, but this time with much more panic in his voice.

"We could delay them. Just long enough for Optimus and everyone to help," I say. Just delay. Delay is something I could definitely help do.

"No! You're not going, and that's final." Ratchet tried to shut us down.

"Helloooo," Miko rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips. "The United States of meltdown!" She waves a hand towards the screen and glares at Ratchet. "Lives are at stake!"

"Yes - Yours!" He angrily begins. "You want me to not only bridge you into a confined space, but one traveling at 90 miles per hour!? I can't even count the number of ways that can go wrong. Mass-displacement trauma, twisted limbs, metal burn…"

We all stare at him.

"Well, maybe not the last one." He corrects.

He shakes his head. "Regardless, it is nearly impossible to fix ground-bridge coordinates on something moving at that speed."

Raf looks like he just had an idea. He's already typing something into his laptop.

"Would it help if we had access to the train's coordinates?" Raf asks as he looks back up to the green display screen, now updated to show the trains coordinates in yellow.

"Well…"

Ratchet can't think of another excuse, can he?

"Me, and Jack can go -" I start before Miko jumps in.

"I'm coming with."

"Bu -" Miko runs past me, and is already down the stairs. I stare after her with a frown.

"You get used to it" He consoles me, nodding in Miko's direction. Raf began to explain how communication was going to work.

"Wha-I did not agree-" Ratchet begins. Jack turns to face and stare down the medic, a surprising burst of courage from the teen.

"Please Ratchet. Rachel's right, we can delay them just until the other's can interfere."

I take this brief moment to turn and run down the stairs as fast as I can. Jack and Raf will handle communications and convincing Ratchet. I have to quickly grab a specific stick to whack some techies.

Who'd have thought I'd come to not absolutely despise the strange object.

I run down corridor after corridor, turn after turn, until, completely out of breath, I reach the maintenance door from fake Autobot/Con event. I go to open it, and behold! It still does open! I go in, avoid the dead scraplet, avoid the pipes and wires sticking out, and finally open the last door. Into the room with my stick.

Will it play fetch this time around? I think it should, if my theories on how it works are correct. I mean, I feel pretty panicked and desperate right now, if that counts for anything. Or maybe that's just the exhaustion of running all the way here.

In the middle of my musings I failed to realize that Ratchet must have seen I was here, because suddenly the lights turned on, and then a bunch of humming I hadn't payed much attention to powered down, and finally, a ladder that led right up to the artifact suddenly released. The sudden noise was so startling I may have shrieked. Just a bit.

Anyway, I wasn't going to complain. Up I go.

I climb up. Surrounding the rod this time was a bunch of strange barriers and device that made the hair on my arm stand up. I waited a moment, before these too were shut down.

"Thank you Ratchet!" I yelled out to the general room hoping there was some type of microphone in here.

I grabbed the cool surfaced rod and hummed a bit, as I carefully came back down. Just as I came to the bottom, the garage door opened.

I rushed through, getting back out into the hallway, before running all the way back to the main hangar.

As I rushed in, I saw Ratchet had already started up the bridge and Miko and Jack waited for me.

"What took so long?" Miko yelled as I rushed over to them.

As I reached them, a strong shiver pulled down my spine and a deep discomfort passed through me, before I managed to suppress and ignore my brain's pressing demand for me to back away from the swirling portal. I stopped and took deep breaths as I tried to calm my beating heart and calm my nerves. Instead of saying anything (currently not possible), I showed them the rod to explain my absence. Jack nodded, a nervous expression on his face, while Miko gave two thumbs up.

"You could have asked before rushing to just grab it." Ratchet chastised.

"Sorry...Time...Quickly." I managed to breath out.

The medic shook his head in disgust. Or maybe that was annoyance. Can't tell the difference with him if I was being honest.

"Now go! Quickly, before I change my mind and actually consider reason." Ratchet dismissed us without so much as a look back.

"Good luck!" Raf called out from his desk on the second floor.

"Let's go." I nodded to the ground bridge.

We rushed down the whirling bright blue-green-white- was that some red? Shiver after shiver pulsed down my spine, as I tried to ignore my surroundings.

Stop looking Rachel, you're going to become nauseous.

Right yes, but it just hit me now that this was the first time going through the ground-bridge on my own two feet, and only the second time I'd gone through it at all (and the first I'd fallen asleep).

The feeling was bizarre. As we ran, the vortex seemed to stretch and bend around us, yet the white pathway underneath us stayed steady and, as far as I could tell, straight.

I almost started to falter just so I could look around, before the urgency of our mission hit me again and I managed to refocus.

The vortex warped again as a blindingly bright light and a reverberating whump sound reverberated around us. We were suddenly and forcefully expelled.

I hit the hard surface on my side, the air in my lungs forced out in pain.

"Ugh" I groaned.

I wasn't the only one though, Miko and Jack also seemed to be recovering from our forceful exit.

"Does it always feel like this?" I asked.

"No." Jack groaned without elaborating.

The portal closed behind us with a warping whoosh sound. I blindly felt around for my glasses and the rod that had fallen out of my hands. I quickly found my glasses, before I checked to find the rod in my back pocket strangely (or not so strangely perhaps with this thing). We all carefully stood back up, and I took a look around. The cart was small, and currently too dark. I waited for my eyes to adjust.

Jack must have called Raf because he started talking.

"We're in." He informed.

"I read you, Jack." The voice of Raf came out of the small flip-phone speakers. The cellphone-comlink patch seems to work.

With my eyes now slowly adjusting, I looked around. Sunlight was coming from the edges of the slide door on the right reflecting on the dust motes we had disturbed when we entered. The train cart was a simple metal box. In front of us was the asset (I'm not calling it DINGUS), still strapped down, and apparently secure. On the floor, knocked out, was a man dressed in green military gear.

I went to check his pulse, just as the sound of a helicopter could be heard above us. We all turn to look at each other in surprise.

We must have gotten here just in time then.

Jack goes to open the sliding door, the sudden brightness of daylight flooding my vision. I looked out as Jack and Miko peaked out and up above us. The door opened to a blurring pass of a desert rock face. We must still be in the valley then. I focused back on the soldier as I checked his pulse. It was slow, but steady. I struggle as I turn him on his side and try to shake him awake with no luck other than a mumbled "mommy". The guy was seriously passed out.

"Raf, MECH's landing on top of the train." He has to shout into the phone to be heard over the roaring of the train and wind.

"In about 20 seconds, you're gonna come to a fork. Brace yourself." He warns.

"Get back in, away from the open door!" I shout to Miko and Jack. Jack at least heard, because he quickly pulled Miko to the wall of the cart, just as I managed to drag the soldier toward the wall as well. I braced.

The train sharply swerved to the left, severely jostling the cart. I barely managed to keep upright as the train leveled again. Hopefully this would buy us a few more minutes before they could land. I resteadied myself and looked over to Jack and Miko. They were fine.

"What?" Raf's voice came from the speakers. Before I could ask Raf what had happened, the sound of an approaching helicopter quickly returned.

Well that distraction didn't last long apparently. The helicopter must have quickly managed to circle back. Jack and Miko went over to the door again to look up.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"They're landing again." Jack said frustrated.

We all heard the sound of touch down near us. But what was surprising was the sparks that began to fly as someone from the above began cutting into our cart not even a few seconds later.

"Huh." Jack said surprised. "So, what'd that buy us? 10 seconds?"

"Raf is losing his touch." Miko agreed.

"Don't be so harsh. These guys are really tough." I defended.

Either way it was up to us to stall for now. We readied ourselves for whoever was going to come down. The square hole was almost complete. Miko turned around behind her and grabbed an axe that was hanging from a wall that I hadn't noticed earlier. Realizing he needed a weapon too, Jack reached around to grab the last thing available, a fire extinguisher against the same wall. He held it bottom up, which would be funny except the circumstances. I pulled out the rod and held it in front of me. The thing grew slightly, but that was it. I tried to imgine it turn into a bat like last time, but it stayed in its extended stick form.

I want you to work, you don't work. I don't care if you work, and you do work. I hate this thing.

The square piece of metal fell with a thud. Above us the blue sky was revealed. 3 black clad dudes peered over the hole to show their faces. Well okay, not their faces, they were completely covered. Black jacket, belt, high collared shirts, mask, and goggles prevented any recognizable feature from being known about them. But they most certainly could see us clearly.

"You want a slice of this?" Miko wielded the axe in front of her and threatened. "Well, do ya?!" She swung down and attempted to lower her voice to try to sound more threatening. All she really managed to do is cause Jack and me to back a little more away from her so as not to be dismembered by accident.

Seeing Miko's courage, Jack pointed the base of the fire extinguisher at them.

"What she said."

I narrowed my eyes at them.

"You should listen to her, she's crazy dangerous" I nodded in Miko's direction.

All three of them looked at each other, probably because they didnt know what to do. But I'm going to lie to myself and say it's because their scared of us. Yep. Totally the reason why. I'm not scared, I've faced Decepticons, Scraplets, and a Con spy. Bring it... maybe.

And one of the guys is staring at me, and it's making me uncomfortable. He took out some device and looked down at it. He stiffens.

Surprisingly and suddenly, the three soldiers turn around. The sound of the helicopter leaving followed soon after. They left as quickly as they came. We all ran over to the open cart door to watch as the helicopter really did disappear down the valley in front of us.

"Whoa." Miko says gripping onto Jack's arm to lean out without falling. "You're pretty fierce." She complemented Jack. I looked over and I couldn't help but laugh.

"You were pretty cool Miko," I grinned. She looked over to me surprised, but then a giant smile lit up her face.

"I was pretty cool," She agreed.

"Guess it's over." I sighed relieved. Crisis averted. Now Rachet would bridge us back, or the Autobots would pick us up. We'd get lectured, but all would be well.

Almost as soon as I thought that, a fizzle sound from up ahead echoed over to us, followed by a definitive and shaking boom. The red explosion and smoke leaving no doubt to me on what had just occurred.

The tracks in front of the train were now destroyed.

"WHOA!" Miko gripped Jacks arm tighter as the cart slightly shook at the impact. My eyes widened as I turned to Jack.

"You need to get them to open the ground bridge."

Jack turns back into the cart to speak into his phone.

"Ratchet, MECH blew the train tracks." He grips his hair. "You need to bridge us out of here - The soldier, too." Jack demaded.

Miko looked around worriedly, awful death by train was likely not what she had in mind with this plan, and neither did I.

"We've lost access to the train data! I can't bridge you back without your coordinates!" Ratchet yelled through the speakers.

At hearing this Jack let his phone drop down with his arm. Miko gripped Jack's arm, they both looked at me with fear.

"Maybe you can make it into something?" Jack suggested, obviously referencing the glowly stick.

I shook my head.

"I… I don't know how to…"

If I could somehow control the thing I could maybe make it into something useful to get us out of this situation, but as it stood, I didn't know how to. I try to focus, clear out my surroundings to concentrate. I tried to place all my attention onto the rod.

"Maybe we should jump." Miko suggested.

"At 90 miles an hour?" He questioned the crazy suggestion.

"It's the impact or the meltdown. Take your pick. Unless Rache here can get her cool stick to do magic for us." She shrugged in a these-are-the-choices way.

Jack groaned. "What were we thinking, volunteering for this?"

"We were thinking we'd be able to stop a terrorist organization from acquiring a weapon of mass destruction." I answered his question literally. "Which we were successful in."

"Not that it'll mean much" Jack replies.

"Next time, you need to do a better job of talking us out of these situations." Miko recommended Jack, half joking, half serious.

"Next time…" He says somberly.

Forget this. What was the point of having this thing stuck to me if there was nothing I could do with it when it really mattered? I need danger? I have danger. My friends are in danger! I just need to concentrate, right? Was it not working because there wasn't a physical threat?

"We can buy ourselves another few seconds if we're in the back of the train, right?" Miko leaned out of the cart a bit to look at the back.

I shake the stick, then I close my eyes. I try to imagine it elongating. It should be simple enough compared to the other crazy stuff it could do.

Now, hocus pocus, alakazam, I open my eyes and it should now be elongating. I open my eyes.

It's not elongating. It's not doing anything.

"At least we're in this together." Jack said, resigned.

Miko walks towards Jack and snatches his phone from him.

"Raf, this is important!" She hesitates, emotion overwhelms her. "Make sure bulkhead gets my guitar."

As they both lean out of the cart, a familiar red semi-truck passes by them. Miko and Jack look at each other before looking over at me and smiling.

"Don't read the will just yet." Jack said looking back to Miko before they both looked towards the front of the train. I went over to join them.

Optimus transformed mid-velocity, finally reaching the front of the train. He grabs onto it and diggs his feet in, trying to stop the train's momentum by sheer will and power. Underneath us the cart rocks violently. Gravel and dust is thrown back toward us as the train continues forward at the increased friction. The screeching of metal was painful enough to make your ears bleed, as sparks from the tracks and the force backwards caused intense friction.

Optimus was struggling with exertion as he tried to pull backwards and dig his feet in. The train was slowing, but would it be able to stop completely in time? The blast site was within view already, the smoke billowing round Optimus obscuring him from our view.

This was it. I closed my eyes and braced myself, as Miko and Jack held onto the side of the door for dear life. A great rumbling and shaking occurred as I braced. It felt like my whole body was on vibrate. Even my hands felt like they were burning on the stick.

The screeching finally stopped, as the whole train jostled to a halt. Here we go, the halt before the end.

"Rachel."

This was it. Good-bye, it's been a good run. Wished I could have said my good-bye's to my family too, but in my heart would have to do.

"Rachel!"

I opened my eyes then to see an ecstatic Jack and Miko.

"He did it Rachel. Optimus did it!" Jack exclaimed.

Huh?

But of course he did. Miko and Jack aren't supposed to end here. What was I thinking?

"And look what you did!"

I looked where Jack was pointing and to my great surprise, the rod was now retracting from a clearly made path through the ground outside of the cart. I looked to my right and found the path went for a mile.

My hands were shaking.

I looked at the rod in my hand and frowned.

"You couldn't have done that earlier?" I asked it, not expecting any answers. Ignoring the frustration that it didn't work when I wanted it to, I turned to Miko.

"Miko! Optimus did it!" I laughed. She beamed.

Said Prime turned to look at us as we waved, the DINGUS within was safe as well with a cursory glance. Suddenly though, the sound of a helicopter above us caught the Autobot leader, staying there for a moment, watching, before it flew away.

Screw Silas.

Optimus must have just received a message from a very worried Ratchet as his attention focused on his comms.

"Hey!" Jack complained as Miko unexpectedly punched him in excitement. Jack flinches in pain.

"What the?!" Jack complains to Miko. She smiles at him and raises her hand for a high-five, to which he gladly gives and smiles too.

Miko then turns to me before looking away, and rubbing her arm awkwardly. She seems to consider me for a moment before she brings up a fist, and I quickly (shaking hands and friction burned or not) bumped it with a smile.

Reconciliation then. Thank you fate. Also screw you fate.

I was ready for a nap after all that excitement.


A/N: Long time, I know.

Has it been over a two years since I posted? Yes.

Is it because I got stuck? Yep.

Did I finally get it done? Yes.

I feel like this chapter you can really tell the start and stop of it. I wrote most of it this week, mainly the actual episode stuff. I feel like I'm using too much of the show's dialogue, and I want to move away from that. Trying to fit someone into an event that does not and never did include them can be a bit difficult, especially if you need to make the character progression work with what you already plan.

As usual, I reserve the right to edit if I see a mistake or error.

I'm going back to fix some plot holes and errors in previous chapters as well.

1/12/21: I'm going to be going back and updating previous chapters to improve flow of the overall story and make somethings more clear, or making some reactions more realistic. I wasn't satisfied with how easily Rachel was accepted by Arcee especially, considering she was the most critical to begin with, so I'm rewriting those interactions. Other than that, it's mostly going to be superficial improvements.

Criticism's? Questions? Theories? Want to just say Hi? Comments are appreciated!

Best way to know when a new chapter is out is by following the story. I'll be updating chapter progress on my Profile.

Also Note: I do not own Transformers Prime, or Transformers, just Rachel, and malfunctioning poles apparently.