Disclaimer: I, Hubero, solemly swear that I do not own the Transformers. I did not have the genius to come up with giant alien transforming robots from a distance planet called Cybertron. I was original enough to come up with Jaime and the plot of Free Falling!

Thank you to all you lovely reviewers: heavenslilagl420, Kurohande Ookami, JetCycle, Shewolf-skittles-twist14, KayleeChiara, RiverOfTheWolf, Storylovers91, Jazz's lil ninja, movielover123456, Hawkie-Chan, ForgotMyName2Day, Abyss Prime, and Guest!

I'd also like to thank everyone who has added Free Falling to their favorites/alert list or has favorited and/or is following me :D

"He what?!"

"He declined," Optimus repeated. "He…he says that he is where he meant to be…"

"He thinks he has problems, huh? Oh, I'll give him problems," Jaime muttered angrily. How dare he?! How dare he say no to Optimus! Did he not realize how much pressure was placed on the Autobot leader? Did he not realize how many looked to the Prime for solutions when he had none? Did he not realize that Optimus would not ask for Sam's help unless he thought it was truly necessary! "Selfish jerk," Jaime huffed.

"Easy," Optimus gently chided. "We do not know what he is going through. College is a common stage in life for human offspring. It is only normal that he wishes to partake in the tradition."

"His life must be so hard," Jaime bit out sarcastically, thinking of what had all happened to her recently. "Well he's not getting any sympathy from me." The Prime gazed down at her, but didn't say anything. After a few moments, the girl looked up at the bot. His blue optics seemed so weary. Never had she seen the Prime look so downtrodden. Jaime opened her mouth to apologize for her behavior when a shiver ran down her spine. Optimus tilted his helm curiously.

"What is it?"

"…I…don't know…" Jaime tilted her head. "But…I have this awful feeling that things just got worse."

"Optimus!" The two turned to see the black weapons expert striding their way.

"What is it Ironhide?"

"Human satellites caught this image," Ironhide frowned. Jaime watched the two bots, and when Ironhide did not raise his servo to hand the image to Optimus, she assumed that he must have somehow sent it to the Prime.

"That's impossible," the Autobot leader vented sharply.

"It's unlikely," Ironhide growled, "but there are no jets on earth like his. You can tell it's Cybertronian by the structure."

"What's going on?" a lost Jaime asked. Optimus shared a look with Ironhide before kneeling down in front of the girl.

"You mentioned earlier that you received a premonition that events would take a turn for the worse?"

"Yea," Jaime shrugged. "But - that doesn't necessarily mean anything." The sound of screeching tires filled the air. Jaime whirled around to see Ratchet, Sideswipe, Jolt, the twins, and Prowl speeding in her direction.

"Optimus," she turned back towards the Prime. "What's going on?"

"I do not know how," the Autobot leader vented, "but it seems that…Megatron has returned." Jaime stared at the mech. A cold feeling engulfed her. Megatron was back? But how?

"His first target will be the boy," Optimus straightened to address his soldiers, who were all stood at attention. "We must go and protect him."

"And Jaime?" Prowl asked.

"Jazz and the Arcee triplets shall stay on base to act as protection should Jaime need it," Optimus responded. "Autobots roll—"

"Wait!" Jaime cried. Motion ceased.

"Yes Jaime?" Optimus bent down in front of the anxious girl. Jaime reached out her hand and touched his metal cheek.

"…Be careful."

"Of course," Optimus began to pull away, but Jaime latched onto him.

"No Optimus. Be. Careful." The rest of the Autobots watched the unfolding scene with growing curiosity.

"I shall be careful Jaime," the Prime stressed. "Autobots, roll out!" The rest of the bots quickly sped to the nearest cargo plane to go save Sam.

"Optimus!" Jaime called out.

"Time is of the essence. I must go Jaime," he sighed, but kneeled down regardless. Jaime touched his cheek once more, and took in his wonderful metal face. She stared deep into his blue optics, and—no matter hard she tried—she could not shake off a deep sense of foreboding.

"Promise me you'll come back," she suddenly ordered.

"Pardon?"

"Promise me…you will return," she emphasized. The Prime studied her expression. She was dead serious.

"I will always return Jaime," he promised before rising and joining his soldiers. The girl hugged herself, willing the bad feeling away. Something big was about to happen. She hoped desperately that—once, just once—she was wrong.

Sideswipe's POV

They finally touched down in New Jersey and exited the cargo plane. They were soon on the road speeding to their destination. Bumblebee—who had been in the vicinity—joined them. Prowl suddenly announced something that made them all pause.

:: Eight Decepticons spotted in alt mode in New York, Prime ::

:: Any spotted in Philadelphia? :: Optimus asked.

:: Negative :: The Autobots all waited for their leader's decision.

:: Split into two teams. Ratchet, Ironhide, Jolt, Sideswipe, and Twins, go and take care of the Decepticons before they administer irreparable damage. Bumblebee and I shall continue to Philadelphia. Once you have dispatched the Decepticons in New York, regroup with Bumblebee and I. We may need you as backup. Ironhide, send an SOS signal to NEST ::

Sideswipe gunned his engine and followed his Prime's orders. As they headed in opposite directions, he glanced back to see Bumblebee and his leader disappear in the distance. He couldn't help but feel his spark give a little lurch, like they were making a mistake.

Jaime's eyes snapped back and forth, taking in the pandemonium. Will and Epps ran her way, both hurriedly throwing their army jackets on.

"Will! What's going on?" she asked. But she was cut off.

"Major, incoming SOS from Autobots!" shouted a NEST soldier from the catwalk.

"Multiple Decepticon contacts in motion. Vicinity, Eastern United States, sir!" another added. Jaime's eyes widened. Will hunched over a nearby monitor to see that what he was being told was indeed true.

"The Autobots are on the move, splitting into two teams, sir. They're not answering our calls and they're heading to New York and Philadelphia," another soldier informed Will. The man straightened, going into commander mode.

"All right, full weapons deployment. Wheels up in 20 minutes! Move it! Let's go!" he shouted, sprinting towards the waiting cargo plane. Jaime made a snap decision. She followed. The girl ran towards the two waiting planes.

"Jaime!" The girl turned to see Jazz.

"Jazz! I don't know what's going on! But—"

"—Ah know," he cut her off. He popped his passenger seat open and she dived in. He slid the seatbelt around her and accelerated into one of the planes.

"What about Arcee?" Jaime whispered.

"The Arcee triplets are in the other plane," Jazz replied. Within moments, Jaime could feel the plane take off. After ten minutes, she decided it was safe to reveal her presence. They couldn't afford to turn back now. Jaime stepped out of Jazz's alt mode, greeted by a dozen pairs of eyes.

"Jaime?" a disbelieving Will gasped. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be on base!"

"Jazz is my guardian," Jaime argued. "He isn't going to leave me unprotected on base."

"Ya wouldn't be unprotected," said Epps. "There's dozens of soldiers on base."

"That didn't stop those two Cons from stealing the Allspark fragment," Jaime muttered, but it was still loud enough for everyone to hear her. No one further argued the point. An hour dragged by. Jaime was seated in between Will and Epps. She entertained herself by using a pen and scrap of paper, which were provided by Epps—that man had just about everything in his ten million pockets —and playing Hangman with Ricky, seated across from her. All of a sudden, Jaime felt a sharp pain in her chest. She gasped, dropping the pen and paper—taking Ricky by surprise—and clutched her chest. She hunched over, gritting her teeth at the excruciating pain.

"Jaime?" Will's alarmed voice momentarily distracted her from the pain. But it came back, harsher this time. It was as if someone had driven a spear through her heart, and they were now cruelly twisting it, prolonging the pain. Her mouth opened in a soundless scream. Her eyes glazed over as the pain writhed in her heart. Epps and Will's voices became distant, like they were underwater. And the spreading fire began to consume her, spurred by its insatiable hunger.

Pain…so much pain…her heart was being ripped apart into a million pieces…Feelings flashed in her mind. Sorrow, Regret, Hurt, Despair, Worry, and then…nothing…the source of the fleeting feelings became a cold void and the burning pain disappeared just as fast as it appeared. Jaime's eyes snapped open. Will and Epps were whispering hurriedly to each other, but an observant Ricky elbowed them and they all faced her.

"Jaime?" Will asked tentatively. "Are…are you okay?" Jaime stared ahead into space. She knew whose emotions she had been feeling. She just knew. Every bot had a recognizable touch. But she was too scared to try his bond. She was too scared of what she would—or wouldn't—find. Gathering her courage, Jaime tentatively searched for the royal blue thread that connected her to Optimus Prime. She found the thread where it had always been, but it was not lit. Instead, it was a dull color, completely lifeless. Jaime hesitantly grasped the thread and was immediately repulsed by the freezing cold touch. Dead, he was dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead.

"Jaime!" Epps shook her a little and her eyes cleared. A whimper escaped her lips.

"What is it?" Will whispered. Her eyes focused on his. They were only inches away from each other.

"…e's dea…" she choked.

"What?" asked Epps. Her answer was too soft for them to hear. But Jazz heard it. His alt mode jolted, surprising some nearby soldiers.

"He's dead," Jaime repeated, louder this time. Ricky, Epps, and Will all stared at her in disbelief. "He's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead," she whispered brokenly to herself. Will gripped both her shoulders.

"…Who, Jaime?" Jaime looked him in the eye. Her lips parted to give him the answer. But she never responded to his question. She couldn't. Instead, she broke. Tears streamed down her face and the girl clung to her adopted father, seeking comfort that only he could give.

"Shhh," he held her and rubbed her back. He comforted the girl even though he was still clueless as to who was dead…until his earpiece crackled to life.

"Major Lennox!"

"This is Lennox," he answered.

"Sir, we've just been informed that the Autobot Leader has been killed." Will's closed his eyes to keep back the building tears. No, not Optimus! But the crying and shaking Jaime in his arms was proof, even though he didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe that they had just lost their greatest ally…and friend.

Epp's POV

"Well?" the sergeant asked when he saw Will enter the cafeteria.

"Nothing," he grumbled, shoving the untouched plate loaded with food—meant for Jaime—on the metal table, before slumping into a seat across from his lifelong friend. Epp's sighed. It crushed him to see his best friend this down. He still couldn't quite believe that the big guy was gone, and it really hurt, but he knew that Jaime was hurting much more. He didn't quite understand how it worked, but he knew that she shared a special bond with them. If there was one person who knew the Autobot leader the best, it was her. He'd seen them together multiple times, either having a serious discussion that only two close friends can have, or having a battle of wits. Optimus had always been interested in learning about human culture, and Jaime had always been constantly looking for ways to sate the mech's curiosity. And now he was gone…forever.

"Hey man," he said aloud to Will. The weary looking man raised his eyes from the table. "She just…needs some time. She's just coping in her own way."

"Yea…" Will tiredly rubbed his eyes. It was past midnight, but many on base—those that had come from Diego Garcia and knew Optimus—were unable to sleep due to recent events.

"…She said anything yet?" Epps asked hopefully. Will shook his head.

"Jazz hasn't left her side, and the other Autobots are all nearby…I don't know what to do Epps," he looked imploringly at the African American. "The last time she lost someone dear to her was that old man, Jeong Jeong, and she was a wreck! Now…she's not reacting at all. And…that look in her eyes…it's like they're devoid of life."

"Hey," Epps got up and sat down next to his friend, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It'll be okay. She'll get through it. Besides…she may not be related by blood, but she's a lot like you. She's got your pigheadedness after all." Will glared at the sergeant, but he was unable to suppress the small grin.

Jazz's POV

It was completely unexpected. He just couldn't believe it. Prime had always seemed to be invincible. Sure he'd get scratched and injured in battle, but nothing Ratchet couldn't take care of. But Ratchet had been too late to save their leader. And…he probably wouldn't have been able to do much anyways. The silver saboteur vented a sigh and glanced at his charge once more. She hadn't moved from her position. She hadn't really moved at all since he brought her to the room in his vehicle mode. In fact, she was still sitting in his passenger seat. With Optimus gone, Prowl would assume leadership and Jazz would become his second, at least, until a new Prime was chosen. But that could take vorns. Jazz switched the radio station again. Talking hadn't brought Jaime out of her daze. Perhaps music would.

Will's POV

"It's happening," he muttered to himself.

"Sick bastar—" Epps was cut off.

"Hey! Did you guys see the news?" Ricky popped his head into the small office room. Will gestured toward the TV.

"It hasn't even been a day," Epps muttered.

"Of course the Decepticons are going to launch multiple attacks," Will grumbled. "We're at our worst right now and they're going to take advantage of it."

"What happens now?" Ricky asked his commander. Will faced Ricky.

"Citizens of the human hive…"

"Don't know," Will shrugged.

"…your leaders have withheld the truth…"

"Whoa!" Epps shouted and pointed at the TV. "Since when did the Decepticons decide to make a TV special appearance?!" Will and Ricky turned to see what had the sergeant all worked up.

"You are not alone in this universe," a Cybertronian spoke.

"Who…" Ricky trailed. Will and his second numbly shook their heads. Although none of them knew who the mech on screen was, they knew he was bad news thanks to his blood red eyes. Not to mention that the mech practically radiated maliciousness.

"We have lived among you, hidden, but no more. As you've seen, we can destroy your cities at will, unless you turn over this boy." Pictures of Sam Witwicky—along with his name—flashed across the screen. "If you resist us, we will destroy the world as you know it." The Decepticon's face disappeared and the TV went back to the previous station. Minutes later, every news station was scrambling to get the latest headlines out. Epps flipped through the channels and paused on CNN

"What we're hearing from the German government is that the world broadcast was a satellite hacking. The military has just told us they have assumed Condition Delta, which is the highest level we have been at since 9/11. President Obama is being flown to a bunker somewhere in the middle of the United States in the face of the worst simultaneous attacks ever around the globe. The aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt goes down off the East Coast, all hands lost. Worldwide casualties are in the neighborhood of 7,000, but that number could climb. It's still too early to tell. What we need to ask now is, 'Who and why?' The FBI is still trying to locate the boy, Sam Witwicky. We believe they have information about the attacks. The FBI, CIA and Interpol are all seeking the cooperation of worldwide law enforcement…"

Will turned and left the room, unable to hear the depressing news any longer. The Decepticons were having a free for all, and the boy Sam was being presented as a wanted fugitive. He hoped the boy was somewhere safe. He'd known the boy for two years now. The boy could be a bit of a spaz sometimes, but he was a good kid. He'd saved the world for heaven sake! And now the world he had saved was hunting him down because the Decepticons wanted him.

Jaime curled her body in a ball, trying to make herself as small and protected as possible. She could feel the freezing cold leaking from the empty bond. It was like a black hole that was constantly trying to suck her in. The girl kept resisting, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Jaime rolled over in her sleep. She couldn't resist it, she was being sucked closer. The girl inhaled sharply, twitching every few seconds. She was…she was drowning! She was sinking into the cold void. Help…she needed help! But she was too far down. She couldn't feel the others. Their bonds were muted. Perhaps it was the black hole? Jaime struggled with all her might. ~ Help! ~ She screeched in her mind. ~ Somebody help! ~

~ I got you. ~

She was immediately dragged away from the black hole of despair and surrounded by a familiar warm embrace. The presence held her tightly as she calmed herself down.

~ Thank you ~ she sighed, snuggling closer to the warm presence.

~ Something's happened. ~ It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Jaime didn't say anything, but made a sound of agreement. She took a calming breath, taking in the inner strength the presence was radiating. The presence seemed to expand protectively. ~I have waited long enough. When they return, I am making my move. They won't know what hit them ~ it snarled.

"Jaime." The girl stirred, but wasn't quite ready to wake up yet.

~ You're coming to Earth then? She asked, hope swelling in her heart.

~ Soon ~ said the presence. For a moment, they both paused, neither wanting to leave the other before they eventually parted ways.

"Swee'spark?" The girl opened her eyes. She took in her surroundings and realized she was still in Jazz's interior. She must have fallen asleep because the passenger seat was nearly horizontal. Jazz righted the seat as soon as she was sitting up straight.

"Huh?" she rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"They're bringin' 'im back," Jazz murmured before popping the door open. Jaime climbed out of the Pontiac before realizing what the saboteur was talking about. She could see a cargo helicopter in the sky approach, with its attached load dangling underneath. To her left, Jaime saw NEST soldiers approach, while Autobots approached from her right. The cables unhooked and Optimus crashed to the ground. Jaime winced when the Autobot leader bounced lifelessly on the ground. She stared forlornly at the fallen Prime, her dear friend. She still couldn't believe he was gone.

Cybertronians were very durable. Ratchet had explained to her once that a Cybertronian's most important part of anatomy was the spark, closely followed by their processor. They also needed energon to support their systems. If the processor and spark were completely intact—and they had enough energon—then the bot was almost guaranteed a full recovery. That was why they could live so long, because almost all their parts were interchangeable.

Will stopped behind her, and gently placed a soothing hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, the group of mourning soldiers and Autobots were surrounded by a convoy of military jeeps, which were specifically targeting the Autobots. Sideswipe and Ironhide were the first to react. The silver prankster slid his battle blades out.

"What is the meaning of this?" the mech demanded, spinning in a tight circle, struggling to face all the military jeeps at once.

"You dare point a gun at me?" Ironhide bellowed—snorting like an angry bull ready to charge—as his giant cannons whirled to life. "You want a piece of me? I will tear you apart!"

"Whoa, whoa!" Some of the NEST soldiers raised their hands in a placating manner, coming to the aid of their allies.

"Drop your weapons!" Will ordered. He strode to the nearest jeep. "Drop your weapons!" he snarled, banging on the vehicle. "Tell them to lower their weapons!" the major shouted at the man who appeared to be leading the sudden attack. Jaime shifted nervously at the growing hostility, which only seemed to further antagonize the Autobots.

"Tell them first."

"Tell them to lower their weapons," Will got in the man's face.

"Major, there's nothing I can do," the man responded in a truly sympathetic tone. "Talk to him," he nodded behind Will. One of the military jeeps' door opened, and out stepped the bane of the Autobots existence, Galloway. Jaime glared at the man. Of course he was behind this. But why? He was their liaison now! He was supposed to keep the peace, not instigate it.

"Your NEST team is deactivated, Major. You are to cease anti-Decepticon operations and return to Diego Garcia pending further orders." What?! Jaime screamed in her head.

"No," Will immediately countered, "we take our orders directly from Chairman Morshower, sir."

"Well, I'll see your Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and I will raise you," the annoying man reached inside his jacket and pulled out a document, "a President of the United States. I have operational command now." He shook the folded piece of paper to add emphasis. "An alien blood feud has been brought to our shores for which our soldiers are paying the price. The secret is out!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the idling Autobots. "This is our war now and we will win it as we always have…with a coordinated military strategy."

"This fool is terribly misinformed," Ratchet grumbled.

"You're gonna need every asset that you've got," Will switched his approach, trying to dissuade the man using logic.

"What we need is to draw up battle plans," the man tersely replied, not even considering what the major was saying, "while we explore every possible diplomatic solution." Jaime could tell her adopted father was getting fed up.

"Like what," Will bit out sarcastically, "handing over the kid?" Galloway paused. Jaime spotted the man's half-hidden guilty expression.

"All options are being considered," Galloway replied, turning away. Bull, Jaime thought, that's exactly what they're planning to do!

"Whatever the Decepticons are after," Ricky spoke up, successfully making Galloway stop in his tracks, "this is just the start." Jaime gulped. What were they after? An image of the strange Decepticon structure from her dream popped into her head. That's right! The Fallen had been there overseeing the construction. He must be looking for it. But what was it?

"There is no negotiating with them," Will tried again. Galloway lost his patience.

"I'm ordering you to stand down," he snarled in Will's face. Jaime stiffened at his threatening posture. No one threatened her dad. Epps put a hand on her shoulder to keep her from making things worse. "You won't be needing this anymore," Galloway reached up and ripped off Will's badge. Jaime's lip curled back in a snarl as she began to see red. That was strike two… "Now get your assets back to base!" Galloway glanced at Optimus' lifeless form. "And take that pile of scrap metal back to—"

Strike three! That was it! She'd had it with the man. Jaime made the best decision her sleep-deprived mind was able to make. She attacked him. Everyone was taken by surprise when Jaime suddenly launched herself at Galloway. Even Jazz hadn't expected the girl to strike Galloway, not when he had the power to make Will's life difficult.

"Don't you dare call him that!" she screamed, pummeling the man with her fist. She even bent down and sunk her teeth into his nose. Crack! Will and Epps—who were the closest—were the first to overcome their shock and tried to pry the half-crazed Jaime off the bruised and whimpering Galloway. The girl clung to him like a parasite, never letting up on the beating.

"Jaime!" Will pulled on the girl with all his might. This wasn't her. The Jaime he knew was very non-confrontational. She hated violence. "Enough!" He and Epps finally managed to drag Jaime off the now trembling Galloway. Cuts and bruises littered his face and arms—which he had raised in a failed attempt to buffet the blows—and his bleeding nose was bent in a severely unnatural angle.

"You just signed your death wish!" he growled, scrambling to his feet. Jaime lunged at the man, who stumbled back, only to be grabbed tightly by Will and Epps.

"If I ever see you near any of the Autobots again, or hear you talking trash about them," Jaime promised darkly, "I'll beat you to a freaking pulp until there's nothing left but a bloody smear!" Galloway fumbled for the jeep door handle and practically jumped in. As soon as the jeep pulled away, all the aggression melted from Jaime's frame. Her shoulders slumped and she bowed her head, stifling a sob. The Autobot leader's body caught Jaime's attention, and she slowly approached the Prime.

"I really don't like that dude," Epps muttered to Will and Ricky. "He's an asshole." The NEST soldiers dispersed until Will, Ricky and Epps were the only soldiers remaining.

"Autobots, report to hangar for transport," the base's speakers blared to life.

"We should leave this planet," Ratchet muttered.

"Wha' 'bout Jaime?" Jazz challenged.

"She would come too of course," Ratchet snorted.

"Humans can't survive in space," Ironhide grunted.

"They can with technology," Ratchet frowned. "Have you ever hear of astronauts?"

"We c'n't separate 'er from 'er 'dopted creatuhs," Jazz added absentmindedly.

"We are not leaving this planet," Prowl finally spoke.

"But—" Ratchet began.

"That is not what Optimus would want," Prowl softly added, effectively ending any further discussion.

Jaime stopped when she was a few yards away from the Prime, and looked up at her guardian. If only they could bring Optimus back to life. If only—Jaime froze. She narrowed her eyes. She had brought Jazz back. Why should Optimus be any different? She could bring him back! Jaime spun on her heel and sprinted towards the Prime.

"Jaime? What are you doing?" a worried Will called out. Within seconds, Jaime was by the Autobot leader's side. She scrambled up his cold frame. The Autobots circled closer, each wondering what the girl was doing.

"It's gonna work…it's gotta work," Jaime chanted over and over to herself as she climbed to the top, right above the Prime's empty spark chamber. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, hand resting above Optimus' spark chamber. The mechs that had been present for Jazz's resurrection realized what the girl was up to and prayed to Primus that it would work a second time.

Ironhide's POV

The weapons specialist watched Jaime anxiously. He prayed to the Cybertronian god, Primus, that Jaime would be able to bring back Optimus, just like she had brought back Jazz. She'd done it once. Surely she could do it again? It had pained Ironhide to see Optimus' lifeless frame, especially since he had known the Prime longer than most. He'd known Optimus before he was even Prime!

Jaime's face was full of determination. Her right hand was placed on Optimus' chest plate. Seconds passed.

"What is she doing?" Sideswipe whispered.

"Shh!" Ironhide growled, not wanting the prankster to break the girl's concentration. Electric blue arcs of energy crackled around her hand, dancing between her fingers. Ironhide grinned. She did it! She was going to bring Optimus back! But his—along with everyone else's—hope was short-lived. Jaime tensed, her mouth curving into a frown. Her lips parted in a silent snarl. The dancing arcs of light faded. What was going on? This didn't happen before. Jaime's body began to convulse. She twisted harshly, as if trying to break free from some invisible enemy. Her body writhed spastically until she rolled off Optimus' chest plates. Ironhide—who was the closest—quickly caught her and cradled her to his spark.

"Jaime? Jaime can you hear me?" he asked her.

"Let me see her," Ratchet demanded, stepping next to Ironhide. He peered down at the girl sprawled in Ironhide's servos, and scanned her.

"Slaggit, she's not breathing," Ratchet grumbled.

"WHAT?!" Will cried out from down below.

"Her heart beat is far too faint," Ratchet added, quieter this time so Will wouldn't hear. Ironhide revved his engine. Why was this happening? Jaime didn't have this reaction when she revived Jazz! With practiced ease, Ratchet pulled from his subspace a curiously shaped object and placed it on Jaime's face. The object covered her mouth and nose. Ratchet tapped it a couple times and the mechanical device whirled to life, and latched onto the girl's face.

"What is that?" Ironhide asked.

"It acts much like the human oxygen mask. It will provide her body with oxygen so that she does not go into the first stages of oxygen deprivation," Ratchet explained, as he carefully monitored the girl.

"She only off-lined before," Ironhide murmured. "She didn't have trouble breathing."

"I know," Ratchet's optic ridges furrowed. "I don't understand why her body is reacting differently this time. As far as I can tell, nothing has changed within her since she brought back Jazz that would cause such a reaction."

"Perhaps it is something that you cannot detect," Prowl spoke up. Ratchet scowled at him.

"Are you implying something about the capabilities of my scans?" he growled lowly, servo digits twitching.

"Not at all," the SIC replied calmly.

"Then I suggest you proceed with caution." A lesser mech would have shivered at the gleam in the medic's optics. Prowl explained—while keeping a wary optic on Ratchet's twitching servo digits—Jaime's strange meditation in his office. He also sent them a video file he'd recorded of the strange encounter.

"Something's inside her?" Sideswipe asked.

"I do not know if something is actually residing in her," Prowl shook his helm. "But I am quite positive that something has happened recently that Jaime has been hiding from us."

"That's a load of slag," Ironhide scowled. "Why would she hide anything from us?"

"Prowl's righ'," Jazz spoke for the first time. Prowl cocked an optic ridge, noticing the saboteur's correct usage of his designation. "Somethin's been buggin' 'er lately."

"What is it?" Arcee asked.

"Don' know," Jazz vented. "She won' tell meh."

"I thought she told you everything," Sideswipe tilted his silver helm.

"'pparently not," Jazz slanted the mech a look.

"Mmm…" Optics snapped to Jaime. The girl stirred in Ironhide's servos. Ratchet reached down and disengaged the metal instrument, placing it back in his subspace pocket. Jaime's eyes slowly opened.

"Jaime?" Ironhide spoke softly.

"Meh…"

"Jaime?" Will called. "Are you okay?" Jaime's eyes slowly became more alert.

"Jaime what happened?" Ratchet asked, bending over her. "And what is this about you keeping secrets?"

ForgotMyName2Day: Glad to hear it :D Hmmmm...interesting idea. Perhaps you'll see it as part of a filler chapter or a one shot. Hmm, I like pickle juice actually. Of course, if I drank an entire jar of that stuff, I might get sick. But I don't mind the taste. My taste buds are just awesome like that :D You know, I never considered that before. Granted, a creepy guy in a dinosaur suit would kind of stick out and be noticeable to adults to. But you do make a good point.

Author's Note: ….So…ehem…a lot happens in this chapter…*Glances back and forth* This is the longest chapter to date and *Tilts head, listening intently* Please leave a review!

Hubero: *Dives into previously made safety shelter to hide from both angry readers and bots*

Ironhide: *Stalks in, cannons blazing* Come out squishy! I know you're hiding around here somewhere!

Prowl: *Enters* Ironhide! What are you doing?

Ironhide: *Growls* Hunting…

Prowl: …For Decepticons?

Ironhide: …Maybe…

Prowl: *Sigh* Ironhide, you cannot offline the author. We do not harm humans.

Hubero: *Pokes head out* Oh goody! I was afraid you were going to make an exception of the rule, ya know, considering recent events.

Ratchet: *Enters silently and points a wrench* You!

Hubero: Meep! *Leaps away from the thrown wrench* If you kill me, I can't bring him back! *Runs away*

Ironhide: *Blinks* Did she just say…

Ratchet: That…that's impossible.

Ironhide: You know what she always says though. She's the author. She can do whatever she wants…

Prowl: *Optic twitches* Hubero! Cease and desist! *Transforms into police car and tears after the author with sirens blaring*

Ironhide and Ratchet: *Transform and pursue Hubero as well*