Chapter 2

I'm glued to my spot, both I and the mech in front of me stunned by this turn of events.

CLIFFJUMPER is standing right in front of me.

Forget the fact that I've been transported across dimensional borders. He's alive! I don't know what to do with this. Cliffjumper dies in the first episode of the series. This universe is either an alternate ALTERNATE dimension or I've traveled to a point in time that is pre-canon to Transformers: Prime. It's like my wildest dreams come to life.

At the same time, this is bad.

There are now many consequences to me being here. Anything I do or say could affect the timeline. I know a LOT of things that I shouldn't. If I am captured by the Decepticons or MECH, I would be in a world of pain and suffering. I know I wouldn't give them anything no matter what, but they will do any form of torture to get me to talk.

Back to the present, the staring match is still going on. I take the initiative to break the silence.

"Hi?" I lamely greet the Cybertronian with a small wave. Cliffjumper snaps out of it, frowning and breaking eye contact for a second.

"Scrap." He curses. He's probably realized that he's been seen by a human. His optics suddenly dim a little and he puts a digit to the side of his head.

He must have an incoming call. I wait patiently as he talks to whoever it is. I'm guessing it's Arcee, but I can't hear the voice on the other end.

"I'm right outside the base... Yeah, yeah, I know, the mission... I know, but--... I've been spotted by a human... Yeah... Arcee?" I can safely assume that she hung up on her partner after he dropped that bombshell. It's at this moment that I decide to voice my thoughts.

"So, what happens now?" I ask. As I say that, another groundbridge appears to my right. Cliff walks toward it without hesitation, unlike me. I get why there's a groundbridge here instead of us going through the front door. You never know who's watching, enemy-wise. They can never be too careful. But, my first experience with one of these things was less than stellar. Sure, I'm alive, but I would like to remain conscious, too.

The red mech notices that I'm lagging behind.

"You coming, human? The groundbridge doesn't hurt." He turns back around and continues walking. I could've sworn I heard him say, "...much." after that.

Now he's just messing with me.

I follow him through the portal anyway, wanting to get somewhere safe and cool as soon as possible. This time wasn't as bad. The initial tingly feeling of my atoms being taken apart and put back together weirds me out, though.

As soon as I come out on the other side, I am in awe. I already knew that the Autobot Base looked like, but it's completely different from being inside. Everything is massive and spacious, I feel very small.

The next thing I feel is shy because of four other pairs of optics are staring at me.

Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Rachet. As I ask in my head where the sixth member of Team Prime is, I hear more booming steps coming from the hallway on my right.

There he is. Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.

I still don't know if this is a dream come true or if someone drugged my soda at the party last night.

As I'm staring at them like a creep, Optimus walks over to stand in front of me. Now I know how the kids feel, and my neck does not like it. Neither does my head, evidently. My vision is swimming as the effects of hours in the desert are catching up with me.

I'm dehydrated. I didn't even realize I stopped sweating at some point while I was wandering the desert. That's not good.

I struggle to stay on my feet without swaying, but my efforts are only halfway effective. I stumble in place, my foot taking a step forward so I don't fall. As I do that, I hear one of the Autobots speak.

"What's wrong with him?" Bulkhead asks, more directed toward Ratchet than anyone else. The Doctor is knowledgable of many things, mostly in the technical aspect, but human anatomy and ailments are something of which he could learn a few things.

Regardless, I feel a tingling sensation move from my head to my feet and back up again. That didn't help with the disorientation.

"Hm. The human's body is low on fluids and his internal temperature is higher than it should be." Ratchet concludes based on what his scan yielded. So, I'm dehydrated and suffering from heat exhaustion.

How fun... note the sarcasm.

"I hate to bother you guys, but do y'all happen to have any water around here?" My speech is slurred. As I finish the question, my legs finally give out on me and I pitch forward. Luckily, I catch myself on my hands and knees. I hear the telltale beeps and whirs of Bumblebee, only this time I can understand what's being said.

*"I got it covered!"* He says and jogs off down the hallway. To keep that from happening again, I sit back on my behind, put my elbows on my knees, and put my head in my hands. I'm getting weaker, it feels just as hot in here as it did outside. Maybe that's just the fever. I can't think straight.

"Are you alright?" I suddenly hear a deep voice just feet in front of me. I'd recognize that bass tone anywhere.

I look up in a slight daze. Optimus is kneeling in front of me, expressionless as ever.

"I don't know," I answer, unintelligently. My vision is going black and my body chooses this point to finally give out on me.

I pass out cold in the middle of Autobot Outpost Omega-1.

**A few hours later...**

I feel my brain waking up before my body. Then comes my hearing, and then I see light through my eyelids. My body follows shortly after with a slow spread of renewed feeling, like when your limbs fall asleep then wake up again. My eyelids don't quite want to open yet. I have no problem hearing what's going on around me, though. There's a conversation going on.

"What do you mean he doesn't exist?" There's Arcee. "He looks pretty alive to me."

"What I mean is there's no evidence of his existence. No birth certificate, social security number, driver's license, or even social media. His fingerprints don't tell us anything. It's like he's never been born." That would be Agent William Fowler... oh boy. "He needs to be taken into federal custody. Who knows where he came from or who he works for? He could potentially be a spy from any country with a grudge." Always paranoid, with good reason, though. As I slowly gain energy to open my eyes, Optimus puts in his two-cents.

"While I understand your concern for a potential breach in secrecy, I cannot allow for someone innocent to be taken into custody without proof of guilt or ill intent." His word just radiates wisdom and authority. Ratchet is the next to offer something.

"I may have a reason as to why no information can be found on this human." Sounds of a computer can be heard in the background. I want to open my eyes, but I also don't want to interrupt before hearing something important. "A few hours ago, your government's satellites detected an unusual energy surge not far from this outpost. I have analyzed the readings accordingly, and the closest match is that of groundbridge technology." Ratchet finishes, likely leaving more questions than answers. I think I've heard enough. I open my eyes -- noting the lack of the other Autobots -- as Optimus asks a question.

"Could this human potentially be from off-world, Ratchet?" Ratchet seems to contemplate his answer.

"It is within the realm of possibility. Further analysis is needed before I can say for certain." He says, glancing in my direction. He almost looks away before it registers that I am now awake. Once it does, his gaze snaps back to me. This catches the attention of the other people in the area, including the angry human on the central platform. Ratchet goes back to his computer. "Vitals are holding steady. He's recovering well." Ratchet concludes.

"Good. Maybe now he can fill in the blanks on how the hell he managed to evade being on any list in the world until now." Fowler comments, rather rudely I might add.

"Now, wait for a nano-klik. He has just regained consciousness--" I interrupt Ratchet before he can go on a tirade.

"It's okay." All attention is now on me. "I do feel like I need to explain some things. Ask me anything and I'll try my best to answer truthfully." At first, no one asks anything, which is a little counterintuitive. Optimus is the first to speak up.

"Who are you?" Simple, but a good starter.

"My full name is Allan Marron, but most people just call me 'Al' for short," I answer.

"I am Optimus Prime--" Before he can do his whole speech, I hold my hand up.

"Sorry, but... I kind of know who you guys are already." They all now wear baffled expressions, some more fearful than the rest.

"How could you possibly know who we are?" Ratchet asks the one question everyone is thinking. I sigh, tired already with anticipating the long explanation coming up.

"It's a long story..."

And so the fun begins...not.