"Don't believe the lies
that you are not
who you can be."
~Atticus

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My hands trembled as I stood next to Wheeljack. Agent Fowler had insisted on me telling him everything I know about scar-face, despite Nurse Darby's protest. I tugged at the end of my hair and watched as Agent Fowler paced in front of me. The others had yet to return after taking the others home and Optimus decided to take a drive. Ratchet refused to move from his post at the monitors- he insisted we hurry so he can begin his examinations, whatever those would be.

Was that what they needed me for? To be a lab rat? Somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered if Wheeljack would have even saved me from Starscream if I didn't have that signal. If I wasn't considered important. My eyes glanced over to the robot, who was leaning against the wall beside me.

The rooms in the base, as the Autobots called it, were huge. I squirmed in my seat before glancing up at the ceiling. It felt a million miles away. I wonder what it's like to be as tall as them, I wondered silently to myself.

"So, Hope. Let's begin with this- when was the first time you met Silas?" Agent Fowler asked.

"I-I don't remember the date exactly. Around the time I passed out at s-school," I replied. My leg began to bounce and I tapped my fingers on my knees in an attempt to stop yanking my hair. Wheeljack said nothing, but simply observed us as we talked. His gaze was intense and focused as his eyes fell upon me and did not leave.

"Can you describe what happened?"

My face turned white as a sheet. "U-uh. I'm not sure."

"It is crucial that I know, Hope," Agent Fowler said. "Our entire investigation on this man depends on your eye witness."

Wheeljack frowned and said, "Give her some time to breathe. It's obvious she's upset."

Agent Fowler growled in annoyance but stepped back. Wheeljack nodded before pulling out one of his swords and playing with it. That made me feel safe. Note the sarcasm. With their eyes on me, I bit my lip and tried to think of the right words to say.

"I-I woke up and he was in my living room," I began. "There was another man too. They were talking to Mason about something I d-didn't understand."

"Another man? Can you describe him?"

I thought back to the moment he'd brought me back to my room and gave me that granola bar. "N-no. It's a bit fuzzy. He was kind to me, though."

"I doubt anyone who works for Silas is kind," Agent Fowler said skeptically. "Anything else?"

The sound of Wheeljack's blades sounded in the air, and I realized he had pulled the second sword out. They sliced through the air as he spun them around with surprising ease and grace. My focus dwindled as I watched him for a few short moments. Agent Fowler suddenly snapped next to my ear, making me jump. He stared at me expectantly.

"Mason was there too. H-he made a deal with them." I swallowed and squeezed my eyes shut.

Wheeljack's swords grew louder and faster.

"What kind of deal?" Agent Fowler hesitated before asking.

My heart began to pound in my chest. The noises around me felt muffled, but I could still see Agent Fowler's mouth move as he repeated the same question. The sound of Wheeljack's swords cut through my mind. It felt as if a ball of cotton was in my mouth. Heart pounding faster, I tried my best to speak loud enough but failed.

"Um... He sold m-me to him," I whispered.

Agent Fowler stopped pacing. "What did you just say?"

Wheeljack also stopped what he was doing to stare at me. I blinked up at him but couldn't hold my gaze for long. I stared at my shoes and held tightly to my knees.

"When they were talking, Mason mentioned waiting for a long time. He was irritated and angry. They talked some more, and-" I frowned, "Mason sold me to Silas."

Wheeljack hit his hand against the wall without warning, and I jumped out of my chair in alarm. "What kind of human scum would do such a thing?" he demanded. "Actions like that were banned on Cybertron!"

I chuckled and gave a small smile. "Welcome to earth. We do things a bit differently here."

Agent Fowler placed his hands onto his hips. "Then it's true. Silas is targeting you. With his past assaults on Cybertronians, I have a feeling it has to do with the signal Ratchet discovered."

"But why am I so important? What kind of signal is it?" I asked cautiously.

"I suppose you'll find out soon. I have to report this- Ratchet will conduct his research on you, and Wheeljack will stay with you for the time being as your guardian. Mrs. Darby is also going to help you settle in after her shift at the hospital."

Wheeljack still looked angry as he stalked towards the door. "Come on, kid. Let's go talk to Ratchet. I'll make sure to fill boss bot in on everything when he returns."

The ground practically shook as he walked, and I followed with a great distance behind him. Ratchet was waiting for us. He had me lay on a table, which I did with great hesitation. I don't know what I expected- needles, poking and prodding perhaps. Much to my surprise, the orange and white robot lifted a small object and moved it along my body.

No one spoke as he paused to glance at the monitors. Though his eyes widened, there was very little surprise in his voice as he spoke, "Hope has an energon signal. I suspected as much, since my first scan had been so strong to begin with- but this - this is unfathomable."

"Impossible. The kid's human," Wheeljack protested. "Why wouldn't your scanners pick her up before now?"

Ratchet glanced at me before starring warily at the scanner in his hand. "I am unsure. It is possible that this signal is at the beginning of its development. I will have to take a blood sample just to make sure."

He turned and moved around quickly, picking up random objects before tossing them to the side and moving to another. Wheeljack noticed my fear as I sat up and watched the medic.

"What's wrong?"

"I-I just don't like needles," I said warily. The very thought had my stomach turning. Bile burned in the back of my throat. There had been a time, probably five or six years back, when Mason had made his profit dealing drugs to random people who happened upon him. They'd either buy drugs off the street or come directly to this source. Of course, that left me hiding in my bedroom as usual.

I was used to drunks, but I hadn't had much experience with drug addicts. One of the customers found me hiding in my closet when she'd stumbled into my bedroom by mistake. Mason wasn't happy to find scratch marks all over her, so he managed to stick me with a needle while I tried to run away.

Ever since then, I had been terrified of needles. The sight of one made me think about that night. But Ratchet isn't trying to hurt me, I thought in attempts to calm down, he wants to find out what's wrong with me.

"I am unable to perform this act myself- holoforms were not easy to create, and I decided Wheeljack to be the best candidate at the time-"

"He wanted me to be his guinea pig in case something went wrong," Wheeljack clarified.

"Precisely. The holoform worked, but now I am left scrambling to give the other team members one. I have a hologram, as you know, but there are limitations as to how long I use them. My holoform will not be able to activate since I mostly attended to you while you were unconscious. Nurse Darby will also be unavailable until late and it is crucial that we do this now."

He turned to look at Wheeljack, who's eyes widened in surprise. After the sudden shock, his face slowly melted away into a lazy grin.  "Are you trusting me to do this, doc? I have to say, I'm flattered."

"Even a bot as incompetent as you can do this," Ratchet growled. "I will guide you as you go. Just listen to me."

Wheeljack rolled his eyes. "It's hard not to."

He activated his holoform, and Ratchet handed him a small syringe to use. I eyed it warily as Ratchet directed Wheeljack's first move. Within a few short steps he was by my side. I pushed my body up onto my elbows and folded in my wings to keep myself from flapping them in panic.

"Relax, kid. You can trust me," Wheeljack waved the syringe around his head, "I'm a professional."

"Hardly." Ratchet scoffed.

"How could I trust you so easily?" I asked him.

Wheeljack gently took my arm into his hand. I forced myself not to flinch. He watched me with an intense look on his face before shrugging. "Trust is earned. I of all bots should understand that. But trust comes with action. I can't prove myself to you if you don't let me try."

"Guide the point right there," Ratchet instructed. He used his scanner to light up the area for Wheeljack.

"I-I'm scared of needles."

Wheeljack nodded. "It must be awful, having skin so delicate. Anything could penetrate it. But don't worry. Ratchet knows what he's doing. And you can trust me. Let me prove it to you. One step at a time."

I stared at the syringe that was centimeters away from my skin before looking up at him. He smiled. Despite his holoform being so big, much bigger than me at least, I noticed his gentle touch. Mason was always rough with me. Even when he was sober. But Wheeljack was gentle.

"I do not have all day," Ratchet reminded us.

Wheeljack did not move until I took in a deep breath and nodded slowly. "Okay. You can do it."

The needle slipped into my skin with ease. It didn't hurt like the time Mason had used a needle on me. There was a slight pinch, but nothing more. Nothing I couldn't handle. Ratchet told Wheeljack to take the sample and slowly pull out.

A gasp escaped my lips as I stared at the blood that entered the syringe. Being beaten bloody black and blue every day made me used to blood- that wasn't what I was surprised about. As the blood slowly flowed, small bright specks fell into the glass along with it.

"By the Allspark," Wheeljack breathed out in amazement.

Ratchet took the syringe and moved about his workspace. After typing a few things onto the gigantic keyboard next to him, several symbols appeared on the monitors. Wheeljack's holoform disappeared and moments later his actual body moved closer towards the screen.

"What? What's wrong?" I asked frantically.

"Your blood," Wheeljack began.

"It has Energon in it," Ratchet finished in astonishment.

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Sorry for the wait! I tried my best with this chapter. Love you guys <3

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