[Rachel's POV]

"I told you already, I'm fine Wheeljack." I huff, shaking my arm away from his careful touch. I was trying to conceal the anger I still harbored from our escape. Many were left behind, but that wasn't the only thing that angered me. I led them to us. I still don't know how, but I am what they are after.

And so many were possibly lost because of it.

How did the Decepticons find out about me, especially when I didn't know anything about me? So many questions without answers, and each of them all point toward the spark within my chest. A cool hand rests on my arm once more, and I sigh before gazing into the bright blue eyes of Wheeljack's holoform. I take in a deep breath, steadying my heart - or, I guess, spark. Right now, none of that mattered. What matters most is getting everyone back here.

"We'll get everyone back, kiddo. Trust me."

I can't reply, but I try to offer a small smile. Wheeljack returns it before standing and vanishing in a shower of sparks. His mech form next to the metal walkway boots back online, his optics lighting up as he blinks rapidly.

"I'll never get used to that..."

I slightly chuckle, but stand from the small couch I was on. A few wires hang from my chest and back. They are hooked up to a moveable computer that is monitoring my spark. This new base is small, but it will work out for now. Walkways and massive computers were already here, but the issue at hand is updating them. Apparently, they had set up these bases years ago but never touched them again, nearly losing their existence until a few months ago when I was asking Lennox about potential areas for retreats.

And I am beyond glad I asked.

Wheeljack moves towards the computers and begins typing. His digits are flying madly across the keys, his optics narrow in mild irritation. "Any luck, Raph?" I spot the younger boy off to the side by the human-sized computers, madly typing away as well.

"I think so, yes! Updates and bypasses are complete! Everything should be up and running!"

As if on queue, the screens before Wheeljack spring to life with a map of the globe, signals of each bot in the base, and slowly a few more appear on the holographic earth.

"Yes! Thank the Allspark!"

I feel joy jump in my chest. Wheeljack looks at the globe, a frown on his face. "Not everyone is on the map." He says, but I move closer and lean against the railing, dragging the rolling computer with me. "Not everything is at full power yet. Plus, some of them may have made it to one of the other two bases." Wheeljack only nods in reply. It was hard, but I have to believe they are okay.

All of them.

I hear engines suddenly echo through the silo. I turn to watch the entrance as Optimus, Bumblebee, and Arcee drive through. Sam steps out of Bee as the other two are transforming. They went on a supply run to the town nearby for us humans as none of the food here was any good, and MREs only go so far. We'd like to keep those for 'can't leave at all' emergencies. I stayed behind as Wheeljack insisted on keeping an eye on my spark. It would seem the little amount of energon I had touched was drained again, and he was weary about the effect it would have.

Plus, I wasn't ready to revisit Jasper, Nevada just yet.

Optimus is the first to move towards the screens. "Have you located the others?"

"A few have popped up, but not everything is running at full capacity. Raph here just helped me get it up and running only a moment before you returned." Optimus nods then turns to me. I see something flicker across his optics for a brief moment, but I can't tell what it was. Possibly concern? 

"How are you feeling, Rachel?"

Yup, concern.

"I'm okay, just tired." I wasn't about to tell him how tired. However, the monitor next to me begins beeping rapidly as I feel fatigue set in suddenly. Just moving from the couch to the rail was too much movement right now. I feel my legs threatening to give when cold hands gently grasp my shoulders. I lift my gaze, spotting the red and blue mech before me powered off. When I move my head to look behind, I see Optimus' holoform carefully holding me. His blue eyes are soft.

"Your vitals are dropping. You need to lay down." I would argue if I had energy, but instead, I nod my head. I struggle to even lift my feet to move. 

My feet suddenly lift from the ground as an arm swoops under my legs. I slightly squeak in shock, feeling my face blush at my reaction. Optimus looks over me carefully, worry evident when only I can see his face.

"You are turning red. Do you feel warm?"

I try to form some sort of sentence, but I can hear something in the back of my mind laughing. I shake my head, unable to speak. If I try to now, I'll only make a bigger fool of myself. I feel the wires tug at first, but then they start moving as the monitor slowly moves into view. Raph is walking with it, worry on his face. Optimus is quick to set me down on the couch, and I sigh as the soft cushions welcome my presence. The Prime looks me over again until I wave him off. 

"I promise I'm fine, Optimus. I just need to rest." 

His face doesn't change, but he offers a small nod before vanishing in a shower of sparks. I let my eyes drift close. I can hear the others talking with Wheeljack about how to get to three of the four icons on the screen, but my brain isn't processing everything right now. Unconsciousness is dragging me into sleep faster than I can even register.

Until my eyes snap open.

Silence hangs in the air. I'm staring into nothingness. My head nearly spins off my shoulders as I find myself lying on a sea of glass, surrounded by darkness. My arms and hands are visible, as if I'm producing my own light, but everything else is pitch black.

Is this a dream?

I was just at the base, what's going on?

"So you're the human they stuck me in, huh?"

My instincts scream at me as I turn and slam my fist straight into pure cybertronian metal. The shout I let out echoes in the landscape, but it's not as loud as the one released from the bot I just slugged straight in the faceplate. Holding my hand, I find myself gazing at a small grey mech with a blue visor over his optics. His chest looks like the front of a Pontiac Solstice. 

However, he's currently my size.

I blink rapidly. This has to be a dream now. A cybertronian that's my height?

"Kid, I wish this was a dream, but it's not." 

"Hold on, how did you-"

"Look, spare me the million questions. I'll answer them all." He holds up his servo and begins counting off each digit as he continues speaking.

"Number one, we are inside your mind right now. It's kind of like a dream-like-ness sorta thing, but it's not a dream. This is real. Number two, the name's Jazz, and the spark in your chest is mine. Number three, I don't know exactly how this is happening, but I'd appreciate you not asking me, because I don't know."

With a shake of my head, I move closer to this mech. His answers help solve a few questions, but there is still one that doesn't make sense.

"You're not the one I've been seeing in my nightmares." I can see the mech move his helm back a bit. I can't tell if it's in shock or confusion. He rubs his chin, gazing over my being. His helm lifts a bit, and he almost freezes as his optics look behind me.

"That would be me, Rachel."

My spine shivers at the voice. It's familiar and still very unsettling. Slowly, I turn as I feel the ground beneath my feet shake. Sure enough, the dragon-like head I've been seeing when I close my eyes saunters into view.

But this time, he has a body to go with the rest of him.

He's only about three feet taller than myself, but his whole body is long. Black and orange is his color scheme, with bright yellow optics watching me carefully. Wings are folded against his back, and I can see spikes along his spine. His tail ends with large blades.

However, there seems to be no hostility.

Once my sudden panic leaves and the fear dies down, I realize this creature isn't trying to attack, and he's never once given any indication of doing so. In fact, he's only helped when I was stuck in Soundwave's grasp.

"Who are you?" Slips out before I can stop myself. The beast moves his head a bit, but returns to meet my gaze.

"I have no designation, at least not one that can be pronounced by humans." I only nod as I move to look him over. If Jazz is the one who owns the spark in my chest, that would mean this new cybertronian creature is the original owner of the processor in my head.

"That would be correct, miss."

I stop in my tracks, back in between both mechs.

"Okay, ground rule number one, no reading my mind or listening to my thoughts without permission... if that's even possible." My gaze moves between the two, and each give a nod. Now that that's settled, I rub my own chin. Nothing like this has ever happened that I know of in human history, unless we consider multiple personalities. My mind is struggling to comprehend everything, so I shake it all away for now.

"Okay, so let me try to get this straight. After Mission City, I am only alive become some doctors put your spark," I jab a finger at Jazz. "And your processor," I move my hand to the dragon now. "Inside of me and rebuilt my spine from pure CNA. Now I have super strength when I am in contact with energon and if drained, I end up more exhausted than ever?"

Jazz nods his helm, a servo on his chin once again. "Ratchet or Wheeljack would know more about this, but that seems right. I don't remember much after-" He stops, his servo moving to his gut area. The dragon nods his helm as well.

"I don't recall what happened after my own death as well, but your conclusion is logical."

Suddenly, everything starts to blur. I blink again, but the vision stays the same.

"Am I waking up now?"

Movement is barely even noticeable as even the lighting from the dragon starts to disappear.

"Yes. We will speak to you again, but someone is trying to wake you."

"Lovely."