—the doppelgänger—

"PUT YOUR HANDS UP, MOTHERFUCKER!"

Astraea, Carly, and Nicki all screamed from where they sat on their couch as the door to their apartment was practically blown open. Multiple people wearing suits barged in with guns pointed at them.

And leading them was an African-American man with a stern look on his face.

Nicki and Carly immediately ducked onto the floor, covering their heads with their arms. Drug busts were not uncommon in their area, but typically, the house busted actually had to have not only drugs but a dealer insider as well.

While Nicki and Carly (a̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶c̶c̶a̶s̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶A̶s̶t̶r̶a̶e̶a̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶a̶l̶k̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶)̶, were users of such substances—they were not stupid enough to do it in their apartment, let alone keep any of it there. It was mostly just for parties.

Astraea only gaped before standing on the couch, pointing to the man accusingly.

"WILLIAM FOWLER!?"

She stood on the couch with only a long T-shirt covering her panties, her short choppy hair that just barely swept to her chin going every which direction. Shockwave's device was tightly clamped to her wrist, but she never took it off in fear of this exact thing. Oh yeah, and she was not wearing any shoes.

She knew William Fowler's counterpart back in her home dimension. While she had only met the man once seeing as he took refuge with Megatron and the alliance, it was most definitely him.

Even if this dimension's version of him appeared a bit more clean-cut, that was to be expected as everyone from this dimension appeared much more put together. There was barely anywhere with running water in her dimension.

William was staring at Astraea as though he was witnessing a ghost. His face was pale and his mouth had fallen open in shock. The hand that pointed a gun at her shook as he took her in.

William Fowler himself could not believe who he was staring at. Because only a few months prior, he had seen this girl dead. The first time he saw her, she was dead, bruised, and bleeding in the gentle grasp of Optimus Prime.

The second time, he had seen her body lying on a cold metal table in the coroner's office freshly sewn up after an autopsy.

The third and final time he had seen her was when he managed to sneak a mass-displaced Optimus Prime into the church for her visitation ceremony. Everyone had been outside and Fowler snuck Optimus in through a back door—they stood over her body for a few minutes taking her in.

The last opportunity for anyone to see Astraea Mayweather before her body took its final resting place seven feet under.

The Prime had stood before her casket solemnly, his helm bowed and optics closed. The funeral cosmetologist had done a rather good job at making Astraea's body appear as it did when she was alive.

It looked only as though she was sleeping.

Optimus had reached out and touched her cheek, releasing a series of melancholy hums when he realized how cold she was.

But now—now—Agent Fowler stood staring at Astraea Mayweather herself. Sure, she looked a little different than she had a few months ago: a new haircut and it was a different shade. It had a red hue to it as opposed to chestnut brown he remembered. There were a few other differences like the fact that she looked a bit skinnier, but nevertheless, it was the same person.

Unless Astraea had a long-lost twin sister, which would mean that her mother would have had triplets, then this was Astraea Mayweather standing before him. Standing on the couch, clutching a worn pillow to her chest and staring at him with cheerful butter-brown eyes.

He remembered at her service that her mother had said how happy of a person Astraea had always been. She had cried upon remembering her daughter's go-lucky smile.

Fowler never would have imagined that he would get to witness it in person.

The Autobots had recently become wise to the Decepticons hunting and tracking down a human. They did not believe it to be possible at first seeing as the 'Cons cared little for humans in general, but it could not be denied when Bumblebee witnessed them chasing after a woman from a distance a few weeks back.

She had disappeared—quite literally to his shock—before he managed to get any closer. Despite this, he reported his findings to Optimus, who then reported it to Fowler in hopes Fowler might be able to track this woman down and bring her to the Autobot base for her own safety.

He refused to allow another human to die under the hands of the Decepticons.

While it had taken a hot minute, and a few more 'Con sighting where they chased this woman: Fowler had finally managed to track her down. It was alarming because there was no indication of who she might be in the records, he was solely able to track her down based on a new government technology.

Essentially, whenever the woman 'disappeared' from where she was running from the 'Cons, Fowler was able to find where she reappeared so long as it was on U.S. soil and in populated areas.

Southside Chicago was not what he was expecting, and he was definitely not expecting to be met with a ghost when he barged into the suspected apartment.

His gun dropped, shoulders slumping as he stared at her in bafflement.

"Astraea Mayweather?" He scoffed in disbelief. "What in the actual hell is going on...?"

➘➚➘➚➘➚➘➚

"So..." Astraea mumbled while licking the syrup off her fingers. "I'm dead in this universe because Optimus Prime killed me?"

Fowler who was sitting across from her in the booth pinched in the bridge of his nose in irritation. "For the thousandth time—no. He was trying to save you but the 'Cons still managed to kill you... well technically the thing that killed you was trauma to the head from a misfired blast... but Starscream still attempted to kill you himself..."

"Mmhmm..." She hummed thoughtfully, taking another large bite of the plate of waffles.

It was lunchtime but she and William Fowler were sitting in a nearly empty Waffle House a few miles from her apartment. Her place was still on lockdown with her roommates on temporary house arrest to her knowledge.

The thing about Astraea was that for as long as she had been in this universe, she did not question much. She ran by the saying of not looking a gift horse in the mouth. After the hell that she came from, this reality was heaven.

When she realized that this was some backward version of her world, she chose not to say anything about it. Obviously, the Decepticons knew about her, but she did her best to stay under the radar. That meant not alerting the government, the Autobots, or the other version of herself to her new presence.

Astraea simply wanted to take in and experience the wonders of this reality. Of what her Earth was supposed to be had Optimus Prime not destroyed it.

That being said, she did not bother to look into her other self. Therefore, this was the first she was hearing of her other version AKA this reality's version of her actually being dead. By the hands of Cybertronians at that.

How ironic.

It was also ironic because, at that exact moment, David Bowe started singing about being a space oddity.

Astraea took another bit of her waffles before guzzling it down with warm coffee. She learned upon living in this reality that she quite liked coffee and energy drinks. It made her more hyper than she already was—a scary thing for many people. Or at least, that is what Shockwave would think.

Such things as energy drinks or sweet coffees no longer existed in her world.

"So how is that my problem?" Astraea finally asked.

Fowler spluttered. "How is that your—? Are the Decepticons not currently after you?"

Astraea shrugged. "Do I look like my alternate self? I'm not about to die because of little ol' Screamy..." She giggled at the end.

Fowler's right eye twitched.

"First of all, yes, you do have the same face as your alternate self, after all. Second, do you think the other Astraea intended to die by 'little ol' Screamy' as you call him?" He grunted, slightly irritated as he thought back to the funeral and the way that Optimus Prime had been beating himself up over her other self for months.

The look on the Prime's face as he bowed his head over Astraea's open casket haunted Fowler to this day.

But this Astraea in front of him was concerningly careless. Especially considering she apparently came from an alternate dimension where the Autobots were evil and the Decepticons were good? And her planet was in ruins? And also many of the remaining humans ate each other?

Not to mention she was essentially The Flash?

Her story was vague and confusing at best—she was suspicious.

Was she high? This Astraea seemed too happy to be sober, especially considering she just told him the planet she originated from was a dead ball of wastelands, human-labor slave camps, and cities for the humans that alternate-evil Optimus Prime deemed 'acceptable'.

Fowler was having a hard time wrapping his head around it, but then again, as insane as it was: it was also the only explanation that made sense. Unless someone figured out how to bring the dead back to life.

Dark Energon? No, even Fowler would be able to sense if this girl was all hoppy on Dark Energon.

She was only 24, well enough into young adulthood but not old enough to be classified as responsible. At least in Fowler's mind.

And she seemed to prove by the casual way she was sitting cross-legged, a raggedy thrifted t-shirt covering soft cheeky shorts.

Fowler had not yet connected back to the Autobot base to disclose what he had found out about the woman the 'Cons were after.

"No, but my other self also could not run faster than Sonic and Shadow the Hedgehog combined... trust me, the number of times that Starscream has made the grab for me and I was ten miles away in the next second is hilarious..." She laughed at the end, seemingly not fearing for her life even though Starscream was a major part of the reason the other version of herself had died.

Fowler was covering his face with his hands and shaking his head. She was giving him the impression of being an extremely loose canon and he absolutely refused to deal with this any longer.

"You have two choices..." He finally deadpanned. "You come with me back to the Pentagon or we go to the Autobot base and let Prime take care of this. You have still yet to mention how you even managed to obtain such speed..."

Astraea did not bother to mention that she could also generate and control lightning. As Shockwave put it, something about her speed corresponding with lighting and blah blah blah. All she knew was that it was a fun part trick when she came across the Autobots of her dimension.

She had yet to need to use it against the 'Con of this dimension. Starscream and Knock Out were hardly enough of a threat, no wonder their counterparts were losing against Prime in her reality. Actually, scratch that, she was pretty sure that Starscream had died in her reality or something.

She had not been paying much attention to 'Con radio in the months leading up to when she fell through the wormhole that led to this dimension.

Astraea rose a single brow and pursed her lips in thought at Fowler's choices.

It was obvious she did not have much of a choice—she knew it was only a matter of time before either the human government or the Autobots took notice of her presence. As it would happen, it simply occurred at the same time.

"An incident with Red Energon a few years back, a relic containing it was accidentally dowsed onto me and then as I lay dying I was conveniently struck by lighting... bada bing, bada boom, and now I can run faster than the speed of light if I really put my heart into it!" Astraea explained casually and Fowler had the feeling that there was much more to the story than she was letting on. "But—that's not important—I would rather not stay with the robot who like killed my entire planet... so I choose the Pentagon... OH! Can we go to IKEA to get decorations for my new room? I'm assuming Uncle Sam is paying?"

Fowler's mouth had fallen open. He was not expecting her to choose the Pentagon at all. He should not have even offered her that choice. Optimus was certain to be disappointed with this outcome.

"Actually, how about you rethink?"

"The Pentagon." Astraea deadpanned.

"But, the Autobots are the best protection against the 'Cons—"

"The Pentagon," Astraea repeated, her brown eyes taking on a sparkling red hue for only a moment. "Or I run..."

Agent Fowler released a stressful breath. "You really like being difficult, don't you?"

Astraea smiled happily. "Shockwave once said it was my purpose in life..."

➘➚➘➚➘➚➘➚

William Fowler was positive that the parallel version of Astraea Mayweather was a chaos bringer. Not like a dangerous one—but a chaos bringer nonetheless.

He had learned much about her in the two weeks she was living/causing chaos in the Pentagon. Not everything but enough.

And most of it was reported back to the Autobot base. Optimus Prime was both concerned and disappointed that Astraea chose the Pentagon over the Autobot base, but he understood and respected her decision.

However, he still wishes the meet her at some point. Both for the fact that she was from an alternate dimension where she was heavily involved with the Cybertronians and because she was an alive version of the woman who had died in his servos a few months back.

He never had the opportunity to know Astraea apart from her last moments alive, but this proved to be a chance to at least know a separate version of her.

Nevertheless, the Autobots had been highly concerned when Fowler revealed that she was somehow mutated in her universe to have essential 'super speed' via extreme exposure to Red Energon. They were even more concerned when Miko asked if they could expose her to Red Energon as well so she could get super speed.

The lecture she had got from both Optimus and Ratchet had lasted hours and ended with her promising she would never purposely expose herself to any form of Energon for the prospect of 'superpowers'.

Ratchet also explained to Miko (along with everyone else) that Astraea's situation was quite literally a one-in-a-billion chance. By all accounts, Astraea should have died, not been gifted the power of Red Energon.

Red Energon was rare, the Autobots had not seen any for many millennia. And when it was spotted, it was very small in amounts. Typically enough to give a Cybertronian super speed that lasted less than an hour. And even then, Astraea was still faster than any recorded Cybertronians on the substance.

For this reason, among many others, Ratchet was obviously curious to get a sample of her blood and conduct his own tests on her. Under the assurance of all the tests being both morally correct and safe.

But there was also the problem that the information was coming to the Autobots second-hand from Fowler. And while Fowler never lied, he was known to use big exaggerated expressions and language.

Astraea, in particular, was lounging around the very blank room in the boring small wing of the Pentagon she was meant to stay in. For obvious reasons, she was not allowed to wander around the world's most high-secured intelligence buildings.

It caused her to be locked to a small part of it, only visited by Fowler and a few other agents during the day. It wasn't enjoyable and Astraea was rethinking her decision of joining the Autobot base.

But that would cause Fowler to need to pull many strings seeing as the officials of the Pentagon would not be too excited to release the 'newest subject'. They were keeping it under wraps, but even Astraea knew that there was a high probability of her becoming a science experiment in the next few weeks.

She could tell by the way Fowler seemed more nervous with each visit to her, as though he was expecting her to be gone.

They were already trying to take the technology that wrapped around her wrist—the prototype teleportation device that Shockwave had crafted. She would refuse each time they asked for it, claiming that she was now safe and had no reason for it.

Astraea flipped them the bird whenever they would say idiotic shit like that.

But even she was now getting nervous: the Pentagon was getting restless and it was only a matter of time before they forced her to give it into their wishes.

She hated that her fear of Optimus Prime had held her back from the undoubtedly better choice.

Thankfully, she was a smart individual and with the technology available at the Pentagon, the woman was able to sneak her tinkering right under their noses. Her wrist device was now working better than ever, she upgraded it—now it not only provided teleportation but also camouflage.

AKA, after attaching a rather sharp point to the device, she wrapped it back around her wrist while sticking the points directly through her skin. The electromagnetic pulses worked alongside of her sparky blood and shielded her from any tracking technology either the Decepticons or Autobots had.

Therefore, she could run as fast as she wanted without anyone being able to find her.

She no longer had to worry about being chased by Starscream or Knock Out anytime she ran. And that was proven true when she quite literally ran out of the Pentagon and no Decepticon found her.

Of course, she also had another problem,

She was now wanted by the American Government as well. So she did the only sane thing—continued her exploration of this reality and took a vacation to Columbia. Astraea managed to run there in minutes (26.4 to be exact).

So now, she was hiding from the 'Cons, the 'Bots, and the U.S. government by being on a bender in San Andrés. There was also the fact that when she was first placed in the Pentagon, the government pulled some strings and gave Astraea the identity of her dead counterpart.

So according to the law—Astraea Maxxine Mayweather was no longer dead. No, she was shit-faced drunk while twerking on the beach in South America using the funds from her dead alternate self's bank accounts.

It was why she was staying on a beachside resort and had five different bikinis. Currently, Astraea was wearing a hot pink bikini, dancing near the bar with a fruity drink in her grasp. Her short hair which had grown to her shoulders stuck every which way.

Beachy Spanish music played loudly as she spun and spun intoxicated. Now, this was what real peace and freedom tasted like.

➘➚➘➚➘➚➘➚

Team Prime along with the humans had been spread around the main area of the base. The Autobots had arrived back only minutes ago from recon, the guardians catching their human charges up with what they had found.

Optimus was standing behind Rachet, the both of them doing their best to locate any relics on Earth. It had been a quiet few days—no major battles or incidents.

And Fowler had been sending in updates in regards to the human that arrived from the parallel dimension every few days. While Optimus was very concerned about her safety seeing as she was not directly protected by the team as the human children were, it did make him feel better to know that she was in the most secure facility in the country.

With Agent Fowler constantly nearby at that.

If the 'Cons did manage to locate her, the 'Bots would be made aware and called upon at a moment's notice.

However, it did not shake his uncertainty seeing as the version of her that was born of this dimension had already died: in his servos at that. Astraea's face still haunted Optimus Prime, the feeling of her little body taking its last shuddering breaths before she fell into what humans deemed as 'peace'. He certainly hoped that she was in the hands of either Primus or the deity that the humans referred to as their 'God'.

As the proximity sensor went off, everyone looked around while Ratchet checked the cameras. Unsurprisingly, it was Special Agent Fowler having just landed a chopper up top. He was now walking toward the hidden elevator.

"It's Agent Fowler..." Ratchet explained.

Optimus narrowed his optics in concern while everyone else was just the slightest bit confused. Since the children had arrived, their relationship with Fowler had improved immensely. To the point that Fowler typically just called Team Prime if there was an issue or warned them of his impending visit.

It had become rare for him to stop by unexpectedly as he used to do. As though he was going to catch them in some heinous act.

"What's the guy want?" Miko complained loudly, earning a slight nudge and glare from Jack.

"Don't piss him off, Miko. You know that 'Bots will need to be the ones to deal with it if you do..." He whispered and Miko rolled her eyes but made sure to shut her mouth nonetheless.

As soon as the elevator doors opened revealing a dark-skinned man in a sharp grey suit, the Autobot base was greeted with a rather loud, "PRIME!"

Optimus was the one to walk toward the elevator while the other Autobots rolled their optics.

"Special Agent Fowler, to what do we owe the—" Optimus was unable to finish his pleasant greeting to the agent before Fowler fell into a mess of frantic words.

"Is Astraea here?"

Now, that caught everyone's attention. Quite literally, it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop as everyone's undivided attention fell on Fowler.

The Special Agent gulped, his forehead shining with nervous sweat.

He really did not want to need to come to Team Prime and admit that he had lost the girl he assured them the Pentagon was more than capable of watching and protecting. It took a good hour to convince Optimus that Astraea would be okay under America's keen eye.

Optimus's eye ridges fell low—his face taking on an eerily stern and serious look.

"No, Special Agent Fowler, why?" He questioned seriously.

The immaturity in Fowler wanted to do nothing else but to answer Optimus with a "no reason" and then promptly leave. But he knew that would in no way go well. So he sucked up the courage and told Optimus the truth.

Which was that Astraea had been missing for five days now and no one had any clue where the fuck she was.

"Well, she must not be using her speed because there hasn't been any recent 'Con activity..." Ratchet mumbled.

Fowler nodded. "Yeah, I suppose it's that Cybertronian-teleportation-mumbo-jumbo-tech on her wrist. Our guys have been trying to get it off her for days now but she won't give it up."

Optimus's faceplates turned into an even deeper frown—he was not happy with the current situation. Not only was Astraea missing, but she has been for five days and Fowler is just now telling them.

This little human was causing quite the trouble for someone that Optimus had never even met.

"It is for the best that Astraea does not surrender her technology which is both of Cybertron technology and from a different dimension to this Earth's humans. Such technology will do good in no one's hands when it is gifted prematurely... your scientists will discover such technology in due time..." He spoke wisely. "I am gravely concerned; however, that the pressure she faced is what caused her to leave so abruptly..."

Fowler cringed at the last part, seeing the irritation despite the Prime remaining entirely cool and peaceful with his words. Optimus would never raise his voice, especially at someone like Fowler, but most time words did not need to be said to understand emotions.

"Well, Prime, moving forward, my superiors at the Pentagon made a surprise decision in voting that the girl is better kept with you lot. So as soon as we find her, so long as you all are okay with it, her new home is going to be here..." The Special Agent dropped the only good news he had.

That caused much surprise to be shared around, especially Miko who was squealing in delight and chirping about how "The Flash" was also going to be living with the 'Bots.

"Yip, yip, yip..." Ratchet quickly pointed a giant digit at Miko, softly nudging her midsection with it. "Quiet you..."

Miko huffed while crossing her arms, entirely missing the amused expression that Ratchet threw her way.

"While I do believe this is for the better, we must first find Astraea. I fear that she may soon be in grave danger if the Decepticons manage to find her first..." Optimus spoke somberly.

Arcee was the next to speak up. "And how do we do that?"

"Yeah, if she's not running there is no way for us to track her," Bulkhead added.

Bumblebee beeped in agreement.

Optimus hummed in acknowledgment, his processor lost in thought. He was not entirely sure how either—he looked to Ratchet as though questioning if he had any ideas. Ratchet only shrugged: he had no clue how they might be able to track her down either.

Before anything else could be said, Fowler's phone suddenly rang.

He jumped in surprise, hand darting to his pocket while pulling out the silver flip phone. He did not recognize the number, but he figured it was probably someone from the Pentagon seeing as they typically used different numbers so as to not be traced.

He answered, his voice curt, "This is Special Agent William Fowler..."

The Autobots were quietly discussing ideas while the children watched them. Miko was practically bouncing in excitement along with Raf—Jack kept it much cool.

"Hello?" Fowler asked again after he was met with silence: he was growing irritated, he did not have time for this.

"W-Wow, Will... you sound so official... hehe..." The words were entirely slurred, very drunken but easily recognizable.

Astraea was calling him... drunk.

"By the stars and stripes! Where the hell are you, Astraea?!" Fowler was quick to yell, his eyebrows furrowed in anger.

He had been legitimately worried about this girl—scared that the Decepticons had managed to kidnap her. But low and behold, she finally reached out after nearly a week of being MIA and anything but sober.

His words caught everyone's attention and silence quickly fell upon the base as they listened in sharply.

"Up your mom's asshole, you dick..." She said scathingly. "I am just calling to let you know that I am having sooo much fun without you! And that I am not lonely at all and I certainly don't need therapy because I was raised in a warzone that turned into the practical annihilation of my species! Oh yeah, and the Pentagon sucks... the beach is way better!" She proceeded to blow a raspberry through the phone.

Fowler had chosen to place her on speaker in the middle of her rant, his mouth having fallen open and eyes narrowed as he looked at to phone in annoyance.

Wait till he gets his hands on this God-damn brat!

"What beach are you at?!" He yelled. "I swear when I get my hands on you—!"

He was interrupted by Optimus Prime speaking to him almost scoldingly. "Agent Fowler, is that really necessary?"

Fowler did not hesitate to say, "Yes, Prime, yes it is! This woman has given me ten more gray hairs in two weeks! Astraea where are—"

Astraea giggled before hiccuping the phone. "Why would I tell you that I've been on a five-day bender in Columbia? So you can send Optimus Prime to lecture me? Puh-lease...!"

The line went down before Optimus even had a chance to jump into the conversation himself. It was clear as day to him that Agent Fowler yelling at Astraea to tell him where she is was anything but helpful. Nevertheless, she did tell them her location—even if that was not her intention.

The 'Bots could track where the phone signal came from, especially when they had an idea of the vicinity she was in.

"So..." Miko piped excitedly. "We're going to Columbia?"