Disclaimer: The characters of Transformers belongs to Hasbro, Inc. My character Impulse is my creation, of me Theresa Meyers. Stephanie McPherson (Silica), Mitchell McPherson (Randomax), Dr. David McPherson (REM) and the Humanobots are the creation of Ingrid Rockstrom, which I use with her permission. This is a very old story written back in my formative TF fandom years, in 1987. If you wish to use our fancharacters please let us know! Otherwise enjoy this first attempt of mine into retro G1 transformers fanfiction! Our characters mean no harm to the show!
by Theresa Meyers with concepts by Ingrid Rockstrom
"Didn't I say I made some changes? I practiced on the first device, to eliminate the Autobots, remotely controlled from here. Now I wired one of my own in this mind control device."
"What good will it do? Anyway, I don't think it would work on a Humanobot..."
"Don't ask questions, they bother me!" growled the Decepticon leader. "Anyway, for your information, the device makes use of dreams to relax the mind... in humans."
"So?"
"If the dream is a nightmare, and I can control it, I can convince the subject to do my bidding... or else change their morality."
"The humans have too much experience with dreams! The female one could..."
"Impossible! I'll dig into her mind to find her worst nightmare."
"Why the female?"
"Human females are far more vengeful by nature. The male of the species simply sees combat as a means of settlement. However, the females are vicious and spiteful when aroused."
"Oh, how brilliant."
"And I shall use one nightmare she has... one so vivid and real she'll believe it... and then augment it to suit my message. Bring in the subject!"
In response to his summons, two Insecticons escorted a resistant Stephanie into the lower chamber. She was laid on the table, and secured there with metal clasps. Electrodes glued to her forehead and above her heart monitored all vital functions... to make any necessary modifications to the nightmare under Bombshell's direction. "I shall operate the nightmare programmer," he said. Cackling gleefully, Megatron rubbed his metal hands together in anticipation.
Shivering in anger and fright, Stephanie stared up at the ugly sensor scan above her. The device was loaded with cameras, probes and other various projections. "Activate!" boomed Megatron's harsh, metallic voice. A faint hum followed. "Setting one."
"Maintaining normal mind pattern," said Starscream, monitoring the vital signs.
A 3-d hologram of Stephanie's brain appeared within the projection screen. Starscream did his best to interpret the constant stream of data spewing from the monitors. "Heart rate increasing," he grated.
"Administer sedation shock," said Megatron to him. Stephanie lapsed into a half sleep state. Still her arms moved and there was considerable resistance to the mind probe. "Setting two, mind scan for dream imagery."
The hum grew to a whine. Stephanie winced, flinging her head from side to side. Upon a nearby screen flickered a nightmarish dream scape. From a whole supply of horrors, Bombshell chose the memory of a nuclear strike on Cybertron. The Humanobot thrashed. "Setting Three... subliminal implantation and suggestion."
"There are her parents..." leered Bombshell.
"Aha... family loyalty is a strong trait..." mused Megatron. "Make it seem as if they abandoned her back there... she has no friends among Autobots, or her family..."
"Mother! Father!" cried Stephanie, tears starting to form. "Where's mom?" One of her worst fears was the loss of her mother.
"Setting four!"
"Are you sure?" asked Starscream tentatively. "Her vital functions are de-stabilizing at an alarming rate."
"Curse it you fool, Starscream!" thundered Megatron. "Stabilize and compensate!"
Now Stephanie squirmed, her fists clenching and unclenching. She screamed loudly for her parents... her mother and father. Yet the image on the screen showed her racing at age eight through dark ruinous city streets, nearly dying at the blasts of bombs. "Don't leave me to die! Where's mother! Save me, Father!"
"Cardiac readings are very alarming, Megatron," reported Starscream uneasily. "The Humanobot can't handle this high a setting!"
"Ignore him, Bombshell.... What's going on?" he broke off, observing Stephanie as one hand ripped free, moving towards her heart.
"I believe the human is entering a state of Cardiac Arrest," answered Starscream.
"Blast and confound it, you imbecilic transistor brains! Turn this thing off! I didn't say I wanted her dead!"
"But YOU specifically told me to stabilize and..." protested Starscream.
"Where shall we take her now?" asked Bombshell, the Decepticon mind specialist.
Megatron thought for a moment, then replied, "Put her in the Autobot Perceptor's cell for now, with a restraint headband."
"But what will you do if Perceptor figures out how to remove the headband, and escape, oh Mighty one?" asked Starscream jeeringly.
"Well, we'll just wait and see if he really wants to... hah, hah!"
"They're probably just quiet right now, Impulse," responded Jazz. "Besides, what could possibly happen on an awesome day like this one?"
"Still, we should report anything suspicious to Optimus Prime," she said. They drove into the maze of tunnels leading to the Great chamber. But to their horror, the place was like a tomb. Nobody so much as moved a circuit, even Teletran 1 was inoperative. Jazz rushed over to where the Autobot inventor Wheeljack lay face down on the metal floor.
"Wheeljack, what's up? Hey man! What gives?" Having no success, he shook Bluestreak. Impulse spotted Optimus Prime half wired to the Dream-a-Relaxer. Instantly, following her intuition, Impulse shut the machine off.
"Jazz, come here!"
"What gives?"
"The Dream-a-Relaxer. It's the thing that's put everyone out like lights!"
"No!" cried a human voice from behind them. "I can't believe it! The worst has happened!"
"Dr. McPherson!" exclaimed Jazz and Impulse together. The scientist stood in the room, regarding the whole spectacle in disbelief. His lab coat shone ghostly in the faint illumination of Jazz and Impulse's photon chassis lights; indicating he had just raced there from his lab.
"You've got to do something..." begged Impulse. "You invented the device!"
"I don't know what to do..." muttered the scientist, scratching his head of auburn hair. "But I'll try my best. Jazz! See if anyone is operational! Try anything that still moves!" he instructed. Wheeljack moved one hand, as Jazz raced over to him. Jazz injected him electronically with energon, and Wheeljack reactivated, a bit sluggish at first. "Eh... what happened? Jazz..."
"He wouldn't want to hear. You can see clear enough if yuh take a look round," Jazz responded. "Doc McPherson needs help, and you're elected."
Instantly Wheeljack stumbled to his feet and did his best to examine the other fallen Autobots. Trail-breaker was still alright, and so was Bumblebee, the small VW transform.
"Wheeljack! Come here!" called Impulse. "It's Optimus Prime, and he's still functional!" They regarded the fallen Autobot commander. He lay in front of the machine, groaning and writhing as if suffering from a bad dream. "This doesn't look good," sighed Dr. McPherson sadly.
"What do you mean?" asked Impulse.
"Prime has withstood complete override, but is suffering from a horrid nightmare. The alpha waves are extremely violent."
"But why did everyone else black out, then?" asked Wheeljack, his vocal lights flashing.
"They repeatedly used the machine, starting on lower settings and slowly building up tolerance to the higher settings. Primes only used it for five minutes, but on one of the highest settings. It will be hard to bring him round."
"Dr. McPherson, maybe I can do something," suggested Impulse, the computer programmer.
"You, Impulse?"
"Do you know of my ability to interface with almost any computer?"
"Yes, but how?"
"I could try to interface with Optimus Prime, and try to reach his mind... gain access to bring him one line..."
"No Impulse!" protested Wheeljack. "It's too risky... Prime's brain is far more complex than any silly computer!"
"We cannot risk losing you as well," added Dr. McPherson. "You could be lost in nightmares too... I can't allow it!"
"I must risk it. For all our sakes!" she stated. "After all, where are we without our leader?"
Impulse drew on her interfacial gauntlet. Reluctantly, Dr. McPherson linked wires to Prime's helmet. Leaning over, she placed one hand on Prime's thoracic plate and began the process. Instantly her face went blank, as her mind merged with Prime's. "All systems go. Access codes in order," she intoned flatly. Her mind cried out inside his repeatedly, "It's only illusion! Simulation! Wake up!" Prime's agonies became her own; for she sat straight up, groaning, face frozen into a wince of agony. There was a flash, and Impulse collapsed.
"Disconnect her quick," ordered Dr. McPherson to Wheeljack.
Slowly, Optimus Prime stirred. "What happened? Why do I feel so run down?" Impulse had meanwhile recovered from her task, trying her best to help the Commander to his feet.
"You... were caught in a nightmare, Prime," she explained.
"It was you... who entered my mind," he realized. "You did it! Saved me," he said, hugging Impulse with one mechanical arm. Dr. McPherson wiped perspiration from his forehead. "Anyone else functional, Wheeljack?"
"Bumblebee is just conked out, and Jazz is taking care of him. Trail-breaker can be on his wheels in a few minutes. But aside from that, everyone else's gone."
Bumblebee slowly sat up, aided by Jazz. With his arms underneath Bumblebee's neck, he gave the little guy small sips of fuel until he could stand and transform. Finally, all five Autobots and Dr. McPherson tried to formulate a plan.
"Wheeljack, I want you to stay behind and assist Dr. McPherson in trying to revive the others. Meanwhile, Jazz, Trail-breaker, Impulse, and Bumblebee will accompany me on a search mission for the children."
"I hope we find them before... before it's too late," gulped Impulse.
"Autobots! Transform, and roll out!" commanded Optimus Prime, transforming to tractor trailer mode.
"Yeah, I'm fine," muttered Stephanie sullenly. She pulled her pink sweater top down in the back and straightened her hair.
This tone in her voice surprised Perceptor. "Are you certain you are alright? You sound... different."
"Well, how would you feel if you've been pushed around all day?" she spat back. "You've been safe in this cell!"
"Alright, I had no intention of... anyway, I've not been idle," he spoke in defense. "I've devised a plan of escape."
"Well, what's taking you so long? Out with it!"
"Come over here. I will attempt to remove your headband."
"Are you crazy?" cried Stephanie. "I might get killed if you screw up!"
"Trust me. I f I draw enough energy from the band, I can remove it quickly enough to keep you safe." Thus, the Autobot chemical analyst counted to three, then quickly ripped the headband from Stephanie's scalp. She shrieked and rolled over on the floor, curled up tightly.
"Are you damaged?"
"You could have killed me, you stupid, absent-minded nerd! Be more careful next time!" she yelled. Her shouting attracted the attention of a sentry, who let down the energon bars. Just long enough for Perceptor to jump him. Racing down the hall from the cell, they heard Mitchell crying out.
"Steady on, we'll get you out in a second," reassured Perceptor, playing with the lock panel. To Mitchell's relief, the bars fell, and he threw his arms around Stephanie.
"Thank goodness you're alright, sis," he said.
"Oh, no time for mushy stuff now," she scolded, pulling away from him. "Let's get out of this rotten place."
Perceptor leaned over and scooped up both children in his large hands. "Hang on to my shoulders," he offered. "It's faster if I give you a lift to the control room." He ran rapidly down the long winding corridors. After only a few minute the trio reached the vast Main Deck.
Leaning over, the Autobot scientist put the children down. Pouring over the main computer, he searched for the proper access codes. "If I just get the right authorization, I can attempt to program this to transmit a secret unrecorded message to HQ..."
"You'll reach for the sky, Einstein," said a voice behind them. Spinning around, the trio found themselves face to face with Megatron. His red optics gleamed cruelly in his grey face. "Nice try, Marconi, but as the humans say, `no cigar'. Good work, Stephanie."
"Thank you," she smiled, and transformed into Silica, the Humanobot, with a dazzle of energy.
"Your next task is to deal with the Autobot Scientist. He failed to protect you, at your place of dwelling! He is a traitor!" With this cue, Silica activated her distraction ray at Perceptor. He placed hands to his head, groaning.
"Sis!" cried Mitchell, transforming into Randomax. "No!" Instantly, a blue and white robot tackled the magenta one, knocking her to one side. The distraction ray lost its fix.
Yet Megatron raised his fusion cannon, and blasted Perceptor anyway. "Sis, what's going on?" begged Randomax as he stared at his sister. "What's happened to you?"
"That Humanobot before you was responsible for your misery. Deal with him!"
"Why should she? Silica! He's lying to you! I'm your brother!" Silica hesitated.
"The Decepticons saved your life after you went into cardiac arrest," said Megatron slyly. "And did you dear brother raise so much as a finger to help you?"
"Sorry, little brother, I have to do this," said Silica, picking up a laser pistol.
"No you don't... have to do this!" pleaded Randomax. "This isn't like you! Stop it!" Silica had a look of momentary compassion. Yet she raised her weapon and fired. Randomax fell over, smoke and sparks raising from his shoulder. Just then, Silica transformed back into Stephanie. She stared in horror at the gun in her hand. "What have I done?" she gasped, her good side momentarily showing itself. Glancing quickly about the room she saw the fallen Perceptor, and Randomax, sprawled upon the floor. "You tricked me!"
"Decide for yourself, Humanobot," said Megatron, towering over her. "Remember your past. They almost could have left you behind... on Crystacon."
"How... did you know..." she stammered, tears welling up.
"Think of the pain they caused you, your dear family. Your mother's death. I am giving you the chance to get back at them for what they did."
"Yes... my mother..." murmured Stephanie. "My father... took off without looking for her... Yes, I see things more clearly now. Revenge!" she repeated, her face bearing a look of malevolence. Slowly she noticed other Decepticons entering the room.
"Don't you see, Stephanie? It's much easier to listen to reason."
"I'm just so confused..." she muttered. "I don't know what to do..."
"Then let Megatron help you," offered the Leader, tinting his voice with what seemed like compassion. "We Decepticons offer advice, and service to you, if your aim is destruction of the Autobots."
Looking at the army for a moment, she was silent. "Well, what are we waiting for," she asked. "Let's go and get them!"
"Allow me to provide a means of transport, Humanobot Stephanie," offered Starscream, lowering his blue hand. Scooping her up, he placed the Humanobot into the cockpit on his chest as he transformed. Then, the assembled strike force headed out for the docking tower. It rose from the waves, spewing forth an armada of planes and missiles, all flying over the choppy Pacific. One group transformed and landed, hiding behind a large grove of trees. Another, lead by Megatron, concealed themselves behind rock formations.
On the highway sped five vehicles; a VW beetle, a Porsche, a black pickup truck, and a violet and silver car. All followed a huge red tractor trailer. "I sense Stephanie's mind nearby," said Impulse, pulling up beside Prime.
"My scanners indicate a human life form, alright. But we'd better get off the highway to check it out," advised Jazz.
"Autobots, transform," commanded Optimus Prime. The Autobots stepped off the highway and followed the Commander and Impulse. All was quiet in the surrounding trees of the Gifford-Pinchot national forest, save the occasional chirping of birds and hooting of spotted owls.
"Hey, there's somebody walking over there... in that huge clearing up ahead!" said Bumblebee, excitedly. He had the sharpest vision of all the Autobots. "You know, I think it's Stephanie!" He started to run towards her.
"No wait," hissed Impulse, stopping him with one arm. "Wait. I've got a bad feeling about this. Let's all hide first."
"Good thinking, Impulse," complimented Prime. "Bumblebee, you go talk with Stephanie and see if she's alright. We'll all stay back here." With that, Optimus Prime, Jazz, Impulse and Trail-breaker took cover behind trees and boulders, only a mere hundred yards away. Bumblebee headed for Stephanie.
"Hey! Stephanie," called Bumblebee, pulling up in car mode. "It's me, Bumblebee."
"Oh, hi," she responded, stopping her slow walk. Her eyes had a vacant and absent look to them.
"Oh hi? Are you okay?" asked the small Autobot, transforming. "You've been missing for five hours! We were real worried that you'd been captured!"
"Oh yeah, that's what they all say," she muttered. "Except that pesky little brother of mine. He was dumb enough to get caught. I suppose we'd better organize a search party to rescue him."
"Gee, you don't sound like yourself. Are you sure you're okay?" Just then, Optimus Prime and Jazz stepped out. "You look funny... I mean you look tired. What's bothering you?"
"To tell you all the truth, you're all bothering me!" she snapped. They didn't notice one hand behind her back. "I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine..." with that, she whipped out a Walther P-38 with silencer and arm brace, and blasted at Bumblebee.
"It's Megatron!" cried the little Autobot.
From behind the bushes, Trail-breaker saw it all. "They need help. Stay here, Impulse,"
"What?" she asked, a bit annoyed.
"We need someone to send a message, if there's a problem." The large Autobot, shining in black chrome, leapt to the rescue. But before he could raise his celebrated force field, Stephanie had transformed to Silica. She used the Distraction Ray to jam the device.
"Steph!" cried Jazz. "What gives? Are yuh crazy, girl?"
To his left stood Optimus Prime, laser rifle aimed.
"Stephanie, we don't want to hurt you! Don't make us use force!"
"Stay back, you four wheeled junkers!"
"That's it! Use my power to destroy them!" urged Megatron. Instantly, she called on the other Decepticons to attack. Even though the trio fought bravely, they were made short work of in a few minutes. Stephanie was an excellent shot, leaping around in her Silica mode with Megatron's power.
"Wait! I sense another!" she said, turning back to human form. "Aha! You can't hide from me, Impulse! Come out and meet your fate!" She aimed Megatron at the boulders and fired. Sure enough, behind them was the computer specialist, her gun blazing suddenly at the army. With a few electroforce blasts she felled Thundercracker, then Thrust.
"You've done it now, you filthy Decepti-creeps!" she cried.
"Give up, Impulse. It will be much easier on you." said Stephanie, aiming Megatron at her.
Impulse crouched on one knee, clutching her electroforce pistol in front of herself. She trembled with fury. "Any one of you who comes one meter closer is a condemned plane!" she stated grimly.
"What are you waiting for!" shouted Skywarp. "Eliminate her!"
Within Stephanie's mind arose a brief conflict. Something just prevented her from destroying Impulse. "Why waste time with her?" she said finally. "Anyway, I say leaving her here alone is worse than death!"
"Decepticons!" called Megatron, flying from her hand and transforming. "Transform and fly!" So they left Impulse, who sat determined as ever. Like a statue she stood still over the bodies of her friends, weapon poised and primed. Only until the Decepticons were out of sight did she lower her weapon. Quickly she tried to revive her fallen companions... to no avail. Choking on bitter guilt and dismay she radioed HQ.
"Good going, Impulse," complimented Mirage.
"But I should have been destroyed, not Optimus Prime!" she shouted. "I should have bravely faced them! Stephanie couldn't destroy me!"
"Don't blame yourself, Impulse," said military Strategist Prowl, gently patting her shoulder. "You took a most logical course of action."
Turning to Dr. McPherson Impulse said, "I hate this whole thing! We're all safe, but Optimus Prime is badly damaged, I don't know how we can stop the Decepticons without him... and it's all my fault."
"You did your best, you know," said Bluestreak.
"You sure stood up to them in the end, and If you weren't around to warn us, we'd be spare parts now," said Ironhide.
"I just can't believe my baby girl would do such a thing. It's not like her at all," said McPherson, shaking his head.
"Oh, she's under... mind... control," explained Impulse hastily, trying hard not to cry.
"There, there," comforted Prowl, putting an arm around her shoulders. "It does sound like a logical conclusion, and I'm certain Dr. McPherson has a logical plan of attack."
"There may be a way," mused the scientist. "If I can get her alone, maybe I can talk some reason into her. She's got to listen to her own father."
"I'm just sure she'll listen to ya! Prowl, I say we blast them Decepticons to kingdom come!" bellowed the large red Autobot veteran Ironhide, who stood right next to Hound.
"We'll do that when necessary, Ironhide," stated the acting commander calmly. "I need all of you to listen, for I've devised a plan. Some of you, at the appointed time," and here he looked at Ironhide. "Must keep the Decepticons busy. Dr. McPherson must have time to talk alone with his daughter. Wheeljack, call the Dinobots! Ratchet, I want you to stay behind and keep repairing those of us still damaged." Turning to Spike's father, Sparkplug, the spry mechanic he said, "I'll need you on the battlefield to repair any Autobots injured in battle." Lastly he turned to Impulse. "And your duty is to keep a positive attitude, specialist Impulse."
"Alright, sir," she replied, pulling herself together. "I shall be ready in fifteen minutes." She gave his hand a squeeze and whispered, "Thank you, Prowl."
All was in readiness as the Autobots rolled out from HQ. Prowl was in the lead now, flanked by Ironhide and Wheeljack. "There they are!" shouted Megatron to his squadron from the air. Both armies placed themselves on either side of a huge ravine with several small hills at its bottom. "Give up, weakling Prowl!" jeered Megatron at the patrol car. "You couldn't lead turbofoxes to a retrohen coop!"
"That is your opinion, Megatron, but otherwise I know!" retorted Prowl bravely. "We will fight to the death!"
"So be it, fool!" Instantly a terrific shootout ensued. Both armies were well matched in skill, and with the Dinobots, in strength.
In the midst of the battle, Dr. McPherson sighted his daughter. He ran after her, calling her name. "I must be careful not to start any emotional imbalance. It could very well kill her," he thought to himself. Impulse saw the chase, and transforming into car mode, she followed. Turning, Stephanie saw her father, racing after her still wearing his tan slacks and white lab coat. She stopped running when she reached the edge of the ravine.
"Stay back!" she warned. "Or I'll attack you!"
"Stephanie, listen to me," started Dr. McPherson, hands moving vigorously as he spoke. "The Decepticons have taken over you mind. You must fight it!"
"You can do better than that, you old... so and so!"
"Please! You must listen to me!" he yelled over gunfire. "I only want to help you!"
"Leave me alone! I don't want your help! You left Mother behind! You almost left me to die too!"
"What on Earth are you talking about?"
"You know! Stay back! I don't want to shoot you!" she threatened as her father stepped towards her.
"Stephanie, please listen. I love you! I'd never intentionally do anything to hurt you... I'm your father!"
"No more!" she shrilled, transforming to robot mode. "Come and fight like a Humanobot!" Powerfully she lashed out at him with a spindle kick. Still in human mode, Dr. McPherson dodged the kick, only to loose his balance. Screaming, he slid down the steep slide of the ravine. "Dr. McPherson?" asked Silica, looking down the ravine. She transformed to Stephanie, and dropped to her knees. "Dad? Respond! I didn't mean the part about you not being my father! Say something!" she shrilled, surprised at the sudden concern in her voice. "FATHER!" she screamed, feeling the conflict of good and evil within.
From far below came a faint cry. "Help me!" Stephanie raised her head. "Stephanie, help me! I can't hang on much longer!"
"Dad?" she called, rushing to the edge. Sure enough, there was her father, hanging on for dear life to a tree branch. Two sides at war raged within while the battle raged without. Should she save him. How could she, when he could have killed her own mother... abandoning her on Crystacon during the attack? "Transform quick, and climb up," she called back.
"I can't," he groaned. "Mechanisms... jammed."
Stephanie dropped to her knees, the voices shrilling and arguing. "No! I can't think! What's happening to me?"
"Help him, quick!" urged Impulse's voice. Her mind joined with Stephanie's turbulent one.
"Get out of my mind!" she screamed, throwing rocks at Impulse. "Leave me alone! I don't need you... I don't need anyone!"
"Your father needs you," said Impulse.
"My head, can't think... the strain is killing me!"
"I won't let you die, Stephanie." said Impulse's voice in her head. "My mind will steady yours." With a great force of will, Stephanie rose from her knees and transformed. She climbed down and grasped her father's hand, just as he was about to let go. "Thank you, daughter," he whispered. With the white coated scientist tucked under one arm, the seven foot robot began the ascent.
Megatron saw this spectacle. Instantly he fired a warning blast. "What are you doing, Humanobot?" he bellowed. "This is an Autobot trap! Impulse is waiting up there to destroy you!"
"Quiet, you egotistical carpet blaster!" cried Impulse, losing her concentration on Stephanie's mind. Silica had just set her father down on the ravine edge when the conflict began again.
"Am I a fool?" she gasped, looking at herself. Impulse stood up, firing past her at Megatron. But Silica thought Impulse was firing at her. "You betrayed me!" she cried.
"No, daughter," gasped McPherson. "Megatron is your enemy!"
"Don't listen to them," cried Megatron.
Transforming to Stephanie, she dropped on her knees. Both hands pressed to her head. "I can't think! The pain! Is KILLING ME!"
Impulse rushed up and grabbed up the human. "I won't allow you be terminated!"
"Get out of my mind!" screamed Stephanie, banging Impulse's red hands with her fists. Yet Impulse held on against the attack. "Help me! I'm...." Blackness closed in around Stephanie, and Impulse barely removed her own mind in time. She sat momentarily to pull herself together. Then, she regarded Stephanie's limp form in her small hands with sadness.
Dr. McPherson raced over to Impulse. "Stephanie? Are you.."
Impulse shook her head, lowering his daughter to the ground. Taking his daughter's inert body into his arms, he pressed her close, saying, "Stephanie, my baby girl! Hang on! Please don't leave me!"
His eyes pressed shut, and real tears dripped off his eyelashes. Still he kept sobbing, "My poor baby... don't leave me!" As the battle continued, Impulse watched over both.
All was quiet and solemn at Autobot HQ as repairs were made. Once Stephanie had blackened out, Megatron saw no reason to keep fighting. He had retreated with his whole army. Now Stephanie lay on a bed in a deep coma. The doctors of the emergency room had suggested that Dr. McPherson use his device to cure his daughter's confused will. Even though he was reluctant to use the device again, Dr. McPherson decided it was better than endless months of rigorous therapy.
Impulse waited by Stephanie's bed in Wheeljack's lab while she was on the Dream-a-Relaxer. Outside, Mitchell, who was rescued from the Decepticon HQ, and his father sat close together. "She can't die, Dad! She's too young! It's not her time yet!"
"All you and I can do now is hope for the best, Mitchell, my son," he replied, sadly. His arm went about his son's small shoulders. Spike, one of Stephanie's friends from school, sat glumly in an easy chair across from the sofa. His girlfriend Carly held his hand in sympathy. Yes, she too was entrusted with the Humanobot's secret.
"It's just so hard to sit here, and not know what is going t' happen next," sighed Spike, running both hands through his thick brown hair. Carly nodded her blond haired head in sympathy.
"I know it's hard... when a friend is hurt. But I see, if this is the worst it gets, then things should get better real soon," she said finally.
Outside in the main War Room, all the Autobots, now recovered, awaited Stephanie's recovery. For she was a fellow Autobot. And they silently prayed to Primus that she would pull through. This tiny Humanobot had undergone a personality inversion the likes of many would never understand.
Slowly Stephanie felt herself rising into consciousness. As if waking from a nightmare. Her blurred eyesite fixed on a metallic figure. "Imm... pulse..." she muttered, coming round.
"She... she's conscious!" Impulse practically shrieked. Dr. McPherson snapped awake, and shook Wheeljack, who had deactivated.
"Huh... what?" Wheeljack gasped. Ratchet came running in.
"She's alive!" Dr. McPherson cried, and danced around the bed. He gripped his daughter's hand anxiously. "Baby, are you all right? Do you know me?"
Slowly her hazel eyes fixed upon her father. And a small smile twitched the corners of her lips. "Hi... daddy," she croaked.
"Oh baby girl, I love you... I'm so sorry... if I hadn't..."
"Daddy," Stephanie said, tears in her eyes. "I should be the one saying I'm sorry! I tried to kill you... because I thought you left mom behind... on Cybertron..."
"Oh baby is that it?" Dr. McPherson said, tears in his face as he gripped her hand tight. Already Wheeljack had shot out of his lab at top speed, in car mode.
"What... how..." gasped Ironhide. "Thank the Matrix!"
Mitchell screamed with joy as he leapt up towards Wheeljack. Bumblebee grabbed him and hugged him. Carly and Spike embraced, sharing a kiss. Impulse rushed out laughing and crying. She was grabbed up by the logical Prowl, who promptly kissed her on the cheek. She flushed bright crimson on her facial component.
Optimus Prime stood before the Autobots, and announced, "Our wait is over. She has recovered! Thank the Matrix... let there be no more need for mourning..."
Already a whole slew of Autobots wished to go to the lab. But Ironhide and Ratchet held them back. "Wait now, she's still recovering!" Ratchet cautioned. Spike, Carly, Mitchell, and Optimus Prime however were admitted.
Stephanie was talking quietly with her father as they came in. "Optimus Prime, I am so sorry!" Stephanie said, dark circles under her eyes. Impulse glanced at her. She was too young to have suffered such mental torment. Curse Megatron to the abyss for this. Inside she swore she'd not rest till her young friend was avenged.
Optimus stooped on one knee beside the ludicrously small bed. His huge blue hand reached behind Stephanie's back and shoulders. With the greatest care his fingertips caressed her back. "Do not blame yourself. In fact you should be proud. You fought bravely to return to duty. And your programming was truly Autobot..."
"I couldn't have done it... without you my friends," she sighed. "Especially you, Impulse..."
Impulse came to her other side. "It was nothing I wouldn't automatically do for a friend..."
"Some friend. Saying I hated you all! And I almost killed you baby brother..." she sobbed. Mitchell ran to her and hugged her fiercely.
"Aw sis, don't get mushy!" he complained, hugging her tightly. Dr. McPherson held both his children, tears in his eyes.
"We are all glad this day," Optimus said. "For Megatron has been defeated. And we have been reunited with our lost allies... there should be joy, not sorrow..."
"Thank you," Stephanie said, eyes full of tears as she saw the other Autobots peeking through the open door. Bumblebee, Spike and Carly, and Sparkplug all peered with seemingly stacked heads. Before they began to wander in. It was like an extended family, Stephanie realized. No matter what she had done, they forgave her. Truly they were fellow Robotic constructs. Everyone had something kind to say.
Still Stephanie felt an aching hole in her heart. That only her Mother's presence would fill. Was her Mother Micra alive? Did she escape, or was she still on Cybertron? Only time would tell. Yet she knew the Autobots would stand by her family stranded upon Earth.
The Humanobots had won this round. Who could say what adventures awaited them next?