Alias

Roll Out

There were more Autobots in the lab this time to witness the experiment. With Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Skyfire, Wheeljack, Perceptor, Ironhide, Drift, Hound, Crosshairs, and the two humans in there, the lab was crammed full. The procedure of transferring Anna’s consciousness into Alias went smoothly again, and this time when Optimus helped her to sit up, she was able to swing her legs over the side without difficulty. Cade and Tessa stood a little way back, watching how Optimus once again didn’t release her hand and that she didn’t look away from his face until he pointed out the screen that showed her.

“Look, you’re not pink,” Prime said, smiling.

They’d done a really good job of making Alias look like Anna, Cade thought. He was always surprised at how expressive those metal faces were and right now hers showed unmistakable joy and wonder as she studied every inch of herself. Alias was clearly an Autobot who hadn’t yet scanned an alt-mode, but the lack of recognizably human-made parts gave her an sleek, dangerous look. Slimmer than the other Autobots, her body shape was clearly feminine without looking the slightest bit weak. Even without any weapons, Alias looked like she could do some damage. It helped that they hadn’t painted her, choosing to leave the flat, dark grey metal as it was until she decided on her final details.

In fact, the only color on her came from the blue glow of her eyes and the red Autobot symbol on her left shoulder in exactly the same place as her tattoo.

“Oh, this is way better than pink,” Anna–no, Alias–replied happily, still staring transfixed at the screen. “You all get to live.”

“I’m so damn jealous right now,” Cade sighed. “That thing is ninja-level badass. What do I have to do to get one of my own?”

“I think you have to hook up with a Prime,” Tessa murmured, grinning at the way Optimus ignored the screen in favor of watching her face as Alias exclaimed in delight over her new body. For all the attention he paid the hovering scientists, they might’ve been invisible. “Just look at him. He’s got it so bad. I have a feeling that if they were alone in here…”

“I seriously need you to never finish that sentence. There are some things my imagination can’t handle,” Cade interrupted, mock-shuddering, but he was smiling too. He had seen Optimus in all kinds of moods–angry, laughing, frustrated, mellow–but the care and deep tenderness he showed for Anna was something new. “Love looks pretty good on him.”

“You old romantic,” Tessa teased him, and he couldn’t deny it.

“Okay, Prime, why don’t you take a step back so I can finish the diagnostic?” Ratchet prompted after a couple of tries at getting between them. “I need to check her reflexes before we try to get her up on her feet.”

“Oh–yes, of course,” Optimus said. He backed away, finally dropping Alias’ hand. Cade caught Ironhide’s hastily-hidden grin and shot him a wink. Apparently the rest of the Autobots were enjoying seeing this side of their leader as much as he was.

Soon Ratchet pronounced Alias fully functional. “How do you feel in there?” Perceptor asked, scanning three different screens. “Ready to try a few steps?”

Alias looked at the scientists for the first time–she hadn’t been able to tear her gaze from Prime or the screen this entire time. “Now? I can get up now?”

“You don’t feel ready?” Skyfire asked, frowning at her hesitation.

“No, no, no, I feel totally ready,” she said quickly. “You’re just all so nervous that I don’t want to blink the wrong way and get shut down.”

Perceptor smiled reassuringly. “We’re not going to shut you down for blinking, I promise. Go ahead and stand up if you’re ready, and why don’t you hold onto Optimus for support?” he suggested. It was clear that Optimus had been impatiently waiting for an excuse to take her hand again. In fact, Prime was reaching for her before Perceptor had even finished his sentence.