The quiet hum of the Autobot base was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps and the low rumble of a familiar voice.
"Prime! Where you at! It's Fowler," Special Agent William Fowler bellowed, striding toward the entrance of the base with his usual assertiveness. Behind him, a second set of footsteps echoed. A woman followed closely, her sharp eyes scanning the towering rock walls around her with a mix of awe and anticipation.
The Autobot base was nothing like y/n had imagined. Despite the stories she'd heard from her father, the towering cliffs and massive metallic doors felt surreal. Keeping her pace steady she continued forward, her sharp eyes flicking across every detail.
The base's large doors shifted and opened with a mechanical whir. The metallic walls gleamed faintly under the overhead lights, and the faint smell of machinery and oil mixed with something almost unearthly lingered in the air. The large scale of the place made her feel small—but not insignificant.
Finally, she caught her first real glimpse of them—the Autobots.
Optimus Prime was the first she noticed, standing tall and regal. His towering frame radiated a quiet authority that made even the enormity of his size feel welcoming. Arcee stood nearby, her lithe frame exuding poise and sharp efficiency. Bumblebee chirped happily, his bright optics lighting up at the sight of new company. Bulkhead's bulky frame loomed near the back, his wide stance and easygoing expression somehow making him seem less intimidating despite his size. He gave y/n a friendly wave. And then there was Ratchet, who worked diligently at his console, his focus only slightly diverted by Fowler's entrance.
Y/n swallowed the awe bubbling up in her throat. These weren't just stories anymore—they were real, living beings standing before her.
"Welcome, Special Agent Fowler," Optimus's deep, calm voice broke her thoughts, addressing her father before his optics shifted toward her.
Fowler gestured toward his companion. "Alright, bots, this here is my daughter. Name's Y/n Fowler. She's been shadowing me, learning the ropes of government work and handling extraterrestrial alliances. She's got clearance, knows about you all, but—" he smirked, "she's never met you up close."
Y/n stepped forward straightening her posture, her confidence apparent despite the awe in her gaze. "It's an honor to be here," her voice even as she responded, "I've been eager to meet you all."
"And we are honored to meet another ally." Optimus said warmly, inclining his head.
"Yeah, yeah, the honor's all ours," Fowler interjected, waving a hand. He faced y/n for a moment. "Well, don't get too comfortable. You're not here for sightseeing," her father quipped. "Prime and I have important government matters to discuss. You'll have to entertain yourself for a bit."
He motioned Optimus to follow him to a quieter corner, leaving y/n standing in the center of the cavernous base, surrounded by Autobots. Despite her composed demeanor, her mind raced. She'd been briefed on the Autobots for years, but meeting them in person was different. Their sheer presence was almost overwhelming, yet she felt a strange sense of ease, as though she belonged here.
"Hi there!" Bumblebee chirped, bending down to get a good look at y/n. His friendly tones a mix of beeps and whistles.
"Hello," y/n replied with a smile, swatting at his digit as he attempted to poke at her. "Nice to meet you, Bumblebee."
Bulkhead stepped forward, his massive frame making the ground shake slightly beneath him, Bumblebee stepping back. "Don't mind Bee," he said with a chuckle. "He gets excited meeting new people. I'm Bulkhead."
"Nice to meet you, too, Bulkhead," she replied, tilting her head up to meet his optics. "You're a lot bigger than I imagined."
Bulkhead laughed, the sound deep and hearty. "Yeah, I get that a lot. But don't worry—I'm one of the good guys."
Looking to Arcee, she simply gave y/n a polite nod, which she gave a happy wave to in response.
She continued scanning the room. Her gaze falling on Ratchet's figure hunched over a console, which caught her attention. He was surrounded by a chaotic array of tools and Cybertronian tech, parts and schematics scattered around him in a haphazard array. His sharp, focused movements spoke of precision and expertise.
His gaze flicked up momentarily spotting y/n as she approached, and he grumbled, "Another human. Fantastic."
Y/n raised an eyebrow, unbothered by the gruff tone. "And you must be Ratchet. The genius of the team, if I'm not mistaken?"
Ratchet paused, the faintest trace of surprise crossing his face. "Genius might be overstating it," he muttered, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward for a brief second. "What do you want?"
"Just curious about what you're working on," Y/n replied, stepping closer. She peered at the tech scattered before him. "Is that an energon filtration module? It looks like you're modifying it to stabilize output during high-pressure surges."
Ratchet blinked, genuinely taken aback. "You know about Cybertronian technology?"
"I've read a- few.. classified files," she said with a shrug, her tone casual but her eyes sparkling with interest. "And I've done my homework." she added half jokingly.
Ratchet allowed himself a brief moment of admiration. "Hmph. At least someone seems to have a brain around here." he muttered, though there was no bite in his words.
Their conversation was cut short as Fowler called out to her. "Y/n, time to go! Got a meeting with the brass."
She glanced back at Ratchet, offering a small smile. "It was nice talking to you, Ratchet. I hope I get to see more of your work."
Ratchet watched her leave, the base doors sliding shut behind her. For the first time in a while, he felt a flicker of something unfamiliar. A connection, perhaps. A breath of fresh air. She was unlike any human he had met—intelligent, composed, and genuinely interested in his work.
As the day went on, Ratchet found his thoughts drifting back to y/n. It was strange, and he grumbled to himself for letting a human occupy his mind. But he couldn't deny it—he hoped their paths would cross again.
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Weeks later, that hope became reality.
Y/n found herself back at the base, this time in her own capacity as an agent. Fowler had entrusted her with leading a mission alongside the Autobots—a first for her, and one Ratchet found himself unexpectedly looking forward to.
Her father had handed her the reins to a mission involving a Decepticon data cache located deep within a heavily-guarded industrial site. It was her first time leading a joint operation, and the weight of responsibility sat heavy on her shoulders. But she didn't let it show.
Standing before the team, she outlined the mission parameters. Ratchet observed her with silent approval. She was precise and articulate. Her voice was steady, her confidence evident, even as she was acutely aware of the towering figures watching her—a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the three children who often occupied the base.
"Ratchet," she said, turning to him, "I'll need your expertise on the field tech. We're dealing with Decepticon devices, and I'd like to ensure we're prepared to counter them."
"Hmph. At least you know to ask," he said, his tone gruff but his optics betraying a hint of satisfaction.
Y/n grinned slightly to Ratchet at this before continuing.
"The Decepticons are likely guarding the cache with automated defenses," she explained, pulling up a holographic map. "With that, Arcee and Bumblebee, you'll provide ground support while Bulkhead handles the breach point. Ratchet and I will manage the countermeasures remotely. Optimus will oversee and step in if things go south."
Bulkhead gave her a thumbs-up. "Sounds like a solid plan to me. Let's get to it!"
As the mission unfolded, y/n's resolve never wavered. She navigated the complexities of the Decepticon systems with precision, her commands concise and efficient.
When a sudden malfunction in the field tech caused a delay, she worked side-by-side with Ratchet to resolve it, and Bulkhead provided them cover. Her hands worked swiftly in recalibrating the module under Ratchet's watchful eye.
As they worked together, Ratchet found himself increasingly impressed. Y/n was capable, resourceful, and unflinchingly brave. For the first time in a long while, he felt something beyond duty—a genuine sense of camaraderie.
"You're surprisingly competent," he muttered as she finished, as to not give himself away.
"And you're surprisingly complimentary," she quipped, flashing him a brief smile.
By the time the mission was over, the Autobots' respect for y/n was evident. Bulkhead lightly pat her on the head with a digit—a gesture that nearly knocked her over—and said, "You're alright, y/n. I'd work with you again anytime." Even Ratchet, in his own way, admitted aloud she had exceeded his expectations.
As the team regrouped back at the base, Ratchet found himself genuinely pleased—for once, not just because the mission was a success, but because of the human who had led them there.
Y/n wasn't just an ally. She was someone he could work with, someone who understood the weight of their fight and could stand as an equal.
And just as he had done weeks before, although he didn't want to push his luck too much, he hoped there would be more missions with y/n to come.