Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XII, Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

    William Fowler, special agent of Sector Seven, was not in a good mood.

    As he stormed into the hidden Oregon base, he straightened his necktie and tried to look composed, but he knew the look would falter the moment he entered the next room. A pair of doors slid open and he stepped out into the main chamber. The sight which greeted him him was one he'd never thought he'd see in his entire life.

    Two giant robots playing catch.

    A large ball of metal nearly brushed past Fowler as he reached the railing of the second floor. It ended up in the hands of a red and black Autobot, who was about to throw it back to his yellow co-player when he noticed Fowler's presence.

    "Uh-oh, look out," Sideswipe said sardonically. "The big guy is here."

    Fowler gave him a scathing look for the obvious jab at his rather out-of-shape appearance before saying, "Where is Optimus Prime?"

    "Who wants to know?" asked Sunstreaker, the yellow Autobot.

    "Me, the President, national security... lots of folks you wouldn't want to mess with."

    "That bad, huh?" Turning his head to an adjacent room, Sideswipe called, "Prime, Agent Fowler is here."

    Stepping out of the room was a tall metal giant colored in red and blue. A mouthplate concealed most of his features, save for a pair of blue optics. Smokestacks on his shoulders, a pair of windows on his chest, and a large grill on his abdomen indicated that he transformed into a truck of some sort.

    In a deep, booming voice, Optimus Prime said, "How may I be of service, Agent Fowler?"

    Struggling to maintain his composure, Fowler said, "There have been local reports of an incident on a highway not far from here. Witnesses say that they saw three- no, four giant robots duking it out." He lifted an eyebrow. "Any ideas?"

    Optimus was silent for a moment before speaking. "You know that my Autobots would never reveal themselves unless absolutely necessary."

    "I know that. And perhaps one of the four was an Autobot who was forced to reveal themselves in this scenario. But what about the other three?"

    Despite being made of metal, Optimus' face seemed to cloud over. "I do not know of any other Cybertronians who would be here on Earth... except maybe the Decepticons."

    "The Decepticons? I thought you said they presumed you guys dead and abandoned Earth."

    "I did indeed say that. Apparently, for whatever reason, they've decided to return after over a century and now know of our presence."

    "That right?" Fowler asked. "Who do you think was the Autobot who confronted them? Maybe he or she could confirm our suspicions."

    "The only Autobots active out of base at the moment are Arcee and Bumblebee. I shall contact them and--"

    "No need."

    Optimus and Fowler turned to see a yellow hatchback drive into the base. To both of their surprise, it carried four young humans. They climbed out of the car before it transformed into the Autobot known as Bumblebee. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Optimus Prime.

    "Bumblebee," the Autobot leader rumbled, disapproval in his voice. "What... is the meaning of this?"

    The young Autobot looked guilty. "I... have brought four humans to the base," he said, clearly at a loss for anything else to say.

    "Bumblebee, unless these children are Sector Seven personnel- which I highly doubt- then you'll have to send them back out. After we erase their memory banks, of course."

    "Erase our-?" The red-haired human male at Bumblebee's feet looked terrified. "This is an alien abduction, isn't it?"

    Ignoring him, Bumblebee said, "But, sir, the Decepticons were chasing them. They wanted a piece of Cybertronian tech from them."

    "Cybertronian tech?" Bemused, Optimus Prime slowly lowered himself onto one knee to be at rough eye contact with the humans. He held out a hand. "May I see?"

    Shaking uncontrollably, a brown-haired boy stepped forward and placed a small, tablet-like device in his metal palm. Optimus then brought it closer to his face to scrutinize it.

    After a few minutes had passed, Fowler said, "Well? What is it?"

    "The exterior is not necessarily made of Cybertronian metal," Optimus replied. "But I am detecting energon readings from it. I will give it to Wheeljack for examination."

    "And the kids?"

    Optimus glanced at them for a moment, seeing them watching him and the other Autobots in terror, before turning back to Fowler. "Can you properly deal with them?"

    Fowler nodded. "It's part of my job, so I will have to." He beckoned them to follow him before glancing back at Optimus. "So the Decepticons are back, aren't they?"

    "It would appear so."

    "How are we going to deal with them?"

    For once, the Autobot leader looked unsure. "Until something occurs for us to respond to, we can only wait. I'll contact Arcee and ask her to look into it."

    "What about me?" Bumblebee asked.

    Optimus Prime affixed him with a stern look. "You will be coming to my office for a debriefing."

    As the two Autobots left, the younger one with a sullen expression, Fowler couldn't help but smirk. In some ways, these alien robots were more like than unlike humans.

*  *  *

    "How come you didn't have us chase after him?"

    Having returned to his police car form, Barricade responded to Runabout via internal radio. "Because that was never the intention. Our intent was to make ourselves known so that the scout would report to his superiors."

    "But what about the device the humans had?" Runamuck asked.

    "We'll worry about it another time," Barricade said. "For now, let us await further orders from Starscream."

    "Isn't it still 'Lord Starscream?'"

    "For the time being, Runamuck," Barricade muttered. "For the time being."