Transformers Regenerated: Pax Cybertronia II, Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

--Earth--

    Verity did not like summer. She struggled to think of anyone who did, besides children who were ecstatic to finally escape the confines of school. The heat made her feel miserable and the bugs simply made it worse.

    She suppose she should expect no less from a state like California. The name itself might as well have been synonymous with "hell." Because that's where she felt like she was now.

    The umbrella attached to the table she was sitting at provided her with enough shade that she didn't feel like she was melting into the pavement. The coffee place's outdoor seating was one of the only places she could stay at without breaking some stupid law, although she never ordered anything besides water. Every once in a while, some loser would stop by to bother her only to get one look at her pocket knife before tailing away.

    She sighed to herself as she continued to aimlessly browse through her phone, keeping her head low and hiding her face from any passerby. It had all become standard living for her. This was her life, whether she liked it or not.

    When she lifted her baseball cap to wipe the perspiration from her brow, she caught a gleam of light in the corner of her eye. Glancing up, she saw a black police car pull up a few feet away from her, its windows tinted to obscure its driver.

    She tensed. Had the shop owners called in the fuzz to kick her off the premises? Was this because of that convenience store she had shoplifted from a few days ago? Was this the end for her?

    The police car didn't move. Neither did she. No one came out of the car to accost her, nor did anyone come from the shop to report to the officer. It was just her and the car.

    Pretending to still look at her phone, Verity got up from her seat and tossed her water bottle into a nearby recycle bin. She proceeded to walk down the sidewalk, only sparing a glance over her shoulder once she had gone a considerable distance. The police car remained where it was.

    She released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Perhaps she was just being paranoid. Pushing her fears away, she continued her way down the street.

*  *  *

    "...with the Onyx Interface, people across the globe will be connected together by one, singular network! No longer will you have to worry about online traffic and agonizing internet speeds. With Onyx, everything is provided to you in less than a nanosecond."

    Sari Sumdac groaned as she rubbed her temples, glaring at the college freshman sitting across from her. The bespectacled student paid her no heed as he stared at his laptop, utterly enraptured with what he was watching. The least he could have done was wear headphones....

    Sari sighed as she closed her eyes. She supposed she was biased against Garrison Blackrock's mega corporations ever since it dominated the technological market, ousting her father's company as the Number One provider of high-tech computers and artificial intelligence. At least Sumdac Systems still had a considerable presence in Detroit. But the rest of the world? It was all Blackrock all the time.

    One of these days, she was going to get over it. Her father had even said he was open to partnering with Blackrock, which perhaps would be beneficial. But she could still recall his heartbroken expression upon seeing those declining sales, and every time she heard Blackrock's name made her think of that....

    "Sari? You okay?"

    She moved with a start as she looked up to see a raven-haired boy standing over her, a concerned look on his face.

    "Huh? Oh. Yeah, I'm fine, Jack," she lied, straightening in her seat. "Just, you know, studying."

    Jack looked unconvinced but did not press the matter. Shifting his attention to the freshman, he said, "Hey, Raf. Earbuds broken again?"

    "Huh? Oh, crap." Raf quickly stopped the video he was playing while he dug out his earbuds from his backpack, looking sheepish. "Sorry about that."

    "It's fine," Sari mumbled. "Really invested in that Onyx stuff, aren't you?"

    Raf chuckled. "Why wouldn't I be? Technology is my passion. Just like Jack's is motorcycles and Miko's is music."

    "Speaking of the devil," Jack said with a smirk. "Miko just won tickets for the Cold Slither concert in Anaheim. You guys want to come?"

    "Uh, I have to study," Raf said.

    Jack turned to Sari. "You?"

    Sari had to think about it. She wasn't much of a fan of Cold Slither -- she was more of a Jem girl -- but she figured it would be something to get her mind off this Onyx business.

    "Sure," she said. "When is it?"

    Before Jack could answer, Raf's phone buzzed and he took it out to look at it. After sparing a few seconds to read the text, he closed his laptop and got up from his seat.

    "Sorry, guys. Got computer club to go to."

    "You're always talking about that computer club," Jack said. "How come I never hear anyone else bring it up?"

    Raf shrugged as he put on his backpack. "It's more of a neighborhood thing. I don't think anyone else in the club attends here."

    "Do you think one of these days I could come with you to one?"

    "Uh, we'll see," Raf said as he began to walk away. "See you guys later."

    Sari and Jack watched him leave before glancing at each other. "Nerd," Sari murmured.

    Jack shrugged. "Eh, we all have our hobbies... even when others find them strange."

    "I guess. Still: nerd."

*  *  *

    Verity tapped her foot as she stood at the corner near Furman University, keeping an eye out for any unwanted attention (namely from certain law enforcement vehicles). After what had felt like forever, she finally saw a bespectacled boy emerge from the school and rush up to her.

    "About time you got here," Verity said. "I was starting to wonder if you'd--"

    "We can't talk out here!" Raf said in a hushed tone. "We have to find some place secluded. Were you followed?"

    Verity rolled her eyes. "No. And just what sort of place did you have in mind?"

    "My house is just a few blocks away. We can go there."

    Verity inwardly groaned. She really hoped that she hadn't gone through all this trouble just so some nerd could fraternize with her. As they began to walk down the street, Raf looked around surreptitiously before leaning in to whisper to her.

    "Can I see it?"

    Reaching into her backpack, Verity dug out the small, tablet-sized device she had procured. On its black casing was the letter "O" with an "X" crossed through it: the company logo for Onyx.

    Raf stared at it in awe. "How did you get it?"

    "Let's just say I have an intricate knowledge of stockrooms," Verity said.

    As they reached a street corner, they heard something rustle from a nearby bush. Verity whirled around and drew a can of pepper spray just as a white fuzzy head emerged.

    "Relax, it's just a rabbit," Raf said.

    Verity frowned. "Do rabbits normally have blood-red eyes?"

    Without warning, the rabbit pounced out of the bush and launched itself at Verity. She and Raf screamed as the hare snatched the Blackbook with its mouth before running off into the street. Verity moved to take pursuit only to stop when she saw a black police car appear from around the corner.

    "Oh god," she breathed as she held up her hands.

    "Verity Carlo," the police car rumbled. "My name is Stakeout, deputy enforcer of the Tyrest Accord. You two are coming with me."

THE POWERS THAT BE

Part 2: The Human Machines