TFP Verse/AU Humanized.
No beta read.
Enjoy 3
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*
Soundwave's attention was drawn towards the new signal beeping on the radar's screen. The Nemesis was reading it as a neutral Cybertronian science ship. It must have crashed on Earth some vorns ago and something had reawakened its systems again. Most likely the recent earthquake activities in the area.
However, the cause was not much of importance. At least not as much as the possible cargo the ship carried. Given the fact it was a science vessel, it was highly likely that its mission had been to explore the new planet for sentient life and traces of energon. Moreover, any ship sent to an unknown part of the universe tended to be highly armed with powerful weapons and shield in case of hostile habitants.
And any type of weaponry was of interest to the Decepticons.
Soundwave was standing in front of Megatron, showing the radar's findings on his visor. The tyrant was just about to speak up and sent a scout team when four more dots appeared on the screen – Autobots' signatures.
If the Autobots were so fast to arrive at the ship's coordinates, perhaps they already knew what was on it. Or had suspicions about it. Either way, the ex-gladiator wasn't going to let them rob the vessel without a fight. It had been so dull and boring on the Nemesis the past several Earth weeks, he had been waiting for an excuse to get in a fight and beat some Autobots' afts. Any excuse was fine at this point.
"Starscream, Breakdown, Knock Out – get a squadron of Eradicons and wait for me near the ground bridge." Megatron ordered loudly "Soundwave, open the ground bridge and take command while I'm out."
With these words, the Decepticon Lord departed in the same direction the three officers and Vehicons had gone mere nano-kliks earlier. All were waiting patiently for the tyrant, the bridge already opened.
Stepping through the greenish light circle, the other followed him closely behind.
Seemes like the Autobots were expecting a company as Prime had opened fire the moment Megatron emerged. The big con retaliated and shot his Fusion Canon at the truck several times. The other cons were quick to fire their weapons as well. The Eradicons quickly falling victims in the vicious fight, their offlined frames laying around the battlefield.
The only other Autobot visible was the giant green bulk. But the radar had read four signatures. That meant the two wheeler and the scout were somewhere in the ship.
"Starscream, Knock Out – search the vessel for any weaponry. If you encounter the other two Autobots – attack, but priority is capturing any potential weapon! GO!" barking out the orders, Megatron continued fighting with Prime, this time in close range combat. The two leaders were exchanging powerful fists, much like Breakdown and Bulkhead were doing.
Starscream and Knock Out, on the other hand, had already entered the vessel, quickly going for the Command Center. Once there, they didn't have to search for the cargo's information as it had already been pulled out on the big screen. Only one prototype piece of machinery was on the ship. And it wasn't even sure it was a weapon, its function was unknown. The systems were stating that the defensive shield mechanisms and any weapons the vessel had, had been destroyed during the impact.
The prototype was stored in room E1. The two cons figured out there was no need to go there at all. Instead, they created an ambush at the ship's exit, waiting for the two Autobots to approach. Once they did, Starscream launched himself on Arcee.
The two-wheeler was expecting that and dodged the attack, kicking the seeker in the midsection. The rough treatment knocked him several feet in front of the motorcycle and towards the Decepticon leader.
Knock Out was more successful in his attack, jumping on Bumblebee's back and trying to get a hold of the scout's neck. Unfortunately for the medic, the yellow bot was faster than him and managed to throw him off. The sport car landed nearly on top of the laying Second in Command, landing nastily on his wing.
Meanwhile, Megatron had managed to get a semi-successful shot at Prime, the Fusion Cannon blast gazing the Autobot leader's shoulder slightly. The two bots were back to long-range shooting again.
Breakdown and Bulkhead were still engaging in close combat, they were clinging to one another, each of them holding the other tightly and trying to overthrow him. In the end the blue mech was victorious, managing to punch the Autobot in the face a few times and send him flying after hitting him in the chest armor with his hammer.
Starscream was able to aim and shoot at Bumblebee. The smaller mech almost dodged but the shot hit him in the servo that was holding the prototype. The machinery took the hit and accidentally discharged, catching all Cons in its fire range.
Starscream and Knock Out were the first to get shot at, being nearer to the prototype. When the blast hit them, it engulfed them in blinding light and proceeded to do the same to Megatron and Breakdown who were a few dozens feet away.
The Autobots had to shield their optics from the light until it dispersed. The Cons were gone! But they couldn't have escaped during the few nano-kliks when the others weren't watching. The interval was just too short.
Arcee was the first to notice what exactly had happened.
"By the All Spark… !" uttered the femme unbelievingly.
The others' reactions weren't far behind. Bumblebee's spluttering beep-ing and Bulkhead exclamation of "WOW" was loud and unrestrained. Prime, on the other hand, managed to retain composure, no matter how shocking the news was.
And shocking it was! Instead of four solid metal enormous Cybertronian frames, there were the same number of fleshly stark naked human bodies, unconscious by the looks of it.
The two bodies closest to Arcee and Bumblebee were sure to be the Second in Command and the medic of the Decepticons. Now, an auburn-haired mid-twenties male with very fair skin and heart-shaped face was laying half on top of slightly taller and slender mid-thirties guy with very dark brown hair and sharp features.
Another mid-thirties bulky brunette was lying where Breakdown had been standing before. His hair was kind of wavy and messy and his skin slightly tanned. And unlike the first two, he had significantly more and denser body hair, just like the fourth human.
What had been Megatron's huge Cybertronian frame a mere nani-kliks ago was now a very toned and muscular fleshling. Even when unconscious, his dark bushy eyebrows were frowning. His Roman nose, strong jaw line and sideburns were giving him a powerful look even when in such puny body. It was hard to determine whether he looked like an army admiral or a criminal.
It didn't take long for Prime to decide what to do. He stepped closer to the Decepticon leader and gently cradled him in one servo while turning to face the other Autobots.
"Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, take the rest of them and follow me to base." Then he commed Ratched and requested a ground bridge.
The tale-tell green light of the bridge appeared mere nano-klik later. The four bots stepped through it, each with a human in their servos and a sour expression on their faceplates. But they knew better than to squeeze too hard and damage the delicate human bodies. Though Breakdown grunted unhappily and Bulkhead was quick to lessen his grip.
"At least the children are not present." Optimus tried to lift his team's spirit. "As far as I am informed, in human culture it is not accepted not to wear… clothes in public."
"By the Allspark, who are those?" Ratchet exclaimed, his vision finally snapping to the humans in each Autobots' servos. "Optimus, we are not supposed to expose ourselves to any more humans! You know that!"
The Prime sighed. He knew Ratchet would fuss even more once he told him exactly who the humans were.
"This one-" he pointed at the one in his servo "- is Megatron. The one with Arcee is Starscream, the one with Bulkhead is Breakdown and the one with Bumblebee is Knock Out" the Autobot leader concluded, slightly trailing his last words in a pitiful attempt to avoid the inevitable harsh reaction from the ambulance.
"WHAT!" Ratchet's optics widened significantly, giving him a rather crazed look "Why did you bring the two highest ranked DECEPTICONS and two other officers in the AUTOBOT base?"
Wait.
"AND WHY ARE THEY HUMANS?" that was the more pressing question after all. Even within the base itself, the Cons had no way of learning its location. And being human automatically disabled them from using any kind of comm. links and GPS devices.
"First things, first, old friend. There was no danger in bringing them here. Otherwise, I would not have done so." Optimus said calmly, secretly hoping it will calm his team as well, somehow.
"The science ship we were exploring had a special cargo – a prototype… machinery. Its purpose was not stated in the vessel's database and is currently unknown. The prototype fired and caught all four Decepticons in its blast, turning them into humans. This is everything we know so far. Perhaps you can take a look and identify the prototype, Ratchet?"
Bumblebee handed the machinery to the medic, glad to be rid of it, just in case it fires again.
Ratchet took interest immediately, setting the prototype on his work table and beginning to examine it, turning his back to the other Autobots. He probed it for several minutes.
"I have never seen anything like this before. But if you give more time, I may be able to at least guess its function."
"The Cons don't seem in a hurry." Arcee's dry comment reminded the team of the humans they were clutching in their servos. Guess it was time to put them somewhere.
"Lay them on the couch. We must cover them with blankets. I hear humans get sick if underdressed in cool spaces." Prime was glad he had some experience with the children so he was not completely clueless about human nature.
"Yeah, cuz we don't want them Cons to get sick huh!" Bulkhead mumbled irritated.
"Bulkhead is right. Why should we care if they get sick? If we were turned into humans, they would've crushed us under their pedes. So why take care of them?" Arcee was angry, the sorrow for her lost partner still burning her spark.
"We don't have to. But we will, this distinguishes us from the Decepticons. Now, lay them on the couch." Prime's words were not accusatory but held an air of finality, leaving no space for arguing.
The Autobot leader let Megatron slide from his hand into a sitting position on the yellow couch, positioning him near the arm-seat. Bulkhead did the same with Breakdown, putting him at the other end of the furniture. Bumblebee had no other choice but to sit Knock Out between the two huge humans, leaving absolutely no space for Starscream.
Arcee, sick of carrying the seeker around, just dropped him in Megatron's lap. Close enough was close enough after all.
The Con's leader groaned at the impact and shifted, trying to get the added weight off of him. The motion had the opposite effect, making the seeker wiggle unhappily until he found a comfortable position with his back leaning on Megatron's chest and face nuzzling the other's neck.
"Bumblebee, get some blankets from where the children use to stock their belongings." Optimus spoke calmly. His gaze didn't miss what was happening on the couch. For all their hate and drama the two Decepticon's commanders sure seemed content cuddling each other. Though, perhaps it was human nature to seek comfort and a friendly touch?
Bumblebee had returned with a couple of blankets in their servos. After he covered the now-sleeping Cons he turned to face Prime and beep-ed questioningly.
"Indeed, Bumblebee, we should find them some clothing. However, we cannot get them ourselves. Perhaps we need human assistance." Prime suggested. It was inevitable that the children and agent Fowler would meet with the Decepticons. Sooner or later…
"Just not the children! I mean, not now at least. It ain't gonna be pretty" Bulkhead added, his face grimacing at the horrible thought.
"I shall contact Agent Fowler then." Optimus steeled himself for the very awkward conversation that was about to follow.
"Agent Fowler here. What is it, Prime?"
Optimus vented a sigh before speaking up. "We have a situation that requires your… expertise. It is very urgent"
"I'll be there in a few."
The Autobot team, save for Ratchet, were shifting from pede to pede uneasily. Mostly because of the impending chat with Fowler. Though, the thought of what will happen after the Decepticons woke up and realized they were not only in the enemy's base but also humans and totally defenseless, was also unsettling.
That will be such a joy…
The agent didn't disappoint and appeared several minutes later. He looked at the Autobots one by one and quickly scanned the base trying to find what was wrong.
"Well, what is it? I don't see-" his sentence was cut in half by the sight of the four humans on the couch. His eyes widened in surprise. "Are they… naked?"
Of course things were always weird with giant robot aliens but this was pushing it too little too much. But before he could regain his composure and start yelling questions, Prime spoke up.
"Agent Fowler, we were exploring an old science ship from Cybertron when we were attacked by Decepticons. We managed to retrieve a prototype the ship was carrying. The prototype fired accidentally and hit the four remaining Decepticons, turning them into humans." He gestured towards the cough, emphasizing his point.
As the Autobots had suspected, the agent looked at them dumbly, his jaw slack in disbelief.
Huge robots turning into humans. What the..? How is one supposed to react to this!
Thanks for reading :)