Hey everyone, thanks again for reading. I'm sorry this took so long but life happened. Special thanks to Ruby650 for put this as one of your favorites, at least I know someone's reading this! At the present time I cannot say when my next update will be but I will try to make it as soon as possible. As usual comment and criticism is encouraged. This chapter is kinda slow but it sets everything up so I hope you enjoy and as one last comment; congrats to Sweden for the gold in the World Juniors you guys deserved it!
Thanks, HockeyKid6622
Tanner looked over the Autobots as her hand touched the briefcase as thoughts filled her head.
"What are we doing here?" She finally asked looking at the Autobots waiting for an answer. "Dad said we were supposed to go to the base."
"I wanted you to meet the rest of the gang before that happened," Ironhide explained crouching down to make it easier for Tanner to look into his eyes.
"Why?" Tanner asked; she was no fool there was an alternative motive behind his explanation. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"The Decepticons are on their way to retrieve that briefcase so they could've set a trap for us at the base," Ratchet explained. "This way you know what you're getting into."
"What's in the briefcase, what's so much that my dad sacrificed his life for?" Tanner asked feeling a painful pang on her heart as she looked down at the gravel. No more Daddy and no more Mommy but now was not the time to mourn, not in front of these warriors. She sucked in a breath and put on a brave face and turned to Ironhide expecting an answer.
"Information," Optimus Prime answered after a moment as if preparing himself for the words.
"Information?" Tanner leaned back on one foot and crossed her arms doubtful.
"Tanner, you know a lot about us correct?" Tanner nodded to Optimus Prime's question. "You know about the War of Cybertron and the Rise of the Decepticons and the Fall of the Autobots?" Again Tanner nodded.
"Before the war, before the Decepticons and before the fall of the Autobots we were a peaceful, powerful nation but with every decision our leaders made someone etched them in stone, to remember our past," Optimus paused as Tanner sorted the information in her mind.
"So someone wrote everything down? Like a court stenographer, kinda?" She asked to see if she really did understand. Optimus nodded.
"He was my mentor before I became Optimus Prime and his name was Alpha Trion and he was in charge of the Archives, the history of Cybertron. In the Archives he wrote down everything, our past, the present and sometimes the future. He recorded everything, including our greatest secrets, secrets that could destroy us and end the war."
"Why? Didn't Alpha Trion know that the Decepticons could steal the Archives and steal these secrets?" Tanner asked wondering how Alpha Trion could risk something this big.
"Yes he did but he kept the Archives close to him in a locked safe, apparently the safe was lost in space," Optimus said after inspecting the briefcase, "or no one would be able to open it except Alpha Trion himself." Optimus kneeled and inspected the briefcase more thoroughly. "The only way to end the risk of the Decepticons learning our secrets we must destroy the Archives."
"Whoa, hold on," Tanner interrupted waving her arms in the air," if the Archives hold everything, basically, won't it hold the secrets of the Decepticons?" All eyes turned to Optimus; they have never thought about that.
"Yes, I guess it would."
"Then why destroy such an asset? Get someone to read the Archives and make a new Alpha Trion, a new keeper of the Archives –"
"No," Optimus Prime interrupted his voice was firm, "No Autobot will read the Archives."
"Why?" Tanner couldn't help but ask.
"Alpha Trion once had an apprentice in case anything happened to Alpha Trion. This apprentice read most of the pages and became corrupted and turned against us…"
"Soundbarrier," Ironhide whispered in wonder, "that's why he knows so much and why Megatron holds him so close." Bumblebee nodded in agreement.
"Precisely, we will not risk that again, not even I shall read the Archives." The Autobots turned away; respecting their leader's word but Tanner couldn't help but shake her head, being a daughter of a soldier she knew that some risks had to be taken.
"What if a human read it?" She asked taking a step forward raising her face to the giant Autobot. "A human who you can trust, who is on our side like… Me." Optimus Prime titled his head in thought and opened his mouth to speak but Ironhide wouldn't allow him to speak.
"No! No way! Your father begged me to never let you read the Archives, saying it was a curse, nothing more. He said to never let you read them, it would make your life incredibly dangerous as Decepticons tried to get information out of you," Ironhide ranted determined to keep his old guardian's last wishes made. "No, as your guardian defiantly not." Ironhide crossed his arms shaking his head.
"I agree with Ironhide," Ratchet put in, "your father's wishes should be followed, not disobeyed. We are not at a do-or-die situation right now not one to risk a young human's life, a child's life!"
"No, she has a good idea," Bumblebee disagreed his speech slow as he scanned the radio to speak his thoughts. "We are in war, all actions must be considered, and some executed."
"No," Ironhide shook his head and stepped in front of Bumblebee. "No, as long as I'm her guardian, no."
"Come on, I can do it!" Tanner injected as she stood by Bumblebee. "BB's right, this is war!" Then everyone began arguing, yelling over each other except the great Prime who watched them shaking his head thoughtfully.
"Enough," Optimus declared his deep, distinguished voice halting their argument. "Tanner, I knew your father well and his wishes shall and will be respected."
"Then how come he read it? I can exceed your expectations, why did my dad?" Tanner asked, she couldn't help but sound whiny but why couldn't she? She was more mature than some high school kids and she knew she could handle the Autobot's expectations and handle the pressure and dangers. She just needed them to believe.
"He read it because he discovered it and didn't know the truth," Optimus explained. "He learned about us after he read the Archives, then he summoned us and shared everything with us. If it weren't for your father, we would have never been here." Optimus gave her a look, one that wasn't threatening but one that made you shut your mouth and stand down; this is exactly what Tanner did and took her place between Ironhide and Bumblebee.
"What do we do now, Optimus?" Jazz asked after his unusual silence. "Destroy the Archives?"
"No," Tanner answered and stepped forward ignoring the looks of shock the others gave her; she was putting herself in a place of authority, Optimus Prime's authority but Optimus just smiled and watched Tanner with genuine interest; he wanted to know what she was made of.
"Dad told me to go to the base; he said that they would know what to do," she explained looking them each in the eye. "And Ratchet you yourself even said that we were going to the base." She paused and gave Optimus a little smile as she realized that she had just answered his question. "If that's okay with you, Optimus." Optimus let out an amused smile and nodded.
"Tanner is right, we promised Sergeant Hawke that we would inform the base of the current situation and we must keep our ties with the humans strong," Optimus declared with a nod. "Jazz, anything to add?"
"Decepticons will go after the Archives, we must protect them at all costs and they could've set a trap at the base so eyes opened." He looked each Autobot in the eye to make sure they understood and they did. "And Tanner, they'll want you too so watch your back and stay with Ironhide or one of us understand?" Tanner gave a nod as her jaw clenched at the thought that she needed protection.
"Understood." Jazz stepped back as Optimus stepped forward again, all eyes on him awaiting orders.
"Autobots, eyes open and guns ready. Autobots; rollout!" Then they all transformed into their alt-forms and zoomed off except Ironhide and Bumblebee. Ironhide; waiting for Tanner to jump in and Bumblebee taking the back.
"Do you think there'll be a battle?" Tanner asked her mind running over the images of fire, death and destruction. "And tell me the truth." She hated when people lied to her; She was a girl and they had built in lie detectors. Tanner could hear the engine groan as Ironhide let out a sigh and thought.
"I sense the Decepticons are ready to mobilize, so yes I think there'll be a fight. A big one." And that settled it as Tanner fell into an uncomfortable silence, awaiting and trying to mentally and physically prepare herself for the possible battle ahead.
"A big one"….
"Soundbarrier," Starscream hissed as he joined Soundbarrier at his side.
"Long live, Megatron!" Soundbarrier declared raising a fist to the air then he turned his venomous glare to Starscream, "Do you have the child?"
"No, the Autobots are protecting her and…" Starscream paused. "She has the Archives." Soundbarrier turned to Starscream with hate in his eyes.
"You failed me for the last time, Starscream!" Soundbarrier hit Starscream with a metal fist. Starscream flew back as pieces of metal flew off his face. "Find the girl, get the Archives and kill those Autobots!" Soundbarrier stood tall and smiled. "Master Megatron will be pleased."
"Is it true?" Starscream asked hesitantly, "have you read the Archives?" Soundbarrier gave him a look as his mouth turned into a cruel smile.
"Not all of it I was stopped by my weak, old master Alpha Trion but I read some," he let out an evil smile as his eyes turned to pure longing and he held his hand in the air as if reaching the Archives. "And I want to read more." He blinked and broke out of his trance. "With this information we can find an artifact to rebuild Cybertron and remake Megaton's grand army! We shall destroy the Autobots and rid the universe of this disgusting planet! Then Megatron shall raise his hands in the air in victory with me at his side." His voice ended in a growl as Starscream rolled his eyes.
"And me beside you," he added. Soundbarrier let out a laugh.
