Maelstrom 1
Homecoming: Part 4
Author's note: This story is part of a LONG series called Maelstrom. It is strictly Gen. 1 - sorry, but that was all that was out when I started writing. If you have not read the nine original Maelstrom Comics and the preceding text stories, I strongly suggest you do. They can be found at http// illmatar. deviantart. com I have put double spaces between the addy here or FF . Net eats the link.
This scene contains strong language and violence. Rated M for adult themes! Really! Transformers characters belong to Hasbro. Critiques adored!
The meeting, when it was finally convened, was a tedious, stressful affair for Rodimus. Optimus had summoned Perceptor, First Aid, Ultra Magnus, Kup, and Jazz. They received the news of the little red-head's identity with varying degrees of skepticism and joy. Rodimus wondered why Jazz, who was sitting next to Optimus, kept staring at him so much more intently than the others did.
Once their initial doubts had been laid to rest (too slowly for Rodi's stress level, and too quickly for his protective leader's side which wanted them to be more careful) then questions began flying. Rodimus gingerly walked a tightrope between telling them too little and too much. His story needed to sound plausible, and it needed to give them enough information to revert him to his normal state. However, he never intended to reveal the suffering he and Goldbug had endured, and the truth about the Jabez would come when he could talk to Optimus alone.
Well, some of the truth about them anyway.
Rodimus wished Optimus hadn't brought in so many people for this meeting, but there was no way he could argue the point without explanations it wasn't time for yet.
Lancer watched Rodi's performance with a sort of wonder. He discussed details of an experience which left him bleeding and insane with a totally believable smile plastered on his face. Without telling a single lie, he made the weeks of torture sound like idle curiosity on the part of the Jabez. Knowing how much he was suppressing, Lancer found it amazing how skillfully he focused his friends' attention on his condition as a challenge to be met. A mere problem for their collective skills and intellects, with no mention of the pain that had accompanied it. Having never been good at hiding her emotions, Lancer could only admire Rodi's instinct to protect his people, and how he used it to channel his behavior.
She was once again reminded that he was in his element now. She concentrated on her tasks of helping him suppress the flashbacks, and keeping up a low level disruptive field to jam the bugs which were likely to be present.
Optimus listened gravely to all Rodimus said, and learned much from how much went unsaid. He had his fingers laced in front of his face plate, and was ready for the shocked look Jazz threw him. He hoped neither Rodi or Lancer noticed the single digit he lifted in a "sshing" motion to Jazz. Optimus had no doubts that this smiling young man was his partner, and was trusting Rodi's judgment on keeping some things secret...for now.
"What I can tell you is that they turned Goldbug human as well. He didn't take to it very easily either. If you haven't heard from him, I suppose it is likely that he really is dead," Rodi continued.
"Is there any way to contact your friends to find out Lancer?" Magnus asked.
"Yes and no." she replied gravely, "Yes there are ways, but no I won't use them," she said firmly. The table erupted in outraged mutterings and complaints. Lancer was in no mood to be diplomatic about it. "OH, give it a rest! My team has plenty of enemies. There are bounties on all of our heads, and we stay alive by remaining invisible. If we try to contact them now, we may bring any number of hunters down on them."
"We aren't that inefficient!" Kup snapped angrily.
Lancer's eyes flashed - literally, startling many of those present. They had heard of mutants before, but Lancer was the first they'd ever actually met - that they knew of anyway. She bit back a lot of curses, and unflattering remarks about Autobot "efficiency", but refused to budge from her decision. Kup seemed particularly upset that she would not respect their wishes due to her unfounded, unjustified (he thought) fears. He also didn't like it when Rodimus supported her completely.
"If Goldbug is alive, they will bring him when they can. Until we hear otherwise, I think it is best to assume he didn't make it." Rodimus said bleakly.
Perceptor and First Aid grilled Rodimus repeatedly on the design specifics of the capsule that changed him, the nature of the energy fields, and other minutia. Optimus suddenly noticed Rodimus once again grow blank faced and distant. He also noticed Lancer instantly reach for his partners hand, and draw back just as quickly. Rodimus quickly seemed to pull himself together, but Optimus suddenly realized how hard this was on his young friend, and decided to call the meeting to a close.
"Perceptor, is that enough for you to start with?" he asked.
"Well, it is certainly not the optimal quantity of information, but it is adequate for us to begin designing further experiments for the pursuit of this investigation into Rodimus' unique condition, and..."
"Fine," Optimus interrupted. Perceptor subsided without complaint. He was used to that. "Kup, Ultra Magnus." Optimus continued, "Your assignment is to keep this quiet. As far as everyone else is concerned, its business as usual. All of you are to consider Rodimus' return, and the contents of this meeting completely classified until he's safely back to normal. First Aid and Perceptor will handle the investigation of course. Jazz-you are going to have to handle getting everyone whatever they need without raising suspicions. Consider these assignments your top priorities. Dismissed." Optimus paused for a moment, "Rodimus, Lancer There are still a few things I'd like to discuss with you before you leave."
Rodimus, who had stood up hopefully at the word "dismissed", sank back down in his seat. His heart sank as well, especially when Optimus ushered the others out, and shut the door behind them. The elder Autobot commander stood with his back to them for a moment and then turned in place with a determined expression.
Uh-oh Rodimus thought.
What? You knew he didn't buy it! Lancer rejoined.
Well, I was rather hoping to be wrong about that, Rodimus grouched.
"NOW, Rodimus Prime, suppose you tell me what REALLY happened." Optimus said firmly, his voice carefully neutral.
Rodimus sighed, "I thought I just did! Really Optimus there isn't much to tell...and er...."
Optimus pushed his enormous face as close to Rodimus' as he could and still see the diminutive red-head. "Try again, partner...." he ordered.
"Optimus..."
"Don't try lying, Rodimus! I FELT what happened!" Optimus said angrily, drawing up to his full height.
Rodimus gaped at him, growing visibly pale. This time, Lancer forgot herself altogether and grasped Rodi's cold hand.
"How?" Rodimus whispered. Then he said, "The Matrix. I'm sorry Optimus."
"What happened, Rodimus?"
"They tortured us. They dissected us. I'm still not entirely sure what they wanted with us, but there you have it."
"What about Goldbug?" Optimus wanted to know.
"We don't know. The rescue happened just as we told you, Optimus," Lancer said. "He was alive when we teleported. Whether or not he is still is very much in doubt."
"I almost hope he isn't," Rodimus whispered. "I hope he's free." Lancer gave his strong hand another squeeze, and then realized what she was doing in front of Optimus. She dropped Rodi's hand, trying to seem casual about it.
"Do you know where you were held? We can out together an assault force to investigate."
"NO!" Rodimus shouted. "Matrix save us! Optimus! They had us snatched right off of Cybertron in the middle of a fire-fight! They had no trouble subduing us, and keeping us subdued and that was BEFORE they dissected us and performed experiments I don't ever want to remember! Optimus, they know EXACTLY how to handle us!"
"Tell him the rest of it Rodi." Lancer said, her voice containing a hint of contempt, a hint of a snarl.
Rodimus looked at her, his face mirroring at least some of the distress he felt. He shut his eyes. "Prime," he finally whispered, the Jabez have created a market for a human slave trade. Mutants like Lancer mostly...and most of the major shipping operations run right through Cybertron. We don't have to go anywhere to meet this enemy. They are already here."
Optimus stared at his partner-unwilling, (UNABLE!) to accept what he'd just heard.
"A slave trade?!" the leader of former slaves said in complete denial. "A slave trade through Cybertron?! Rodimus, I realize you went through a lot but we would never allow such a..."
"OK! THAT'S IT! Shut up you overgrown Tonka toy before you REALLY put your foot in it! Holy shit! I've never met such a bunch of arrogant, complacent pieces of work in all my life! And you have the audacity to call yourselves a MILITARY operation! Get your head out of your tailpipe! It needs the air! Where do you think Rodi and I got that ship from you asshole? We sure as hell didn't pay for it! We ASSASSINATED 15 slave runners to get it and flew right in here with false names and everything without a hitch!" Lancer shouted at the stunned Autobot with open disdain.
She angrily threw everything at him, overwhelming his delusions with truth after violent truth. "We even lied about where we came from, and a simple records check would have shown that! THAT SAME FUCKING SHIP PASSED THROUGH HERE WITH A CARGO FULL OF LOBOTIMIZED CHILDREN LESS THAN A WEEK AGO! IDIOTS! The Jabez and their sponsors have been snatching mutants off of Earth since before you and your Autobots woke up on our planet in the first place! You Autobots think you're invincible because you're so fucking big! DON'T!"
"I could kill you now, PRIME! I could drain your life, short your circuits, or a dozen other things before anyone could stop me. I could even make it look accidental. I could EVEN access your precious Matrix energy! LISTEN to Rodimus. He may be completely insane, but he's also right. You face an enemy that has been stealing and breeding powerful mutants for generations. Preparing them for whatever suits their purposes. They use mutants as breeders, spies, and assassins. Not to mention the standing armies some of the Sponsors maintain. Armies full of custom made soldiers who fear nothing and follow all their orders flawlessly. We have to assume a good percentage wield more power than I do. I'm just a random sport in the gene pool, and they nearly had me too!"
The young mutant gasped raggedly and tried to calm herself. Rage distorted her voice and if it got any worse nothing she said would be intelligible. Her tail whipped erratically.
"The fact is, there is no possible way to calculate WHAT you are facing, when they will strike, or what they already control HERE! Please keep in mind, when they wanted Rodimus and Goldbug, they got Rodimus and Goldbug, and there was NOTHING you could do about it." Lancer's expression was as searing and compassionless as her voice. The Autobots could no longer afford the luxury of arrogance.
Optimus said nothing for a very long time, while a subdued Rodimus, and a still seething Lancer explained the details of Conversion to him. Optimus remembered only too clearly the rage and desperation Rodi had projected during the first weeks of his absence. He heard the implacable truth in Lancer's harsh words, and felt his view of his universe take a turn for the darker.
Rodimus seemed to sense this, and shook his head. "I've learned a lot in the last months, partner. I'm going to need your help, starting with keeping this absolutely quiet, but I know what needs to be done."
"You have a plan?"
"I have thousands of plans. It's just a question of whether I have time to
implement them. If they discover we are preparing for them, they will probably just move on us immediately. I think the only reasons they haven't taken us already is because we aren't a priority. I don't want anything we do to change that."
Optimus merely stared at him again. "I'm glad you're home," he finally intoned, his voice even deeper and graver than usual. "We'll talk more soon, let's just get you back to normal."
"Whatever that is," Lancer said wryly. Rodimus gave her a disgusted look.
That went better than expected, she sent to him.
He's still in shock. It will be bad when its had time to sink in a little. Rodimus said, feeling sick.
