Beauty and the Beasts (26/6/2008)
Beauty and the Beasts (18/7/2008)
Author's notes
Hopefully I can get to the meat of the story before I loose interest, or worst, the next Beyformers movie comes out. I'm interested to know if in the end, which one will be better, my story or Beyformers'.
Oh and for the purpose of my story, I'm going to assume Nerima and Nekomi wards are next to each other.
Without further ado, I present to you…..
Chapter 5: Coming home
Kasumi quickly stepped out of the gates of Nekomi Technical Institute and gazed eagerly in the direction of the loud blare of a vehicle's horn. Sure enough, from the west appearing over the orange horizon, came a huge vehicle; a Peterbilt Carrier designed to haul twenty-ton loads. This one was painted predominantly red in colour. Against the setting sun, it cast a mystical shine on the Peterbilt's body as though it was more than meets the eye. True enough, when it slowed down to park next to her, one could see that there was a strange symbol at the edge of the Peterbilt's 'nose' that resembled a stylized robot's head.
Strangely enough, in the one year since the Autobots returned to live on Earth, Kasumi had never actually sat in Prime's vehicle form although she almost always sat on his shoulder whenever she had a conversation with him. Almost everytime they had met, Bumblebee was together with her and she always rode with the yellow Autobot when they traveled. Kasumi had wondered what it was like to sit in Prime's large alternate form and now she was about to get the chance.
The passenger seat door opened and Kasumi saw the human hologram of Optimus Prime smiling at her. The hologram was that of an old actor known as Jeremy Irons, one of the more sane and decent Hollywood celebrities according to Prime. Somehow most of the Autobots preferred to take the appearance of American Hollywood stars and Prime was no exception. Admittedly, although the Autobots spoke Japanese much of the time, their personalities seem to resemble more of Americans rather than Japanese. But Kasumi always noted that whatever holographic human representation they chose, it always seemed to suit their Autobot forms.
"Prime! I'm so glad you're here. How come you decided to fetch me?" Kasumi said in delight.
"Hello Kasumi. It's been too long since we last met and I was in the neighborhood. Can you honour me with your company?"
"Of course Prime! Don't ask silly questions," she cried as she climbed into the Peterbilt. While not exactly slick and shiny, she was rather surprised at how roomy and comfortable the interior was. The passenger and driver's seat were joined as one and could actually fit a third passenger in the middle if needed. The truck was designed for long journeys and so the driver and passenger seat were built for such a purpose. Kasumi looked at the back and saw a curtain there. When she pulled it apart, she was pleasantly surprised to see a very small bunk, barely enough for a person to lie comfortably and sleep with a pillow and blanket. The dashboard was a little more modern: a small computer seem to be installed beside the driver's wheel where Kasumi could see what looked like a GPS system as well as television channels being displayed in a side window, currently showing CNN. As soon as she closed the door, the Peterbilt promptly drove off.
"Oh my Prime, did you actually configure yourself like this just because of me?" Kasumi asked.
He shook his head. "No, the Peterbilt I first scanned was already like this, cosy enough for two people to take a long journey from Japan's ports to the interior towns and cities. Kasumi, you are looking well and fabulous. Marriage seems to suit you. I trust I won't have to turn Bumblebee into a sardine can when we get to Nerima?"
Kasumi laughed. "No Prime, your 'son' has been a perfect gentlemen and we've had a fantastic honeymoon. That being said, I'm glad to be getting out of the house and back to our friends and families. I got a brief update from Jazz a moment ago, but I'm really looking forward to your stories. How is Elita? Actually I've been kind of wondering, how are the rest of the Autobots? Tracks, Blurr, dear crazy Wheeljack, grumpy old Ironhide, tempermental Chromia, gentle Omega Supreme?"
"Elita is fine and send you her love. She is currently transporting the elder Saotomes back to Nerima. As for the rest in space, all are alive and well since our last communication, which was four days ago. They are still constructing a new base and settlement at a nearby star system, called Alpha Centauri by your scientists. It has a small world that has an atmosphere and environment similar to Earth but with no sentient beings as yet. They send back their regards to you and regret that they were unable to come to your wedding," Prime said apologetically.
"Well, I guess it gives us one more occasion for a huge celebration when they decide to visit us."
Prime smiled. "Which may be very soon. Once the moon base is operational, we will rotate our Autobots here on Earth with that of what I hope to call New Autobot City one day. I have only seen the planet via video links but I must say, if ever there was a paradise planet, the planet Athenia would be it."
"Oh my, what a beautiful name: Athenia. Is that what it is currently called by our astronomers?"
"No, that planet is too small to be spotted by your technology yet. It's a name Ironhide and Chromia thought off when they were first exploring the system."
Kasumi was surprised that the trigger-happy Autobot couple could come up with a name so benign and gentle. "You must show me the video someday. I'm sure Bumblebee would be happy to see them as well."
"I will Kasumi, when we reach Nerima. But before that……" Prime suddenly became silent and frowned as he looked at his rear mirror. Kasumi, being a member of the Nerima Wrecking Crew, immediately assumed the worst.
"What is it Prime? Decepticons? Did Barricade escape?" Kasumi still felt some pity for the sadistic Decepticon that was currently being use as a massive toy car to one demented ice-skater.
"We're being tailed." The small computer suddenly transformed into a larger computer interface that seemed more futuristic, and came with a larger screen. Kasumi found herself looking at the rear of the Peterbilt. Traffic was relatively light as it was just before rush hour but there were still a fair bit of cars on the road. One of them immediately stood out. It looked like a little truck but the odd thing was it had only three wheels, was barely big enough to hold a couple of people inside in addition to two huge hulks of men at the back.
Kasumi's eyes then nearly popped out whenshe recognized those two, hanging at the back, who promptly took out huge megaphones each. The sound of their voices carried even over Prime's engines and probably superceded his horn.
"YOU THERE! IS THAT YOU TENDO KASUMI?! OWNER OF THE SWEET RIDE KNOWN AS A GMC CONCEPT CAR 2008 LIMITED EDITION!" the one with short hair screamed which she recalled as Tamiya.
"Senpai! Stop shouting over the megaphone, you will scare her away…. Eeeekkk! How come my voice is carrying over?!" she heard another voice from what she assumed was either the driver or the other passenger.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN! SHE MUST HAVE MISSED US TODAY SINCE WE WERE TOO QUIET ALL DAY! NOW WE MUST PRESENT OURSELVES LOUD AND CLEAR SO THAT SHE CANNOT MISS US AGAIN!" shouted the other hulk, which must be Otaki-san.
If that wasn't enough to boggle Prime's processors and Kasumi's brain, the next voice nearly convinced them that they had died and gone ……. to another realm.
"Hello Tendo-san. Sorry to disturb you but we just managed to see you leaving and thought it would be a shame not to thank you for your help previously. If you are not free to have tea now, why don't we meet for lunch tomorrow at the cafeteria located in Building 1A Administration Faculty? After that, if you're still interested, we would like to invite you to join the Nekomi Motor Club," a sweet voice that sounded exactly like Kasumi's carried through the powerful amplifiers that the two hulking men had apparently installed into the small truck.
Prime and Kasumi looked at each other. "Uh Prime, did we just cross the border into Nerima ward?"
The Autobot leader shook his head. "We only passed the boundary of Nerima ward 2.382 seconds ago when you asked me that question. At the time I detected those two on my tail, we were still in Nekomi ward."
Both of them then sighed, finally registering that Kasumi had just registered herself into another centre of chaos that defied the nearly one million years of Cybertronian science and philosophy.
"I'll give you one thing Kasumi. You certainly will have a full and exciting life no matter where you go."
"Oh my, it appears so. What should I do now Prime? Maybe you can slow down and stop by the road so I can talk to them?" Kasumi suggested.
"There's no need. My own audio projectors are as good as theirs. Here," a part of the dashboard unfolded and revealed a microphone speaker. Kasumi smiled and picked up the phone before suggesting to Prime that he slow down and drive next to the truck. In addition to being able to talk with them face to face, she also wanted to confirm who was in the truck. The Peterbilt did so and before long, was driving parallel to the tri-wheel vehicle's right.
Sure enough she found herself staring at the driver, Morisato Keichi. The diminutive man gave an apologetic smile and waved at her. He then went red as the head of an astonishingly beautiful golden haired Caucasian looking woman bent over his shoulder so as to be able to see Kasumi and wave at her as well.
"Konichiwa Tendo-san," she said politely. "Will you come to have lunch with us tomorrow? I can prepare a welcome lunch for you if you decide to join the Nekomi Motor Club."
Kasumi put her voice to the microphone and said, "Oh my, isn't it too late to join? After all, I did miss the orientation week of this semester."
"NONSENSE!" the cry of Otaki, now even louder due to them being parallel to each other, was enough to even briefly disorient Prime's audio receptors, to say nothing of poor Kasumi's eardrums. "OUR NEKOMI MOTOR CLUB IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, ANWHERE, ANYTIME! EVEN IF IT IS THE VERY LAST DAY OF YOUR YOUTH IN NEKOMI TECH, YOU ARE STILL WELCOME IN OUR CLUB!"
"ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! TENDO-SAN, YOU CAN COME ANYTIME YOU WANT! WE WILL GIVE YOU A ROYAL WELCOME!" Tamiya shouted as well.
Metamorphically speaking, a sweat drop appeared over the corner of Optimus Prime's and Kasumi's head. Prime then shook his. "Interesting friends you've picked up Kasumi."
Kasumi could whisper so as not to carry her words into the microphone, "You're one to talk Prime. You made friends with me didn't you?"
"Touche."
She then looked back at the other vehicle's occupants and smiled. "Thank you for your kind invitation, Belldandy-san, Morisato-san, Otaki-san, Tamiya-san. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, but for now I have a dinner with my family and friends to attend. Don't worry about today, at least I had Mishima-san to show me around today."
Everyone in the truck except Belldandy suddenly had a strange and doubtful expression overcome their features. Kasumi noted Mishima's earlier disdain of the Nekomi Motor Club and deduced that there was some sort of enmity between her and them. She decided to refrain from mentioning her encounter with Aoshima. Knowing Tamiya-san and Otaki-san, the two men were likely to run off and rend Aoshima limb from limb if she mentioned how he ticked her off later that day. She mentally sighed: seems like she would never be able to have a normal life. Then again, she was married to an Autobot.
Only Belldandy seemed unperturbed. "How nice, but tomorrow is our turn. So 1pm at Building 1A Administration Faculty? Lunch is on us of course."
Kasumi smiled. "It's a date Belldandy-san."
"HOORAY! AT LONG LAST, MORE BEAUTIFUL LADIES TO GRACE OUR CLUB! THIS TRULY CALLS FOR A CELEBRATION FOR THE FORLORN MALES OF NEKOMI TECH MOTOR CLUB!" Tamiya actually cried tears of joy at the thought.
"TENDO-SAN! DON'T WORRY! THE NEKOMI MOTOR CLUB IS FILLED WITH HANDSOME MEN FOR YOU TO CHOOSE! JUST LOOK AT MORISATO HERE!"
"Senpai!" Morisato said indignantly and incredulously. Truth be told, Kasumi thought Morisato was quite attractive, but not in physical terms. The little man simply had a very friendly manner that made anyone feel welcome just by talking to him.
She then turned to Prime and winked, while indicating with her other hand for him to accelerate on her signal. The Autobot leader smiled knowingly and prepared to gear up.
"I'm sure there are fine eligible bachelors in your club. Perhaps my husband and I can help out in getting more female motor heads into your club."
She became alarmed as nearly everyone in the car face vaulted. Even Belldandy shed her perpetual smile in favour of a stupefied look. It was a testament to Morisato's driving skills that he managed to stay his vehicle's course just as the Peterbilt put on a tremendous burst of speed from 60 km/h to 80 km/h, which was the maximum speed of the highway they were currently on. Then a long, mournful howl of grief was heard from Otaki and Tamiya even as the Peterbilt sped away from the 3 Wheel Drive. Prime and Kasumi looked at each other again and started chuckling.
"Wherever you go Kasumi, a trail of broken hearts will follow," Prime remarked.
"If God can provide me a soul mate from outer space, I'm sure He can find soul mates for the rest of them. Good things come to those who wait," she said sagely.
"Amen to that Kasumi," Prime said and for a while, they sat in comfortable silence as they drove through Nerima. To Kasumi's surprise, they were not heading towards the Tendo dojo: they were heading towards the junkyard, her former sanctuary. As they approached the junkyard, she was further surprised to see that where what was once a land with discarded machinery from ages past, there now appeared to be a huge warehouse with the words 'Takara Ltd' painted on the side.
"Takara Ltd? I thought the land was owned by Toei Mechanics," Kasumi said.
"I bought the land with some of the money given to the Autobots by the Chinese government. Since none of us could use the mansion for the past month due to some noisy occupants….," Prime said this without a hint of mischief but it still made Kasumi blush intensely, "….. so I decided to create a secondary base of operations closer to Nerima, since we've grown rather attached to your family and friends. This base is catered more for our Cybertronian needs though, so I hope you won't mind that most of it isn't human sized."
"Of course not Optimus. I don't suppose you installed a kitchen and dining area though?"
Optimus grinned. "You can thank Prowl and his 'obsession' for remembering. He nearly had a fit when Kup's first layout of the place (he was a construction bot before the war) didn't have a kitchen at first." The Peterbilt drove through an automatic gate into a small parking area just before the warehouse doors.
"Welcome to our home away from home Kasumi," Optimus' voice betrayed some excitement and Kasumi found herself holding her breath. The wide doors of the warehouse opened outwards to admit the Peterbilt carrier. She was puzzled when all she saw inside at first was a musty interior filled with rows of cabinets and boxes. The moment the Peterbilt carrier passed through the doors though, it was an entirely new world altogether. The elder Tendo sister stepped out of the carrier and looked around in awe and wonder.
Kasumi never watched much science fiction movies, but what she was seeing was very similar to the interior of a spaceship. Instead of a dull grey and gloomy environment, what struck Kasumi was the bright yet warm colours, The metallic walls were mostly a reddish orange colour, which reflected the light from various sources around the huge warehouse, tall enough for Optimus Prime to stand at ease, big enough for them to walk around comfortably without feeling cramped. Huge Autobot sized computer screens, desks and couches filled the opposite side of the warehouse wall, resembling some sort of command centre or office area, dominated by one particularly large screen, which practically filled the entire wall and was as tall and wide as Optimus Prime's thirty-feet. The large screen was currently showing a huge Autobot symbol.
On one side of the wall was a row of platforms raised above the floor that were all tilt at 45 degree angles. Kasumi wondered where they were until she counted ten of them, and then guessed that they were what Bumblebee called "recharging bays", the Autobot equivalent of a bed. Kasumi had once asked Bumblebee how he and Ratchet had survived fifty years on Earth without a recharge bay.
"Camping," he simply said. He had laughed at her stupefied face and proceeded to explain that recharge bays were simply luxury items, not something they needed. It enabled them to recharge/sleep comfortably in robot form rather than being stuck in car mode, which was the equivalent of sleeping curled up in bad posture.
Right in the middle area seemed to be a huge round table, which appeared to be a technological construct judging by the floating holographic image of a chess board above it. Large and broad wooden logs that seemed to serve as stools were placed around the table.
On the last wall, there appeared to be some sort of workshop or laboratory depending on how one looked at it. Some complicated machinery lay around that side of the wall and there was also a raised platform that was raised horizontally above the floor where currently, Ratchet was working on something on top of it. From Kasumi's angle on the floor, she couldn't see what was on top of it but she could guess who was on top of it.
Next to the 'bedroom', was probably the kitchen area. Except that this kitchen was clearly Autobot sized. Everything was huge, including the twenty foot double door refrigerator. It even had a preparation table area, a sink as well as some gadgets that vaguely resembled a bus sized oven and barbecue pit. Kasumi wrinkled her nose as she noticed the smell and dilapidated state of the kitchen. If she didn't know better, she would have thought that somehow Akane had used the kitchen to cook in her absence. Then she saw where most of the smell was coming from and quickly recognized the source in horror.
Bending over the oven, wearing a ridiculously huge and frilly ribbon which roughly resembled hers, was Prowl. With her beloved hovering above him with a look that resembled Ranma's whenever Akane was in the kitchen.
"Uh Prowl? Are you sure you should be heating up chocolate that way?" Bumblebee asked nervously.
The Autobot second-in-command scowled. "Why not? Thirty pounds of liquid chocolate in 200 degrees Celsius along with a touch of baking powder and we will have a chocolate cake in no time."
Kasumi went pale as she realized what Prowl had done and also noticed the oven beginning to rumble and shake. "Prowl! Bumblebee! Look out! It's going to…."
Too late. The oven door exploded outwards and everything in Kasumi's vision turned to brown.
To be continued…….
Sigh, I'm almost afraid to post this. No matter how much I try, I can only seem to resort to cliché comedic scenarios. Sorry guys, it took me a week to grind out the last few paragraphs alone, I just didn't know how to finish it. I think I better move into the meat of the story soon, unless you all want more episodic comedic relief that have little to no relevance to plot.