The Humbling River
VII
Shepard looked at the three synthetics before him, locked in neon green hand cuffs that Shockwave had called Energon Cuffs. The ones that were called Decepticons by Shockwave were only three in number. There was a large one, about sixteen feet tall, with a box like chest, a slanted head and jawline, and slight patches of red and blue paint among faded steel. Shockwave called this one the leader, his name being Optimus Prime. Next to Optimus was a smaller one, red colored, a more spherical head and body, more rounded limbs, and was called Perceptor. He was a scientist, and not a fighter, yet had a deadly accurate Gauss Rifle. Shockwave saw fit to remove that from Perceptor. Lastly, there was one called "Ironhide", and he was all silver, with huge cannons that replaced his hands. They had been cut off.
Shepard stood in silence, looking over them.
Shockwave walked up from behind Shepard and said, "With this now over, we can move on to more pressing matters. Like how we are going to get off this world."
Shepard replied to Shockwave, "Are you capable of repairing your ship?"
"We left our planet, a dead world ravaged by war, incapable of supporting our livelihood anymore. We can not go back to it. Even if we were able to repair our ship, and find the necessary amounts of Energon to power the Space Bridge engin, our main method of travel, we would have nowhere to go to anyway. It would be be fruitless to repair the ship."
Shepard could sense their pleas coming, "And you," he said, "Want a lift I suppose, somewhere safe, where you can hide out and not be detected?"
"No," said Shockwave, "Take us to your leaders. We wish to warn them. These are not the first, there will be more the come, looking for Optimus and his ilk. There is still a war going on back on our homeworld. We left because we wanted to look for new worlds to colonize truthfully."
"What?" said Shepard, taken aback, "You want to talk to our leaders so they'll just give you a planet."
"A lot to ask, I know," said Shockwave, "but we have no other options. Just take me," pleaded Shockwave, "These will stay here."
Shockwave gestured to his Autobots who didn't seem like the friendliest bunch.
Shepard said to Shockwave, "Give me and my crew a moment."
"Of course."
Mordin was the first to strike against the plan, after they convened behind a rock. "Absolutely not. Terrible idea. Do not know what they are capable of. Could be lying straight to our faces. Say we blast them , keep Shockwave for experimentation."
Garrus added, "I'm not sure about going that far, but we need to leave them here, and let the Alliance know about this. If their requests are genuine, then the Alliance can help them out."
"If the Alliance even believes us," said Shepard doubtfully.
"Another thing," added Mordin, "No concrete evidence on Collector conflict with Autobots. Don't know if autobots attacked Collectors, or Collectors attacked Autobots."
Mordin made a good point. Shepard considered what they had said, then he said, "I want to interrogate the other faction. Hear their side of the story first."
"What's the point? They'll say the opposite viewpoint, and then we'll just know that one of them is lying."
"Right," said Shepard, "I know that, but, we need time for the Normandy to get into position. We need back up in case shit goes south. Also, I am just plain curious. Come on."
Shepard walked back to the Transformers, his team staying at a distance. The air rippled in the distance like a mirage. It was already mid-day on the planet, and the sun was only getting hotter. Sweat was forming on Shepard's brow with intensity.
"Shockwave," said Shepard, "I wish to talk to this, Optimus Prime, interrogate him."
Starscream glared at Shockwave, who disregarded Starscream and said cooly, "Why do you wish to do that, Shepard? He'll just tell you the opposite of what we told you."
"Of course," said Shepard with a smug smile, "But nethertheless it will help us make our decision."
Shockwave said nothing and simply stared. Finally after a long pause, the Autobot leader said, "Fine, get up, Prime. Follow the human."
Shepard waved Prime to follow him behind the rocks. Garrus stood on top on overwatch while Mordin paced around Shepard, trying his best to seem somewhat threatening.
"So," said Shepard, "Can you learn our langauge like Shockwave did?"
The Transformer raised his shackled hands and did the same process as Shockwave . In a few seconds the Autobot gruffly said, "Can you understand me?"
"Yeah," Shepard said, "We hear you loud and clear."
"What do you want from me? Shockwave is right, we will tell you the truth, and in your hesitation you will be unable to trust either of us."
"Yes, giant synthetic lifeforms that can transform into vehicles and pack a massive payload, are a little hard to trust," said Shepard wittily, "But I'm sure you can understand."
Optimus gave a satisfied noise and then said, "The truth is that we, and my compatriots are the real Autobots. They are the Decepticons."
"Oh yeah, and do you have any way to prove this?" pressed Shepard.
"No," said Optimus, hanging his head, "which is why this interrogation is useless."
"It is," said Shepard, "But we're buying time, time so we can be in a position of power. We have a ship, a ship that could wipe out the Autobots, Decepticons, whoever they are, the people led by Shockwave."
"Interesting," nodded Optimus Prime, "A ship that could no doubt carry me and my soldiers to safety."
"If safety was what we wanted to give you."
"Tell me," said Optimus, turning the tables, "Are you a man of honor Commander? Would you leave prisoners of war to be executed without trial? For that it was they will surely do to us, once you leave and we are not needed."
Shepard frowned, "I'll be asking the questions here."
"We can give you technologies," said Optimus, "As we speak I am going through the files that I downloaded from your device."
"Could you have shut it off if you wanted to?"
"Of course, but that wouldn't do any good now would it?"
Shepard let past a small grin, and said, "True. What technologies?"
"I read before me, that you are dependent on these things, called Mass Relays?"
"Yeah, what about them?"
"We can make you independent, because the Decepticons now know your galaxy is ripe for plunder. You may believe you can take them on, but how safe are you really? They will infiltrate you, they will find a way, they have ways of breaking into your infrastructure as easily as I broke into your omni-tool's files. How long will you be able to stand against thousands of them, for there are many still on Cyberton, and others who tried to flee as well. As there are Autobots of course..."
Shepard listened, as a grave silence filled him with dread. If what the creature said was true, another Synthetic enemy, one not quite as powerful as the Reapers but still powerful, would be coming. And if there was one thing the Alliance and every race in Citadel Space could not afford, was a war before the inevitable darkness that was to come.
"Shepard," said Mordin, " A word if you may."
"Alright, I'll be right back, Optimus Prime."
Optimus simply nodded.
"Reccomend we modify original plan," stated Mordin simply.
"Why?"
"Ran scenarios in head. Optimus Prime's assertion backed by logic; they came here, and did not use mass relays. Mass Relays controlled by Reapers. But, with independent transportation, we could gain advantage over Reapers. Wartime advantage. Reapers unable to predict attacks. And so, recommend take Optimus with us, but also take Shockwave with us. Then," said Mordin, pulling Shepard close to him, "I will disable them both, find somwhere to imprison them, Ceberus might be key. The risk is worth it."
Shepard looked Mordin straight in the eyes then said, "Are you sure about this?"
"Certainity in plan not guaranteed, but the rewards, the rewards could indeed be great."
"Alright," said Shepard, amazed at what he was about to say and do, and worried that this would all backfire in a matter of seconds, "Lets get it done. Normandy, are you on standby?"
"Yes, Commander," Joker responded.
"Stay where you are, chances are, this could get hairy."