I apologize profusely. My screenwriting class is killing my story writing skills. On top of that, I'm exhausted and have a whole bunch of tests coming up. I also have a couple papers due. Tis the college season.
Chapter 38: Press Conference
By noon, Aurora and Angelique knew that things would never be the same.
It was at noon that the story broke that the transformers indeed existed, and it was Lawrence Cutler's report that was making headlines across the tri-county area. Teachers and students that managed to see the headline immediately wanted to question Aurora and Angelique about the transformers and just where they were.
When they were finally released from school, Aurora and Angelique immediately went home in an effort to escape all the questions, but when they got home, their house was crowded with reporters from other news agencies wanting to get the scoop.
Before they had a chance to make a break towards the base, they were swarmed by reporters with microphones and cameras. "Is it true that you two are no longer human?" one of the reporters asked.
"Uh…" Aurora remarked.
"Did Daniel McHugh kidnap you?"
"Yes!" Angelique immediately shouted.
"Look," Aurora said as she grabbed her sister by the arm and headed towards the house, "We're not answering any questions right now." And with that, she went into the house with her sister.
However, before she could close the door, another reporter wanted to know, "Is it true that you're in a romantic relationship with Optimus?"
Aurora turned to the reporter, dumbfounded. "Who told you that I was?"
Angelique proceeded to close the door and lock it before the reporter could answer. "Perhaps we should find out just what the transformers told that Cutler guy and how much of what they said aired," she said.
"I doubt it was Optimus that said anything about us," Aurora stated as they headed into the basement.
"They're probably interviewing Daniel McHugh like crazy now, too. I wouldn't be surprised if he told them."
"Think he knows?"
"He spied on us for so long, who knows what he knows."
As they walked into the base, Angelique immediately pulled up a local news website on her phone. She immediately found the video report that Cutler had compiled and WCBS broadcasted. She pressed play and turned up the volume all the way on her phone so that Aurora could hear the report as well.
"Good afternoon everyone, I am Olivia Kirkland. Earlier we broadcasted a segment of Daniel McHugh's video evidence about the transformers existing. Today, we are able to confirm that the video evidence he sent us is genuine. Lawrence Cutler has more on the story. Lawrence?"
"Thank you, Olivia," Cutler replied as the camera switched to him, "Earlier this morning, I was granted special permission by Aurora and Angelique Carlson to meet the transformers personally. They requested that, for now, the location of their base was not revealed."
The broadcast then began to play the interview that Cutler had taped between him and the transformers. Standing side by side were Optimus and Megatron as Cutler asked, "How long have you been here?"
"Since the beginning of the summer," Optimus answered, "We've been hiding in plain sight in order to avoid confrontation with the humans. We mean no harm, whatsoever."
"Aren't you at war?"
"In order to survive on this planet, we have set aside our differences," Megatron responded.
"But your characterizations in the cartoon correspond correctly with your real personas?" Cutler asked, "Meaning, you, Optimus, are peaceful and gentle, while, Megatron, you are evil and dangerous."
Megatron noticeably scowled but Optimus was quick to answer the question, "It is not fair to judge our personalities by how they are portrayed in a kids show."
"Whoo! Go Optimus!" Aurora exclaimed.
"Megatron, do you have any comment on the video Daniel McHugh sent us in which you and Starscream are beating Kyle Taylor?"
"Kyle intruded our base armed with a taser and a gun. At that point in time, he was working for Daniel McHugh, who has been invading our privacy by videotaping us. He shot and tasered Optimus and held Angelique hostage at gunpoint before we were finally able to subdue him. I feel my treatment of him was necessary in order to keep Aurora and Angelique safe."
"How many of you are there?"
"There are 17 of us here, including a robotic canine," Optimus answered, "One of us, Elita, did leave."
"Elita?" Cutler remarked, "Isn't that your girlfriend?"
"A very long time ago, she was. We have gone our separate ways."
"I bet every Optimus fangirl in the tri-county area squealed over that," Angelique stated.
"So you have no current love interest?" Cutler asked.
"Who cares?" Angelique scoffed.
"I wish to keep that information private," Optimus answered.
The camera suddenly switched back to Lawrence Cutler who said, "During the interview, I never once felt threatened by either transformer. However, knowing that these alien beings do exist now, our world is certainly about to change. Olivia, back to you."
"Thanks, Larry," Olivia remarked, "We will have more information later tonight. To view the full interview, please visit our website."
The video ended and Angelique put her phone away. "Well, things don't seem that bad, do they?" she asked.
"For now, but we still have to see what happens. Obviously there are still questions that need to be answered. It seems that Lawrence Cutler is just a rookie reporter since he's not asking the best questions," Aurora responded, "Maybe we should hold a press conference."
"But how much do we want to tell?"
"Probably everything," Aurora answered, "If we don't, the truth is going to come out sooner or later. And it's best we move quickly so that we have the upper hand on Dan McHugh."
"So, even how we're gynoids? How you wished the transformers to life? How we're in relationships with Optimus and Megatron? You want all of this to go public?"
Aurora sighed heavily, "If I had a choice, the answer would be no. But at this point, our only option is to tell the truth. Eventually, I'm hoping this will all blow over. But it's going to take a while. We're going to go from small town nothings to celebrities over night. We have to keep it together."
"It's going to be a wild ride," Angelique remarked.
"We've got to stick together. Sisters to the end," Aurora stated.
"Sisters to the end," Angelique repeated as they arrived at the hangout.
They walked inside to see Optimus, Megatron, Starscream, and Joey standing there, conferencing about their next actions. They all looked over as Aurora and Angelique walked in.
"You guys look a little worse for the wear," Joey observed.
"You should see all the reporters outside the house," Aurora replied.
"I take it they have even more questions now," Optimus said.
"You bet."
"What are we supposed to do?" Starscream asked, "Let them in one at a time to answer their questions? That will get exhausting."
Angelique shook her head, "We could have a press conference. That's where we all sit down in a room filled with reporters and explain ourselves. At the end, reporters can ask questions."
Optimus and Megatron exchanged glances before Aurora reiterated, "If we're going to do it, we should do it soon, and we should tell them everything. We need to move faster than Daniel McHugh if we want to win."
"Where would we do it?" Megatron asked, "Letting reporters in here would not end well."
"We could see if we could do it at the school," Angelique replied, "They have an auditorium. I'm sure they'd let us. The superintendent is nice enough."
"Well, Optimus?" Megatron asked as he looked to the Autobot leader, "Shall we do this?"
He nodded, "We have nothing to lose."
And with that, it was decided. Since the school was still open, Aurora and Angelique made the necessary phone calls in order to set up the press conference in the school auditorium. Once they had permission to use it, they released a statement to the media informing them that they would be holding a press conference the next day at 3:30 in the afternoon, after Aurora and Angelique finished school for the day. They reassured the reporters that they would be discussing everything.
Later that evening, Joey was happy to be alone with Starscream in his room. They sat on the couch, the TV on but the volume low as they talked to one another. "I'm not sure how I feel about becoming famous," Joey said.
"You'll make a great celebrity."
She laughed, "My life certainly is dramatic enough. I'm just worried about the army of fangirls I know you have. I mean, every transformer fan I know of harbors some kind of sentiment for you, Autobot and Decepticon alike. You're probably one of the most popular characters in the history of transformers—
"Joey, I don't want anyone else."
"How do you know? I mean, out of all the humans, you've only been with me. Well, you might've been with that one human girl, Alexis…"
Starscream shot a confused look at her, "What are you talking about?"
"You need to watch Transformers Armada at some point…"
"Joey, you're mine. I'm not sure how to make it any clearer to you."
"But are you mine?"
"I would hope I am considering everything we've been through."
Joey leaned against him and Starscream wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Believe me, Joey. I know you've been hurt in the past, but the past is over. Remember what I said last night?"
She sighed, "I have all of you."
"And right now, you're all mine for the taking," he said as he pinned her down to the couch.
"Starscream!" she remarked with a chuckle as he kissed her.
"Don't most human celebrities have a sex tape?" he asked.
"We are not making one."
"It was only a suggestion," he remarked as he leaned down and kissed her again.
Optimus was more than grateful to finally have a moment alone with Aurora. Greedily, he wrapped his arm tightly around her waist as he walked with her back to his room. "How are you holding up?" he asked.
"For now, pretty well," Aurora answered.
"The reporters haven't bothered you too badly?"
"One of them asked me if you and I were in a romantic relationship. I didn't answer the question, but guaranteed that'll be asked tomorrow."
"Perhaps it's best that they know."
"They'll never leave us alone, Optimus."
"Eventually, they will."
"And if they don't?"
"We'll disappear," he said, giving her a reassuring kiss on the cheek.
"I just hope this goes alright."
"Everything is going to be okay," he said, "I promise."
She wrapped her arm around his back as she replied, "I'll hold you to that."
"I love you, Aurora."
"I love you, too, Optimus."
"Angelique, we need to talk," Megatron said as he watched the door to his room close.
"You bet we do," she replied as she began digging through a closet full of her clothes, "I need you to help me pick out something to wear tomorrow."
"Listen to me, this is very important—
She turned to him holding up a skirt in one hand and a casual dress in the other, "Should I go for sexy or classy?"
Megatron frowned as he removed the clothing from her hands and turned her so that she was facing him. "I need you to lie."
"Lie?" she remarked, looking up at him.
"Obviously at some point tomorrow, someone is going to say something about how you, Aurora, and Joey are gynoids. They will want to know how you became gynoids, and explaining how Aurora and Joey became gynoids will be much easier than explaining how you became one."
"Why? I mean, the programming reacted with our DNA when our bodies endured a significant amount of stress."
"Yes…but people will want to know what caused that stress. For Aurora, it was Daniel McHugh shooting her. For Joey, it was James shooting her. And for you, it was because I nearly killed you. They'll want to know why I gave you Decepticon programming when there was no need to."
"But everyone else will know it's a lie…"
"They will understand."
"Megatron…it's easier to just tell the truth."
He growled, "Do you want to lose me, Angelique?"
"Megatron…"
"You will tell them you took the programming willingly. You will tell them you had an accident in the training room. We were in the training room, you didn't realize what one of the weapons did and when you picked it up, you accidentally fired upon yourself. And, as your last request, you asked me to mark you as a Decepticon."
"Nobody is going to buy that."
"They will overlook it. Everyone will be so obsessed over the fact we're alive that they won't be able to tell we're lying."
"And what if someone calls us out on our lie?"
"I will inform Optimus beforehand."
"And if I don't lie?"
"You will lose me."
"Optimus, I would like to have a word with you."
Optimus turned away from Jetfire, who was giving him a report, to meet Megatron's gaze. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No, not yet at least. Will you humor me?"
"Jetfire, I'll be right back."
"Yes sir."
Optimus followed Megatron out of the Autobot command center and into the hallway. When they were out of earshot, the Autobot leader crossed his arms before asking, "What is going on?"
"I wish to discuss this press conference that we are to attend in a couple hours."
"What about it?"
"I feel at some point we will have to reveal that Aurora, Angelique, and Joey are no longer human—
"Yes, keeping that a secret will be impossible. We will have to explain how they became gynoids."
"I have asked Angelique to lie about how she became a gynoid."
"Lie?" Optimus repeated.
"I am quite certain you remember the circumstances that caused her to become a gynoid."
"Yes, you nearly killed her."
"I feel if that information becomes public, it could be disastrous," Megatron explained, "I am telling you this because I don't want anyone to call us out on a lie."
"Megatron, if you lie about it, guaranteed you'll have to face your past again another day. We all know you've changed. I strongly recommend you tell the truth rather than take the cowards way out."
Megatron scowled, "And risk losing Angelique?"
"Emphasize the good you've done. People need to see you've changed."
"Optimus…"
"I will not call you out, if you do decide to lie. But, I can't say you'll never have to face this again. People will always ask questions. We will be scrutinized. It is your decision." And with that, Optimus turned and went back towards the command center. Megatron was left alone to decide.
Both Aurora and Angelique waited nervously for Optimus, Megatron, Starscream, and Joey to arrive at the school. A crowd of reporters had already gathered inside of the auditorium by the time the others arrived. Before microphones could be shoved down their throats, Aurora and Angelique ushered them inside.
"So, this is what your school looks like?" Joey remarked as they waited outside the auditorium, "Looks kind of like a prison."
"Kind of feels like one," Angelique responded.
"Come on, we should go in," Optimus stated, "I think we'll all feel better once we get this over with."
And with that, they went aside. They sat down at a large table that had six microphones so that they could be heard. Optimus sat down first, Aurora beside him, Angelique beside her, then Megatron, Starscream, and finally Joey. Besides reporters crowding the seats, other people from the town were there including classmates of Aurora and Angelique, their parents, teachers, and their friends.
A sudden hush filled the auditorium as everyone beheld the transformers. Angelique leaned over and whispered to Aurora, "They act like they've never seen a transformer before."
Aurora shot her a glare, "I wonder why."
"Someone needs to talk."
"Go for it," Aurora said, "You're better at running your mouth than I am."
The younger sibling looked to the microphone before saying, "Uh, hello everyone, thanks for coming. Um, if you haven't heard, I'm Angelique—
Her friends in the audience suddenly cheered before yelling, "We love you, Angelique!"
"Thanks guys," she replied before introducing everyone else. After the introductions were done, she and Aurora proceeded to explain their story. They explained how they met the transformers, how they were victimized and harassed by Daniel McHugh, how Joey came to be with them, how they introduced them to their parents, how Daniel McHugh and the rest of the gang members continue to harass them, and finally their decision to go public. It was then they agreed to answer any questions the reporters had.
"If Daniel McHugh has attacked you so many times, in the nature in which you described, how were you able to survive?" one reporter asked.
"Aurora, Angelique, and Joey are no longer human," Optimus replied, deciding to drop a bombshell, "In order to save their lives, we had no choice but to turn them into gynoids. This allows them to maintain their human features but they function very similarly to us transformers now."
"What are the implications of this?" asked another reporter.
"Being a gynoid means they don't need food or water, rather energon in order to survive. They do not age and will not get old. Their lives are essentially the same. They can engage in romantic relationships, but not with humans," Optimus explained.
"But they can with you machines?"
Optimus winced, "Yes—
"So, since you and Elita are no more, does that mean you're with one of these girls?"
Angelique and Aurora exchanged glances. "Here we go," Aurora whispered.
"Hey, at least you're not with Megatron," Angelique replied quietly.
"True."
Optimus hesitated before replying, "I am. However, Aurora and I do not wish to discuss our personal lives at this time."
This time, it was Aurora's friends that cheered. "Bring him to prom!" one of them said.
Aurora noticeably blushed, but she was relieved by her friends' reactions.
"Megatron, is it true that you've set aside your differences with Optimus?"
"Well, we are currently in the same room and we're not trying to kill each other," Megatron replied, "We're certainly not having a bromance, but we get along for the most part."
"And you get along with the humans?"
"Yes, your species is tolerable."
"What about your relationship with Starscream?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well…aren't you two together?"
Angelique, Aurora, Optimus, and Joey immediately burst out laughing.
"What?" Megatron bellowed, "No!"
"Do we really come off as gay to you?" Starscream asked, "We get along when we have to, but that's it. Besides, we both already have our partners."
"Who?" someone immediately asked.
"I am with Joey," Starscream replied.
All eyes fell on Megatron as he and Angelique exchanged glances. "Angelique is mine," he said.
"How did you know how to turn the girls into gynoids in order to save them?"
"Um, it was an accident," Angelique answered, "I was—
"I gave her Decepticon programming in order to mark her as mine," Megatron said, cutting her off, "For a while after Optimus and I formed the alliance, I bitterly missed the war. I needed something to occupy my time, so I decided to take Angelique under my wing and make her a Decepticon soldier. At that time, I cared little for her safety or wellbeing. The stress of the training I inflicted upon her nearly killed her. However, the programming was triggered by the stress and reacted with her DNA, turning her into a gynoid. It was both Autobot and Decepticon programming that saved Aurora and Joey's lives as well."
For another half hour, they answered questions. Finally, they grew weary and told the reporters they were finished answering questions at this time. They proceeded to get up and leave, meeting outside of the auditorium.
"I can't believe you told the truth," Angelique said as she slipped her hand into Megatron's, "I was ready to lie for you."
"Optimus allowed me to have a change of heart," Megatron replied.
"And I'm glad you did," Optimus said, turning to him, "It went relatively well, don't you think?"
"I don't think so."
Everyone turned and standing there were Aurora and Angelique's parents. "Dad…" Angelique stated.
Her father immediately tugged her to his side before fixing a glare at Megatron. "You led her mother and I to believe it was an accident that resulted in her turning into a gynoid. If I had known, oh if I had known that you had beaten my daughter to the point of nearly killing her I would have never given you permission to date her in the first place!"
"Dad, you can't do this!" Angelique pleaded as she tried to break out of her father's grasp.
"I am your father, Angelique. I will give up my life to keep you safe. I will not allow you to be in a relationship with someone that almost killed you. That's a little sick, don't you think? Come on, we're going home."
Megatron grit his teeth together as Angelique was led out of the building by her parents. He scowled as he looked to Optimus. "I'll be damned if I follow your advice ever again!" he seethed before he stormed out of the building. He transformed into his vehicle form before heading back to the base.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review!