CHAPTER 63
It had been over two days since Wing, Rung and Bumblebee had left to go to Frayus.
The journey being much longer than that for Arkus, Father John could not help, sitting on the steps leading to the base while listening to an audio book, to count the hours separating Earth and Frayus. According to Bumblebee, if their trajectory was stable, they would be at their destination in two days.
Five days was a long time. And even if Father John admired Wing's tenacity, he could not help worrying about him and if his state of mind would not hamper the smooth running of the mission.
He felt that the Autobots would not tolerate another failure. And even if the safety of the universe would be seriously threatened by the loss of a new artifact, he was above all afraid that Wing would break down. That would be the extra event that could shatter him.
Father John sighed. It was not fair. Death was something that was unfortunately left undecided. Nothing was eternal and everyone had to die sooner or later.
But death didn't matter, as long as we didn't forget the deceased, as long as they lived in our memories, no one ever disappeared completely.
Heavenlight had never had such a right.
It was not fair for Wing to outlive his child. But it was even more unfair that Wing didn't even remember Heavenlight. Dai Atlas, Drift, and Gasket's reasons had been understandable and Father John could not judge them.
But he couldn't prevent this twinge of heart as soon as his mind returned irreversibly to Heavenlight.
She who had been so young, had been separated from her father ... and she had died forgotten by the latter.
Father John stopped his audio book. He didn't have that head anymore. Gently, he called Starry back. He was about to request a land bridge so he could go home when he heard rapid footsteps behind him.
"Karan?" He guessed.
The steps stopped.
"Ha! The human."
"Father John," he reminded her. "Where are you going?"
"Uh ..."
He felt hesitation in Karan's voice.
"I was going out. Drink a few cubes of energon."
"Did Outrigger give you permission?"
"Well ... let's say he has become more flexible towards me in recent days."
But apparently, not yet enough for her to sneak away.
Father John crossed his arms.
"Listen. As long as you're careful, I'm not going to be the cop in there."
"I doubt it. But it's okay. I promise you. I'm going to see a friend."
"The so-called Chop Shop?"
The human gave a small smile.
"I heard Outrigger talk about him."
"Hm ... yeah" she replied, embarrassed.
It was none of his business, after all. He was about to let her go when Karan gave him a most unexpected offer.
"What if you came with me, Father John?"
"You don't want to be alone with Chop Shop?"
"Ha ... touché."
She paused.
"... But usually, I only see mechs for one-night dates, sometimes two. I'm not saying it's serious but I've never been this far with someone. And I would need advice on this."
Father John chuckled.
"So… do you expect me to serve you as a conscience?"
"Jiminy Cricket? Yes, Outrigger showed me the film. I love Pinocchio! And yes, that's exactly my intention."
That amused him. He liked the cartoon too.
Even if…
"Uh. I don't drink energon, Karan. My body would get disintegrated of it."
"Well ... buy yourself a few bottles of any human component and join us! Will I drop you off on a motorbike at the nearest convenience store? I can even install a sidecar hitch for your furry companion."
He heard a transformation sound.
Father John hesitated. He knew he had a bad relationship with alcohol, and it was out of the question for a drunk human to give to Cybertronians false ideas about their species. And there was no question of him setting a bad example for Karan.
But why not ? After all, it would make him think of something else. Carefully, he guided himself to the motorcycle and put Starry in the sidecar before climbing.
"Helmet!" Karan reminded him.
"Of course" stammered the human before guiding himself to find it lying on the tank.
Giving the good example to the end.
And then ... when Karan started, he couldn't help but feel something familiar. Father John smiled.
He must have been a biker in another life. In any case, he was enjoying the feeling more than ever.
"Hey ..." Karan whispered to him after he got out of the convenience store, the thermos of tea and coffee full with his hands.
Father John sat back on the seat before putting on his helmet.
"... Do you think we have a chance? To save the universe?"
The human could only smile in response.
"I'm sure that by doing our best, we will manage."
"You seem sure of yourself."
"I have to."
He heard the sound of an engine roar.
"I've been training more seriously these past few days," Karan admitted. "I have to confess. It's more interesting than I thought."
"You start to get a taste for it."
"Indeed. Outrigger is happy."
"And what you?"
He could have guessed a shrug from Karan if she had transformed again.
"We'll say yes. Hang in there, Father John."
Father John nodded. The next moment, the bike started with a whirlwind. Father John raised his chin, enjoying the air hitting his face. Starry at his side, he let himself be guided by the Cybertronian who took them in an unknown direction.
Then, after about ten minutes, the motorcycle stopped. Father John caught his breath. It had seemed surprisingly short. He got out of the bike carefully as he heard a new transformation sound.
"Ha. Did you bring a friend with you?" Whispered a deep, warm voice.
Father John started slightly. So that's the so-called Chop Shop.
"Pleased to meet you, Chop Shop."
"This is Father John" Karan introduced him. "Father John was depressed because his Cybertronian boyfriend left Earth. So, I offered him to spend some time with us."
"A relationship between a Cybertronian and an organic? Really?" chuckled Chop Shop.
Father John cleared his throat, a little surprised by the newcomer's question.
"Uh ... no. We're not together. But Wing means a lot to me."
"Hm. I can guess it. Come on, shall we go in a quieter place to rest?"
"Yes! I brought a lot of high-grade!"
"I like you for this!"
Father John couldn't help but think that he had landed in the wrong place. Not because they were two Cybertronians who were obviously attracted to each other, but because he felt like he was among a group of young people who were sitting in a corner to drink and enjoy life.
All that was missing was…
"Ha! I have good Earthling music!" cried Chop Shop.
"I can't wait to hear it. I've listened to a few and they're cooler than Cybertronian ones."
He hadn't said anything. The human had passed the age. However, Starry guided him and the small group soon sat in dry grass trembling in a gentle breeze. The human put his hand on the grass and felt a flower under his palm.
A crocus.
A meadow, Father John guessed. Good idea for a date.
"Mary ..."
Hidden in his vehicle mode, Gasket watched the scene. The human was dressed officially. In an outfit she called her "military outfit". It consisted of something she called a "black tie suit" with a "skirt" of the same color. However, Mary had admitted that it was not really one. But she had to be presentable for what was likely to happen.
"… Are you sure it will work?"
"Of course," said Mary, surly. Who do you think I am?"
"But ... we can find another way."
"Your society may have its own perception, but the Earth is immense, Gasket. We will not find the Autobots in a snap of the fingers."
"But Undertone said Crown City was under their yoke."
"But have we come across an Autobot since your arrival? No. They may be busy elsewhere. The Decepticons may have attacked somewhere else, and that wouldn't surprise me."
She crossed her arms, annoyed.
"Anyway, we decided. We stick to it. Tired of waiting. It took several days to find a solid plan. No way to screw it up."
"And that ... that's all we found."
It and a few Insecticons that got too close to Crown City. Gasket's first reflex had been to hide but when Mary had pushed him to get up and fight to join his comrades, he had done violence to himself.
And he had managed to scare them away. Using items he had turned into weapons. But that had been enough, apparently. There had been four of them, but they had fled. Obviously, they were looking for energon and in view of their presence, they were not real fighters.
As for Gasket, he never thought he would have to fight again one day. But after that, Mary had sent him her one and only compliment since their meeting: "it's good, my little one."
In a way, she reminded him of his former chief Dai Atlas. Both were cold and greedy in compliments.
"But ... you are sure that ..."
"Erik owes me a favor. For all the times I've covered him for his faults in service, he owes me that."
A slight disgust appeared on Mary's face at the mention of this character. Apparently, their relationship did not seem very friendly.
Gasket had a doubt. A big doubt.
"Now shut up" Mary growled.
In his alt-mode, Gasket backed up slightly when he heard a car park behind the gate surrounding the car cemetery.
Then he froze. Mary stood straight, letting a figure approach her. Gasket changed his vision to better see the frail individual in a green suit who joined Mary.
"Mary ..."
She did not say hello to him. With Mary, you shouldn't have expected anything, anyway.
"Do you have what I asked, Erik?"
"Yes, yes."
Erik pulled his collar before rummaging in his pocket and handed him an item. Mary took it from his hand and started pressing several blue buttons.
It looked like a Cybertronian remote control. But according to Mary, the gadget inside would be enough to replace the one that the human army had torn off. Maybe that way his antenna would be fixed.
He could contact the others. Drift, Outrigger ...
Wing ...
"And the manual?" growled Mary.
"Here."
Erik handed her a new item. A human-sized book.
"Mary ... You put me in a bad position."
"Just like you who put me in a bad position at each of your burrs."
"But it only happened once!"
"Are you amnesiac now? Once ... and nine more! You have nothing to say to me."
Erik sighed.
"If you hadn't released this machine ..."
Gasket stiffened. Mary's tone suddenly became colder.
"His name is Gasket. It is not a machine. He's a living being like us. And you wanted to turn it off when he didn't want to hurt us."
"He could condemn our species."
"He was neutral, Erik!" exploded Mary. "He was only looking for a way to escape from the Decepticons. And nobody listened to him when he said he had good intentions!"
"Never mind. We don't want Cybertronians on our planet anymore. They have caused too much destruction and too many deaths."
Mary took a step towards him.
"This is not how it works. Hatred only breeds hatred. And with that kind of mindset, when the Decepticons attack us, the Autobots won't help us. We will be alone against them!"
"For now, Cybertronians are a general threat. We have to defend humanity."
The human seemed to recover. She shrugged before giving him a mocking smile.
"You know, Erik. I never understood why you entered the army with such generalities. I almost feel sorry for you."
When she was about to put the remote control in her pocket, she suddenly stopped.
Gasket made his near vision sharper. Erik had winced. And that attitude had not escaped Mary either.
"Go ahead, Erik. Tell me the truth" she growled threateningly.
"About what?"
"You always make that face when you hide something! So, what did you do?"
"I do not see what you're talking about!"
"Come on, then. Would you dare to lie to your superior?"
Erik froze.
He ended up bursting out.
"You are no longer my superior! I don't owe you anything anymore!"
"I thought you were in good faith."
Mary pulled out the remote control and inspected it from every angle. She threw the device on the ground before taking out the manual.
Gasket transferred his vision to her. She snapped open the manual and showed something to Erik.
"A snitch, you filthy—"
"We're not so arrogant now!" spat Erik. "We know you're hiding Gasket! You know where he is!"
Mary recovered straight. Erik's tone softened.
"Come on, Mary. Be reasonable. Soon, an army will come to pick you up. You and Gasket. Might as well make you nice-"
He did not finish his sentence. Mary had kicked him right between the two legs.
Gasket couldn't suppress a hiss. Mary gained momentum before pouncing on him and immobilizing his two wrists, holding them behind Erik's back who was screaming in pain. Mary palpated his jacket before taking out a weapon.
A Taser.
Which she used against its owner himself. Erik collapsed to the ground. Mary gave him an almost sorry smile.
"You hit a soldier, you filthy—"
"Erik drinks during his working hours! You should fire him for his incompetence!" growled Mary in the snitch.
"It is not you who decide, Mary!" he heard a voice.
She just threw the snitch and crushed it with her foot. She picked up the gadget and the manual she had thrown on the ground and rushed towards Gasket.
The latter blinked and immediately opened the doors for her. Mary sat in the driver's seat and closed the door behind her. Gasket roared the engine and started a quarter-turn while Erik whined, lying on the ground.
"AND NOW, WHAT DO WE DO?" Gasket yelled. "YOU SAID THAT YOU TRUSTED HIM!"
"SHUT UP, I WAS WRONG ON THIS BUFFON! EVERYONE COMMITS MISTAKES!"
"AND WHERE ARE WE GOING NOW? YOU HAVE AN IDEA? THEY WILL TRACK YOU AND FIND YOU! AND ME AS WELL!"
"BUT I KNOW IT! YOU BELIEVE THAT I AM NOT AWARE OF IT!"
Primus. Fortunately, she was not his Conjunx. Their household life would certainly end in an apocalypse.
"…I know" said Mary after taking a breath. "There is a place where they may not find us."
"Where?"
"The human I told you about. We will only have to hide in the parking lot near his church, the time to repair your antenna."
"But I thought you didn't want to get him involved."
He felt Mary stammering.
"…No. You are right. It's a bad idea. But I never talked with members of the military about my story. They don't even know that I almost got married at one point."
"I see."
"And ... there's an old rule that says you can't take someone out of a holy place. I tell myself that nobody would go and look in a church. And if you stay hidden in your alt-mode …"
Gasket understood what she wanted.
Suddenly he accelerated.
"Very well. Where is this church, Mary?"
"In that direction. You will take the expressway right after."
Gasket did so. Mary leaned on the arm of her seat, looking out absentmindedly. Gasket understood that the scene that had just happened had shocked her, even if she did not show anything.
"…Hey."
"Hm?"
"You fight well."
"Thank you."
He almost got a smile.
"And there, Kat said to me: there was no question of me playing the poodle!"
Father John and Chop Shop laughed in unison. Karan cleared her throat.
"My parents had enrolled us in a theater school when we were younger. I was so ashamed of playing a poodle that I asked her to pretend to be me. We were twins, after all."
"You talk a lot, a lot about your sister," admitted Chop Shop.
"This is my trademark. In the end, she agreed, but the trick was discovered. But it was okay. Our parents said nothing."
"Do not worry. Me too, when I was younger, I had to play the role of a star ballerina" sneered Father John. "I pretended to be sick to avoid this."
A long-buried memory that he lived again. He clearly remembered the face he had when the professor announced her role. A real shame.
"It's okay?" Karan whispered to him. "I don't overdo it? With my sister especially?"
"Don't worry" replied Chop Shop for him. "You don't overdo it. I know this is an important topic for you."
He felt embarrassment in Karan's voice.
"Thank you."
"Hey..."
Chop Shop paused, taking his time before speaking again.
"… Do you think Cybertron accepts second chances?" he questioned them after a silence.
Father John took a thoughtful expression, astonished by the words of Chop Shop.
"What do you mean?" Karan asked.
"Well…"
"Are you a criminal? What did you do?"
"Karan ..." gently cropped Father John.
Maybe he didn't want to talk about it. Chop Shop sighed.
"I ... I wasn't completely honest. I have committed a few acts that I was not proud of in the past."
"Really?"
"It was the end of the war. I thought the Autobots were behaving like bullies and I wanted to ...you know. Flipping them off. A little rebellious ... even if ... I went wrong."
He felt that Chop Shop shook his head.
"I mean. Nothing so terrible, don't worry. But there. I preferred you to know."
"Don't worry, Chop Shop" said Karan immediately without hesitation in her voice.
Father John felt that Karan was approaching.
"You're talking to a daughter of a couple of Decepticons. They committed acts they were not proud of during the war. And they were far from alone. You're far from alone in this case so…don't feel like you have to blush."
She took a while, before completing.
"And yes. I think Cybertron, once the situation will be calmed down, accepts the second chances. There is no reason why you should not be entitled to it."
"Karan is right" Father John agreed.
The priest smiled.
"I think everyone usually deserves a second chance. Everyone deserves to be listened to and heard."
"You think so?"
"Yes" approved Father John. "Your planet has suffered terrible losses. From what Wing told me, many have tried to survive. In their own way. And ... my vision is that you are never born bad. We are not evil to the core."
No one was completely white or black ...
Everyone was free to choose their path, the best and the worst. If Chop Shop regretted, there was no reason why he shouldn't have another chance.
They could only encourage him on this path.
"... I'm glad you thought so" said Chop Shop.
"You were just being honest," Karan said tenderly. "And it makes me want to learn more about you."
Father John scratched the back of his head. He realized that the mood had changed. Even though Karan had asked him to stay and act like her conscience, in the end, maybe she didn't need it. Maybe she wanted to be alone with him.
Father John cleared his throat.
"I ... maybe I'll go back."
"Hm? Oh yes. I can ask Cliffjumper to give you a ground-bridge over there."
"Thanks."
Though…
"No… at my church. I really want to meditate."
And then he had to take care of the place and the parishioners who needed an ear to listen to them.
Father John thought back to Chris Marshall's reproaches. He shouldn't make the same mistake with others.
"As you wish. Chop Shop, are you staying with me?"
"Of course."
"Chop Shop" Father John told him.
He guessed that Chop Shop had turned to him.
"… I understand why Karan likes you."
"Hehe, really?" giggled the concerned.
Karan was quick to jump.
"But ... but ... not at all! What is he saying, Father John?" she cried, discomfort evident in her tone.
"Really, Karan?"
"Watch your swelling ankles!"
"I leave you, then" hummed the priest.
He picked up Starry's leash and moved towards a lighter black.
The ground-bridge had just opened.
"See you later."
"See you later" replied the two in chorus.
Yes. They were cute, together, admitted Father John before crossing the bridge.
It was when he got near the church that he met him.
At first, Father John did not understand why Starry had straightened up and suddenly started to bark and growl while pulling on the leash.
The man froze and tried to hold him back, his attitude disconcerting him.
Starry was generally welcoming to passers-by…
He thought back to the second Cybertronian he had met after Wing. Hardshell. The one who'd attacked Starry. The one Wing had defended him from.
Fear resurfaced. Father John started to tremble again while Starry continued to bark towards an individual in front of him.
It was silly ... there was no reason.
"... Starry ..."
Starry continued to bark.
"Starry!" The human shouted.
A step… One step ... from a Cybertronian. Much lighter than he was used to.
A step ... that he had already heard.
Then that voice.
"You again, vermin?"
Father John froze. He recognized that voice.
"… Swelter!" exclaimed the human.
"Spare me your speeches! Give me a break!"
Always that same aggressive tone ... Swelter hadn't changed despite the last time they crossed paths.
Father John's voice rose.
"You are alive…" he declared after a while.
"Of course! Do you think I'm a ghost?"
"You survived the fire. At the fire at Garboil Castle."
He guessed that Swelter moved backwards.
"Yeah ..." he replied bitterly.
"I am happy."
"Happy?" repeated Swelter, clearly astonished.
Father John nodded. Did that surprise him?
Not far from them he heard muffled faint noises. Starry started to bark again. Father John pulled on the leash and ordered him to be quiet to listen.
Meowing ... of a cat. From a kitten.
Several kittens.
"What is it about?" Father John asked him.
"…Nothing."
"Swelter ..."
Swelter growled.
"... Don't get involved in this, human."
"Do you have kittens with you?"
Another muffled mew answered him.
"…Yes. I was asked to find them a house."
"Human-sized kittens, right?"
"Obviously! What else did you think it was?"
Father John gave a slight smile.
"Since when?"
"For several days. But no human cares about them. You are not even a species that takes care of others."
"On this point, I fear that you are right."
Father John took a step.
"Swelter ... do they have their mother with them?"
"No. Their mother is dead."
"And you fed them?"
"…Once or twice. I was told that they should be fed milk. But it's hard to find them without being noticed."
The human's smile disappeared. They had to be fed immediately, otherwise they would not survive.
"... Come with me."
"What?"
"At the church. We're going to do something."
He patted Starry's head. The dog gave another grunt before going back on, guiding the priest to his initial destination.
He guessed that Swelter was not following him.
"Swelter… trust me."
"Hm."
The step resumed. And Father John was relieved that he had made this decision.
"There. All good"
At his feet, he heard the little kittens drinking milk with little licks. Father John smiled before bending down to stroke them with the tip of his finger.
"... And will it be okay for them?" asked Swelter.
Father John nodded.
"We will keep a watch on them and then take them away dear to the veterinarian. But I think they will be fine."
"You think…"
Purrs. Father John felt Swelter jump next to him.
"They ... they stick me!"
"They surely take you for their mother," the priest chuckled. "You have watched over them all this time."
"Their mother didn't even belong to me," Swelter growled.
Father John inhaled the smell of dust. It came from the private part of the church. He wondered briefly if this place would be good enough for them.
Swelter sighed again.
"Anyway . If you want to keep them, take them. But don't abandon them like others from your species do."
"I don't know yet if I could keep them, Swelter."
He paused.
"I don't live here, by the way."
"So, you're going to abandon them too?" spat Swelter, his tone suddenly becoming hostile.
"I did not say that. I didn't make any decisions. But I won't leave them on the street, Swelter. I promise."
He felt the Cybertronian slowly relax.
"You worry about them."
"So, what?"
"… Where do you live, Swelter?"
Only silence answered him.
"... You don't live on the street, I hope?"
"No. I have new masters. New Deployers. With Glacius, we manage as best we can. "
"And does that make you happy?"
He heard Swelter groan.
"I am a tool. My happiness does not matter."
"Yes. On the contrary. I'm a human and I can't call you a tool when we're not from the same company. In my eyes, your happiness counts."
Swelter had moved. He had moved away from him.
"... If you need a roof ... Glacius and you. My church is open to those who want it."
"As if I'm going to be hosted by a human. You wouldn't even be able to feed me, even if I asked you to."
"That is true. But you would be safe."
Swelter's tone went up.
"Stop looking down on me, human! Who makes you think I'm not safe? That we are not safe?"
"... I witnessed the way Garboil treated you. You use the same tone as in his presence."
"But that's normal ! The way he treated us is normal! And my tone ..."
This time, Swelter came closer.
"My tone ... do you think I'm afraid?"
"No." Father John swallowed, thinking about his words. "... But you're angry."
"Course I am! Because I've been wandering for several days to find a decent house for landed kittens. And none of you can keep them for long! In the street, nobody paid attention to them! Humans go their way without looking at them! And when someone approached to take them with them, they left them the next day behind the trash!"
Father John took a step back, the heart speeding up in his chest.
Was that the way… how he perceived himself? Did Swelter only talk about kittens ... or was there something else?
"Your species disgusts me! And I will definitely not accept help from such a disgusting organic!"
"Swelter ..."
But Swelter was not listening to him. The meows resumed.
"What are you doing ?"
Swelter was lifting something.
"I will take them back! You will abandon them too! So, I take them back! I need energon!"
"Swelter ... wait. Do not take initiative."
"You don't have to tell me what to do!"
"But we can find a solution! Stop… Swelter!"
Father John guided himself to him.
Swelter shouldn't leave. No. You should not have.
He took a blow in the face. Father John felt sharp pain and held his nose, wobbling slightly. He managed to regain his balance by leaning against a wall.
Again, the black became lighter.
A ground-bridge ... He had opened a ground-bridge.
The meows became louder.
"Swelter!"
"Let go of me, vermin!"
Swelter was walking away ...
No ! Without thinking, Father John grabbed his white cane.
Starry was barking.
"Starry, no! Don't attack him ..."
The bridge was going to close…
Father John suddenly threw himself into the dim light that illuminated his daily darkness.
He was going to follow Swelter… he couldn't let him go…
Swelter… where was he going?
"John!"
Someone called him ...
A voice… Who ?
"John!" repeated the voice.
Then someone grabbed his arm.
He recognized a perfume. A fragrance that was familiar to him…
Mary?
But before he could say anything, the glow disappeared.
And silence fell.