CHAPTER 85
OOC: Nebula belongs to Cao dreams in book
"... Chop Shop was our protection," said Righty.
He did not detach his optics from the Eiffel Tower miniature that he still held in his paws. Sitting next to him in the sand, Karan did not answer. She just listened to him, without interrupting him.
"... We were all Minicons" he explained after a long pause, tone hesitant. "Cybertronian society viewed us as tools. And even if the war was over, even if the Autobots had won the conflict, no regulations were put in place for us, for the Minicons, to improve our condition. We were always assimilated to Deployers. We were still their slaves."
Karan ticked. But she remained silent. A fleeting bitter smile appeared at the corner of the Insecticon's lips before he erased it and looked down, clutching the miniature against his small body.
"... And we ... Minicons ... Insecticons, in addition. Hence the reason why we had the idea of coming together. To become our own Deployer."
"To protect yourselves from war?"
"Yes. To survive, to be stronger together ... and to build our own family."
Their own family…
Somewhere Karan felt sorry for him. He had had good reasons, he and his comrades, to become Chop Shop. And maybe in his shoes, she would have had the same idea if she had had the opportunity.
And now ... he was the last one standing.
Now ... he was alone.
"... That was no reason to hurt us" said Karan sourly. "Even though I know you weren't the only one responsible ... your past didn't give you the right to take it out on us. We didn't do anything to you. We only wanted to save the universe. And the Sanctuary does not seem to understand it."
"Indeed," said Righty sadly. "It's silly ... to use our poor past as an excuse."
"Especially since you weren't the only ones who endured the discrimination," Karan said. "We may have come from a better background than you, my family and I. But my sister was turned down for the Great Library competition. Because she was Cyclops."
Sheerly, Righty found nothing to complain about.
He put the Eiffel Tower on the ground, before pushing it gently towards Karan. The Cyclops lowered her gaze, before returning her attention to him.
"…Why?"
"I'll give it back to you. You gave it to us when I ... we didn't deserve it."
"Indeed."
Karan crossed her arms. She could take it back. It was even tempting and deserved.
"Keep it," she said after a while.
"Karan?"
"It was a gift and we don't take back a gift, Chop ... I mean, Righty."
Her reaction puzzled the Minicon.
And to be frank, she was surprised as much herself.
"…Are you sure?" he asked, hesitant.
"If you really don't want to keep it, throw it away or give it to someone else," she replied sharply.
Righty's response was immediate. He seemed shocked at such an eventuality.
"Never."
He took the miniature before keeping it in his paws. Somehow, it reassured Karan to know that deep down he couldn't do such a thing.
"… I want to correct my mistakes, Karan. I mean ... my mistakes and those of my comrades" he corrected himself, apparently still not used to refer himself as a single individual.
"And how do you plan to do it?"
Righty bit his lip.
"…I do not know."
"There, you don't know. And neither can I give you an answer. But what I know ..."
It would be hard. She knew it. But it had to come out. Let them talk things out.
"... What I do know is that in any case, you can't fix our relationship. I mean... the relationship I had with Chop Shop. It didn't even exist. And if it existed, it is no longer the case today."
"I know."
"How did you do, by the way ..." asked Karan.
She needed an answer on this point. Righty smiled sadly at her.
"... We really loved you, Karan. Maybe not the way you wanted us to because, like you said, it was a doomed relationship. But ... we loved you."
Karan felt her fists clench on her legs.
She took a deep breath, enduring Righty's difficult words. In fact, since she'd learned that there was no "Chop Shop", she had expected it.
But it still hurt.
"…I am sorry."
"Don't be. We can't force someone to love us."
The Cyclops straightened, again preventing her own voice from shaking.
"… I have to hang on to what I have left. It is the most important. My team, my family, my sister ..."
"... You can also include me" added Righty gently. "Because ... it's worth what it's worth, coming from me but ... even if I'm no longer Chop Shop, I care about you."
Karan did not react. She let him speak.
"… I will always care for you."
Yes. The hardest part was that part of her still held on to him, even if it didn't mean the same thing anymore.
Karan recovered.
"... that's not what matters anymore, Righty. What matters is the universe now. If there's one area you can redeem yourself on, that's it."
"That?" repeated Righty, not sure he understood.
"Find the last artifact. Before the Sanctuary. We have all four, but the fifth is the most sacred of all."
If he sincerely wanted to contribute, as much as he does. It would always be extra help. Righty looked thoughtful.
"… The Vessel of Primus, huh?"
"Dai Atlas doesn't know where he is. He hid them but ... he doesn't know what happened to the last one."
"Hm."
Righty crossed his paws on his chassis, thinking in a low voice.
"... If I help you ... would you be willing to ... give me a second chance?"
"... It is not certain" Karan squeaked. "And that should be your least concern right now."
"It's not certain," repeated Righty.
Then, a slight smile appeared on his face. More relaxed, even if Karan had no doubts that it was an appearance.
"... I'll settle for that, then."
"And you'll be a chore at my mother's bar for three centuries," quipped Karan, half-amused, half-serious.
"And I will kneel down to beg your forgiveness," replied Righty in the same tone.
The atmosphere warmed a little between them. But that was enough for today. They'd explained to each other, that was all that mattered. Karan stood up and started to walk away, leaving Righty alone.
In the distance, she saw Outrigger training. She stopped, watching him do so for a few seconds, before walking straight towards him.
"… Thank you" Karan tenderly rewarded him.
"What for?"
"For calling my sister. And ... for convincing me to talk to him."
Thanking him ... it was something she could do, after all.
Outrigger lowered his arms and approached her, a sympathetic smile on his lips. He had dropped the harsh professor mask… and for that, Karan was grateful to him.
"I knew you needed her."
"I needed all of you ... you too, by the way" she added, air of nothing.
"Hm."
Karan scratched her helm, a little embarrassed. But finally, she let him know, the mischievous tone.
"Karan needs a hug, though."
"Really, you."
However, Outrigger dropped his sword and his katana. Then, in implicit acceptance, he stretched out his arms and closed them over Karan, hugging her tightly.
The Cyclops waited a few minutes before returning the hug. That's what she'd been missing… protective arms. And for once, there was no Night.
For once ... she was with him. He was paying attention to her. And while Karan deepened her embrace, she let her servos discreetly caress his back.
"Is that enough for you?" he asked, his tone amused.
"Hm. You have no idea."
He and Karan parted, but the Cyclops did not detach herself from him. She kept her globe down, before looking up at the young brown bot.
She was delighted to have no facial expression. It would make things easier. Karan took a breath.
"… Outrigger…"
"Hm?"
"... What about ... both of us, we ..."
Karan did not finish her sentence.
She ended up sighing instead, before parting completely from him.
"Yes?"
"Nothing, forget it."
She was in mourning. In mourning for Chop Shop, in mourning for their relationship. But she didn't need any bandage. At least, not this way.
Outrigger nodded, leaving to flow. As he picked up his swords to resume training, Righty joined them, running on his eight legs ... which was a bit of a fun sight to watch.
"... I just thought" said the Minicon. "To find the Vessel of Primus... we may have a way."
"A way?" cried Karan and Outrigger together.
"Yes…" Righty gulped. "... We can use the other artifacts ... to find out where it is."
"Another artifact…"
It struck Karan first. In victory, she raised her arms.
"The Book of Epistemus!"
"We should have thought about it," added Outrigger.
The Book of Knowledge ... it was obvious.
The young brown bot crossed his arms while Karan and Righty performed the dance of joy before him, in the middle of the desert.
"You know that we will have some for the night, to leaf through?"
"Don't break our happiness, Outrigger!"
"But what a pest you are!"
Well… it would be less funny afterwards… but at least they could take advantage of the present moment.
"... Of all that has been excavated," said Father John, "one of the most likely leads would be Clipperton Island."
Mary had carried a world map. He heard her spin it to show the location of the Island in question.
Dai Atlas' response was immediate.
"How would you know where the Sanctuary is located? Isn't Earth big enough?"
"Maybe we are wrong" Emily agreed in a polite but firm tone. "But this is a plausible assumption. We asked our researchers to excavate the American territories and to list all the abandoned islands which would potentially serve as a base for the Decepticons. But in the end, all this research turned out to be in vain."
"What about Clipperton Island?" Wing asked in turn.
"This is an Island that had been classified as "terra nullius" or otherwise "territory without a master", before being classified as a possession of French sovereignty, explained the commander. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, more than 6,000 kilometers from Tahiti."
Dai Atlas looked doubtful.
"When we landed there, along with John" added Mary, "I recognized a lagoon around, which seemed to contain fresh water. It is the only freshwater lagoon in the world. And from this distance, we could discern, albeit briefly, the mountains on the Mexican coast."
She later explained to him that if they had been stuck there a little longer, Mary had seen fit to locate the places where they could potentially collect water.
"Even if it won't be soon enough, if the Decepticons live there" Cade pointed out. "According to Mary, they would have built a tower in the middle of the lagoon."
"Nobody's going there" added Mary. "It is not an island with good memories for its last inhabitants."
He guessed a frown on the face of the leader of the Circle of Light. In turn, Wing spoke, not hiding his eagerness.
"We can get there. If it's really there… what are we waiting for?"
"For now, it's too dangerous" retorted Dai Atlas. There are not enough of us and the priority remains the last artifact."
"However, it will have to be recovered. It's fresh water. These are important resources for us" said Emily.
"Hm."
Even though Dai Atlas seemed more inclined to listen to Emily's arguments, Father John felt that Wing was disappointed. However, he did not reply anything, understanding that Dai Atlas was right. As Emily, Bumblebee, Ultra Magnus, and Dai Atlas leaned over to discuss the strategy, Wing and Father John walked away to leave the room.
"Father John" called him Dai Atlas.
The human jumped, surprised that the leader of the Circle of Light addressed him. He turned to him, waiting for the end of his sentence.
"… Have you piloted a Cybertronian armor?" Dai Atlas asked him, the astonishment evident in his voice.
Father John nodded. Mary answered in his place.
"To protect me."
"You mustn't believe that humans don't know how to defend themselves," said Emily admiringly.
"…It was nothing."
But Father John guessed that Dai Atlas was impressed. And for that, he felt a little pride, even if it was a memory that he would have preferred to forget.
He just nodded, without going into more detail before Wing transported his wheelchair out of the room.
"... I think he really likes you" whispered the Cybertronian.
"You think?"
"I know him."
Father John gave a slight amused smile at this remark. When Wing put him on the ground, the priest turned to face him.
"Clipperton, huh?" sighed Wing.
"Her signal is there. Do you want to go there?" The human paused before clarifying.
"…Do you want us getting there? Go there together to find Heavenlight and Swelter?"
"It would be tempting… to go there without the others knowing it," approved Wing.
Still, they knew it was dangerous. For both of them. And they didn't know when the next attack on the members of the Sanctuary would happen, where it would happen. It could be now, or tomorrow ...
And they couldn't abandon their comrades. Father John then proposed the idea to Wing to seek their signal on Clipperton to try to contact them and establish a communication, but the Cybertronian refuted the idea. In this way, they would risk revealing the location of their base to them.
"Going there ... to the Sanctuary, to Clipperton ... maybe it would not be a bad idea ... but only when we have recovered all the artifacts," said Wing.
"I know it's hard, Wing. But there is not much that can be done ... except to be patient."
Father John closed his eyes, thoughtful.
"Wing… Do you still have your USB key?"
"Yes" replied his interlocutor.
"... I think you should put your memories in it."
He guessed a frown from the Cybertronian.
"Why?"
"When you'll meet her" said the priest, "she will have your version of the story. She will see that you never meant to abandon her. It will be easier to prove than to tell it."
A silence answered him.
A few seconds later, Father John heard the sound of opening the chassis. He guessed that Wing had taken out the USB stick. Then he heard another sound, as if connecting it to a port. –
"…It is done."
Father John suddenly felt Wing's metallic digits touching his chest, as if he was handing him something.
"Wing…"
"Can I give it to you?" he questioned him. "I'm afraid to lose my memories a second time ...and I know you will take care of it."
Father John nodded. If that reassured him, he could do that for him. The human didn't ask him more questions. He didn't hesitate and grabbed the drive to put it in his jacket.
"I understand. Thank you for your trust, Wing."
"Thank you, John."
The human was about to add something when suddenly his cell phone started to vibrate. The priest frowned and took it down, bringing it to his ear.
The director of the penitentiary center.
"My patience has limits, John."
"Listen" Father John started.
"No! I'm not listening to you anymore. Your parish is committed to supporting our center and you disappear, like that, without warning anyone, without a word of apology! This time, it's over."
Father John turned pale. He took a long breath, trying to control the tremors in his voice.
"If you can let me ..."
"No! I said, it's over! We are going to call on another parish which will meet its commitments. In our time, telephones, e-mails, they exist! You know, Chris Marshall? Your favorite? He too wonders if you haven't abandoned him!"
This struck a blow to the priest's heart.
"I swear I have a good explanation."
"Oh, yes? Which one? What valid explanation do you have for not giving news since ... what? Two, three months? I'm listening to you, John. Unless you still find excuses! Being a man of faith does not give you all the rights! I'm listening to you! What explanation do you have? I would love to hear it!"
Unexpectedly, the phone disappeared from human hands. Wing's calm, calm voice rose in turn.
"... Saving the universe, does it matter?"
The director hung up. Father John sighed deeply as the Cybertronian returned the phone to him.
"He is right. At least I should have sent an email."
"I'm sorry for the trouble we bring you."
"I chose it, Wing."
He was going to have to explain himself. Or at least try to get back in touch with Chris Marshall and the other prisoners he had bonded with.
A throat clearing cut them off. Father John turned around.
"… We have no more food" Mary warned them.
"Oh. Well, we're going to go shopping."
"Would you like us to accompany you?" proposed Wing.
Father John politely refused.
"It's just going to the convenience store in Crown City."
"I'll open a ground-bridge for you, then. And ... Father John?"
"Hm?"
He guessed a smile on the Cybertronian's face.
"It'll work out."
"Bumblebee called a certain Nebula, as well as a few backup Autobots," informed Mary, who was pushing the cadi as they left the minimarket. "If the situation becomes serious, they will leave Cybertron to intervene."
"I see. This is a good thing."
Father John waited while Mary put the cadi away. Then she joined him to push him into a discreet place, which Father John guessed as being an alley, so that the two contacted the base so that he could open a ground-bridge for them.
"... When it's over" said Father John, "I promise I will take you somewhere. Wherever you want."
"I would love to" replied Mary, in an amused tone.
He could at least grant her that. Close to him, he heard Mary dial the number before bringing it to her ear.
"Here, Mary ... can you open a ground-bridge to us with the coordinates—"
She never finished her sentence. Father John did not understand.
But the next moment, a powerful shock struck his wheelchair violently. The priest's mind began to spin very quickly. Immediately, he tried to hang on, to hold himself in the arms of his chair, but he found himself propelled forward and head first, he crashed abruptly on the ground while he heard his wheelchair overturn, the audible noise of the wheels spinning in the air.
Difficultly and painfully, he raised his head from the ground, leaning on his arms to stand up. Drops fell from his nose. He understood that he was bleeding. When he tried to move, the fall woke up pain in his limbs, pain from the injuries he received during the attack on the base.
Something ... had attacked them. Immediately, he called Mary to make sure she was fine. But she did not take long to react. The next moment, he heard her crawl towards him as a metallic rattle caused by the reload of his revolver was heard.
"Who is here ?" spat Mary.
A sound of transformation answered him.
No…
"I'm coming at the right time, right?"
Saberhorn, guessed the priest. Father John tried to get his wheelchair up.
But when the Cybertronian took a step, the chair overturned again. Father John and Mary started in unison. The priest reached for her hand and grabbed it, hugging it tightly.
"…What do you want?" growled Mary.
"Usually, I respect the usual politeness. But unfortunately, I don't have much time to spend for you."
The false condescension quickly disappeared, giving way to a cold tone.
A new step. This made the ground tremble and Father John and Mary lost their balance. The priest realized how close the Decepticon was to them.
"You will follow me," said Saberhorn, threateningly.
"And why?" asked Mary.
"Because I don't give you a choice. We should have used you much earlier as a guarantee."
Father John twitched. They were going to use them as hostages ... probably in exchange for the artifacts.
Immediately, Mary made a quick movement of the noise and Father John heard a detonation going up. But it was the only one. The next second, Mary let out a cry as he heard the revolver escape from her hands to fall a few meters, far behind them.
"Mary! Don't hurt her!" begged Father John.
"And why should I bother?" spat Saberhorn, anger evident in his tone. "Our mistake had been not to watch you! And because of this error, you stole our artifacts! Four of our artifacts!"
Father John shivered. He realized that Mary had already disappeared. Saberhorn had already captured her.
And when he tried to scream, he felt a cold blade under his chin, much larger than his own size.
"You enjoyed your victory, that's good. But this time, we will not repeat the same error twice. This time, we won't let you go."
"These are not your artifacts!" cried Mary.
"They are even less yours!"
"At least we don't try to destroy the universe with it!"
Father John winced.
He had to save Mary ... whatever the cost ...
"Saberhorn," said Father John. "You have to stop. It becomes madness."
"If you want it to stop" said Saberhorn, more calmly, "you had better tell your guardians to return the artifacts to us."
"But you know what it will cost. Why are you persisting, Saberhorn?"
Saberhorn groaned.
"It doesn't concern you, vermin."
"You won't do anything to us, anyway."
He felt sudden pressure in his throat. Father John swallowed, shivering at the unpleasant sensation.
"Do you think I'm kidding right now?"
"The last time, Glowstrike said that you wouldn't have hurt us," Father John told him. "Not after what Wing has done for you. To Arkus."
He remembered his conversation with her as if it were yesterday. Even if this event had frightened him, paralyzed him ... he remembered point by point their exchanges, her words.
Obviously, his words did not indifferent him. He felt Saberhorn stiffen at the end of his blade.
"… And how would you know?"
"She told me. You feel indebted to Wing. Otherwise, you would have already killed us. At least one of us."
"But I won't be the one who will kill you," Saberhorn squeaked. "It will be the Queen. Or another Insecticon that will enjoy using you as toys."
"... And you will let them kill us? You? A bot of honor? After what Wing has done for you, will you kill his friends?"
Father John just grabbed the blade with his arms, trying to get it away from his throat.
You might as well face Saberhorn at his own game.
"I believed that gentlemen should always work to repay their debts."
"Even if I have a debt to repay ... The Sanctuary comes before everything else."
"We know that," replied Father John. "But there will be no more Sanctuary if you continue to destroy everything that is in your path, around you."
According to Emily, they were already destroying the human environment ...
"You were there yourself, Saberhorn. To Arkus. You saw yourself what had caused the destruction of the city. And you want Earth to follow the same path?"
"Believe me, vermin, if there were other solutions, we would have already taken them. But unfortunately, there is none."
Father John shook his head. He didn't buy it.
"… There are bound to be alternative solutions."
Saberhorn's tone immediately rose.
"Really? Since you think you're so smart, vermin, tell me what are the alternative solutions? Huh?"
"You don't have to go to war."
"It shows that you know nothing about the conflict! War is all we know! If we can't live on Cybertron, if we don't have other places to go, we fight to keep it! We are fighting! We may be Insecticons but that's how a real fighter behaves! He fights against his enemies until his last breath to keep what is left!"
Father John's response was immediate.
"And attacking those who tried to help you, even indirectly, is it worthy of a warrior?"
For a moment, the human believed that he had gone too far. He thought he was on the wrong track and that Saberhorn was going to react badly and go after him or Mary. Out of instict, he covered his face with his arms, to protect himself from a possible blow.
But the blow never came. As Saberhorn never answered his question. Only silence fell.
Silence… even being a fighter, that was all he had, as a weapon to his words. The priest remained in this position for several seconds before uncovering his face. Gently and carefully, he spoke again.
"… Even if you keep the Sanctuary, even if you manage to take back the artifacts… what would you do afterwards?"
"We will live ..." replied Saberhorn simply, a dark tone.
"Live? Even if you get rid of the Circle of Light, humans, Autobots, you will live in terror and fear every day. If not because of other enemies, it will be because of your own weapons you would use."
"And why should it matter to you, human?"
"John..." Mary said, inviting him not to continue.
Father John shook his head.
"It matters to me ... because I don't see how someone who is reasonable, whether Cybertronian or human, would accept such a situation. Do you see yourself in twenty years, in a century, in the same situation? To live here in fear? In the war?"
"... Wing found a pet that suited him perfectly" Saberhorn remarked, the acid tone. "You think you know better than everyone."
"And for Glowstrike, do you think this situation would suit her?"
Father John felt Saberhorn bend this time.
Conscious of having pierced something, the human continued.
"You love her, right? She is your mate, right? Do you think this would make her happy?"
Strangely, Saberhorn's response was faster than expected.
"…No."
Father John sighed.
"… Glowstrike is your partner. She is Wing's daughter. You already knew that, right?"
"…I know it. Glowstrike told me everything" Saberhorn informed him, in a low tone.
"Technically… it means that you are all from the same family. All three of you."
Father John guessed that Saberhorn had opened his mouth, before closing it.
Had he ever thought of it that way?
"... As a father, Wing would want his daughter to be safe. And she is not. Perhaps she does not realize it. If you think this is not a suitable situation for her, Saberhorn, why don't you tell her?"
"Enough is enough," hissed the Decepticon, a warning tone.
"You are her mate. If you truly love her, the role is yours to show her the right path. The role is yours to protect her, to think about her sake."
"Protect her? I only do this! I only live for this, even!" spat Saberhorn, his tone getting harder.
He took a breath, as if trying to calm himself down.
"And you're arrogant to talk about what you don't know! Even if Wing was Glowstrike's father, he did not act like one! He did not act like a good father towards her since he abandoned her!"
"Is that what she thinks? Did she tell you that?"
"And what else is she supposed to believe? No one told her that she was wrong all the way!"
Father John's expression became sadder.
It was not only Wing who suffered from the absence of his daughter ... Obviously, it was mutual. On both sides.
A few seconds passed. Father John let Saberhorn calm down.
"... But ... but I find it strange. I find it strange that someone like Wing could have abandoned his own daughter."
"I can guarantee you that this is not what you think, Saberhorn. Glowstrike suffered. But I can tell you that Wing suffered all the more."
"Really? Why doesn't he come and tell her then?"
"It will come in time."
Father John rummaged through his jacket.
He took out his USB key.
"... But for now ... You are the one to get convinced."
"…What is that ? How you…"
"Do you recognize this? It is a USB key, with memories saved inside."
Father John bit his lip.
"… Wing's memories are inside. Release Mary and I will show you what really happened."
"... If it's a trick..."
"It's not. Release Mary and I will show you the contents of this key, Saberhorn. You have my word."
From what he knew, Saberhorn boasted of being someone of honour. If Father John showed that he had honour, he would listen to him. Even more if it concerned Glowstrike.
No one moved. No one spoke. Father John kept the key in hand, waiting for Saberhorn's reaction.
Finally, he heard a slight moan from Mary. The next moment, Father John hurried to crawl towards her to catch her against him.
"The USB key," Saberhorn ordered him.
Father John handed it to him. Saberhorn caught it.
"… If I ever find something that I don't like in Wing's memories" warned Saberhorn, in a tone heavy with threats, "I'll take you both and I'll lead you directly to the Queen."
Father John did not answer.
The next instant, he heard the sound of the USB drive connecting to a port.
