"Bumblebee-san Tadashi's in danger!"
"Don't worry Kaori-san. Look up ahead. It's Prowl"
She looked up and saw a police car zooming down the road towards them. With a burst of aceleration its tires left the road and it shot up into the air, transforming as it did so. Prowl landed smoothly in robot mode and surveyed the scene before him. Within a second he had analysed the situation and determined the best course of action.
"Leave this to me" he said, his voice carried over Bumblebee's communicator. He aimed his rifle.
"Wait Prowl-san!" Kaori exclaimed. "They're still human. You don't have to shoot them."
"I won't" he replied calmly. "Immobilisation, acid pellet style."
Prowl fired at the walker closing in on Tadashi. He hit the left front leg and the acid pellets instantly ate through the metal. The leg dropped off and the walker toppled over, unable to maintain its balance with only three legs. Prowl fired again and again with perfect accuracy, each shot removing at least one leg from a walker and sending it to the ground. In just a few seconds all of them were immobilised, their remaining legs scrabbling uselessly.
Bumblebee decelerated and stopped in front of his fellow Autobot, Tadashi stopping behind him. "Nice shooting Prowl."
"Thank you Prowl-san" Kaori added.
"No problem." He peered at Tadashi curiously. "This one's different from the others."
"Tadashi's my fiance" she explained.
He nodded. "I see."
"How are things going so far?" Bumblebee asked.
"According to my calculations we've managed to contain the worst of the outbreak" Prowl replied. "A full quarantine is in effect and the people have been warned to stay inside. We're working to gather up every human that's been infected and get them to a field hospital set up at Haneda airport." He noticed the bandage on Kaori's arm. "You had best have that wound examined Kaori-san, just as a precaution."
"Of course" she said. "I'm staying with Tadashi."
"We'd best get there fast" said Bumblebee. "See you in an astro-minute Prowl."
"See you."
Bumblebee drove off again with Tadashi following while Prowl contacted Ironhide and Trailbreaker to come and help him gather the fallen walkers.
They arrived at Haneda airport to find several dozen mutated human walkers had been gathered as well as various animals, mainly cats and dogs. The Autobots had tried to make them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, including rigging up some tarpaulins for shelter. They had also been forced to break the walkers mechanical legs to stop them from running away. Human scientists in hazmat suits moved among them, taking readings with various instruments.
The sight of so many mutated people was horrifying but Kaori took some comfort in the knowledge it could have been much worse. She didn't want to think about what would have happened if the Autobots hadn't arrived.
Eventually they made it to the area designated as Perceptor and Skyfire's lab. Despite herself Kaori couldn't help but be awed at the equiment that had been set up. Just a glance was enough for anyone to recognise it was far more advanced than anything at Koyanagi's lab had been. Thinking of the professor brought a stab of remorse at leaving him behind but she pushed it away. She had to focus on helping Tadashi.
Skyfire looked up from a damaged walker he'd been studying. "Bumblebee, Kaori-san, I'm glad you made it back all right" he said.
"Thanks Skyfire" Bumblebee replied.
"This is Tadashi my fiance" Kaori introduced him. "Please help him Skyfire-san."
"We will try our best" he replied. He noticed the bandage on her arm. "Kaori-san, may I examine your wound?"
She removed the bandage to show a scar on her upper left arm. Skyfire's optic glowed as he scanned it. "Remarkable" he said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Kaori-san Bumblebee told us you were scratched by one of the mutations. Yet your wound shows no sign of infection at all. If my theory is correct you have exactly what we need to save these people."
She looked at Tadashi with renewed hope and to her delight his eyes also seemed to come alive.
A few moments later Perceptor was in microscope mode analysing a sample of Kaori's blood. Kaori, Tadashi, Bumblebee and Skyfire all waited tensely for his verdict.
"You were right Skyfire" he exclaimed eagerly. "Kaori-san does indeed possess antibodies to the bacterial strain. We can use them to synthesize an antidote."
Everyone laughed in sheer joy and delight. Even Tadashi made a wheezing noise that somehow sounded pleased.
"Of course we'll have to run tests to make sure there are no harmful side-effects" Perceptor hastily added.
Kaori's spirits were not dampened in the slightest. "Hold on Tadashi" she said. "This nightmare will soon be over."
His walker squeaked as he tottered up to her and rubbed his head against her side. She gently placed her hand to his head.
With some help from Japan's best doctors and biochemists Perceptor was soon able to synthesize an antiserum. Once it was ready it was tested on the infected animals. All of them returned to normal with no side-effects. Everyone agreed it was safe for use on humans.
Despite knowing that Kaori held her breath as she watched Skyfire inject Tadashi with the blue liquid. For several agonising moments nothing happened. Then his bloated body shrank down, the boils receding and the green fading from his skin. In just a few moments he was fully back to his normal self. Skyfire hastily produced a silvery thermal blanket and placed it over him as he groaned softly and sat up.
"Kaori" he said her name tenderly.
"Tadashi!" Crying tears of joy and relief she threw herself into his arms and hugged him as hard as she could. He returned the hug with equal passion.
"Kaori, thank you so much" he said. "I love you."
"I love you too Tadashi" she replied, tears still streaming down her face. "I'm so glad you're all right."
The Autobots all smiled happily at the couple for a moment before leaving to give them some privacy. Besides, they needed to prepare more of the antidote.
In a matter of days all signs of the "Death Stench," as it had become known, were gone. All those infected by it were cured and the mechanical walkers were safely disposed of. Skyfire even managed to develop a neutralising agent that removed the lingering traces of the gas. Japan was safe once more.
As the Autobots prepared to return to their base Tadashi and Kaori saw them off. The young couple's hands were clasped together as if neither ever intended to let the other go.
"Thank you so much Autobots. For everything" said Tadashi.
"How can we ever repay you?" Kaori added.
"Live your lives and be happy together" Optimus replied. "That's all the reward we need."
"We certainly will" Tadashi said.
"Oh there is one thing" Bumblebee added. "Can you send us some pictures from the wedding?"
"It would be a pleasure Bumblebee-san" said Kaori happily.
Finally, when everyone had finished saying their goodbyes to their new friends, the Autobots all boarded Skyfire and he lifted off. Tadashi and Kaori watched as they soared away into the clear blue sky.
"There's one thing I still don't get Optimus" said Prowl as they were flying across the ocean. "Where did the walking machines come from? We determined they weren't made by Cybertronians or humans. So who or what built them?"
"That Prowl, is a mystery that may never be solved" Optimus replied.
"Skyfire and I have brought come of the machines back for further analysis" Perceptor added. "Perhaps we will be able to learn more."
"Perhaps. Still all that really matters is that the humans are safe" said Optimus. "And as long as Earth is threatened, whether by the Decepticons or strange phenomena like that we encountered in Japan, we'll be here to defend it."
"Ya can say that again Optimus" Ironhide agreed.
"Yeah" all the other Autobots added, punching the air in a show of unity while Skyfire flew on towards home.