Authors Notes: Here it is everyone chapter 4. I'm really proud of this chapter, I was struggling to think of how to start it. Then I read some of the reviews of previous chapters and I knew exactly where to begin. So enjoy and please leave a review, they really help to keep me motivated. I'll start thinking about a schedule for when I release the chapters and follow my other story if you can about my RWBY OC team which I hope to release another chapter for soon.
Thank you, all of you.
Autobots roll out!
Chapter 4: Bonds
-Distant Past, Cybertron-
"Curse you Priiiime!" Megatron slams his fist into the table, making a large dent in its metallic surface.
Around the table, the rest of the Decepticons watch as their leader glares at his fist. Starscream smiles and speaks up.
"We should count this as a blessing, Lord Megatron. With the Autobots dead the Decepticons can rule all of Cybertron".
Megatron looks over at his second in command with a cold angry stare. "Tell me Starscream. What makes you think that Optimus and his Autobots are dead?". Slowly he walks around the table, a menacing aura coming off of the Decepticon leader with each step. As Starscream starts to shrink in front of him.
"I..I only meant that gahha.." he gasps for breath as his body is lifted off the ground, feet dangling. Grasping at the hand around his throat.
"If you think going through a malfunctioning space bridge is enough to kill Optimus Prime. Then you are a bigger fool than I thought Starscream". Megatron tightens his grip as the sound of creaking metal is heard underneath it.
"P..Please….forgive me Lord Megatron ahhh".
"Let me make one thing clear, Starscream. Until I see his lifeless corpse underneath my heel, Optimus Prime is alive. Until that day, he and every Autobot is a threat to our cause and I will not rest until I. Have. There. Sparks!". Megatron releases his grip, leaving a coughing Starscream on his knees.
The door to the command centre opens and Barricade walks in, giving a salute.
"Lord Megatron, I have news. We managed to capture an Autobot from the launch site of the Ark, Shockwave is waiting for you in the interrogation cell".
This news brings a smile to Megatron's face. "Excellent work Barricade, lets see what this Autobot can tell us".
-Interrogation cell-
The Autobot screams out in pain as the electric current flows through his circuits, his arms open and held up at the sides by chains connected to the cell walls. The current stops and he falls forward, panting and groaning as he looks at the floor. Standing in front of him at a terminal is Shockwave, the Decepticons head scientist.
"Why do you resist? It is illogical and needless"
"You….you wouldn't understand..Decpti...con" Brawn gives a weak smile.
"That is where you are wrong. Autobot".
Megatron walks past Shockwave and lifts Brawn's head up so he can look directly into the Autobots' eyes..
"You're loyal to your cause and to Optimus. I respect that. But sadly time is of the essence".
Letting go of Brawn, he nods to Shockwave who sends another electric charge through the chains. Brawn cries out in pain as sparks fly off his body, he convulses as his screams echo throughout the cell. Megatron just watches with a cold gaze and raises his right hand, signaling to stop.
"Tell me where Prime is and you have my word that the pain will end for you Autobot".
"N...Never...I'll never tell you…" Brawn sputters and coughs up some energon onto the floor.
"Very well, I have plenty of time" Megatron smiles wickedly.
-24 hours later-
Brawn stays still as smoke comes off his body and particularly his arms, blue energon oozes from his mouth and joints. He manages to move a little and coughs.
"How tenacious you Autobots are, you're like an infestation".
Megatron grasps Brawn's throat and lifts the wounded Autobot till they're eye level.
"This is your last chance. Tell me where your precious Ark has gone" Megatron speaks coldly. Brawn just smiles weakly.
"Pathetic".
Releasing his grip, Megatron let's Brawn fall to his knees. Then aims his arm cannon directly at the Autobots chest, barely hearing his last words, their precious "Till all are one" nonsense and fires. A smoking hole occupies the chest of the now lifeless Autobot as he slumps back, but is kept up by chains holding the arms in place.
"Shockwave, do you know the location of Tripticons corpse?".
"Affirmative Lord Megatron".
The Decepticon leader walks past Shockwave as the scientist follows him out of the cell.
"I want you to craft a ship out of him".
-Ark camp, 10 minutes after departure-
Otis climbs up onto his table, standing in front of the crowd. He looks at them all, his fellow miners, Atlesian scientists and engineers, Atlas soldiers and smiles. If you had told him 25 years ago that he would be leading an operation to help repair the largest ship ever seen in Remnant's history. He would have laughed his ass off, but here he was. About to do that very task with the crew of that ship watching him from behind. He takes a deep breath as grey wolf ears twitch on his bald scarred head.
"Everybody listen up!".
The crowd gives Otis their full attention.
"Many of ya don't know who I am, but I know who all of you are! Ya the best that Atlas has to offer for this operation, don't matta if ya faunus or human!" he points to the Ark and Autobots behind him. "Our job is to fix the most advanced ship any of us have ever seen and help our new friends!".
He slides his muscled arms from all the years of mining out of his overalls and leaves it hanging off his waist and raises a fist into the air.
"So what do ya say! Let's show the Autobots what the people of Atlas and Mantle are made of!"
The miners cheer and clap loudly, the rest of the crowd soon follow.
"Damn right Otis!" says an old faunus miner
"Let's show em!" says a human engineer
Otis smiles proudly at them all as Ironhide watches with Bumblebee and Wheeljack.
"Well I'll be. That Otis fella is almost as good a leader as Optimus" The old Autobot smiles
"You can say that again, Ironhide. Maybe he should be our second in command" the small Autobot teases, earning a chuckle from Ironhide.
"This will certainly be an interesting experience. I'm curious to see how their tools work" Wheeljack cups his chin.
Otis hops down from the table.
"Then let's get ta work!".
The crowd disperses and heads for their posts. Some engineers and miners Otis trusts follow him to the lift the Autobots set up for easy access to the inside of the Ark. Ironhide and Wheeljack follow and step aboard as the lift goes up. Ironhide kneels down to Otis.
"Hey Otis right?"
"That's right" Otis looks up at the red Autobot. "Whats ya name, friend?".
"It's Ironhide, just wanted to say that you've got a lot of spirit for someone so small"
"Haha with the kind of life I've had, ya needed it to get through the day. I look forward to working with ya Autobots. Ya alright in ma books".
Ironhide smiles "Likewise, Otis" he stands back up.
"If I may ask Otis. your equipment. What powers all of it? Also what are these crystals in the walls around us?" Wheeljack asks "I'm very curious".
Otis looks up at Wheeljack "The answer to both ya questions is easy my friend. It's dust".
"Dust? Interesting. You'll have to tell me more, oh and the names Wheeljack, I helped design the Ark.".
"Nice to meet ya Wheeljack. She is one impressive ship and I promise ta treat her with care".
Wheeljack gives a thumbs up as the lift comes to a stop. "I like you already Otis".
-On the Nortalius-
Optimus pushes the metal slap down with ease till its flat against the flight deck and the engineers start to weld the edges. The Autobot leader watches silently. "This ship's crew are very hard workers. The damage is almost fully repaired". He turns to see other parts of the Nortalius being repaired after the Grimm attack. When the attack was over, the entire crew came and thanked him for saving them all. It reminded him of all the times his fellow Autobots had done the same and it warmed his spark. Thinking about those memories. Walking along the flight deck he notices Ironwood and the ship's captain whose name he did not know, are walking in his direction when they come to a stop in front of him and the captain salutes.
"Optimus prime, on behalf of the crew of the Nortalius. I thank you for saving her, my crew and I are indebted to you sir".
"Thank you captain, but thanks are not necessary. I only did what was right".
Ironwood speaks up "Either way, you have our thanks Optimus and my trust more than ever. But that is only one of the reasons we are here to see you".
"Then what are the others, General Ironwood?".
Ironwood smiles "Well I do want to ask about that blue light you used to defeat the Grimm. But I doubt you would tell me until the meeting with the council. Another reason is to introduce you to Captain Nemo. I've assigned him and the Nortilus to be our liaison to the Autobots, so they will be staying with you at Ark Camp"
Nemo salutes again "I look forward to working with you Optimus Prime".
This takes Optimus by surprise and he gives a thankful nod.
"It is a pleasure Captain Nemo, I look forward to cooperating with you. If I might ask though. How much longer do we have till we arrive at Atlas?".
"It shouldn't be long now, you should see it in the next few minutes"
Just as Ironwood finishes speaking, the cities of Atlas and Mantle come into view. Atlas floating above Mantle, the clear division between the cities is obvious to Optimus and as he looks at Atlas's towering buildings. He is reminded of his home of Cybertron before the civil war consumed it and is saddened a little.
"Is Atlas where we will be meeting your council General Ironwood?".
"That's right, we'll be meeting them in front of Atlas Academy" he points to the large complex at the back of the floating island.
"I see, Perceptor and I will assume vehicle mode once we dock. So as not to alert your people to our presence".
Ironwoods nods "Thank you Optimus, Remnant is not ready to know that you exist. Not yet at least".
"Agreed, but when that time comes. Will you allow me to speak to Remnant?".
"If it was my choice alone, I would say yes, Optimus" Ironwood sighs "But the council needs to talk it over after they meet you. I've already sent them a report".
"I understand General Ironwood, thank you. Know this though that I consider you, and Captain Nemo as allies" Optimus crosses his arms.
Ironwood looks up at the Autobot leader and gives a small smile "Thank you Optimus. Captain, bring us into the dock".
"Aye aye sir!".
-Later at the front of Atlas Academy-
Councilman Sleet and Councilwoman Camilla sit behind the large table that had been set up for the meeting. With soldiers around them as they wait. If the Students hadn't all been ordered to stay in their dorms then this would have made the meeting more problematic. Both of them were reading the reports sent by Ironwood.
"I still can't believe it, Sleet" Camilla says.
"Neither can I Camilla, this will be a historic moment in Atlas….no Remnant's history. But I do wonder why James hasn't mentioned what these Autobots look like in the reports"
"I'm sure he has his reasons, Sleet. But I want to know what this Optimus prime looks like. He has certainly earned James's trust quickly" Camilla puts the report down and leans back into her chair. "That is very hard to do".
"On that I agree Camilla" Sleet takes off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose
The sound of engines are heard as a red and blue truck drives round the corner, followed by a hovering red tank. The soldiers aim their rifles as both vehicles come to a stop ten feet from the council's table. The atmosphere is very tense until a familiar voice comes from the truck.
"Soldier's stand down" Ironwood steps out of the truck with Winter as its doors opens.
The soldiers relax and lower their rifles, before saluting. Camilla stands up and walks over smiling as she shakes Ironwood's hand.
"It is good to see you again James. You look well".
Ironwood chuckles lightly "Thank you Camilla, sorry our ETA changed. We encountered a large swarm of Manticores heading towards Atlas. It was lead by an Alpha Nevermore".
Both council members are shocked by this news.
"What!?" Sleet says now standing from his chair.
"That terrible James. Is the swarm still heading towards the city?" Camilla asks with worry and fear clear on her face.
Ironwood holds up his hands to reassure them.
"No the Grimm have been dealt with, Camilla. Thanks to Optimus, whom I would like to introduce you too" Ironwood steps to the side as Winter does the same.
"May I introduce Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and Perceptor" he gestures to the truck and tank.
Both Council members tilt their heads in confusion as they look at the vehicles. Sleet is the first to speak.
"I never took you for a jokester James, all I see are two very strange coloured vehicles I've never seen before. Honestly, who coloured them?".
Ironwood looks at Sleet with a serious expression "I'm not joking Sleet, I assure you"
"You will have to forgive us, Councilman Sleet, Councilwoman Camilla. We agreed to stay in vehicle mode so as not to scare the population" Perceptor says as he starts to transform.
Camilla steps back in shock "W...what on Remnant?".
The truck starts to transform as well, both vehicles making a unique noise as they do. Everyone present just watches in shock and awe at the sight till standing in front of them are two large robots at least thirty feet in height. Winter can't help but chuckle a little at their reactions before regaining her serious composure. Optimus Prime slowly takes a knee.
"Greetings Councilwoman Camilla, Councilman Sleet and soldiers of Atlas. I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and I thank you for meeting us. Now I believe you will have questions. Perceptor and I will answer them the best that we can".
Ironwood takes his seat at the table as Camilla slowly walks back to hers. Looking at Optimus the entire time, she almost trips over the chair before righting herself with a blush and sits.
"T...Thank you Optimus, let's begin this meeting between Atlas and the Autobots" she says
The historical meeting between the Council of Atlas and the leader of the Autobots begins...