Chapter 7 - Epilogue
Megatron snorted and placed a claw on his younger brother's shoulder.
"That human is too much like you Prime. Soft-sparked with a forgiveness streak a mile wide. He'll forgive you all, and you will all have some mushy scene to go with it."
Optimus chuckled softly, slightly cheered up by his brother's words.
"Thank you Megatron."
Meanwhile….
Sam was exploring the base, nodding to the random Bot or Con he happened to meet. While he was out, Optimus and Megatron both had commed their soldiers about Sam's return, so each was happy to see the human.
Said human was currently lost, walking down hallway after hallway with no end in sight.
"Man, why does this always happen to me?" He grumbled, taking a sharp turn and crashing into someone and straight to the ground.
"Whoa! Hey, are you alright?" A new voice asked.
Rubbing the back of his head, Sam glanced up to see a human about late 50's or so, staring at him in concern. There was just something extremely familiar about him.
"Do I know you? Or did I? I hate time travel…." Sam grumbled out the last bit, taking the offered hand.
"Sorry about that, you came out of nowhere and…" The man trailed off, peering at him closely.
"Sam?" He asked, eyes wide in shock.
It finally clicked, Sam did know this human, well he did twenty years ago.
"Major Lennox?"
Lennox grinned impossibly wide and grabbed the other in a hug.
"I'd never thought I'd see you again! Primus, where the heck have you been Sam?" Lennox looked over his shoulder. "Hey! Look who I found! Get your aft over here Epps!"
The sound of rushing footsteps greeted Sam's ears, who was still being crushed in the hug.
"Who do you have here Lennox?" A male voice, Epps asked.
"Will, I think you're crushing whoever you have." A woman's voice added.
Lennox jumped slightly and released his hold, keeping a hand on Sam's shoulders.
"Sorry about that kid."
"'Kid'? You haven't called anyone that since…Sam!"
Epps started off confused, but turned ecstatic once he got a good look at the brunette. He then grabbed the other in a tight hug as well.
"Where the hell have you been? We've been looking for you for twenty years Sam, the Autobots have been worried sick about you."
"I know, I just finished talking with them." Sam said, returning the hug. Something in his voice alerted the two former NEST members that something was wrong. "What are you guys doing here? Oh, hello Mrs. Lennox." Sam greeted the woman.
"Call me Sarah Sam, your family." Sarah smiled, grabbing Sam in a hug. "You've been missed dearly by everyone, the Autobots even more so. As for what we're doing here, well that involves some story telling."
The three older humans dragged the fourth down the hallway to a human sized lunchroom, they were the only ones there.
"Everyone else is out doing whatever it is they want to do. Now, I believe we each have answers for each other." Lennox started. "I'll go first. We're here, along with our families, because we're the only humans on the planet that the Cybertronians like and trust because of what we have done for them and with them. When they took over, they offered us citizenship with them, along with a home in their cities. All the NEST members accepted with their families and are living around the world. A few of your old friends also got the deal. Leo, Glen, and Maggie I believe live somewhere in New York I think, haven't spoken to them in a while."
Sam nodded in understand, happy that the Autobots still had some ties with humans that weren't broken because of whatever happened twenty years ago.
"Sam, what happened to you? Where did you go?" Epps asked, eyes concerned. "We looked everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Boss Bot even sent some troops to the moon, the bottom of the ocean, and the most remote places on Earth. The phrase 'leave no stone unturned' was pretty much the motto for years."
The human sighed and told his story once more to the older ones. For over two hours he spoke, leaving only the bits out he left out with the Transformers.
"What I can't understand is why they did what they did. They broke my trust, your trust." Sam pointed to Lennox and Epps. "Optimus always said that freedom is the right of everyone, and he and the others took that from humanity. I know that humans aren't slaves or anything, but still…"
"You feel betrayed by them." Lennox said, understanding in his eyes.
"Yeah, I do. They told me a bit on why they did it, but I still feel like they kept something from me." Sam said.
Epps and Lennox exchanged a look, before the former spoke,
"Sam, do you know how much the Autobots care for you?"
At the sudden question, Sam paused, "What does that have to do with anything?"
The dark-skinned man just shook his head, chuckling wryly, "Everything Sam. They care more for you than they do any other human, even the old NEST members. And it's not only because you've saved their lives before or saved the planet. There's just something about you that draws them in, makes them want to protect you and keep you safe. Twenty years ago, while the NEST members and your friends didn't treat them as machines or weapons, we weren't as comfortable around them as you were. Primus, I saw you tease Ironhide one day about his cannons, and he just laughed. If it had been anyone else, no one would have dared say something like that to Hide. You treated them as living beings, as your friends and family."
"That is one of the most important things to Cybertronians Sam." Sarah said gently. "Bonds like that, it's part of who they are, the closeness that provides. You are their friend and family and they love you for that."
"Sam, when you disappeared, it's like a part of them died." Epps said softly. "I remember that day, me and Lennox had run out with the other Bots and with some of NEST. We saw those goons fire at you and that light disappear with you. Each and every one of them made this awful sound, it was so sad…"
"Me and Epps grabbed that sleaze-ball human while the NEST group grabbed his gang, we demanded to know what the hell they were doing. Turns out, they had orders to capture you, but the reason had changed."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, their original orders were to take you in and use you for leverage." Lennox said angrily. "The US government was going to force the Bots to give up their technology to them as well as force them to pretty much be soldiers for hire, to prance around as a show of power. But when they saw you do that crazy stuff with the Matrix, they wanted you to figure out what you could do to see if they could make super soldiers or something."
"Optimus was furious, I had never seen him so mad before." Epps shuddered. "He began barking out orders in Cybertronian before turning to the NEST guys and said 'Are you with us or them?' None of us even thought about it before answering 'You'. We knew what he was asking, if we sided with the Cybertronians or with the government."
"A few days after this, Will came home and told me everything about what had happened." Sarah added. "I understood his choice and began packing at once. I made sure to call the other NEST wives and explained as well to help out. All of us moved onto the base within a week."
"Things kinda snow-balled after that." The former NEST leader said. "Optimus brought back Megatron and the Cons, and made the truce. After that the two of them met with the UN. And now you see the result. Humans are still free to move around, everything that they once did they're free to do. But now the big decisions are made by Optimus and Megatron, along with the rest of the Bots and Cons. They've actually improved several things around the world, everyone gets medical attention now for example and they don't need to pay or have insurance."
"They never stopped looking for you Sam, but they became colder. Losing you nearly destroyed them. They lost you to the humans in charge and the government threatened them one too many times." Epps said softly. "They wanted to make sure it never happened again to them or the ones they cared about."
Sam just sat in silence for a bit, thinking about everything he had been told. A flash of light told him that Blitz had just appeared.
"Blitz, you've heard everything. What do you think?" The motorcycle started beeping and chirping radically. "…. you're right. As always my friend." Sam turned to the older humans with a small smile. "Thanks for explaining everything to me now, I understand."
"Then what are you sticking around for kid?" Lennox said with a grin.
Sam just laughed before heading out of the room, the laughter of the other humans echoing behind him. Luck seemed to be with Sam as he found everyone gathered in what looked like a rec room, either talking, drinking energon or playing games. Looking around, he found the ones he was looking for. Optimus was speaking softly to four mechs, Ironhide, Ratchet, Bumblebee and Jazz. The five Autobots he was closest too having met them first.
He got their attention by walking in and combining with Blitz. Everyone in the room got quiet as the combined human walked over to the Autobot Leader and his group who were watching him with sad yet confused optics. He surprised them by hugging first Optimus, then the others in turn. Even more confused, they hugged him back, happy for the closeness again.
"I'm sorry for leaving you guys twenty years ago, I never meant to." Sam murmured softly, releasing Bumblebee from his hug and looking them all in the optic. "What happened was explained to me, and I understand. I promise I'll never leave you guys like that again." The silver and gold Transformer smiled at them. "Face it, you guys are stuck with me now."
Energon began leaking out of the five Autobots optics, tears of happiness and relief. They grabbed Sam in a tight hug, clicking and chirping in happiness, feeling their bonds renew and strengthen. Around them, the others watched, smiling in joy for what had happened.
"See? I told you he would forgive you and that there would be some mushy scene." Megatron commented, though his tone was teasing.
Everyone laughed at the Decepticon Leader's words. Sam broke free from the group hug and went over to the warlord. Smirking, he punched the other in the shoulder.
"How's that for a welcome back Megatron? Or would you rather I give you a hug too?"
"Boy, you hug me and there will be a hole in the wall shaped just like you." Megatron dead-paned.
"Love you too Megatron." Sam laughed.
Everyone gathered around the ground, just laughing and sharing stories, keeping everything light and joyful. They all got shocked though once Sam mentioned something.
"I bet Primus laughed his aft off or is plotting his revenge against me."
"What makes you say that?" Thundercracker asked.
"I called him Gramps before." Sam stated like it was obvious.
Wide, shell-shocked optics met his.
"What did I say?"
"Are you saying." Ironhide broke out of his stupor first. "That the friend you were with, that trained you, was Primus?"
"Yeah."
Several pops and fizzle sounds greeted the combined human's ears, before several dozen thuds echoed around the room. Every Autobot and Decepticon in the room had fainted.
"Maybe I should have broken that to them a little more gently." Sam mused to himself, staring at them all.
Suddenly, he grinned. And not just any grin, but one that would scare the crap out the Cons and Bots if they were online and aware. Two words were uttered that made even Primus, who was watching/spying on Sam, shudder in terror and pity the poor sparks that were soon to be victims.
"Prank time."
Several hours later….
Multiple groans were heard throughout the rec-room as Bots and Cons onlined.
"Ugh…what the slag hit me?" Sideswipe groaned.
"Whatever did it, destroy it." Ironhide's muffled voice answered.
Barricade was the first to fully online, and when he did he nearly offlined himself again by laughing so hard. Sunstreaker glared at his friend.
"What the frag is wrong with you?"
Still laughing, Barricade just pointed and said "You!" Though he sounded odd when he did it
Glancing down, Sunstreaker blanched at seeing what was done.
"What the frag?"
Everyone, now awake, turned to the golden frontliner…. former golden frontliner. He was now a soft grey with streaks of his gold armor shining through. Bee, unable to resist, played 'I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day...'
Glaring, Sunstreaker was about to yell at him but when he got a good look at Bee he started to laugh.
"Wow, you're really a bumblebee, aren't you?" The scout now sported accessories matching his name.
Everyone started to get good looks at each other, each one laughing or growling, depending on who it was.
Soundwave, the Trine, Ratchet, Sideswipe, and Prowl were all repainted. Soundwave in a Technicolor rainbow, the Trine to look like three of the Power Rangers, Ratchet black and white like a checkerboard, Sideswipe having been repainted to look like a giant Mario, mustache, cap and everything. Prowl was bright, neon….
"WHY THE FRAG AM I PINK?"
Others though, were suffering from far different pranks, a certain Con was suffering from a modification to his vocal processors, making him sound like Alvin the Chipmunk.
"I AM MEGATRON SLAG IT! STOP LAUGHING AT ME! I'M GOING TO BLAST YOU TO THE FRAGGING PIT!"
Though threatening in appearance, the high-pitched chipmunk voice just made every Bot and Con who heard it fall into hysterics. Other Bots and Cons suffered similar problems, naming Optimus, Wheelie, Brains, and Barricade. The first sounding exactly like Mario, Wheelie talking like a cowboy, Brains talking in rhyme and Barricade sounding French.
Everyone got a laugh at what happened to Mirage, someone had messed with his cloaking device so only random areas would cloak off and on. Scared them at first when they couldn't see his head but he was walking around.
Others had their hologram generators malfunctioning; making their heads about ten times their normal size, seeing a giant headed Starscream yell was both scary and hilarious. Others had their equilibrium messed with, making them clumsy. Watching Jazz crash into a pink Prowl was priceless; they both ended up laughing with everyone else. And watching Skids and Mudflap walk straight into each other before falling flat on their afts made everyone collapse in laughter.
"Okay, who did this?" Ironhide said, giant head looking around. "You two?"
"No Hide, it ain't us." Skids said, shaking his head.
"Then who pranked…...Samuel!" Megatron roared, or tried to anyway.
In another part of the base….
Several humans were currently laughing their heads off at the video feed. After Sam had finished his work, he had set up several video cameras around the room to capture everything.
"Sam, you are a genius. I haven't seen any of them laughing like that in years. "Lennox said, wiping his eyes.
"Thank you, thank you. I aim to please." Sam said, grinning.
Sarah shook her head and laughed.
"You know they're going to get you back for this."
"Probably, but they'll have to catch me first." Sam smirked then. "Besides, I'm not finished yet. All those pranks will go away in about 3 minutes, the paint was just me messing with a program that creates the color of their armor. Then the real fun begins."
Epps just looked at Sam, awe in his eyes.
"You have a death wish, I like it kid." He grinned.
"What do you have planned next?"
Sam just smirked, "Watch and see."
Graham, who had arrived earlier and was ecstatic to see Sam again, grinned.
"This is going to be good, I can tell."
With the Bots and Cons…
"That didn't last long at all." Optimus said, back to normal.
They all were, voices going back to normal, programs running normal again so all appearances were back to normal as well.
"Yeah…something's not right. That was too fast." Sideswipe said.
He and his brother were masters of pranks and they knew when something was up.
"There's gonna be more."
"Oh joy." Megatron said, glad his voice was no longer high pitched.
"What next?"
Just then Cybertronian sized instruments appeared out of a portal.
"What the…?" Thundercracker said.
He got quiet though when Optimus, Ironhide, Ratchet, Bee and Jazz went up to the different instruments and picked them up.
With the humans…
"Call in a favor Sam?" Lennox teased.
Sam had briefed him and the others about Primus. They took it better than the Bots and Cons did…. marginally. They didn't faint at least.
"Yup. I asked for the instruments, he picked the song." Sam explained.
Right then, the five started to play.
"Hey I know that song, it's Livin' on a Prayer." Sarah said. "I love that song."
As the song progressed, the Bots and Cons in the room were cheering, acting like crazed fans.
"Wow Optimus sure can sing." Epps noticed.
"Check out Ratchet on guitar." Sam said.
"…they are so going to get you for this Sam." Graham said sagely.
"Yup."
"Worth it?"
"Definitely." Sam smiled. "I got my best friends and family back, of course it's-"
"SAMUEL JAMES WITWICKY!"
"Worth it." Sam finished sheepishly.
"You know, if you ran now you MIGHT get away."
Sam was already out the door, but he called back, "If I'm still in one piece, see you all later!"
"Get back here boy!"
Laughter just rang throughout the base in answer, lifting the hearts and sparks of all who heard it.
Primus just looked on, happy and at peace with how things worked out.
The End