AN: Hello there everyone, I'm back. Sorry it took so long to get chapter seven out. I had a good bit of writers block for a few months on where to take the chapter plus IRL got in the way too. But I finally figured out where I wanted to go and wrote this out during my breaks at work over the last week in a half. Hope you all enjoy it, I'm not abandoning this story by any means. Its starting flow a lot easier now so look forward to more chapter.

AUTOBOTS ROLL OUT!

Chapter 7: Discoveries

The sound of skin against bone echoes throughout the abandoned Dust refinery, along with grunting and screaming. "Please stop!...please!" Tears fall down the dark skin of a Tiger Fanus as she watches her husband being pummeled by a human, while held in a full nelson by another. Humans hold her tight from behind, to make sure she doesn't interfere. "Leave him alone…what did we ever do to you?!" The man beating her husband turns around after giving the Rabbit Faunus his friend held, one last punch and just glares at her "You exist, that is what you've done. I'm just putting you in your place, animal , that's all" he approaches her with an evil grin on his face "but don't worry we'll take care of you real soon". Fear fills the woman's face as her eyes widen, realising what he meant. "Please somebody, anybody help us".

Her Tiger ears twitch as she starts to hear something, it almost sounded like screeching tires and a revving engine. One of the old loading bay doors nearby that allowed trucks to drive in suddenly caves and falls to the floor, kicking up dust. A red and blue vehicle screeches in, smoke comes from the tires as it drifts to the right around them and stops in front of the group. The men holding her husband and herself let them go as they cough from the smoke.

"What…..*cough* the fuck?!"

"Who the hell is this guy!?"

She runs over to her husband and kneels down as he slowly sits up, he was conscious but his face was severely bruised, a cheek was starting to swell along with his black right eye. "Onyx! Thank the gods" the woman hugs him tightly as tears fall down her cheeks. The human men however start to approach the vehicle, anger was evident on their faces.

"Hey fucker you got a death wish!? You wanna fight?! Then get out of that truck!" The leader shouts before the truck starts revving it's engine and speeds towards them, the group has to dive out of the way, lest they get run over. It stops by the couple, a door opens and Winter Schnee sits in the driver's seat.

"Get in now! Unless you want to deal with them" she gestures to the men starting to stand up.

The young couple glance at each other, then Winter, making their choice. Both quickly get into the passenger seat, the Tiger Faunus on her husband's lap as the door closes. Winter hits the gas, tires screech and the truck charges towards their loading bay exit, barely hearing the shouts of frustration and every profanity under the sun from the humans they left behind as they drive down the road. For the next 5 minutes it's silent in the truck, no one spoke or made eye contact as they pulled into an empty alley and cone to a stop. Winter let out a breath she had been holding and then looks at the couple "You're safe now and I'm sorry I didn't act sooner".

Onyx shakes his head "No it's alright, just a few bruises that's all haha…ow" he winces a little as his wife cups his cheek.

"Don't even joke like that, I could have lost you back there you idiot" Onyx could tell she was holding back tears and sighs "I'm sorry" he rests his forehead against hers, rabbit ears drooping.

Winter coughs and blushes slightly "I'll take you to the hospital so you can get your injuries treated. Will you be able to make it home after that?" Onyx nods his head as Winter starts the truck "What are your names?".

"I'm Onyx and this is my wife Flora" Flora gives a small smile as she curls up into Onyx, emotionally exhausted.

"Winter Schnee. Why were those men chasing you?"

"No idea…we were just walking home after a meal, they started heckling us and then…well you can guess the rest" he rubs his swollen cheek while softly stroking Flora's short brown hair

"I'm sorry Onyx, you didn't deserve what they be did" a sad look shows on Winter's face

"No but…we come to expect, being Faunus and all. But never thought we would be saved by Winter Schnee" he chuckles lightly "What are you doing in Mantle?"

Winter freezes a little unsure what to say, she couldn't tell him she was being a guide to an alien robot, whom they were sitting inside of. She was smart though and thought of an answer quickly "Just showing a new friend around, that's all". Onyx looks at her skeptically but decides not to push, it had been a long night and all he wants to do was is go home.

After dropping Onyx and Flora off at the nearest hospital, Winter and Optimus return to Atlas before going their separate ways. Optimus needed to discuss what he had seen today with Perceptor, once he was on the Nautilus the Autobot leader stood on the ship's flight deck looking at both cities. Memories of Cybertron when he was younger filled his mind, along with thoughts of the war that corrupted his home. These cities were like Cybertron and not just on the surface but the people too, emotionally and psychologically, so focused on his thoughts was Optimus didn't even hear Perceptor approach.

"I heard you were back Optimus. How did it go in Mantle? Was it as enlightening as you thought" he saw the troubled look Optimus on his leader's face "Optimus?". Perceptor places a hand on his shoulder, causing Optimus to finally stir.

"Hmmm sorry old friend, I was….deep in thought."

"Atlas reminds you of Cybertron before the war doesn't it?"

Optimus nods slightly "Yes and I fear this kingdom is in the same situation that lead us to war"

"What did you see Optimus?"

"I saw a people divided, not just as separate cities but also in race and class. Winter and I saved a pair of Fanus from being attacked and from what they said it's a common occurrence"

"I see…we really do need to learn more about this world if we're to live here. I had a tour of Atlas's military facilities today thanks to Pietro, it was certainly an interesting experience.

Optimus looks at Perceptor with slight confusion "How did you manage that Perceptor?'

The Autobot scientist smiles and starts walking to the lift that takes them to the hanger, beckoning Optimus "With a gift Optimus, courtesy of Pietro"

The two Autobots head down to the hanger, Perceptor leads Optimus to the back where standing before them are two Atlesian Knights in but with slightly different paintwork compared to the usual models. One matched Optimus Prime's colours while the other matched Perceptor's who transformed into his vehicle mode. The red and silver knight them raised its head and Perceptor's voice came out of the speakers "This is how Optimus, I just simply connected to this Atlesian Knight, transformed and controlled it remotely, Pietro even said he could give us ones for the rest of the Autobots. After speaking with the general of course, for now it's just you and me."

Optimus knelt down to look at the other Knight more closely, reminding him of the Minicon's back on Cybertron. "Was it your idea to have them match our colours?"

"Yes that way there should be no confusion as to who is speaking. I suggest we use these Knights at the next Council meeting, makes us look less of a threat"

Optimus brought his hand to the Knight and connected to it in the same way Perceptor had done before. Then Transformed into his own vehicle mode "That is a wise choice my friend. Let us stand on equal footing with them tomorrow". His knight slowly raises its head and goes to take a step forward…..before falling flat onto its face with a loud crack.

-The Ark-

Wheeljack types away on the console, the sides of his head lighting up as he speaks "There, that should do it. Now we can begin" he had come to the Ark's lab to set up for some research. He may not be a scientist but he still had some curiosities that needed to be scratched namely about this planet's most valuable resource, Dust. The sound of beeping gets his attention as Wheeljack turns to see a forklift driven by Otis with large Dust crystals tied down to a pallet, each one at least four feet in length Otis sticks his head out.

"Here ya are Wheeljack. These are the biggest dust crystals we could find for ya"

"Thank you Otis, now let's have a look" he kneels down to get a closer look. There were four different coloured Dust crystals, red, blue, yellow and green.

"We got ya the basic Dust forms for now. Since that's what we mainly mine" Otis hops out and cuts the cords holding them down to the pallet.

"I see, well it's a good starting point. I'm curious to see what exactly makes Dust" Wheeljack picks up the blue crystal with ease, it fits perfectly in his large robotic hand.

"What it's made off? Dust is Dust as far as I'm concerned, just be careful. Ya drop that thing then ya might lose a hand"

Wheeljack puts the crystal on a platform on the console, it hovers a foot in the air as a red light starts scanning it. "A crystal that explodes? That's interesting" he thought as the screen flares to life.

"Is that the same for all Dust in any form Otis?"

The old fanus scratches his bald head "Pretty much yeah. We mainly use it in dust or crystal form and we have to be careful with both. By the by mate I heard ya fellow Autobots mention something called Energon, that what you use on Cybertron?"

"That's right, it fueled everything even us and would come in a light blue crystaline form. We would then process it into a liquid. Unlike your Dust though, it was only volatile in liquid form not crystal"

"Seriously?! Damn I would prefer to mine that anyday" Otis chuckled "Seen to many die due to explosions and mine collapses over the years"

This got Wheeljack's attention "That sounds like dangerous work. Didn't the Schnee Dust Company make it safe for you?"

"Ha they couldn't give a Grimm's ass, all Jacque cares about is profit. But how did you hear the SDC?"

The Autobot folded his arms and chuckles a little feeling a little smug "Your not the only one who listens Otis"

"Ha! I guess not"

The two of them laugh together and share some stories while they wait for the scan to finish. Otis telling Wheeljack about what mining was like and what Dust is used for, while Wheeljack told him about The Ark and how he helped design and build it. This impressed the old Faunus even more, to design and build something to this scale under the nose of their enemy took a lot of guts. He could respect that wholeheartedly. Finally the console beeps indicating that the scan is done, Wheeljack turns to the screen but the results were not what he expected at all.

"By the Allspark. That's not possible" he types away just to confirm the scan, then twice and finally thrice.

"What is it Wheeljack? Ya look like ya seen a ghost, wait do they even have ghosts on Cybertron?"

"What? No…but sorry it's just the scan is telling me this is not a Dust crystal" he grabs the blue crystal and inspects it. But there was one way to know for sure, so he drops it. Otis goes wide eyed and ducks for cover behind the console, waiting for an explosion…but it never came. He sticks his head out and stares at the crystal broken in two on the lab floor.

"Well that seals the deal. Cause if it was dust ya would ah lost a foot Wheeljack. So what is it then?"

The Autobot engineer reaches down and picks the pieces up. To think that it existed here on this planet. How? Why? These were questions he needed answers for, he looks down to Otis. "This my friend is our lifeblood. This is Energon".

"Ya got to be shitting me?"

"I am not in fact shitting you Otis. Can you show me where this was found?"

Otis grins "Damn right ah can, come on!"

Both Autobot and Faunus rush out of the lab, this new discovery was certainly worth reporting to Optimus as soon as possible. But for now Wheeljack needed to know if there was more Energon, if so it would solve their energy worries. He grabs a scanner as he rushes out.

-10 minutes later-

Wheeljack drives down the tunnel that had been dug by the mining operation from the SDC. The sound of his car engine bounces off the stonewalls causing an echo. In his seats sit Otis and a member of the AceOps Harriet, after explaining the situation she had offered to come as extra security incase of a Grimm attack. She wasn't afraid to admit she was a little curious about the situation when it was explained and had to see it for herself.

"How much further Otis?" He asks his passenger

"Not long now, ya should see a tunnel on your left, that leads to the first cavern we made. That's where we found ya Energon crystal"

As Otis finishes his sentence, the turn comes up and Wheeljack slows down significantly as he turns into the tunnel and goes through. Dust crystals shine from the walls, reflecting off of his headlights. The tunnel eventually expands into a large cavern filled with mine carts that remain unused on their tracks, tools lay on the cavern floor. Left where they had been dropped after the Atlas military occupied the mine, Otis and Harriet exit and Wheeljack transforms, dwarfing the two of them.

"So how do you plan to find this Energon?" Harriet asks with air quotes. "I mean all I can see is a lot of Dust"

Wheeljack brings out the scanner probe he had grabbed from the Ark and tosses it into the cavern, it starts hovering right in the center and four small panels appear on the probe's top. They then start to slowly turn and scan the cavern walls with a light blue glow. Otis just smirks with folded arms at Harriet. "Ask and ya shall receive lass" she gives the older Faunus a small annoying glare. As the probe scans, Wheeljack looks at the small device in his hand and small dots start to appear on its screen. First a couple, then six, nine, fifteen eventually the entire screen fills with dots indicating one thing…"Energon" Wheeljack says "and there is a lot of it"

Otis looks up at him "H…How much?"

"It's not just this cavern Otis…it's this entire mountain"

Both Harriet and Otis's eyes widen, one question sticking out in all three of their minds. How?

-Atlas, Ironwood's office-

James sits in his chair, sipping a small glass of whiskey. It had been a long evening both he and the council members, deliberated on what questions to ask the Autobots at their next meeting, but there was one person that needed to know more than anyone on Remnant about what had expired over the last few days. Not only because it would help in letting the other councils know about the current situation but also because the Autobots might be able to help with a certain delicate matter. Ironwood types into his keyboard and calls Professor Ozpin of Beacon Academy, the call rings for a few seconds before it's answered. Ozpin sits at his desk with his trademark coffee in hand and a smile on his face.

"Hello James. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call tonight? Is it about the Vytal festival?" He sips his coffee.

Ironwood smiles a little "It's good to see you Ozpin and no it's not. I'm calling about something much bigger"

"You have information on Salem then?"

"No…it's bigger than that, literally"

This got Ozpin's attention as he sits up straight, then leans forward "Interesting, please tell me James now I'm quite curious"

Ironwood coughs "What if I told you we are not alone in this universe"