Chapter Ten: The Custodians

The trip to Fowler's secret facility was uneventful, so Cade took the opportunity to get as much rest as he could along the way, even if his mind was too worked up to sleep. Questions whirled inside him, and he still couldn't wrap his mind around the recent revelations.

Why did Fowlier have the Autobot symbol on his shoulder? That mystery had been the sole topic of conversation between him and the Autobots as they trailed after Fowler's convoy. From what the others had told him, it was the symbol of a mythical order of Cybertronians who had long protected Cybertron.

"The Knights of Cybertron," Drift told him through the radio. "Do you remember the ones we saved back in Lockdown's ship?"

"Yeah." Of course, Cade would remember them. They made such a big impression on him. Literally.

"They are part of that order. Some of the leaders, in fact."

"What?" Cade wondered. That incident was still fresh in his memory, when Optimus and the others charged into Hong Kong while riding the massive beasts. "And they let you ride them?"

"It was a… necessity." Cade detected a hint of embarrassment in Drift's voice. "Besides, Optimus bested the leader in direct combat. They've had to follow him."

"They will have to," Prowl cut in. "The Knights are under the direct command of the Primes. No matter what the circumstances are, they will obey a Prime's every command." There was a short pause. "So you met them?"

"Indeed," Drift answered. "From what we've gathered, Lockdown has been capturing members of the order for some time. But they left after the battle in Hong Kong. No one has seen them since."

"Could they have been captured by the TRF?" Cliffjumper asked. Cade glanced outside Bumblebee's window and saw him driving next to them.

"Doubt it," said Hound with a small grunt, bringing up the rear in his battered military jeep form. "Those lousy humans wouldn't be able to put even a little scratch on those big guys."

"Then where are they?"

Drift hummed in thought. "Perhaps our new allies could answer that question."

New allies, Cade thought with a sour expression. He was still unconvinced of Fowler's sincerity, Autobot symbol or not. But at the moment, he could not deny that they needed help and some answers to a lot of questions.

Glancing back, Cade checked on Drift. The former Decepticon assassin was sitting comfortably at the makeshift wheeled bed they had made for him, towed by Longarm and flanked by Trailbreaker and Canopy. "How are you holding there?" he asked.

Drift's hand waved lazily in response. "I'm doing fine, Cade. Hound did a fine job treating my wounds."

"You're lucky I know more than just first-aid," the commando said with a snort. "And don't worry about your leg, buddy. Once I get the proper equipment, I'll be able to re-attach it and you'll be walking as if nothing has happened."

Drift dipped his head. "You have my sincerest gratitude, my friend."

Smiling, Cade turned his attention back to the road, cutting across the endless dry lands of South Dakota. Where was Fowler leading them? The CIA agent had not spoken much ever since they began the long drive, and Cade could not help but feel his suspicion growing again.

His question was soon answered when he saw the bright lights in the distance, revealing an airfield with a pair of C-5 Super Galaxies parked in the airstrip. Fowler explained that his team would be transporting them to their facility, and no one argued when they were led inside the aircrafts. Cade, Trailbreaker, Longarm, Cliffjumper, and Bumblebee boarded the first one together with Fowler and half of his escorts, while the rest rode in the second one.

From there, it was a two-hour flight to their destination. And though turbulence made the trip uncomfortable for Cade, he finally managed to sleep from sheer exhaustion, only waking up when Fowler shook him to inform that they were almost at their destination.

With a mixture of both dread and relief, Cade looked outside the window and saw lush forests and vast prairies spread out below, crisscrossed with flowing rivers passing several small towns and farmlands. Nearby, the gray, craggy peaks of the Rockies extended as far as his eyes could see, drawing closer as they approached the mountain range.

"Wyoming?" Cade asked Fowler, slightly confused. He had expected a facility somewhere in a big city.

The agent nodded. "Here you'll be safe from prying eyes and the TRF. They have little presence in these parts, and most of the personnel in the base know the locals."

Soon they were flying low, almost brushing the treetops, until they passed so close to one of the mountains that Cade thought they would crash on it. He bit back a curse, however, when the side of the mountain opened like a set of doorways, and the Super Galaxies flew inside, following a trail of lights that led to a huge hangar that could potentially fit ten more of the aircrafts.

Cade did not have the time to wonder how an enormous base was built inside the mountain as they began the landing sequence. Outside, he could see a lot of people gathering for the returning aircrafts, and he noted that half of them were soldiers in gray combat fatigues. After a quick glance at Fowler, the man flashed him a reassuring smile.

"Relax. They won't harm any of you," he said.

Despite that, Cade was still suspicious. However, there was nothing else he could do as they touched down and the ramps were lowered. Bumblebee drove out first, followed by Cliffjumper and the others, swiftly transforming once they were outside.

None of the soldiers fired. None of them even pointed guns at the 'Bots.

Cade stared at the scene for a moment, wondering if he was hallucinating. Ever since he had met the Autobots, fought with them and lived with them, almost every soldier they had encountered would begin aiming their guns at them as soon as they were in sight. It was a life they had all grown accustomed to, a life they thought would never change.

"Come on." Fowler patted him on his shoulder before striding out of the aircraft. After taking a deep breath, Cade followed him outside where he saw a group wheeling out Drift from the other Super Galaxy. Hound stood beside him and demanded, "So where's my equipment?"

"Right this way, sir," a man said, gesturing for Hound to join him as he and the others led the 'Bots toward a hallway at the far end of the hangar.

Cade glanced at them with worry, but Hound simply waved a hand. "This won't take long. If these guys gave you trouble, call us and we'll come running to you."

Nodding, Cade watched them leave. He noted how none of the soldiers confiscated their weapons, a fact that finally purged most of his doubts over Fowler's intentions.

Looking at the others, only Sunstreaker seemed uncomfortable in the presence of the humans. But Cade was relieved that the swordsmech was not making a fuss; the last thing they needed was Sunstreaker going amok like he did when he first arrived on Earth.

"I know you're getting impatient for answers," Fowler said, interrupting his thoughts. "But I think it's best if some of you get settled first. I know the flight was not comfortable for all of you. There are living quarters in the east wing. You may rest there for now."

At that moment, Cade noticed how Izabella and Jimmy were almost ready to drop in exhaustion, and he berated himself for nearly forgetting about them. "Go on, you two. Get some sleep."

The two humans didn't bother arguing with that, and they too were escorted by several personnel through a door on the right side of the hangar this time. Sqweeks, Brains, and Wheelie trailed after them, with the two drones promising to keep an eye on Izabella and Jimmy.

Cade turned to Fowler as soon as they were out of sight. He was about to ask one of the major questions in his mind, but Fowler simply held up a hand and stalled him. He said, "Your questions can wait until all of you have gotten enough rest. I don't want to keep repeating the same explanation to everyone."

"Fine," Cade said, conceding with the man's point. "But can you at least tell us what this base is for?"

"We'd like to know that as well," Prowl said, his arms crossed as he towered over them. "You are hidden inside a mountain, and yet you don't have much in the way of defenses." He gestured at the spacious hangar. Except for the two Super Galaxies and a couple of attack helicopters, the hangar was mostly empty.

"That's because the defenses will be you guys." Fowler pointed at Prowl, Bumblebee, and the other Autobots who had remained in the hangar, "along with whoever else will join us."

"We acquired this base from NEST before they were officially disbanded," a soldier added, staring at Cade with intense gray eyes. "Since then, we've been using it as our main base of operations.

Cade frowned at him. "You are?"

The man smiled, giving him a brief salute. "Captain Charles Ericson, at your service. I was part of the SEALs who helped Optimus Prime's team during the Battle of Chicago. Five years later, I'm now in command of this base. Secretly, of course."

"With the US government's policy on all Cybertronians, we feel it is necessary to go off-grid until there is a change in the current status quo." Fowler swept a hand across the gathered personnel. "These people owe their lives to the Autobots. Some of them are relatives of former NEST operatives, while the rest are former NEST operatives. And they decided to help their heroes while the rest of humanity won't."

The crowd murmured in assent to that, but Sunstreaker suddenly spoke with a slight edge in his voice. "And yet you couldn't save my brother."

Fowler looked at him with a somber expression. "Yes, that is true. I and a few others were just starting to recruit members when we learned that Autobot Sideswipe was ambushed by the now defunct Cemetery Wind." His smile returned, and Cade detected a hint of solemness in it. "But that didn't mean we could not save him, or the rest of your friends, entirely."

"What do you mean?" Prowl asked curiously. Behind him, Bumblebee and the others glanced at each other in confusion.

Fowler turned to the crowd for a moment. "Everyone please return to their stations. Jordan, prepare the Autobot quarters. Giliard, we will need the synthesizers online. I'm sure our friends have used so much Energon in their last battle."

"An understatement," Trailbreaker muttered.

"Mr. Yeager, Autobot Prowl," Fowler continued, "the rest of you, please follow me."

They did, and Cade soon found himself riding a military jeep with Fowler while the rest drove alongside them. He was intrigued by the hallways, which were large enough for all of the Autobots to walk together as a group, with more room to spare. It was clearly built with the giant beings in mind, making Cade wonder if NEST had anticipated for more Autobots to arrive before they were dissolved. Some of the rooms were even massive, if the interval between doors was anything to judge by.

What was this place, really? Obviously, it was meant as a NEST base. But Cade had the strange feeling that it was built with another purpose in mind; a purpose that Fowler no doubt knew.

When they reached a sealed door at the far end of a branching corridor, a sense of anticipation grew within Cade. It was strengthened by the fact that two dozen soldiers guarded the entrance, and he knew that whatever lay inside the room was important enough to warrant heavy security.

After climbing down from the jeep, Cade and Fowler approached the door while the Autobots transformed back into bipedal forms. The head of the guard saluted, and at a nod from Fowler, punched the security code for the door. It slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a dark interior.

Fowler remained at the doorway as Cade and the others entered. Cade could not see past ten feet in front of him, and only the Autobots' presence allowed him to orient himself. However, when he squinted in the darkness, he could detect a line of objects arranged in a semi-circle around them.

"What…" Cade began, but he was interrupted by a soft click followed by the room's lights flickering one by one. As he adjusted to the blinding glare of the fluorescents, he heard the Autobots gasp in shock.

"Oh, Primus," Cliffjumper whispered.

Cade finally saw what they were staring at. They were spherical in shape, covered by a bunch of wirings, all with a lackluster gray color. They seemed familiar, and he was wondering when he saw one when he noticed a silver plaque below each sphere, engraved with a name.

Ratchet. Jazz. Sideswipe. There were others, and Cade recognized the names from the stories that the others had told him.

He whirled around to face Fowler. "These are…"

With a grave nod, Fowler smiled sadly. "The spark chambers of every dead Cybertronians we could find."


That afternoon, everyone gathered in the conference set up for both humans and Autobots. Like many rooms in the base, it was as large as a warehouse, so the Autobots could stand up and take part in the meeting. A raised platform with a walkway stood in the center, where Cade and Fowler sat around a steel table, facing each other. Captain Ericson stood on the side next to a large screen and a computer console. Izabella, fresh and alert from her nap, leaned on the railings with Sqweeks, Wheelie, and Brains. Though still tired, she had insisted on listening to Fowler's explanation. Drift was much the same, so he sat on a wheeled bed specifically built for his kind with an Energon line connected in his chest.

"I think everyone's here," Fowler began, glancing at the participants.

"Where's Jimmy?" Cade frowned when he noticed his missing assistant.

"Still sleeping," Izabella said with a shrug. "We tried to wake him up, but…"

"He didn't want to come," Cade finished for her. Not that it mattered to him. He just hoped that Jimmy would not start bothering them with questions and making a nuisance of himself. He turned his attention back to Fowler. "We can start."

"Of course," Fowler said, pressing his palms on the table. "First, let me fully introduce myself to everyone here. I'm Willam Fowler, director of the Special Operations for Extraterrestrials Division. Despite the name, however, we prioritize diplomacy over hostile actions, though that doesn't mean we won't exert force if necessary. And unlike most units, we are given full freedom by the POTUS himself. So rest assured, we are very much acting on our own."

"And that symbol on your shoulder?" Cade nodded his head toward the spot, making Fowler smile.

"Before I tell you, I will have to ask Autobot Prowl for the exact circumstances that brought him and his bodyguard here on Earth."

Everyone turned to Prowl curiously. The Autobot tactician hesitated for a brief moment, almost as if he was reluctant to share what he knew—a sentiment that Cade shared to a degree. Fowler may be helping them, but that did not mean they should fully trust him or his mysterious group.

Finally, Prowl approached the platform and said, "Fine. But do I have you and everyone's words that anything I say will not leave this room? At least until we have what we're searching for."

Fowler nodded. "You have my word."

"Of course," Cade said, followed by murmurs of assent by everyone else.

Satisfied, Prowl stepped back. His eyes lit up, and a pair of beams flashed from them, forming a holographic image of a strange object. It was vaguely similar to a temple, if it could be called that, with four mighty pillars supporting a disk that pulsed with energy.

"This is an Omega Lock," Prowl began, "said to be capable of reviving or destroying a planet. According to records we've discovered, of which this data was copied, the Locks were used by the Primes to create worlds that our civilization would eventually settle in."

"And you think there is one here on Earth?" Cade raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Why would your people build one here?"

Prowl shook his head after turning off his holo-projectors. "Regarding your second question, there is little information to answer that. All that we know is that there is one somewhere on this planet, and we have to find it as quickly as possible before the Decepticons do. If they haven't already."

"Finding it won't be easy," Fowler said, tapping a finger on the table. "You will need the Omega Keys for that."

"The what?" Prowl stared at him in confusion, which was quickly mirrored by Fowler.

"You guys don't know everything about the Omega Lock, do you?" Fowler said slowly.

In an uncertain tone, Prowl dipped his head. "Indeed. The records we've found are vague or incomplete."

"Or full of nearly incomprehensible riddles," Cliffjumper grumbled. "'The key to Primus's salvation lies in a jewel of azure'. Who would write that anyway? Good thing Prowlie here was able to crack it."

"They are incomplete and full of riddles because an Omega Lock is a dangerous artifact in the wrong hands," Fowler said. "I'm surprised you even tracked it down here."

Prowl's eyes narrowed. "So you are confirming its existence?"

Fowler's smile returned. "I have no need to hide it, especially to people who would use it to save their world."

"How do you know about this?" Cade demanded. "And who are you really?"

For a moment, silence enveloped the room. Cade stared long and hard at Fowler, who barely flinched from his intense gaze. The man's cryptic words and mind games were starting to annoy Cade, and if he did not get the answers he needed soon, his fist might get acquainted with Fowler's cheeks.

"All right. There's no use delaying my explanation any further," Fowler said at last. Once again he rolled up his right sleeve, displaying the silver Autobot symbol for all to see. "This is the symbol of the Custodians, a group of humans working together in secret with the Knights of Cybertron. Our mission is simple: protect the relics that the Primes have hidden on this planet."

"What kind of relics?" Prowl asked curiously.

"The greatest of Cybertronian creations," Fowler answered. He shook his head. "I can't tell you more than that because I'll be revealing secrets of the order; secrets that could potentially endanger a lot of people."

"But how could humans be working with the Knights of Cybertron?" Drift wondered. "They have left Earth after the war with the Fallen."

Fowler twisted in his seat and stared at him with interest for a moment. "I see you know your Cybertronian history, Autobot Drift."

"He was a bit of a history nerd before he became an assassin," Prowl said dryly, earning him a grunt from Drift.

Resuming his previous position, Fowler continued, "True, the Knights of Cybertron left Earth after the war. Or at least the Grandmasters left. However, the Knights Apprentices, their subordinates and students, stayed behind on orders from the Primes to protect the relics. And since then, they've been here. When humans became the dominant species of this planet, the Apprentices revealed themselves to a chosen few. And from there, the Custodians were founded to help safeguard these relics, including the Omega Lock."

"So you know where it is?" Prowl's tone was hopeful, almost desperate.

"The Omega Lock? No, I'm afraid that all of the Custodians don't even know its general location," Fowler admitted. "However, I do know who can help us find it."

Cade had a feeling where the conversation was heading, and he resisted the urge to bang his head on the table. "Let me guess: another flight."

There was a collective groan from the Autobots, and Fowler's expression turned apologetic as he rose from his chair. "A trip to England, to be exact. Our current leader knows more about this than I do."

"England," Izabella remarked. "Why am I not surprised?"

Fowler shrugged. "It's where they had chosen the first Custodians, which I personally think is kind of poetic. In any case, it's going to be a long trip. So I suggest you guys take a rest." He was starting to leave, trailed by Captain Ericson, when he stopped to add, "Oh, and while you're at it, you all might want to decide who will go on this trip."

A lot of hands rose in the air, including an eager Izabella. Cade immediately shot down her idea.

"Nope. Not a chance," he said. "This is strictly an adult's business."

"But I can fight," she protested.

"She means she wants to visit England," Canopy said in an innocent tone, making Izabella glare at him and cross her arms.

"Are you on my side or what?" she grumbled. Canopy just shrugged apologetically, prompting a few snickers from the other Autobots.

"We'll send you a postcard," Cade promised as he stood up and ruffled her hair on his way toward the exit. "So who wants to come?"

The Autobots glanced at each other. Obviously, everyone wanted to go with Cade and hear more about the Custodians, but he knew they could not afford to leave the base unguarded, especially with Drift's condition.

Surprisingly, it was Drift who first volunteered. He jerked his head toward Hound and said, ""If it is all right with our violent doctor, I want to come."

"Granted," the commando said immediately. "I'm confident with the way we patched you up."

"In that case, I'd like to come as well," Prowl said.

Fowler nodded. "Well, that is a given. Who else?"

As Cade had expected, Bumblebee answered next. And since he seemed to know Cliffjumper, the red Autobot joined in as well. "Brings me back to our days running missions for Optimus." Cliffjumper bumped his fist with the scout.

"We'll stay here and guard everyone," Hound spoke next. The Autobots nodded.

When no one objected to that, Fowler said, "Very well. We'll leave at dawn tomorrow, oh five hundred hours. In the meantime, there is an important matter that needs my attention. If you need help," he gestured at Captain Ericson, "the captain will be more than willing to assist everyone. Have a good rest."

With that he finally left, leaving Cade and the Autobots to ponder the recent turn of events.


Dawn broke the next day with a clear sky, giving them a rather smooth eleven-hour flight to a secret airfield sanctioned by the British government. But even so, by the time Cade exited the ramps, he was eager to be back on the ground.

From there, Fowler and his team escorted Cade and the Autobots across the English landscape, heading for Northern England. This time, Cade was so preoccupied with the scenery that he did not notice the passing of time. While he funked his tests in world history, that did not mean he could not admire England's beautiful cities and ancient castles.

As they passed a forest to the left of the road, Fowler's voice burst through the radio. "We're here."

Cade looked around and, to his surprise, saw that they were next to a vast field of grass and tulips and lilies of different colors. The sweet scent of the flowers wafted in his nostrils, but what really drew his attention was the castle in the center, surrounded by thick walls and high towers. A small river snaked around it, its clear water reflecting the sky.

"Welcome to Folgan Castle," Cade heard Fowler as he joined him and his bodyguards at the paved pathway cutting across the garden. Behind them, the four Autobots strode in a loose line.

"This is a nice place," Drift commented.

As they approached the entrance, Cade noticed an elderly man waiting for them. He was dressed really well, standing firmly with a cane in his right hand, his eyes seemingly twinkling in amusement as they drew closer. Clamped in his mouth was an expensive-looking pipe, which he pulled away from his lips as he waved jovially.

"Mr. Yeager, I'd like you to meet Sir Edmund Burton," Fowler began when they finally stood in front of the man. "Sir Burton, this is Cade Yeager."

For a moment, Burton scrutinized Cade from head to toe before returning to his face. "A bit rough, but I can see why you're one of us. You have that look in you, Mr. Cade Yeager."

Cade frowned and gave Fowler an odd look. "What is he talking about?" he whispered.

His confusion seemed to surprise Burton. The elderly man stared at Fowler and raised a thin eyebrow. "You didn't tell him?"

"Tell me what?" Cade demanded, but the two did not seem to be listening to him.

Fowler shrugged apologetically. "I've had no time to discuss it with him, given the circumstances they had faced before I took them to the base."

Understanding crossed Burton's face, and he looked back at Cade with renewed interest and curiosity. After several seconds, his gaze drifted toward the Autobots behind Cade, who had kept a short distance. "Are these all of them?" he asked.

Shaking his head, Fowler answered, "No. Just the ones who wanted to come. There are eight more back in the base."

"Too few," Burton said with disappointment. "Then again, it has always been the case for us." He stared at Cade once more. "You're getting impatient."

Cade's frown deepened. "Of course," he finally snapped, his temper rising. "Me and my friends just lost our home and one of us after being attacked by Decepticons. And now we found ourselves here seeking for answers that no one wanted to answer. Of course I'm getting impatient."

"All in due time, Mr. Cade Yeager," Burton placated him gently.

"It's just Cade," he corrected.

"Right." Burton glanced upward briefly, then back to him. "Still, the fact that you're here means something, dude." He smirked. "Deep in your heart, you also wanted to know why."

"Why what?"

Burton's smirk widened. "Why there are Cybertronian relics on this planet."

At that, Cade knew for certain that the old guy was demented. But he did not say that out loud.

"We'd like to know that as well," Prowl said, his arms crossed.

"And soon you will," Burton promised. His eyes traveled up again. "But first, we're waiting for one more… ah! There he is!"

Following his gaze, Cade squinted at the bright sky, an act mirrored by everyone. At first, he did not know what they were looking for, and he thought that Burton was hallucinating. However, a flash of green caught Cade's attention. And as he squinted harder, he realized it was an enormous object streaking toward their direction.

An object that looked so much like a robotic dragon.

"What the—"

Before Cade could finish his sentence, the dragon folded its wings and dove down. The Autobots shouted and readied their weapons, but Burton held up his hand. "Wait! He's a friend!"

"A friend?" Cliffjumper turned to him with an incredulous expression, his blasters aimed at the descending dragon. "You call that thing a friend?"

Whatever else Cliffjumper was going to say was lost when the dragon circled the area twice, then dropped down in front of the Autobots. It growled, but the mechs thankfully held their fire, even though Cliffjumper looked more than eager to empty his ammo.

As the dragon landed on its four limbs, it began to transform. The limbs became powerful legs and arms. The head split to the side, forming broad shoulders encased in armor. The wings merged together, and as the mech rose, they formed a green cape that fluttered in the wind.

When the newcomer had finished, Cade gaped in awe. He was taller than everyone, as tall as Optimus. His bright green armor glistened in the sun, emphasizing his knightly appearance. Nobody missed the hilt of a massive sword protruding from his right shoulder. And yet it was his eyes that drew Cade's attention—a warm yellow glow filled with wisdom and serenity.

And then Burton spoke. "Have you been taking a dip in the lake again, Steelbane?"

The knight grunted in reply. "I need to cool off. It's hot today, and I'm afraid my systems would have gotten fried if I had not taken a bath. Don't worry," he added when Burton sighed, "I made sure no one saw me this time."

"He likes to bathe in lakes around the country sometimes," Burton told Cade with a wink. "Naturally, some people would catch a glimpse of him, even at night. His favorite spot is Loch Ness in Scotland, but after the last time, I asked him to refrain from going there until things have calmed down."

Cade blinked at Burton's explanation. He could not understand much of it, though he vaguely remembered reading something about a strange creature often seen in lakes across the British Isles.

"Anyway," Burton continued and gestured at Steelbane, "let me introduce you to Steelbane, a member of the Knights Apprentices and my guardian. Steelbane, this is Cade Yeager."

"An Apprentice!" Drift lowered his katana as he stared at the knight in awe. Prowl hesitated for a second before doing the same with his blaster, mirrored by Bumblebee. Only Cliffjumper had kept his blasters trained on the knight, but after a quick look from Prowl, he finally retracted them into his hands with a grumble.

Steelbane strode forward, and everyone parted to let him pass. As he loomed over Cade, Cade craned his head up and met his gaze. Silence enveloped the front yard for a full minute until Steelbane nodded in satisfaction. "He'll do," he said before he went to stand next to Burton.

His patience running out, Cade finally said, "Okay. Can someone tell me now what the hell is going on?"

"He's got a bit of a temper," Steelbane commented as an afterthought, making Burton chuckle.

"From what you've told me, many of those in your order got more than just a bit." To Cade he said, "Very well, Cade. I think it's time you know who you really are."

"What now, I'm a wizard?" Cade asked, his voice oozing with sarcasm. It earned him snickers from several of Fowler's bodyguards. And he could have sworn that the man himself hid his own through a well-timed cough.

Burton seemed to consider that with interest. "Actually, being a wizard isn't so bad. But no, you're not. Because you are one of us."

"You are a Custodian."


And there we have it: A record-breaking update! As I've said in the previous chapter, this is the longest one in this fic so far, at about 5.5k words, including the author's note.

Now before I tackle the contents of this chapter, I would like to answer Julien Caeg's review, which is also the longest review I've received for this story. Because, yes, the Q&A portion(for lack of a better term) is finally back!

In response to Julien Caeg, yes, we will see more Autobots, and even Decepticons, in the near future. In fact, you've already guessed most of them from your review. As for Megatron's pet, I'm still borrowing elements from Transformers: Prime, sooo… I hope you get what I mean. ;) Regarding Fowler, I did make him different here for the purpose of this story. And as this chapter has revealed, he is one of the Custodians, which is why he has an Autobot symbol. Rest assured, how he got it will be explained in the next chapter.

Now let's talk about this chapter. As you guys might have noticed by now, I tweaked the plot element of the Order of the Witwiccans and renamed them the Custodians, but with a very different backstory. Personally, I didn't really like how they reworked Sam's involvement in The Last Knight, making his meeting with the Autobots less of an accident and creating a mess in the already messy continuity and plot that totally didn't make sense anymore.

Regarding Steelbane, his toy figure actually makes him transformable to a dragon, which is my main inspiration for his alt mode. And yes, he is also the inspiration for the Loch Ness Monster, at least in this story. But wait, you're going to ask. The Predacons are mostly dragons! Yes, they are. And you'll have to wait for the twist I have in store that will explain the changes I made for this fic's version of the Knights of Cybertron/Iacon.

One thing I'm not confident about when writing this chapter was the introduction of Edmund Burton, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins in the film. Admittedly, I suck at describing characters from movies, so I'm really sorry if I butchered that part. I do hope I did his personality and mannerisms justice, but criticisms are highly welcome.

One last thing: I also suck at geography. Especially US geography since I'm not even from there. So if there are errors, please don't hesitate to correct me.

Anyway, that's about it. The next chapter would probably be even longer since it will feature a big fight scene, but that's all I can say for now.

Please Read & Review! Until next time!