Rated: M for adult themes: language, violence, mental rape, character death, mech erotica, torture, gore, and suicidal ideation. This varies from chapter to chapter, so read at your own risk.
Important Note: I started this series of fics before Revenge of the Fallen hit the theaters. This is an AU 2007 movie verse fic, NOT a ROTF/DOTM/AE/LK/BB or whatever follows fic.
Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this work of complete fiction is Velocity/Sira and Hardcore. They are mine. Everything else is copyrighted and owned by some really rich people. I make no money from this but wish I could.
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Full Velocity: Holding onto the Future
Chapter 1: Prelude
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To say, "It was the day the Earth stood still" would be a cliché, but the description fit. It was the day humankind learned a truth known only to a privileged few, that other intelligent life existed, that visitors from the far reaches of space walked this planet.
Eight mechanoids gathered with their human allies around a large flatscreen TV to watch the President of the United States address the world; their future precariously balanced in his hands. Nervous tension mixed with trepidation permeated the room. They desperately needed to secure a place on the small planet, a place to call home.
The television showed a rumpled, weary man stepping up to a podium. Aged well beyond his years by the stresses of his office, brown hair streaked through with white; a once youthful face bore the creases of too many sleepless nights, the boyish joviality replaced with a parental worry for a child going to war. Perpetual fear and the pressures of protecting the free world had taken their toll, evident in the haunted look in his eyes, the sunken cheeks, and the trembling of his hands as he shuffled the pages before him.
"He looks old," Mikaela commented.
"Leadership can be a heavy burden," replied Optimus Prime. His gaze never veered from the display as he crossed his arms, posture heavy with pensive anticipation. Nearby, a small femme turned her summer green optics to the Autobot commander; concern for the mech showed openly on her face, but she said nothing.
"People of the United States - and the world," began the President's somber oration. "I come before you today, not as the leader of a powerful nation, but as a fellow man. I have been entrusted with informing humanity of the truth surrounding certain events that occurred recently. What I am about to say will shake many beliefs to their foundations and question what we call the truth; it will force us to re-evaluate ourselves and our species. However, we have a chance to make a new place in the universe; to make a better place for our children, and our children's children." The exhausted figure cleared his throat dryly, continuing, "As a species, we have endured almost impossible odds to become the dominant life form on this planet. We have suffered through much adversity, be it natural disasters, disease, or wars; through it all, the human spirit has proven itself indomitable. It is that same indomitability that makes me confident that we shall overcome this too and prosper as we always have."
The President fell silent again, staring blankly at the typed pages before him. He set the speech aside and took a drink from his glass, "What I am about to say is shocking and frightening; I implore you to remain steadfast and brave, but mostly, open-minded. Our tiny, blue planet has been visited by a species that is both intelligent and superior to us. They are among us now, watching, waiting, praying that we will reward their boldness with friendship and goodwill. I have come before you to tell you that we are not alone."
The planet held its breath as the revelation rippled through humanity. Every man, woman, and child stood at the Threshold of The Ages. Would humanity move forward and embrace its new place in the cosmos, or would it fearfully retreat backward to hide from the inevitable future?
Hidden below ground, mere miles from the smoldering battlefield, eight mechaniods, waited to see which way the world would step.
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Authors Notes: Like Finding Salvation, I am cleaning up this story, but I do not intend to completely rewrite large swaths of it. Just a bit of polish. Also, I am not taking HOTF off FFN, just replacing the chapters as I go.
Sections of HOTF were originally co-authored withBenjamin Bradt. I cannot remember what he wrote vs what I wrote. Writing is weird like that, I look back at other stories I have written and think, how did I create that, I don't even remember that pouring from me.