The techno-organics

Chapter 35

There was many things Jack didn't foresee when they started to search after the suspected group of new aliens they had ran into. He didn't expect them to be techno-organics, he didn't expect them to move to Jasper, and he didn't expect having to tell his mother about it. He realized he had to do it at home, let her sit down and probably have a glass of water prepared for her. She did react well to the existence of living robots, despite the circumstances. So there was a good chance that she wouldn't react too bad to this, but having precautions to calm her down was still necessary. And it proved itself to be a good idea. June didn't say anything for a long while, taking her time to process the new information, and the unexpected request from the Autobots. There was still one thing that was particularly hard to absorb. Jack had retold the story that Alabaster shared with them, of her past. As a mother, a nurse and as a compassionate human being, the idea of growing children and then killing and experimenting on them, made her absolutely nauseous with fury and empathy born pain.

"Where are they right now?" she said with a shaking voice.

"They moved to Jasper. I think it was earlier today it happened. They wanted to be close to the Autobots."

"And..." June stopped to take a deep breath. "How old are they?"

"I'm not sure. She told me that they all were genetically engineered to grow up fast. But I don't think any of them can be older than maybe five years old." June's heart clenched and she rested her head in the palm of her hand. Jack went and got tissues in case they would be necessary.

"How can people be so evil?" she sniffed. June took a few deep breaths until the clenching feeling in her throat and chest had lifted. "Why does the Autobots want my help?" she said in a steadier voice.

"You see, many of them are made from the Autobots, which biologically, makes them their children. But they don't have that concept of their planet, so they don't have any idea how to deal with the hybrids. How to be parents. I guess they want you to give them some guidelines."

"Do you know where they live?"

Jack was unsure if and how he would answer that question. Time has gone since then, but mentioning the event still upset June to the point where she would stop in her tracks and shake so much, whatever she was holding was at risk of falling to the ground.

"Why are you asking that?"

"I just..." June got quite and looked at her son closely as her eyes started to water again. She grabbed his hand and moved her thumb on the inside of his wrist until she found his pulse point. Her hand stayed there, sensing the confirmation that her son was alive. "I wouldn't survive if something like that happened to you." He wanted to say that nothing would happen, that he would be okay; but that would be a lie. Because he couldn't know anything like that for sure. His world, their world, had changed in such short time, and thus he often found himself doubting everything he ever thought he knew for sure. There were no aliens, machines couldn't have feelings, there were no portals, there were no zombies, and there were no way for people to be born with metallic parts and superpowers. Another deep breath from June brought Jack back to earth. "Tell the Autobots I'll gladly help." She looked up and said in an attempt to joke, "I guess it'll be fun."

Jack forced a laugh but his face quickly turned to worry, as there was one thing he had yet to mention. It should have been the first thing to tell, but he was afraid to frighten her.

"Mom, there another thing I have to tell."

June's smile fell as well.

"You see, these techno-organics, they escaped by killing their captors. And even after they fled they kept killing anyone that they thought posed a threat towards them. That's how we found them, there was a news article about a brutal murder in London. And I have seen them attack anyone who they find threatening. Alabaster attacked agent Fowler when he was yelling at the Autobots, he wasn't hurt..."

"Do you see them as murderers?" June interrupted surprisingly calm and collected despite what she just were told. Jack was stunned and watched his mothers face after any signs of fear that should have appeared.

"Well," she challenged. "Do you think of them as murderers?"

"Y-yes."

June laughed and made herself comfortable in the couch. She looked into the distance like she was picking up old memories and figuring out how she would verbalize them.

"One time," she began. "When I was still new at the hospital, I had a patient. She had been shot in the leg by her husband. She had been trapped in an abusive relationship for years, and one day her husband got drunk and used a gun to scare her. She had been covered in blood, but not all had been her own. She had come to the ER several times with cuts, bruises and even burns, so we were all acquainted with her and knew her story. When we found out she had killed her husband, we knew the law was almost never fair, and we made up a story for her to to tell the police. And we all backed the story up."

Jack looked at his mother disturbed, surprised and with admiration. The fact that his mother had helped cover up a murder chilled him, but he was also filled with pride at the fact that June had gone so far to protect someone else.

"It was documented as an accident. That her husband had gotten drunk and played with the gun. They both got hurt but his wounds were fatal. We're still friends actually. I visit her sometimes. She was finally able to get her old job back after the incident, and she remarried years after to such a kind man." June was quite before turning to Jack again. "Now, do you think that woman is a murderer?" Jack was still confused what it had to do with the techno-organics, but he still answered.

"No. It was self defense."

"What they did to their abusers was also self defense," June said calm and sure. Jack widened his eyes and regret washed over him.

"Do you think you can walk unprepared into the world, with no home nor money and just encounter kind people? A bunch of children, alone and with no knowledge about the world, you can't even imagine how many people who would have taken advantage of them if they didn't know how to defend themselves."

Jack felt like he was little again, being schooled and scolded for his wrong ways of thinking and doing things. He felt small after the end of his mothers lecture . June patted her son on the back softly with a gentle smile.

"I understand why you're worried and I promise to be careful," she began and hugged him. "But you told me they only react that way when threatened. Then all I need to do is to be kind."

"What were you thinking with this one?" Anastasia held up the set of animal teeth Nikolai had put together.

"I know," Nikolai said but was interrupted before he could explain himself.

"This would never fit. Where did you get teeth from so many animals? They were dead right?"

"Of course, I'm not fucking crazy!"

"This begs to differ, little brother."

"We were born from an artificial womb! They just opened it and took us out."

"Well, I'm sure they took me out first."

Nikolai fumed without saying anything and reached for the teeth but Anastasia raised her it over her head. Nikolai jumped out of his chair and tackled Anastasia to the ground. To be tackled onto a concrete floor would cause great pain and potentially break a bone. She did break a few ribs, but they put themselves in place before she could feel them move around. Even on the ground did she try to keep it away from her brother and hit him with her free hand. It held no effect and she growled annoyed at her defeat as he took it and brought it to his new work place.

"It can still be used," he said and took some of his tools. Anastasia laughed before getting up and looking at what he was doing. He used a pincer to take it apart.

"No, it would never fit. But I can keep the canines and figure out a way to make it able to stick inside our mouths."

"If it's only for us you don't have to make it harmless." Anastasia leaned against Nikolai with her elbow on his shoulder. "We can just have it drilled into our gums or something."

Nikolai raised his eyebrow as he considered the idea. "That would make the process easier," he admitted and scribbled something on the table. Anastasia looked around the basement that was now Nikolai's new lab. Spacious and cold, it was also their new pantry and where they had agreed to retreat when the heat would become too much.

"Now that you work down here you won't have to worry about bothering us. You can work all night without having any of us come down and bash you in the head until you're unconscious."

"Don't you mean, knock me out?" Nikolai smiled softly and observed her reaction. He knew talking about the nemesis was difficult for Anastasia, but he just wanted to know if Knock Out was alive. Last Nikolai saw of him, he had chillingly nonchalantly let Anastasia try to kill him. His sister poked harshly at his temple. "Not funny," she growled and stepped away from him.

"I know. I just want to know if he's dead or not. We went trough so much trouble to meet him, it would be an ironic shame to have him pass away so soon."

"He survived," Anastasia with absolute hate in her voice. "But in hindsight I wish I had killed him."

Nikolai looked at her stunned before he asked, "Why so?" Anastasia glared at him for a moment as she wondered how he could ask that, then her expression softened as she remembered that he wasn't there.

"He is no better than the rest. He manipulated me, faked his kindness..." Anastasia hitched up and buried her hands into her hair. No tears came, but she still wore the expression like she was going to or was already crying.

Nikolai wasted no time embracing her, and as soon he enclosed his arms around her, she completely leaned against him for support; like the strength in her legs had vanished. "I hate him," she said, her voice strained and thick. "I hope he died. I hope I killed him," the wail turned into a venomous growl. Nikolai hadn't spared a second to think until now of what happened to Knock Out. Anastasia was more important to him than their original could ever. He didn't need to know exactly what he did, the impact it had on Anastasia spoke for itself. Nikolai held his twin tighter and whispered with the same amount of venom Anastasia had in her voice, "He doesn't matter. We'll make him pay."

The time on the Nemesis wasn't absolute hell. There were few times she spent with Megatron that Freedom, despite her better judgment, treasured. She kept recalling moments like the one right before Alabaster found her. Where he called her daughter. It was probably a part of some scheme but it wouldn't dampen the feeling Freedom got from it. Like she had found acceptance and belonging. It was stupid, she knew, but telling herself over and over again wouldn't make those manipulated feelings go.

Freedom had gotten Megatron's permission to access the warships historical files. All she had ever wanted to know about their race was right before her and right at her fingertips. She read about Primus, the god of creation who created all cybertronians. About their belief system, the thirteen primes and how they were the ancestors to all the different species of the cybertronians. She had no idea there were so many of them. Minicons, dinobots, combiners, even females counted as one. Which Freedom thought was weird, but it also explained why she had only encountered two. Then there was cybertron's golden age. A time were they expanded into the universes and built colonies, their scientific and social development was at it's peak. They appreciated arts such as sculpting, theaters, and literature. Then came the age of rust, and with it, the cast system started. The things described about what happened to the slaves was barbaric and reminded of the place she had escaped. Forced to work in mines were almost none would ever witness sunlight. Black markets for body parts. Since the environment was so toxic it destroyed their organs. Factories were they melted down the bodies of every poor soul who lost their lives in these places, including the gladiator arena. That's were Megatron had told he came from. The only place were the slaves could make a name for themselves and get healthcare. To gain fame and thus a voice. But in these files he's mentioned as Megatronus.

"How far have you come?" the voice behind her startled Freedom from her concentration. By reflex she turned around with her sword ready to decapitate the one behind her. Megatron reacted just as quick and caught her hand half way before it reached him. He didn't look mad, he looked rather neutral despite having been attacked.

"Don't do that," she said and turned back to the screens. Her heart hammered from the shock and she sighed trying to still it.

"Be more aware of your surroundings. I had plenty of time to kill you before I made my presence known."

Freedom huffed and looked at the side embarrassed. Megatron skimmed trough the text and Freedom was surprised by at the fact that he smiled at the section about the class system.

"Doesn't any of this bother you?"

"'Bother' is not the correct word to describe it. It is rather a dark form of nostalgia I'm experiencing. This was after all my home."

"After reading about what you and other went trough, I can understand why you started the war. But-" Megatron looked down at her with the shadow of a smile on his scarred face. "You lost your planet. And, from what I understand, the well of Allsparks is the only place where cybertronians can be made. And it's the only source that creates energon. You're basically an endangered species now that the planet is poisoned."

Neither his expression or the tone in his voice changed when he spoke.

"Destroying the planet was never my intention. To stop after that would be cowardly. All the piled bodies and seas of energon would have been for nothing." He turned to Freedom and gently put his clawed hand on her shoulder. "But I do believe that there will be a way to heal the planet. Either we find it or we make it ourselves. Even if it's not cybertron, there will be a world for us to rule."

Freedom stopped breathing for a moment and her heart leaped.

"Us?"

"Why else would I keep you alive?" He said matter of factly. He pressed a few buttons and brought up a image of Kaon when it was ceased as the Decepticon capital. Tall spike shaped buildings, bridges over rivers of lava and a huge fortress overlooking it.

"No empire lasts forever," he began. "But empires never cease to be built. And one lone ruler can't keep it standing."

"No one in your ranks would accept me being part of them."

"I'm sure they won't, but what will they do about it?" Not much. They can't. She was stronger. Freedom smiled at that realization.

"But, it'll only be if you prove yourself worthy of the part. I'm will not be granting you any shortcuts."

"They're no use to me anyway. Undeserved advantages would only make me weak." Megatron nodded approvingly before taking his hand away from her shoulder. The doors opened for him he left Freedom alone. Alone and with such happiness it was almost hurting when she tried to make herself stop smiling, and with new determination to make him proud; to become worthy of being part of the Decepticon ranks.

Freedom didn't regret leaving with Alabaster. That happy memory turned into confusion. Filled with doubt she couldn't decide if it was genuine or all part of his manipulation. It felt real, but it could just be proof of how skilled he was. Either way it didn't matter much now. She left and he would probably never take her back. She wouldn't be surprised if he would try to kill her next time they saw each other. The heavy lump she's been closely acquainted with appeared in her throat. Freedom growled, attempting to chase it away. She was so sick of crying so much, she never cried this frequently before. How does Alabaster live like this? A distraction is what she needed and a distraction is what she got when she heard something running around the factory. By the way it sounded, it seemed Flash was running trough the whole place and pounding at every door. Freedom quickly got up from the floor before Flash stopped, gave the door several loud fast knocks and surprised her by not barging in. She opened the door and saw others doing the same. Walking out whatever room or part of the building they were in. The twins getting out of the basement, Widow heaving herself down the roof with her web and Wasp slowly flying in as he was still jetlagged. Flash stood at the ground floor with Canary who was rolling his eyes at him.

"Lads, it's happening! The Autobots just contacted, they want us at the base for training!" That caused a mixed reaction among the techno-organics. Some were ecstatic, others wary and others made huffed noises.

"Now!"

"Now?" Rock said.

"Yes, now! And they also told us to enter trough the ground entrance. They sent Canary the coordinates." Before anyone got room to say anything, Flash ended his announcement with, "Hurry!" He ran outside to the yard and spent his time waiting by training attacks and punches. Moving so quickly that he became a blue blur with a human silhouette in it one could barely make out. For a moment they stood still, getting an answer so soon caught them all off guard. That short moment of silence was broken by the twins scoffing in unison, "Ah, fuck it. Let's get this shit over with." Then turning towards the courtyard and everybody followed.

Instead of getting on trough the roof or the usual ground entrance, they got in trough an opening at the opposite side of the base; facing away from the city. The doors were huge, hidden behind panels that looked like rock walls. When they came inside it was obvious this space was once used to store vehicles and other types of big military equipment. The Autobots were waiting for them, the humans were watching from the sidelines, along side a new human. An adult woman looking at them in awe. The walls behind them closed and paranoia started to set among several of them. Some looked around looking for an escape route, others scanned the Autobots after weak spots to exploit.

"Welcome," Optimus greeted. He spotted the woman next to Nikolai that was no doubt his twin sister. "And welcome home, to those of you who returned. After such an situation, we understand why you want us to train you, but it won't be easy. Because of the abuse you all went trough at the hands of your creators we understand you all will have issues being trained under new command. But I promise all of you, we are not anything like them. Failure won't be met by violence or termination. As long as you will let us, you will be our responsibility to teach, to protect and care for." Some of the tension and suspicion seemed to have ebbed but there were still those who in preparation to attack. Optimus noticed this and continued his speech. "Because we have field missions we won't have much time training you, but that will be compensated by bringing you with us. Either one at the time or in pairs. Either way, on the battlefield and also in here, you must always listen to everything we say. We promised won't hurt you, but the training will still be hard and painful still. That pain will be necessary if you want to be able to survive now that you are all in the middle of this war. Those who don't accept that challenge can leave now." As if he had said the right command, they went from tense or nonchalant to saluting with an astonishing synchronicity. Like a well oiled machine that hasn't been used in a long time and been activated by someone accidentally pressing the right button. Their faces changed as well. As soon as they started their salute, whatever expressions they wore was immediately replaced by the same look. Pure apathy, coldness, no emotion was reflected on their features. All except Wasp who was looking at his siblings confused but still trying to mimic them. A cold shill traveled trough the room and reached both the Autobots and the humans. The movements, expressions was absolutely unnatural for either race. Their gazes were fixed at Optimus like they had identified him as their new commander and was awaiting his orders. He hid his emotions but on the inside, more hate kept building up against the humans that created. That tried to brainwash them into something less than a soldier.

"At ease," he said and they all returned to natural stance, although looking confused. "That won't be necessary."

Optimus looked at Arcee and nodded at her. She walked forward towards them.

"On cybertron, when you're training to be a soldier, the style one is taught depends on ones physicality. Me, for example, is smaller and physically weaker. Therefor, I focus on speed, skill and agility when I fight. We will therefor divide you into groups. You will also have appointments with Ratchet who will analyze your powers in order to find out how you can better utilize them." The techno-organics looked among themselves with mixed expressions of excitement and discomfort caused by the new and not as life threatening learning method. Toni cautiously raised one of her hands. She was still waited for a scolding or something else as punishment for daring to speak.

"Yes, Toni?" Optimus said calmly. Toni still flinched but calmed down enough to talk steadily, when she realized she hadn't broken any rules.

"You haven't seen many of us fight. How are you sure we'll end up in the right groups?"

"For those of you we are not sure about, it's mostly guesswork. If we find you're in need of having someone else train you, then you will change group."

Toni wanted to comment about how they were also fumbling in the dark, but bit her tongue.

"Widow, Toni and Canary you're with me," Arcee said.

"Rock, Flash and the twins will be wrecking with me," Bulkhead crushed his fists against each other excited.

"I will be training Alabaster and Freedom." Flash's glasses hid how his gaze dropped disappointed to the floor. Freedom bit the inside of her cheek as she suspected the reason why they decided to have the biggest one watch over her.

"And Rachel will be my responsibility." Rachel was first confused but then shone as she realized he would probably teach her cybertronian medicine, engineering or computer science.

"What about me?" Wasp asked hurt. Rock, who was closest to him, turned to his little brother and spoke in a softer tone, "When you have grown bigger. You can still come and watch."

They used the groundbridge to move to a forest far away from human civilization. They split up, each group with their techno-organics and Autobot. Space was a much necessary thing, so the techno-organics wouldn't distract each other.

"I get back and have to do this," Anastasia whined and lit a cigarette. "I never even got to vote about coming here."

"Not me either. No re-vote..." They both trailed off speaking their second language without paying any mind to the others with them.

Bulkhead tightened his jaw annoyed before saying anything, "I'd say you guys needs this the most. You're the ones who got stuck on the Nemesis."

They both glared and red sparkles formed around them. Flash got in front of them and urged them to calm down, while Rock walked up behind them and touched their shoulders. They both yelled as they felt their electricity being drained from them. Once the red lights were gone, Rock stepped back without so much as apologizing.

"Great. Now," Bulkhead took some distance before giving further instructions. "Attack me. No weapons or powers. Just bot to..." Bulkhead made a face as he tried to find a fitting word.

"What about 'freak'?" Anastasia said sourly. Rock rolled his eyes before standing into a fighting stance.

"Let's do this." Excitement entered his voice before he ran forward and aimed to hit Bulkhead in the head. The green Autobot ducked evaded and swung his fist right under Rock's jaw. White filled his vision, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Until I say so, there will be no weapons and you're not allowed to use your powers." Canary proceeded to remove her pocket knife and throw it to the side. Toni rolled up her sleeve to show her prosthetic. "Does this count as a weapon?"

"Yes and no. If they have any other functions than acting as limbs, don't use those yet. Keep your claws in for now." Toni took off her red blazer that held her two guns, ammunition and knives, and dropped it were it made a series of metallic sounds. Widow remembered the big collection of weapons and ammunition in her coat. Taking the coat of would be the most logical and efficient way to go then to waste every bodies time by taking them out one by...or rather, six at the time. Self consciousness aside, she was worried they would recognize who her original was. Widow knew her mother was a monster.

"No cheating," Arcee warned and looked at Widow's big coat. "If you have weapons in it then take it off." Disobeying authority was something that Widow had no good experience with. It always ended with someone getting hurt or killed. Fearing that outcome she took a deep breath and removed her coat. Arcee wasn't dumb, she had known who Widow was since she first saw her. Black hair with pink and yellow highlights, and those magenta eyes that no human naturally has. When Arcee saw the extra arms Widow was hiding, the forest disappeared around her, her students was no longer with her and she was left alone with the shadow of Arachnids silhouette coming towards her. Except Arachnids arms were longer, thinner and with sharp claws at each end. Claws that Arcee saw getting closer to her.

"I'm sorry." That sound pulled Arcee back to the forest and to her new students that looked at her worried. "She hurt you, didn't she?" Arcee flinched and struggled to look at Widow. "I know what she is. I can sit this one out." She picked up her coat, and before she could put it on, Toni put her hand on Widow's shoulder. The shorter of the two didn't turn around to see Toni worrying about her. She knew Widow's original was a heavy subject, and more importantly, why.

"You both stay here. You can retell it to me when you get home."

Arcee knew she had no real reason to fear Widow, but she reminded Arcee too much of her tormentor. Arcee could barely make out a portal being opened and Toni protesting. Her mind cleared just enough to make sense of the things Widow had said. How could she have any knowledge about Arachnid? Maybe the same way Alabaster found out about Optimus before actually meeting him. Once the fog cleared enough, Arcee saw Toni and Canary waiting for her commands. Understandable daggers were present in Toni's eyes, while Canary wore an unreadable expression. The blue Autobot lightly shook her head and straightened her back. "I'm sorry for that. Let us continue."

They already knew Alabaster was strong enough to have survived a confrontation with Megatron, and Optimus started to get a faint understanding how. She was so hard to hit. She reacted so fast and moved with such acrobatic fluid motions. Whenever he got close enough to hit her, she evaded last second using her hair to pull herself in different directions or simply stepped aside last few seconds.

"Take this seriously, Alabaster. You're here to learn how to fight, not just evade."

"Oh, okay." Alabaster whipped her arms to the side, two objects fell out of her sleeves and landed in her palms where they transformed into axes. She raised them and swung them downwards, leaving an huge opening that allowed Optimus to hit Alabaster right in the diaphragm. Her axes fell to the ground and she collapsed right beside them and held around her chest. Breathing came barely in thin gasps and whines as her eyes watered.

"Hand to hand combat first, then we train with weapons." Optimus kneeled beside her. "Your breathing system is in chock. It makes breathing harder but you're not suffocating. It'll be over soon." Alabaster tried to say something but it was lost and turned to a pained whine.

Freedom looked at Alabaster but didn't dare to get out of line to comfort her. A part of her was still impressed how fast he was able to immobilize her. Though, Alabaster have always been more lethal far away than up close. It was the opposite for Freedom.

"Your turn," he said and turned to Freedom. He rose up and walked away from Alabaster who started to get her breath back. He got into a battle position, Freedom didn't waste time on that. Before her capture she didn't allow herself to be the one to start a fight, but she came back with the knowledge to take every single opportunity when it was presented. She ran towards him and delivered several attacks towards his head and chest. He was able to avoid some. Optimus decided to go harder on her and hit her right in the face. She staggered backwards until she fell on her knees and held tightly onto where she was hit.

"Now I have a better understanding of what you're both capable off. We'll..." He was promptly cut of as Freedom leapt forward and kicked Optimus's legs, making him fall. He was able to catch himself and kick away Freedom when she tried to attack him again.

"Very good," he said as he got up. Freedom smiled playfully before going for another attack.

Alabaster who had recovered watched them from afar. What she was experiencing was new, a new feeling she couldn't comprehend; because it was a bad feeling, and a bad feeling didn't seem appropriate. She suddenly wished that Freedom wasn't so good at fighting and blamed her for stealing Optimus's attention.