VII. Omen of Change


Optimus finds himself in a scenery of Earth. The ground beneath him was filled with lush green grass where purple flowers bloomed.

The sky was a magnificent hue and the sun's light bled through it with scarlet that faded to pink before it turned completely lilac. Not even the records that passed through his digits can compare to the mesmerizing effect of the floras on this planet.

It was simply beautiful.

He continues to explore this place he found himself in, glancing at the lilac trees within the area; the flower fields seem to go as the optic can see.

The Prime let his pedes guide him as it seemed to know where it was going. He felt a... slight tugging to his spark; as if there was a string that was tied to it and someone was pulling said string.

Elita would have loved this scenery.

Optimus frowns when his processor wonders to her as he is nearing a lake.

It may have been centuries that had passed but it did not mean the pain had lessened. Sometimes he catches himself almost calling out her name, before remembering that she was offline.

The both of them hadn't sparkbond, Elita didn't want to due to the risks.

"I'd put you through danger. I don't want to be a liability!"

He remembers the pink femme protesting. Optimus wonders if she had foreseen such an event to take place or, perhaps it was one of her ways of protecting him.

His optics squinted as he saw someone wearing a white dress, it made them stick out in the sea of purple. Optimus approached them and recognized what seemed to be a silhouette of a human femme, standing near the body of water.

Carefully approaching her, he wondered why she was here. What is he even doing here?

Wasn't he supposed to be at base?

Optimus didn't even remember how he had ended up here in the first place. Yet, right now, that seemed to be the least of his worries.

His spark was humming—buzzing really—as he cautiously approached the tiny being. Every single part of his processor was being over written with one singular order his systems couldn't deny: Approach the femme.

The femme didn't seem to notice him with her back turned. She was small, smaller than the other humans. Her hair was long and a rich dark color.

"Wait." He heard her voice in which Optimus could only describe as... captivating. "Oh my god, is this the river of Styx?" It was followed by a laugh that seemed maniacal, borderline hysterical. "FUCK! I don't have any money to pay the toll!"

Was there a toll to pay? Optimus couldn't see anything that would warrant payment. He stood her, opting to be silent in order to observe what she was doing.

"You know what? It's fine, I don't want to pass on anyways!" There was reassurance in her voice. "I'll just go back and be a poltergeist. Yeah, that sounds fun. Hah! I'll be everyone's problem!"

Her helm turns to the side, her optics snapping towards him immediately. A shriek emits from her lips, jolting in her place when she sees him; a sense of shock washes over him.

"Easy, human," Optimus finds himself saying immediately, not wanting to startle the small creature. "I will not hurt you."

Only then does he notice the unusual color of her optics—they were the colors of lilac. There is a soft glow to them and in her chassis glows a spark. Now that Optimus looked at her closely, her veins were glowing a soft purple beneath her skin.

No human possesses purple optics . He thought to himself as he observed her, trying to decipher whether she was a friend or foe.

The earth seemed to part where she went, a dress that seemed to be wrapped and overgrown by flowers hugged her form, with the rays of the sun crowned on her head. Her rich, long curls sits elegantly behind her, showing the purple veins along her torso and limbs.

She looked like, as the humans would say, a bride.

Optimus could feel the shock subside into curiosity as he looked at her. He was often calm, so to feel such emotions so intensely had somewhat overwhelmed him.

Her brows furrow downwards, helm tilting to the side. Her optics shined with curiosity. "What are you doing here?" She muttered as she stepped forward to him, she moved to circle him which made the Prime stand still.

The femme's movement similar to a shark—inspecting him.

"What do you mean by that?" Optimus asked wondering what this human femme—this being—meant.

"I remember I was in a lot of pain before I woke up here, dressed like this. Also, I didn't expect to encounter you of all people, but look!" The tiny femme raised the fabric of her skirt slightly. "This dress has flowers!"

What a simpleton.

It wasn't an insult, but more of a thought of how he somehow envied her—her ability to be happy with a simple object.

Questions upon questions formed in his processor. What was she? She seems docile as of the moment, despite his intuition telling him—screaming at this point—to go away. Optimus still couldn't find a reason why she gave that off.

Just who was she?

The human-looking femme walks, the sound of something being crushed could be heard. "So, uh... are you real?" She asked. "Or are you like a figment of my imagination of some sorts."

He was taken aback by her words. "I could ask the same of you, little one." Optimus muttered, clearly confused as she was.

She smiles, shrugging.

"You're probably like... my mind's comprehension of reason, which is really... interesting." He sees her faceplates turn dark red. "What do you think happened to me?" The femme stretched out her arms, showing him the various veins that reminded Optimus of lightning.

He didn't miss the giant wound on her arm, it dripped with a purple ooze that seemed to glow like energon.

"I believe I do not know the answer." He glanced at her limbs and back to her face which was scrunched in disappointment.

All humans seemed to be disappointed in his and his comrades' actions. When will they be satisfied?

She sighs. "I figured."

The small femme lowers her limb, only then does he notice the purple stains on her dress where her wounded arms rests. "Alright, since you're here then my theory of not being dead is confirmed." Her hands rested on both of her hips, optics closed with a smug smile on her face. "All right, voice of reason. Tell me how to get the fuck out of here."

"Who are you?" Optimus asks, looking down at her while she cranes her head upwards.

"Oh, right." The femme smiles sheepishly. "I'm Persephone. Persephone Villamora." She gestured to herself.

"I am Optimus Prime," The Prime introduced himself. "Leader of the Autobots. Humans seemed to have turned against us... despite the things we have done for them."

She frowns, her optics big and innocent-looking as she sat up. "So I've heard," Persephone answered. "Humans are complex creatures. Unfortunately, a bunch of them are backstabbing weasels."

He raised an optic ridge at her words. "Are you not human yourself?" Optimus questioned.

"I am." She looks down for a second. "I think I am." The little femme gestures to her limbs.

He is careful to not crush her underneath his pedes when he moves away. "Do you know a way out?" Optimus asked as he looked around. "My soldiers need me. I must get back to them."

"I wish I knew how," Persephone shrugged. "I've been stuck here like... forever. It's nice that I'm here where I'm safe but I do wonder if I'll ever wake up." She looks sorrowful as she falls on to her back in the fields, her arms on each side away from her which made her look like a cross. "I'm guessing you're the Optimus Prime and not a being my mind conjured, huh?"

With nothing better to do, Optimus decided he had no choice but to accompany the small human. "What made you think of that?" He asked.

"Something is wrong here." The femme points to her helm, finger tapping aggressively. "Problem is I'm scared of how much of it is damaged."

"Your helm is damaged?"

"More like my brain."

There was no exit, no way out.

He had no choice, so he might as well stay still and let his form rest.

"Listen, I don't know how to say this subtly so I'll say it as it is," Persephone huffed, her servos plopping to the skirt of her dress. "I'm from a different universe where you and every Transformer is fiction. So, I may or may not know what could happen if I told you since it might change the course of action."

Optimus looked at her, kneeling down to search her tiny faceplates that would indicate she was lying

It was absurd.

The Prime looked at her, sighing. "I would be truly grateful if you are to not make such... silly claims," Optimus snapped.

"But it is the truth!" She exclaimed.

"I will not ask again, femme."

"What? You think I wanted to be here?! Around when I was thirteen to nineteen and I might just be the happiest bitch in the world. But now, I'm twenty-three and I am a tired human being AND I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DON'T SNAP AT ME BECAUSE THIS SITUATION IS STRESSFUL ENOUGH AS IT IS!"

The femme took a deep breath, closing her optics. "I'm sorry," She mumbles softly. "I didn't mean to explode like that... I'm really sorry."

"If what you say is true, do you have proof to back up your claims?"

"Would you like me to start with Cybertron...?"

And the next few minutes he kneeled there in front of the tiny femme, motionless as she told the events that had happened with a few changes here and there. Persephone told him the events in Cybertron, how he used to be Orion Pax and how Megatronous was his brother. She told the events of how Elita One died which was a huge slap across his face; a sword in his spark that was pushed in further.

She recalled the events of how he met Sam Witwicky and his part in the war that took place in Mission City, about their soldier Bumblebee who had been—and still is—the boy's guardian. She'd told him about the death of his second-in-command, Jazz; and told in graphic detail how Megatron had torn him apart and tossed him aside.

She told the reason for the war: finding the Allspark to restore their planet. How it changed to them protecting the humans and eradicating the Decepticons when the Allspark had ceased to exist.

How she told him about the battle that took place in Chicago; which reminded him of the failures that weighed on his soldiers. How Ironhide was slaughtered by Sentinel Prime when he betrayed them.

She tells him how he spared Megatron and how in the next following years, humans will turn on them and that he and the Autobots would be on the run. She tells him that during that time Autobots would be picked apart by the government, how Ratchet and Sideswipe would die.

"And... uh that's all I'll say since... I think I've said enough," Persephone says, wincing. "I hope that the course of actions doesn't change for the worse."

She proceeds to tell him how she ended up here; her trip to the store, how she didn't notice a truck hitting her which resulted in her death, being accompanied by a Decepticon and how one moment she was fine and the next she was in excruciating pain.

Persephone is silent after.

He watched her, shoulders tense as her eyes weren't trained on him; rather it was focused off into the distance.

"Persephone," Optimus called to her.

Her eyes flickered to him, she wasn't breathing—holding her breath. The human femme's digits fiddled with each other as she turns her attention to him. "Yes?"

"I apologize for my actions. I did not mean to upset you further, it was rude on my part." The Prime hung his head in shame.

"No, I shouldn't have screamed at you," Persephone reasoned. "My mother raised me better than that. I'm sorry."

"I'm willing to move on from it, if you'd like."

"That sounds really great, Optimus."

The Prime smiled at her before he remembered her words. "You mentioned you were with a Decepticon," He told her and she seemed to tense from his words. "They haven't hurt you, have they? If you can say where you are, we'll be able to rescue you."

Persephone shakes her head. "No, don't worry about me," She reassured him. "I'm fine. He's treating me well, but you should worry about yourself and the faith of the Autobots."

"But the Decepticon–"

"Trust me, I am safe." Persephone cuts him off. "The Decepticons are the least of your worries, Optimus. Please, trust me on that."

He would do well to remember her words. That way, Optimus can bring it up to her in the future. He had to deal with the higher ranking humans and the paperwork he still has to sign, now there's a human in the presence of a Decepticon.

The Prime nods his head.

"You have mentioned that my comrades had died, specifically Ironhide and Jazz." Optimus changed the subject, understanding the subtle hint of 'drop it'. "In this world, they are alive and safe. However, the rest of your story is accurate."

And he was surprised to see her sigh with relief. "Oh thank god, they're okay." A soft smile on her face could be seen.

Seeing as she had possessed knowledge, it would be unwise to make an enemy out of her. Optimus had to make sure the Decepticons did not take advantage of her.

"What happened to your arm?" He inquired as the human looked at the bleeding limb. The damage on her servos peeked his confusion.

What happened to her?

"Oh this? Don't worry about them," She laughed. "I was curious if what I had seen was real or if I was just dreaming before. Pain did always wake someone up before, so I did just that." Persephone frowned afterwards. "Don't worry. I'm sure it will heal."

"May I see?" Optimus offers a servo to her. "It is alright for you to refuse. I have no intention of forcing you if it makes you uncomfortable."

Persephone hesitated, looking away from him.

"Uh...s-sure, I guess." She stuttered as she placed her arm on the tip of his digits. "Please be gentle."

It was only— barely to be honest—a scrape, a light-feather touch upon the tips of his digit and it sent a jolt throughout his frame which made him hiss at the sudden pain.

White paints his vision briefly and he finds himself looking at her as the stinging fades. He had been forced to rest on his knees as his servo gripped his chassis where his spark is.

Optimus looks at her as she stands in front of him, face contorted into a look of concern. She's talking to him—he knows she's talking to him with the way her mouth moves—yet every word is silenced except for his name that leaves her lips.

"...Optimus..."

The femme's voice echoes in his helm and he swore he could feel the vibrations of her voice throughout his body.

Her optics were a sea of soft velvet hues of lilac and violet that looked so hypnotizing—it melts the Prime at how fascinating they look.

For the first time in his whole life, Optimus truly felt helpless.

Vulnerable.

Everything that made him who he was—his status as Prime, his responsibilities of fighting a war, the love he had for his planet and its people, the hatred he bears for his enemies, his newfound home, his name, himself—had all disconnected from him in that instant as all knowledge of himself is washed away into a sea of gold.

However, it does not leave him stranded.

In its place was a thread.

Not a single thread, but billions.

It wasn't a thread.

No, not a thread but steel cables.

A million steel cables all tying him down to one thing—to the very center of the universe.

Optimus saw the cosmos and the galaxies of space. He witnessed stars be born and explode into a dark hole, witnessed supernovas and planets being decimated. Each leaving him speechless than the last. But it all pales in comparison when he sees who was in the middle of all the stars.

Of whom the center of the universe is.

Everything changed, meshed and blurred together until none of it made sense, but she remained constant—perpetual.

The Earth's gravity no longer held him down to where he is.

It was the small, fragile human who looked at him with concern in her eyes.

Persephone.

"Optimus, are you alright? You didn't get hurt, did you?" Her voice, the only sound that could—finally—touch him in that endless instant, had rung out.

Like a melody.

An enchanting and hauntingly beautiful song that he had heard the humans describe as a siren calling out to the sailors towards them, with her being the siren and he the helpless sailor.

Then Optimus knew.

At that moment Optimus knew who she was. Who she was supposed to be—who she was meant to be. How this tiny little femme holds so much value to him.

His human.

His sparkmate.

She was terrifyingly enchanting, bewitching. The being that was known as Persephone threatens to swallow the Prime's form in its ruins. Her orders are absolute. If she gives them, everyone must obey and if they don't he would see to it that they do obey her.

After all, who was Optimus to deny her?

She seemed frightened. Why was she frightened?

"Are you alright?" Optimus finds himself rasping out, his digits encircling around her—protecting her.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" The tiny femme in front of him who was clinging at his arm— she looked adorable—replied with a raised brow. "You literally toppled over. I panicked because I have no knowledge of cybertronian anatomy, much less mechanics. In other words, I am stupid."

"You are most certainly not." He is quick to correct her, leaving no room for argument.

And he has to remind himself that she is unaware of what she does to him.

Of what she is to him.

It was evident she was startled by his sudden outburst and cleared his throat; a habit he picked up in his time among humans. "My apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you." Optimus's words were sincere, looking her over.

Her optics are soft as a fond smile blossoms from her faceplates, her cheeks dusting red. "It's alright," Persephone mumbles. "I just thought you had gotten hurt since you were heaving in pain and–"

"I am fine, little one. You should not worry about me." Her sincerity had touched him, dare he say bashful at how concerned she was of him.

Optimus gazed at her, burning her image into his memory. Into a file no one can view but his own optics to remember her this way.

Eternally ethereal.

The Prime felt her digits pressed firmly against the metal of his body, sending a tingling sensation to his processors and he feared they might fry from a mere touch.

"You sure you're alright, okay? Ratchet isn't here to fix you."

"I am fine. I can assure you, little one."

Persephone smiles softly at him and Optimus finds himself reaching a digit to feel her faceplates.

It was soft. Tender. It horrified the Prime at how fragile he is, which only made the urge to protect her ramp up to a million.

Humans are so fragile and seeing as she was made with flesh and blood, Optimus had decided then and there that he would lay down his life for her.

Whether she asked him to or if he sees fit.

She seems startled when his digits touch her faceplates— does she understand now what she is to him? What she means to him ?—but she relaxed not too long after, her optics closed as she leaned into his touch. Her cheeks dusting a red as her servo rests on his finger.

Persephone flutters her eyes open, gazing at him fondly–


The Prime stood within the meeting room with the rest of the Autobots and two of their trusted human friends, his servos on the giant table that was meant for him and his personnel's use; he had just shown them through a hologram of his data banks about what had occurred in his recharge. He'd shown them about who she is and how Optimus found out.

...And what omen she brings...

The two humans looked at where the image was before and back to him. William Lennox, a major in the United States Army who was currently the head of the classified NEST operations on the military base they're working with, stood on the table lost.

"Alright. No. Sorry, I don't understand. Is there any way you can explain it in human terms?"

Robert Epps, Technical Sergeant and second-in-command to Lennox, laughs when he puts two and two together.

"Well, I'll be damned! Who would've thought Optimus Prime would get a girlfriend?"

"It's more of a wife, really," Ironhide laughed, crossing his arms. "At least one of 'em somehow grasps it."

Sideswipe rolled his optics. "Boss literally showed you what it means. Your processors should really get that considering you're a–"

Optimus placed a servo on Sideswipe's shoulder, shaking his helm, a silent gesture to cease his sentence.

What did he expect?

Humans don't immediately understand what they haven't experienced; imprints and sparkbonding were something they don't do.

"Humans." Ratchet sighed.

"Okay, I'll explain it to you. As you know, Optimus is a Prime—which is the greatest honor to ever receive. The title of Prime is the highest position of power. It is higher than your human kings or presidents, the title of Prime is not given to anyone easily; even to those who showed its 'required' traits. Seeing as the Prime would be the equivalent of being the ruler of an entire planet, clearly it would come with many others who would want to use them. This title is something extremely sensitive, and as you can imagine that comes with many threats and dangers. To avoid this, our creator gave the Primes something called an Imprint, commonly called "The Prime's Mark". This helps Optimus avoid being used by someone who has ill intentions."

Lennox nods his head. "Okay, okay. So if I understand it correctly, this girl is like what... Prime's partner?"

"Exactly," Arcee answered, a solemn look on her faceplates; nervous if anything.

"Wow, someone's not happy." Epps snickered as he turned to the female Autobot. "What? Are you jealous of Prime's literal dream girl or something?"

Chromia, the blue femme that stood beside Arcee, shook her helm. "This femme who calls herself 'Persephone' is Optimus Prime's sparkmate. Primus had chosen her to bear his Imprint. It was decided the moment the universe was born, no matter what choices everyone may have made, the two of them are meant to be together— no matter what. The being who has The Prime's Mark is bound to find Prime himself, no matter what or where they are. And it in itself is indeed romantic. We are happy for Optimus but you must understand that it is terrifying for us considering this is a Prime's sparkmate."

Will crossed his arms. "What's so terrifying about someone finding their soulmate?"

"A Prime's sparkmate is an omen of significant change," Optimus answered, speaking again after being silent the whole time. "They are instruments of Primus in order for him to reach his creations—divine intervention. A Prime only ever receives a sparkmate when things are... getting out of hand." He looks at the two humans. "Persephone could make a change for the better or for the worse."

"Major Lennox, you must understand that this is not just some 'love at first sight' incident, nor is this something you humans should take lightly either." Chromia said, putting both servos on the table. "The reason that it is terrifying is the fact that she is a civilian and a human. If it were a cybertronian, at least they would understand the situation we're in. You humans are temperamental, who knows what orders she would demand from Optimus just because her petty human emotions would get in the way–"

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone's attention snapped to the Autobot leader due to his outburst. Chromia falters under his darkening stare, borderline murderous. "I will not stand for any slander against my sparkmate."

"Apologies, sir." The blue femme nods, crossing her arms; huffing and glancing away.

He understood what she meant. Humans are overly emotional, that in itself could cause some problems. But Optimus will refuse to tolerate anyone who speaks ill of his sparkmate.

"Well, Chromia did say she's a civilian... the higher ups aren't gonna be too pleased to bring one on base, especially with the aftermath of Chicago." Will scratched his head. "Can't you just ignore it?"

"Major, A Prime's sparkmate is a walking weapon of mass destruction if it falls into the wrong hands because they are vessels of the Allspark. The Imprint bearer is destined to use Optimus as much as he is destined to use her. Not only that, but the Imprint cannot be ignored the moment they made themselves known. Primes are programmed to immediately seek after them the moment they appear before them," Sideswipe laid it out for the humans. "So either we find his destined 'wife' or Boss Bot is going to tear down anything in his path to find her."

"Fucking hell, so you're telling me that the Allspark has a vessel?!" Epps explained. "I mean, if I can be with my wife and kids now, I'd definitely do anything to be with 'em. That aside, Prime's wife is a weapon?!"

"Okay, so we got a human who claims to be from another universe who just happens to be Optimus's wife and is the chosen vessel of the Allspark because of an alien god. Okay." Lennox sighed, rubbing his face as if that would be a way to wash his frustrations away. "Okay. Okay. Alright, what do we do?"

"First, we have to keep this from Mearing and your superiors as much as possible. We need to track her down." Ironhide stepped forward. "Secure her location and try to get her away from the Decepticon that holds her captive and–"

Alarms blared in the room, making everyone rush out of the room to the command center. Humans rushing out and about to computers from the catwalks.

Optimus still had a meeting to attend to just an hour after, something to do with this human named Harold Attinger. Humans were becoming tiring to deal with, especially now that they're doubting him and his cause. The young species has yet to learn, but with how violent they are and how eager they are to jump to conclusions just to justify the start of a war... makes him wonder how they had survived for so long.

Not to mention that whoever they assigned to clean up Chicago had done a sloppy job since there were still live Decepticon parts scattered in the city.

Sometimes, Optimus himself wondered if he was doing the right thing at all.

Jazz, SIC and Saboteur of the Autobot faction, runs up to them. "None of you are going to believe this shit right now."

"You might as well try considering it can't get any worse," Chromia grumbled. "What's the situation? And where the hell is Bumblebee?"

"Kid is on his way back, he just finished doing his rounds." Jazz jerked his head to the screens. "We got a bot coming in our radar and it's coming in fast."

"If it is an Autobot then we must make sure that we will not make the same mistake again." Optimus rumbled, the betrayal of his predecessor still fresh in his mind.

Arcee smiled at Jazz. "Do you think it's a friend?"

"It might be," He shrugged, gesturing to the screen. "It's probably a neutral since last I heard there are no Decepticon or Autobot left on our planet."

Sideswipe crossed his arms. "What makes you bring up Cybertron all of a sudden?"

"Because the computer had detected the energon signals on it." The SIC turned to them. "Systems couldn't determine if it was Autobot or Decepticon, but it recognized it as a space pod from... Cybertron." Jazz hands the datapad to the Prime. "I tried to find out where it could be from and Cybertron is plastered on it."

Optimus finds himself barking out orders to prepare for a retrieval of the space pod. Ratchet rushed out orders to prepare the Med Bay as Lennox gave out commands for a team to accompany them.

Please let it not be another traitor.


There was a loud whirring that stirred Leon from his sleep, accompanied by a throbbing in his head that threatened to tear it open.

"Fuck. I'm never drinking again." The words were a slur as it escaped his lips, eyes wrinkling at how bright it was.

Leon didn't want to wake up.

Not now.

Maria would be scolding him for drinking again when he opened his eyes. Honestly, he couldn't blame her. Even he would be mad at himself for just drinking all day long.

But how else was he going to deal with the grief that had gripped him and his family?

Persephone had been in a coma for almost two months now and it was all because of a bastard who wasn't looking at where they were going.

It was supposed to be a surprise visit, just wanting to check up on her and giving her the support she needs. So, to receive a call from the hospital that she had been rushed there due to a car accident was a punch in the gut.

The biggest blow was seeing his little sister, eyes closed and hooked up to wires that kept her alive.

Doctors said she was in a coma, that it'd be impossible for her to wake up soon. Not to mention the many injuries that she acquired due to the collision.

Their mother— bless her heart—had Persephone's body be brought home, hiring professional nurses to help her care for his little sister. She was placed in one of the master bedrooms.

Sometimes, Leon would hang out in her room, telling her about his day and poking fun at her.

As if she would respond.

But he hoped that, somehow, Persephone could hear him, hear their mother, hear their sister. He hoped she'd wake up.

At the moment, Leon didn't want to wake up; he didn't want to deal with the reality that there is a fifty percent chance of him losing a sibling.

He could hear chattering, whirrs and the sound of a machine before something cold encircled his wrist and a soft 'click!' could be heard.

What's that?

Leon forced his eyes to open, the room being too bright. The migraine seemed to fade away as his vision turned from blurry to clear and crisp. Lights in the ceiling were on as he slowly blinked the drowsiness away.

He sighed, slumping down into the metal surface, which made him feel something vibrating deep within his chest–

Wait... what?

Confused, Leon's eyebrows furrowed as he moved his hand to feel the strange sensation. He paused when he tugged his hand, only to realise both his arms were restrained.

Now that his head was a little clearer, he noticed his hands were restrained to what looked like a yellow metal recliner thingy. Leon tilts his head to the side when he looked down, clenching and unclenching his hand–

What the fuck?!

He halts in his place when he recognized something distinctly metal formed in the shape of a hand. Slowly, Leon raised his pinky and much to his horror, the metal hand obliged to his brain's demands.

It's a metal hand— his metal hand.

No fucking way.

As Leon moved—forcing his body—to sit up, his eyes caught sight of a familiar robot. He had an air of authority hanging off of him, something that made Leon involuntarily clench his ass at how intimidating he came off. He was blue with bits of red flames decorating his body, his neon blue eyes shining at him.

He laughed when the 'Optimum Pride' meme came to mind. He paused, confused as to why he's seeing the Autobot Leader in front of him.

That can't be right.

Leon ripped his gaze away from the Prime and looked down on himself, only to see that everything was made of metal; his chest, abdomen, legs, feet, arms—his whole body. A tube was sticking into his chest, something blue being poured into it. Into him. Curiously, he arched his back to see if his chest would arch as well.

It did.

He gasped in surprise.

Leon finally takes his surroundings in, eyes wide when he notices there were people. People stationed on something around eye level or more. No, they weren't just people. They were soldiers.

And they all look tiny.

And they were all looking at him.

" Anak ng puta," Leon breathed out as he finally came to his senses. Was this a dream? Was he so in denial that his little sister is in a coma? "So, uh... are you real?" He asked. "Or are you like a figment of my imagination of some sorts."

It could be a dream.

And that would be fine. In that way, Leon would feel safe in his little bubble. Time outside his sleep could go on for hours on end. But here, in his dream, he could have fun.

Persephone would have loved this.

Dreams didn't make sense. They were weird. Seeing the Autobots in front of him was weird, yes. Now all he needed was a giant chicken bursting through the walls to arrest him for stealing a pebble or something.

After all, dreams are weird.

The Autobot Leader's eyes widened for a brief moment before he cleared his throat. "I can assure you that everything is real. My name is Optimus Prime." He introduced himself. "Leader of the Autobot cause."

Oh my god.

Leon nods his head. "Nice to meet you. I'd shake your hand but they're–" He wiggled his hands, emphasizing the restraints. "–unavailable at the moment as you can see."

He wanted to say a cool name. Something that would compliment his all-black paint job; it could be 'Onyx' or maybe even 'Nightstreaker' but it didn't feel right.

"I'm Leon," He introduced himself, sticking with his real name instead. It felt wrong to call himself anything but that.

"Leon. We found you in a space pod," Optimus told him, making Leon blink at him owlishly. "Do you... recall where you were from and what you might have been doing?"

The man nods his head.

"Uh, yeah. I was at home, drinking liquor because I was feeling really down. My younger sister was telling me off for drinking too much and I remember leaving my youngest sister's room since she's in a... coma." He said.

It was the truth, but he didn't want to outright say the whole truth. If they wanted to know more then they should have asked specifically.

There was a slight bubble of anxiety in his chest—because what if they found out he was a human before he woke up in a cybertronian body?

No, it's fine. I'm in Autobot territory.

Leon thought to himself, relaxing a little. "So, um, if you don't mind me asking." He laughed nervously. "What do you mean by... space pod?"

"It is an intergalactic vehicle used for transportation limited to only one ordinary sized mech or two ordinary sized minibots." The Prime explained. "You have come a long way, haven't you?"

"I think so?" Leon shrugged. "Could you um..." He tugs his hands against the bonds. "Maybe let me go?"

Optimus looked at him cautiously, before he himself removed the restriction that kept Leon in an uncomfortable position. He thanked the Prime, rubbing his wrists where it stings.

A lime yellow robot—almost neon green beneath the lighting—stepped into view. "This won't take long," The medic said.

Leon jumped in surprise, wondering where the fuck he came from. He turned his head, gasping.

The rest of the Autobots were behind where he was, observing him.

"Optimus, what year is it?" Leon asked, confused as he recognized the room to be the same one where Sentinel Prime was revived.

"It is the year of two thousand and twelve in human Earth years."

Leon froze.

No that can't be.

If that were the case then it would have been a year after the battle in Chicago since Dark of the Moon was filmed somewhere around twenty-eleven.

Sooner or later, they would be hunted down by Cemetery Wind. With a body like this—cybertronian in every single inch of his body—Leon had no choice but to be worried.

The drowsiness and the sheer absurdity of the situation was starting to fade. Dreams were short-lived, but this... this was getting too long. Leon almost felt awake.

There is no doubt that it's real.

It had to be.

He had read these types of things before; courtesy of Persephone dragging his ass to the rabbit hole of fanfiction.

And what did they all have in common?

The protagonist gets transported in this universe and lives their life to the fullest. Often being tracked down by N.E.ST either by a) becoming a cybertronian and encountering one of the bots, b) searching the characters and certain events on the internet or c) they run into some Decepticons.

Afterwards, they tell their side of the story and the events that will pan out or they try to not say a word in fear that the course of action might change.

And judging from his situation, it looks like he has the "a"situation.

Damn it. Wish I ran into Decepticons, instead. That would have been way more fun, because how was he supposed to bring hell on Earth if he had to abide by the law?

Persephone was more of a neutral, often going with the flow with whatever faction she lands in. No doubt, she would have helped the Autobots.

She would've wanted that.

He had to warn them about what the humans are planning, but he couldn't do that while there were so many around them; especially Mearing who was observing the interaction warily.

Leon formed a plan in his mind, something Maria might have laughed at him for. It was simple but it should be effective. He just needed to be alone with one of the bots, specifically Prime, but either of them would do.

It was a stupid idea really.

He could almost hear his siblings snickering at what they thought of doing; his mother sighing and shaking her head.

And so, Leon put his plan into action by letting out the most spine-chilling blood curdling scream he could manage.


End of Chapter VII


Translation:

"Anak ng puta" - "Son of a bitch"