AN: This little piece would not get out of my head. It's connected to a larger piece I was considering writing with bot!Sam and a whole theme where telling lies just leads to a more elaborate web of lies. A more serious take on the Autobots, where they are willing to lie and manipulate some to stay safely on Earth until they are capable of going off world. Of course they don't want to if they don't have to, but Flame throws a wrench into Optimus' careful plans and things quickly spiral out of control. Also on my AO3 under energonbunny if you prefer that site!
Of all the places Captain William Lennox wanted to be, this was pretty far down the list. Ambassador Theodore Galloway had given him the impression that he was going to be conducting a series of briefings with the Autobots and a civilian, but when he walked into the room and saw the layout it was obviously more of an interrogation room than it was anything else. It was almost copy pasted from some police show, just sized large enough that the 'bots could come in and even sit down if they so wished.
He skimmed through the papers in front of him again, considering what he already knew. Almost four days ago now, something had gone horribly wrong. Prowl's anticipated arrival on Earth had called most of the Autobots away from their base, and an Autobot designated Flame had ended up collapsing his lab in some sort of explosion and killing himself while they were away. Mere hours later and all the way over in Tranquility, Sam came into contact with a piece of the Allspark and was sent into a coma. To make matters worse, it was revealed that another mech had been with Prowl all along and nothing had been said about him. This new mech, Solar Wind, was sequestered away in Ratchet's medbay.
Will knew that Galloway and a few of the others were convinced something was going on. He agreed that it looked bad, but he didn't think there was anything fishy because of it. Sam had been in Tranquility when he'd found the Allspark shard and it had done whatever it had done to send him in a coma, Flame had been left unsupervised, and Prowl had apparently assumed Solar Wind would be dead within a day so he hadn't been worth mentioning.
He heard one of the doors open and glanced up just as Seymour Simmons strolled in, dressed to the nines and looking as smug as usual.
"Oh, hell." Will didn't bother to censor his displeasure, "What the fuck are you doing here?"
Will had quickly figured out that Simmons enjoyed making himself as dislikable as possible. He had entertained the thought that the man might actually just be a giant piece of shit, but he preferred to give people the benefit of the doubt and there was no way someone like Simmons had been allowed to exist without being throttled a decade ago.
Simmons smirked, "It was decided that you may be too close to the Autobots to get to the bottom of this, so I was chosen to come in and help."
He came over and took the seat beside Will, slumping down in it and immediately spreading his legs so much that Will had to sit up straighter to avoid their knees touching. Will gritted his teeth and reminded himself to have patience.
"And just who decided this?"
"Galloway, for one. And the others who are in charge of deciding whether the Autobots can stay on U.S. soil and if they're a threat that needs to be eliminated or not," Simmons spread his hands out in an all encompassing gesture. "I would appreciate it if you worked with me here, William. Our superiors are breathing down my neck just as much as they are yours."
"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" Will ground out, "I already know none of those mechs would have let anything happen to Sam if they could have helped it."
"And therein lies the issue, Captain." Simmons drawled, "You are already biased to believe the best of them."
"And you're biased to believe the worst." Will accused, before scrubbing a hand over his face as he realized that was exactly the point.
"Exactly," Simmons confirmed. "Between the two of us, we should be able to reach a nice middle ground."
"I fail to see just why Galloway is convinced that there's something more to what they're saying, anyway." Will poured Simmons a cup of water and slid it over to him, "What they've told us looks bad enough. Ignorance, incompetency, lack of communication…"
"We actually agree on that," Simmons admitted. "But it's always better to be safe than sorry. These things are adept mimics and think much faster than us, we have to stay on our toes with them. Easier to presume guilt until they can prove otherwise."
"I thought it was innocent until proven guilty?" Will raised an eyebrow.
Simmons shot that down quickly, "They're not U.S. citizens and do not get to enjoy our rights."
"They're practically refugees!"
"Which means they're desperate to keep their place here."
Will closed his eyes and counted to ten. If this went on too long he was likely to kill Simmons before they ever get to the first debriefing.
Optimus Prime walked into the room half an hour later, two minutes before his scheduled time. Even Simmons sat up straighter in his chair in the presence of the large mech, and Will offered Optimus a smile. Optimus sat himself down in the provided chair and Will did his best not to think about how stupid this whole thing looked. The table in between them didn't even come up past Optimus' ankles.
"Let's skip the pleasantries and cut right to the chase, shall we?" Simmons leaned forward in his seat, putting his arms on the table. "What did the Allspark do to Sam Witwicky?"
"I regret to admit that I am as unaware as you are," Optimus Prime said. "Sam carried the Allspark around Mission City with no trouble and then used it against Megatron with no noticeable repercussions. I am afraid that because of how he misused it may have seen Sam as a threat and reacted in self defense. Unfortunately, I cannot claim to understand how the Allspark would react to human physiology."
"There is some history with this," Will noted, ignoring the look Simmons gave him for it. "Archibald Witwicky was blinded and driven insane because of Megatron's navigational system activating and being used on him. Plus, I read some of Sector Seven's earliest reports and there were at least a dozen casualties from them attempting to manipulate the Allspark."
"That is true," Optimus allowed. "It appears there are many potential ramifications to unchecked interaction between our species. Ratchet, Prowl, and I are attempting to make a comprehensive list of any possible negative responses humans may have to things that are commonplace to us."
"How did Sam end up with a piece of the Allspark in the first place?" Simmons questioned.
"I can only tell you what I learned from Bumblebee," Optimus warned. "And Bumblebee heard it from Sam's friend, Miles. Apparently Sam was going to get a jacket to put on and was considering the one he wore in Mission City when the Allspark piece fell out of his pocket. This leads me to assume that when he used it on Megatron a piece fell into one of his pockets."
Simmons pulled a notebook out of one of his pockets and scribbled something down.
"I never once thought something like this could happen," Optimus continued softly. "If there was anything I could do for Samuel, anything the Autobots as a whole could do, we would. He risked his life for us in Mission City and ensured that Megatron was no more. Samuel and Bumblebee grew quite close in their time together and I believe Bumblebee blames himself for this event."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Real sad," Simmons dismissed, "Now, how did you manage to sneak in a whole other mech under our noses?"
Will rubbed the bridge of his nose in an attempt to ward off a headache. He desperately wanted to reach over and smack Simmons upside the head for his insensitivity, but he knew the asshole would actually report him for it and didn't want to listen to the bitching.
"I assure you that we did not purposefully attempt to bring another mech in with no warning," Optimus responded.
"If we could hurry this up," Ratchet breezed into the room and didn't bother to sit down. "Solar Wind still needs repairs."
"Perfect," Simmons steepled his fingers together and raised an eyebrow. "That's one of the things we want to ask you about. Just how is it that we were told Prowl was arriving, but not Solar Wind?"
"Prowl was under the impression that Solar Wind was going to die from the virus ravaging their processor and that we would be scrapping them for parts," Ratchet looked less than impressed by Simmons' posturing. "He was unaware that I have experience with aggressive viruses like that. I was easily able to stabilize them, but it remains to be seen how exactly their processor has been affected."
"If you're such a good medic how did Flame die?" Simmons drawled.
"We are not infallible, as you well know." Ratchet stared Simmons down, "Sector Seven was capable of figuring out how to disable and kill us while only having one mech to work with."
The comment was particularly pointed and Will sat back in his seat, considering it. He'd never given it much thought, but now that he thought about it they had learned an awful lot for just having Megatron to work with. From the way Simmons narrowed his eyes he couldn't help but wonder if there was something Sector Seven was attempting to hide, like the loss of life of a few beings who had never wanted to show them any harm.
"And what about Sam?" Simmons switched tracks.
"I am no human doctor," Ratchet folded his arms over his chassis. "You would be better off asking the human ones aiding him at this moment."
Unlike Optimus, who had made a point of showing up early, and Ratchet, who had showed up exactly on time, Ironhide arrived fifteen minutes late. Five minutes before he arrived there was an explosion big enough to shake the base and Simmons had paled noticeably. Ironhide strolled into the room without a care in the world, slumping into the provided seat much in the same way Simmons himself had.
"You're la-"
"G'afternoon, Will." Ironhide greeted, cutting Simmons off. "How's Annabelle?"
"She has a bit of a cold right now, actually." Will repressed a grin at Simmons' irritated sigh, "Driving Sarah and me up the wall because she can't sleep right."
"Very sweet," Simmons remarked sarcastically. "Can we get to the point now?"
"Go ahead," Ironhide graciously allowed.
"You're the resident explosions expert," Simmons made a point of looking at the cannon that Irohide was not so subtly fingering, "What happened to Flame and his lab?"
Ironhide's grip tightened so much that Will could clearly hear metal denting under his digits. The sound made Simmons flinch.
"I ain't gonna give you no platitudes about that mech," Ironhide growled. "Never liked 'im. Told Prime he needed reeled in, and now he's gone and caused his own death. Good riddance, if you ask me. He was a danger."
"That's not a how."
"What do I look like, Primus?" Ironhide glared, "The place was rubble when we got there. How'm I supposed to know what happened from rubble? All I know was Flame's spark was already extinguished. Mech had a habit of experimentin' with volatile stuff. Ain't nothin' Ratch could have done."
"Fine," Simmons bit out. "What do you think happened with Sam and the Allspark?"
Ironhide leaned forward over the table, putting his face inches away from Simmons', "I think tha' the Allspark got used ta defendin' itself, because of you and ya lil' band of agents, and it thought Sam was a threat."
And it devolved from there. Will just sat back and enjoyed the show as Ironhide refused to cooperate anymore and Simmons lost what little patience he had.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both, Mr. Simmons and Captain Lennox." Prowl greeted politely as he came in the door, "I am Prowl."
Simmons was still sulking from Ironhide, so the man was just sitting back in his seat with his arms crossed. Will gave Prowl a smile and gestured at the seat in front of them, Prowl carefully folding himself into it.
"It is nice to meet you finally," Will returned. "I wish it could have been under better circumstances, though."
"Should we cut right to the chase?" Prowl tilted his helm to the side slightly, examining both of them with cool blue optics. "Ironhide's appointment ran late so I imagine you would like mine to go a little quicker."
"Good idea," Will didn't allow himself to chuckle, but he did give a quiet Simmons an amused look. "Well, I believe what we really wish to discuss with you is why you didn't inform anyone of Solar Wind."
"Of course," Prowl nodded. "While I possess some medical knowledge, I do not share Ratchet's proficiency. Aiding Solar Wind was beyond me and I was not aware of how extensive Ratchet's expertise was, so I assumed that while he would live to see Earth it would not be for long."
"Even if you were convinced he was going to die," Simmons pushed, "Why didn't you mention him?"
"My comrades have already been through so much that I thought to spare them a few breems of mourning if I could," Prowl stated, optics on the table. "He was not a mech that I knew well, but Bumblebee was quite fond of him."
"Aren't you the Second in Command?" Simmons scoffed, "How do you not know the members of your army?"
"Delegation," Prowl looked up from the table to stare Simmons down. "There were far too many Autobots for us to know every individual, which is why there were many minor commanders. It is the same with your own army, from what I've noticed. Captain Lennox is aware of his men, but he would not know every other soldier enlisted."
Simmons had to concede that point, and sat back in his chair sulkily because of it.
Miles Lancaster walked into the room and sat down at the table without saying a single word. Will took a moment to scrutinize the way he fidgeted and the way he was biting at a nail almost immediately. Textbook examples of stress and anxiety, only furthered by the dark circles under his eyes and the way he refused to look either of them in the eye. He couldn't blame the teen—watching Sam be affected by a mysterious object and learning about giant alien robots because of it would be a hard pill to swallow for anyone.
"Do you want to go through the formalities or get this over with as fast as possible?" Will questioned.
"As fast as possible," Miles responded instantly.
"Alright," Will agreed. "Why don't you tell me what happened, as best as you can."
"Uh…" Miles lowered his hand to his lap, eyes going to the ceiling as he tried to remember. "We were going to go… somewhere. I don't remember where, but it was chilly, y'know? So Sam wanted to get a jacket. I followed him up to his room and I was just chillin' on his bed while he dug around in his closet. And then, it was just… He yelled, or something, and then he just kind of… convulsed. Like a seizure, but it didn't last very long, so I don't know if it was actually one or not. And then he wasn't breathing and I was trying to do CPR and it was just all a big blur. I must have called 911 at some point but I don't remember doing it at all. It wasn't until after when Bumblebee came to talk to me that I even knew it had to do with that Allshark thing."
Simmons scribbled a few notes on his paper, "And why were you at Sam's house that day?"
"Never had friends, I take it?" Miles' tone was completely deadpan.
Will had to grab his glass of water and bring it up to his lips to hide his smile as Simmons glowered at the boy in front of them. Miles was making it very clear that he wasn't going to sit through any stupid, pointless questions and Will was a little impressed by it.
"I just want to make sure that you haven't been influenced by them in any way," Simmons commented.
"Influenced?" Miles laughed bitterly, "No. I hate them."
"Hate?" Will repeated.
He was surprised by the word choice, but Simmons looked incredibly interested.
"I already heard all about how they never knew it could happen or whatever. It doesn't matter. It's their fault that Sam is..." Miles stared down at the table, clenching his hands into fists on the tabletop. He took a deep breath, "The only reason I'm even doing this is because Mikaela said Sam actually liked these things for some reason."
"You're talking as if he's dead," Simmons frowned. "I was led to believe there was a chance he could wake up."
"Yeah, some chance." Miles shook his head, "Less than 15%."
"Oh…" Simmons reached out and covered one of Miles' hands with his own, shocking Will completely. "I'm sorry to hear that. I liked Sam, even though he was an uppity brat sticking his nose where it didn't belong. He was brave and thought quickly on his feet. He deserves better than to be lying in a bed somewhere rotting away."
Miles turned his head away and bit his lip, rapidly blinking to try and clear the tears from his eyes. Simmons sat back and they let Miles collect himself in silence.
Much like Miles, Bumblebee came into the room and sat down without meeting either of their eyes.
"I should have been there," Bumblebee said, doorwings low on his back.
And that's all he would say, no matter how much Simmons pestered him.
"That's all of them," Simmons glanced over his scribbles. "Took almost all day but we finished it. I think I can report back to Galloway and the others that everything checks out."
"Yeah," Will muttered without really thinking about it.
Simmons was now convinced that the Autobots were being honest and that there was nothing going on. Will was now convinced of the opposite.
He didn't say that out loud, opting instead to stay quiet while Simmons left the room. Will spent a good few minutes going through everything that had been talked about and he couldn't pinpoint what exactly tipped him off, but by the time Ironhide had left he had already known.
The scariest part was, what could they be covering up? What was worse than a teenager being sent into a coma, a mech destroying part of the base and killing himself, and not revealing that another mech was coming to Earth? He couldn't figure it out. Miles' hatred of them had seemed genuine, so if he was in on it Will couldn't possibly guess at his motivation.
He considered going to Ironhide or Optimus and demanding the truth, but he decided to wait and see. Simmons had been right when he'd said that they were desperate to keep their place there and Will didn't want to see what would happen if they were pushed into a corner.