Zane appeared in the middle of the room, causing Miko to scream on the bed and Jack and Raf to jump backwards. When Zane just stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do, the kids calmed down a little and Jack got the bravery to start asking questions.
"Zane, I want to hear from you why you are doing what you are doing.. Why did you make those exoskeletons for us? Why did you kill the Vehicons? How exactly will you get peace?"
"Why did you kidnap us?" Miko asked, jumping off of the bed to stand by Raf and Jack.
"Do you really care about our wellbeing?" Raf asked, wanting to be heard. Zane chuckled and held out his hands.
"Hey, if you really want answers, then let me speak. I promise to answer everything, just please walk with me."
All of the kids nodded and said some variation of yes, and so Zane walked over to the door and opened it. He gestured out, yet the kids stood where they were for a moment.
"What do ya know? It was unlocked!" Miko laughed. "I told you!"
Jack gave her a deadpan face and Raf just shook his head. Zane hesitated a moment, confused why they weren't following. After another moment of silence, he scratched his head and left. They could follow if they wanted to, it was getting too awkward in there. Thankfully, they left the room before he got far. He sped up slightly, wanting to finish the tour quickly.
"So, as you can see, we are... in a hallway." Zane looked around, appearing a little confused. He turned in a full circle and felt lost and embarrassed. "Umm... I really don't know where we are."
"You don't know where you are in your own base?!" Miko asked, surprised and slightly dismayed.
"To be fair, I made this place big enough for the Sparkless to be able to be comfortable. I just teleport where I need to go." Zane looked down, out of both embarrassment and being lost in thought. Was it just him, or was human contact making him... softer? No, it was unlikely.
"Can one of your Transformers guide us?" Raf asked. Zane continued to look down a second, before startling and nodding.
"Yeah... yeah. Good idea. Hey, Omicron!"
"Yes, my most benevolent master and better?" Omicron replied, voice filled with too much sarcasm for Zane's comfort. However, Zane ignored it. If Omicron acted out in the future, Zane had to pretend to be as ignorant as possible. While still hoping that would not happen.
"Send me someone to help guide us through my base, if you please. I wish to show the kids around."
"Of course. Roulette is on his way now."
"No!" Zane yelled, looking flustered. He looked awkwardly at the kids, who were staring at him in shock.
"Ummm... Well, you see, Roulette has a few screws loose, so perhaps it would not be the best idea to let him give the tour to three teenage strangers. You have probably heard by now how he fought Megatron and Soundwave. It was rather... unsettling, to say the least."
"Then why do you still have him?" Asked Miko, not understanding why Zane of all people would keep him around. It would be more likely for Zane to pull a Starscream and get rid of Roulette. "You seem like the type to kill anyone you don't like."
Jack hissed and grabbed her shoulder, attempting to pull her back. Miko jerked away and continued to look directly into Zane's eyes. Zane looked slightly disgusted at the thought.
"I would never do that!" He exclaimed, staring at Miko as if she was crazy. "He's practically family! It's my job as his father, err," Zane looked at the the ceiling, lost in thought. He was pulled from his musings by Miko clearing her throat.
"Adoptive creator, yeah, that's it. It's my job as his adoptive creator to protect him. Kind of like how your guardians protect and care for you, but on a more formal level."
He glanced down the hall, and then continued to speak, not wanting anyone to hear a fragment of their conversation and get the wrong idea. He's seen too many movies to let that happen.
"And I wouldn't kill unless I had to. I can assure you, the only death I will ever relish is Starscream's." Zane paused, a look of surprise crossing his face before becoming horror.
"Omicron!" He yelled.
"Yes, Master Zane?" Omicron asked.
"Wait... how much of that did you hear?... Never mind. Just make a list of everything I'm working on. And for Primus' sake, don't miss anything that will anger the avid readers, please!"
"Anger the who?" Omicron asked, confusion evident in it's voice. Zane just smirked and stayed quiet.
"Fine. You will get it by tonight."
"Thank you. Now, send me someone. And be quick about it."
"Anyhow, kids, any more questions before the tour starts?"
"Yes. Where are we?" Jack asked the question that Zane was waiting for.
"We are outside of the former location of the town Jasper, Nevada. By my estimates, we are 198 feet below ground."
"How?" Miko asked, eyes wide. How could this place be built without anyone noticing?
Before Zane could respond, an Exo fizzled into existence. It was Spectre, and he seemed happy. Zane didn't comment, and none of the kids could notice a difference from his everyday attitude. But Zane would make sure to remember that, just case.
"Wow!" Zane thought, doing an evaluation of his thought process. "You are extremely paranoid. Just go over what you know, and see where it takes you from there. Fact: Spectre is happy. Fact: you have been extremely busy lately. Fact: he's been at base most of the time. What conclusion can be pulled from that...? I'll look into later."
"Spectre," Zane said in way of greeting, and nodding his head sharply. Spectre returned the gesture, a little too quickly to be in a normal mood. So he was either happy, guilty of something, or worried.
"Remember Zane, you said you'd look into it at a later date. Do not perform a psych evaluation right now. Just have a little faith he didn't do anything wrong. That isn't too difficult."
"If you would give us a tour of the base that would be perfect."
"Us?" Asked Spectre, not quite understanding why Zane would include himself.
"Yes. I have not toured the base yet. Teleporting can do that to a person. Any qualms about it?
"None at all. But you have a lot going on. Don't you have to go help Predaking learn more about aerial combat?" Spectre questioned, hoping to Primus that he would leave. Zane got an alarmed look on his face before disappearing in a purple flash. Spectre turned to the kids and spoke in a relieved voice.
"Finally, we can talk"
Zane appeared before the offline Predaking, still in beast form. Zane was hesitant about facing Predaking when he woke up, as he would would most likely be cross. Zane stepped closer to Predaking and put his hands on the metal, which had a slight warmth to it. His hands were surrounded by a purple glow, that seemed to dissipate into the metal. A moment later, light returned to Predaking's optics.
He stood up shakily and swing his head about in an attempt to finish waking up. Zane was hit with the mental image of a drunkard in the morning, trying to remember why he was in bed with a stranger and for some reason had a tattoo on his thigh of an angel fish. Predaking looked around sleepily, before locking onto Zane and roaring. Zane flinched, and started to back away as the King of the Predacons advanced upon him. After a few slow steps (a few for Predaking, a few dozen for Zane), Predaking transformed and towered over the puny human.
"Bastard!" The King roared out, shocking Zane both with the sudden noise, anger within the other's voice, and knowledge of human expletives. "How long was I in stasis?! Do you have any idea what that was like, practicing those same maneuvers over and over again? I should kill you." Predaking finished his mini rant, glaring at the small organic near his pede, so easy to squish.
Zane had no good way to justify his actions, and he knew it. The realization hit him then that he could be ruining lives. That maybe he was evil.
"But... that's impossible. All I want is to protect this planet and the children. And to bring peace to the Cybertronians who, frankly, barely deserve a second chance. I have killed a couple Vehicons and hurt Predaking... Necessary evils. But what does that make me? I don't mean to be evil, like the Decepticons. And I can't be good like the Autobots think of themselves, as they are not good, only nice. But I am right. I am neither moral nor immoral, just willing to do what must be done. This goal must be realized, to hell with what anyone else thinks!"
"I am not going to defend myself to you, because I cannot. You think in terms of individuality and the consequences that occur in a matter of days. I have to play the long game, sacrificing pieces for the hope that perhaps there is a small chance that maybe, just maybe, I can make a difference. I wish I could protect you, save you from this road I have sent you down, but to do so would doom so many others who need a second chance."
Predaking, still consumed by his rage, refused to let reason - or the weak attempt at it - change his mind. As Predaking was about to stomp on the puny human, the mech was covered in a purple aura and froze, unable to finish the action. Zane, glowing with the same aura, stepped out from the King of the Predacons' shadow.
"I swear to you, Predaking, I truly am sorry. I just wanted to save you from further damage. You brought this on yourself…" Zane pulled out his IPod and found something, then floated up to Predaking's helm. With one hand holding the IPod, Zane put the other hand on Predaking's helm, which then started to glow a brighter purple.
"You seem to have forgotten what I showed you not so long ago. Let me remind you of what happened… Let me show you who wrongs you even more than Megatron. Allow me the great privilege to give you a glimpse of how Starscream almost destroyed the last of your species."
Zane continued to stand there solemnly, giving Predaking a view of what could have happened, of what they could stop. Zane showed the explosion at the lab, Megatron's betrayals, and how no one would ever trust his species. After some time, Zane released Predaking from the hold. The Predacon immediately fell to his knees before looking up.
"I want to kill him. Can I kill him?" Predaking asked, a vicious gleam in his optics.
"I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. However, I doubt that the Autobots can find something of great enough value." Zane saw the look that Predaking gave him, and therefore hurried before he could be interrupted. "If you are willing to wait just a little longer, you can maul Starscream for all of the Autobots and Decepticons to see."
"...Fine, but this your last chance, human. I will not overlook any more transgressions."
Hey, I uploaded a new version of the prologue. Tell me if it's any better than the old one. Thanks!