More than meets the eye (7/8/2007)
Author's note
Kind of a cheesy chapter, not much originality in it, almost cut and paste from the movie and for that I beg your forgiveness. By the way, if you haven't reviewed the previous chapter yet, can I ask you to do so before reviewing this chapter? Thank you for all of your support.
Chapter 12: Misunderstandings and introductions
"Hello Kasumi," Optimus Prime said gravely. Kasumi saw that his mouth seemed to be covered with a protective faceplate and when he talked, the entire mouth mask moved. Nevertheless, his eyes told her all that she needed to know; he was one angry Autobot. "Are you unharmed?"
She took a moment to examine herself. Aside from the bump on her head and a few bruises, she appeared fine. "Just a bump here and there Optimus, nothing to be of concern about. Optimus….." she started.
"Kidnapping Kasumi was the worst mistake you could have made. AUTOBOTS, TRANSFORM AND DISARM THE HUMANS!" Optimus ordered.
Six pairs of metallic hands gripped the walls of the container and stripped the metal of them, leaving only the skeleton of the container and the occupants exposed to the outside. As if the presence of Optimus wasn't awe inspiring enough, six other huge robots now surrounded them. When Pan Teen stopped gaping at Optimus to look at her surroundings, she found the tip of a very large and long sword pointed right between her eyes belonging to a sleek and silver Autobot whose expression was one of anger even as his eyes were hidden behind some sort of visor. The two edges of the sword had a beam of green energy that ran to the hilt. His left arm had a small round shield with four gun barrels on it also pointed at her.
The yellow Autobot next to him had turned his entire right arm into a huge cannon that was now emitting a slow and ominous vibration whilst pointed at the Chinese Amazons. The insides of the barrel glowed yellow and the humming of the vibrations filled everyone's ears. His expression mirrored Optimus grim look.
Ironhide in contrast had a very happy expression on his face as most of the Amazons looked in terror at the two massive cannons now aiming at them from his fore arms. "You feeling lucky, bitches? Optimus, oh please oh please oh please let me vaporise them?"
"Ironhide, you know we're not supposed to harm humans unless it's absolutely necessary, what is with you?" Optimus said irritantly.
Ironhide shrugged and said, "Just wanted to keep our options open that's all."
Ratchet's right arm also changed into a gun though it was much smaller than Bumblebee's but his left hand had disappeared and was replaced with a vicious looking buzzsaw.
Hound's left shoulder telescope had transformed along with his entire left arm into a huge and long barrelled cannon, with the telescope becoming the scope of the cannon. In essence, it looked like a sniper gun the size of a Howitzer. And the gun was currently aimed at the other Amazon Elder Foam's head.
From Prowl's initial bare shoulders, two cannons emerged beside his head. Unlike the other Autobots who transformed their hands or arms into their weapons, Prowl kept two pistol-like guns at his hips, which had compartments which unfolded like Robocop's so that he could remove them with both hands. Like a Western cowboy, he twirled them with his finger before aiming both pistols at the Amazons.
If Kasumi had any doubt that the Autobots were warriors, they were dispelled now. All of them looked grim, even Jazz who showed no indication of admiring some of the Chinese Amazons' beautiful and shapely forms.
The Chinese Amazons were doing very good impressions of gaping goldfish now. Then Jazz's round shield started vibrating and all of the Amazon's weapons with the exception of the wooden staffs of the three Amazon elders flew from their arms and the container and stuck on Jazz's shield where they stayed. Among the container's denizens, only Cologne and Kasumi kept their cool. Pan Teen and Foam appeared to have gone insane and were spouting gibberish orders at their warriors who could only look at them confused.
Optimus knelt and brought his face closer to Cologne's. The Elder Amazons face showed little fear and appeared just as grim as Optimus as she shifted her staff in a guarding position.
"You don't seem surprised or shocked to see us. Why is this so?" Optimus asked.
"I've met your kind before, monster. Do not think you can cower the might of five thousand years of Amazon history," Cologne replied.
Ironhide laughed. "Five thousand years of civilisation and these are the warriors that you produce?" he said as he moved his right cannon closer to one Amazon warrior. The poor girl went completely white and fainted.
"It appears that in my absence, the stupid and weaker generation have taken over, not even giving me our elite guard who could have taken you here and now," Cologne said with gritted teeth.
Pan Teen and Foam eventually recovered some of their senses. "Ahem, as the Elders of the Amazon tribe, we wish to parley with your leader, mighty robot. That Amazon is a renegade, mighty robot, we are the ones you should be talking to. We would happy to negotiate for our lives…."
"Get out of the truck. All of you,"Optimus growled.
"Out? Oh, out as in out? Out as in out as in out out out?" Foam babbled.
"NOW!" Optimus roared and the Amazons quickly scrambled out of the container and were herded by the Autobots into standing in a group still encircled by the Autobots. Cologne and Shampoo stood their ground though even as Optimus put both of his hands into the container. Cologne thought he was going to forcibly move her but his open palms were given to Kasumi, Ranma and Akane.
"Onee-chan, what should we do?" Akane said fearfully as she gazed at the Autobot's huge hands.
Kasumi gave a reassuring smile at Akane and Ranma. She then stood up and sat on Optimus' palm. "It's OK sister. He is our friend. Trust him as I do," she said.
The faceplate retracted to reveal Prime's mouth. "This is not the way I would have chosen to meet you. Kasumi speaks very highly of the both of you. For what it's worth, on behalf of the Autobots, I offer you the hand of friendship," he said as he gestured with his palm. The two looked at each other and Kasumi before both helped each other move on to the palm. Optimus carried them out of the container and placed them on the road behind Ratchet. Ratchet then transformed his arms back to normal and moved away from the circle of Autobots to tend to the three. Optimus filled the gap he left.
"Hello Ranma, Akane. My name is Ratchet. Do not be afraid, I am a doctor. Now let's have a look at those hands shall we?" he said kindly, the grim expression vanishing to be replaced with a gentle expression that Kasumi loved to see on all the Autobots.
Ranma gulped and said, "Please, look after Akane first."
Meanwhile, Optimus once again knelt to face the three Amazon Elders. "You better have a good reason to attack an innocent woman tonight. I would have thought you Chinese Amazons prided yourselves with promoting feminism."
Pan Teen became indignant and recovered some of her composure. "We only help women who help themselves, warrior women, not these pathetic Japanese doll that is subservient to males," she said defiantly.
Bumblebee was standing behind her. He put his hand to his belly and pressed a button there. From an area that would have served as his crotch, a gas cover popped and hit Pan Teen's head from behind. She rubbed her head, puzzled even as the rest of the Amazons realised what the Autobot was about to do and gave her a wide space. From Bumblebee's crotch, a steady stream of foul smelling liquid poured like a fountain on the Amazon.
"EAARRGHHH! STOP IT, STOP IT, IT STINKS!" she shouted as she tried to block the stream from hitting her.
"Just like you," Jazz hissed.
"Bumblebee, stop lubricating the Amazon," Optimus ordered.
The yellow Autobot shrugged and from his radio box, he said, 'What did I do? I didn't do it.' in Bart Simpson impersonation before he turned of the stream.
Optimus turned to Cologne and Shampoo. "I understand that your grand daughter was attacked three days ago. She has healed remarkably fast," he said indicating Shampoo's face, which had already healed except for a large scar on her cheek.
"No thanks to your kind. I don't know where your pet cat is but that monster is just as answerable for that crime for aiding the cat," Cologne said pointing at Prowl.
"Do not spout nonsense Amazon. I have not even met your granddaughter until today," Prowl said.
"Do not lie, I saw the police car that helped it escaped. And it bore your symbol!" she shouted, pointing at the Autobot insignia on Prowl's chest.
A look of realisation and horror slowly dawned on Prowl's face. "No, it can't be. I killed him," Prowl said softly. Then a look of pure rage engulfed his face. "He's back. WHY CAN'T HE JUST DIE AND LEAVE ME IN PEACE!" Kasumi felt her heart rip as she saw the normally calm and composed Autobot lose his composure. The Autobot was actually trembling in rage now.
"PROWL! Calm yourself. We will sort out the Decepticons later. For now we must protect Kasumi and her family!" Optimus said sternly. He then turned to Cologne. "I will not debate with you now Amazon. I and my fellow Autobots are not responsible for the attack on your grand daughter. I would like to confer with you to clear this misunderstanding. Know that Kasumi is completely innocent of what we do on your planet; she is only our confidant and friend. She knows nothing of our operations."
Kasumi walked to the Amazon Elder. "Please Cologne. Will you at least hear them out? If they wanted you out of their way, don't you think they would have attacked and killed all of you at the Cat Café instead of just targeting Shampoo with one robot cat?"
The Amazon Elder pondered at Kasumi's reasoning. It was odd that the police car itself didn't do what Kasumi just said. Even if it was in broad daylight, the fact was that Nerima citizens had became jaded towards all unusual occurrences and would not have reacted to a giant rampaging robot. And then there were also the current circumstances. At the moment, seven giant robots had attacked them with the only purpose being the rescue of Tendo Kasumi.
On the other hand, the memory of the monster of her childhood still filled her heart with fear and screamed to her not to trust these extraterrestrials. But the evidence was in front of her face: the Autobots were not out to harm the Amazons now.
Cologne finally lowered her staff. "Very well Kasumi, you have my attention."
"How dare you act as an Amazon Elder and negotiate with these monsters as though you represent our tribe Cologne!" Foam shouted at Cologne.
"Optimus! We've got company!" Hound suddenly cried as he aimed his huge sniper rifle towards the highway. "What the….. I'm detecting three… four….. five attack helicopters! Specifications unknown… doesn't appear to be anything in the Chinese or Japanese military. I see two more truck containers disgorging Amazon troops."
Cologne gasped and stared at the other two Elders. "What the hell did you bring to Japan?! Are you trying to start an international war here?" she cried.
Elder Pan Teen smirked and addressed Optimus. "I suggest you surrender to the might of the Chinese Amazons now, inferior male."
"Alright that does it," Jazz snapped. His sword suddenly became a blur and the next thing Elder Pan Teen knew, every piece of clothing she had was torn to pieces. The sight of a naked Elder Amazon was not a pleasant sight and made every other male in the area wince in disgust.
"Eww, Jazz we didn't need to see that!" Prowl said, his face actually turning green like a human.
"I'm not done yet. Optimus, permission to immobilise the Amazons now," Jazz said.
"Permission granted. Hurry, we must avoid the humans."
The naked Elder was enraged. "Impudent males, you will suffer for your blasphemous….. EAARRGHHH!!" She and every other Amazon except Shampoo and Cologne screamed as Jazz shot a stream of liquid from his shield/gun at the feet of the Amazons that quickly froze their feet up to their ankles to the ground.
"Optimus, do you want me to delay the Amazons now?" Hound said quietly as he continued to eye the rapidly approaching Amazons with his scope.
The Autobot leader sighed. "No Hound, they are not our true enemies. You know my orders; we are not to harm any humans. We've all been deceived. Kasumi, Akane, Ranma, you will come with me. The rest of you do your best to distract the Amazons, then disperse and return to base as soon as you can."
"What about Elder Cologne and Shampoo?" Kasumi asked.
Cologne shook her head. "Go Kasumi. I'm sad to say that politics has once again raised its ugly head and complicated matters. I must stay behind and try to resolve this fiasco that my younger counterparts have made," she said as she threw a dirty look at the other Elders.
"But Grandmama, we let Airen go with strange metal men?" Shampoo protested.
Optimus and Cologne stared into each other's eyes. It was then that Cologne finally understood why Kasumi trusted the Autobots implicitly, after seeing the depths of Optimus' soul or whatever served as its life force. They weren't robots. They were truly unique life forms. And these ones were benevolent.
"They will be safe Shampoo. Now go Kasumi. I will do everything in my power to at least give your friends a hearing," Cologne said wearily.
"Come Kasumi, time is short. Climb on to me first, we must find a secluded place to transform," Prime said while offering a hand to Kasumi.
"Optimus, ETA five minutes!" Hound barked.
Kasumi was about to climb on to Prime's right hand when she looked at the Elder Amazon. To Optimus and the Amazons surprise, she ran and hugged both of them before climbing back on Prime's hand. His left hand held Ranma and Akane. He then moved the three to climb on to his shoulders. The pig-tailed martial artist had a grim look at the rapidly approaching Amazon force.
"Ranma, make sure the girls don't fall off. I was told your balance is second to none and judging by what I've seen of you walking on fences, I'm inclined to agree. Now hang on, if we transform in front of the Amazons, they will know our alternate modes and our transformations will be useless. Autobots, disperse and roll out!"
It was then that Kasumi took note of her surroundings. They were actually still somewhere in Tokyo at the middle of a network of highway connection paths. A signboard showed that they were only two kilometres away from entering Tokyo Bay. She looked towards Bumblebee who had crept up behind Optimus.
"Be…. safe….. Kasumi," he whispered.
Kasumi solemnly held out her hand to him, which he took in his. "I will see you later Bumblebee, I promise," she replied. The Autobot nodded and then proceeded to jump off the current highway on to the next road.
"Hang on," Optimus said as he prepared to jump as well. Ranma put his arms on top of the Tendo sister's waists and pinned them to Optimus shoulders as his hands gripped on to Optimus. The Autobot leader jumped down to one road, and then jumped again to the next.
A bright light suddenly flashed on them from above. A helicopter had spotted them and even now was pursuing them. Optimus started running and caused a small commotion as several Tokyo drivers panicked at the sight of a massive thirty-foot robot running along the road. Optimus was trying to outrun and dodge the light but whoever was piloting the helicopter was very good and kept pace even as Optimus zig zagged across the road.
"Ahh, slag!" Prime actually cursed. They had actually passed by the abandoned steel factory but the helicopter was still tailing them and moreover, it was too risky to try and hide there, as the Amazons would be sure to search the surrounding area. He finally reached the docks and was confronted with rows and rows of massive shipping containers. Each was grouped in massive columns that had enough space for forklifts between them.
"Hey robot, let's hide in that maze, the helicopter won't be able to reach us there!" Ranma shouted.
"Good idea Ranma, and my name is Optimus Prime not robot," Optimus said as he slipped into the maze of containers.
The helicopter pilot cursed as Optimus entered the darkness of the maze. He proceeded to move over the containers and try to search the maze but the container maze stretched at least a city block. Unfortunately for Optimus, three others joined the helicopter, which now proceeded to comb the area.
Optimus had let down Kasumi, Akane and Ranma and all were crawling on the floor to avoid the helicopter lights. The Autobot leader fortunately knew the entire maze layout and quietly instructed the three as they crawled. He planned to reach a part of the docking area where he knew there were a lot of carrier trucks, transform and then hide there. Once transformed, there would be no way for the Amazons to discern him from the normal trucks and he could hide the three in compartments the Amazons could not hope to detect.
Akane and Ranma warily crawled but Kasumi was not used to army crawling for so long and was soon thoroughly exhausted. She bore it with gritted teeth and the others didn't notice until she finally fainted.
"Onee-chan!" Akane cried as she moved to her sister's side. She stood up and lifted Kasumi with her right shoulder.
"Steady Kasumi, we're almost there," Optimus said. It was true, they eventually reached the edge of the maze, and Optimus could sense that the helicopters were somewhere on the other side of it. Ranma then took Kasumi's right side and both he and Akane proceeded to cross the dock space to the parking lot where a number of Peterbilt Carriers were parked. Optimus followed, keeping his body low and surprisingly, minimising the noise made by his steps, almost as though he was tiptoeing.
Suddenly the entire area became brightly lit as several powerful searchlights illuminated them. All of them were situated on the cargo ship nearest to them which Optimus realised had Chinese markings. To his horror, the shout of hundreds of Amazons sounded in the air before numerous Amazons rushed out of the cargo ship towards Optimus, Ranma and the two Tendo sisters. They didn't just come from the ship, many had been hiding in the parking lot as well as a nearby warehouse and they now poured out into the yard, all armed to the teeth and equipped with huge rocket propelled grenade guns.
A hiss was heard and all of a sudden, a missile exploded into Optimus' right shoulder causing the Autobot to jerk forward, almost stepping on Ranma and the Tendo sisters.
"Optimus!" Kasumi screamed as she saw the shot.
"Ranma, break through the Amazons line now! Head back to Nerima and my Autobots will find you! Make sure they transform and reveal themselves to you first!" the Autobot leader said sternly as his faceplate re-appeared. He appeared dazed but his voice did not show if he felt any pain. In truth, the missile had not penetrated his armour at all.
Ranma looked at the incoming horde of Amazons. "This is going to be tough, got any better IDEASSSSS?!" he shouted as Optimus picked up all three with his right hand and prepared to throw them over the Amazon line. However, before he could swing his arm, a grapple attached to steel cables to the cargo ship was shot from the ship and encircled his right arm. Thus Optimus' swing was only half completed before it jammed and Optimus accidentally released them. He watched in horror as the three's trajectory carried them right into the Amazons line. The two Tendo sisters screamed while Ranma bellowed a battle cry as he prepared to crash into the Amazons.
They never landed on the Amazons. With a burst of speed, a Toyota Cellica was propelled into the air from behind the Amazon line, transformed in mid air and Bumblebee grabbed the trio before they could land smack into the Amazons. Unfortunately, this meant they were right where they started only now they had Bumblebee with them.
"Bumblebee, you came back," Kasumi said softly as she glimpsed the yellow Autobot.
"Bumblebee, get them out now! We….. AAAARRRRGGGHHH!" a powerful electric discharge was released into the cable and finally hurt the Autobot leader. Now more grapples were launched from the ship. Two more caught Optimus in his other arm and his left leg while another three also entangled themselves around Bumblebee's arms and torso.
"No Bumblebee!" she cried as Bumblebee dropped them to avoid getting them electrocuted even as waves of electricity shot through his body. For the second time that night, the sorrowful whale song burst from his voice box and Kasumi felt her heart rip at the pain both Bumblebee and Optimus was now feeling.
"NOOOO! THEY'RE FRIENDS! STOP HURTING THEM!" she shouted as she ran towards the cargo ship, waving her hands. Ranma and Akane watched in horror as she ran towards the ship and both raced to stop her. The Amazons were almost on her but ten of them leapt over their heads and ignored them, heading for the Autobots. Akane held Kasumi from running towards the ship while Ranma proceeded to fight the Amazons.
"Come on, is that the best you can do? Bring it on! Saotome Ranma never loses," Ranma roared as he systematically beat the Amazons one by one.
Behind her, the ten Amazons had attached themselves to various parts of Optimus and Bumblebee's bodies. Ranma from the corner of his eye, watched in horror as all ten proceeded to use the Soul of Ice technique and brought their surroundings rapidly to subzero. The Autobots struggles became more sluggish as their body parts began to freeze up. Kasumi's eyes met Bumblebee's and she pleaded with them.
"Please, you've got to fight back. Save yourselves, my life isn't worth risking yours for!" she cried.
"That's …. where…. you are …..WRONG!" Optimus roared as his right hand grabbed unto the steel cable and ripped the cable off the ship. His entire right hand then transformed and a long eight-foot white blade of energy stabbed into the sky. With it he slashed off the cables on his hand and leg and then expertly with one swipe, cut the cables connecting and tormenting Bumblebee. Then he flinched in pain as an Amazon attached herself on his right elbow and promptly started freezing it and herself.
'Boss!' Bumblebee's radio cried and he swiped the Amazon hard enough to get her off Optimus' elbow. Optimus' blade arm turned back to his normal hand and he started swiping the Amazons off Bumblebee. Oddly enough, it looked as though they were swiping flies off of each other. Unfortunately since the 'flies' were only swiped away and not squashed, they kept coming back to try freeze the two Autobots. Both of them leapt into the air and landed on either side of Kasumi and Akane, in guard poses.
"ENOUGH!" Cologne shouted from atop of a docking crane. All of them looked up to her from below. Ranma, the Tendo sisters and the two Autobots had to stifle a laugh when they saw the sight before them. Dangling from the crane via a piece of rope, were the two other Amazon elders tied together and gagged with a handkerchief. And by the looks of their faces, it looked like they had been thoroughly beaten by someone. Cologne was standing above them.
"BY RIGHT OF MIGHT, THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO ME AS MATRIARCH TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, AND THE SANCTION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, WHICH RECOGNISES ME AS RULER OF THE CHINESE AMAZONS, I HEREBY REASSERT MY AUTHORITY OF THIS MISSION. CEASE YOUR ATTACKS THIS MINUTE!" Cologne roared. The two tied up Amazon elders tried to say something but a whack from Cologne's staff silenced them.
The Chinese Amazons who had just tackled and about to bind Kasumi, Akane and even Ranma who had been just been overpowered with sheer numbers, looked at each other and then released their captives. The Amazons who had attached themselves to Optimus and Bumblebee did likewise and moved away from the five beings. Nevertheless, Optimus and Bumblebee remained in a guarding posture.
Cologne took a deep breath then leapt forty feet down the docking crane and landed in front of Kasumi and Optimus. "Am I to understand that you are the leader of your kind, Optimus Prime?" she said.
Optimus warily lowered his fists and retracted his faceplate. "I am the leader of the Autobots faction of my race, yes. But there are others of my kind out there and I suspect they are the ones you've met. We call them the Decepticons."
The Elder Amazon then bowed deeply to Optimus. As though deciding the gesture wasn't submissive enough, she stopped hanging from her staff and actually knelt on both knees in front of Optimus. "I am truly sorry for our lack of manners in greeting your arrival. Please accept our Amazon hospitality so that we can pay for our impudence. You were right, we had no right to harm or hold the Tendo family against their will. Although I did not make the decision, I will take full responsibility for my tribe's actions. With Kasumi as our mutual friend, I would like to make first contact with you now," Cologne said with eyes on the ground. "EVERYONE, KNEEL!"
Reluctantly, all of the Amazons except for the two still hanging from the docking crane put down their weapons and kneeled to the two Autobots. Kasumi looked at Optimus and he at her. Both of them looked at Cologne's display of humility. She finally flashed a true smile, which mirrored in Optimus' and he got down to one knee to bring a hand and his face closer to the Amazon Elder.
"Elder Cologne, could you stand please?" she said politely, using her arms to move Cologne to a standing position. Cologne blinked at the now kneeling Optimus. Kasumi took Cologne's right hand in her left and then Optimus moved his right finger, which Kasumi took in her right. She then brought Cologne's and Optimus' hand/finger together. Like Kasumi, Cologne was surprised at the warmth she felt instead of cold hard metal that was to be expected of a mechanical construct.
"Shall we start over?" Kasumi asked.
"Indeed we will Kasumi. Elder Cologne, my name is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots of planet Cybertron. We come in peace."
To be continued
Author's notes
I know, not really my best effort, essentially a re-imagining of the Sector 7 scene. Hope you will all forgive me.
He he, I think I can finally do what I've been dying to do since early July in my next chapter so here's a highly probable sneak preview.
Sneak preview
"Starscream to all Decepticons, move out"
"Soundwave, acknowledged."
" moving out"
" acknowledged"
" incoming"
" blasting off"
" is coming"
" ETA, one hour"
"will be there"
"ALL HAIL MEGATRON!"