More than meets the eye (18/9/2007)
Chapter 19: Mincing wordsKasumi stood in an open space. A grey mist clouded her vision and she could not see anything with her eyes. Even when she waved her hands in front of her, she could barely make out the outline of her fingers. Tentatively she took a step forward and her foot tapped lightly on what seemed to be a tiled floor. She took note of herself. She was wearing her usual clothes; even her apron was covering the front of her yellow sweater and blue knee length skirt. Stockings covered most of her legs below the knees and she wore sensible shoes.
For some reason, she never thought of how weird her situation was. She just walked through the mist, slowly and carefully in case her feet tripped on something. Her only thought was her family and friends.
"Ranma-kun, Akane-chan, O-tousan, Ojisan, Nabiki-chan, Shampoo-san, Ukyo-san, Cologne-san, Mousse-san, Kuno-san……"
Suddenly she saw a flash of something yellow in the mist. Something jolted her memory and she started running towards where she thought she saw the yellow flash. "Bumblebee….."
Something red and blue dashed behind her, she only manage to glimpse a little of it before it too vanished into the mist. Her hands were shaking now as she slowly realised there was something wrong about this picture.
"Optimus Prime?" she cautiously said.
The mist suddenly cleared and she could see both of them clearly. She cried and ran to them, not noticing the fact that they were actually human size. Both of them smiled and reached out their hands to Kasumi.
The moment she touched both of their hands, both of them exploded in a huge inferno. Kasumi screamed even as the fiery explosion enveloped her, burning her clothes and then her flesh….
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Kasumi woke up screaming. She was in a cage that almost seems to be a human size iron birdcage in a small cave, which was just large enough to accommodate a Decepticon, though not of Megatron's size. The entrance of the cave was blocked by what she thought was a Decepticon whose back was lying against the cave entrance. There was no wind but the air was icy cold and she realised that she was still naked and had no way to warm herself. Her heart was racing so fast she thought it would burst out of her chest. She rubbed her eyes and found that her cheeks were soaked with tears. Slowly she remembered the previous night's events and she hugged her knees to her chest. Her eyes were dry. She felt like she had no tears left.
"Optimus…. Bumblebee…" she whispered.
"I see you are awake. My, what a tasty morsel you would make now," an evil voice spoke right in her right ear.
Kasumi turned her face and found herself looking straight at Ravage's maw. The Decepticon appeared to be fully restored and was now in bipedal form. He had actually sneaked up behind her at the edge of the cage and put his head behind hers before speaking, no doubt hoping to shock her.
He was sorely disappointed when Kasumi said coolly. "Good morning Ravage. You're looking well for someone who dismembered a few hours ago. I take it Megatron has been busy using the Key To Vector Sigma?"
Ravage narrowed his eyes but smiled evilly. He placed his right paw next to Kasumi's face and from his index finger, a long claw came out. He slid the claw across her face, taking satisfaction when she shivered at his cold touch. "Be warned Kasumi, there are many ways of maximising the infliction of pain on your body without permanently damaging you. By Megatron's grace, he has withheld such treatment. I beg of you Kasumi, displeasure him so that I may be given the pleasure of applying my trade. I learnt much fascinating torture specifically for human women. My word, your race truly is creative, and it comes from your Spanish Inquisition Church no less."
Kasumi's blood ran cold at the mention of the Inquisition, a brutal period of Europe marked by witch hunts and misconduct by the church, often against women. Her stomach became ill as she somehow recalled some of the more disturbing images in Nabiki's hentai magazines.
'No, they may take my body but not my mind,' she silently steeled herself.
"That day has yet to come Ravage. Now am I to go before your leader clad only in my skin," she said quietly.
Ravage held his claw right under Kasumi's chin, as though he would slit her throat. Then he retracted the claw and his left hand came out from his back revealing a few pieces of some sort of fur skin. He threw a large piece that appeared to be the skin of a panda bear and a few smaller pieces that looked like tiger skin. To her surprise, he also put a box into the cage and opened it, revealing sewing materials; scissors, needles, thread and the like.
"Prepare yourself in ten minutes. Slaves do not need clothes but my Lord prefers healthy slaves nonetheless. Oh well, I needed a snack anyway. Here, I even saved you a morsel," he then threw a slab of meat next to Kasumi. She winced at the still wet pound of flesh, which splattered some blood on her when it hit the ground. She frowned at Ravage who merely picked his teeth with his claw. "Japanese eat lots of food raw don't they? Shouldn't be so indigestible to you," with that he walked off, laughing.
Kasumi sighed and wished she wasn't always doomed to be a damsel in distress. Granted she always wanted to be rescued by a handsome knight, but most of the time, storybooks described dragons or monsters hiding princesses in reasonably comfortable towers and castles, and normally did not delight in seeing their captives naked either. Now her knights were weakened and the dragons seem to be growing bigger in size, quantity and perverseness. As far as her life was concerned, her story had taken a new precedent in fairy tales.
'Oh well, time to do what I do best. Idle mind is the devil's workshop,' she thoughts as she picked up the panda and tiger skin and began to tailor some clothes. Briefly, she prayed for forgiveness for using the pelts but promised that they would be put to good use.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kasumi woke up at the sound of the Decepticon blocking the entrance moving and letting in the morning light shine into the cave, bathing her in golden light. She had managed to sew the tiger skin into a sort of one-piece suit to cover her body all the way to a few centimetres above her knees. The dress held on to her via a single strap, which slung over her right shoulder while a belt was cut to tie the fabric to her waist. The panda skin she cut into a cloak for herself. The slab of meat she had thrown out of the cage.
"Well well well, what do we have here? Jane of the Jungle?" the Decepticon let out an evil laugh but Kasumi was no longer surprised at the Decepticon reactions. As far as she was concerned, she was prepared they were all merely large, metal clad Happosais.
"Good morning Mr. Decepticon. May I see Megatron?" she asked politely while kneeling.
She was thrown off her knees when the Decepticon violently picked up the cage and shook it. The poor girl was slightly bruised but managed to flatten herself on the cage's floor. She looked questioningly at him.
"That's Lord Megatron to you slave. And while you are at it, I am Master Barricade. You would do well to remember that," he growled as he put his face close to Kasumi's at the edge of the cage, showing off his razor sharp teeth.
Kasumi glared at Barricade. "Just bring me to see Megatron before I tell him you've been a very naughty boy, playing with his …… possession."
Barricade's eyes narrowed. "Big words for a slave. You and I will have a little chat when Megatron tires of you and then I'll……"
"Beat me, torture me, rape me yadi yadi yada. Take a number after Ravage will you?" Kasumi was beginning to feel bored with all the threats and in a perverse way, wish they would do it and be done with it rather than keep making empty threats.
"Why you little……." Barricade snarled as his left hand transformed into a spiked wheel.
"Barricade, bring Kasumi to Megatron now," the metallic voice of Soundwave said outside the cave.
Barricade brought the spiked wheel towards the cage but in the end, transformed it back into a hand. "One of these days, I'm gonna stick that uncharismatic bot's head up your ass Kasumi," he said as he carried the cage out of the cave.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The cold wind told that Kasumi was high in the mountains. She pulled the panda cloak around her but nothing could be done about her face as well as her bare feet, which she thought would freeze against the cold hard metal of the cage. Surprisingly, rather than being in a snowy mountain, the pine trees told her she was merely at least three thousand metres above the ground in a wooded area.
The Decepticons appeared to be readying themselves for battle. Two Decepticons even appeared to be in a mockfight. She didn't know who the Decepticons were but by their appearance, one that fought with a spiked ball as his left hand could probably transform into a tank while the other who wielded a double edged axe was probably a space shuttle.
Soundwave and Barricade walked for a while through the forest until they came to a small cliff. The menacing figure of Megatron stood on the cliff, hands behind his back and looked towards the risen sun. Then Kasumi managed to glance over the cliff and her heart became fearful.
Over the distance, she saw a massive sprawling military base. It was huge and vast, with what seemed to her to be hundreds of jet fighters and tanks. If she knew anything about the People's Republic of China, she would have known that the PRC possessed the largest military in the world, numerically dwarfing every other country, even Russia. However their military technology was still considered behind most of the Western Powers but even then, the PRC was a force to be reckoned with and in recent years, they had already began to modernise their forces, downsizing the sheer size of their military machine in favour of quality and high technology.
"Release her Barricade. Soundwave, I leave you to prepare for the attack. We attack in one hour," Megatron said, his menacing growl not heard as he adopted a softer, even civil tone like that of Optimus Prime.
At the thought of the Autobot leader, Kasumi clenched her fist around the cloth above her heart. 'Prime,' she thought.
Barricade had a look on his face that said that he wanted to drop her but he reluctantly gently put the cage on the ground. Despite looking primitive, the cage's bars suddenly retracted into the base, leaving only the metal base and Kasumi free to walk out.
"Leave us."
Barricade and Soundwave bowed and left the cliff. Megatron then turned and faced Kasumi with those fearsome eyes of his. Kasumi looked right back though not without a hint of fear but only for what was going to happen now. The Decepticon leader than used his right hand to pick up Kasumi but despite his viciously long fingers and claws, he was delicate in his touch and lifted Kasumi to his eye level.
"Do you prefer to sit on my shoulder or would you prefer to sit on that tree branch over there? I would speak to you without having to bow to you nor for you to crane your neck and get whiplash. After all, I have a debt to make sure your healthy," Megatron said in what Kasumi felt to be a mocking courteous tone.
Kasumi was briefly angered that Megatron would have her sit on his shoulder. As far as she was concerned, that was an honour she would only give to the Autobots. "No Megatron, I would prefer the tree branch."
Megatron nodded and complied, setting Kasumi high above the ground on an extraordinarily tall pine tree. Even if Kasumi wanted to, she doubt she could climb down the tree by herself, nor could she fall to the ground like Ranma.
"You had a pleasant sleep I trust?"
"As well as one can have after seeing her best friend killed last night," Kasumi said.
"Sarcasm does not become you Kasumi. It would not do to sully your pretty face with malice. Oh don't be surprise, despite being weak carbon based lifeforms, your female body resembled a female Cybertronian enough that I can consider attractive. Actually, that problem can be fixed easily enough," Megatron remarked as he eyed Kasumi.
"You might want to rethink that, seeing that if you make me into one of your kind using the Key To Vector Sigma, I would have a chance of defeating you and getting back the Key and Matrix," she replied.
"Impressive. Even now you are defiant, in the face of your master. Dear Kasumi, I assume my Decepticons have already expressed their wish to peel your mind layer by layer and saturate every layer of it with pain? Without harming your body? Believe me, Ravage can do things that even make ME, wince."
"Oh, I thought someone like you wouldn't balk at torturing a simple human female," Kasumi said defiantly.
"I'm sure Optimus Prime has painted me to be some monster whose only interest is to see the entire galaxy bow at my feet. True, that is my ultimate goal but I believe it is the only way for my race to survive in this harsh galaxy, by uniting all races under my hand and forging an Empire more greater than any other alien race. And I do not cause pain more than necessary."
Kasumi frowned. "I thought your race was already the most powerful."
Megatron snorted. "Kasumi-chan, why do you think 'I' was created in the first place?"
Briefly, Kasumi recalled her conversation with Prime regarding his relationship with Megatron. "There was another race threatening the Cybertronians?" she asked.
"The Quintessons were only the first in a wave of alien species, some even beyond our known galaxy, that which you humans call the Milky Way. Oh yes, horrible beings lurk in the cosmos Kasumi, ready to devour your world in a single gulp. There also has long been a prophecy that the Matrix is not just a vessel that creates all Cybertronian life, but it is also a weapon to destroy the greatest threat to our race. What that threat is, nobody knows and believe it or not, haunts my nightmares still. No, contrary to what Optimus may have told you, we were not invincible. We barely had the strength to defend our own borders."
Megatron's face twisted in disgust. "Yet that brother of mine still had the gall to order me to protect other races, even at the expense of MY warriors. Races that were useless and beneath us, planets that had no value at all, yet the old fools of the Autobot Council including my brother still made us defend them as though they were our own territory."
"Optimus Prime doesn't seem like somebody who watches from behind the scenes and sends soldiers to die," Kasumi said.
"Oh he did fight some battles, that was one of his barely redeeming features. Optimus Prime is a worthy warrior of his own right but his sickening code cost me many warriors and still he defended the weak and the useless. I tell you now Kasumi, if I hadn't done something, our race would be extinct already, conquered by some alien race beyond your comprehension. I had to take action to change our society into a warrior race of Decepticons to fend off the invaders."
"Yet because of you, your race IS nearly extinct. You went too far Megatron even to reform your society. I know Prime, he would have listened to you, maybe even yielded a little to your demands. The fact that he didn't, meant your methods were too extreme. You may hide under the facade of nobility and reasons for preserving your own race but in the end, you reduced your once proud and mighty race to a bare fifty in number," Kasumi said, her eyes flashing in anger. "At least Prime is humble enough to admit that he himself is partially to be blamed for this. Are you blind enough to not see your arrogance is the cause of your race's near extinction?" Kasumi said with a flash of anger. The conversation with Megatron was going exactly as she surmised; that Megatron would justify the means through the ends to preserve his own race.
His eyes flashed brightly and he grinded his teeth as he heard Kasumi's retort. "So says a housewife who hasn't faced hordes of Tyranids that can literally eat up a planet's entire resources in three days. I am kind enough to grant you facts without the sugar coating of Prime's stupid code of honour. Do not abuse my goodwill. You may be my slave but I still owe you a debt. That debt however only extends to your physical well being and long life."
Kasumi was disgusted. "Then rape me and torture me already. Are all Decepticon threats nothing but hot air? You think that after killing off one of my best friends, one of my ONLY friends, that you can scare me? You think that even now, when you are about to invade humanity that you can reduce me to a submissive slave to wait you hand and foot? I'll tell you this Megatron, evil never prospers. You made a grave mistake when you let the Autobots live last night. I know them, they will never let you conquer this world without a fight."
The girl gasped and cried as Megatron's right hand suddenly shot up and held Kasumi in an iron grip. "The Autobots are no longer a threat. By the end of this week, they will either be grovelling at my feet, or being used as the spare parts for my new army. I hear that you have a particular relationship with that detestable warrior Bumblebee? I'm now thinking of using his Spark as my personal squeeze toy. His parts will be used to construct your new cage and you can stare at his head all day as I crush his Spark from afar and make you watch him suffer for the rest of yours and his miserable life. No, he would be relieved that you are well even if he is tortured. I think a daily visit from Ravage and Barricade to play with you will at least, let both of you share the same predicament," Megatron snarled at Kasumi. This time his sharpened claws cut into Kasumi, slitting horrible gashes through the tiger and panda pelt into her skin but Kasumi refused to cry although tears of pain escaped her eyes. He then dropped her to the ground. Kasumi desperately tried to grab unto the tree branches but was only partially successful. The branches were too small and broke under her weight but helped cushion her somewhat before she hit the ground. Fortunately for her, the ground was soft but the result was a severely bruised and gashed Kasumi. Her entire body ached but she gritted her teeth, reminding herself that this was nothing compared to the pain of being part of Megatron previously.
She cried as Megatron used a claw to flick Kasumi hard as though she was a carom piece. The force propelled her forward and she hit a tree hard before she dropped to the forest floor face first. Megatron then pressed Kasumi to the ground with a talon on his right foot.
"Grovel worm before your superior. It appears that disciplining you is inevitable. I was hoping you would be a useful, interesting and submissive slave but your defiance infuriates me. Sigh, I guess I'll have to grant Ravage and Barricade their due rewards. Perhaps Swindle would like to play as well although the fool is not skilled enough and would leave a lot of markings. I give you one last chance Kasumi. Grovel, kiss my feet, swear submission and address me as Lord Megatron. Only then will I continue to let you be my pet, untouched and unharmed."
Rage engulfed Kasumi then and she raised her head and looked contemptuously at the Decepticon leader. "You sadistic pathetic excuse of a warrior! Even Ranma has more brains and honour than you! I thought that at least you would be a warrior leader that just happened to clash with Prime who was a peacetime leader but in the end, you are just evil. A megalomaniac concerned with only his own personal agenda while deluding himself with the notion that he is doing it for selfless reasons. I have seen the destruction you wrought Megatron. I've seen your laughter when you killed unarmed Autobots in your drunken bloodlust. You call Prime stupid for dragging the war till your race is nearly extinct. I call you stupid for starting the fight in the first place!" she then spat on Megatron's clawed feet then looked defiantly at Megatron, tears of rage flowing as she said this.
A moment of eerie silence followed. Slowly, Megatron smile evilly. "Perhaps it was too much of me to convince you to see things my way. I'm sorry Kasumi but I AM a good and fair leader who adequately rewards my followers. Ravage and Barricade have served me well and deserve a toy to play with. I am magnanimous enough to lend you to them. But unfortunately, duty calls. Today you will see the rise of the Decepticon army. And guess, what? You're going to get a first class seat to all the action."
Kasumi shouted, "The Autobots will stop you. They're still alive and will kick you tin ass back to the stars. And if they don't, Saotome Ranma will. I tell you now you will rue the day that you hurt a woman in front of him, he'll crush you into scrap metal before the Autobots can kick you to the stars."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's see them do all those things to me. Up close and personal," Megatron said grimly as he gripped Kasumi painfully again and lifted her off the ground.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After the Decepticon attack, it took the Autobots some time to recover. Ratchet, Hound and the Amazon Elders were confronted by Brawl, Swindle, Barricade, Blast Off and Soundwave but the Decepticons let them go rather then destroy them. Soundwave reminded them off the wounded Autobots in the castle as well as numerous more Amazons in the same plight. After that, all of them transformed and boarded Blast Off's space shuttle mode. The shuttle still took time to go collect Blitzwing and Onslaught before vanishing beyond the Amazon valley. Between Ratchet, Hound and the Amazon Elders, they managed to put the remaining Autobots out of critical health. Optimus Prime, to Ratchet's grief, was pronounced dead after a brief prognosis.
All were silent as all the Autobots except Ratchet and Bumblebee carried Optimus out of the castle. Bumblebee was supported by Ratchet. No words were said, their grief was too great. The Amazon Elders and NWC also said nothing. Despite only knowing the Autobot leader for a short while, they all felt a sense of lost, as though a heroic spirit that came only once in a lifetime, had just been ripped away from their lives. As a token of respect, the Amazon Elders managed to produce a large white cloth, which the Autobots used to wrap Optimus Prime's grey and dead form. Wordlessly they carried Prime as the Amazon Elders led them to another part of the mountain. There they saw a cave blocked by a huge boulder more than thirty feet across. To their astonishment, when Cologne touched the boulder, it actually disappeared as though it was an illusion.
Inside the cave, was a chamber filled with tiny pots, each bearing the cremated remains of Amazon warriors in ages past. The cavernous hangar was huge, more than fifty feet across and was like a gigantic beehive. Even then, nearly all of the walls, which had little chambers to hold the ash containers, were filled. According to Hound's calculation, there were more than ten thousand ash containers in the walls. As they all entered the hall, each one of them, Autobot or Human felt they had entered another world altogether, one too holy for their stained and sinful lives. Most of them felt some resistance as they entered the cavern but the moment they thought of Prime's death, the feeling passed and they managed to enter the chamber.
"This is our hallowed Hall Of Heroes, the first of which was the Chinese Amazon Lo Ree Al," Cologne said, looking at the middle of the cavern, where there was a statue of an exquisitely beautiful Chinese Amazon in full battle dress. "Please, you may lay Optimus Prime to rest in front of Lo Ree Al's feet. The spirit of our Amazon ancestors will guard your leader. I swear to you that this chamber is unbreakable until the world ends. The fact that you've all managed to enter speaks well of your hearts. No evil being can enter here, not even Megatron."
The Autobots gently placed the shrouded Optimus Prime as Cologne advised then. For a moment, they all stood around Optimus Prime, giving a moment of silence as well as praying and reminiscing their happiest or greatest moments with the Autobot leader. Similarly, the Nerima Wrecking Crew prayed for the Autobot leader to rest in peace. No more tears were shed. The men and women did not think they had any left. After ten minutes of silence, they exited the cavern, which the boulder miraculously appeared out of thin air and blocked it, then returned to the castle to have a conference. It was only then they finally assessed themselves for battleworthiness.
All the Autobots were badly damaged though not enough to be life threatening. Hound had a huge hole in his chest, the missile Starscream had shot at him nearly penetrated to his spark but miraculously it didn't which was the only reason he was still alive now. Ironhide looked like a sponge with numerous holes all over his chest and back, in addition one of his ankles was broken and he walked with a limp now.
Prowl's chest was also badly damaged, most of the armour being torn off by Barricade. He and Jazz were also badly wounded by the sneak attack from behind. Ratchet had managed to attach his legs and was now working to repair Bumblebee's armour. Bumblebee was by far the most badly wounded as well as the most demure of the bunch. The yellow Autobot could only make mournful noises now but could communicate either via his radio or by transmitting his thoughts directly to the Autobots in their own language.
"!(#(!&)(#$!#$&!/ We have to do something to rescue Kasumi. We can't just let Megatron get away with this!" Bumblebee said to the Autobots.
Ranma's temper flared for the first time that day. "What kind of super aliens are you when you can let all of this happened? I can't believe Kasumi trusted you with her safety! You couldn't even keep her safe from the Amazons! I wish you never came to Earth," Ranma angrily said.
Jazz leapt to his feet. "So what now, you're angry enough to fight us? You wanna piece of me punk? Come on you wanna piece of me?" Ranma also leapt to his feet and the two would have started fighting if Cologne hadn't hopped in between them and hit them both hard on the head.
"Oww, what was that for old ghoul?!" Ranma and Jazz shouted while rubbing their heads.
"This isn't getting us anywhere. We're already in deep shit and you want to start fighting with each other? While I may not be surprised at you Ranma, I am disappointed that an intelligent alien like yourself would resort to childish behaviour, Jazz," Cologne said.
The two glowered at Cologne for a while. To his credit, Jazz straightened himself and bowed to Cologne and Ranma. "You are right, it is childish. I apologise for my outburst Ranma. But please do not think that we do not care about Kasumi."
Ranma was stunned. Being apologised to was something he very rarely experienced. "Uhmmm, OK. I'm just so frustrated that nothing seems to be going right in my life, or even the lives of people around me. Sometimes I think I jinx everybody with bad luck."
Akane sighed. "You may have brought my family a lot of bad luck but plenty of good as well. And like it or not, we are not responsible for what's happened to Kasumi so far, none of us including you Autobots. We were… just outsmarted that's all. Now's the time to bite back."
"Akane's right. I say we find the Decepticons and pound them before they make their next move. Now would be the best time, since they've given us a weeklong window of opportunity. If we attack now, they'll never expect it," Ironhide said.
"That is out of the question. We all need that week to heal. Bumblebee can't even stand let alone fight and neither can Hound. The best they can do now is transform. I won't allow my patients to fight when they can't," Ratchet angrily said.
"#!(&!()#&)(#$!/ No, I can fight Ratchet. Just make sure my legs can work," said Bumblebee.
"Enough, nobody is in a good condition to fight. Whatever we have to do, will have to wait for one week before any of you can even throw a punch," Ratchet said.
"By that time, this world will already become a Decepticon world. And who's to say what horrors Kasumi will endure? If you think she is going to submit and wait on Megatron like a loving slave, dream on. We all saw her eyes. She's no longer the same gentle person she once was, curse Megatron," Jazz growled.
"))!)#$)#!#$$ / Besides, you are not the leader Ratchet. Prowl was Prime's second in command and it falls to him to lead us now."
Prowl shook his head. "We're in no position to do anything now. We're damaged, outnumbered and are on our own. This is it Autobots. Megatron has won. He is right. It is futile for us to fight anymore. We've… lost," Prowl's voice grew progressively softer as he said that.
Everybody was stunned. The police car Autobot had been very quiet through their discussion. It seemed like the fire had died in his heart, leaving a broken husk of an Autobot. But Prowl wasn't finished yet.
"Yes we've lost again. We've been losing this war for millennia and frankly, I'm getting tired of losing. Bumblebee is right. We can't sit idly nor do we have the luxury of rest anymore. For the moment, the right choice for us is to fight."
"That's insane. Even if we do manage to catch the Decepticons offguard, we don't have the firepower to defeat all of them, especially Megatron. For that matter, we don't know where they are or their next plans," Ratchet protested.
Prowl shook his head. "Actually, their next plan is easy to figure out. Elder Cologne, where is the nearest military base?"
Cologne thought for a while. "That would be the Sichuan Region base. It supposedly boasts China's best tanks and aircraft. But why would they want to attack the base head on with only fifteen Decepticons?"
"You are forgetting the powers of the Key To Vector Sigma. Combined with the Matrix, Megatron can create an entire army of fully sentient and powerful Decepticons, all with our transformation technology and knowledge. China's technology may be behind the Western Powers but once transformed by the Key and Matrix, their technology will be upgraded as well as being bestowed transformation abilities." Prowl sighed. "Autobots, the time for anonymity is gone. This is no longer a secret war. It's time to warn the humans if they…. No, "WE" are to have any chance of defeating the Decepticons."
"Hound, its time for you utilise your diplomatic skills. Cologne, may I ask what is your political relationship with the main PRC government?"
Cologne was startled. "You're serious aren't you? Making yourselves known on this world? Do you have any idea what will happen if we humans suddenly realised there are aliens among us? It would cause mass panic and worldwide destabilisation. I'm willing to bet that even if we go to Beijing now, the first thing they'll do to Hound is capture and experiment on him before he can even say a word."
"We're backed into a wall here. We have no other choice. Better that they know we are here and be prepared for it rather than let humanity be sitting ducks for Megatron. Cologne, you haven't answered my question."
The Amazon Elder became thoughtful for a while. "Well, its not like we're at war, but we don't really have any formal relations with Beijing. Most of China's conflicts passed by us and we were never really affected by its political conflicts. Although I did have the honour of meeting Deng Xiao Peng once but that was long ago. As far as I know, Chinese Amazons have become obscured into legend again."
"Well like I said, the time of hiding, legend and shadow is over. To dispel the shadow, one must have light. Are you sure you don't have any high connections in the PRC government? I still find it hard to believe the PRC left you alone all these years without trying to assimilate you, considering PRC's history with Tibet, Taiwan and even Inner Mongolia," Prowl pressed on.
"OK fine, I do have the number of President Hu Jin Tao. I met him briefly before on a trip to Beijing just to make sure our political neutrality. Perhaps its time I used that number," Cologne finally admitted.
"You will have to do it on the road. Hound, here are your orders. You are hereby appointed as our ambassador. You will take the Amazon Elders to Beijing with all speed and ask for assistance from the PRC leadership. Your objective is to seek an alliance between the PRC and the Autobots to stop the Decepticons from taking over the world. Do what is necessary short of offering them the know-how of making a fusion bomb of Cybertronian calibre. I leave it to you and Cologne to handle the negotiations."
"The Chinese government is sure to ask for something in return for their help. Besides, how will you be able to prove the Decepticons existence? The attack on the Amazon city would be seen as fabricated, especially when we are not supposed to exist in China anyway. Oh rats, now I regret making our country a secret country almost unknown to the world," Cologne said.
Prowl smiled grimly. "The evidence will come through us. Ratchet, I want you to link all of our visual links to Hound. When the Decepticons attack Chinese military bases, we will be there and Hound will be able to provide live feed to the Chinese authorities. That by itself would be of great value to the PRC since the Decepticons are bound to jam all incoming and outgoing communications at the bases to keep the PRC blind. Except that Hound's telecommunications skills are superior to Soundwave and it won't interfere with us transmitting live to the PRC even as we fight."
Bumblebee lifted his head. "(!#)!$()#$&#)(&r )(&)&#)($&/ So we will fight. Now how are we going to get Kasumi or the Matrix from Megatron?"
The police car Autobot fell silent. "Bumblebee, I don't have any answer for that. The best thing we can do is to make sure we get back up when we fight Megatron. If we can get the support from the humans, only then can we counter attack and perhaps launch a rescue operation once we know where the Decepticons are holed up. Until then, we must hold this world's safety as our top priority."
"So we leave Kasumi to fate is that it? We just let some Earth deity do some miracle that will save our best and only friend? That's just lame Prowl. At the very least, let me go and scout for her first," Hound said.
Prowl snorted. "You're in no condition to scout let alone fight now Hound. Please, you are our last hope for human support. We have a strong possibility that Megatron will attack and convert the Sichuan military base into a Decepticon base. We must prevent that at all cost."
"I hate to say this, but for now, all we can do for Kasumi is pray. To whatever patron Earth deities and that Primus have mercy on her."
Everyone was silent as they thought of Kasumi. Eventually Ranma spoke up, "So what do the rest of us do?"
"Ranma, Akane and the rest will follow Cologne and Hound to Beijing. Citizens of Nerima, I entrust the safety of my comrade Hound to you. Our hopes lies in your negotiations now Hound."
Prowl then stood up. "In the meantime, I'm willing to bet that Megatron will attack the Chinese base as soon as he is ready, which means even now. Autobots, we're going to the Sichuan military base. That is where we will make our last stand. If Megatron succeeds there, all hope will be lost. There is where we will hold them. There is where we will fight. If necessary, there is where we will be reunited with the Matrix," Prowl growled as his claws came out of his knuckles. He raised them over his head.
"Autobots, we will uphold the Cybertronian codes of justice, truth, honour and loyalty to the death. But this must be done out of free will, otherwise we would be no better than Megatron. I may be Prime's second in command but I wish your approval. Are you with me?"
Ironhide pounded his chest, ignoring the sparks that came out of the seven holes. "Prowl, as long as you got the guts to slag Decepticons, I will follow you."
"You may be a stick in the mud but at least you are an Autobot stick in the mud. You got my sword Prowl," Jazz said as he stood up.
Ratchet silently nodded and stood up. "One way or another, this has to end. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall no know fear for we walk on the side of right."
Bumblebee wobbly stood on his newly repaired legs. "Autobots, I just want you to know it has been an honour serving with all of you. Never have I regretted fighting at your sides, even when I was in the depths of Megatron's torture pits. For our fallen friends, as well as our newfound friends…" Bumblebee gestured the NWC, "….. but most of all, for Kasumi and Prime, we shall fight to the end."
For the first time in his long existence, Prowl felt tears come to his eyes. Briefly he cursed his design, wondering why his race had been bestowed with tear ducts. Nevertheless, a brief glimmer of hope shone in Prowl's spark. "Thank you Autobots. For bearing with a stick in the mud such as myself for so long."
The Autobots nearly face vaulted. 'Did Prowl just make a joke?' they all thought.
Prowl then turned to Hound. "Well Hound, we're off to war. It's likely that we go to our doom as well. Do not begrudge yourself of our fate Hound. If all goes badly, you will have to live on. My last orders are the same as now: protect the humans at all cost."
Hound was silent, burdened with the terrible responsibility of being the sole survivor of the Autobots if everything went bad. Cologne sighed and leaped on top of Hound's right shoulder. "Fear not Autobot Hound. I swear that you will have the support of the Chinese Amazons in all your endeavours. We will speak for you as you will speak for us. I swear we'll get support for you if I have to torture President Hu Jin Tao himself."
The green Autobot scout smiled. "Your support is reassuring Cologne. Alright then, its time we get on the road before the Decepticons attack the base." Wearily, he got to his feet, wincing at the pain in his chest. "Come on everyone. It's time to do something that nobody likes to do even if it is the right thing to do: diplomacy."
"In the meantime, I suggest you use this," Cologne then led the Autobots into the castle again. She went to another chamber where there was a huge sophisticated looking door. She went to a panel on side of the door and punched in a few combination numbers and the door opened sideways, revealing a long dark tunnel. As the door opened, lights along the tunnel appeared, illuminating the tunnel with a dim light and showing that it was extremely long and led to the depths of the Earth.
"This road was meant to be a secret tunnel to the outside world, should the Amazon village fall. It'll take you straight under the valley and out into the main road networks of Sichuan. Use it with all speed Autobots. I know my Chinese Amazon warriors have not lived up to their expectations but for what its worth, I will send all of my warriors after you," she sighed and then kowtowed to the Autobots. The other Amazons and even the NWC did the same. "God speed, noble Autobots. I pray against all hope, that we will see each other again," she said with her face to the ground.
"Cologne, whatever sins your human race caused to us has been paid ten times over by Kasumi's kindness. For what it is worth, thank you for your support and hospitality," Prowl also bowed to Cologne.
Bumblebee then limped over to Cologne. He then gently took the Amazon Elder with his hands and gave her a small hug.
")!#$!2#$()#()&()&#$ / Whatever happens, it was an honour to meet a noble human like you as well. For Kasumi's sake, I suggest that we don't die until we've tasted her exquisite Japanese cuisine," Bumblebee was making sounds in his alien language so Hound translated to Cologne. The old woman's heart was touched. A crazy idea started to form in her mind but she put it aside. No use telling them when they didn't know if they would live the next day.
"Thank you Bumblebee. If I may say so, you truly deserve Kasumi," she said, making the yellow Autobot blush a mocha silver.
Prowl turned to Hound. They then shook hands with each other.
"Until the day, till all are one," all of the Autobots said then. Prowl then turned towards the tunnel.
"Autobots, transform and roll out."
To be continued….
Author's notes
Sigh, no matter how I look at it, the chapter seems so dry after all the bombshells I've dropped. If you agree with me, then sorry guys, may be awhile before I think of something shocking to drop on you guys again. Actually I have a few more cards up my sleeve but after turning Kasumi into Megatron and killing off Prime, I think you've weathered the worst storm already.
I was rushing this chapter to be honest, so I apologise if I made more than a few errors. As always, reviews will be needed to amend my story but make sure you put your two cents about the story as well. Thanks.
Oh well, I still hope for long reviews anyway. Take care and God bless.