More than meets the eyes (30/9/2007)
Author's notesOK, before the chapter starts, I'm going to post an Omake which was a crazy idea I came up with as I was experimenting with ideas.. In case some of you think I'm an insensitive anti-American who is ungrateful for all America has done for the world, please bear in mind that I did ask three Americans if they found the Omake offensive, which they did not. Anyway, I'm not anti-American. I'm anti-George Bush the Second.
OmakePresident Hu Jin Tao sighed and never thought the day would come when he had to make this phone call. He picked up the phone and dialled the phone number of the person he hated the most.
"Hello, who's there?" a voice with a Southern drawl spoke lazily into the phone.
"This is Hu Jin Tao here."
"No, this is Bush. Jin Tao? What kind of a prank call is this missy? You trying to pull a number on me?"
The Chinese President's eyebrow twitched. "No Bush, this is President Hu here."
"President who? Who's the president? Who's the PRESIDENT OF THE UNTIED STATES OF AMERICA! Oh so you wanna be funny here nigger? Trying to sound like a Chinee? Well laugh now because soon you'll be laughing with the FBI! I'm telling you we're tracing this call to you now and will have we'll know where your black behind is located in ten seconds."
This time, a vein was about to pop in Hu Jin Tao's head. With a great deal of will power grafted on to him during his political career, he held down a biting remark and waited for the ten seconds to finish.
"Ah sure hope you like your cell nigger. It ougn't be a big difference to your little palace down in Mississippi. Why I bet some inmates will be loving your shiny behind………." silence reigned as Bush suddenly shut up.
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"Uh, who is this again?" a small voice said.
Hu Jin Tao took a deep breath. "PRESIDENT HU JIN TAO OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA YOU INBRED COLONIAL PHILISTINE SON OF A CHIMPANZEE! YOU IDIOT! JUST SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON TAPE AND I'M DAMN WELL GOING TO PLAY IT FOR THE WORLD TO HEAR!"
"NOOOOOOOOO! PLEASE!! DON'T DO IT! I'LL DO ANYTHING! ANYTHING!"
The Chinese President blinked. 'Wow, that was easy. Maybe those Christian party members I was planning to frame for treason tomorrow are really on to something when they said they would pray for this phone call to work.
"How about US military assistance in repelling an alien invasion in China?"
Silence again.
"You can't be serious. What kind of an idiot do you think I am?"
In a remarkable imitation of Bush's southern drawl, Hu said "Ah sure hope you like your cell nigger. It oughn't be a big difference to your little palace down in Mississippi. Why I bet some inmates will be loving your shiny behind….."
"OK OK OK! Please, anything but that! I'll have Admiral Casey Ryback contact you in a minute. Just pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaase!!!!!"
Hu shook his head. 'And they call us barbarians,' he thought.
"Admiral Casey Ryback. In one minute. Counting now!" President Hu snarled before slamming the phone down.
He looked at the clock which showed the year 2007. 'How many more years does that chimpanzee have left in the White House? Oh I hope he doesn't destroy the world right after this alien invasion.'
His subsequent talks with Admiral Casey Ryback, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda were considerably more civilised.
End Omake.
Well there you have it. I actually created it at the end of the last chapter but I wanted to get an opinion from some American friends first before I post. Unlike many people, while I nominally believe in freedom of speech, I also believe we should be sensitive to other people's feelings too and not simply say what we like just because we can.
Anyway without further ado………..
Chapter 22: Utulie'n aureAll stood in awe of the massive alien rocket that landed in front of them and at the figure that stood at the doorway. At first Kasumi's heart fell as she recalled Optimus saying that there were very few Autobots and Decepticons left and of those remaining, most of them were Decepticons given that Prime could only account for seven Autobots including himself, out of the estimated fifty still surviving.
Then the shadow over her heart lifted. Emblazoned on the side of the rocket, was the Autobot symbol in bright red. As was the figure that now approached Optimus Prime.
The Cybertronian was nearly as tall as Optimus Prime, the height difference was only a metre or so. Like the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons, it was mostly armoured with huge plates covering its chest, arms, legs and joints but there were still a few gaps here and there exposing the inner exoskeleton beneath the armour. Somehow when it walked, there was something that was different about the way it did it but Kasumi couldn't figure out why until it was close enough to make out its face.
The face, which was protected by a strange red helmet with two spikes jutting out in a V shape like an insect's antennas, was unmistakably female as well as the tough walk it employed. The chest was nearly flat but could be imagined to be that of a small chest-woman. It was a noble face, aged with wisdom like Optimus Prime. Kasumi never thought she would meet another of Optimus' race that could match the Autobot leader's regal yet humble demeanour. If Prime and the other Autobot (for the symbol of the Autobot was clearly emblazoned at the middle of her chest in silver) were humans, she would have assumed they were in their mid-forties.
Silently she walked towards Optimus Prime, who had gone rigid. Actually they were all similarly frozen. It was as though they were experiencing a miracle of God, yet another hope beyond hope, an unexpected ray of light after months of darkness. She stood in front of Optimus Prime now, matching blue eyes gazing at each other.
"Elita."
"Optimus."
Wordlessly they closed the distance and embraced each other, Elita's head resting on Prime's chest while his head was over her shoulder.. Part of Kasumi's heart wanted to say "awwwwwwwwwwwwww" as she saw the two lovers reunite after ages of separation. Another part she never knew wanted to say, "WAY TO GO PRIME!" She silently shed tears of happiness for her friend. It seemed as though the floodgates of blessings from God had finally opened. The scene was so heart wrenching, she didn't know how to break it. Yet she knew they had to make a move soon, every second they waited meant Megatron's forces closing on the capital of China, Beijing. Fortunately, she didn't have to.
"IRONHIDE!" a feral female scream that was somewhat reminiscent of Akane when she was angry at Ranma as a second Autobot disembarked from the rocket. This one was blue colour with a body design that was similar to Elita except that her helmet design had two small Viking like horns instead.
All turned towards the grizzled Autobot veteran. However, Ironhide was not standing where he was initially when the rocket landed. As they looked around, they finally spied Ironhide comically tiptoeing towards an Amazon drawbridge leading to outside the city and into the forests. He froze however when the other female Autobot finally spied him and shouted, "AND WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?!"
If Ironhide were a human, he would have been sweating bullets. As it were, he was nervously shifting from one foot to another while he lifted one hand and gave a wave at the seemingly enraged blue Autobot female. "Uhhhhhh, Hi Chromia-dear?"
"DON'T CHROMIA DEAR ME YOU OUTDATED, OUTMODED, RUSTED ANALOG TIN CAN! 'I'll only be gone for awhile dear, wait for me,' you said. OH I'VE WAITED IRONHIDE, FOR THE LAST THREE MILLENIA TO DO THIS!" her chest suddenly burst forward as it transformed and for a moment Kasumi thought she was sprouting enormous breasts. Except the "breasts" looked like an enormous double-barrelled shotgun as long as Hound's sniper gun, with two handles for her hands to grip and aim beneath the base near her chest. Beneath the two main barrels was a huge gatling gun as well as twin missile launchers at the side. That made a total of five gun barrels, all of which were pointed at Ironhide, whose face had paled to almost white.
"Now now, don't do anything hasty dear. This world's about to burn in the flames of war and I just got myself scrapped and repaired again. Why don't you put your Mega-Cannon away?" Ironhide's hands actually clasped together as though begging to the other.
For a moment, Chromia's eyes softened. "Are you well and fully functional now?"
"Yes dear," Ironhide said in a surprisingly tender voice.
"Good, THEN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DODGE THIS!" the two barrels glowed yellow, the gatling gun started to turn and the lids of the two missile launchers slid open to reveal twelve missiles each ready to be fired.
"GEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" Ironhide screamed. He threw his body to the side just as two massive yellow beams, a stream of deadly red bullets as well as twenty four missiles were shot at where he was standing. The yellow beams and gatling fire vapourised the Amazon wall as well as a good kilometre of forests beyond it, leaving a long crater as though an asteroid had just landed on Earth. The twenty four missiles than dispersed and dotted the Amazon forest with twenty feet wide craters.
Kasumi and Jazz were flabbergasted at the massive firepower displayed by Chromia. The latter wasn't old enough to remember Chromia as part of the Autobot resistance whereas Bumblebee, Prowl and Ratchet merely looked amused as though it was normal for Ironhide and Chromia to respond that way.
"Uhm, Bumblebee, what in the world is going on?" Kasumi asked.
"Oh nothing much, just Chromia expressing how much she misses Ironhide for the last few millennia," he said nonchalantly.
She made a mental note to herself about keeping the NWC crew away from Chromia. If that was a display of love, she really wondered how Chromia would be like when enraged. She then transformed the gun, which folded into her chest, walked over to the cowering Ironhide who was crouching to the ground, arms over his head. Cautiously, he looked at Chromia who beckoned for Ironhide to rise.
Her back was to the rest of them but Kasumi was pretty sure what Chromia did when she pulled Ironhide's head to her face.
All this while, Optimus and Elita had not moved from their embrace but they appeared to be whispering softly to each other.
"OK, this is just too weird even for me. I mean, first Prowl smiles, then our fearless leader gets to have a tender loving moment, then an Autobot babe with tits of doom shows up and kisses that dirty old man. This is SO NOT FAIR!" Jazz shouted.
Ratchet and Prowl's eyes twitched. "You're not the only one who's single you know," Prowl growled.
"I see you're still a stick in the mud after all this years," another voice said. Now there were quite a few Autobots that were disembarking from the rocket. Six of them now exited and stood behind Optimus and Elita. Only then did Optimus break the embrace reluctantly and looked with overwhelming joy at the new Autobots.
"Everyone…. you're all alive!" he cried happily.
"As are you Optimus," the last female Autobot in the group said. This one was pink in colour whose head design was simply round like that of an American footballer. Her face was by far the youngest and prettiest compared to Elita's dignified middle aged face and Chromia's vengeful housewife look. Jazz took one look at her and was frozen stiff at the sight. Kasumi noted that he didn't wasn't even wearing his see-through visor.
"Arcee, it's good to see you again," Optimus said and to Kasumi's surprise, he also pulled Arcee into a hug. Arcee was quite short, only slightly taller at fifteen feet or half the size of Optimus so she looked like a child hugging her favourite uncle.
"That's it, group hug!" one of the Autobots, who had an extremely kind but old face, whose dark green colour armour had a large number of visible battle scars, like that of a sixty year old man, said loudly and in the next instant, everyone except Bumblebee, Kasumi, Ironhide and Chromia (the latter two had moved silently into the forest), became entwined in a massive group hug. This time, laughter flowed freely from Prowl and even Ratchet became relaxed as everyone started asking each other questions on what had happened the last they met. Bumblebee and Kasumi looked at each other and both smiled and touched their foreheads to each other, just enjoying the moment for now.
Eventually, the old Autobot caught sight of Bumblebee and Kasumi and said, "Well well, what do we have here? The hero of Cybertron standing there with a silly look on his face with an alien on his shoulder. Looks like love to me," he smiled as he walked towards the two. The others also looked at the two and were quite surprised except for those who had already been on Earth. The Autobot walked with a slight limp, and as he drew closer, Kasumi marvelled at what seemed to be a large number of battle scars patterning his outer armour.
Bumblebee smiled and then gave a small hug to the old Autobot, making sure he did it gently so as not to throw Kasumi off balance. "Hello Kup, I see you haven't lost your knack of analysing everything in one go accurately," he said.
"Experience lad. You'll learn to appreciate it. I've seen that look on you in ages past as well as in the face of a few hundred Cybertronians courting each other," he took a good luck at Kasumi, who blushed under his intense gaze. "Quite beautiful as aliens go Bumblebee. Ariel would have approved," he said to Kasumi's surprised. Actually she was surprised that nobody seemed to mind the idea of her and Bumblebee being an item. So was Bumblebee.
"You actually approve? Even though Kasumi and I are…. well, different?"
"Believe me, I've got weirder romantic tales from across the cosmos. That's what you get when you travel with female Autobots for a few millennia. Hell, I have stories from before this stupid mess with Megatron began. So are you going to introduce me to this young lady of yours?" the old Autobot said as he winked at Kasumi.
Bumblebee actually blushed then shifted Kasumi so that she stood on both of his hands cupped together in front of his chest. "This is Tendo Kasumi, the first human to know of our existence and our first friend. Kasumi, I want you to meet my teacher, Kup. He taught me everything I knew, from quantum mechanics to the art of war. The oldest and wisest among all of the Autobots, including Prime."
Kasumi bowed to Kup. "Hello Mr. Kup. It's an honour to meet Bumblebee's teacher. If it were not for you, I would not be here today but for Bumblebee's wisdom and fighting skills."
"Now now, let's not be strangers. Just call me Kup without the mister pre-fix. Don't make me feel older than I already am. I've still got a few moves in me before I finally kick the bucket," he chuckled as he offered his finger to Kasumi. She lifted her head and smiled as she shook his finger.
"I don't believe it, you're actually making out with a female fleshling? That's ….. freaky man," an Autobot with dark blue armour, a red face framed with a white helmet and wings jutting out from behind his shoulders said. This earned him a whack at the back of his head from Jazz and both glared at each other.
"Tracks, watch your mouth when talking Kasumi. She's been through a lot for us and is the only reason why most of us are still standing here right now. So watch your language when referring to Kasumi. Fleshling is definitely out. What do you think she is: cattle?" Jazz growled.
"OK that's it, break it up you two," an Autobot with black armour said. He was as big and bulky as Ironhide and though his facial features was like that of a kindly old man. "I'm sure Tracks is just as surprised as all of us. Aren't you Tracks," he gazed coldly at Tracks.
The dark blue Autobot put up his hands. "Fine, I apologise, Tendo Kasumi is it?" Tracks said as he walked to look closely at Kasumi. The Tendo sister also bowed and said, "Hajimemashite. It's nice to meet you… Tracks is it?"
He nodded. "Very observant, for a carbon based life form."
"Tracks……" Jazz and Bumblebee growled.
"OK OK. As an apology, I will give you the honour of riding in me later, the coolest and best looking Autobot of them all," Tracks said proudly. He turned to look at Arcee and winked at her but the other female appeared to have a disapproving look.
The other older looking Autobot smacked Tracks behind his head. "I just hope you will learn some humility on this planet. By the way, I am Trailbreaker," he said as he gave a bow to Kasumi who responded in kind.
"Also known as the toughest old dog among the Autobots, even more than Ironhide," Bumblebee chuckled. Trailbreaker just smiled at the yellow's Autobot remark.
"Please to meet you Trailbreaker. It's always a pleasure to meet more Autobots," Kasumi said sweetly shaking his finger as well.
Suddenly another Autobot appeared in next to Bumblebee. "What-about-me?-When-are-you-going-to-introduce-me?-When-is-my-turn?-Why-are-you-delaying-me?-When-do-I-get-a-chance-a-chance-a-chance-to-say-my-name-my-name-my-name?" the Autobot said this so fast that he sounded like a cassette that had been put on fast forward so fast that Kasumi could barely make out what he was saying. Even when he moved, it was as fast as Ranma in full battle speed and she even saw traces of the Autobots images as it made its superfast movements like. She didn't want to offend the Autobot so she tried to answer as fast as she can.
"Hello, what is your…" she began.
"What-an-honour,-beautiful-name-Kasumi-Bumblebee-very-lucky-to-meet-you-so-honoured-but-I-forget-manners-suppose-to-introduce-myself-wasn't-I-names-are-very-important-or-are-they?-I-don't-know-about-humans-but-Autobot-names-are-always-according-to-personality-and-characteristics-that-why-they-call-me-Blurr-because-I-talk-like-this-such-a-fitting-name-of-course-not-for-you-grey-mist-does-not-do-you-justice-reminds-me-of-a-legend-or-fable-called-"What's-in-a-name"-where-there-is-this-human-who-doesn't-like-his-name-because-belittles-him-then-learns-that-names-do-not-make-a-person….." he said all of this in ten seconds before finally stopping when someone shot a blue ray at him which paused him in mid-sentence. An Autobot with a cannon over each shoulder came forward from behind Blurr. His head was rather unique, like the Decepticons he didn't appear to have a mouth at all except for permanent plate covering its mouth but it had overgrown cheeks that spread sideways like small trapeziums. When he spoke, the two "cheeks" glowed and vibrated, creating its voice.
"Hiyah all. Sorry bout that, still got a few tweaks before Blurr can get back to normal," the odd looking Autobot said sheepishly.
Trailbreaker snorted. "You've been playing and tweaking with Blurr for a few centuries already. Why can't you just turn him back to normal Wheeljack? Oh by the way Kasumi, this is Wheeljack, our resident mad scientist. Whatever you do, do not trust his inventions. Look at what he did to our friend Blurr here?" he said gesturing at the now frozen Blurr.
"Hey, he asked for it. In fact, he never asked me to stop tweaking him," Wheeljack protested.
"That's because your brain is too slow to catch him saying no," Tracks said.
"Who's calling who slow, pretty bot," Wheeljack shouted.
Kasumi groaned. Now she had to deal with another batch of egoistical male Autobots. She hoped that Arcee and Chromia would be good female company later.
Their bickering might have turned into an Autobot brawl but a commanding voice shouted, "That's enough. Autobots, fall back into line." To Kasumi's surprise, the voice was female and came from Elita.
As though nothing had happened, every Autobot fell into a line, although Wheeljack and Tracks continued to glare at each other. Jazz could only shake his head. 'And they call ME childish,' he thought. Trailbreaker lightly hit Blurr's head, making him move again but before he could go on in his super speed talking, Trailbreaker quickly repeated Elita's order and he fell back into line, silent.
Kasumi couldn't help but be nervous and straightened herself like a soldier when Elita approached her. She fervently wished she was dressed in something other than a tiger pelt and felt ashamed at her attire before the regal and queen like Autobot. Bumblebee lifted up his hands so that Kasumi could look at Elita at eye level. As she looked at Elita's blue eyes, it was no different than Prime's, filled with wisdom like that of an ocean, teeming with life and immeasurable depth. She had an air of royalty around her that even Prime seem didn't have, it made Kasumi wanted to kneel rather than stand up to Elita. As it were, she could not gaze into those eyes for long and eventually cast her eyes downwards. If Prime was had the air of a wise old man of the mountain, Elita had the air of a Chinese Empress.
"Why do you look away, daughter of Eve?"
"Please, I am not worthy to look at one such as you," Kasumi whispered.
A large finger suddenly appeared under Kasumi's chin and gently forced her to lift her head and look at Elita once more. "Why are you not worthy? For that matter why do you think that I am superior to you? Did you not stand against and defy the fallen one known as Megatron? Did you not stand firm against the threats and tortures of the treacherous members of our race known as Decepticons? Did you not save the life of my love with nothing but your faith and love for all good things? If it were not for you, I would have arrived on this world a widow."
Optimus then spoke, "Kasumi, I have said this before and I say it again. Your deeds have surpassed that of any Decepticon or Autobot. You risked your life, no, your very soul to save mine. You truly are a child of your God. Please Kasumi, do not ever feel inferior or feel the need to bow to our race again. We love you with all our Sparks and pledge our lives to you and the defence of your world."
Kasumi was rather overwhelmed once again at the recognition being bestowed upon her. Elita then put her head next to Kasumi and ever so gently, kissed Kasumi head who blushed furiously.
"Thank you for your words Elita. I suppose I should say welcome to Earth on behalf of my family. Please, my world is in grave danger now. Will you help save this world which I was born and grew up in?" Kasumi humbly asked while assuming a Japanese bow.
"Kasumi, do you even need to ask? It is for this purpose that I was called by the Matrix here. All paths of destiny converge here now. For good or ill, the terrible conflict that engulfed the Cybertronian race ends here. For our part, we will make sure that humanity does not suffer because of our mistakes. Command us Kasumi, our guns, swords and lives are yours. Ask and we will grant you your wish," Elita said.
A deep rumble then came from the rocket.
"Oh that reminds me, I've yet to introduce the final member of our entourage," Elita said and then gestured for all the of the Autobots to face the rocket. Kasumi and the rest of the earlier Autobots except Optimus Prime were surprised, wondering who else had come. Even Ironhide who was the oldest of them, couldn't think of any other surviving Autobot.
The collective jaws of Kasumi, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet and Ironhide dropped to the ground as they saw the huge rocket transform. At first the rocket split into two, one with the engine at the end whist the other was the pointed end of the rocket. Then from inside the rocket, a whole bunch of parts and mechanical mass unfolded, eventually forming a colossal body with legs and a pair of wings. The rocket half which had the engine as well as the claws that initially served as its landing gear became the right hand while the other half became the left hand, except that it only had the pointed end of the rocket.
The head appeared last, and it appeared to be a glass helmet with a cannon at the back of it, almost like a ponytail. Inside the helmet was a face that matched Prowl's dour demeanour. Before the Autobot, now stood a robot as large, no, even larger than Bruticus. The colossal robot stood at more than eighty feet and was easily three time taller than even Megatron.
"Autobots, I would like you to meet our latest ally, the once-Dark Guardian creation of the Quintessons, who has gained sentience worthy of an Autobot. Omega Supreme. Omega Supreme this is Tendo Kasumi. Our lives are hers now therefore she comes under your protection as well," Elita said. The gigantic Autobot's eyes gazed at Kasumi and the Tendo sister was shocked to see the sadness in its eyes.
"Omega Supreme. Serve. Kasumi. Save. Earth," he spoke haltingly.
Kasumi bowed to Omega. "I am also at your service, Omega Supreme."
"How is this possible? The Dark Guardians are mindless Automatons whose only purpose was to conquer our race. Even Megatron barely defeated them in ages past!" Ironhide finally found his tongue.
"It is a long story. Suffice to say he gained sentience through miraculous means and is now an Autobot. For the sake of the sins of his creators, he has sworn himself to our cause. I could not ask for a more loyal and worthy friend and ally," Elita said as she looked at Omega who nodded his head towards her.
"Elita. Friend. Kasumi. Elita's. Friend. Protect. Decepticon. SMASH!"
Jazz finally had a grin that threatened to split his face in half. "Man this time, I love being the good guy. Today, our wishes have come true," he said happily. Kasumi caught Jazz looking at Arcee then to her astonishment, turned away almost shyly when Arcee turned to look at him. She was delighted at Jazz's reaction and made a mental note to resolve his wish later.
Speaking of wishes, Kasumi was reminded of her earlier argument with the Autobots and fervently prayed that her next request would be granted. "Elita, I wish to help save my world. I wish to fight although I am just an unmarried Japanese housewife. I don't want to sit on the sidelines watch others fight for me. Please Elita, do you have the means to let me join the battle? My sister, future brother in law and friends are now fighting for their lives. I …. I just want to help," Kasumi stuttered and she fought to hold back her tears.
Elita smiled then turned to look at Prime. The two conversed silently for awhile, occasionally looking at Kasumi.
"Wheeljack, Chromia, Arcee," Elita called.
"Yes Elita," the three Autobots said.
"Prepare Kasumi for battle," Kasumi's heart sang when she heard Elita's word.
To be continued
Author's notes
Translation for title. In Tolkien's ancient High Elven language, it means "The day has come." Ah nuts, I forgot if the phrase "Utulie'n aure" is Quenya (High Noldor Elven Language) or Sindar (Grey Elven language). I love this phrase but it was said at a very bad time by High King Fingon before the Battle of Unnumbered Tears where the forces of the Eldar and Men were nigh annihilated by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Basically King Fingon shouted this when his brother Turgon reinforced his Elven Army with another army of ten thousand spears. In the end they still lost. Don't worry, nothing of the sort is going to happen in this story now.
Long reviews and flames are welcome. Just try not to review the Omake and ignore the rest of the chapter like some of you did when I wrote my ultimate plot twist, the Rise of Megatron Part 3.
Take care and God bless.