Reckoning

Chapter 2—Unforeseen

Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. They officially belong to Hasbro and Takara. I'm taking them for a short spin.

Cade listened as the others all told the big mech their version of recent events, and was finally allowed his own turn. Then he was ordered by Ultra Magnus to show him the weapons he'd acquired on the Knight ship.

"The government's been demanding I turn them over, but considering, they're staying here," Cade said. "If you want them. . ."

"You can keep the weapons. The ship recognized your need, and you have proven your worth," Magnus said. "Every other bit of technology and data your kind has will be turned over to us once a suitable deadline has been negotiated. If not, other avenues will have to be explored. But everything will be returned. I will, of course, need a little time to be acquainted with the proper authorities. A deadline will be set once I have a better understanding of your technology and have an estimate of just how long it will take for everything to be given back, or destroyed."

"You really expect them to just give it up?" Cade asked.

"It is not an expectation," Magnus said. "It will happen, regardless. Willingly or not, it will happen."

"Why are you so confident?" Cade said.

"I am the enforcer of the Tyrest Accord," Magnus said. "The document governs the control of Cybertronian technology, and forbids it from being in the possession of alien species."

"Good luck with that," Cade muttered.

"You don't think your government will comply?" Magnus asked.

"I don't know," Cade said. "But the fact Megatron, or Galvatron, is still out there, and we'll need help running him to ground, maybe they would trade?"

"A viable solution to conflict over our technology," Magnus said. "Cade Yeager, would you be willing to be our liaison with your people?"

"Uh, I don't think I'm the guy you want," Cade said.

"You and your offspring willingly laid your lives on the line for my brother and others of my kind without any expectation of compensation," Magnus said. "You are the right being for this. For now, I must return to my ship. I will come back later."

With that, Magnus commed Prowl, who had him bounced back to the Eclipse. Months of hope and anticipation crushed with only a few words. Get to Earth. Protect Optimus. Not so easy to do when he wasn't there. His aft-headed twin made a brash decision without thinking it through. Putting the safety of others before himself was so typically Optimus. Well, Lockdown was dead, so the bounty hunter was no longer a problem. Other issues were going to need solving, issues Magnus was not equipped to deal with. He'd face them in the morning, and hopefully Elita and the others would be back.

A more immediate problem would be facing Wheeljack and keeping Prowl off his back. And of course, his mate was waiting in their quarters, tinkering with what looked like a grenade.

"I hope that isn't what I think it is," Magnus said, setting his hammer down.

"One of the prototypes I've been developing," Wheeljack said. "Don't worry, it's just the housing. The ordnance is in the armory."

"You know working on anything outside of the lab is not allowed," Magnus said.

"When has that ever stopped me?" Wheeljack asked, grinning.

"Never," Magnus said, sitting down beside the engineer.

"How'd it go?" Wheeljack asked. "You've been shutting me out so. . ."

The flare of Magnus' field made Wheeljack flinch.

"Easy," Wheeljack said. "Can't be that bad, can it?"

"Much worse, actually," Magnus said. "Optimus is gone."

"Gone? Where?" Wheeljack said.

"Off-world," Magnus replied. "The Quintessons placed a bounty on Optimus, and naturally, Lockdown came calling, and Optimus left to protect the others."

"He went looking for them? Is he stupid?" A bad choice of words.

"Optimus can be brash. Perhaps there are extenuating circumstances of which I'm yet unaware," Magnus said.

"I'm sorry, Mags," Wheeljack said, pulling the bigger mech close.

"Bumblebee told me his version of events, and so have the others," Magnus added. "They've taken refuge with a human ally."

"And?" Wheeljack asked.

"I told them I'd return later," Magnus said.

"That's it?"

"Yes," Magnus said.

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Tessa Yeager knew something was up the minute she stepped inside the trailer. Her father wasn't tinkering with anything. Instead, he was lounging on the couch, staring up at the large flatscreen TV Joshua Joyce insisted they needed. And he was watching the news. Her dad did not watch the news.

"Hey Dad," she said, setting down her bag and kicking off her shoes. "What's for supper?"

"Shh, honey, can't you see I'm watching the news?" he said, waving her off.

"Why?"

Cade frowned, turning up the volume.

". . .and American and Chinese officials have confirmed the alien ship seen during the battle of Hong Kong has, in fact, been stolen from Chinese custody as of earlier today. . ."

"What?" Tessa snapped. "Are there more. . ."

"Sweetie, I wouldn't get worked up over nothing," Cade said.

"Nothing? NOTHING? It's probably the Decepticons, and there are only four Autobots left on the planet, with like, 50 Decepticons running loose, and you're not worried?" Tessa asked.

"Tessa, breathe," Cade said as his daughter flopped down beside him. "Honey, it's gonna be fine. I promise."

"I've heard that before," she said. "What's for supper? Leftovers? One of the state troopers said they'd escort us into town if we wanted to do that."

"We're not bothering the troopers," Cade said. The nice state troopers the state of Texas offered to keep people away from their place and provide a little privacy and protection. A couple of state troopers was better than members of the Texas Army National Guard after the first few days home. Luckily, the feds hadn't come knocking, but it was coming.

"Homework done?"

"All caught up," Tessa said. "I can take my finals when I'm ready."

"I'm sorry you missed graduation," Cade said.

Tessa shrugged. "Hey, I missed a ceremony, but I still get my diploma when I pass," she said. "Anyway, we got the Autobots out of the deal, so that's worth something, isn't it?"

"I broke my promise to your mother," Cade said.

"Promises are meant to be broken," Tessa said. "I think missing graduation is going to become a Yeager family tradition."

"Shane coming by tonight?"

"Of course," Tessa said, standing. "Why are you watching the news anyway? The bots tip you off about something?"

"Well, you knew Bee was keeping quiet about something," Cade said.

"Yeah," Tessa said. "So?"

"Things around here are going to get more interesting, and if the feds show up, don't be surprised," Cade said.

"Dad. . ."

"Tessie, dinner," Cade said. "Burgers and a salad? That sound good?"

The girl sighed, rolling her eyes. "Sure," she said. Interesting? She hoped her dad was wrong.

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