Abomination

Meeting Sentinel Prime was an interesting experience for Terra.

When she returned to NEST headquarters, she was told that Optimus had brought Sentinel back from the Ark on the moon where he then revived him with the Matrix. Overall, Terra didn't know what to feel about the presence of the new Autobot.

"Once we get you a proper vehicle mode, I can introduce you to this world," Optimus told him.

Sentinel smiled and nodded his head. His optics landed on Terra and he studied her slightly, paying no real mind to the activity around him now. She stared back and through her goggles, performed a few scans of him and his every detail. Neither one of them said anything to each other for a while and it was Optimus who broke the tense silence with a smile on his mouth plates. He patted Sentinel's shoulder with a welcoming hand.

"It's good to have you back, Sentinel." he said, "Come with me."

Sentinel acknowledged with a small murmur, but still studied Terra rather strangely as he followed the younger Prime out of the hangar. Terra followed them and Optimus left Sentinel alone for a moment while he gave Lennox the word of his departure.

"So you're the creature Ironhide has so warmly spoken of," Sentinel murmured, not looking at her as he studied his lance.

Terra didn't reply. She sensed a vague hint of hostility in Sentinel's voice laced with contempt.

"Humans are rather curious creatures to combine our technology with their own flesh and bone," Sentinel continued, looking down at her now with a coldness not seen there before, "And here you live, a success in their eyes...and an abomination in ours."

Terra had been used to labels and cruel remarks from others, but Sentinel sounded as though he wanted to kill her. She did not let it waver her and simply regarded him coolly. Optimus stepped out missing the interaction and looked down at Terra.

"Terra, do you want something?" he asked.

"No." She watched Sentinel for a moment before entering the hangar.

Later that evening when most activity had dwindled, Terra climbed into Ironhide's cab and he spent a while holding her in his holoform arms. She had removed her goggles and allowed him to kiss her closed lids before watching her open her eyes, staring down in a manner that suggested she was thinking.

"What's the matter, Terra?" he asked, "You are rather tense tonight."

She blinked and looked up at him casually. "Oh, I was simply in deep thought."

"Is something bothering you?" Ironhide lifted her chin to look at him properly.

Terra shook her head. "Nothing of grave importance."

"Terra..." he warned.

Terra sighed and gave in. "I spoke with your Sentinel Prime."

Ironhide smiled. "Yes. He's something, isn't he? He led us before Optimus did."

"Oh yes, he's...something. What exactly I have yet to comprehend."

Ironhide frowned. "What do you mean?" He was silent for a moment before realization slowly lit his optics. He leaned forward and looked at her, much more serious now. "Terra, tell me what happened. Did he do or say something to you?"

"He called me an abomination."

"What?!" Ironhide looked stunned by this. "He called you a what?"

"It's no concern, Ironhide," Terra said, surprisingly calm. "The words of someone who means so little to me holds no weight."

Ironhide wasn't as calm about this. "No, he had no right!" he growled, clenching his fists, "I don't care. Prime or not, he had NO RIGHT to call you that! I should say something to Optimus and maybe he can-"

"No, Ironhide," Terra interrupted, holding up a hand, "Everyone loves Sentinel. He is important to them. There is no need to ruin that for a racial statement on my part. It does not bother me. I give you my word."

Ironhide growled angrily, but didn't argue further.

"You are no abomination..." he snapped, holding her closer.

"I know what I am, Ironhide," she replied quietly, "And I will not allow myself subject to his meaningless words."

Ironhide let out a sigh that she could feel through the seats, but he said nothing more and simply held her closer. The two failed to see Sentinel observing this from a shadowed corner, a very displeased and cold look on his face.

O

The following morning, Terra spent her free time constructing a replica of the Eiffel Tower with playing cards that practically stood as tall as she was. Mearing was wandering about and talking with her assistant when she spotted her. Grimacing somewhat, she seemed to hesitate approaching before finally deciding on doing so. Terra didn't look up at her when the woman walked up and continued finishing up her tower.

"I'd like to speak with you." Mearing said.

"You already are." Terra replied, languidly.

"It's about you. Why is it the tests that created you were destroyed?" Mearing asked, in a near accusatory tone, "This sort of information would have been useful in the creation of formulas that could assist our soldiers."

Terra still didn't look up and studied a card in the middle of the tower, delicately fitting it between another. "The methods used to create me were destroyed because the Allspark itself was destroyed," she explained, "I was genetically altered from the molecular level as tests like that would have destroyed a fully-matured host, riddling them with radiation sickness, tumors and the like. Specifically, over 700 cells were used and nearly 600 were destroyed." She flashed a wry smile. "So I would not advise attempting a repeat performance."

"Okay then..." Mearing looked annoyed. "So why is it you haven't attempted to train any of our men? Taught them in the way you've been taught? You've been able to solve...countless equations, can download information into your head just by looking at it and remember every vivid detail down to-"

"Teaching someone-specifically a normal individual-on my mental level would require a time of study that could take an entire lifetime. I possess an ability to maintain a constant flow of information without flaw."

"Really?" Mearing didn't seem impressed. "Show me."

Terra shrugged her shoulders. "Okay. Ask me anything."

Mearing looked at the tower Terra had made and smiled somewhat. "Tell me about the Eiffel Tower in every detail."

"The Eiffel Tower. Also known in French as La Tour Eiffel, is a lattice tower made of iron located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It was erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair and became a global cultural icon of France. It is named after engineer Gustave Eiffel whose company constructed it." Each word Terra emitted was flowed gracefully and quick, drawing the attention of other soldiers who listened in shock. "The tower stands as the tallest structure in Paris; to the antenna spire, it stands 324.00 meters-that's precisely 1,063 feet and stood as the tallest structure in the world until 1930 after the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York City. It has 3 floors and 9 elevators and is currently managed by Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel. Also-"

"Chrysler Building." Mearing interrupted, continuing the test.

Terra resumed without hesitation. "The Chrysler Building was designed by architect William Van Alen for a project of Walter P. Chrysler. When the ground breaking occurred on September 19, 1928, there was an intense competition in New York City to build the world's tallest skyscraper. Despite a frantic pace and the building being constructed at an average rate of four floors per week, no workers were unfortunate to lose their lives. It is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. At 1,046 feet-precisely 319 m to the antenna spire-the structure was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931. It possesses 77 floors and 32 elevators. It was-"

"Okay, okay," Mearing interrupted again, "So you're smart. Tell me how you're able to remember all of that so easily?"

"The same way you do," Terra replied with a shrug, "With a manner of gestures and attentiveness." Then, she added with a mild amusement to her features. "Though I suspect you wouldn't possess as much of it as a normal human being would."

Mearing's assistant tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help a small sputter escape her lips.

"Is that all you require of me?" Terra asked, peering at her tower thoughtfully.

"...Yes." Mearing snapped. She turned to go, but stopped and returned. "Actually, Sentinel's been going on about his projects going missing. You'd better be there."

"Of course, ma'am."

"And don't call me ma'am. I'm not a ma'am."

Terra knotted her brow. "You're not a woman?"

Mearing's assistant chuckled, attempting to hide it behind her hand. Mearing didn't seem so pleased and simply left with her assistant behind her.

Terra smiled with satisfaction and resumed attention on her task.

O

"I once had hundreds!"

Terra arrived just as Sentinel was talking of something that he had previously possessed. Terra barely acknowledged the speech he gave Mearing, who seemed adament that she would not be turning over these "pillars" that so rightfully belonged to him.

"I will overlook your condescending tone, if you heed the gravity of mine," Sentinel warned the human. "The Decepticons must never know the space bridge is here. For in their hands, it would mean the end of your world."

The meeting didn't last long before the group began to disband. Optimus requested Sentinel's presence and the two mechs left the hangar. Terra started walking before Wheeljack (also known by the humans as Que), leaned forward, watching Terra curiously.

"You seem to be worried about something, Terra." he said.

She sighed and glanced over her shoulder. "Do they trust Sentinel?" she asked.

"He was once out leader." Wheeljack told her, his metal mustache twitching across his face. "There is no reason not to."

Terra still didn't seem sure. "I don't."

"Why?"

She was silent for a long time. Wheeljack smiled gently and straightened where he stood. "It'll be okay, Terra. There's no need to worry. With Sentinel on our side, the war will finally come to an end. Things will start changing, you'll see."

Terra didn't have that kind of faith.