(Answerthecall, I was only rewriting to fix some mistakes I noticed in the earlier chapters. Sam and Carly will be in it but with the whole dark side of the moon angle removed from this story, they're just not as important or not important yet.)
Ultra Magnus sighed as he moved away from yet another group of humans walking in his direction. They were probably just walk past him but he preferred to keep his distance from these fleshlings. Optimus Prime could tolerate them but he was the diplomat. Ultra Magnus preferred letting his weapons do all the talking for him and he loved when Decepticons were on the receiving end of his kind of diplomacy.
Optimus encouraged him to leave the base and explore the area beyond its confines. But Magnus decided to stay. He had no interest in meeting any humans or exploring this world. He accessed the Internet and shifted through the human's history. So violent and bloody, it was a wonder why Optimus would work with these creatures in the first place. Perhaps he wishes to save them from themselves.
"Stop talking through that electromagnetic wave receiver and start talking squirt," Cliffjumper said to Bumblebee. Cliffjumper was a pain in the bolts, he loved to defy authority and lived to drive everyone around him insane. But when Decepticons are attacking, he's exactly the bot you want watching your back.
Bumblee started playing a song "I'm not alright. I'm broken inside. I'm broken inside." (by the band Sanctus real)
"What's wrong with you? Afraid a few words are going to kill ya? Or are you giving me the silent type? What, am I not good enough to hear your voice?" said Cliffjumper. Bumblebee was about to say something when Cliffjumper busted up laughing. "I'm just messing with ya. I like you," he said, giving Bumblebee a hard pat on the back. Bumblebee looked at Magnus with pleading eyes as if to say help.
Ultra Magnus decided not to get involved and kept moving along. Some yelling inside the main hangar caught his attention. Deciding to investigation, he walked inside to find Prowl yelling at the humans. The fleshlings were surrounding the Pillars that the Autobots brought back with them from the Ark.
"Don't you dare lay one finger on them! Sentinel Prime gave me explicate orders not to let anyone touch them," said Prowl, keeping the humans away. Prowl was one of the most loyal and dedicated soldier that Magnus had ever served with. The Autobot lived and breathed duty and honor. If he was given an order to go on a suicide mission, he wouldn't even hesitate to do it.
"What's going on here?" demanded Magnus.
"Ultra Magnus, these humans are demanding that I hand over the Pillars," said Prowl.
"We have our orders too. That technology of yours is giving off high readings of energon. Anyone with an energon sensor will be able to detect them hundreds of miles in any direction," said the human leader.
"We cannot let these fall into Decepticon hands," said Magnus. He knew that Prowl wouldn't just let the humans take them even if Magnus ordered him to. Sentinel's orders superseded his own. "Sentinel ordered you to guard them but he didn't say where. If the humans take this to one of their vaults, you could simply go with them and remain there until Sentinel discharges you from your assignment," suggested Magnus.
"That…is a good point sir. Very well humans, lead the way," said Prowl, picking up the pillars. Magnus knew that they had to get along with the humans for the moment so best not to start any conflicts. He turned to see Optimus standing at the entrance.
"How long were you standing there?" asked Magnus, though he already knew the answer.
"Long enough. You handled that quite nicely," said Optimus.
"If we are to be allies, it is best to avoid conflicts whenever possible," said Magnus. He couldn't say the same thing about Sentinel. Their leader was unrelenting in his demands to the humans. Though brazen, Magnus respected him for going what he thought was best for the Autobots.
"I hope the next meeting between Sentinel and the human leaders follows suite," said Optimus.
"Optimus you know that once Sentinel makes up his mind, it's virtually impossible to change. He's stubborn, always has been," said Magnus. The human Lennox approached the two.
"Any news on Decepticon movement?" Optimus asked the human.
"No, it's strange. All of our reports of sightings indicated the Decepticons were avoiding conflict all together and fleeing when discovered," said Lennox.
"Something's wrong. The Decepticons wouldn't purposely withdraw on such a massive scale unless Megatron is up to something," said Optimus.
"White House Chief of Staff Galloway wants to speak with you Optimus," Lennox said awkwardly. Magnus guessed that whoever this Galloway was that he was have been a miserable being if his own humans were disgusted at even mentioning his name.
"Isn't that the human Ironhide said to use asshole repellent spray to get rid of?" asked Magnus.
"I wish it was that simple," groaned Optimus. Cleary Ironhide wasn't jesting about how irritating this Galloway was.
"Well good luck with that," said Magnus who had no intention of getting involved in this.
Sentinel returned to base around dawn. It was strange that so many long-haired fleshlings dressing up as large-eyed grey humanoids congregated outside the first gate. After two more fences and miles away from those strange humans, Sentinel was back at Area 51.
He had no time to waste, he had to get started working right away. But before he did, he needed to find Arcee. He transformed to his robot mode and traveled to the training hanger where the small Autobot was practicing combat drills with the humans. "Arcee. A moment please?" he asked.
"Let's take five boys," she said to the humans. The feminine Autobot was had two other counterparts Chroma and Elita One but those two were destroyed in the fight in Egypt.
"I wanted to apologize for last night. I was angry and took some of it out on you," said Sentinel.
"Think nothing of it sir. I spoke without permission," said Arcee.
"Yes, Optimus kept things loosely while he was in charge. But I didn't know that and I shouldn't have yelled at you for it," said Sentinel.
"Water under the bridge sir," said Arcee. Sentinel frowned, he didn't understand the meaning. "It's a human saying. It means we're good. By the way, Optimus is waiting for you in the primary hangar," said Arcee.
"Thank you, dismissed," said Sentinel. Arcee saluted and returned to the humans. He moved across the airfield to the large hangar where he found Optimus talking (and being annoyed) at some human on the large telecom screen.
"I don't know how things worked back on your planet but here, you don't get to change treaties whenever you feel like it," said the human.
The human Lennox saw Sentinel entering and quickly moved into view of the screen. "Mister Galloway, I'd like to introduce you to the leader of the Autobots Sentinel Prime," he said.
Sentinel walked up beside Optimus. "I'll take it from here Optimus."
"Oh good, I was sick of talking to your mouthpiece." said Galloway. Sentinel got the impression that this particular fleshling was what the humans refer to as an asshole.
"And I am sick of my Autobots being disrespected by the likes of your kind. They have saved your species too many times to count and yet they are nothing but machines to you. Perhaps I should contact the Chinese or Russians and see if they can be more accommodating," said Sentinel. He turned to leave to make his point clear.
"Wait! Alright, I'll talk with the President and see if we can come to an agreement," said Galloway, his tone quickly changing. Sentinel hated these games of politics and refused to play them. Either he got what he wanted or he would go somewhere else to get it.
"You do that and don't show your face to me again until you do," said Sentinel.
A few days later, Sentinel called every Autobot to an assembly inside the primary hangar. The bots gathered all around with Lennox the only human inside. Optimus managed to convince Sentinel to let him inside to be an observer. But the condition was that he kept his mouth shut.
"My brothers. The leaders of this nation had agreed to my request for sovereign territory," said Sentinel. His eyes lite, creating a holographic map of the planet. Lennox saw Optimus do this more then once but it was still pretty cool. The map zoomed in between the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantis Ocean, stopping on an island. "This is an island in the Florida Keys. It was home to a naval base that was decommissioned years ago. The base will provide the materials and shelter we require to begin building a colony," he continued.
Some of the Autobots seemed happy but others like Bumblebee, Ironhide, Sideswipe, Mirage, and Arcee looked differently. Lennox understood how they felt. He spent five years with some of these guys, going to hell and back with them, and Lennox had troubles with his own family so he found the Autobots to be a kind of surrogate family that took him in. Now they were all leaving.
"I understand some of you have been working with the humans a long time and consider many of them here to be your friends. Make no mistake, we are not forsaking them. Our cooperation in combating the Decepticons will continue but we must look to the future. We must build try to rebuilt our race. Even if it is a slim chance, we must take it," said Sentinel.
"Permission to speak sir?" asked Optimus. Sentinel nodded. "I would like to request to stay among the humans. We should have a representative here to speak for us. I volunteer for that assignment," said Optimus.
"That makes sense I suppose. Very well Optimus," said Sentinel.
"Hey! Can I stay too?" asked Skids. Ironhide hit him in the back of the head. "OW!" yelled Skids.
"Should have kept your mouth shut moron," said Mudflap
"Both of you shut up," groaned Ironhide. He was in a bad mood. The Autobot had been working with Lennox and the rest of NEST for five years, much longer then the twins. If anybody hated leaving, it was him.
"Gather whatever belongings you have here. We leave in two Earth standard hours. Dismissed," said Sentinel. The Autobots saluted and headed towards the exit. Sentinel moved towards Lennox. The Autobot leader was somewhat unpredictable and made Lennox a little nervous.
"The five pillars we retrieved, I want them back," said Sentinel.
Lennox mustered his courage and said, "I'm sorry but orders from the Joint Chiefs. The pillars will remain in maximum storage for the time being."
Sentinel leaned down, putting his face much too close to Lennox's comfort. "I will discuss this with your leaders later," Sentinel said with a hint of venom in his words.
Lennox breathed a sigh of relief when the Autobot leader left. He turned and intercepted Optimus on his way out. "Optimus I know that he's your friend and that you respect him but I have to say it, I don't like Sentinel," Lennox told him.
"He has changed since I last saw him on Cybertron. He was once the noblest Autobot I have ever known but losing his home and almost all of his people has affected him. Hopefully once the Autobots are all relocated, his demeanor towards humans will improve," said Optimus.
Lennox didn't believe that. There was something in Sentinel's eyes that was different from any other Autobot. Some of the bots Lennox had met dislike humans at times but Sentinel was the first Autobot who was disgusted by them. That was the look Lennox saw in his eye.
"Lennox," said Ironhide as he and Warpath joined him while Optimus left. "I really hate goodbyes so I'm not going to say it. This is just see you later," said Ironhide. Lennox couldn't believe it but it looked like Ironhide was starting to cry. "And I'm not crying," added the Autobot though not very convincingly.
"I'm gonna miss you too," said Lennox. He was going to miss all these guys. Well, except maybe the Twins.
"And don't think you've gotten off human. You and I are going to kick some Decepticon metal together one of these days," joked Warpath. Lennox had to admit, he was starting to like this guy. No wonder he was buddies with Ironhide.
"Until next time," said Ironhide, giving Lennox a human military salute. Lennox found himself smiling as he saluted back.
Two hours later, the Autobots assembled on the runways where three C-130s were ready to take them to their new home. Meanwhile, Epps was saying his last goodbyes to some of the closest friends he's had for the past few years.
"Farewell Sergeant. I hope our paths cross again in the near future," said Ratchet.
"You take care of them," said Epps, giving him a nod.
"Thanks for lending me Grand Theft Auto IV. I'll get it back to you the next time we meet," said Arcee. Epps found it humorous that she loved that game so much.
"Keep it, I'm sure they'll make another one," said Epps.
Bumblebee started crying tears of oil. He lifted up his hand and did the Vulcan hand symbol. "Live long and prosper," he said with sound clips of Spock. Epps tried to do the same but couldn't get his fingers to spread properly.
"Same to you big fella," said Epps.
"We're all set. Farewell Optimus. We will contact you once we arrive at our new home," said Sentinel. Optimus bowed his head then Sentinel and the others headed onto the planes.
"Goodbye my friends," Epps heard Optimus whisper. If he didn't know any better, he was pretty sure the big guy was going to cry. Of all the Autobots, Optimus was the best at concealing his emotions. Especially when he was sad or terrified. The Autobots always looked up to him for guidance and the sight of a confident Optimus gave them hope. Now for the first time, Epps saw some of Optimus's façade start to fade.
(I'm probably going to need some more time to type the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and review.)