Chapter 151

-0-Prowl

He walked into the hangar stopping to speak to a sergeant, the friend of Arcee's. He told Cindy that she was off world for a little bit longer but would be returning once a short refugee mission was finished. Then he continued walking.

The newcomers watched him, aware that he was a different body type than anyone so far and that even though they'd seen him on the television during the hearings nothing over the airways could prepare them for seeing him in person.

He was shorter than the other two, significantly. Slightly taller than nineteen feet, he was a higher end version of his type which usually fell in the fifteen to seventeen foot range. His paint scheme was stark, white and black and there were designations of a police cruiser on his body here and there along with a proudly displayed Autobot symbol. His expression was solemn and serious, his optics deeply blue. He was very handsome, aerodynamically sleek and well maintained. The chevron on his forehead, a brilliant red was stunning and offset the clean white color of his face and helm in a deeply eye-catching manner. He paused before them, then nodded to Fulton. "Colonel."

Fulton who found Prowl to be tremendously good company nodded back with a smile. "Hello, Prowl. Thank you for coming so quickly."

"It's my pleasure," Prowl said. "I noticed Daniels outside pacing while talking on his phone."

"Calling his granddaddy, no doubt," Fulton said with a derisive snort.

Prowl grinned at Fulton, then he turned to the newcomers, his expression all business once again. "What may I do for you?"

"We're investigating the hit-and-run that happened and would like your information, sir," Roberts said as he considered the elegant alien figure before him. Prowl's voice was smooth and cultured, educated and economical. He wondered if he was like this all the time or only with him. "We need your name, rank and point of origin please."

Prowl nodded. "I am Autobot Prowl. I'm second-in-command of the Autobot Armed Services and sub commander to the Prime of Cybertron. I'm from Praxus on Cybertron which is my home world."

Roberts began to ask the questions. "If you could tell us what you know of events that day, of what you saw and heard as it relates directly to the events we're investigating, we would appreciate it, sir."

Prowl nodded then gathered his thoughts. His emotions were still drawn taut over that moment. "I was in Ops Center in the Embassy when a distress signal from Hound and Trailbreaker reached us. I opened the com line to hear Trailbreaker say that someone had just tried to kill the two infants with them." Prowl said as he quashed his anger. "We immediately deployed, myself, Jazz who was there, I believe, Prime and a couple of soldiers. Major Lennox and Sergeant Epps were there as well."

"Who is this Jazz?" Roberts asked.

"He's our special ops field commander."

Roberts turned to his aides. "Make a note to have him come to speak."

"He's deployed right now but I will make him available when he returns," Prowl said.

Roberts nodded. "What happened next?"

I remember sliding to my knees, my weapon was somewhere. I remember checking the children. I was terrified for them. Then Hound, I saw his ped and it was mangled. Trailbreaker was kneeling beside me, then Ratchet came. He took care of Hound and then we all moved back to the Embassy and went into lock down."

"You didn't see the vehicle or the perpetrators?"

"No. They were gone when we got there and I don't remember seeing anything when we came back to the Embassy. All we could do was help Hound and the infants."

Roberts noted that. "The vehicle was found underwater."

"It was abandoned. It had also been wiped clear of fingerprints and there have been so many users that any evidence found would be heavily contaminated and thus unsuitable as evidence. I was a police detective delegated to the National Police Force of Cybertron from Praxus before I was recruited into the armed forces. I know about evidence and trials. So we have the vehicle, no evidence of when it was taken from the motor pool and only our suspicions based upon experience."

"And those are?" Roberts asked.

Prowl frowned. "I don't work on suppositions, guessing or assumptions. My process works on facts and reality. But it would be remiss of me not to follow this latest event to its logical conclusions. This can only be the work of the mercenaries that Daniels employs. They've wreaked havoc since they arrived and now, now that their focus has widened to include our children, we have to make assumptions even when the facts are inconclusive. I'm not programmed to do that but the level of threat facing us has shifted to include the unthinkable and I must make that step. If I don't, things might go past the point where they can be retrieved."

Roberts nodded. "I've read all the other reports and one could make conclusions based upon that and the fact that there were no reports or incidents before they arrived with Daniels."

"That is correct," Prowl said. "We value our allies greatly and work with them in the greatest of respect and to the fullest of our abilities. We are brothers in arms, the humans here and our garrison. This has been a very difficult thing to bear, the havoc that these people have caused to us. Colonel Fulton must be congratulated on his skill in maintaining order here in the face of daily provocation."

Roberts nodded. "Is there anything else you can offer in the way of information regarding this incident?"

Prowl thought a moment as he considered his three little mechs, Orion, the other children here and the new sparkling that was coming. "We will defend each other and we will defend our young. It would be in the best interests of everyone concerned to understand that and to know that if shooting is the only way we can assure that we will do it. We profoundly don't wish it but we're prepared to do it."

Roberts nodded. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate your time. Would you please let the Prime know we would like to speak with him?"

Prowl nodded then turned to go, his wings arched high on his back. He walked away and at the door paused to speak to the Prime.

Prime nodded, then walked in. He was massive, gigantic beyond what they had seen so far and his color scheme was striking. He had dignity and power, that elusive thing called gravitas and he moved with a lightness and agility that belied his massive size. He walked up to them, staring at them with his bright blue optics, a wise and appraising gaze. "Gentlemen, I am Optimus, the Prime of Cybertron."

For a moment Roberts just stared at Prime, taking in his exotic features and his amazingly powerful presence. "It's an honor to meet you, sir. I'm Warren Roberts from the State Department and these are my assistants." He introduced them as Prime nodded to each. "I would like to talk to you about the series of incidents that have happened on the base culminating in the hit-and-run allegation."

"I assure you, Mr. Roberts, that it is not just an allegation. It is the most dangerous of the threats we have faced on base in some time."

Roberts nodded. "Yes sir. I'm here to find evidence and to determine who did this so charges, if warranted can be brought forward. You've had a long period of time with N.E.S.T. and this base that hasn't had a single event of this nature," he began.

Prime nodded. "Nothing happened between us until Daniels arrived with his mercenaries."

Roberts nodded. "The first incident involved a mercenary being hauled to your brig."

Prime nodded. "A mercenary called Todd Baseman invaded a beach gathering of our younger soldiers. Given their behavior earlier, I posted a guard and they captured a mercenary who had driven a four wheeler there with a gun."

"They were put in the brig," Roberts said. "They alleged mistreatment."

"They were incorrect. We are professional soldiers. We treated him well and he lied," Prime replied. "The report bore that out."

"Yes, it did," Roberts agreed. "There were other smaller incidents and then an altercation happened in which one of your soldiers destroyed a barracks."

"A soldier walking to the firing range was assaulted by a group of mercenaries and our soldier intervened," Prime replied.

"There would be those who feel that we puny humans can't harm you and that your soldier overreacted," Roberts posed.

"You would be wrong. The soldier under assault had a medical condition and the mercenaries fired upon the intervening Autobot. The report cleared all concerned and the barracks was rebuilt with a finer one replacing the damaged one. I would suggest you tour it before you go."

"I will," Roberts said. "The incident where the mercenaries drove into your soldier, that's pretty cut and dried."

"Yes," Prime replied. "They were at fault but two men died and another one is impaired. All of it could have been avoided. But we cannot make the mercenaries leave."

"That can be modified," Roberts said. "The hit-and-run … can you tell us something about it?"

"We received the distress call immediately and I will tell you personally it was a particularly horrifying thing to hear. The mech involved, Spirit, is my adopted son."

"Yours," Roberts said. "I can only imagine your feelings."

Prime nodded. "We hurried to the spot and saw what had happened. When we ascertained that everyone was going to be fine, I dispatched trackers to follow the trail. They found the vehicle in the ocean eventually. There is no useful reliable evidence on the hummer to aid anyone."

Roberts nodded. "All of the interviewees have stated that the mercenaries are responsible for this and that they feel they've been ordered to provoke. Do you agree?"

Prime nodded. "Yes." He shifted, his massive form even more evident to the onlookers.

Fulton grinned. Optimus Prime was impressive in every measurable way.

"For the past few weeks the mercenaries are gathering around our embassy, just over the line that marks the limits of our protected space. Yesterday, one of our soldiers whose job is to maintain security was accosted by a hummer filled with mercs. Two had the good sense to leave and the other two didn't. They crossed over into our territory and we took them into custody. They were drunk and currently they are in our brig."

"They are?" Roberts said with surprise. "Would we be able to speak with them?"

"Yes," Prime said. "We can take you there when you are ready."

"After this interview, I would like to do that, sir," Roberts said. "Colonel Fulton and Lieutenant Graham have all supported your statements. I want to speak to Major Lennox and Sergeant Epps when they return and to the mercenaries in your brig. Then I'll be speaking with Jason Daniels."

"He will be difficult," Prime said. "Apparently his father and grandfather are supposed to be important."

Roberts grinned broadly. "That's what I've heard, too."

-0-Brig, Autobot HQ

They stood before the brig, all around them were enormous Autobots accompanying them. The mercenaries seeing the first humans since they were picked up jumped up and were clamorous in their vocal outrage.

Roberts who looked at them with something close to disdain held up a hand. "I want to speak to each of you separately."

Prime spoke to Inferno who agreed.

"If you will go down the hallway I will bring them one at a time, Mr. Roberts," Inferno said.

Roberts nodded as he and his team walked away.

Inferno who looked at the mercs with disgust turned off the bars to Tim Bolton's cell. "You'll walk to the delegation, talk to them, then come back here. Don't make me have to carry you. You won't like it. Do you understand?"

Bolton nodded, then meekly and soberly walked with his jailer until he reached the humans. Inferno stepped away and the four were alone. Bolton looking around fixed his gaze on Roberts. "You have to get me out of here."

"You're on the sovereign territory of a sovereign nation who has treaty agreements with our country. I couldn't get you out of here even if I wanted to. Which I don't at the moment. Tell me the truth and maybe I might care more. I want to know about a number of allegations that have been leveled against you. I want truthful statements."

Bolton stared at them. "I'm an American citizen."

"And you're on foreign soil. What makes you think being an American is a get-out-of-jail card? You're liable for your conduct on foreign soil under their rules and laws. Fuck up, face THEIR music. Now are we through here?"

Bolton who was fidgeting with outrage nodded. "What do you want to know?"

"Did you drive a hummer in an attempt to strike two Autobot children?"

"No," Bolton said.

"Did you commit offensive aggressive actions and cross into the sovereign territory of the Autobot Embassy enabling your incarceration here?"

He looked at Roberts. "I was drunk. I was stupid. I maybe crossed their line. You can't see it. There's no line anywhere to see. I was drunk and harmless. You see them. How can I harm them?"

Roberts regarded him. "Did you drive or were you a passenger in the hummer that tried to run down two children a couple of days ago."

"No," Bolton said as his features radiating his defiance. "I want a lawyer. Or something. I want out of here."

"I can't do that," Roberts said. "Only the State Department can facilitate that. I will relay your wishes to Daniels."

"You tell that little twerp that we want out of here and he better do it."

"Or what, Mr. Bolton?" Roberts asked quietly.

"Or he will be sorry," Bolton said.

They stared at each other, then Roberts looked at Inferno with a nod.

"Let's go, Bolton," the massive Autobot said as he stepped back into the space.

Bolton with an angry glare focused on Roberts walked back to his cell. A more chastened and frightened Thomas came next. He stood before the group trembling slightly. "Can you get us out of here?" he asked.

Roberts shook his head. "You're on sovereign soil of a sovereign nation. We can't."

Thomas groaned then looked around fearfully. He turned directly to them. "You have to. You're American and so am I."

"That doesn't help," Roberts said. "Truth will help. How about you telling me who was driving the hummer that tried to kill those children."

Thomas's head jerked up, his gaze fixing on Roberts. "I don't know a thing."

"You'd do yourself a lot of good if you would tell us the truth. At some point someone's going to crack and whoever speaks first gets the breaks."

Thomas looked at him with uncertainty, his gaze wavering. "I don't … I don't know."

"You don't know what? Who did it or whether it's smart to say? Smart is talking. Not talking is stupid. Tell us the truth and do yourself some good."

"What good? Jail? Prison? How can that be good?" Thomas said.

"It'll get you out of here," Roberts said. "You can stay here or you can leave. It's in your hands. I just want the truth."

Thomas looked at him considering his words. Then he shook his head. "I don't know."

Roberts sighed. "You can go back to your cell then." He glanced at Inferno and the big mech nodded back. "Move, Thomas," he said.

Thomas jolted out of his momentary funk glanced at them with fear. Then he walked back to his cell.

An aide moved next to Roberts. "He's about to cave."

Roberts agreed. "He is. Let him have a few more days in the brig. I think he's our weak link to the truth."

The others nodded then walked back the way they'd come.