XXI. Towards Spring
Persephone stands by her bed, blanket wrapped around her body. Her teeth clattered in the cold as the snow fell heavier from the darkened sky. It was more thicker than usual. It was a blizzard at this point.
The snow had made the wood damp and no matter how many times the Decepticons tried to ignite it, it didn't work.
Her fingers trembled as she forced herself to walk, trying to see through the hail of ice.
"Guys?!" She hollered over the strong wind as she walked. The hairs on her body stood on edge due to the temperature and she wrapped the blanket closer to herself.
She went to sleep cold and that was okay because she did love the cold, but now Persephone was freezing. It was only a matter of time before she probably gets hyperthermia.
Persephone stumbles through the sea of white, eyes squinting in vain to see. She spots a giant figure and she couldn't be more happy. It was one of the Decepticons, so surely they might help keep her warm.
Forcing herself to walk, she made her way towards the cybertronian. "Hey!" Persephone called out. "Hello?! Could you wake up?" She bangs on the metal. "Hellooo!" Her fist collides with the metal once more–
Red orbs lit aflame, immediately focusing on her in a glare. He groans, if anything grumbles, at her disturbance. "Quit your yelling, little one." Megatron snaps at her. "Can you not see that I am in stasis?"
"I'm sorry!" Persephone said, shivering in her place. "But I'm freezing!" She clutched the blanket closer to her skin. It wasn't enough but any warmth was better than none.
"I thought you liked the cold." Megatron grumbled, closing his optics and turning his back to her.
"I do! But only on a certain amount!" She says through the howling wind. "Look, can't we just use the spare wood to light the fire? You literally have dozens of them!"
"It will grow damp as well. Then, it'll be useless too. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must conserve whatever energy I have left."
"I'm your pet, remember? You at least should have responsibility over me, you know?"
Her teeth clattered, heaving heavily as she stood there. Now that she thought about it, where were the other Decepticons? Weren't they supposed to be around. How would she know? She could barely see through the haze of the blizzard.
The giant turns to look at her, a displeased look on his face. Like a father would look at their child if they woke them up at an ungodly hour of the night. Megatron sighs, a cloud forming. "What happens here is a secret. No one could know, do you understand?" He growled at her, glaring at the tiny human.
She nods her head, not finding the courage to speak from shivering. With that, he plucks her off the ground. Persephone clutches on to him like her life—which it did—depended on it. The sound of metal grinding and moving against metal reached her ears from below.
Her eyes flickered downwards, watching as his chest transformed and formed an opening in-between his chassis. Persephone watched as a white light had started to glow bright through what looked like a case. It then opened up, making her shield her eyes for a brief moment before her eyes adjusted through the light.
It was like staring directly at the sun. It's so bright and mesmerizing. Megatron gently sets her down on the orb of light, her hands finding warmth when it makes contact with the glass-like material making her sigh in relief.
It wasn't hot.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
It was a fuzzy kind of warmth that made Persephone smile at how good it felt. It was like bathing in it, the warmth emitting from the glass orb. Megatron cleared his throat, catching her attention.
"Are… are you comfortable?" He asks hesitantly, observing her reaction. "Are you warm now?"
Persephone smiled at him, nodding her head before she lays down and closed her eyes. It was like being wrapped around a comforter on a cold morning.
Like she was some sort of burrito.
"Thank you," She says to him after a blissful sigh escapes her. Her body trembled, but not as bad as before. Persephone didn't realize it before, but when she could feel the sensations on her fingers again she realized they had gone numb before.
Persephone sighed every now and then. Moaning when she turned to her back, warming it or whenever she moved to warm the part of her that was cold. It was okay tho, no one could've heard her. Not when the blizzard was strong and winds were loud.
So basically, she was just enjoying the warmth that somehow felt like a hot bubble bath.
Amidst her state of bliss by time warming herself on the glowing glass orb, she heard him growl.
Persephone stopped in her tracks.
She raised her head, purple eyes locking with his red ones. And although it sounded like he was annoyed, almost mad, the look in his optics were… soft? Almost endearing.
"Stop making those noises," Megatron said, his voice firm and sharp as it cut through the wind's howl. "It is… distracting." His digits stroke the top of her head, cold but not unwelcome.
Persephone tilts her head, brows furrowing at his words. "What do you mean?" She queried, confused by his accusations.
"Your… noises." He looks away for a moment, before his optics land to her. "Tho immaculate, it is very distracting. I cannot stasis properly." The warlord snickered, shaking his helm.
She sits up, tilting her head more while squinting at him. What the hell was he on about? What noises? She wasn't making any–
Oh.
Persephone could feel her whole face warm up as her shoulders raised, her eyes going wide. "I am so sorry!" She blurts out, realizing he was referring to her moans. "I swear it's not anything sexual! It's just really warm and it feels good–"
"Oh? I make you feel good?"
"No! Yes?! Wait! That's not what I meant! I–"
His laughter silenced her, the glass-encased orb beneath her shaking along with him. She pursed her lips at him, eyes narrowing at annoyance. What an asshole.
When he finally stops, Persephone says to him, "What? Are you done making fun of me?"
"Oh, Primus!" He snorts, "You are adorable when you're flustered," the warlord coos softly at her, "Oh, how I've missed you being up and about. I thank Primus every single day that you are safe."
Persephone could decipher the look of relief and joy on his face. It's so strange to see him like that, like he couldn't believe she survived. Did he really expect that she'd die?
To be fair, Shockwave did say that she barely had any time to live. At least, that was the estimated time he had given her based on her state and the signs she was showing. Perhaps Megatron didn't need to know to know that it wasn't long before she would, supposedly, die. Maybe, he's just relieved that his asset was alive.
Persephone figured that she'd do the same thing if she was in a war and someone who knows the past, present, and a certain amount of the future would get deathly sick and suddenly recover. Who wouldn't want that advantage?
So, Persephone smiled at him. Just letting him… be. "Can I ask you a question?"
"You already did."
"Okay, then another question."
"Go on."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Anyways, what is this?" Persephone asked, tapping the glass beneath her, "Is this how you cybertronians keep yourself warm? With this little sun-like thing? If so, then that's very innovative and cool."
"For someone who claims to know about us, you barley know anything about our forms," Megatron snickered.
"I only know about the basics like the helm, digits, and pedes as well as the spark. But I don't know what that looks like. Oh! And also, I know some wires are sensitive and can cause severe damage to a cybertronian if you cut it. I don't know which ones tho, but I know it exists."
The warlord chuckles at her words.
He pokes her head lightly, making her stumble back slightly. "There is one more important body part that cybertronians possess. It is very delicate and one we guard most as it is our main life source, the very thing that provides energon through our system. We only show it to those who are dear to us and, or if it's during emergencies."
Persephone tilts her head to the side, raising a brow at his words. What could that possibly be?
"We call it a spark," Megatron says as if to answer her silent question, "It is the equivalent of a human heart and a soul in cybertronian terms. Without it, we are no different from what you humans call a 'robot'."
Her eyes widened at his words. "Oh, I know what a spark is," Persephone grins proudly, "I almost forgot about that."
"Of course, you would," He rolls his optics, "You humans are so forgetful. This is why you are the inferior race compared to us." Megatron sneers at her.
To an outsider, it might be an insult, but Persephone knew that it was his way of teasing her. "And I suppose your species isn't forgetful?"
Megatron scoffs and when he does not answer, she laughs at him.
The warlord tried to grimace at her before he ultimately fails and laughs with her. Their laughter echoes before the two of them shush each other.
"Silence!" Megatron hissed at her, a toothy grin on his faceplates as he looked around. "You'll rouse the others!"
"You shush!" Persephone whisper-yelled at him, mirroring his grin. "You're the giant one! Obviously you'll be louder than me!"
The two of them shared a look, before snickering at one another. It took a few more minutes of shushing each other and giggling like school children before they fell in a comfortable silence.
Persephone was the first to break the silence by saying, "So what is this?" She taps the glass beneath her, looking up at the warlord. "Is it a sparkling chamber?"
Megatron chuckled at her obliviousness.
"No, little one," the warlord sighs to her as he strokes the top of her head, "the sparkling chamber is located next to it. Just a few steps from where you sit, you'll be able to access the chamber."
Persephone nods her head in understanding. "Okay," she says, glancing to where he points about a feet or two away from her.
She looks at him and asks again, "So, what is this thing?" Persephone taps the glass again as if to emphasize her question. "Is it… like a… some sort of built-in heater?"
Megatron laughs. "No," he said.
He paused—or was that hesitation?—as if thinking of what to say to her. His cheeks darkened, similar to that of a human blushing. The lost look on his face turns into an annoyed one before it transforms into a look of defeat. Just utter resignation to his fate to the words he said.
"It is my spark."
The sound of a fighter jet flying above caught Persephone's attention. It was a great distraction from Shockwave's actions—blood collecting. Her eyes shifted back to the object that was slowly, but surely, filling up with her own plasma.
A fucking blood bag.
"Remind me again why I need that much blood taken from me?" Persephone inhaled through her teeth in order to keep herself from passing out. "I don't know about you, but for us humans, that's considered a lot already–I mean, look!" She gestures at the container with her free hand. "It's barely half-way filled! What the actual fuck?!"
Shockwave merely glances at her before checking the plastic container that was slowly being filled up. "You seem to squirm wherever you are poked," the scientist shrugged, "and it's annoying seeing as the needle might break which would make it harder for me. Not much is known about your current situation. Therefore, I have decided to collect as much blood as needed."
"It should last you at least two weeks, right?"
"No."
Her eyes widened. "I'm sorry. What?!"
"As I've said," Shockwave reminded, "not much is known about your case. In simple terms, you're not a rare case but the first to inhabit the Allspark. Which is the very life source of our planet. So, I must see to it that every information about you be known. Hence, why I collect so much liquid from you."
"How long would that last you? The PVC container once it's filled, I mean."
"About an Earth week."
Persephone nodded. "Okay, I can accept that."
Her eyes landed on the bag and slowly it was being filled. It already reached half-way at this point, now only another half-way more to go! However, something seemed… off.
Blood, if it's a lot, tends to grow darker. Like the color of red bean paste on a very darker shade. And sometimes, depending on the lighting, it was a reddish-black. It was common knowledge, at least for Persephone it is.
"Hey, so I can't help but notice that the color of my blood is very… not human," she shrugged, "I mean, usually, human blood is red… crimson… different shades of red?" Persephone gestures to the bag. "Sir, that right there is fucking purple and it looks like a purple-ish black in the container. And I know my colors, and I'm sure as hell not color blind."
The urge to freak out was present. Always has been. However, there was no use in expressing it because if she did then it might get the warlord's attention.
Which would then be blown out of proportion and get Shockwave in trouble.
"That is why I am collecting samples from you," the one-eyed cybertronian bonks her on the head. "I do not understand why it is in that color. Humans have red energon while us cybertronians have blue. Yours is a particular color. My first theory is it might be because you bear the Allspark, but until I have seen the results, then I cannot say for sure."
Persephone sighs, shoulders slumping in defeat.
Another fighter jet can be seen approaching before transforming mid air and landing on the ground. There was a slight vibration, but it wasn't too strong since Starscream landed a good few feet away from her.
Starscream approaches her, a shit-eating grin on his face. As a greeting, Persephone smiles at him, raising her middle finger at him. The seeker raises a brow at her. His optics flicker for a moment before he raises his middle finger up at her as well, making her laugh.
"I see you're being a lab rat again," Starscream snickered as he sat next to her. "What exactly are you doing?"
"Fuck you. Suck a cock or something. "
"Extracting liquids in order to analyze her condition."
The two said in unison, words overlapping on one another but Starscream seemed to get a gist of it since he nods his head.
"So, you and Megatron," Starscream grins at her, "Never thought I'd see the day Megatron bears his spark to a squishy."
Persephone rolled her eyes at him. "Don't blow it out of proportion, please," she hissed, "It's not that big of a deal. He just used it to keep me warm the other day."
It wasn't snowing anymore. Thank god! But there was still snow here and there. It wouldn't be long before spring comes.
"Mhm." Starscream responds, clearly not believing her. "I suppose you would know what a spark is, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Then, you would know how sacred it is for us to show our spark. We don't just put it out for anyone to see. That person had to be special. It seems you are quite special to Lord Megatron."
"Starscream," Shockwave says, "look after the container. If it is full, contact me immediately. I must attend Lord Megatron's summon." With that, the one-eyed cybertronian's holoform dissipates as he walks over to where Megatron was hunched over the ground.
Starscream watched him walk away, before turning to her. His holomatter avatar activates, his miniature—it's not even small since he was around nine feet tall—figure leaning close to her.
"Alright, now that he's gone. I have to tell you something," His voice hushed, glancing around him casually. "Does the name "Mearing" ring any bell to you?"
"Mearing?" Persephone questioned and he nods at her.
She thinks for a second, trying to see if anyone comes to mind. A light bulb lights up on top of her head as she recalls a blonde haired woman with glasses, who hated being called ma'am for some reason. The woman was from the third movie… yeah, definitely the third movie.
"Yes!" She grabs on to his hands. "Yes! I remember her!" Persephone says with a smile, only to be shushed by Starscream.
"Keep your voice down!" He hissed at her.
Persephone flashes him an apologetic smile. "Sorry," She laughs sheepishly. "Last I know, Mearing works with the Autobots. In a way, she's in charge of their division. Why do you ask about her?"
There was a look on Starscream's face. Like he just placed the pieces together in his processor.
"Then it makes sense," He says to her. "Do you remember the message you sent to the Autobots?"
"Yes." She answered.
Truth be told, she had forgotten about it. Persephone didn't expect her phone to survive the journey with Mikaela. Maybe it had gotten cracked or the memory card got damaged. Something like that.
"Good. The message successfully reached them," Starscream nods his head. "Cemetery Wind is being ordered by Mearing to look for you. Unharmed and Breathing."
"Are the Autobots working with Cemetery Wind?" Persephone asked, horrified.
"From the looks of it," Starscream answered. "That or they could be working with them indirectly."
She furrowed her brows. "How so?"
"It could be that Mearing is the only one who works with Cemetery Wind. Since she's working with them and working with Autobot scum. Then that would make them work indirectly with each other since they're not affiliated with one another.
"How do you know this?"
"I tuned in to one of their conversations since they were nearby where I was stationed."
Persephone raised a brow at him. "How did that not get you killed? You can't exactly park a military jet in a parking lot, you know? It's not normal."
Starscream rolled his optics at her, flicking her forehead. "Obviously I used my human holoform."
If her eyes could, it would have jumped out of its own sockets at his words. "You have a human holoform?!" Persephone exclaimed in disbelief.
"All of us do." The Second-in-Command rolled his eyes at her. "What are you? What's that word again–Retarded?"
Persephone smacked him on the head. "Don't say that word! That's problematic you dumb fuck! Do you have any idea how many people you've offended?!" She scolds him, crossing her arms.
"But doesn't that mean," his optics dim for a moment, "less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age?" It was obvious that he read that from the internet. "That applies to you... and the rest of humankind."
She stares at him for a second before sighing, placing two fingers on her temple. Because really, how do you lecture an alien robot that saying the word 'retard' is offensive?
"I can't believe you just called us that," Persephone face palms. "Okay, so here's the thing. The reason it's offensive is because you're belittling people who are mentally, physically, or socially… challenged. It's considered a slur."
"How come?"
"It alienates and excludes them. It also emphasizes the negative stereotypes surrounding people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; the common belief that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should be segregated, hidden away from society, which, in my opinion, is really old fashioned. Not only that, but it's also derogatory."
"Alright, explain to me how it's derogatory."
"Because the word has become a casual description of anything negative or flawed, 'retarded' is no longer considered an appropriate way to describe people with intellectual disabilities. And any use of the word, even when used as slang and not intended to be offensive, is hurtful – because it will always be associated with people who have disabilities. So, it's derogatory and lands on hate speech."
"And why is that a hate speech too?" Starscream asked. "Listen, I still don't properly grasp the context. I mean, I do, but I do not empathize with you humans."
"There's the problem. You don't understand how much you hurt others when you say that word of hatred," Persephone points out, filling a warm sensation beneath her but ignoring it. "And maybe you don't realize that you hate. But that's what it is; your pre-emptive dismissal of them—people with intellectual disabilities—your dehumanization of them, your mockery of them, it's nothing but another form of hate. It's as hateful as racism, hateful as sexism, hateful to the yards."
The Second-in-Command is silent for a moment before nodding his head. Taking her words and mulling it over.
"I didn't really care about what you said, but pairing it to a similar word in Cybertron... then it does sound bad." Starscream cringed.
"What's the word in your version?"
"As if I'll say it, then it'll make me look like a bad person."
His holoform dissipates as his real form moves, optics rolling. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to report to Megatron–HOLY FRAG! YOU'RE BLEEDING!"
"WHAT?! WHERE?!" She immediately turns to her arm, but nothing was out of the ordinary, and Persephone glares at him. "Bitch, I swear to god if you're talking about this tube in my arm–"
"NO! I MEAN THERE WHERE YOU'RE SEATING!"
Persephone looks down and notices the small pool of—so dark it looked like black—blood spreading across her bedsheet. "Oh, for fucks sake!" She hissed. "Shut up!"
She jumps off the bed, ignoring the panicking seeker; her feet immediately slipping on her boots.
Persephone puts a hand on her hip. "Now how the fuck am I going to change this with a needle on my other arm?"
The ground shook as Megatron and Shockwave approached. Shockwave's holomatter avatar immediately materialized.
Shockwave immediately went to examine her arm but didn't do much when he saw that it was fine. "Where are you bleeding?" He asked.
"I'm bleeding through my vagina," Persephone immediately answered, "But it's normal."
"NORMAL?!"
"HOW IS THAT NORMAL?!"
The warlord and his Second-in-Command bith shrieked in unison at her answer.
"What happened?!" Megatron glared at the seeker. "Were you not supposed to look after her, you incompetent slag!" He roared.
"Please don't get angry at him," Persephone tells him, "In fact, he's the one who pointed out that I have blood." She shrugged. "I can assure you that this is normal for us human women."
Megatron's holomatter avatar immediately materialized in front of her, making her jump in surprise.
"Turn around, Persephone," He says to her, an unreadable look on his face.
Confused at his request, she does as she's told. She hears him before she was told to face him again. "Look at me in the optics and tell me it doesn't pain you in the slightest."
She looks him dead in the eye and says, "It doesn't hurt. I promise."
They both stared at each other before Persephone realized that he was... trying to see if she was lying. In a way, challenging whether she would hide her pain or give up and show it. But jokes on him because she wasn't really in any pain.
"Shockwave is this normal?" The warlord queried his scientist without breaking eye contact.
"According to their information web... it is indeed normal, Lord Megatron," Shockwave informs after his optics dims for a moment, "It is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hormones. Menstruation is triggered by falling progesterone levels and is a sign that pregnancy has not occurred."
"So how do we stop it if it is even possible?" Megatron asked, stepping forward to take her hand. His thumb rubbing it comfortably. "We must stabilize her hormones in order to prevent the bleeding."
Persephone laughed. "The only way to stop the bleeding is to let the cycle pass or... stop it for a while." She rolled her eyes. "And I'd rather let it pass obviously."
"And how do we stop it for a while?" The warlord asks, towering over her.
"Yeah, I'd rather not talk about it with you or any of you... It's just embarrassing." Persephone blushed, finally breaking eye contact to look away.
"Shockwave?" He expected an immediate answer and the scientist didn't fail to comply.
"She would have to be impregnated in order for it to subside," Shockwave explained, "Throughout pregnancy, the human female form, the body retains the lining of the uterus, which is a part of their reproductive system. Therefore the bleeding stops unless a miscarriage were to occur; once the body starts producing the pregnancy—hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin—the periods will stop."
There was silence among all of them as they looked at the scientist. Persephone blinked owlishly. Once. Twice.
"Well, yeah. That's one way of putting it," Persephone replied, "So, basically the uterus is angry that she didn't get a baby and now she's making it everyone's problem. In order to end that we just give it a baby or let it pass, the latter being preferable."
Megatron looks down at her for a brief second, a spark of idea in his optics. "Is it possible for a cybertronian and an organic to mate, Shockwave?"
Persephone tilts her head. "What are you planning?"
"If you were to mate with a human, then yes, Lord Megatron. Cybertronian holomatter avatars and human forms are highly compatible. Too compatible, dare I say."
"And you know how...?"
"Why, I've done experimentations obviously."
"You didn't rape them... did you?" Persephone asked, taking a step back and hiding behind the warlord.
"No, I would never do that," Shockwave answered truthfully, "You'd be surprised at how many of your kind were... eagerly willing to copulate with me. I thought I would've had to drop the procedure at first or create some sort of mating gas to ease them."
"Honestly, I'm not surprised," She snickered. "Back where I came from, a lot of people are definitely more than willing to fuck you. Hell, they probably envy the humans you did it with."
Megatron finally spoke. "If what Shockwave says is true, then I shall sire your offsprings. Plant the seed in you, if you will," He turns to her. "Anything to stop you from bleeding. Perhaps they would have your beauty and spirit, while also possessing my intelligence and ambition."
"Oh, you think I'm pretty?" Persephone blushed, before the rest of his words finally sinks in making her red. "Absolutely not! You are not getting me pregnant!"
"I would make an excellent sire," Megatron grins at her before it fades into a scowl, "Or would you prefer to choose a human who shall help you?"
Jason Momoa or Michael B. Jordan are good choices too hehe, She thought.
"As getting impregnated or being bred by you sounds hot, I'm not really ready to be a mother!" Persephone exclaimed, stepping back as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Besides, I've read hundreds of stories where the women get pregnant by certain cybertronians—and no I'm not dropping names—and they suffer throughout the pregnancy. I don't care if they were just fanfics, I'm not risking it. I'd rather bleed every month than that."
Shockwave spoke, "I haven't heard of a human bear a cybertronian child before. Not even my experiments had carried."
Persephone asked, "Men or women?"
"Both, however, it appears that your male species cannot bear a child while the femmes are able to. Similar to us, but I expected you humans to be different."
"Oh, damn, not even mpreg exists here? That's sad."
"What is... this mpreg you speak of?"
"None of your concern and don't look it up or you'll be traumatized too. Putang ina, kung ano-ano nanaman makita mo diyan ha." Persephone turns to Megatron, "Could you please help me shop for some items. I need it for my feminine care."
The warlord holds her cheek with both hands before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Starscream and Barricade shall accompany you," He says to her, "I am busy strategizing our war. Go on, pet. Go enjoy."
"Oh, okay," Persephone pouted.
She was hoping to see his human holoform, but maybe next time if she was lucky. Hopefully she sees it soon before the Autobots are able to 'take' her.
"Hey! That tickles!"
"Stop your fussing or I'll install this incorrectly for the sixteenth time."
Leon lays by the medical birth as Ratchet tinkered inside his helm. The medic had to re-install the holomatter avatar device since he kept giggling and writhing on the berth.
The wires within his helm kept getting hit so Leon couldn't really help it.
"You're actually doing great," Arcee cheered from where she sat with a beaming smile on her faceplates, "Unlike me who had it re-installed for like fifty times!" She laughed, shaking her helm.
Leon raised a brow at her, slowly turning his head in her direction. "What happened?"
"The same reason as you–Can you please just look straight ahead for Primus's sake!" Ratchet grumbled as he redirected Leon's helm for the hundredth time. "We'll be here for another forty two hours if you continue to fuzz about."
Ratchet called him in to install a certain device that would help him blend in with his fellow humans. Something that would make them feel at ease when talking to them. Something about belonging to a group was comforting.
Leon felt like he didn't need to be alone anymore.
"Just a little more," Ratchet says as he tightens the last screw. "And you're finally done!" He says, checking to make sure it was all intact.
The medic closes his helm before turning to the screens. "Alright, I need you to do as I say before you observe your holomatter avatar." He instructed before conducting a small test.
It was easy actually. Leon just had to do some simple movements and testing out his reflexes, before Ratchet gave him the go signal to test out his holoform.
Upon checking his HUD, Leon could see the humanoid shape on the area where his alternate forms were placed. And when he selected that, things happened fast. One moment he was in his body, the next he was looking at his own...
Human hands?
"What?" Leon gawked, checking himself, spinning as he looked around and there it was. His old body, only it was more chiseled than before.
To say he was surprised to see his own holomatter avatar was an understatement.
The moment Leon saw himself in Ratchet's mirror, the poor man screamed. His face was the same and yet so... different.
His eyes were a bright red, the only thing he was missing was the deathly pale skin and fangs to complete the vampire look. But alas, he was no immortal. Therefore, his tan skin remained. Leon touched his fluffy hair and it was... soft. He still stood at six foot–two, and his physique was more well-toned.
Leon wore a black shirt and some black army pants, as well as a pair of black combat boots. Although black was his favorite color, the silver dog tag—one that had an Autobot insignia on it—on his neck was a nice touch.
It's been so long since he'd seen his human face.
Leon was admiring himself in awe at the mirror, before a dark haired girl with neon blue eyes materialized beside him.
"Wow, you look handsome." He heard Arcee's voice come from the holomatter avatar beside him. "Is this a new look for you or has this always been what you look like?"
"This has always been what I've looked like," Leon turns to her looking her up and down, "Arcee, you look amazing!"
Arcee did a twirl, her dark wavy hair bouncing as her cute pink and white skirt moved with her. Her pink and white jacket looked great above her white clothing. The best way to describe her was that she looked like an egirl, and she was pretty hot.
She stood at around five foot-seven which was what the scanners on his HUD says.
"Thank you!" Arcee beamed at him. "The technology Ratchet used was able to copy our real faces and add flesh to them. So, I guess I have what you humans call 'chubby cheeks' huh?"
"You do," Leon snickered. "But why did Ratchet give me a holoform?"
Arcee tilts her head. "You didn't know?" She asked. "Since you're able to properly learn how to fight, Prime wanted to send you so you could retrieve your–"
"Where is he?" Mearing walks into the medbay, soldiers and assistant at her trail.
"Who are you looking for?" Ratchet asked, towering over them. Careful not to step on anyone as he cleaned his tools.
"The Autobot who calls himself Leon," the blonde woman answered quickly, before her cold gaze settled on him.
Leon watches her and the others climb up the ramp towards the giant table where his and Arcee's holomatter avatar stood. As Mearing approached, Leon felt like he wanted to run.
To be fair, she was intimidating.
"You were looking for me...?" He asked sheepishly.
"This is no time for chit-chat. I'll go straight to the point. Are you capable of fighting in the field?" Mearing asked, her voice urging him to answer immediately.
"Yes, ma'am." Leon nodded in agreement.
"Good," She replied. "You'll be going to North Dakota with the Autobots to retrieve Optimus Prime's wife or rather your sister. You'll be the first to interact with her alongside the scout and the intelligence agent. And then Cemetery Wind will back us up."
"But I thought you said we weren't going to engage with them and that Cemetery Wind will retrieve my sister?"
Mearing sighed. "Plans change. Let's just say I have a hunch that Cemetery Wind won't be too gentle on her. They're trained to hunt down and kill Decepticons, after all. Including anyone who works with them."
"But my sister–"
"Listen," Mearing snapped. She sighed before stepping closer, whispering in his ear, "I headed your warning and believe me when I say I have found thousands of documents that made me highly suspicious of them. There are a lot of cover ups and I risked my ass for you Autobots. So please, trust me on this."
The blonde haired woman steps back. "This would allow the Autobots to function safely without much under fire from the public. It will also allow you to see your sister directly. Wasn't that the goal to begin with?"
Leon was silent for a moment, thinking her words over before he nodded his head.
"Alright. What's the plan?"
"I'll fill in the details once everyone's together so no one gets left behind," Mearing informed as she turned to leave.
Leon turns to Arcee with a wide grin on his face. He jumped up and down, squealing before hugging Arcee.
Finally, he'll be able to live out his Transformers dream. Being a cybertronian? Check. Having cool weapons systems Double check. A holoform? Check and check.
Now, he was about to go to North Dakota to fight against the Decepticons.
What could possibly go wrong, right?
End of Chapter XXI
Author's Note.
Honestly, I can't believe 2022 is almost ending. Anyyways, I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations! See you guys next year! I'm so thankful for all the support you have given me. You have no idea how much it means to me I love you guys and again happy holidays!
―Stwawbewwy