A trio of robbers steal from a vault in New York's Transformer-run bank. One of the items they take is a relic donated to the city and awaiting unveiling. After the heist, Jordie soon discovers something is not right as his vacation becomes a roller coaster with each passing day.
"So, what are we looking for, Jordie?"
"You'll see. Now shut up and start drilling, Larry!" Larry did what he was told with a grunt of disapproval as Jordie gestured to the third person in the room. "I need you to grab anything in your path, Valiant, as soon as we open it. You have the subspace."
The orange mech nodded, "Copy that. You break it and I'll take it."
"That's what I like to hear."
As Larry drilled into the lock and played around with the next step of opening the safe, Jordie smiled to himself as his Velocitronian companion crouched down beside him. They had waited all day to do this. With the bank having just received donations and the city needing to store valuables meant to be unveiled at the new mayor's inauguration, it was the perfect time to take whatever lay in the vaults. It paid that he had a few friends in the right places to get security off their backs for the night as well as Valiant having the means to scramble the automatic alarm.
Larry gave an okay gesture and twisted the handle to the vault. The large door opened to reveal cash, gold, and several items of interest. They made way for Valiant to do what he did best. Shoving the cash and gold into his subspace first, the mech snickered while the two humans moved around him to grab the remaining artifacts. A necklace made with unrecognizable jewels, most likely worth a fortune, and a trophy of honor that was meant to be presented to the mayor as tribute to his success. However, Jordie glanced over all of them when he spotted an unusual item.
"Hey, boys, get a load of this."
Valiant slowed his movements but didn't stop while Larry raised a brow as Jordie grabbed a peculiar staff. It's gleaming black metal with a levitating large blue crystal and several smaller ones rotating slowly around it was a sight to see. It was taller than him at 7 feet and its grip had various symbols upon it. The Kanjian language was a mysterious tongue even among the other cybernetic worlds. It was nonetheless fascinating to see such an item in the vault and Jodie could only smile to himself how whatever it was meant to be or do, it was now his.
He stroked its neck admiring the engravings firsthand until it flickered. He paused as the crystal turned a hellish orange briefly before returning to blue. He looked between it and his crew who also froze. When nothing happened, he simply shrugged.
"Guess it just wanted to read who I was," he laughed.
Larry frowned and slowly shook his head, "I wouldn't think that's a good thing. What if it's a security precaution?"
"What, like read our minds, our intentions? Sounds stupid coming from you-"
Valiant then hissed at them. "Hey, any minute now that alarm can go. I can't hold it off forever! If you want the damn thing, take it or leave it!"
Jordie merely chuckled at his companion's persistence and threw him the staff which he put in his subspace like all the other items. Once they had as much as they could load, Valiant made sure the coast was clear before jumping out the window and transforming into a muscle car, making a donut maneuver to park and wait for his human colleagues. Jordie and Larry quickly entered when his doors swung open, and Valiant hit the gas as soon as they were settled.
They sped through the town, taking as many backroads as possible to minimize getting caught, especially after hearing the alarms finally blaring at a distance. Police patrols responded and they made themselves disappear. Once they got to the outskirts of the city, Valiant pulled into the warehouse they called their base and let the humans out before emptying himself of their loot. The last he threw out was the staff, but Jordie caught it before it hit the ground and stumbled afterwards careful not to fall.
"Hey now, easy! Some of this is priceless stuff! It's not valuable if it's broken."
Valiant merely scowled before moving to the makeshift couch he had to himself near scattered barrels of Energon and a TV. As Larry sealed the warehouse doors, Jordie plopped into his own comfy recliner and turned on the flatscreen to see a news report on their own crime spree. He laughed as he busted out a cigarette and kept the staff close like he was a king in waiting. Larry joined them on a backwards chair near their bar while Valiant readjusted to lay on his back to get comfortable.
Jordie snickered, "I'm telling you, boys, tomorrow will be a brand-new day. We get to go on vacation in the Bahamas. Valiant, I think we could find you some pretty tail too, my treat. I heard there's some hot babes of all types out there."
The mech grinned before saying, "I wouldn't mind that one bit."
Larry mused, "Dude, I would love to visit some of their restaurants. I heard they are to die for."
Jordie leaned the staff against the coffee table as he nodded, "For sure. The bars too. Massages, poolside service, the whole deal ours for the taking. You cannot ask for anything better."
"Massage definitely. My back is fucked," the other man laughed.
As they watched the newsreel on the bank, talking among themselves, the staff hissed as its energy within the crystal moved slowly.
After selling the gold to a reliable buyer and bagging up the cash with the rest of their loot, they bridged to the Bahamas as planned. The good thing about having access to a non-restricted ground bridge? No pat downs and no security. Smuggling was easier though the bridges they used were certainly illegal. If the systematic code the bridge gave off was traced, there would be an issue, but no one knew of theirs anyway so no problems.
New Providence had some of the best hotels in the country and they chose one close to the beach with a spectacular view of the ocean. Valiant and Larry got their own separate rooms, breaking apart from Jordie as he went to his own. He hummed with his sunglasses on and a casual tee. As he unlocked his door, he heard a faint but noticeable ticking from a clock. At first, he ignored it, but the sound grew louder when suddenly, a figure passed him. He didn't even hear the footsteps and flinched when the pocket watch attached to a gold chain was snapped shut. As soon as he turned to look at the person, they went around the corner.
Jordie sneered but ignored it. The more he didn't swell on the creepiness of it, the better. He put down an elongated bag on his bed and peeked inside to see the staff still resting well on its journey. He planned to sell it soon. The Bahamas, although beautiful with nice natives, did have a few dark spots where the unspeakable can and would happen when no one paid attention.
"All thanks to you, my friend," he muttered, tapping the crystal humorously. He carefully stored the bag on the top shelf of the closet but not before taking a few wads of cash to hide on his person for some fun.
He left his room and headed to Larry's down the hall. "Larry, you ready?"
Larry walked out with a Jurassic Park t-shirt and basketball shorts with simple vans on. "Ready when you are."
"Let's go get Valiant and enjoy life, shall we?"
Once they got their companion, all three diverted to the bar first on the beach. There were two bartenders, a human with dreads curled up into a loose bun and an Autobot with a green and yellow color scheme. They worked in tandem serving the couples and single individuals that wandered up to the large bar. Behind them was a mini Predacon dragon that blew fire on the rims of drinks for those who ordered the specialty.
"Hey, Dracona, a little sip sip on the side low," the bartender said to the small Predacon. "We may have to raise our prices on those Fire-Burnin' Bahama Mamas; we are going in for a high sell run for a month until the end of the season."
The Predacon gave a chirp and flew to the blackboard with the prices, rubbing off the specialty Bahama Mamas' current price and marking the new one to an over two dollar increase.
"That's stupid," Larry muttered on the side.
Valiant had already ordered a spiced Energon cocktail, enjoying the taste. Then they all heard the most magical sound. Four bikini-clad women, two slim Seekers and an elegant grounder wandered up the beach laughing. All three of them turned to stare at the sight with their mouths open even as a few of the girls looked their way.
Jordie saw among them a gorgeous black-haired and dark tan girl who seemed to be the partner of the equally stunning purple grounder with tattoos on her chassis. "You seeing this, Valiant?"
"I'm seeing this, I'm seeing this, I'm-what are the chances of us getting laid though?"
"We play our cards right, at least 50% guarantee," Jordie grinned. "Hey, ladies, why don't we buy you a few drinks, eh?!"
The Seeker femmes seemed to be talking among themselves and looking at Valiant who hid his blush for a cockier grin. The other girls slowly migrated over to them with their playful demeanors. The three Transformers who took interest in Valiant sat next to him. One of the femmes had small fangs and the orange mech was a bit taken aback but slowly wondered what kissing her would feel like. He didn't mind a little blood if it was accidentally drawn.
As the three sweet-talked each girl, a man and a woman sat in the corner of the bar. Jordie paid them no mind until he heard the ticking. There was something profound about the noise, something he couldn't explain. When he noticed some of the girls looking towards the couple, he realized they didn't hear the clock as they eyed them with lust more so than annoyance. Then Jordie looked over as well.
An older gentleman who had a nice black polo with white and gold designs, greyish white hair slicked back with a goatee stylized with faint stripes in trim work, sunglasses on his head, black boarder shorts with white patterns along the edging and gold chains for décor, and rings upon his fingers...held a gold pocket watch. He merely tapped it with his manicured thumb. The guy had tattoos on his arms and legs that went down to his knuckles and edge of his toes, expresso skin and a muscular physique, probably a sixty-five-year-old yoga grandpa or something. Faint white stripes that blended into black dragon claws spread onto each finger like he had a secondary hand overlaying his own. Normally, tattoos in his age range would have faded unless brand new but it didn't look new, nor was it faded. Maybe touched up? There was a tattoo on his neck that curved to the clothed backside, but it was not distinguishable. Staring down at the watch with unusually grey eyes, he suddenly snapped it shut again and put it in his pocket. Weirder still was the Predacon that helped with the drinks grew deathly silent as if awaiting something that had yet to come with the man's presence.
The woman beside him, near the same age, was curvy and thick with a one-piece white swimsuit with dark blue designs on it and silver embroidery. Her waist had an open patch lined with silver trim to reveal her pierced midriff. Her hair was pure white but had blue dye at the ends and in splotches farther up. A beach hat and sunglasses, she did seldom to mask the noticeable vitiligo that was among her body. It was patterned like fine paint among her bronze skin. She proudly showed it off and looked beautiful; Jordie was a bit jealous of this mysterious man having a babe like that, made the skinnier girls he had a bit boring.
"Sky Juice and a Yellow Bird, little ice please," the man said taking out his wallet and slapping a B$50 down. "Keep the change."
Jordie was flabbergasted at the man. He had wealth and there was a question in the robber's mind about just what could he afford to lose? The bartender gave a big smile and didn't hesitate to prioritize him with such a big tip. When the man smiled back, faint edges of canines glistened in the Bahamian sun.
Jordie looked back to see Larry staring as well as the girls until abruptly, a few of them left to say hi to the couple. To his surprise, the couple didn't mind one bit as the girls stuck to them like glue. One of the girls even began flirting with the woman herself.
Larry grinned, "I'd love to see that big chick with them. Fivesome? Maybe with the Transformer babes too. You, me, and Valiant all getting a good show?"
Jordie was about to agree when the handsome older man waved the girls off sweetly. They didn't pout as he rejected them, merely offered their phone number which the man smiled at. The woman also kindly rejected. The three Transformers who came with them wandered off after them, not before sending Valiant a kiss in the wind. That stunned the three more than anything that the girls would leave the willing bachelors from being let go by the unwilling party. That did give Jordie the opportunity to address the elephant on the beach...and no, not the real techno-organic one playing in the water the girls passed as they left.
Jordie moved closer to the older man who barely acknowledged him but still palmed the closed pocket watch. As the man got his drinks and gave one to his lady, Jordie snapped at him as nice as he could. "Pardon me, mister, but we were talking to those girls you just drove away."
"I'm dreadfully sorry," the man said with a deep voice. "I didn't mean to impose. We're just regulars here."
Jordie's confusion rose. "Regulars? How many times have you been out this way?"
"Sixteen trips a year on slow times. We've...retired long time ago."
"Long time ago-okay, you don't look older than 60-"
"Thank you."
"-so how the hell did you retire so fast?"
"We are the ki-" the man was suddenly nudged by his stunning wife who then brought her sunglasses down to the edge of her nose in warning. He corrected himself quickly, "We...we are kind entrepreneurs and devoted lawyers who have been successful in what we do. Time is money, they say, and we keep track of all our finances and charities as a team. We saved up more than enough to last us until the end."
Jordie mused, "Business lawyers, huh? I may need some lawyers eventually...what are your names again?"
The woman finally spoke with a voice that sent a bunch of signals in the right places. "Kira and Percy Koroney."
Just then, Mr. Koroney tilted his head to the side and eyed the watch gripped in his hand closed. He grinned slowly, revealing his pristine white teeth and diverse set of canines among them. "Time is slowly running out to return it."
"What?" Jordie frowned.
He coughed, "Oh, uh, we borrowed something from the hotel, only can keep it for a certain amount of time. My dear, we need to get a move on after this."
Larry shrugged at Valiant who raised a brow while Jordie huffed, "Huh...well, Mr. And Mrs. Koroney, I'm sorry to bother you and you have a good rest of your day."
As he signaled for his team to leave, he heard the pocket watch again. As Mr. Koroney drank the Yellow Bird, he seemed awfully dedicated to watching that clock he carried around, and Jordie had to wonder why. He wasn't buying the borrowing comment; there was something they were hiding. He then saw the man lean over to his wife and whisper something, the dragon tattoo of his hand clenching the pocket watch shut once more alongside his real hand.
The rest of the day, the paranoia of the encounter with the couple they met at the bar faded as the three walked the beach and sometimes stopped to simply lie on the sand to take in the afternoon sun. Since it was the first day of their vacation, there was a lot to do. Jordie was the first to retire while Valiant went to cruise the city and Larry had got to befriend a barista down in the lobby of their hotel. Jordie, however, lay on his bed slowly thinking.
Mr. Koroney's pocket watch reminded him of one his mother had. It was gold and had a picture of his grandmother, her mother, inside. He silently smirked as he recalled her showing him how to read it when he was five and how to use it as a makeshift stopwatch when need be.
Just then he heard whispering coming from his closet and wandered over to see the staff pulsing. He snidely muttered, "Come tomorrow, you might just get a new home here. I bet the Bahama dealers would love you."
It seemed to grow silent, and he placed it back, shutting the closet doors closed. The whispers didn't start again, and he got a good night's sleep. The next day, we went to the café beside the hotel where Larry and Valiant met up with him. To his surprise, the couple they had seen on the beach were enjoying a few cups of coffee, souse, fresh fruit and Johnnycakes at the far end of the café. Dressed in casual attire, still in black, gold and white oddly, Mr. Koroney still kept track of that pocket watch.
Larry caught him staring and swatted his arm. "You know, you've been eyeing that guy since we got here. You need to stop. We have money now and you're not using any of it. What's up with you?"
Just then, Percy Koroney caught him staring and smiled before alerting his wife in the tinted blue-white sun dress. She gestured to him and against his better instincts, Jordie left his pals and went to the couple.
"This resort isn't as big as it looks apparently," the man smirked.
"What can I say except you two stand out among the crowd," Jordie said. "You know black looks like you're trying to get heatstroke in record time, right?"
Kira gave her husband an expression that nearly screamed "I told you so" to which the other merely scoffed, "My color of choice. I...like it. I can tolerate plenty of heat. I was born in a city where the climate is like this all the time. Lots of activity where sweat doesn't mean a thing is where I prefer to stay."
Jordie merely remarked, "Are you talking the density of the air or your sex life? Not something someone of your age can brag about a whole lot."
Percy sang, "And you would bring up the subject of sex because?"
He knew it was a bold statement, but he couldn't help it. The guy opened himself to getting caught with questionable wording, so Jordie was going to call him out on it. The couple seemed to backtrack a little with his lack of response but then Mr. Koroney grinned.
"Well then, that's certainly the highlight of the morning. I suppose there's some time for something like that."
Kira shrugged pleasantly and smiled at Jordie. "You tell us the time and place and maybe we could get together?"
Jordie was flushed now. That wasn't in his game plan, but it was his vacation with stolen money. If he was going to enjoy it, might as well.
"But I must warn you, my boy, I never start something, but I do end it. So, if you wish to tread into this territory, it might not be our only encounter in such a manner."
The domineering tone was a definite turn on for him and he meekly nodded before whispering, "Your place, I guess?"
The hint of robust fangs was revealed with a smirk and the older man wrote down their hotel room number and location, something Jordie was quick to slip into his pocket. He turned away and saw Larry give him a thumbs up much to his embarrassment. Valiant was less open about his opinion on it as the mech merely shook his head in a playful demeanor more so than an annoyed one.
"So, are you going to get some of that?" His friend said, moving his eyebrows suggestively.
"Shut up, Larry."
That night though, Jordie grew curious. He placed the staff to the side of his room before talking to it. "I think I'm losing my mind. I've never been bold like this."
The pocket watch sound suddenly echoed in the room, and he winced, covering his ears. It sounded like a drumming on every wall but died fast. However, he was quick to notice the staff was pulsing to the time's casual beat.
"Time is running out to return it," a ghostly echo flashed in his mind.
Jordie shook his head concerned, peering around the room with a sneer. "Yeah, right."
He pulled at his pockets and the note Mr. Koroney gave him fell out. He was hesitant to pick it up but did so anyway despite his senses screaming for him not to. But those voices melted to desire thinking about the couple. He was on vacation, right? Who cared what he did or who for that matter. It was time to enjoy himself more than he tried to. Clutching the paper in his hand, Jordie made his executive decision and went out the door.
The room number led him to the big suites, the penthouse rooms. There were only four penthouse rooms that could be given out and all of them were occupied. The hall between them was wider than normal and the four doors were a very descent space away from each other. He wished he could have one of the rooms, but they were reservation only, as in several months out-type reservations. That was time he unfortunately didn't have beforehand. The suite he needed was the farthest on the righthand side. When he got to the door though, he heard whispers.
"And your plan is...?"
"We wait for the opportune moment, my Queen. I'll get what I want in the end regardless, but this could be a bonus play toy for us."
Jordie found it curious that Mr. Koroney referred to his wife as a queen.
"I trust you, just don't go overboard."
"I think this conversation is best suited another time. We have company-"
Oh shit. Jordie was quick to turn on his heel feeling guilty but then the door opened though the older man seemed a bit curious more than enraged for the eavesdropping. "How much did you hear?"
Jordie gulped and shrugged, "You, uh, called her a queen and said something about a play toy?"
The man smiled, "Yes, that. She is my queen and I'm her king. Perhaps you would...like to know more with a drink?"
Being let inside with Kira at the built-in bar and seeing the suite firsthand blew his mind. They had a lounge balcony with a hot tub next to the windows, a kitchen, and he got a peek into the bedroom that looked like it had been used for rougher activities, causing him to blush like mad. Percy lit a cigar but blew the smoke through the sides of his mouth almost like a fire-breathing animal would. The few canines he supported made him appear beastly with his slightly rumpled grey-white hair.
"If you can believe it, I'm not a smoker but I like the flavor. Want some?"
Jordie politely declined as he looked at Kira who was half naked. Barely what could be considered a bra and tight shorts hugged her frame, leaving nothing to the imagination. She had tattoos on her back, some type of tribal tiger with bat-wings and horns clawing up her spine. She sent him a smile again, sipping from her bottle of beer and winking.
"Jordie, is it? Short for Jordan?"
He nodded a bit too fast and almost made himself dizzy. Hearing his name on her lips with a purr made him think things he was unsure of if he was allowed to be with her husband right next to her. "My friends call me Jordie, but I don't mind either way."
"Either way of what?" The older man asked amused.
"E-Either way of my name being said but that t-too."
Percy finally broke the tension by asking, "Do you really want to commit to...us? If you aren't comfortable, I won't obscure your boundaries."
Jordie replied quickly, "I do. I want to know what makes you two so special. I feel like it's fate we meet so I'm more than willing to go through with this. After all, it's our vacation, right? Who cares?!"
Percy and Kira peered at each other before the former snuffed his cigar and approached Jordie. The man froze as careful hands caressed his cheeks before slowly pulling him forward to a kiss. He expected there to be a tobacco taste but there was something metallic about it, not unwanted as it blended with what could be described as a fruit cocktail. He didn't resist as he was helped out of his clothes. Percy gave a light chuckle as Jordie grew eager. Then he felt the older man's chest and paused.
"Do you, like, work out every day or what? Protein shakes? Gyms? What is your secret?"
Percy gave a brief glance at the ceiling as if he was trying to find an excuse. "It's...years of hard work, let's just say."
"For a lawyer?" Jordie grinned, "Treat your clients with something extra to get that workout?"
"You would be surprised."
He was on the bed in no time. It was soft, curving to his body like a mold plaster as Percy took his place on top of him. Then came the biting as he was rubbed against. Apparently, those canines weren't just for show. A big hickey with small streaks of blood was left on his neck in a non-harmful area, a claiming spot.
Kira had at some point moved to a chair on the side, but he was so focused on Mr. Koroney, he had little wonder what Mrs. Koroney was doing even among a mixture of moans. Time flew by so fast, but the motions seemed to last forever. His prostate certainly never had the experience, but it was flattered the same as Jordie himself who clung to the larger man.
In the midst of their rut, Jordie swore he heard some type of predatory growl and Percy's eyes shifted ever slightly. The pupils were barely noticed to contract inward but not in normal size. Jordie ignored it like a fever dream, only wanting what he desired.
The next morning...
Jordie was asleep next to a body he had familiarized himself with. The morning wood didn't help in the recognition, and he grinned. Kira was already awake, moving around suite in her quick-placed sundress but the light showed she wasn't wearing undergarments.
Still with his eyes closed, Percy said, "Now, I do hope you aren't staring down my beloved wife. I don't want to make you forget about her."
"Too late, stuck in my brain. Now, I should probably get going," Jordie said.
He snickered as Percy showed slight disdain for him leaving the bed but remained cuddled into the pillow with a sleepy huff, stream blowing from the tense nostrils with an abnormal, guttural growl...the same one Jordie had heard last night. The man paused and peered at Percy curiously. No man he had ever known would do that. Valiant had a type of snore like a deep rumble within the chassis but that was the closest thing he could pinpoint it as.
Suddenly, Mr. Koroney spoke with half-lidded eyes and a giant grin. "You know, I could offer you a place among my 'business' if you were to simply return what you took. It's a little conflicting to me to have to punish you with that nice ass of yours."
Jordie froze up entirely after he put on his pants and was just putting on his shirt. He stared at Percy without a single flinch before stuttering, "I-I-I have no idea what you...you are talking about."
Now annoyed and slightly disappointed, Percy got up and cracked his neck. "Well, that's a bit unfortunate."
The last word came in as a deep snarl, animal-like almost as Percy put on black and white shorts. He moved slowly to keep Jordie from leaving the room, trapping him between himself standing and the bed just behind. He pulled out the pocket watch and then glared at the man.
"Time is wasting, Jordan, and you are beginning to waste mine though I will admit it was quite a breather."
Jordie frowned, "Mr. Koroney, I don't know what you are-"
"Yes, you do. That's why you're here. And it's King Kronos to you, human."
Everything clicked and he panicked realizing he had sex with a Transformer of all things. Since when were holoforms this sophisticated?! Jordie backed away stumbling over the bed as the Transformer in disguise taunted him with the pocket watch swinging helplessly in his tattooed hand, the ticking growly in volume with each swing.
"Don't you recognize this?"
He looked closer, his eyes widening as he saw his mother's initials engraved on its cover. When King Kronos caught him staring at it, he merely grinned.
"T-That's my mother's!"
The larger being didn't react until suddenly squeezing the pocket watch. Jordie felt his heart compressing and he didn't know how. When the king stopped and dropped it to swing by its chain again, his heart was beating wildly, and he nearly slid off the bed.
He whimpered, "Wha…what did you do…to me?!"
The king stood slightly to the side and swung the watch up into his awaiting grasp with a sneer. "You steal something of mine, I take something of yours."
The ticking grew louder but far more obscure, almost in a broken tone. His heart felt denser, and he couldn't tell if it was blood building where it shouldn't be or something even more scary. The pocket watch was waved in front of his eyes once more. He feared it more than anything now.
Jordie then snarled, "What type of sick fuck are you?"
"Tell me, Jordan Freeman, when you stole my gift to New York, did you think it was worth your life? I understand desperation...but sheer greed? Oh, that's despicable. Your mother's watch, the one you kept so close to your heart within the memories of childhood, now is your heart. As long as it ticks, your time on this planet will continue but if it stops..." King Kronos pursed his lips in thought before it turned into a calm but malicious smile, fangs now abundant more than previously. He flipped open the cover so Jordie could stare as each second passed with his grandmother's picture judging him. "Neat little trick, huh? One of my daughters taught me how to do this, something even I in my limitless time never thought to do."
"P-Please, I'll do anything...I-I'll give you the money-"
"I don't care for money; my wealth is not what defines my power or rule. I'm mostly a benevolent leader, but you...you forced my hand. Bots like me, our relics are sacred and for one of utmost detestable behavior to take it? That's a punishable offense by death. Didn't your mother ever tell you to not take what isn't yours?"
Jordie was silent now, still breathing hard as the watch only grew louder in its taunting. King Kronos merely eyed the watch as he swung it back into his hand again.
"I will keep this. If you value your life as much as you value what you steal, you will rethink your ways. I expect you in New York in two days, assuming you actually do what I ask." He then smirked, "I rarely get to go on vacation, so I think I'll be hanging around for the time being. I've always wanted to try what you call a mojito, and the people are quite lovely here. Enjoy the rest of your getaway while you can. Oh, and do be mindful of the tides tomorrow, heard there was a small storm coming in."
The dark laughter echoed and Jordie couldn't recall when the Transformer moved but he was gone faster than he processed. The ticking of the watch remained for another minute before going silent and he clutched his chest afraid he had passed. He was still alive, still around to know there was a madman in the building with him. Kira, or whoever was in the suite with them, had vanished too. He couldn't leave the room fast enough.
Nearly bumping into the hotel staff, he raced down to the lobby shaken as Larry and Valiant waved to him. Jordie didn't wave back, and they frowned at his sudden isolation. Larry came nearly running at him.
"Hey, Jordie, what's wrong, man? You look like you've seen a ghost-"
"Thank you for your input but I-I'm fine."
"But-"
Jordie almost swatted his shoulder when his friend touched his arm. "Let's just enjoy ourselves and forget about alright! That's what we came here to do, right?"
It ate him; he didn't know if this king, or whatever type of leader the monster was, had been telling the truth or used some type of hypnosis on him to think that it was his mother's pocket watch and that his life was tied to it. A part of him believed it was just a fever dream...it had to be. A delusion at best. Even as he followed his friends to an offshore water park, his mind was reeling from the hallucination...or was it even that?
Larry had a blast, Valiant didn't like the water a whole lot and preferred to stay on the floating platforms to rest with a few other Cybertronians who shared similar thoughts, but Jordie at first remained seated on a bench. He flinched a little as he heard a child scream in delight, falling just past him from jumping off a ramp. The aquatic-based Transformer staff that manned the water park floated around with lifeguards stationed on their backs watching over any humans at risk of drowning. They also scared off any potential sharks that might have mistaken playing humans for other prey.
A drenched Larry nudged him. "Come on, Jordie, enjoy the water!"
Before Jordie could protest, he was forced to run and jump in, and the water never felt better until...tick tick TICK. He could hear it; it sounded loud like it was in front of his face. Frantically, he peered around in search of the watch or of Koroney...Kronos, whoever the bastard was. He didn't realize he was sinking until a servo pulled him out.
"Hey, brother, are you alright?"
A decently build Bahamian and a navy blue Aquatronian he stood on glanced at him as he was placed on the finned backside. Larry swam up beside him concerned. Jordie was embarrassed as he no longer heard the pocket watch. Given how loud it was, he could confirm it was in his head. There was nothing to be afraid of but fear itself...and drowning like he had almost done. He was supposed to be enjoying his vacation, not fearing for his life.
"Yeah, I'm fine-"
"No, you're not," Larry said without a beat.
Jordie had nothing to come back with and took his embarrassment in stride. While his friends stayed at the water park, he went back to his hotel and sat lifelessly on his bed. The whispers started again, this time trying to pronounce a word. He thought long and hard on what to do. Maybe he was just going crazy so if he was, why fear anything anymore? Fuck King Koroney-Kronos.
Finally, he had enough. He took a handful of Benjamins and went out. He hailed a cab and the first thing he asked, "Where's a place to have some fun as in dirty and possibly dangerous?"
The cabbie peered back at him with a stern look. "Why you want to know?"
"Let's just say I have some cash I want to waste. Think anybody would be interested in that?"
The wide grin the cabbie made was all he needed to know he talked to the right person. "Ay, American, one stop shop in the old underground. My brother will want to hear from you. You give him the money; he sets you up good."
"Perfect."
They drove for a good chunk of time to the edge of the city, and he couldn't believe his eyes. Some dirt had definitely been laid in the fine establishments, and he was all for it. He was escorted by burly men into one of them. Towards the "basement" of the building, a night club was booming. Booze, strippers, and cocaine. A runaway's dream, and Jordie wanted to get away from everything with his stolen money. He met the cabbie's brother who immediately looked him up and down with a scoffing noise.
"You want to get away, huh? I make enough to be as rich as you, don't need your money, American."
Jordie placed a wad of cash into the man's hands. "I don't need it either."
The bold move was stunning to the Bahamian, but he slowly nodded. "If that's how you feel, welcome home."
Girls immediately began moving in on him and he didn't want to let them go. The rest of the afternoon and night was blurry. He assumed he kissed many of them, maybe did something else. He couldn't recall. Drinks and blow numbed the insecurities and pain. So, when he woke up well into the following afternoon, he had a severe hangover and was missing the rest of his cash, but a beautiful lady was pressed against his groin which lit the fogginess of it all and he merely smiled. But all good things had to come to an end when he noticed his phone had been blown up with texts and missed calls from both Larry and Valiant.
Jordie couldn't race to the hotel fast enough and when he got there, neither of his friends were pleased, as they awaited him on the beach. Larry seemed the most hurt of all. "So, where'd you go? Abandoning us like that? After everything?"
"You don't even know what I've been through," Jordie said.
Valiant frowned, "Obviously, it's too much to tell those who helped you with the dough. We said we were going to get away and yet, you seem to be drawing attention to yourself like an influencer with no life-"
"Shut the hell up, you filthy robot! You don't know anything! You don't know me! You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me!"
The comment shocked Valiant and everyone around him, and the proud Velocitronian grew resentful. "Fine, you seem to have made your point very clear. It was only a job, not a partnership of over four years or anything. You live your now-rich, perfect life and I'll stick to my own. I'll be sure to send word to the boys back home to pack my stuff and be out of your hair as soon as possible."
Larry stared stunned as Valiant stomped away past a few bystanders who looked at them funny. Then he turned to Jordie with utmost confusion. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Ever since we did that job, you've been nothing short of a jackass! Guess we're too poor or too uncouth to be partying with frat-boy Jordie."
Before Jordie could answer, Larry stormed off to find Valiant who was already a decent way down the beach. Jordie was left alone, but he didn't need them. He didn't need them at all. Just another few ungrateful bums in the world. Alone meant he could do whatever but as he walked away, he froze. In the distance on the paid lounge seating was Koroney-Kronos...King Kronos and his wife relaxing huddled together. What scared him more was the fact that Kronos tilted his head towards him like he knew he was there the entire time...probably did from the screaming match. A deadly smirk played on the older man's features though pitch-black ray bands hid the expression of the grey eyes. The pocket watch sounded again despite it didn't appear like the Transformer had it on hand. Jordie ignored it and stormed off to the hotel and without warning, booked a massage for the following day. He heard nothing from his peers and expected nothing.
"You okay, Val?" When the Velocitronian said nothing, Larry just patted his leg. "I'm just going to hit a few waves while the traffic out there is dead. Call me if you need me."
The night was nice, the breeze of the ocean felt peaceful, and even though a faint storm was nearby, he had no fear as did a few other families who seemed to love the night. It would probably pass. The waves were a little choppy but nothing he couldn't handle. He paddled out until a small wave came and rode it easily. Doing it again, he loved the breeze, which helped him clear his mind of what Jordie said. Valiant may have been stuck up sometimes but he loved his crew. To hear their friend backlash like that? Unreal. Larry continued surfing.
The waters got worse, and he decided to call it a night. As he paddled inward into a safety zone, the waves suddenly rebounded, tipping him off his board and dragging him back into the ocean. Thunder grew loud far too quick, and he struggled to keep himself afloat. The darkness and the fast-moving waters made the lifeguards unable to pinpoint him despite his attempts at shouting. His voice didn't even leave his throat. He was going under too fast to make the proper noise.
A groan of a wave shadowed him like a beast in waiting and his eyes went wide as it crashed directly on him. After a few minutes, the ocean settled, and the thunder subsided into the distance past the beach. Larry's board washed ashore...but he was nowhere to be seen. A lifeguard grabbed it and frantically scoured the water for any sign of a body or another remnant of the man. As small droplets of rain began to fall from the heavens, the faint thundering noise drowned out the desperate calls from the lifeguard in mourning.
That night, he had nightmares. They were of a monstrous fellow, a Transformer that had a dragon/anteater-like face and white blaring optics staring at him, laughing at him. The pocket watch thrummed to the beat of his heart and his soul felt heavy in his body. Lightning and thunder broke loose. He awoke in sweat and had to pace among rain. The storm was unexpected, but not so much that he didn't recall Kronos' warning of it. Faint thunder in the distance sounded pure, refreshing against the city's otherwise party-central motif. Another boom made him realize that a day had already passed. He had one more day to go to New York and return the staff. But he didn't have the time, nor did it really matter. Fuck it, he was going out with a bang.
The next morning, Jordie was on a warpath. He was extremely tempted to just walk out naked just to spite everyone but decided against it when he saw Valiant with a few of the Seeker babes far out among the beach-bound bars. He looked downtrodden despite the comfort the femmes wanted to give him. Larry was nowhere to be seen. Fuck them too. He even passed Kronos once, flipping him off to the holoform's raise of a brow. His only real response was Kronos bringing out the pocket watch with an amused grin. It shut him up temporarily, making him grow rigid.
Then, he got his massage, and it was heavenly. The masseuse had hands of an angel, most likely was one at this point. Admittedly, he had a hard-on from it. Less cash, no trouble. Sitting in the lobby awaiting him was Kronos again, the pocket watch swinging out of boredom, and Jordie nearly wanted to snap it shut on the monster's fingers but that was probably an immediate death sentence if he did. He still had the whole day left. He passed the older man with no regrets and a deadpanned expression-
"It's too bad about Lawrence Molls. He was a good friend."
Jordie paused before whipping around with a snarl. "Don't talk about him!"
King Kronos didn't seem pleased but not for the reason the human thought. "I understand, not wise to speak ill of the dead."
His brain ceased almost every function as it tried to register what the Transformer said. "W...What?"
"You didn't hear? Poor boy went out to swim last night, got caught up with the storm. Body was found a few hours ago."
Jordie shook his head in disbelief. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Kronos asked dead serious. Then a wicked, toothy grin displayed like the Devil was among the living. "You didn't listen. You could have hired a private flight. Time's up, Jordan, for everyone. How do you think I got this?"
The pocket watch was almost screaming at him, the sound of his mother's voice was all he could seem to hear in its place. Kronos didn't just take the watch...
Jordie nearly tripped out the door to ghostly laughter that followed him down the halls. No one else seemed to hear it but him. He had to find Valiant! He checked the hotel, the bar, and the beach, but the Velocitronian was nowhere in sight. A million people were in the city today, none looked like Valiant his companion...former companion.
He had been a fool.
Valiant drank at the bar still preoccupied with the same words reeling in his mind. He ordered another Tankland Special, a high-grade Energon hard mix, and sat in his wallowing.
"Follow me, Valiant, I can help you."
The mech quickly turned around but no one was behind him, not even a human when he peered down.
"You don't have to worry anymore. I will take all those pitiful memories away and punish him for his inconsideration. All you have to do is meet me in the jungle," a ghostly voice said.
The mech peered every direction possible, peeved but admittedly scared.
The bartender paused from his cleaning and asked, "Buddy, you alright?"
Not the same voice, definitely not the same. He got up and placed several credits on the counter simply saying "thank you" before walking off. He did as he was told and went to the jungle on the outskirts of the city. The animals the resided on the island talked a mouthful to each other. He preferred them to the people the longer he listened to their cries.
"Alright, I'm here," he muttered.
"Good," a voice next to him said as clear as day as his optics widened.
Jordie called their names until his voice was almost gone. He clutched his head as the same whispers as the staff gave off yelled at him as if they surrounded him.
"You won't find him here," Kronos' faint voice said over the rest. "Try the jungle. But why do you care now about some robot?"
"Valiant! Valiant?!"
The city heard his cries, but no one responded back by that name. He did as he was told and ran into the jungle on the outskirts of the city. The animals that carried the noise of such an unruly place did little to calm his fears until he tripped over something metal in a ditch. Jordie gagged and fled backwards on his hands despite being cut on some of the loose twigs scattered about. Orange, dirty and unmoving, was all he could see.
"No! Nonononono! Valiant!" He coddled part of the mech's arm, almost biting his tongue in disarray to keep himself from crying. He whimpered, "I-I didn't mean it! Please! I didn't...!"
"Don't worry, you don't need them. You have all the money now, theirs too. Isn't that satisfactory enough for you?"
Bags of cash were dropped beside him out of the thin air including the staff. One was his but the others...
"Fuck you!" Jordie screamed in anguish.
"You did, remember? You are a very handsome man but as tempting as that was-quit crying," Kronos said bluntly. "As tempting as that was, someone had to pay."
Jordie barely noticed the holoform standing over him now in a black suit decorated with gold-trim white outlines and jewels embedded as buttons. He had a regal choker collar and slicked back hair. He looked like a mobster but boasted wealth. The various gold rings and other jewelry did little to dissuade the appearance as anything but. The tattoos were much more prominent.
"You got what you wanted."
"W-Why? Why-why kill them?! I thought you were going to kill me! You were supposed to kill me!" Jordie cried, refusing to let go of his companion's servo.
Then he heard Kronos whisper, "Who said I was going to kill you?"
You steal something of mine, I take something of yours.
Jordie gaped at the truth, the one he overlooked so heavily.
King Kronos merely fake-pouted, "Oh, now come on, do you really think I would end your life that easily? What's the lesson to be made if I did that? If you die, you wouldn't really be losing something you won't miss afterwards. Can't miss what you don't have."
"Those emotions, the anger, the...everything I said, that wasn't real, was it?"
King Kronos didn't answer, instead taking the staff in his tattooed hand but the tattoos seemed to overlay the hand more than usual with the inked claws now his real ones, metal oddly and blended together like a mutation. "Do you know what this staff does?"
Without looking him in the eye, Jordie shook his head blubbering.
"The Timekeeper's Staff does more than just sit on a podium and look pretty. It can reverse time, forward it, the usual...but it also can read the user's mind and alter the length of one's time if disturbed by unwanted parties, a little trick of my own." That caught Jordie off entirely and he stared at the malicious being as the latter continued. "I knew you had it the moment you touched it. I gave you a time frame to put it back where I relieved it, but you didn't heed my warning. It knows you loved them deep down, so it shortened the lifespans of each. Their time ran out as did your mother's. The day you took it, it took her life in return as a sacrifice for your sin. The watch is bound to your immortal soul."
"Please, take my life for theirs! Please! I'll do anything!"
King Kronos shook his head, "This is real life, not a movie. Nothing I can do, nor will I do it even if I have the power. Your greed is punished but now, I can't let you stay here on Earth. More unfavorable people could use the staff's power to take the lives of others to live forever. For your sin, a life-long servitude. Either you come with me, or I destroy more than just your spirit, and you will live until you are nothing but a broken toy."
Jordie's eye twitched as he heard that, then realized he still held the watch and in a blind rage, he threw it on the ground. Grabbing the staff, he did his best to wail on the prominent ticking driving him insane. His heart ached...but he wasn't dying. He paused after a while to see Kronos merely looking between him and the watch amused before gesturing with his hand. The pocket watch flew back into his grasp, and he pawed it grinning.
"Can't stop time. It always moves with or without you. And your time...is up."
Jordie also noticed the staff wasn't even scuffed as it helplessly left his hand in his disgruntlement, dropping onto the jungle floor with a thud. At the same time, King Kronos shut the pocket watch shut as his eyes changed to that of an animal's.
"Please," the woman pleaded, "I'll do anything!"
Jordie stared her down, the Timekeeper's Staff gripped tightly in his hands. "Your punishment for your greed will be servitude."
He held up her bracelet with its heart charm now glowing. "And this will be your soul until your time is deemed done."
Tossing it to her, he watched unmoving as she attempted to crush it only for her heart to pound in agony. He remained expressionless as she came to grips with her predicament and finally...she gave up. A broken human being; another slave to greed and another servant to Kronos' kingdom. The walk back to his so-called throne was vile as she was escorted away once they teleported back to Kanjis.
The burden of sin came with such an unexpected price. Time seemed to despise him. He couldn't stop thinking about what he had lost, what time took from him. It happened so fast. As the days rolled by, as the planet still spun, he was bound to serve his new master forever the same as the others condemned for their mistakes in their arrogance.
Kanjis was a far cry from Earth. Many techno-organics with beast forms roamed and conversed, all species that would never survive nor be caught dead with each other as their organic Earth counterparts. But he forgot who he was talking about. Giant, overbearing robots and he sat on a pillow in what felt like silk and satin, his "throne" with the Timekeeper's Staff on his lap daily like a pet. His mother's watch now hung like a necklace; it's ticking faint but heartfelt.
He was assigned a duty in punishment, to man the staff's power and watch over it as it was lent out again. It was odd seeing young stallions similar to him stealing it over and over like a never-ending cycle of hell. He was told to fetch them almost akin to a grim reaper. He got to travel, have some fun waiting, and he finally understood what Kronos meant. It was like a scavenger hunt for greedy victims.
Jordie learned that he was hardly the first person to steal the staff. It had to have a guardian. Others were bound to servitude among Kronos' palace on Kanjis, more than just humans. He befriended a few of them including a large Rozarian rhino-reptile-like being, Taveron, who became his go-to buddy in the alien world. His crime? He stole the staff in a ceremony and planned to melt it down for a powerful weapon, lost his mate and child in the process. But why the king chose Jordie out of all the contenders to be the keeper of his relic was a mystery until some moments in his off time as a deified servant was he reminded of his place and purpose.
Jordie felt the rumbles of the monstrous dragon who ruled the planet. Over a thousand times his size, bringing most all Transformers to shame, Prometheus Kronos, his complete name as the human found out in their privacy, loomed with his shadow covering nearly half the visible space in the large room as far as Jordie could see. Then it vanished with a ghostly laugh and Jordie barely flinched when tattooed hands mimicking a human's overlayed his own.
"It is good to see my relic being protected at last. It's never been safer," a fanged grin said. "Good work, my dear."
Jordie knew he should have been horrified and bitter but after two years away from Earth with all the luxury he was given, even for a prisoner of an alien king, he couldn't complain as Kronos' holoform grazed his lips with his own. The grey eyes fluxed between a normal human's and cat-like optics dilating with a purr. Kira...Queen Kiara did nothing but watch with interest on her lounge chair, white and blue-striped tail calmly swissing against the pristine metal flooring.
He could argue time had a funny way of making things finer. From the moment he stole the staff to the current dilemma, the minutes were counted with a mixture of emotions. Jordie soon forgot his curse as he realized slowly his fortunes and greed still got him what he wanted in the end, maybe not what he needed but his overall desires unfortunately won some baffling prizes. He missed Larry and Valiant but one day, he would see them again. But when would he be set free? Until the answer unfolded, Kronos reigned supreme, and Jordie had all the time in the universe to bathe in his crimes.
AN: For those of you who don't know, King Kronos' species is based off the Precursor Robots from Jak and Daxter, just more dragon like with mouths and a far more even structure.
How's that for a timely piece? The Horrorland grows! Don't worry, I have plenty of concepts I am writing for it. I just haven't been updating because I've been prioritizing finishing Arcee and the Cyber Worlds which will release on November 15th as scheduled, the sequel to Arcee and the Isle of the Allspark. Next up, who wants to see Optimus Prime's most...damning secrets? Or do you want to know the unfortunate story of the asylum orderly? So many more stories yet to come in this twisted universe...