After getting away from the industrial estate and out onto the highway, getting as far from Cemetery Wind and the Cybertronian bounty hunter that had attacked them and chased after them, Optimus Prime, Elita-One, and Knockout drove on at speed to cover as much ground as they can, driving as fast as possible.
"There is an abandoned fuelling station roughly 78 miles from our current position. We will arrive there by sundown. I advise all of you to get some sleep. I do not know when you will next have an adequate opportunity." Optimus informed to the others.
"Acknowledged, Optimus." Knockout answered back.
"Let's keep the metal to the pedal." Elita said to the others.
Braedey and Henry both shuffled down in their seats, the latter feeling a little shaken but he was alright. The former turned around. "Daphne, you alright? You ain't hurt?" He asked to her daughter.
Daphne shook her head and sniffed. "I'm fine, Dad. But Lucas... we just left him!" She broke into soft cries. Braedey puts a hand on her shaking shoulder. She leaned into his shoulder, her hair damp with sweat from the mad escape from Cemetery Wind.
"I'm sorry, Daphne." Braedey sighed softly, Daphne continuing to weep quietly. "But he betrayed us for money. We have to be careful around those we know and around us. You should sleep for a while, Daphne – we'll be driving for at least an hour or longer." Braedey suggested to her.
Daphne looks around the sleeper hesitantly. "Optimus Prime, won't you mind?" She asked.
Optimus' voice resonated through the cab. "I do not mind in the slightest, Daphne. Sleep for as long as you like." He replied to her softly.
"Thank you, Optimus." Daphne laid down on the worn mattress, bringing her knees up to her chest. Her blue eyes closed, and her breathing slowed to a regular, steady rhythm, letting the motion of Optimus' driving lull her to sleep.
"Ravage, keep an eye on her." Braedey asked, the Cybertronian jaguar nodding his head before lying down and wrapping himself around Daphne to keep her safe.
"Optimus, what's the rendezvous for us?" Knockout now asked as he drove alongside.
"The rendezvous point we have set up is over in Monument Valley in Arizona, about 1,000 miles away from our position. It should take us about a day or two to get there." Optimus answered to him. "By any possibility, we may come across more Autobots."
"I see... good plan." Knockout mused.
"It's the only plan we've got." Elita spoke up. "Let's keep moving."
"Optimus and Elita are right. We must keep moving ahead." Braedey agreed, Optimus driving on ahead.
Eventually, the group arrived at the abandoned gas station which was eerily quiet, the abandoned building standing tall but lonely. There was nobody in sight, much to their relief. Knockout and Elita roll ahead of Optimus and stop, just as Braedey, Daphne, Ravage, and Henry all climb out of his cab.
Optimus transformed into robot, his right hand coming down in a hard punch on the ground, everyone looking on at the Autobot leader. "My deepest sympathies, for the loss of your friend." He said sincerely to the humans.
"Optimus, he betrayed the family." Braedey said, Elita now shifting into robot mode as she knelt down to them. "He sold us out to those Cemetery Wind guys. We need to be careful of who we trust."
"For now, you are alive, and that's what matters." Elita said to them.
"Stay here until I am sure we weren't followed. Knockout, watch over them until we return. We are all targets now." Optimus folded back into the flat-nosed truck mode, then he rolled back onto the road and he headed off South, with Elita shifting back in vehicle mode and drove off alongside him.
Henry approached Braedey. "What do we do now?" He asked softly.
"We do what Optimus said. You two get inside the building, it's getting dark out and it'll be night." Braedey said to them.
The three humans and two Cybertronians made their way into the gas station, Knockout entering the garage section. As they enter, Braedey looked over to Ravage, now gesturing with his eyes and hand over to his daughter and her friend, Ravage understanding and he heads over to watch them over.
Braedey walked over to the Porsche. "Okay, Knockout. What's your story?" He asked to the 'Decepticon'. "How did you get here? Why did you help us instead of leaving us to Cemetery Wind?" He questioned with a stern yet curious expression.
Knockout soon began to explain his backstory. During the Battle of Chicago, Knockout had seen and even witnessed the mass murders of many humans out on the streets in the city by his fellow Decepticons, even by the brute Breakdown himself, who took pride in the murders. Knockout oddly felt something inside his spark that made him realise he was doing the wrong thing, and all he knew seemed to be so wrong, especially when taking the life of another living being. So, when the Autobots and NEST forces began to fight back against the 'Cons, Knockout came across Drift who was striking back against the 'Cons, so he joined in the battle, tearing his way through the Decepticons and to exact his anger against them. After the Battle of Chicago, knowing that he had betrayed them, Knockout fled from the battlefield before any Decepticons could tear him apart for his betrayal, and to hide away from any military forces. Throughout the next five years, Knockout has gone across the USA to try and stay hidden from sight, but with his flashy vehicle mode of a bright red/gold Jaguar F-Type, he had to shed his disguise and take the appearance for a red Porsche 911 that has a dune-bashing mod, and he was eventually bought by Henry's father. Henry stumbled across Knockout two years back when the former Decepticon had shifted in robot mode to stretch his joints, the young human boy and Cybertronian soon making a brotherly relationship, Knockout even teaching Henry how to drive, and without Henry's parents even finding out about this at all. Then, when Knockout's scanner had picked up on Cemetery Wind radio chatter in regards of 'Prime Located', this got Knockout to know this was the chance to do a good thing, and Henry helped out with telling him where the Cemetery Wind group were going, which lead to them arriving at Braedey's home...
"I see..." Braedey mused after Knockout told his story to him. "That's something else..."
"I understand if you are hesitant to trust me, especially after all that I've done to the Autobots in my pass time, but let me ask you: If you and the Autobots can give Thundercracker a fair chance, why not me?" Knockout now asked to Braedey.
Braedey gave a stare at the Porsche, then he breathed a sigh. "I guess I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now, Knockout. Right now, I'm gonna check on my daughter." He said to him.
Braedey now made his way into the gas station, now seeing Daphne with Ravage alongside her, Henry keeping his distance in concern if the jaguar robot did bite.
"So, how do you know Henry?" Braedey questioned his daughter.
"Dad, Henry and I have known each other since our first day at school. I actually helped him with his anxiety." Daphne explained to her father. "Henry wasn't one to easily make friends easily, so I thought I could be his first friend and help him to be more courageous. Ever since then, we've been friends."
"I see..." Braedey said calmly.
"Dad, I know how you would react." Daphne began. "I know you practically would've wanted to hurt him-"
"Daphne, Henry and Knockout both got us out of the ordeal with Cemetery Wind alive." Braedey spoke up. "While I'm not happy about what had happened to Lucas, we're all that's it." He then looked over to Henry. "Now, let's just get one thing straight: do anything to hurt my little girl, and I'll do something I can't say right now. Got it?" He said.
Henry nodded and chuckled lightly. "Still the same strong man I knew on first day, Mr. Martin."
Braedey stood up from his seat. "Okay. You two go and get some rest. I'll stay up and watch out for Optimus and Elita to get back." The two children nod in understand, heading into the adjacent motel room, and they both sleep in one of the room.
Braedey walked outside and leaned up against the door frame as he stares out into the darkness. He looked out as he dug the front of his boot into the sand, seemingly lost in thought. Ravage gently nudged him with his helm, offering him kindness Braedey was silently grateful for. Knockout rolled up next to him, the two standing there in silence, the brunette thinking about what happened at the farm, especially when the Cemetery Wind soldiers were about to hurt his daughter.
"Those monsters were willing to kill her." Braedey mumbled, his eyes showing they will not show any mercy to their enemies.
"They still are." Knockout stated, agreeing with the techno-organic. He had read up on the clipboard that have the Autobot names that Braedey was able to keep all of his fallen friends that have perished: not by natural causes, nor at the hands of the Decepticons, but by the humans military.
Without warning, Braedey's face became dark and stern, and he turned around with tense muscles as he marched back into the gas station, heading for the dragonfly-like drone. "Somebody somewhere gave that order to execute us. I'm gonna find some fingerprints." Braedey stated, as he fiddled with the drone's mechanics, hacking into its systems, and hooking it up to the old television screen.
Knockout, peeking through the window in alt-mode, watched on. Just then, the television turned on and they were shown the recording of an Autobot raid. Leadfoot's raid, the Autobot Wrecker shooting back with his weapons, only to be gunned down.
"Please! No! I'm an Autobot! I'm an Autobot!" Leadfoot's voice cried out, and Braedey could do nothing but watch on, his eyes locked onto the screen as he watches Leadfoot struggle.
"Leadfoot..." Braedey muttered, shaking his head and he turned the recording off right before he would have seen the final blow.
"Braedey... I'm sorry." Knockout apologised quickly.
"I'm not new to the concept of death, you don't have to worry about me." Braedey breathed a sigh, and he heads off to get some rest.
"Grab whatever you think we can use for supplies. Clothes, anything. And take that computer with us." Braedey said to Henry and Daphne.
By the next morning, they listen to the brunette as they and he packed up anything and everything of use they could find in the gas station, Ravage also helping out. Canned food, clothes, and the computer they had used last night. The four of them exit the gas station with Knockout rolling out as well, just as Optimus and Elita pulled up.
"Optimus Prime!" Daphne called, finding his presence comforting. Quickly driving up to him, Daphne leans her weight against his side.
"Daphne, are you alright?" Optimus questioned.
"I'm fine, I just missed you." Daphne answered.
"Lets go!" Braedey ordered as they loaded their supplies into Optimus, and they were once more on their way off. "We've got a long way to travel."
They soon made their off way to a truck stop which had 'Hole in the Rock' emblazoned on the rock face in Hollywood-style letters. Parked on top of the ledge next to Optimus Prime, Elita, and Knockout, the three Cybertronians in alt-mode, with Braedey Martin set up in front of them, Knockout and Elita watching on as Braedey pilots the dragonfly-drone towards the ATM machine, Henry sitting next to Knockout. Daphne sat in the reclining in the front of Optimus' alt-mode, whilst Braedey tried to manipulate the drone to put his card into an ATM.
"Won't that alert them to our location when they find out?" Daphne asked, leaning on Optimus' open driver door.
"Don't worry about that, little one. We will be long gone by the time Cemetery Wind arrives here. It is to throw them off our scent." Optimus reassured.
"Optimus is right. We'll go in the opposite direction – Cemetery Wind will think that we are heading towards Houston. We will be heading to Monument Valley." Elita added in.
"Monument Valley..." Daphne wondered. She was curious about what it looks like.
Braedey nodded in agreement. "I will admit, this is not as easy as it looks." He groaned, as he struggled to keep the dragonfly-drone steady.
"You know, you do pretty well at things like this, Dad." Daphne encouraged.
"Yeah. Impressive control there." Knockout agreed. "Especially out of scrapyard parts."
"Kind of like Tony Stark." Henry added, Braedey showing a pleased smile on his face from those words.
They all watched on one screen as the man standing by the ATM moved away, frightened by the dragonfly-drone, and Braedey managed to use the drone to insert his card into the ATM.
"Yes." Henry quietly cheered, but a message popped up on the ATM screen saying 'DECLINED. LOCKED ACCOUNT'. "Wait- What?"
"I knew it." Braedey huffed. "They've cut us off."
A few minutes later, just after Braedey finished sending his message to whoever built the drone through the ATM camera, a small army of police cars arrived on the scene, armed and on a mission, everyone in the area being told to put their hands up and get down. It was official: life as the Martins and Henry knew it, was over.
They were all now fugitives from the law.
After getting away from the truck stop and now on the run from the law, Optimus Prime, Elita-One, and Knockout drove onwards towards Monument Valley in Arizona, determined to get to their destination. Inside of Optimus's cab, Daphne dozed in the back of the sleeper cab as Ravage kept her company, Braedey tinkering with the drone he stole from Cemetery Wind, Henry watching the scenery go by. The scenery stayed the same rusty-orange with flecks of greenery splattered throughout.
"Calling all Autobots. Calling all Autobots." Optimus called out through the comm-link, since Elita's had been broken during battle.
Picking up the speed, even though they were already driving above the speed limit, Elita, Knockout and Optimus zoomed on down the road with a newfound, but casually silent excitement at spotting a rather good looking white Western Star semi-truck with brand-new concept cars loaded up onto its car carrier trailer heading towards them.
"Upgrade time!" Elita cheered happily, her lights flickering slightly in excitement, and both she and Braedey heard Optimus chuckle quietly right before the semi truck loaded with concept cars reached them.
Suddenly, Optimus jolted and his interior now began to change. Through the windows, Braedey could see the rusty paint now flecking off like they were autumn leaves from the trees. In place of the dirty white paint job, a brilliant shade of cobalt blue now appeared with a multitude of red flame across the bodywork. The truck was raised higher on its wheels, offering one a clearer view of the road ahead. Blue flames snaked up the hood, stopping just before the windscreen. The seats all change to sleek black leather with red and blue stitching on the headrest, forming the Autobot symbol. The steering wheel changed to a walnut trim and the words 'Western Star' appeared on the glove box.
Optimus Prime now looks like a Western Star 5700, flames of cobalt blue and red across it's form, the smokestacks now sporting three and are sculpted to look like wings, the chrome on the fuel tanks, front bumper and grille shining in the sunlight.
As the truck passes Elita, she scans its cargo, quietly scanning the closet vehicle to the edge, which happens to be an Acura NSX. She internally grinned as the giddy sensation of transformation surged through her form. She could feel herself changing shape, her sides tightening in, as she grew another centimetre or two, the new upgrade changing her from wide and heavy, to narrow and sleek. Elita could feel smaller details change, her mirrors got sleek, decorative metal appeared on her sides. The second the smaller details of her form were all complete, as her crusty rusty paint starts to peel off, and she could watch as a new coat of bright blue paint spread over her alt-form, completing her new look. For the final touch, and completion of her new alt mode, Elita felt the metal just where her vehicle logo would be start to rise into the Autobot symbol, branding her as a proud Autobot.
"That was insane! It was awesome, but it was insane, right?!" Henry asked to Braedey and Daphne.
Braedey could not help but chuckle at the enthusiasm of the 8-year-old. He looks over to see Elita now drive alongside Optimus in her Acura NSX alt-mode, her blue paint sparkling in the sunlight. He then looks back to see Knockout driving up alongside, now as a red and gold Aston Martin One-77, and he smiled as they continue on forth into the desert.
In the distance of the heat haze, one could see three fast-moving shapes on the road. The one out in front was a faded black colour with hints of yellow on the roof and doors. A military truck was following close behind, a deep green khaki colour. A Corvette Stingray brought up the rear, its lime green paint job glistening in the sunlight. A blue and black Bugatti Hypercar was also closing in fast.
Elita loudly revved her engine at Hound, who was watching them from the desert cliffs. "Oh, yeah! Hell, yeah! They're back! They're alive! Elita and Optimus are here!" Hound yelled out to the desert, firing his gun into the air.
Driving further into the desert, Braedey and Elita spots Drift sliding down the desert cliffs. "At last. There is hope after all. And Knockout is there with them." Drift said before he slides down the desert cliffs, before leaping into the air and transforming into his blue helicopter form, quickly following them into the desert clearing.
Crosshairs started running alongside Elita and Optimus, his green trench-coat flapping behind him in the wind. "Haha, Yeah! Mr. and Mrs. Leader of the Free Galaxy are back. I knew you'd both make it, I never doubted." Crosshairs cheered.
"Glad to see you too, Crosshairs." Elita muttered.
Behind him, the blue and black helicopter fell gracefully from the sky. It transformed into the tall, sleek samurai robot, the rotors of the helicopter forming the Samurai style swords that hung at his back, Drift landing next to Crosshairs. He approached Optimus, bowing low. "We got your warning. We've been waiting." He explained.
"Hell, yeah. Boom time. We got the gang back together." Hound cheered from position atop of a rock
A 70's old Camaro skidded to a halt nearby, now transforming into a familiar black/yellow Autobot. Braedey, Henry, Ravage, and Daphne climb out of Optimus' truck mode to see Bumblebee walking up, his colours being reversed.
"Yo, Bee!" Braedey called out, Bumblebee chirping in response and they both fist-bump. He looked over to Daphne, who looked in awe at the Autobot. "Daphne, this is Bumblebee, the first Autobot I met."
"Hello." Daphne greeted, Bumblebee gently patting her head as he whirred softly.
Optimus transformed into his robot mode in a whirl of vehicle parts and noises. His right hand came down hard on the ground in a tight fist, leaving a small crater. His head popped up between his shoulders as his chest armour settled into place. He rose to his feet, blotting out the sun with his huge outline.
Scanning the new truck had caused his body to completely change. He had an overall more streamlined appearance; his joints subtler and less angular than they had been before. The chunky boxiness of the windscreen no longer made up his chest. Instead the doors sat over his chest whilst the fuel lines and parts that made up his engine sat where his pectoral muscles would be. The red Autobot symbol was situated proudly in the centre of his chest, directly over the armour that protected his Spark chamber. There was a silver collar adorned around his neck, his shoulders kitted out with thick and shiny blue armour. There were smokestacks rising out of his 'shoulder blades', vaguely reminiscent of angel's wings. A large piece of codpiece armour hung from the front of his waist, coming down to finish at his knees. His legs were longer and instead of the knee armour that had jutted out previously, he now had a complete 'knee-cap'. His feet now resembled large, flat boots. His 'toes' were gone completely. When he turned to look down at me, I saw that his face had also changed. He still had his ear finials and audio covers, but his nose was smaller and more refined. His face looked more human somehow; the lines across his cheeks could be laughter lines. He'd lost the glyphs on his cheek plates, instead they were emblazoned down his shoulder armour.
"Whoa... how did you do that?" Henry asked in awe.
"It's simple." Elita rolled up, still in vehicle mode. "We all scanned a new vehicle form appropriate for our size and mass. Our T-Cog arranged the parts accordingly." Her body now broke apart and began to transform, Knockout also doing the same, Elita looking the same she did before, but now sporting a blue colour scheme.
Knockout stands about 21ft tall, his shoulder and chestplate formed from the front of his vehicle mode, the wheels being part of the shoulder, vents on both sides of his ribcage, the doors of his alt-mode on the forearms. His helm has a single fin with gold accents, his facial plate in grey, while his lower legs are a bit thicker in armour, the other wheels as his ankles.
"Wow. You guys look good." Henry commented.
"Have to say, it's nice to stay sharp." Knockout smirked.
"Humans have asked us to play by their rules. Well, the rules have just changed." Optimus declared, now looking very serious.
Hound grumbled and he began to toss his weapons on the ground. "Human beings, bunch of backstabbin' weasels." He mumbled, while dropping multiple weapons in the process.
"Hound, find your inner compass." Drift said calmly. "Loyalty is but a flower in the winds of fear and temptation."
Hound stopped and looked at him. "What the hell are you saying?"
"It's a haiku." Drift replied casually.
Hound abruptly grabbed a grenade off his belt and grabbed Drift by his chestplate. "Cut the crap before I drop a grenade down your throat."
Drift suddenly levelled his sword at Hound. "Try it, you'll be dead." He taunted.
"Oh, please pull it." Hounds begged. "Please do it."
Bumblebee waved his arm up. "You know what? It'll save us so much time." He said over his radio.
"Well, raise your hand if you're thoroughly disenchanted with our little pleasant Earth vacation." Crosshairs waved off, then he aimed one of his machine guns at Braedey, Daphne, and Henry. "So, who's the stowaways?"
Braedey stood before his daughter and Henry. "Whoa, hey! Stand down, trigger-happy!" He ordered.
Hound rolled in with his turret but Optimus stopped him. "Stop. Hound, both of you. They've risked their lives for mine and Elita. We owe them."
Hound stopped and he looked to see it was Braedey. "Oh... Hey, AllSpark." He said hesitantly. "Sorry, we're just on edge."
"I know. We all are, especially after recent events." Braedey nodded back. He then saw Drift stand before Knockout. "He's on our side now, Drift. As are you."
As night fell across the Arizona desert, Braedey managed to get a fire going. The three humans sat around it, Daphne wrapped up in thick blankets to keep out the cold bite of the night air. Henry was also keeping her warm, Ravage by their side.
Optimus paced the small (to him) campsite, trying hard to mask his agitation. "So there's been no sign of any others?" Optimus' voice sounded hopeful but sad at the same time.
"Nada. None." Hound didn't look up from the huge rifle that he was cleaning.
"We are all that's left." Drift was sharpening one of his blades, his demeanour grim.
"They're picking us off, one by one." Crosshairs added.
"Wait. What about Arcee, Chromia, Bulkhead, Jazz, Ratchet, Sideswipe, or even Prowl, and Cliffjumper?" Braedey now asked the Autobots. "What about them?"
Elita looked down sadly. "Braedey... Chromia... she's gone. She gave their sparks to give me the opportunity to run." She mutters softly, Energon tears threatening to fall. "Arcee... I don't even know if she's still alive."
"Bulkhead is alive, last I checked." Hound spoke up, Braedey looking over. "I think he made a break for it to Australia when he got the chance to."
"The Aussie outback... over hundreds of miles of desert and open landscape to hide in." Braedey mused. "Bulkhead might be able to hide away from the enemy. What about Ironhide?" He now asked.
"Nada. Haven't heard anything from him." Hound shook his helm.
"No sign of Prowl and Jazz either." Crosshairs shrugs. "I know Sideswipe and Cliffjumper is gone."
"Cliff gone?" Bumblebee whirred sadly.
Braedey sighed to himself, now looking down at the clipboard he has, which now has been altered to show who's alive in green, with others still being either deceased, M.I.A, or still unknown.
OPTIMUS - ALIVE
BUMBLEBEE - ALIVE
ELITA-ONE - ALIVE
ARCEE - M.I.A
CHROMIA - DECEASED
U.MAGNUS - DECEASED
HOUND - ALIVE
BULKHEAD - ALIVE
IRONHIDE - M.I.A
JAZZ - UNKNOWN
RATCHET - UNKNOWN
DRIFT - ALIVE
SIDESWIPE - DECEASED
WHEELJACK - DECEASED
AERIALBOTS - DECEASED
THUNDERCRACKER - DECEASED
PROWL - UNKNOWN
HOTROD - M.I.A
CLIFFJUMPER - DECEASED
CROSSHAIRS - ALIVE
"So, this is our best case scenario?" Henry now asked, Braedey and Ravage sitting next to Daphne.
"It may not be the best for now, but we'll have to tolerate it." Braedey said to Henry.
"Okay..." Henry nodded softly, Ravage brushing his metal head against the former.
"Sensei." Drift spoke up, now catching Optimus's attention. "With your fate unknown, Bumblebee has held command, despite his complete and total lack of anything resembling warrior discipline." Bee rolled his optics at this. "He's like a child."
Bee then stood up in anger as he glared at Drift. "This child is about to kick your ass."
"He brings us shame." Drift added before Bee kicked his sword out from beneath him.
"Cage fight." Hound muttered.
"What's wrong with them?" Daphne asked her father.
"Stress and a lot of other things." Braedey answered back to her.
Drift threw Bumblebee over his shoulders and presses his blade at his throat. "Am I the lone sage who sees through this puppy-dog eyes act? It's beneath you." He spoke out.
"Yes, I've been waiting for them to dispatch each other, so I could take charge with no trouble at all." Crosshairs chuckled as he pulled out his gun. "Just me reporting to me."
"ENOUGH!" Braedey suddenly thundered aloud, everyone looking to him and all going silent. "We are all on edge after all this time. We need to not lose our heads and try not to kill each other, or all of this would've been for absolutely nothing. Drift, release Bumblebee!" He ordered, the blue Autobot samurai releasing his grip as Elita helped Bee to his feet. "Bumblebee, you need to try and control your anger. It can cloud your judgement."
"Yeah, yeah. I got it." Bee whirred.
"Man, it looks like we've been missed." Braedey said to Optimus and Elita.
"I agree." Elita nodded back. "Glad to see you got that commanding spirit back."
"Autobots; Lockdown is hunting us, and humans are helping. We need to know why." Optimus spoke to the Autobots and humans around.
"Okay. I have no idea about why they are, but I do have an idea about who'd be behind this." Braedey held up the drone he got. "I snatched this drone back in Texas and managed to hack into its camera footage, and found that of an Autobot raid."
"Let me assist you with my projector." Drift knelt down and he transformed into a black/blue 2013 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse.
"Whoa..." Was all Henry could mutter out in awe.
Braedey nodded to the samurai Autobot and he swung himself into the passenger seat, plugging the drone's feed into a little port on the dash. Drift now projected grainy and jumpy images onto the rock face utilising his headlights as a projector. The footage depicted multiple attacks on Autobots, but the images were too quick and grainy for one's human eyes to make out who they were.
Hound swore softly at one of the images. "That's Leadfoot. Savages." Hound then took off his helmet and placed it against his chestplate in respect of their fallen Autobot brethren.
"They're ripping them apart." Elita muttered.
"Next thing the drones caught is this: a truck comes in and hauls their bodies away." Braedey added in next. "I found the company that owns the truck. They're known as KSI. Kinetic Solutions. Defense, aerospace, government contracts. They're the monsters responsible for building the weaponry to hunt you guys down." He wanted to say worse about them, but not with two young children alongside him.
"So these Cemtery Wind guys, they just hunt you all down, and then ship you off to this KSI?" Henry questioned. "But for what reason?" Ravage also tilted his head in confusion.
"Their company headquarters is up in Chicago." Braedey stated. "It's likely that's where they were taken the bodies. Have to love the irony of the fact that they would settle there of all places after Sentinel and Megatron's assault on the city."
Hound spat out a piece of jagged metal. "No way to get inside without a battle." He commented.
Braedey climbs out of Drift. "Then how about some human help?" He suggested. "I know someone in Chicago that can help us, as well as myself."
"Daddy. Are you sure?" Daphne now asked.
"Honey, we have to help the Autobots. They're all family too." Braedey said to his daughter. "If we don't stop KSI and Cemetery Wind, they'll keep hunting us down until we're all gone."
Optimus now stood up and walked into the centre of the cluster of Autobots. His face was downcast and solemn. "Autobots. I have sworn never to kill humans." He spoke firmly.
"Big mistake." Hound muttered.
"But when I find out who's behind this..." Optimus then forms a fist as he then looks to the horizon. "He's going to die." He declared ominously.
"Hoo-Ah!" Hound announced.
"We leave for Chicago at first light. Get some recharge – you'll need it." Braedey added in.
Henry nodded in agreement as he and Ravage cuddle up together and fell asleep, the Autobots now getting settled to rest and relax. Daphne made her way over to Braedey, the father-daughter duo making their way over to Optimus.
"Is there something troubling you, Braedey?" Optimus asked to him.
"Well, it's the fact many of our Autobot brethren are gone or missing." Braedey sighed deeply. "We are down a considerable number, and we had up to 20 or so Autobots before the Battle of Chicago."
"It'll be okay, Daddy." Daphne hugged her father from his side. "I'm sure things will be better soon. You never know what the future will bring. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why they call it the present."
Braedey smiles at his daughter and her words of encouragement. She always found a way to make him smile or feel better about something. "Thanks a lot, sweetheart."
"Your daughter has a way with words, especially at such a young age." Optimus said to Braedey, the young redhead smiling back to her innocently.
"Thank you. By the way, Optimus. How can Drift have two vehicle modes?" Daphne now asked to the Prime.
"Yeah. First, he transformed from a helicopter, then he was a car – how is that possible? I mean he didn't have time to scan a new vehicle mode." Braedey now asked.
"Drift is different to the majority of Cybertronians. In fact, he is something of a rareity on Cybertron. He is what is known as a 'triple-changer', meaning that he has three modes instead of two; he has two vehicular modes and the standard robot mode. The reason triple-changers have two different vehicle modes is because they have two T-cogs. Each T-cog stores a separate string of data that is responsible for transforming. It is a rare phenomenon, and a useful strategic asset."
"Like Blitzwing before Chicago..." Braedey mused. "That's extraordinary... I didn't even know that's possible. Is it something you can acquire?"
"No. Mechs emerge from the AllSpark with either one or two T-cogs. There is no way known of acquiring an extra one. Medics have tried for countless centuries, unsuccessful in each and every attempt. It is not understood very well, but it is thought it has something to do with data and software not being compatible." Optimus clarified.
"Makes sense." Braedey nodded.
After that, Braedey took Daphne over to where Bumblebee is, the black/yellow Autobot shifting into vehicle mode to allow the two to sleep inside his cab, Henry and Ravage opting to sleep just nearby outside.
This is just the start of an Autobot resurgence...
By first light the next morning, Optimus kept true to his word, and they were all soon on the road heading forth to Chicago. Henry elected to ride with Bumblebee on the notion that he wanted to get to know him better. Bumblebee was only too happy to help out. Elita offered to Braedey to watch over Daphne, and Braedey thanked her for that. They have been on the road for about six hours – mostly in silence. Braedey sat in the driver's seat of Optimus' Western Star alt-mode, one hand resting on top of the wheel whilst the other held it loosely at the bottom. Even as he 'drove' the Western Star, he was relaxed. Braedey shifted up and down the gearbox easily, his foot at home on the clutch pedal. Bumblebee and Crosshairs were in front whilst Hound and Drift brought up the rear, Elita and Knockout alongside.
Braedey remembered their altercation last night. "Optimus. Do Bumblebee and Drift not get on?" He questioned.
"Drift is a big believer in honour and dignity. He feels that Bumblebee lacks these things, and was therefore not fit to lead during my absence. I also believe he is resentful of the fact that Bumblebee led the Autobot successfully, despite being so much younger than he." Optimus explained to Braedey.
Braedey raised an eyebrow. "So Bee is younger than Drift?"
"Indeed. Bumblebee is younger than Drift by many thousands of years. Bumblebee is still considered a youngster; an adolescent if you will." Optimus acknowledged.
"Huh. That kind of makes sense." Braedey smiled.
"Bumblebee has one of the purest and most mischievous Sparks I have ever known. He likes to push his boundaries and see how far he can get. Bumblebee will do anything for anyone – especially you." Optimus agreed.
"I agree with you." Braedey nodded in agreement. "He was happy to see me, and was excited to see Daphne. It's nice to see he's still the same I remember him."
The two sat in a comfortable silence, all the while with keeping the pedal to the metal and charging on forth towards the Northeast leading the Autobots, going on forth to Chicago.