A/N: We're taking a bit of a break from the bots for a chapter. I'm sorry! I hope you can forgive me! I promise they will return next chapter! I made a decision to keep a couple characters from other franchises that I had put into YWOB in the story, albeit in slightly different roles. I hope you guys enjoy despite the lack of bots being present! Some of you who read YWOB may recognize this chapter and may also recognize the premise from the episode of the show that somewhat inspired the original version as well. There are well enough differences that I recommend reading it through even if you read the YWOB version and by some chance remember the old version to a T, which, given how long it's been, congrats on a great memory if you do!
Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 23: Some Human Recruitment
Admiral Hackett, head of the Department for Homeland Defense Against Extraterrestrials, walked down a corridor with Agent Fowler. They were heading to meet a man who could potentially aid with their mission.
"Are you sure he will be willing to cooperate?" Fowler asked, voicing his skepticism. "I doubt Stark will work with us if he thinks we've stolen his tech."
"We haven't stolen his tech, Agent Fowler," Hackett replied. "And I have no doubt he will notice the technology we will be showing him isn't made by human hands. He will understand the threat. Especially given his own encounter in Europe."
"But will he understand that not all of them are enemies?" Fowler asked.
"That's why you are here, Agent Fowler," Hackett replied. "You brought the files on them?"
"I did," Fowler said. "Though I am not convinced allowing him to know of Shadebreaker's knowledge of the future is wise."
"Tony Stark is a genius, Agent Fowler," Hackett said. "And no doubt he will have contact with the Autobots at some point. He will find out on his own if we do not tell him. If we are not upfront with him, he is liable to go rogue, you know that."
"Understood, Admiral," Fowler replied with a sigh. "In that case I will go set up. I will speak to you whenever you decide the time is right to tell Stark."
"Of course Agent Fowler," Hackett replied.
The two parted ways and Hackett continued on the way to the briefing room they had Tony Stark waiting in. When he arrived, the guards outside allowed him inside and he couldn't help but be amused by the staredown going on between the two men sitting at the table.
"Mr. Stark I don't think you understand the threat we are dealing with," Theodore Galloway, National Security Advisor to the president, said.
"No, you don't understand," Stark replied. "I am not building you weapons. Especially not if you won't even tell me what we're dealing with."
"That's classified information," Galloway said.
"I believe I will decide what Mr. Stark will be told, Mr. Galloway," Hackett said, making his presence known. "Who the hell let you in here?"
"I am the president's advisor, I go where I wish," Galloway countered, standing.
"And we've been warned about you," Hackett said, not being intimidated. "All you want is weapons of mass destruction. Which is precisely what got you kicked off the island. That is not why Mr. Stark is here. Now make this easy and leave the building or my men will escort you out."
"We wouldn't be in this pickle if your friends weren't here," Galloway said, grabbing his jacket and looking hot.
"You have a right to your opinion, sir," Hackett said. "But this is my debriefing room and I make the decisions about what happens in my task force. The Autobots have made it clear we are not to use their technology for weapons. We are not recruiting Mr. Stark to subdue that arrangement."
"It's a mistake if you ask me," Galloway said, making his anger clear. "One day they're gonna turn on us."
"Your concern is noted," Hackett said. "Now are you leaving or do we have to throw you out like Major Lennox did when you tried to subdue his mission in China?"
Galloway bristled visibly. "Just so you know, I will have the Major court martialed for that."
"Sure you will," Hackett said as Galloway was pushed out of the room by the guards.
"The president will hear about this!" Galloway called from the hall just as a young man in military garb walked into the room.
"So," Stark said, bringing the admiral's attention to him. "If I am not here to make weapons, which I do not do anymore, then why am I here?"
"You are here," Hackett replied. "To aid us in the defense of our world against a threat of an interplanetary scale. We face a special kind of enemy. One that requires special kinds of allies."
"I'm not agreeing to anything until you tell me what it is that Galloway wouldn't tell me," Stark replied.
Hackett looked at Stark for a moment, analyzing him. He then motioned toward the door. "If you would follow me, Mr. Stark, all will be revealed," he answered.
Admiral Hackett waited about ten feet away from the door between the room they were in and the hallway on the other side. He stood a few feet away from the remains of Decepticons that filled the room. While they were prevented from making weapons out of their findings by the treaty with the Autobots, they studied the technology in hopes of furthering other aspects of technology—environmentally safe cars and general advancements that would wreak less havoc on the environment while at the same time be more efficient.
Hackett was waiting for Tony Stark to finish his examinations of the remains. Every now and then the former weapons engineer would make a comment about the kind of technology he was looking at. After several minutes Stark walked back over toward Hackett.
"You need to tell me where all this came from, because it is clearly not made by humans," Stark said. He waved his hands at the remains. "A lot of this is more advanced than even my technology, so I can't even accuse you of stealing my tech. So spill it big guy. What's your secret?"
"Don't play coy, Mr. Stark," Hackett replied. "We know you encountered one of these guys in Europe some years back. While testing one of your 'flight' suits."
Stark fidgeted with the pen in his hand as he considered Hackett, biting his lip. He thought he had recognized one of the corpses—for he did believe them to be more than mere machines. "What are you? Spying on me now?"
"We have kept tabs on all humans who may or may not have had contact with any Cybertronian being at any point in time," Hackett replied vaguely. "That doesn't just include you."
Stark narrowed his eyes at Hackett, turning his words over in his mind.
"You think you're the only civilian to get caught in the crosshairs?" Hackett asked. "Be thankful you came out unscathed."
"You lost some, didn't you?" Stark asked.
"No, not yet," Hackett replied. "We have lost men, though. Good men. In the fight. Though, I won't lie, there's one civilian skeptical enough of us I fear we might. He refuses to allow us to take him and his daughter into protection. He has, by some miracle, not had a run in with the Decepticons like you have and has remained safe thus far."
Stark considered Hackett for a long moment. The man looked tired. Like a father who spent his days chasing after kids bound and determined to get themselves killed. "Alright, well, back to the point, sir," he said, twirling the pen in his hand and crossing his arms to move the topic away from the stubborn civilian. "You're saying that incident in Europe wasn't isolated."
"I am sure you heard about the incident in Shamsi back in 2007," Hackett said, watching Stark for his reaction.
"Yeah, I did," Stark said. "A giant robot crashed right next to a nuclear factory, almost causing a nationwide tragedy. It took out several U.S. soldiers and the government covered it up, made it look like an asteroid hit the center of the base."
Hackett nodded. "That was a crashing alien from another planet," he reported. "A Decepticon sent to scout our world to see if it was useful. He's now sitting behind you."
Stark looked back at the remains of the Decepticon with his usual detachment, then back at Hackett. "Let me guess, they found something they wanted and more arrived."
Hackett nodded. "More Decepticons arrived and on their tail the Autobots arrived," he said. "At first we thought they were enemies as well. Until they saved a squad of soldiers from a Decepticon strike on their camp."
"That's the second time you've mentioned Autobots," Stark said. "Who exactly are they?"
"If you would follow me to the debriefing room, we will explain everything to you in more detail," Hackett said, already turning to head out the door.
Stark looked like he might protest being taken to another room, but he shrugged and followed behind. He could just hack into their database and find out anything Hackett didn't tell him. He wouldn't agree to anything until he knew what he was being asked to do.
Hackett led Stark through numerous halls until he reached the debriefing room Agent Fowler had gone to set up. When he led the genius into the room, Agent Fowler was struggling with a projector, trying to get it to work.
"In the name of Uncle Sam's beard, work!" Fowler growled and smacked the projector.
"I don't think that's gonna fix it," Stark commented off-handedly as he looked around the room.
"Now I understand why Ratchet is always grumbling about our tech," Fowler said. "It never works right."
"Is everything ready to debrief Mr. Stark?" Hackett asked.
"As soon as I get this thing to work," Fowler said, adjusting a couple things on the projector. He set it down and it started to work before dying. "For Lady Liberty's sake! Is it too much to ask for a new projector?!"
"Here, let me see it," Stark said, walking over. He picked up the projector and tweaked a few things before setting it back down and pressing the 'on' button.
The projector whirled to life and displayed an image on the white screen Fowler had set up in front of it. The image was of a file on the Autobots, detailing a report about first contact.
"So what am I looking at here?" Stark asked, leaning against the table the projector was sitting on. He picked up a pen and started clicking it like a child who couldn't sit still during class.
"This is the report filed by then Second Lieutenant Lennox back in 2007, when the Autobots saved his squad from a Decepticon attack," Fowler answered.
"His squad was stationed in Shamsi to help locate and take out the threat that arrived a few weeks before the Autobots arrived," Hackett said. "They were returning from patrol when a Decepticon by the name of Dead End attacked them."
"Lennox lost two of his squad before a large blue and pink femme by the name of Arcee arrived," Fowler started to continue the story. He pressed a button on a remote and the image changed to show a picture of Arcee locked in combat with Dead End, taken by Corporal Epps at the scene. Stark blinked at the image and the obvious differences between Arcee and Dead End that looked distinctly like gender differences.
Stark tilted his head at the image, still blinking. "Do they have genders? Because I know of no men with hips and a chest like that. Well, besides Obadiah. At least on the chest part. Always told him to lose weight."
"Let's try and stay on task here, Mr. Stark," Hackett said long-sufferingly. "You can ask questions at the end of the slideshow."
"Oh yes, please continue," Stark answered. "But I will certainly be asking questions."
"The fight itself only lasted a few minutes," Hackett noted, pointing out the timestamp on the picture and then the one taken at the end of the fight. "Dead End wasn't much of a threat to Arcee."
"She's a good fighter, then?" Stark asked.
Hackett gave him a flat look. "Very."
"After Arcee saved Lennox's squad, we made first contact with the team," Fowler picked up from where he had left off. He changed the picture to show the six Autobots that had made up the team back then. "Ever since we have had a tentative alliance with them and we even have experienced three years hearing almost nothing from the Decepticons. They had a couple new arrivals during that time that unfortunately also met their end during the few scuffles, but it was mostly peaceful. During that time the Autobots mostly searched for resources to sustain themselves and aided us in advancing some of our technologies."
"I recall you saying they wouldn't allow you to make weapons with their technology," Stark commented, looking at Hackett curiously.
Hackett nodded. "It is part of our agreement," he said. "Idiots like Galloway are always trying to get them to budge, but Optimus Prime refuses. He believes giving us their weapons will do more harm than good."
"Who's Optimus Prime?" Stark asked.
"Their leader," Hackett answered, nodding toward the image of the team and circling the Prime with a laser pointer. "He was the one who agreed to help develop some of our technology, and refuses to allow us to examine most of theirs."
"Well, I can't blame him there," Stark said.
"I can't say that I do either," Fowler replied. He turned to the screen and clicked a button to show a picture of the Nemesis. "Recently the Decepticons have become more active and the Autobots have foiled their plots a number of times since their re-emergence. They have suffered loss in protecting Earth from this threat, but their team has also grown in recent months." The picture changed to show the seventeen current residents.
"Wasn't there a different red one before?" Stark asked, analyzing the photo.
Fowler nodded and changed the photo to show Cliffjumper's file. "His name was Cliffjumper," he reported. "He was lost just over a year ago when the Decepticons reared their ugly heads from wherever they were hiding. He was a little hot headed and a good fighter. Unfortunately he met his end while protecting an injured bot who had just arrived on the planet while fleeing from the Decepticons. Stabbed straight through the spark. Nothing Ratchet could do about that."
"It's like if you or I were to be stabbed in the heart," Hackett explained. "If you completely destroy the organ, you can't save it. Not like yours, where you can mitigate the damage." He motioned at the mini arc-reactor sitting in Stark's chest, hidden by the layers of clothing.
Stark frowned, but chose not to comment on how the man had known about the arc reactor. He had been very careful since Obadiah's betrayal not to share its existence with anyone.
"Can I get a head count of who we'll be working with and who is our enemy?" Stark asked. "If I'm to help with anything, I will not be kept in the dark."
Hackett and Fowler shared a look before Fowler looked back at Stark. "We anticipated that, so I took the liberty of creating dossiers," Fowler answered. "We'll start with Optimus Prime, the leader of the bunch."
Fowler changed the picture to show the file on Optimus. "Optimus Prime is a steadfast leader and from what I can tell, all of the Autobots under him admire him. He inspires the kind of loyalty that would have you jumping off a bridge if he asked it, if only because there would be something there to catch you or he wouldn't ask it of you."
Fowler played a clip of Optimus in one of the skirmishes. It was clear that Optimus did his best to be sure no bot under his command came into anymore harm than necessary.
"He's led the Autobots through the war since the beginning and eventually led them here when the Decepticons began to threaten our planet," Hackett added. "He's proven to be very determined to keep our planet from suffering the same fate as Cybertron."
"What happened to Cybertron?" Stark asked.
"It was ravaged by war and can no longer support life," Fowler replied. "Optimus has made it clear he does not intend to allow that to happen to us. It is part of the reason he refuses to allow us access to their weapons technology."
"I noticed those corpses seemed to be stripped of some of their technology," Stark said. "I'm assuming that's their doing."
Hackett nodded. "Before being shipped here, the Autobots salvage what they need and remove anything that could be turned into a weapon," he replied. "With such limited resources they can use, they have to get certain supplies anyway they can."
"None of them seem particularly happy about cannibalizing their fellow Cybertronians," Fowler said. "Even if they are evil."
The clips shifted to show a pink bot, clearly female, if they had genders, like the blue one before. This one was in what appeared to be a friendly sparring match with said blue femme.
"Optimus's…" Fowler hesitated, looking at Stark before continuing. "...sparkmate is next on the docket."
"They do have genders, then," Stark said in mild interest. Then he furrowed his brows. "Wait…you said sparkmate? What's that?"
"Think spouse, Mr. Stark," Hackett replied.
"Ah," Stark said. Then he waved his hand. "Carry on."
"Her name is Elita-1," Fowler said. "She's the femme's commanding officer. If they need anything specific that a mech can't handle, they go to her. She's also the Autobot's language specialist. If there's ever a translation error, she's the bot to turn to for help."
A clip of her diffusing some tensions between a couple mechs and a group of humans with the ease of a person used to playing mediator between those who often misunderstood each other. She bowed graciously to the humans after things were settled.
Fowler changed the picture to show the file on Arcee. "You saw Arcee earlier," he said. "She's significantly smaller than some of the others, even her sisters for reasons I'm unaware of, but she's no less deadly to the enemy."
He played a clip, showing Arcee in a battle of her own, taking out a group of Vehicons with practiced ease. She moved swiftly and gracefully with a deadly precision that Stark couldn't help but admire. Her expression was fierce as she tore into the enemy.
"A femme of few words, she gets the job done without question, and gets it done well. She was partnered with Cliffjumper before he was killed, and was hit hardest when he passed. She is guardian to Jackson Darby, a civilian who got caught up in the mix when the Decepticons got hold of some…delicate information." He switched the picture to one of Jack riding on Arcee's motorcycle form through their current base.
"You guys have civilians involved in this? Children?" Stark asked.
"The Decepticons assumed they were allies of the Autobots when they acquired information that made them believe so, without concern whether that information was accurate or not," Hackett answered. "Optimus feels it best to keep the children under their protection. If the Decepticons went after them again, they would be helpless."
"Besides Jack, there is also Rafael," Fowler said, displaying a picture of Raf looking concentrated on a laptop. "He's a lot like you, Stark, minus the womanizing. He provides a lot of technical support for Ratchet and Wheeljack when the need arises, since they have problems with the human technology required to make the base run. At twelve, I would say he is quite impressive."
"His guardian is Bumblebee, the team scout," Hackett added as Fowler put up a video of the yellow and black mech with Raf sitting on his shoulder.
They were chatting, the yellow mech bobbing his helm and motioning with his hands as he buzzed away to Raf as the child listened attentively with a happy look on his face.
"While Arcee is a bot of few words, Bumblebee doesn't speak at all, that we can understand," Fowler provided. "For good reason. The poor kid got his voicebox ripped out back during the war by Megatron himself. It was damaged beyond repair and Bumblebee only speaks in beeps and whistles because of it. Only the bots and Rafael can understand him. The warrior in training has more than proved himself in battle, you gotta wonder why he hasn't been promoted." Fowler played a clip of Bumblebee taking on a whole squad of Vehicons by himself before being backed up by a larger mech that was mostly an army green.
"The big guy is Bulkhead," Hackett supplied as Fowler paused the clip and zoomed in on Bulkhead.
"Bulkhead's the first to admit he's no rocket scientist," Fowler said. "But what he lacks in brain power, he more than makes up in brute strength." He paused to play a clip of Bulkhead pummeling a larger Decepticon, coming out of the match on top. "He's straight out of the Wreckers, the bots' version of Black Ops and there's very few missions you wouldn't want him on. He was missing for some time, but we're all glad he's back in the fold. None more so than his ward, Miko Nakadai." A picture appeared of Miko with a guitar in her hands.
"Miko, from what I understand of Optimus and Fowler's reports, is the reckless one of the bunch," Hackett supplied. "She has tried on numerous occasions to accompany the bots on their missions, but luckily, with Jack's mother around and so many human soldiers, there's always enough people on hand to keep her from endangering herself. She does enjoy sneaking off to areas more frequented by bots over humans, though. I wouldn't be surprised if one day she becomes a liaison herself for them."
A clip played of her sitting happily on Bulkhead's shoulder as she spoke with him and a few other bots. The next thing to appear was a picture of Miko sleeping atop a purple and silver bot with wings, one of which was draped over the girl like a blanket.
"Aw, well that's cute," Stark couldn't help but say. He reached for the coffee he had been provided. "Who's the winged bot?"
"That would be Shadebreaker," Fowler replied. "We're gonna get to her later. For now, we'll move on to Ratchet."
A clip played of a white bot with red markings, some clearly reminiscent of those on ambulances, turning from a counter to raise an optic ridge at the camera. He rolled his optics when told it was for some documentation while saying "Puh-lease."
"He covers much of the science aspect," Fowler said. "The medic of the team, he can be tightly wound and is known for throwing wrenches. He brings his a-game when the situation calls for it, but he is mostly in a supportive role. Despite his rough nature, he has a reputation as the best medic the Autobots could ask for and has a gentler side you can see when he works with his patients, especially one in particular."
Stark raised an eyebrow. Something about Fowler's tone there made him suspect there was something going on with the medic and that one patient in particular.
Fowler played a clip of Ratchet working in the medbay, repairing some damage done to one of the bots. Stark could see what he had meant when he said the doc had a gentle touch toward his patients. He suspected this was not the special one, however, and he was curious who he was talking about.
"The Autobots also have a set of twins on their team, known as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe," Hackett reported.
Fowler changed the picture and showed a picture of a red mech side by side with a yellow mech. The red mech had a huge grin plastered on his face while the yellow seemed to have an eternal scowl. "They are quite the mischievous pair, known for their pranks," Fowler said. "Despite their immaturity off of the battlefield, on it they are quite the force to be reckoned with. They're frontliners and I certainly wouldn't want to be on their bad side." A clip played of them tearing up a battlefield just on their own.
"You called them twins?" Stark asked.
"I believe Ratchet described them specifically as split spark twins," Fowler answered. "I'm not entirely sure how that makes them different from regular twins."
Stark bit the end of the pen he held in thought.
"Sideswipe is the kinder of the two and I'm convinced he got most of the nice genes," Fowler said dryly. "Sunstreaker has a mean streak that makes me worry about what kind of trouble he may cause under the right circumstances."
An image appeared of the mech scowling darkly at another in medbay while the winged bot from before glared defensively at him. The next image was of Sideswipe snuggling the winged bot to comfort her as she appeared to be in some kind of pain.
"Next on the line up is Ironhide," Hackett said, bringing up a picture of an all black mech. "Their Weapons Specialist, Ironhide maintains the armory and knows every weapon inside and out. He's also a blacksmith and makes armor for the bots, though his forge isn't quite up and running yet. He packs a punch on the battlefield and is one of the most intimidating members of Optimus's team. He is not one you want to aim a weapon at."
A clip was played of Ironhide on the battlefield. His favorite weapons seemed to be a couple large cannons mounted on his arms and at one point in the clip he ripped one of the larger Decepticons in two with his bare hands.
"But when it comes to dealing with his fellow bots he can be one of the gentlest and kindest out there," Fowler supplied more optimistically. "Always offering comfort or guidance to anybot who may need it. Much like Optimus does."
The next clips were of the mech speaking kindly to Bumblebee as the yellow mech looked sullen, offering words of encouragement and guidance in a gentle tone. Another of the mech wrapping the winged bot in a firm hug as her wings were held low and she buried her face in his chest. A third of the mech gently chiding a white, black and gold mech for crossing a line he shouldn't have.
"Ironhide also has a sparkmate," Fowler said, changing the clip to show a light blue femme with a smirk on her face as she brandished a weapon before turning and running into a battlefield. "The fiery Chromia. Every bit the same force of nature as her mate on the battlefield, she proves the make doesn't make the warrior."
Stark couldn't help but agree. Where Arcee had been fierce in her own right, Chromia took it to a whole new level. Her enemies hardly stood a chance.
"She can be rough around the edges," Fowler said, rubbing his head. "I have yet to have a truly pleasant conversation with her, though I can tell she cares a great deal for her fellow bots. I don't think she means anything by it, she's just not one to trust."
"Which is understandable, given how long they have been at war," Hackett said.
Fowler nodded in agreement to that.
"Prowl is Optimus's second-in-command and a very strict law enforcer," Hackett continued as Fowler flipped to show a clip of a black and white mech with a very stern looking face. "He's by the book down to the dots and is a very capable soldier."
"Prowl runs almost entirely on logic," Fowler said. "If something is too illogical, he'll crash." He played a clip of Prowl freezing and falling over as some of the other bots hovered over his fallen frame. "It's like an overrun computer with a glitch in its system. Ratchet has said that his logical center is overdeveloped, causing this glitch that causes him to crash when faced with extreme illogicalness."
It changed to a silver mech laughing at a joke someone said and then grinning widely as he said something in return.
"Jazz is the sabotage expert," Hackett said. "He's also quite a good spy."
"I wouldn't want him to have cause to blackmail me," Fowler said dryly. "He's a reliable soldier. He has a southern-sounding accent he speaks in, though if he drops it that's when you know it's gotten serious. He's fun-loving and Prowl's polar opposite. Despite this, the two seem to be very good friends. He's also one of the best soldiers I've ever met."
A clip played of Jazz casually talking with the other bots. It was clear he was one of the more cheerful bots and to Stark it appeared that he was the team's moral support, acting to cheer up those around him.
"The next one on our list is a mech named Wheeljack," Hackett explained as Fowler played a clip of Wheeljack working on something before it exploded. "He is known for having his first prototype of anything explode."
"If he invented a pen, it would explode," Fowler put in as a clip played of the mech being seen to by an annoyed Ratchet, the inventor rubbing his helm sheepishly. "As the Autobot's inventor, it is wise to stay out of his lab while a project is underway, unless it is tempered by Ratchet's more cautious approach. He's created a number of useful gadgets for the Autobots, sometimes aided by the medic. I have heard numerous recountings of inventions the mech has created before, during and after the war on Cybertron."
"Next we have Rewind and Chromedome," Fowler continued, flipping to a picture of a mech with a smaller mech draped over his shoulders, clearly nuzzling him. "It's hard to talk about one without the other. The most recent arrivals, they are sparkmates."
"That's a height difference," Stark commented when a clip played of the two walking side by side.
Fowler was mildly surprised that was the chosen topic. "Some things aren't as much concern for Cybertronians as they are for us humans," he said, clearing his throat. He adjusted his tie a little bit, willing himself not to think about it. "They are both adults, I assure you."
Stark looked at Fowler. "So they can make babies."
"Mr. Stark," Hackett sighed as Fowler coughed awkwardly into the side of his fist. "Do try to keep focus here."
Stark made a conceding motion, chewing on his pen. He would play along. For now, at least.
"Back on topic, if you would, Agent Fowler," Hackett motioned.
"Right," Fowler cleared his throat. "Rewind is an archivist. It's rare that he isn't recording everything going on around him. If you have doubts about a story, it's possible he could collaborate for you if he was there."
The clip showed a closeup of the smaller mech's face with a little red light on to indicate he was recording the event taking place in front of him. Then it panned up to show the taller mech, Chromedome, as he talked to Ratchet in quiet tones the camera wasn't picking up.
"His partner," Fowler continued. "Chromedome is a retired mnemosurgeon, that is a Cybertronian specializing in intruding upon the Cybertronian mind to view their memories. He was brought in recently in order to help with some trouble Shadebreaker was having with her T-cog after a recent captivity she suffered at the hands of the Decepticons."
A clip played of the mech sat on a couch next to Shadebreaker, hand on her neck with something extended from his fingers into it while Ratchet held her comfortingly from her other side and Rewind rested a hand supportively on Chromedome's knee. Shadebreaker's frame was visibly shaking and Chromedome himself looked distressed. The clip was moved past quickly.
"That looked rather invasive," Stark said with a frown as the clip came to an end.
"It is," Fowler said with a heavy sigh. "He's retired for a reason. Mnemosurgery comes with a lot of risks. One of which is death to the surgeon with little to no warning. He did it for Shadebreaker because of the risk assessment made of not knowing what the Decepticons may have done in her processor. It was rough on them both, however, and I am told Shadebreaker hid away afterwards, having not emerged yet by the time I left base to come here."
"I don't blame her," Stark said. "I wouldn't talk to anyone after that either. What's her deal anyways?"
"Not yet," Hackett said. "One more before we get to her."
Stark frowned, wondering why they were insisting on saving this Shadebreaker for last.
"This next one is a bit different," Fowler said, pulling up a clip of the white, black and gold mech seen briefly in a couple earlier clips. It was now that the different insignia was clear in the image. "Drift, as he is now known, was once a Decepticon. He came to us on the run from them, out to defect. Many of the bots do not trust him yet, but Optimus believes his change is genuine and he seems to be taking guidance from those around him to spark."
A clip played of him sitting in the courtyard, cross legged across from Shadebreaker as she spoke to him in soft tones, explaining something to him. It changed again to him listening attentively to Ratchet as the medic lectured him about something he'd clearly done wrong and then promising to endeavor not to repeat the action. Then another clip played of him and Shadebreaker studying an array of datapads together.
"He spend a lot of time with Shadebreaker?" Stark asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Shadebreaker has become something of a mentor to him." Fowler said, sounding amused. "I asked him once and he said he was her Padawan."
Stark chuckled lightly.
"He's still medbay bound, having been heavily damaged when he came to us, but he's been respectful anytime I have encountered him," Fowler said.
"And now we move onto Shadebreaker," Hackett said. "Perhaps the most enigmatic of the bots."
"Enigmatic?" Stark asked.
"Her story is a bit of a mystery," Fowler said. "Hailing from another reality, she arrived here on the run from the 'Cons herself. Bearing knowledge of the future and, I'm told, a connection to the mysterious Guardian of Time and Space."
"Knowledge of the future?" Stark asked in mild disbelief.
"I'm unaware of all of the details," Fowler said. He played a clip of Shadebreaker holding a datapad up as she considered it and then looked at another one among several scattered on a makeshift table in what appeared to be a tent. "But she has used this knowledge to point us to several Cybertronian artifacts to aid us in defense of our planet and keep them out of the Decepticon hands."
The clip showed several in a row of a few items being successfully retrieved. Then it showed one of the bots finding an already pilfered location.
"Unfortunately, due to the Decepticons having had her captive before her time with the bots, they had the information first and it was a race we did not always win," Fowler said with a heavy tone. "Her information has saved our lives on occasion, though, such as when it allowed us to set up a place to go when the 'Cons attacked our old base. I don't have clips of that, but it was a close call."
"Not all of it has been accurate, however," Hackett pointed out.
The clips changed to show a scene where Shadebreaker stood in shackles alongside another scene where another strange bot was in shackles and she was being released.
"Shadebreaker had warned of a shifter bot coming," Fowler said. "But we came to find out the shifter was already among us, feeding information to the Decepticons about when we'd go after each relic."
"Why do that and not grab them as fast as possible?" Stark asked.
"At the time we thought it was to try to pick us off," Fowler said. "Now we believe they were hoping to snag Shadebreaker to capture her and garner more of her information."
Stark nodded. That made sense.
"When the bots realized what had happened, that the shifter had replaced a bot sooner than expected, they hatched a plan to lure him into a false sense of security," Hackett said.
"Shadebreaker sacrificed her reputation and freedom temporarily and posed as a traitor in hopes the shifter would trip up and expose himself," Fowler said, looking a bit proud of her. "And it worked. Hook, line and sinker. She gained the respect of her fellow bots then, and mine too. She used her knowledge again to negotiate Bulkhead's release from Decepticon imprisonment and then again to navigate her own escape from the same more recently."
"Impressive," Stark admitted. "How come she's got wings while the others don't? Her helmet makes me think of an owl too, kinda."
"That's cause her alt mode, what she transforms into, is an owl," Fowler replied. "The others all transform into a land vehicle of some kind. She's not only the only flying Autobot on Earth, she is also the only known Autobot that is what they refer to as a beast former."
"Why's she so different? Was she just born that way?" Stark asked, finding it strange that she'd be the only one of her kind.
"That, is part of why we are seeking your help," Hackett said. "We trust the Autobots, but we need humanity to be ready to stand ready in case a mech like Shockwave tries to do what he did again on a wider scale."
"I'm afraid I'm not following," Stark said.
"Shadebreaker used to be human, Stark," Fowler said, tone heavy. "Then Shockwave did something, experimented on her and now she's one of them. Completely. Body and soul."
Stark narrowed his eyes. "I can buy the body," he said. "But soul?"
"The spark is what makes the Cybertronian soul," Fowler said. He motioned with his hands as he tried to find the right words. "It's..it's like a physical manifestation of the metaphysical aspects of oneself. Or something like that. Look, I don't know the science! Or the spiritual mumbo jumbo! I can barely follow Ratchet half the time he tries to explain their biology to me! All I know is according to them, there's not a trace of her humanity left outside of her memories."
"So the baddies can take our humanity away?" Stark asked.
"Shockwave can, yes," Fowler said. "So it seems, at least. And he has an affinity for beast modes. According to Shadebreaker, he thinks they make a bot more susceptible to control. He tried to make her his pet, his slave, essentially. He just didn't account for someone assisting her in escaping and sending her to the bots."
"Any other questions about the Autobots, Mr. Stark?" Hackett asked.
Stark looked at him. "Is there any way we could get a couple of them in here so I can ask them how they make robot babies?"
This is going to be a long day, Hackett thought to himself, trying not to sigh.
"So," Agent Fowler said, turning the slideshow off after giving Stark a rundown of their enemies. "Will you join us?"
Stark looked at Fowler and then at Hackett with his usual disinterested expression. "On one condition," he said. "I get to meet them today."
Fowler and Hackett shared a look before Fowler spoke again.
"Mr. Stark," he said. "It will take time to arrange for a meeting. We still have to go through all your paperwork to get you cleared."
"So...we leave at three?" Stark asked, spreading his hands out in question, looking unmoved by Fowler's statements of paperwork.
"Did you not hear me?" Fowler asked.
"Two then?" Stark asked.
Fowler gave an exasperated sigh and facepalmed. "No, Mr. Stark," he said.
"So what? Four? Five?" he asked. "I'm not agreeing unless I get to meet them today."
Fowler grumbled to himself. "Fine," he said. "We leave in a few hours."
Hackett looked between the Autobot's liaison and the super genius before focusing his gaze on Stark. "Is that always how you ask for things?"
Stark shrugged. "It always works, why change it?" he replied.
Fowler sighed. "It's going to be a long day," he muttered.